Name: Martin Bevan
Position: Vice Chairperson
Centre Member For: 36 years!
I have been caravanning with my wife Jayne since 1988, our first caravan was a 12 foot, 1982 Bailey Maru, 2 berth with gas lighting a foot pump water tap, 2 ring burner and porta potty, also a Spaniel that used to sleep under the bed, and hit her head on every rung of the pull out bed at night. Our first rally together was at Three Cliffs caravan park over looking the stunning Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower, tthe Chairman at the time was Mr. Dill Littlejohn.
That weekend someone fell in the elson pit and had to be hosed down, welcome to caravanning. At that time I had never heard of going to flag before, but going and seeing a blue stained Smurf type character attending was an eye opener. This was the time when the Marshall sometimes used to have to bring a shovel to dig a pit.
Unfortunately this is just one of the many wonderful rally sites we no longer have access to on the Gower, needless to say things have changed quite a bit over the years.
My wife Jayne, first started rallying in 1967 at the tender age of 2, she has served on all historic committees, as it used to be, teenage, sports, ladies, and main and was honourary rally secratary for two years. so not a bad pedigree, we are just as keen today as we’ve always been.
I myself have served on various committees, this is my third stint at Vice Chair, serving twice during Welsh National years. I only thought about the main job once, but trying to juggle running a business and the centre, has not been a realistic option, nowadays the technology involved in running the centre would be beyond me. I have served under eight Chair persons, and have enjoyed most of my time helping, except for the last Pembrey National I was part of the site services team, or as we called it shite services because we had to clean the toilets.
During our time with West Wales, we must of attended about 800 rallies , we lost count somewhere along the line. One year Jayne, our daughter Kirsty, son Callum and myself, attended 33 weekends two10 day rallies and a three week stint in France, we were seriously thinking about selling our house.
Even in the foot and mouth year when the many of the rallies throughout Britain were cancelled, Pembrey Country Park was open, because they had no cattle or sheep, we went there about 20 weekends plus there for a holiday rally.
We have attended numerous three week French holiday rallies, we have also travelled solo to Lake Garda for three weeks, three trips to Ireland and also 27 New Year rallies, yes completely mad.
Normally when time permits, I like to get involved with the decorated car at nationals and with the help of the many willing volunteers, we have won many trophies.
Talking of Nationals I prefer the new format, it seems to bring the centres together, at a time when some centre rallies are struggling for numbers.
The biggest worry to me, is the struggle to fill committee positions each year, with a vibrant centre it is still a problem, people enjoy the rallies but seem to be reluctant to commit to help running things.
People that don’t know me might say that I’m a grumpy bugger, but when you get to really get to know me, I like to think that I am fun loving, game for a laugh although I am sometimes serious, but being hard of hearing I can sometimes be misinterpreted.
Over the years we have made so many great friends, and sadly lost a few, I hope they are still rallying in the wide open spaces in the sky. ( some of them down below. Not evil just wicked)
I wouldn’t change our memories for the world, the funny moments, the, oh no your not going to do that are you?, oh yes you are moments. The Pegging the A—frame down in the wind moments. The dogs jumping in the elson pit 10 minutes before the drive home from Brecon moments, the ‘paper Bingo numbers blowing away in the wind meaning we could only play up to seventy’ moments, the ‘nearly catching a personal best brown trout only to have it smashed away from me’ moment, the longest flag,” 5 hours cheese and wine” moment and all the moments in between.
I hope you can all enjoy your moments and the memories you make. I hope we can have many more with the West Wales Centre
Regards
MARTIN BEVAN
