Hello to you all and thank you for allowing me to serve a second year as your Centre Chairman.

Welcome back to our Magazine, I wish our new editor Eileen much success in her new role. Please

support her by sending reports, recipes and any items of interest. This is your magazine; we need

your help, for it to be a success.

Since the last issues, our centre has put on a varied programme of events. I thank the marshals for

all their efforts. Recently we attended the Halloween rally at the Rare Breeds centre. It was fantas-

tic and a must revisit again rally. The following weekend we went just down the road to Ham

Street. All though the weather wasn’t kind, certainly the firework display lived up to EKC stand-

ards. Again I look forward to going back next year. But for me the Birthday Rally was a highlight of

my first year, and this was due to the efforts of our committee. I thank them for everything they

did last year.

Recently East Kent had the pleasure to host the SE Regional AGM. We decided to do a Carvery

Meal. Attending this rally was one of the Vice Chairmen of the Caravan Club. And 2 members of

the Midland Regional Council. At flagpole on the Sunday they all thanked our Centre for its effort

over the weekend. This made me so proud to be your Chairman, so I would like to thank all the

EKC members who helped over the weekend. Don’t matter how much or how small your contribu-

tion may have been. It made the weekend a success.

So looking towards next year, I hope 2013 will be a great rallying year for you all, when you see the

new rally book, I hope you will all agree that our marshals have done the centre proud, and that

you are able to attend as many rallies as possible.

When you receive this magazine we will be rapidly heading toward Christmas, I hope you and your

family have a great time and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

I look forward to meeting old and new friends next year.

Finally I thank you all for the support that has been given to both Sandra and Myself this past

Year.

Regards

Derek

Happy 60th Birthday to Sandra Horman

Sandra celebrated her birthday in style at a rally held at Great-

stone in October. I am sure all that were there will agree that it

was a great rally and will join me in thanking Sandra for letting

us join her in celebrating her birthday

Honorary Membership

Bob and Doreen Watt were awarded Honorary Membership at this years AGM

which was held at Invicta School Maidstone in October. This award was given

in recognition of support they have both given and continue to give to the East

Kent Centre.

Congratulations to you.

If you have any celebration’s you would like to see featured in the next Newsletter please email post or

hand them to me on the rally field.

Eileen Killick

ROCKING AND A ROLLING

Pete Smith had us all step back in time with his 50’s and 60’s themed birth-

day bash which took place at St Anslem school in November. There were so

many people in costume from the era that it was hard to see who was who,

but wow didn't they all look so good. Food was in a abundance and the music

provided by DJ Kev got every one in the party mood. Happy 70th Pete and

may there be many more.

Change your light bulbs for led ones as they use far less power very important when you are relying on

just battery power.

Do your hanger’s fall of the rail during travel? Buy a length of pipe lagging foam available from all diy

stores. Cut to length and place on rail your hangers will then stay put.

Oil on your clothes? Rub margarine well into the grease spot then rub washing up liquid in . Then rinse

well and wash as normal.

Finally make sure the wife brings her purse and credit cards.

Please let me know if you have any good hint’s or tip’s

We hope to make this a regular feature of the news letter so if you have any items you would like to sell

or swap please let me know and I will include them in the next copy.

THIS ONLY HAPPENS TO OTHER PEOPLE

(Until it happens to you!)

You may or may not have heard that during a recent holiday to Germany I had the misfortune to have the

nearside wheel of my caravan detach itself whilst travelling at about 40 mph. There were no injuries, only

minor damage to the wheel arch but had to have a new brake drum fitted before it was safe to proceed and

will have to get a new wheel and tyre as both were damaged. So it will be rather an expensive experience.

The biggest danger here is what the wheel does after it comes off – in our case there was a gap in the ap-

proaching traffic and the wheel spun off into the roadside ditch. It is frightening to think what might have

happened if it had hit an oncoming vehicle.

So how did it happen? Nobody knows, I like to consider myself a careful caravaner – load weights not ex-

ceeded, careful weight distribution inside the van, don’t drive too fast (50mph max in Germany) or for too

long. I checked tightness of the wheel bolts before leaving home and carried out visual checks before each

move – yet still after just 900 towing miles the wheel drops off.

Luckily I was covered by Red Pennant, so as we weren’t in a hurry and didn’t need to abandon the van for

later recovery, we waited for the replacement parts (and a fitter to fit them to arrive – the “one off” hub nut

goes on at 250ft/lbs. – who carries a torque wrench that size and strength?). I have since been advised that

the nearside wheel becoming detached is, in relative terms, a “common” occurrence (the fitter did 47 last

year alone) and that all wheel bolts should be checked with a torque wrench every 200 miles!

Now you know.

To continue - 8 weeks later and after much badgering of my local dealer and Coachman we did finally get a

replacement wheel of the right size (that’s another story) and some new bolts to fit it. I wasn’t entirely hap-

py – I had replaced like for like – what were the odds on the same thing happening again in 200 miles or

20,000 miles?

However we went to the Caravan Show at the NEC – didn’t buy a new van – but did find a stall selling a

new style of wheel bolt (think about it – wheel bolts haven’t changed for 100 years or so). On this new style

bolt the cone part is separate from the bolt which means that when the bolt is being tightened the cone part

bites onto the wheel and does not revolve over the last turn or so of the bolt. This increases the amount of

friction holding the bolt in place and thereby reducing the risk of the bolt working itself loose.

These bolts have been tested and approved by ALKO and the NCC. Baileys are fitting them to all their new

2013 models (I check Baileys stand to confirm). These new bolts are easily recognisable as they need an

adaptor (similar to car security wheel bolts) to use with a standard wheel brace (but unlike car bolts they

are all the same – but still a little bit of extra security).

Do they work – I’ll let you know in 20,000 miles time – but I think they are better and for reassurance and

peace of mind they are worth the £25 I paid for each set of 5.

Interested? Contact WSL – 01543 870 170 or www. wheel-solutions.co.uk. Please note we have no connec-

tion financial or otherwise with this company.

All the best to you all.

Martin & Judith Hopkins

Well very simply put it is a gathering of people with a common interest spending time together and having

fun.

During the spring and summer month’s we like to use the fields and CL sites around Kent and in the winter

we use schools or village halls were we can park on hard standing.

So what do we do on our rallies? Well we get up to all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s just a quite weekend in

nice surroundings with good company and maybe a communal BBQ. Sometimes we have a social on the

Saturday night which maybe a disco or a show we put on ourselves, or maybe a quiz night. Details of what is

happening on any rally can be found on the centres website or in our rally book.

To book in to a rally look at the details on the website or in the rally book print off a booking slip which are

also on the web site fill it in enclose your payment and send it to the marshal who’s details are also on the

website. It’s not unusual not to get a confirmation of your booking but if you are concerned please contact

the marshal who will be only to happy to confirm they have your booking. Please try to arrive at the rally as

close a possible to the opening time and not before as the marshals need time to prepare for the arrival of all

the people booked in. when you arrive you will be sited by the marshals or assistants told where the water

supply and elsan empting points are and given an envelope which will give details of that weekends events.

Feel free to join in all the planned events or just some it’s up to you.

What does it mean?

Noggin and a NATTER We gather in the party tents or school hall for a drink and a chat with old friend and

also meet new ones.

COMUNUAL BBQ The men will all assemble in one place with their bbq’s and usually a beer or two to cook

the meat or whatever is to be cooked on the bbq. The ladies will set their tables which are normally all

placed in the party tents or in a line.

When all the food is cooked we would all sit down and eat together.

SOCIAL This is normally a paid event and could be a disco or a group who have been booked to entertain us.

Sometimes it is just a small charge to cover an event that the marshals have arranged such as a pantomime,

quiz, or murder mystery night.

FLAG POLE This is normally takes place on Sunday morning and it’s where we all get together to thank the

marshals hear any news and about forthcoming rallies.

There will be tea and coffee on sale also raffle and tuck.

AND FINALY

For all you doubters out there you can spend the weekend without being plugged in to the mains. I have

been doing it for the last 6 or 7 years and during that time have found that no matter what problem might

occur there will be someone on the rally field to help. If it is your first rally please indicate this on your

booking slip and someone will call and have a chat when you arrive to allay any worries you may have.

New Year 28th Dec 2012 to 2nd Jan 2013

Opens 1pm Friday , closes 1pm Wednesday

Programme: New Years Eve Party & other activities throughout the rally see notice board for further details.

Fixture Charge: 5 nights - £44.00, 4 nights - £35.80, 3 nights - £27.60, 2 nights - £19.40, 1 night - £11.20 (see

rule 6b)

Social Charge: Adult - £6 Child - £3 Family Ticket - (up to 4 children) £18 Visitors - £7

Book By: Monday 17th December 2012(see rules 9 – 10)

Marshals: Darren Burch, Social Officer

25th-27th Jan 13 Burns Night at St Anselms School Canterbury

Traditional haggis supper and Scottish dancing

15th-17th Feb 13 Valentines at Gad’s Hill School

Further details will be in the rally book and on the center website

Hi

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year and to thank every-

one that has signed up to be a marshal or assistant marshal in 2013.

If any of you need any advice please ask me or another committee member?

There are lots of rallies that have done a lot of marshalling and are always happy to help or give advice.

There are a couple of things I would like to remind people about.

The closing date for booking a rally is now 3 weeks before the rally this is so I have time to order the plaques. This

does not mean you can’t book in to the rally if there are still spaces it just means you may not get a plaque.

If you are booking in to a rally that is longer than the normal weekend please be advised that your cheques might be

cashed before the rally as we sometimes have to pay these rallies before they end.

Can I also remind marshals to let me know what plaques you would like and final numbers?

Can marshals please do an attendance list for the notice board & every committee member on the rally, if I am not

on the rally I would appreciate a copy emailed to me so I can keep the members attendance records up to date.

Please can you get your paper work and monies to Carol our treasurer as soon after the rally as possible so as to ena-

ble her to pay the site owners.

If you phone me about a month before your rally I can give you the contact number so you can contact the venue in

plenty of time to make an appointment to check the venue out and iron any problems out if they arise.

Last but not least remember I am at the end of the phone if you need me.

That just leaves me to wish you all well and hope you enjoy your future rally year.

Happy Rallying

Margaret Kinchin

East Kent Centre

Burns Supper Rally

25th to 27th January 2013

Venue

St Anselms RC. School

Old Dover Road

Cnterbury Kent

Rally opens 6pm Friday

Programme

Traditional Burns Night Supper

followed by Scottish themed

entertainment

Further details from

Chris and Mary Stockwell

01843 861239

Hope you like this little puzzle submitted by Graig Bailey

Please send your idea’s for the next copy.

Two aerials meet on a roof –fall in love

and get married

The ceremony was rubbish but the recep-

tion was brilliant

Doc, I cant stop singing the green green

grass of home That sound’s like Tom Jones syndrome

Is it common Well it’s not unusual

1.light travels faster than sound. This why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

2.He who laughs last thinks slowest.

3.Change is inevitable , except from a vending machine.

4.If the shoe fits get another one just like it.

5.Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day

drinking beer.

Please send me your jokes or puzzles for this page