Lunar Owners Club

Lunar Owners Club plays an integral part in the Lunar story, both past and present. With over 300 members and counting, LOC consists of a group of knowledgeable enthusiasts who are passionate and in possession of a Lunar caravan or motorhome.

Chairman of LOC, Ernie Heard, explains the origins, success and relevance of LOC:

“Having obtained permission from Lunar, John Grange invited a number of Lunar owners to a meeting at Quedgeley Village hall in January 1976 to discuss the formation of a Lunar Owners Club.

“A committee was set up to get the club running, with rules and membership fees drawn up to govern the club. A first year programme of three rallies was organised plus we called our first AGM at the end of the second season of rallies,” recalled Ernie, recently installed as LOC President in 2006.

The first rally took place at Corse Lawn in Gloucestershire, where the symbolic Lunar flag was bought for the club and as a number of members were going to the National rally at Spring Bank Holiday, the PR campaign was cranked up with existing members and the caravan press spreading the word. The second rally was in July at Weston Super Mare, and by now numbers had grown significantly, with a good spread around the country.

“Our final rally in 1976 was at Leyland where we used the field behind Campbell’s residential site, about 25 vans attended and by then our membership had increased to 99. During the course of the year it was decided to have a special 25th rally plaque and establish a newsletter to keep members in touch,” said Ernie.

“Generally rallies opened at 4.30pm on a Friday and closed at 4pm Sunday, apart from Bank Holidays, some 30 years ago the roads were less crowded, but the motorway system has been improved in many places. It was some years before the rallies were extended to five days.”

The first celebration rally was held in 1979, when at Easter the 21st rally was held at Highbridge. LOC has gone to acknowledge the 100th, 200th, 300th and 400th rallies with special plaques and on the 21st & 25th Anniversaries, Dinner Dances were successfully held.

On the 500th, a special rally with a Dinner was held and in 2006 we reached our 30th Anniversary which was combined with the manufacturer’s weekend and a Dinner dance. LOC will be celebrating the 600th rally at August Bank Holiday 2007.

LOC has also extended its membership overseas as Ernie explains:

“Since the 1980’s we have held eight rallies in France, one in Germany, one in Holland, with one to come in Belgium in 2007. Over the years we have built a good relationship with Lunar, initially with Brian & Maggie Talbot & Ken Wilcock and more recently with the current Managing Director Brian Mellor and recently retired Sales Manager David Rochester who joined in about 1990.

“When Maggie gave up her role as liaison with the club, Dave assumed the role. In 2003, Lunar were taken over by a Dutch Holding company who have continued the happy relationship we have built up. As the holding company also own other marques, one being Chateau, which is now very much linked to Lunar, we have made contact with Chateau Klub NL and hope this will lead to closer cooperation and possible joint ventures.”

Fancy becoming a LOC member?

The club is open to all bona fide owners of Lunar Caravans, Lunar Motorhomes and Chateau Caravans.

Membership must be granted and paid in advance of attending any rally and must last longer than the period of the rally. Only members of the club can attend rallies held under the exemption certificate held by the club.

Useful Contacts/Links

www.lunarownersclub.net

Club President



Ernie Heard