About Us
History
Whilst mowing the lawn one day in 2019, Donald Macdonald came up with a slogan inspired by the Campaign for Real Ales and his own desire to be able to explore the UK in his motorhome the way he could in France using Aires. A dream was born… or rather the Campaign for Real Aires was created.
Starting as a small Facebook group only intended for Scotland where he lives, it quickly gathered a couple of hundred members and then did nothing. That is, until during Lockdown, Roy Goring decided to share it across a selection of other Motorhoming groups in July 2020. It went viral… if that’s the correct expression to use during Lockdown! Quickly membership soared until three months later we had over 13,000 members across the UK and counting (current total is top right of Home Page).
In May 2021 we decided to formalise our organisation and created CAMpRA UK Ltd, a Not For Profit, Company Limited by Guarantee. This enabled us to have more clout with Government, Councils, Companies etc.
We are now Stakeholder Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Holiday Parks and Campsites.
Advisors to British Parking Association, Camping & Caravanning Club.
Work with
- Search for Sites
- CAMpRA Rally Group
- Motorhome Fun
- Aire Stop
- ExploreVan.uk
- Motorhome Caravanners Club
- Campervans and Motorhomes Against Litter
- Cumbria Coastal Route
- Snowdonia 360
- Van life Matters
- Camptoo
Articles published in
- Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly
- Motorhome Caravanners Club Magazine
- British Parking Association Magazine
- Silver travel advisor Magazine
- Camptoo
- Tourism Management Magazine
- Bowls International Magazine
- National Caravan Council
- VanLife Matters Magazine
- Devon Live
There are six Directors and eleven Members who make up the Leadership Team, and we meet every week via Zoom.
None of the Directors or Members are allowed to make financial advantage from CAMpRA UK Ltd.
So, what galvanised CAMpRA? – Was it a plan?
No, it was the idea of NOT having a plan. To be able to hit the road, follow the sunshine, stop on a whim and stay the night at an unexpected destination are the things that motivate members.
The Campaign for Real Aires works to support and encourage Motorcaravaners to lift that most powerful of weapons in the fight for Aires – the pen. Writing to newspapers, MPs, MSPs, Council Leaders and Officers – and identifying partners who can benefit from having visitors being able to park in their Motorhomes and stay overnight.
Only when we have a network of Aire-style facilities across the UK will people be able to staycation safe in the knowledge they have somewhere safe and hospitable to park-up. Once this is achieved, we can raise a glass in celebration – maybe not a real ale… but certainly to a Real Aire.
Our Leadership Group
We are a volunteer organisation led by a Leadership Group, shown below which consists of the Directors and the Leadership Team Members. All the Leadership Group give their time for free and meet ‘virtually’ on Monday evenings to progress leads, develop working partnerships, continue to grow and refine the business and most importantly increase the number of Aires in the UK.
If you would like to contact us please use our contact form. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Directors
Donald Macdonald
My first overnight sleeping experience was stealth camping in a Renault Espace across the north of France, but I knew that if I want my wife and family to accompany me, I’d need a shower and toilet. So, in 2016 I bought a 25 year old Talbot Express and headed for the Vendee.
After spending 20 years as a Circulation manager for a national newspaper followed by a decade as a primary school teacher, I now run my own company teaching parents how to teach their children to ride a bicycle.
As well as being the Founder I’m also a Director and take an active role in the day to day running of the business. CAMpRA has grown from strength to strength and that is down to hard work by the Directors, the Leadership Team, our dedicated volunteers and Facebook group members.
Steve Haywood
I was a caravan owner for over 40 years and we moved to a motorcaravan 4 years ago as we wanted to tour in our retirement and to leave at a moment’s notice. Having toured France and Spain on a 12 week 4500 mile trip to see if we could survive in a 6m van conversion we realised the freedom to tour was for us.
My experience relevant to this campaign comes from my work as a service manager and contract manager which involved writing reports, interpreting data and reading and writing contracts.
My role as MD is to have overall responsibility for the day to day running and long term strategy of the Company.
Roy Goring
I’m fairly new to motorcaravaning, buying our first second hand motorcaravan on 3rd March 2020, yes, three weeks before lockdown. Since then we have been away as much as possible, including a four week tour of Scotland in 2020, and a three week tour of South Wales in 2021.
I spent 30 years as a Fireman, retiring in 2004. Since then I have worked in IT for corporations, fixing computers etc. In 2014 I decided to go out on my own, and have never looked back.
My main role in the Leadership Team, other than to chair the meetings, is to look after all the IT Infrastructure including the hosting of the website and forum.
Carolyn Mitchell
Having had VW vans for many years, in 2007, when my husband retired the first time, we decided to buy our first proper campervan.. We’ve been all over Europe and had several extended holidays usually spending around 130 nights per year away in the van, summer and winter.
After 40 years of working in financial roles, both in public and private organisations, I set up my own bookkeeping company in 2012 and now look after the bookkeeping for a variety of companies.
Ian Pedley
Right from my early days with the Cubs and Scouts I never missed a camping opportunity and always loved being under canvas!
I spent over 40 years in mechanical engineering, My first extended tour occurred many years ago during a 6-month solo vehicle trans Africa expedition in my 1958 LWB Series II diesel Landrover. I modified the vehicle for sleeping by removing the chassis from a Combi Camper trailer tent and fixing it to the roof rack.
I have spent 10 years towing a touring caravan and 20 years in motorhomes (love the get-up-and-go freedom of a motorhome).
I like pulling things apart, inventing/recycling stuff and rebuilding. Currently I spend my days tidying my mancave and customising our Swift Rio Motorhome for extended periods of off-grid camping - all intermingled other DIY projects .
My other interests include writing technical articles/videos for the mainstream motorhome magazines and my You Tube channel and website.
My main role is to handle various technical projects and publications.
Leadership Team Members
Tracey Barkwill
Having camped with our children we purchased a motorcaravan 8 years ago, which has allowed us to holiday with our 2 standard poodles, as well as take our grandchildren with us. It has enabled us to get out and about despite a hidden disability.
I am a semi-retired primary teacher & foster carer and my skills are not just limited to organisation and planning
As a Leadership Team Member for the North I work with organisations helping to create aires as well as assisting with public relations and fund raising.
Ian & Jill Curtis
A former business analyst for British Gas, my wife Jill and I have been motorhoming now for over 10 years and have always enjoyed the freedom a motorhome can bring and we can usually be found touring Europe.
We now own and run the Search for Sites website and app - www.searchforsites.co.uk - which aims to make it easy to find the best stopovers and campsites across the UK and Europe and are delighted to be CAMpRA partners and we list all of the new CAMpRA Accredited Aires.
Andy Clarke
I have been a motorcaravan owner on and off since 1978. We are fortunate in having had the opportunity to take several long term motorhome trips including travelling through most of Europe, Turkey, North Africa, Scandinavia, and Central Asia.
My background is in marine engineering, I ran my own inland waterways boat repair business for around 25 years before fully retiring in 2016. In 2000 I started the motorhome information website www.ukmotorhomes.net.
Jamie Spratt
Jamie works as a senior consultant with strategic design consultancy NileHQ, specialising in highly regulated industries. He works with some of the UK’s largest financial services and household names, helping them navigate complex regulations, optimise their operations, and create better user experiences.
Outside of his consulting career, Jamie is the founder of AireStop, a service he created after his parents struggled to find straightforward one-stop-shop solutions when they opened their aire at the family farm steading. Seeing a need in the market, he launched AireStop to simplify the process for other aspiring aire owners.
When he‘s not working, you’ll likely find Jamie out exploring the countryside in his Mercedes Vito campervan along with his fiancée Sally and their spaniel Archie. A keen explorer and adventurer, Jamie cherishes any opportunity to hit the open road and discover new places from the comfort of his home on wheels.
With his entrepreneurial spirit, consulting expertise, and passion for the great outdoors, Jamie brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to the CAMpRA leadership team.
Advisors
Arthur Davidson
Married for 47+ years, we started holidaying in a three foot high tent. When children came along we did Gites in France then Canvas Holidays. Eighteen years in caravans and for the last 12 years, a motorcaravan. We‘ve toured all over mainland Europe from Montenegro in the south to Sweden in the north and the Russian border in the east.
Retired now after a career in insurance, 18 years as a Claims Manager.