​The Cheshire Centre committee has now taken the very difficult decision to suspend all centre activities until Government advice changes.  This will obviously impact on our way of life but, for the good of society, I feel it is the right thing to do.

Your committee are working very hard to plan for the future, in particular the 50th Celebration Rally, but, as you can imagine with Government advice changing daily, that is very difficult.  Needless to say, as soon as we know anything we will inform you via the Weekly Updates, Web Site and Social Media. 

We will review our position on running rallies on a week by week basis and be guided by Government advice with primary concern being the safety of our members.  Whilst this is unsettling your patience and understanding is appreciated at this very difficult time.

On a personal note I would like ALL centre members to stay safe and to stay in touch, in particular those centre members living on their own.  Please feel free to pick up the phone for help or just a chat.

As you all, hopefully know by now, we are running a Craft Fair on the Saturday of the Celebration Rally between 2 and 4 pm in the main marquee.  It promises to be an interesting couple of hours looking at other ralliers skills, interests and passions.

We have received a number of people who are planning to show or sell their wares, but if you fancy showing the ralliers your talents be that your art work, photographs, collections etc or want to sell the little gadgets you have made then please contact Kev Patterson as soon as possible so we can allocate the correct amount of room in the marquee.

With less than 50 days to go to the rally, final planning is well underway, so please contact Kev now, don't put it off until later, if you want to display at the Craft Fair.  Help us make it a BRILLIANT weekend.

Thanks.

As with all of our centre's previous celebration rallies I intent to stick with protocol, particularly during the Opening and Closing ceremonies.  Jan Moore, the CAMC Vice Chairmen, will be our main guest and will formally open and close the rally for us.

Also on the stage will be as many Past Centre Chairmen as I have been able to contact, along with various Visiting Centre Chairmen, our main sponsors and your committee. 

I really think this is important, particularly inviting our Past Centre Chairmen to be on the stage, because if it wasn't for all of their hard work and dedication, along with their partners, we wouldn't be enjoying rallying as we do today.  Please show your respect when they are called onto stage by applauding them; thank you. 

As I am sure you all know, whenever you are organising a big party or a large rally there are always lots of 'little' jobs that always need completing.  At this point we have received lots of volunteers for siting the vans and that's great, but we'd like a few more who can help with a host of other activities.  So if you feel you can offer us a few hours to help out, please speak with any member of the committee or complete the form below.

Many hands make light work, thanks in anticipation of hordes of volunteers contacting us. ​

You may know that over the last 7 years I have been on a mission collecting information about the history of the centre and turning it into a film.  I completed version 1 of the film and showed it at the 2015 Celebration Rally; the feedback I received was very positive.  Each time I have received more memorabilia I have created a new version of the film, I am now working on film number 7 and the film has gone from 27 minutes to 63 minutes.

The film is split into different sections one of which is past chairmen.  The early rally brochures didn't have photos of the committee so early chairmen started off as shadows in the film, but over time, many e-mails and phone calls I have tracked down photos of all but the very first chairman, Cyril Burnman.   

However, a couple of days ago, out of the blue, Ian Morrey, a rallier from 1968 contacted me and sent me the missing photo.  So a huge thank you to Ian.  So now another piece of our great centre's history will be remembered in the film.

If anyone has any centre memorabilia, especially from the very early days, please contact me as soon as possible so I can add it to the latest version; thanks.  

​The film will be available to view on the Saturday afternoon at the Celebration rally, even if I say so myself, it is a great film.

We are well into planning phases now and we have a meeting scheduled with the landowner to discuss the more granular requirements of the rally, but more importantly, how much space we predict we will need.  Presently we are approaching 250 bookings with significant commitment from other centres. 

It would help us and the land owner hugely, if you could get your booking to us so we can plan ahead, even if you are a 'regular rallier'.  Don't delay, book today, you can even do it on line, click here to go direct to the booking page, where you can download a booking form or book on line.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you ALL there on what will be the biggest and best centre rally in the UK this year, bar none :-) 

Well, good news, the Cheshire Centre 50th Celebration Rally makes it into the Club Magazine.  So I am expecting a flurry of bookings from other centres and non centre members in the next week or so.  So while we haven't put a limit of the rally, Cheshire Centre members who haven't booked yet, it might be worth doing so in the next few days to ensure you get a place.

You can even book and pay on line for this rally, just click here to be taken right to the booking page.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

As with all large rallies, the sub committee are looking for some support from ralliers.  As you can imagine, with the diversity of events planned we are looking for all kinds of help, be that from siting vans to connecting taps to helping our many visitors find things. 

So if you think you could help because you have a unique skill or just want to put something back into this great centre contact one of the committee members; or complete the form below, thanks.
​

On Sunday afternoon there will be a tea dance, which if the last Celebration Rally was anything to go by, will prove very popular.  This year we will have Ralph Bowie as our music man and Lin will be there to remind the dancers of the steps should anyone have forgotten them.

And, with the addition of afternoon tea and cakes provided by Trish Little and Wendy Orr, who have an awesome reputation for lovely cakes, all served on real china cups plates, will make for a lovely couple of hours.

It will be a great event to attend, so put a reminder in your diary now so you don't forget.

Now, where are my dancing shoes, I had better pack them.

​We are very happy to announce that Guy Salmon Land Rover, Knutsford will be joining us at the Celebration Rally with their exciting new vehicles.  They plan to bring 3 cars including the new Defender and have generously sponsored our event.  Land Rover will be working out of the main arena and will have lots of green oval flags flying so they should be easy to spot.

Now then, where is my cheque book.

P.S. don't tell Andrea I am looking at the new Defender!

During Saturday afternoon we will be holding a Craft Fair in the main marquee.  The idea behind this is to allow our many talented ralliers to show case their hobbies, be that photography, knitting, wine making, ceramics or any other craft.  Small businesses who don't want to have a trade stand for the whole weekend will also be able to display their wares and sell them.

So pop along and have a look at our talented ralliers and maybe pick up that special individual gift.  It should be very interesting couple of hours. 

One of our ralliers has kindly volunteered to organise a bike ride around the local beautiful Cheshire country side on the Sunday morning of the rally. 

Sunday 9 am – Road Ride
Ride length – approx. 20 miles 
Duration - 1 hour 15 mins.
Average speed - 15 to 18 mph
Bike – Road / touring racing bike
Surfaces – tarmac country lanes
Suitable clothing including helmet, gloves etc.

So if you are a regular rider or fancy getting some exercise before breakfast then please register with Gary Farrington, on the form below, so he can plan and organise the ride.

I am sure it will be fun.  Now then, where is my old bike?
​ 

Currently we have nearly 200 bookings for our Celebration Rally, which is fantastic news.  But what I am really excited about is the fact we have 12 visiting centres and numerous non centre ralliers booked on as well.  I have also received promises of more friends booking the rally.  So along with all of the different attractions and entertainment we have for you, it will also be a great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. 

​If you haven't booked yet, surely that is a good enough reason to.  I look forward to seeing you and your friends on the 50th Celebration rally.

We now have an ice cream vendor on site.  In keeping with the special rally we are organising for you, ice cream will be available on a bike!

There will be traditional ice cream by the scoop with lots of lovely flavours at just £2 as well as ice lollies.  So keep your eye open for Poppy's bike.

​All we need now is the lovely weather so we can enjoy the ice cream. 

For the more experienced Cheshire Centre ralliers and our visitors who have attended Nationals in the past you will know how passionate we are about sport.  So in keeping with our rich sporting heritage we will be having an afternoon of sports.  There will be football, netball, volleyball, children's sports plus a fun run.

The sports teams will be mixed age and gender, so get your friends together old and young and enter a team.  The idea is to have some fun for everyone, there obviously will be medals and trophies but the focus is on fun.

​They have even roped me into the over 35's walking football and I don't do football, LOL.  So if nothing else come and watch me 'play' football and have a laugh.

Meldale, a BBQ meat producer, owned by ralliers Tom and Sarah Dale have agreed to support the rally.

They will have a wide selection of meats available at the rally:
Sausages £2.99 (plain pork, black pudding, chilli or leek flavours)
Minted Lamb Burgers (x4) £3.60
Beef Burgers (x4) £3.60
Chinese Pork Skewers (x4) £2.99

Or 4 for a tenner on sausages and skewers or 3 for a tenner on burgers!

You can also contact Tom or Sarah to pre book your order.

So all you need to do now is remember to pack your BBQ and hope for good weather.

We're very happy to have Glossop Caravans as our main sponsor once again. They will have a selection of caravans and motorhomes for sale and are keen to do some special show deals throughout the weekend. 
​We have also secured the CAMC Concert band who will be playing for us in the marquee.

For those ralliers who don't know, or those of you who haven't been out recently, the committee are organising a free raffle which will be drawn at the Celebration Rally.  There are two £500 cash prizes and ten £50 cash prizes to be won.  Now I have got your attention with the thought of winning some cash, let me tell you how it will work.

There will be one free ticket in each 'goody' bag that you will receive on your arrival at Arley Hall.

To increase your odds of winning, each time you attend a Cheshire Centre rally between 1 May 2019 and 26 April 2020 you can earn another free entry into the draw.  Just get the form signed by the rally chairman or a committee member.

On or before 26 April 2020, get your form sent off to Tom Dale to increase your chances of winning. .

Forms can be collected from the rally field or downloaded from here.

You may have seen committee members and some ralliers wearing polo shirts sporting the 50th Celebration Rally logo?
​If you fancy a polo shirt, a T shirt, a fleece, a hoodie or baseball cap as a lovely souvenir of the centre's birthday celebrations at Arley Hall then you can buy them from a company called Emblaze, which is run by past Cheshire Centre member Rick Corke.  Emblaze have the logo and a special page for centre members to make it easier when ordering.  At only £9.99 for a polo shirt it is great value.

Click here to order a polo shirt.

​I look forward to seeing you all wearing Celebration Rally clothing. 

​Lets make it a BRILLIANT weekend.

To make the 50th Celebration Rally even more appealing to those ralliers travelling a long distance, (Cheshire Centre ralliers who have moved away or visitors from other centres), or folk who just fancy staying out in the vans a little longer, it was decided that a follow on rally should be organised.

Martyn and Nicola Shaw e-mail: Martyn Shaw and Barry and Glenis Chesterson have kindly volunteered to run the rally for us.  Thank you both.

The rally will be held at Sycamore Farm which is only 30 minutes from Arley Hall, it is an ideal location to visit the local attractions of Tabley House, a former stately home, Joderal Bank, the world famous observatory, with its own vistor centre, Knutsford, a market town steeped in history and much more.  Or to wind down after the rigours of the 50th Celebration Rally.  The rally will start on the Monday 4th and run until Friday 8th. The Rally Officers will be organising events during the week to increase your enjoyment.

To book the Follow On Rally or to find out more information click the here or go to page 28 of this years rally brochure.

I thought it was very important to have entertainment for ALL age groups during the day.  To that end the committee have, hopefully, hit that target.  Below is what we have organised so far during the weekend:

• A Fun Fair for the children will be open all day, it will be FREE.
• We have a number of traders that have agreed to attend the rally, we are always looking out for more, so if you know someone or are a trader yourself get in touch with a committee member (there is no charge for traders).
• The Police Band will be performing.
• A Fun Run and Children's Sports.
• A Craft Fair ((bring your crafts, photos etc to display for others to view).
• The CAMC Band will be performing.
• Church Service.
• The Rock Choir will be performing.
• There will be a traditional Tea Dance.
• A Fun Dog Show.
• A Karate Display with our very own James and Katie Rae.
• Lurcher display.

Hopefully that has whet your appetite, if you have any ideas / contacts for additional ideas, please just let me know.