Tourist attraction unlikely to return to Wilmslow

An alternative location is being sought for Romany's caravan which has lived in Wilmslow for more than 70 years.

The caravan 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 in many of his books, to Wilmslow. In 1950 it was placed in the newly created Romany Memorial Garden in South Drive.

Romany's caravan was in need of urgent restoration and following an appeal to members of the Romany Society and the people of Wilmslow to help raise funds, the vardo (to give it its gypsy name) was removed from its site, opposite Wilmslow library, in December.

The response from members of the Society to the appeal was both generous and immediate, raising nearly £6000 from members, but the second stage of the appeal was a great disappointment - provoking very little interest in the community and raising only £83 from the people of Wilmslow.

The vardo is currently in North Wales where it is being restored by The UK Vardo Heritage Project. The restoration is expected to be complete by midsummer.

It was hoped that Romany's caravan, which is owned by Cheshire East Council, would return to Wilmslow after restoration, but the Romany Society were very anxious that it was better protected from vandalism and the weather.

Alastair King, former Treasurer of the Romany Society, said "One consequence of the failure of our local appeal is that the Society's funds will be too low to finance any work on creating a protected environment for the vardo when it returns. Yet experts of the UK Vardo project say that unless it has better protection against the weather it will need re-painting again within a few years. They also say that fire and theft are growing problems in this country, with theft increasingly professional.

"As Romany's caravan has been part of the scenery in Wilmslow for as long as I can remember, this seems the natural place for it to be, but Wilmslow people have to some extent voted with their purses, and I now feel very strongly that it should be in a more secure environment, preferably one where it can be seen by more people and be open more often."

The committee of the Romany Society, in conjunction with Cheshire East Council, have spent a considerable amount of time looking at potential new locations. At one stage Cheshire East officers floated the prospect of a new home for the vardo at Tatton Park, which Cheshire East Council finances and maintains, and Dunham Massey has also featured as a consideration.

Alastair added "We would like to see it accessible to more people and open more often. We were very disappointed that Tatton Park could not find a place for it, as a National Trust property it would be ideal."

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: "The Romany Society is looking for alternative locations that will safeguard the integrity of the caravan in the long term. Both the Society and the Council are mindful that it would be better placed in a safe, secure and damp-free environment.

"In the meantime, the Council is open to suggestions on location from the society and will assist wherever possible."

What do you think about Romany's caravan being moved to a new location? Where would you like to see it located? Share your views via the comment box below.

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Cheshire East Council, Romany's Caravan