A BAD DAY

In the early 80s I decided to join the CC my first club site booking was for a week at their Builth Wells site iin Mid Wales. We set off early Saturday morning from Essex as we had to go through London to get on the M4 (no M25 in those days). All was going well untill we got close to the Severn bridge, the wind had got severe and we were pulled over and paired up with a large lorry. We had to drive across the bridge keeping pace with the lorry so the van didn't't get blown off. On reaching the other side a lot of oncoming vehicles were flashing their headlights,I checked the mirrors and the van was still following, my wife looked back and said the curtains are blowing out the van.I pulled off at the next junction and the front window had gone,it was toughened glass and had shattered into tiny squares the van was full of tiny pieces of broken glass.I found a phone box and rang May Day they suggested I carry on to the club site and ring them back when I arrived,we tied the curtains back and carried on to the site.

On arrival I met my first CC warden he was about 6ft3 and looked like a sergeant major, we booked in explained our problem and asked if we could use his phone to ring May Day the answer NO theres a public phone box outside.I rang May Day who said they had located a dealer with a front window in stock and could be out in an hour to fit it if I had the means to pay,With that sorted the warden said he would take me to my pitch (no choosing your own pitch here),he said follow me and set off marching like a sergeant major, About 100 yards from reception the road came to a T junction going round the site in a circle the warden walked straight on over the grass I followed,after about 20 yards he turned round bellowing about me driving on the grass. I said you told me to follow you he said I walk on the grass you drive round the road.(First impression of a CC warden).After pitching the van the dealer turned up with the new window had a generator and vacum to clean out the van enjoyed our week but kept well clear of the warden till booking out. Jim