Couple win luxury caravan at Haven park

A couple from Mansfield, both in their eighties, have won a brand new ABI St David holiday home at Perran Sands worth more than £40,000 courtesy of ABI and holiday park operator Haven.

Brian and Irene Caddy met when they were just seventeen, said they were “over the moon” at their win in the nationwide competition.

The prize included all the connection charges and a year’s site fees at the Haven park of their choice – but with 34 parks all around the country they had no hesitation in picking Perran Sands, near Perranporth on the North Cornish coast.

The couple’s eldest son Chris and his wife Rachel live at St Teath, less than an hour’s drive from Perran Sands – and the couple are already planning extended stays in Cornwall that will allow them to spend more time with their two grandsons, Joshua, 8, and Matthew, 7.

The family “can’t wait” to enjoy all the facilities on the park – which include heated indoor and outdoor pools, Adventure golf,  a climbing wall, play areas and a full programme of kids’ clubs, activities and daytime and evening entertainment – not to mention a Surf School.

The 38x12 holiday home has a double bedroom and two twin bedrooms, an ensuite loo and separate shower-room with a comfortable lounge, dining area and beautifully appointed kitchen. The prize comes ready to move into – right down to the knives and forks!

Brian, who used to work as a Post Office Executive, said he and Irene have always loved holidaying by the sea and are looking forward to walks along the beach and the South West Coast Path – as well as sharing their new holiday home and all the attractions that Cornwall has to offer with their other two sons and a total of nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren!

The couple first visited Newquay in the 1950s when they enjoyed family holidays in Cornwall in a tiny touring caravan. “Our first van would have fitted into our new ABI six times over!” chuckled Brian.

In those days the journey used to take the family 12 hours but today the internal flight to Newquay from their home in Mansfield takes less than an hour – and remarkably costs only £9 more than the cost of driving.

More recently the  couple have spent several holidays in Spain but have recognised that UK breaks are easier, cheaper and less stressful.

Perran Sands’ General Manager June Donnery said she was delighted to welcome Brian and Irene to the park. “We’re seeing more and more older couples buying a holiday home where they can relax and enjoy quality time with their grandchildren,” she added. “I’m sure they will all have a wonderful time here.”

• For more information about holiday home ownership with Haven, tel: 0871 230 1299, web: www.havenholidayhomes.com.

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