Before they officially open to campers the Club would like a selection of members with different unit types to camp on them for free.

Chertsey, on the bank of the River Thames, is a short train ride from the heart of London, while Bowness on Windermere (pictured) in Lake District is a wonderful destination for exploring the national park.

Both sites are set to open to members and campers in late August/early September, with bookings now open, and the free ‘soft launch’ camping event will take place from 25 July-7 August at Chertsey and 1-14 August at Bowness.

It’s a great opportunity to give members a preview of the sites before their official opening, and help us ensure site services and facilities are working as they should.

If you’d like to express an interest in the free camping event at either site, email us at magazine@myccc.co.uk with the title Free Camping Chertsey or Free Camping Bowness, along with your unit type, contact details and members of your camping party.

The new scheme comes after the B+E test was scrapped in December 2021, meaning that those who passed their driving test after 1996 are no longer required to undertake an extra test to tow heavier caravans with larger cars.

The scheme is supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) and DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and covers training for towing large and small trailers. For more information on the scheme, visit gov.uk.

The Club welcomes the introduction of a formal accreditation scheme for instructors offering towing training schemes, to help holiday-makers tow safely in the wake of the B+E test. We are assessing the accreditation scheme with a view to joining it, and will continue to offer our long established and highly regarded Club Confidence Builder and Pitch & Progress towing courses for 2022 – find out more at myccc.co.uk/club-courses.

We also provide a free online matching tool for members, comparing car and caravan combinations to help you make the right – and safest – choice for your next purchase. Find out more at myccc.co.uk/towmatch and get tips on matching and towing from our How to video collection at myccc.co.uk/videos.

On 28 April, ITV broadcast Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, a one-hour documentary following Julia’s journey as she came to terms with her diagnosis, prepared for a mastectomy and began her recovery.

The programme is available for a period of time for viewing on the ITV Hub. You can also read more from Julia as part of her First Lady column – see page 27 of your July issue.

Julia is pictured with her sister and parents.

Regrettably, Sophie Ellis-Bextor is no longer able to join us – she has, though, committed to next year’s event instead. But the great news is that we have lined up Boyzlife, also known as Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, who will get the crowds singing to Boyzone and Westlife classic songs ahead of their UK tour.

The full festival line-up is now confirmed online at the Torchlight website. The Pub Marquee will feature DJs Adrian Larkin, Guten Morgan and Ecklectic Mick; the Club Band; award-winning jazz singer Becki Biggins; bands Bikini Beach, Johnny Cash Converters, Copper Viper and much more.

The Club Marquee will feature Eat Local cooking demonstrations with Ali Ray; technical help and advice presentations; tips on camping with kids from Simon McGrath; plus presentations from Andy Torbet.

There’s also Kids’ Tipi with fun and craft activities each day, a vintage funfair, a wellness sanctuary and a firepit stage for singalongs and blues music. Plus our light trail feature in the wood will tell the story of the Club’s history.

All this is in addition to main stage stars Squeeze, Gabrielle, Craig Charles Funk & Soul, The Wurzels, Julia Bradbury and now Boyzlife, to complete a highly anticipated festival of music, light and camping.

What’s more, if you’re yet to book for Torchlight, there are now more electric pitches available. Tickets are selling fast, so go to torchlightfestival.co.uk for the full timetable and to secure your tickets and be part of this special celebration of the great outdoors.

Our Archive is nearly as old as the Club itself – and as a result, it takes specialist skills to maintain it.

We’re looking to recruit an Archive Officer as a voluntary position to support the Club’s Archivist, Jo Cartwright.

Our successful volunteer will have knowledge and experience of archiving processes – both systems and storage conditions – as well as being good at research, computer literate and having excellent customer service skills to handle incoming enquiries from members and other interested parties.

The Voluntary Archive Officer position is based at the Club’s Greenfields House offices in Coventry and prospective candidates need to be able to commit to a number of hours per week, ideally on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

To find out more and to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Barny Baker at recruitment@myccc.co.uk by Friday 17 June.

Exclusive Club member offers break down into five categories: Lifestyle, Outdoor Clothing and Equipment, Unit Maintenance and Accessories, Attractions, and Show Ofers. Login to the Club website and visit myccc.co.uk/discounts for more information.

20% OFF SERVICES AT CONTINENTAL LEISURE

One of the Club’s Preferred Dealers, Continental Leisure in Wales is giving 20 per cent off caravan and motorhome service prices in its NCC Approved Workshop. It’s a family-run business with nearly 40 years of experience selling leisure vehicles, is an authorised dealer for new Auto-Trail, Roller Team and Bailey motorhomes and campervans, and has a selection of pre-owned vehicles on site too. Terms and conditions for the offer apply – visit myccc.co.uk/preferreddealer for more.

SAVE ON MOTOR MOVER PRICES AT COUPLANDS CARAVANS

Another of the Club’s Preferred Dealers, Couplands Caravans in Lincolnshire is offering members the opportunity to get a Single Axle Freedom Mover or Powrtouch Manual Twin Mover plus fitting at a discounted rate. The dealership is a family business and a leading agent for Bailey, Coachman and Swift units. There’s also a large accessory shop, awning display and 12-bay workshop on site. For more information visit myccc.co.uk/preferreddealer.

ATTRACTIONS

UP TO 45% OFF AT MERLIN GROUP

Experience the excitement brought to you by the Merlin Group, as Club members can receive up to 45 per cent off a range of family-friendly attractions across the country. The young and young at heart can experience the thrill of one of its well-known theme parks or explore its branded indoor attractions. Visit myccc.co.uk/discounts to find out more.

OUTDOOR CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

20% OFF AT LOTUS GRILL

Get your campsite barbecue ready in minutes with the Lotus Grill. The battery-powered fan supplies the charcoal with air while the outer layer remains cool. This means that it can be moved around when in use, and keeps the kids safe from burns. Club members can enjoy 20 per cent off the Lotus range when shopping online. Just use the exclusive discount code at checkout. Visit myccc.co.uk/discounts for more.

LIFESTYLE

20% OFF AT WELCOME BREAK

Club members can break up long journeys with 20 per cent off well-known brands at Welcome Break. With its free dedicated caravan parking you can refuel with a range of food and drink at any of its 44 locations across the UK. Just show your membership card at the time of purchase. Terms and conditions apply – visit myccc.co.uk/discounts.

LIFESTYLE

10% OFF AT ORDNANCE SURVEY

In partnership with the Club, Ordnance Survey is giving members an exclusive ten per cent off paper maps. Discover more of the outdoors and plan your next trip in detail with its walking, classic road or touring maps of Britain. To find out more, visit myccc.co.uk/discounts. Terms and conditions apply.

UNIT MAINTENANCE AND ACCESSORIES

20% OFF AT TYREPAL

Club members can save 20 per cent off any Tyrepal tyre pressure monitoring system. This offers you additional peace of mind on the road, by monitoring the tyres on your car, motorhome, caravan and more. Browse its online shop to find the best system for you and use the exclusive discount code at checkout to receive your saving. Terms apply – visit myccc.co.uk/discounts for details.

ATTRACTIONS

10% OFF AT AT SANDRINGHAM HOUSE

Round off a visit to Sandringham House with afternoon tea, where Club members can now benefit from a ten per cent discount. Be sure to also enjoy the house and museum or explore the 600 acres of country park. Check myccc.co.uk/discounts for the exclusive discount code to use when booking your visit online. Terms and conditions apply.

ATTRACTIONS

2 FOR 1 ENTRY AT LOCH LOMOND BIRD OF PREY CENTRE

Get up close and personal to more than 35 birds of prey and owls at Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre, located in woodland alongside the Scottish loch. In partnership with the Club, the conservation centre is giving members two-for-one entry, so you can learn about the rescue and rehabilitation work and enjoy aerial displays from the animals. Just present your membership card on arrival. For more information visit myccc.co.uk/discounts.

5% OFF ACCESSORIES AND FREE FIRST FILL OF GAS AT BRAYFORD LEISURE

Club members can make the most of an exclusive five per cent off in the accessories shop and a free first fill of gas with any Safefill bottle purchased at Club Preferred Dealer Brayford Leisure, in Lincolnshire. The dealership is the sister company of Couplands Caravans and stocks models from Bailey, Swift and Lunar, as well as the exclusive Bessacarr by Design range of caravans. Visit myccc.co.uk/preferreddealer to find out more.

Iit’s designed to protect and preserve our valuable countryside spaces through education, for current and future generations.

Moreover, enjoying the countryside is surely up there with the main reasons camping and caravanning is such a loved pastime in the UK – it’s all about getting out there.

Somewhat surprisingly, a study conducted by clothing brand Rohan has revealed a startling figure – 70% of us are inadvertently breaking the Countryside Code when we’re out and about for a typical ramble in the fresh air.

The survey questioned 1,837 adults in England and Wales about their understanding of the Code, and the measures they take to look after the natural environment while out for a stroll.

It turns out the most common breach of the Code comes from people walking through an open gate and then closing it behind them (46%). Other common transgressions included taking a rock, stone or a plant home (16%), climbing over a fence, wall or hedge away from the footpath (23%), and feeding wild or farm animals (9%).

Although the results showed a surprising lack of compliance, it did also identify that many of us are breaking the Code completely unintentionally. Only 12% of the respondents said they knew exactly what is included in the Code, with 48% either unsure or having no knowledge of it at all.

Read the full results from the survey at rohan.co.uk/explore/big-walking-survey

In just a few steps, fans and collectors can configure their very own miniature model of the two cult vehicles using the online tool.

Simply choose the model of your choice, select the colour and spec it up as you please, including selecting options from a range of parts, such as the iconic chrome roof rack of the VW Beetle. You can even add a personal number plate and turn it into a unique collector’s item.

The T1 Camping Bus and the Beetle are cult-classic vehicles and have not only left their mark on the car world, but also made history in terms of defining a lifestyle over generations.

See our review of the original Playmobil VW Campervan on your magazine website at myccc.co.uk/videos under September 2021.

The NC500 tourism body has saddled up with an international cycling expert and filmmaker to encourage people to explore the renowned 516 route of stunning coastal scenery on two wheels.

Markus Stitz, founder of Bikepacking Scotland, has joined forces with NC500 to devise a new range of off and on-road cycling itineraries that use sections of the route. The routes include cycle-friendly accommodation, cycle cafes, sightseeing stop-offs and storage facilities.

Markus is a highly experienced long-distance cyclist, who knows the route well from previous adventures and the research for his upcoming book about gravel rides in the UK.

This new cycling initiative is launching in time for the spring and summer months and aims to extoll the benefits of cycling for wellbeing and positive mental health, as well as an environmentally conscious travel option to explore the Northern Highlands. Markus said: “The NC500 takes people through stunning landscapes, and I hope that by travelling this way, cyclists can enjoy the scenery more from a slower, two-wheeled perspective, and also have a positive impact on the communities along the way.”

As well as a selection of fantastic Certificated Sites, the famously stunning route passes three of the Club’s Scottish Club Sites – Rosemarkie, Dingwall and Inverewe Gardens Poolewe.

On top of headliners such as Squeeze, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gabrielle and Craig Charles, the programme of events is still developing, but this month we’re unveiling more great acts.

Club President Julia Bradbury will be taking to the decks for a one-off DJ set, which is something she has been passionate about since her youth – she tells us that she’s looking forward to having some fun with it and winding back the years! Julia will be joining the Invisible Circus on stage as it delivers world-renowned musical and circus-act talents to the large crowds expected to fill the main arena. The act’s unique performance will include complex choreography, an LED light display, and classic circus acts such as fire performers and aerial acrobatics. It’ll certainly be worlds apart from your average DJ set!

The Club-Pub line-up continues to grow and evolve, and now includes acts such as Bikini Beach, Old Time Sailors and Karaoke with TV’s Shaun Williamson – perhaps best known as Barry Evans in BBC One EastEnders.

The kids are certainly well catered for at Torchlight. In the Kids Tipi, they will find Makeandoo Puppet craft classes, mask and hat making workshops, and a special pirate-themed costume workshop, plus a Showtime Circus takeover, lantern-making, and a magical woodland adventure trail for all to enjoy.

For the latest programme of this weekender to remember, be sure to check our timetable over the coming weeks at torchlightfestival.co.uk. Tickets are still available, so why not book now and secure your place at the camping weekend of the year?