The Romany Society are appealing to the people of Wilmslow to help raise necessary funds in order to restore one of the town's main tourist attractions.
Romany's caravan, which stands opposite the library, is in need of urgent restoration and the Society are asking those residents who care for this unique part of our local heritage to make a donation, however small, towards the works.
The committee of the Romany Society have been concerned for some time about the continuing deterioration of the caravan (or vardo to give it its gypsy name) which belonged to Romany of the BBC who was a famous wild life broadcaster and author of many popular books on English wild life.
In the later years of his life Reverend George Bramwell Evens lived in Wilmslow and, when he died in 1943, his widow Eunice brought their beloved caravan, in which he used to write and which features many of his books, to Wilmslow. In 1950 it was placed in the newly created Romany Memorial Garden in South Drive.
The caravan is reckoned to be the smallest tourist attraction in the country and is open to the public, free of charge, on five Saturdays during the summer, it will also host the Santa's Grotto at next month's Wilmslow Christmas Festival.
It is almost 20 years since the vardo, was fully repainted, but in the present financial climate, Cheshire East Council, who own it, cannot give this work priority.
The cost of a full repainting, including replacement of deteriorating woodwork, is estimated at £6000. This includes the cost of taking the caravan away for the winter to a specialist vardo repairer.
The committee have set up the 'Vardo Restoration Fund' and pledged £2000 of its own funds towards the project. They also made a direct appeal to their 300 members which raised an additional £1000.
Alastair King, Treasurer of the Romany Society, said "The caravan was re-painted by Macclesfield Borough Council in 1992, but twenty years of exposure to the elements have taken their toll and the caravan is now in considerable need not only of re-painting but also of essential body repairs."
"In 2009 the Romany Society commissioned a report, at a cost of £350, on the state of the caravan by Valley Stream, who are experts in the field. On the basis of their survey the work needed to restore the caravan, before it is too late, was costed at £6,300. The Society hoped that Cheshire East Council would be able to proceed with the necessary work and offered £2000 from its very limited funds as a contribution. Due however to the general financial situation the council is not able to see the restoration as a priority.
"Since that date the condition of the caravan has noticeably deteriorated further. Cheshire East has plans for a wider use in the future, but these are dependent on its survival."
The Romany Society are hoping that the caravan can be removed for restoration works just after the Wilmslow Christmas Festival. If you would like to make a donation please send your contribution to Alastair King, Honorary Treasurer, The Romany Society, 15 Albert Road, Wilmslow, SK9 5HT. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Romany Society'. For further enquiries call Alastair on 01625 532296.
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