• BIOGRAPHY

MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

MOTORHOMENEWS

Category Archives: History

The Caravan and Motorhome Club at Beaulieu.

09 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by chrismacgowan in General, History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, @candmclub, @motorhmenews, @national_motor_museum, Beaulieu, caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, New Forest

The Club has a strong presence at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu – a stone’s throw from the ever popular New Forest Black Knowl site – with its records stored, looked after and catalogued. The display booth tells the history of the Club and shows a video of today’s club and what is on offer.

Well worth a visit with dedicated motorhome and caravan parking and electric car charging for those who have moved across to the future!

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Ypres – a favourite destination.

20 Thursday Jun 2019

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Places

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, WWI, Ypres

Although its history is dominated by its almost total destruction in WWI, the rebuilt and revitalized Ypres is a favourite destination. It has so successfully moved on whilst always respecting that history and enormous sacrifice and loss of life given by so many countries.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

The Commando Memorial

02 Thursday May 2019

Posted by chrismacgowan in History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, Christopher Macgowan, Commando, Commando Memorial, Lochaber, motorhome, motorhomenews, Scotland

My recent visit to the Highlands rightly took in the imposing Commando Memorial which is a Category A listed monument in Lochaber in the Highlands and is dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces. Much of their training was carried out in this area.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

A hundred years since the end of WWI.

10 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#armistice, #motorhomes, #remembrance, @motorhmenews, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, St Omer, World War 1, WWI, Ypres

As this most significant anniversary approaches I have this week been in France (St Omer) and Belgium (Ypres).

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

The Caravan Club and the Suffrage Movement.

26 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, @CAMCCollection, @motorhmenews, Amy Sharp, Angela Willis, Beaulieu, camc, Caravan Club, Christopher Macgowan, Clayton, Emmeline Pankhurst, Hampshire, Herbert Asquith, Lady Denman, Lilley and Skinner, Louise Lilley, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, motorhomenews, National Motor Museum, suffrage, Suffrage Movement, Susan Susie Hardy, WPSU

The Caravan Club was formed of one third of women members before the First World War.

SOURCE: Angela Willis – Curator, Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection.

In 1907 The Caravan Club of Great Britain and Ireland was formed (today known as the Caravan and Motorhome Club), with an aim to represent the interests of the rapidly growing number of horse-drawn leisure caravanners. Unlike the many clubs of the Edwardian era which only admitted men, this modern and progressive organisation was made up of around one third of female members in the years before the First World War.

An extract from The Caravan Club’s 1913 list of members.

The formative years of The Caravan Club coincided with the growing momentum of the suffrage campaign which sought to gain equal voting rights for women. I have been keen to discover whether suffragists (those who campaigned using peaceful methods such as lobbying) or even suffragettes (who used militant and often unlawful campaign tactics) sat among the third of women listed in the ranks of the Club. As pioneering leisure caravanners these women broke social moulds, they often toured the country in female-only parties and enjoyed outdoor pursuits more traditionally reserved for men. Surely it would stand to reason that some would be involved in the most significant political movement of a generation?

At the Club’s Collection of historic material held here at the National Motor Museum, there are two hugely significant documents which have been key to unlocking the stories of our early Club members. Two printed lists from 1910 and 1913 contain the names and addresses of each member including writers, artists, eminent surgeons and heroes of the First World War. I recently set about uncovering if supporters of the suffrage movement also sat among them and I made several fascinating discoveries.

A WSPU Hunger Strike Medal presented to Louise Lilley. Courtesy of the Museum of London.

The most remarkable story springs from a listing for Miss Louise Lilley of Holland House, Clacton-on-Sea which appeared in The Caravan Club’s 1913 List of Members. Daughter of co-owner of the Lilley and Skinner shoe brand, Louise was Secretary of the Clacton branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and was therefore a ‘suffragette’. As such, she was to become central to the militant campaign tactics promoted by the founders of the organisation Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters. On the 9th March 1912 Louise, along with her sister Kate, appeared in court at Bow Street charged with breaking windows at the War Office – one of many similar attacks which took place on the same night. The hearing was reported in Votes for Women, the official organ of the WSPU, the following week:

‘Miss Kate Lilley and Louise were charged with breaking windows at the war office, and a constable produced some flint stones as big as a man’s fist. Counsel for the defence stated that his clients were the daughters of a well-known Essex gentleman, and they felt they had a deep grievance against the government. Defendants were each sentenced to two months hard labour.’

Imprisoned in Holloway, like many other suffragette prisoners they suffered a short period of hunger strike as a protest that they were not being treated as political prisoners. On their release the sisters were presented with a Holloway brooch and hunger strike medal from the WSPU, with their homecoming being reported in the Chelmsford Chronicle: ‘A big crowd has assembled, and the appearance of the Misses Lilley, who looked none the worse for their novel experience, was greeted with loud cheers’.

Caravan Club member and suffrage campaigner Lady Denman. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

In contrast to the exploits of Miss Lilley, fellow Club member Lady Denman of Balcombe Place in Sussex belonged to a group of suffrage supporters who were deeply opposed to the increasing militancy of the WSPU. In 1908 the young Lady Denman was elected to the Executive of the Women’s Liberal Federation who took a constitutional approach to campaigning. They were shocked at the WSPU’s tactics of targeting Liberal politicians, including keen anti-suffragist Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, yet they worked tirelessly to promote the cause for voting equality amongst their own party.

However, Lady Denman’s involvement with the campaign ended abruptly when in 1911 her husband was called to become Government-General of Australia, a country which has granted votes for women nine years earlier. Although her role in the British suffrage campaign was cut short she later returned to the UK and in 1917 was elected as the first Chairman of the newly formed National Federation of Women’s Institutes for which she is best known.

Research has also uncovered Caravan Club members who took active roles in local branches of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), another non-militant organisation headed by Millicent Garrett Fawcett. These include suffragist Miss Susan ‘Susie’ Hardy who became Secretary of the Salisbury branch of the NUWSS when it was founded in 1909. Also, Miss Amy Sharp, Chairman of the Ambleside and District NUWSS branch who achieved great success in gaining support for the cause in her area.

I was delighted to uncover these women’s stories and discover that both suffragettes and suffragists formed the ranks of The Caravan Club. Despite these women representing different organisations with varying opinions on how the vote should be won, all worked to achieve the equality at the polling station which we enjoy today.

Throughout 2018 the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection will be commemorating 100 years of votes for women by exploring the theme of the caravan and the Suffrage campaign in a series of blogs. Keep up to date with the Collection on Twitter @CAMCCollection

Sources:

Crawford, E. 1999. The Women’s Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928. London: University College London Press.

Huxley, G. 1961. Lady Denman. London: Chatto and Windus.

Stone, J.H. 1913. Caravanning & Camping Out. London: Herbert Jenkins.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Note: This research was carried out by Angela Willis who is the Curator of the Caravan and Motorhome Club collection at Beaulieu. The Club has a display stand within the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu where many items of historical interest are on show.

Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young

10 Thursday May 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Kobe, motorhomenews, motorhomes, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young, Ypres

Readers of this blog know I have an interest in WWI history and a huge admiration for the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Most of the inscriptions and epitaphs on the headstones have a religious overtone – perfectly reasonably when you consider the times – and wherever possible the closest relatives (invariably the parents due to the shockingly young age of so many of those killed) had a say in what went on the headstone.

And then, by contrast, at the weekend I came across the headstone of Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young who was killed 150 yards East of Brory Farm, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium.

One of the startling truths to emerge when you have an amateur’s interest like mine let alone an academic historian’s deep insight is that we seem to learn little from these epic tragedies. The words on this headstone capture that far more eloquently than I ever could.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Ploegsteert – not an entirely typical visit.

06 Sunday May 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Places

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, CWGC, Harley Davidson, motorhome, motorhomenews, Ploegsteert

Our visit to the Ploegsteert Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery was as ever solemn, thought provoking and memorable. The unexpected arrival of 250 bikers from a Harley Davidson Association added a degree of entirely respectful drama to the day.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Ypres 

11 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Places, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, Prowse Point, Somme, WW1, Ypres


I was talking to a fellow Caravan and Motorhome Club friend the other day and remarked that I am more of a tourer than a rallyer to which she rather tartly remarked “Well, Christopher, that’s your loss then.” That could be but I think I am likely to stick with my touring and this week has been a case in point.

A few days came free in the diary after an extremely serious bout of man flu which required a great deal of help and TLC to get me through – believe me it was touch and go. 

For some time I have been wanting to visit a couple of the peace parks built near Ypres post WW1 and also see Prowse Point where the famous Christmas Day football match was played and where a faithful reconstruction of the trenches shows that just a few metres separated the opposing forces. Disapproved of by the generals at the time, it has become something of a focal point.

When in Ypres I usually drive the clearly signed Poppy Trail coming across all sorts of interesting history. Thursday night’s attendance at the daily Menin Gate ceremony was primarily attended by children many of whom were on school trips from the UK so that future generations never forget.

Whilst I may not be much of a rallyer, there can scarcely be a better way of touring the Somme battlefields than in a motorhome. 

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Retro motorhome auctioned.

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bexhill, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews


Retro 1930s motor believed to be Britain’s first motorhome has been sold at auction for £34,500.

The 1936 Pontiac Six has been described as “outstandingly original” after still being fitted with all its original features, including the curtains, water softener and old tins of jam.

The time-warp motorhome went under the hammer as part of a Bonhams vintage car sale at Goodwood Revival this weekend.
The original owner, Captain Dunn of Bexhill, East Sussex, ordered the motorhome in 1935 through a local coachbuilders, Russell’s of Bexhill.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Saint-Nazaire

28 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Places

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#motorhomes, 'uboat pens', aire, bordeaux, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, saint-nazaire, uboats

You will know I have an interest in WW1 and WW2 history and so unsurprisingly on my way home from a few days near Bordeaux I followed the coast northwards to Saint-Nazaire to see the WW2 German Uboat pens which, due to their massive bomb resilient construction, are in remarkably good order. They dominate the harbour line of this still busy industrial and ship building port.

Several things occurred to me as I approached the area over the huge and long road bridge. In true French style there is a large motor home parking spot across the street and attached to that is a parking machine entry type aire if you want to stay over night. Day parking in the car park is free. Secondly, whilst Saint-Nazaire might not be on the main tourism route because of its heavy industry and chemical plants, I loved the place. It is very laid back , everything seemed so easy and without exception everyone I came across was so very friendly. At the tourism office at the entrance to the pens they are selling tours around the port and the city and so I reached for my Euros and said I just wanted to wander around the pens by myself – I have a pathological aversion to tours with guides. No problem I was told. The pens are entirely free for public access but that I needed to remember they are essentially dangerous as there are no guard rails or hand rails in order that their original state is preserved as best as possible. 

The pens are hugely impressive, well preserved and fascinating. However, it would be irresponsible of me not to underline what we all know – that they were built largely by slave labour, many combined forces suffered heavy losses and casualties trying to destroy them – or at the very least disrupt them – and Uboats were successful sinking hundreds of allied ships and killing thousands of troops in the North Atlantic. Provided you keep that very much front of mind during the visit, they are well worth a visit. 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

← Older posts

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

What I’ve been up to – so far.

May 2022
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Apr    

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,928 other followers

May 2022
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Apr    

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

  • Follow Following
    • MOTORHOMENEWS
    • Join 1,928 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • MOTORHOMENEWS
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...