The Gardner family
Mr Arthur Gardner built his first caravan in 1919. It was actually a motor caravan converted from an army ambulance. Arthur and his wife Joyce, our late President, spent their honeymoon in it. However, the shortcomings of such a vehicle were soon apparent to Arthur. He felt that, if there was to be a future in caravanning, it must surely lay in trailer caravans. Convinced of this he set about building a trailer caravan from scratch, including the chassis.
Above: Arthur and Joyce Gardner – pic taken from 1939 Cheltenham Caravan Co brochure.
The caravan story begins to roll…
1919 to present day Cheltenham Owners Club timeline
1919
Arthur Gardner builds his first ever caravan…
This was actually a motor caravan converted from an army ambulance. Arthur and his wife Joyce, our late President, spend their honeymoon in it.
With the shortcomings of the vehicle soon apparent to Arthur, he felt that if there was to be a future in caravanning this would lay in trailer caravans.
Convinced of this he set about building his own trailer from scratch including the chassis.
This was the beginning of the Cheltenham Caravan Company.
Below shows a 1929 domed roof caravan.
1950
Arthur and Joyce Gardner form the Cheltenham Owners Club
1951
First Winter Luncheon…
Club members entertained the Gardner family to a luncheon at Chateau Impney near Worcester, and presented them with an illuminated address by most of the members; this was an expression for the generous hospitality extended to Cheltenham owners for many years, long before the club was formed. This was the first of the now familiar and ever popular Winter Luncheons/Dinners.
1951
First Annual Rally…
Also known as the ‘Cheltenham Weekend’, originally proposed for September, ultimately became June. Featured on March 1951’s cover of ‘The Caravan’ .
1961
The first Cheltenham Owners Club Newsletter on just 4 sides of A4… Membership was in excess of 1000.
The club obtained its ‘Certificate of Exemption’ under the 1960 Caravan Act; the first club to do so.
1965
Kelso rally…
1968
Presidential sadness and first succession…
The President was unable through illness to attend the Winter Luncheon, but members were pleased to hear that he was progressing well after a serious operation. Sadly, he relapsed and died before the Cheltenham Weekend. Mrs Joyce Gardner was elected President at the AGM and Mr Cecil’s wife Pat was elected as joint Treasurer with Mrs Gardner.
1970
21st Cheltenham Weekend Celebrations…
The year of the 21st Cheltenham Weekend, the inauguration meeting being counted as the first. 570 Cheltenhams attended and 470 sat down to dinner. The distributors of Cheltenham caravans wished to mark the anniversary and presented the club with the Chairman’s Badge which is now worn by our Chairmen on formal occasions.
1975
The Cheltenham Caravan Company ceases trading…
Spares could still be obtained by Messrs Stephens and West of Cirencester.
1976
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to The Frogmill Inn at Andoversford, Glos.
During the period following the closure of the company, membership fell steadily until 1980 when it began to recover.
1980
John and Tiny Bradley begin renovating Cheltenham caravans…
Without a production revival on the cards, John and Tina Bradley, members of the Cheltenham Owners Club set about restoring and renovating Cheltenham caravans until their retirement in 2004. This has made a vital contribution to the survival of so many vans and the consequent revival and continued success of the club.
1982
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Cheltenham Racecourse for one year
1983
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Cowley Manor, Glos.
1986
Presidential changes…At the AGM it was announced that the President, Mrs Joyce Gardner, the Secretary, Mr Cecil Gardner, and the Treasurers, Mrs Joyce and Mrs Pat Gardner, having held office for 36 years, did not wish their names to go forward for re-election. The members heard this news with dismay, but received it with understanding. However, it was proposed that Mrs Joyce Gardner should be appointed the Life President and Mr Cecil Gardner Vice President. Mrs Jean Etheridge was elected Secretary and Mr Rupert Pilkington, Treasurer.
1987
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Hatherley Manor Hotel, Glos… After leaving the Frogmill Inn it was difficult to find a suitable home for the club to settle. Hatherley Manor was not as successful as was hoped and yet another search for a suitable site led us to Norton in 1988, where we stayed until the move to Eastnor Castle in 1999, in anticipation of the 50th Anniversary in 2000.
1998
Vice President resigns after 36 years serving the club…
The Vice-President, Mr Cecil Gardner, announced that he did not wish to continue as the Vice-President. He had spent almost a quarter of a century designing and manufacturing caravans and served as Hon. Secretary for 36 years from the founding of the Club until he was elected Vice Chairmen in 1986. He said he had enjoyed the hospitality and friendships of the Club but it was time to make room for others.
1999
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Eastnor Castle, Glos.
Below shows convoy at FICC Rally at Lincoln Showground this year
2000
The club’s 50th anniversary and sad death of remaining founding member…
Although the club reached its golden landmark in 2000, it was sad that Mrs Joyce Gardner who, with her husband Arthur, was instrumental in founding the Club, and our President for so many years, died just before the 50th anniversary celebrations.
2020
The 70th anniversary celebrations delayed due to Covid pandemic…
The celebrations resumed in August 2021 at Ledbury Rugby Club, Glos.
2025
The Cheltenham Owners Club celebrates its 75th anniversary…
With a number of celebrations throughout the year, the highlight would be the National Rally held at Tewkesbury featuring a Silver Band, dinner and TV crew from U TV’s ‘Bangers and Cash: Restoring Classics’ Puku 2 caravan broadcast.
1919
Arthur Gardner builds his first ever caravan…
This was actually a motor caravan converted from an army ambulance. Arthur and his wife Joyce, our late President, spend their honeymoon in it.
With the shortcomings of the vehicle soon apparent to Arthur, he felt that if there was to be a future in caravanning this would lay in trailer caravans.
Convinced of this he set about building his own trailer from scratch including the chassis.
This was the beginning of the Cheltenham Caravan Company.
Below shows a 1929 domed roof caravan.
1950
Arthur and Joyce Gardner form the Cheltenham Owners Club
1951
First Winter Luncheon…
Club members entertained the Gardner family to a luncheon at Chateau Impney near Worcester, and presented them with an illuminated address by most of the members; this was an expression for the generous hospitality extended to Cheltenham owners for many years, long before the club was formed. This was the first of the now familiar and ever popular Winter Luncheons/Dinners.
1951
First Annual Rally…
Also known as the ‘Cheltenham Weekend’, originally proposed for September, ultimately became June. Featured on March 1951’s cover of ‘The Caravan’ .
1961
The first Cheltenham Owners Club Newsletter on just 4 sides of A4… Membership was in excess of 1000.
The club obtained its ‘Certificate of Exemption’ under the 1960 Caravan Act; the first club to do so.
1965
Kelso rally…
1968
Presidential sadness and first succession… The President was unable through illness to attend the Winter Luncheon, but members were pleased to hear that he was progressing well after a serious operation. Sadly, he relapsed and died before the Cheltenham Weekend. Mrs Joyce Gardner was elected President at the AGM and Mr Cecil’s wife Pat was elected as joint Treasurer with Mrs Gardner.
1970
21st Cheltenham Weekend Celebrations… The year of the 21st Cheltenham Weekend, the inauguration meeting being counted as the first. 570 Cheltenhams attended and 470 sat down to dinner. The distributors of Cheltenham caravans wished to mark the anniversary and presented the club with the Chairman’s Badge which is now worn by our Chairmen on formal occasions.
1975
The Cheltenham Caravan Company ceases trading… Spares could still be obtained by Messrs Stephens and West of Cirencester.
1976
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to The Frogmill Inn at Andoversford, Glos. During the period following the closure of the company, membership fell steadily until 1980 when it began to recover.
1980
John and Tiny Bradley begin renovating Cheltenham caravans…
Without a production revival on the cards, John and Tina Bradley, members of the Cheltenham Owners Club set about restoring and renovating Cheltenham caravans until their retirement in 2004. This has made a vital contribution to the survival of so many vans and the consequent revival and continued success of the club.
1982
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Cheltenham Racecourse for one year
1983
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Cowley Manor, Glos.
1986
Presidential changes…At the AGM it was announced that the President, Mrs Joyce Gardner, the Secretary, Mr Cecil Gardner, and the Treasurers, Mrs Joyce and Mrs Pat Gardner, having held office for 36 years, did not wish their names to go forward for re-election. The members heard this news with dismay, but received it with understanding. However, it was proposed that Mrs Joyce Gardner should be appointed the Life President and Mr Cecil Gardner Vice President. Mrs Jean Etheridge was elected Secretary and Mr Rupert Pilkington, Treasurer.
1987
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Hatherley Manor Hotel, Glos… After leaving the Frogmill Inn it was difficult to find a suitable home for the club to settle. Hatherley Manor was not as successful as was hoped and yet another search for a suitable site led us to Norton in 1988, where we stayed until the move to Eastnor Castle in 1999, in anticipation of the 50th Anniversary in 2000.
1998
Vice President resigns after 36 years serving the club… The Vice-President, Mr Cecil Gardner, announced that he did not wish to continue as the Vice-President. He had spent almost a quarter of a century designing and manufacturing caravans and served as Hon. Secretary for 36 years from the founding of the Club until he was elected Vice Chairmen in 1986. He said he had enjoyed the hospitality and friendships of the Club but it was time to make room for others.
1999
The Cheltenham Weekend moves to Eastnor Castle, Glos.
Below shows convoy at FICC Rally at Lincoln Showground this year
2000
The club’s 50th anniversary and sad death of remaining founding member…
Although the club reached its golden landmark in 2000, it was sad that Mrs Joyce Gardner who, with her husband Arthur, was instrumental in founding the Club, and our President for so many years, died just before the 50th anniversary celebrations.
2020
The 70th anniversary celebrations delayed due to Covid pandemic…
The celebrations resumed in August 2021 at Ledbury Rugby Club, Glos.
2025
The Cheltenham Owners Club celebrates its 75th anniversary…
With a number of celebrations throughout the year, the highlight would be the National Rally held at Tewkesbury featuring a Silver Band, dinner and TV crew from U TV’s ‘Bangers and Cash: Restoring Classics’ Puku 2 caravan broadcast.
The first caravans
This was the beginning of what, through the pursuit of an ambition to produce the ideal caravan, ultimately led to the Cheltenham models bearing Antelope names that form our Club today. The use of Antelope names was suggested by a South African customer in 1937. It was adopted in the following year’s production.
Throughout their development, new models were road and site tested extensively before production for sale, by the Gardner family themselves. Once on the market, every opportunity was taken to obtain feedback from the new owners. Feedback helped identify any design faults or where there might be room for improvement.
Caravanning events onwards to becoming a club
At caravanning events, particularly Internationals, they generously entertained all the Cheltenham owners on site. Frequently they were invited and encouraged to make candid comment about their vans. A close relationship with the owners developed, and among the owners, with each other. This gave Joy and Arthur the idea of starting an owners club, which would be unique.
Arthur and Joy lived at Southfields Manor, Cheltenham, and owned the adjoining farm. They spread the word among Cheltenham owners that there would be a free meet at Southfields Farm the following September. This was successful in gathering together a number of owners and 55 vans.
The Gardner Family entertained everybody to a splendid dinner in a marquee. Arthur Gardner proposed to the assembly that the ‘Cheltenham Owners Club’ should be formed. This was received with enthusiasm and carried unanimously. The new club should have activities complimentary to the national clubs and not vie with them in any way. The Cheltenham Caravan Co., Ltd., had organised this meet, however future meets were to be organised by a member appointed committee. Mr Gardner offered the club the use of a site on Southfields Farm for an annual rally.
A significant factor in the development of such a club was the early appointment of our very own Chaplin. This office was held by the Reverend Charles Peers, Vicar of Holy Apostles Church, Cheltenham. He wrote the Cheltenham Owners Hymn. His Services at Cheltenham Weekends were set at just the right level to be appreciated by a very mixed congregation.
Southfields c1950
First officers and committee
After forming the club in 1950, the first Officers and Committee were duly elected:
Chairman Mr Ralph Lee
Secretary Mr C. H. Gardner
Treasurer Mrs J. K. Gardner
Committee Mr F Gurney, Mrs Marjorie Nest, Mr R. J. Frost, Mr C.B. Offley
Mr Arthur Gardner agreed to be President of the Club.
The ‘Cheltenham Weekend’ was formed
It was suggested that the next meet should be held in September in the following year. However there was a counter proposal for June which was carried by a large majority. Since then, successive committees have held, what soon became known as the ‘Cheltenham Weekend’, annually in June. The meetings were all held at Southfield Farm, until the Cheltenham caravan Company ceased trading in 1975. The popularity of the club was without question, as attendances at these meets rose to a peak in excess of 300 vans during this period.
Another popular event in the club’s calendar was the first ‘Rally of the North’, which was held in 1962 at Hexham, Northumberland, in the autumn. These events have continued ever since.
1960 Southfields “Cheltenham Weekend”
Thankfully, the closing of the Company was not the beginning of the end, but rather the end of the beginning. The club found itself a new venue for the Cheltenham Weekend at the Frogmill Inn at Andoversford, Glos. It was also possible to obtain spares for the vans from Messrs Stephens and West of Cirencester.
A bitesize club history can be found in the timeline above.