A Stewards eye view of the Hoddom Rally

The Rally was due to start on Friday but we arrived two days before on the Wednesday so we could be sure everything was ready. Ray and Gerry Timms were already there so we weren't short of company. The Dandy was erected and got ourselves settled in.

    Thursday arrived we had breakfast and got ready to go into Dumfries to collect the last of the things we needed when Roy and Sue Anderson arrived closely followed by Jim & Anne Wilson . We helped them pitch and then headed to Dumfries. That evening was just like a mini Rally including Jim Wilson coming round with his usual stories of the Wongle Wurzle to scare the Children!!

    Friday and the official start to the Hoddom Rally. At 8 am there was various thunder claps and then the rain started with a vengeance The memories of Inveraray were coming back to haunt us but at 09.45 am the rain stopped and we never saw it again for the whole weekend. We were expecting another 9 units that day and soon one arrived followed by the rest at a trickle until at 09.30pm the Last two arrived including Don and Oona Parker who were attending their first rally and were welcomed like long lost friends by the rest of the group.

    Blazing Sunshine greeted Saturday morning and soon our final member arrived (they had intended arriving on Thursday but car trouble had delayed them). Everybody took the chance of the good weather to explore the area , we were no different and took the opportunity to look round Carlisle and Gretna.

    We hadn't arranged anything for Saturday evening but the on-site Pub had a quiz night so most of us ventured down and joined in. It was great fun but unfortunately none of us managed to win.

  We had given everyone list of 40 questions about Scotland on their arrival so on Sunday morning I collected the sheets from everyone and marked them before the Flag meet. All had done rather well (probably helped by the fact one member had a relative nearby and made use of their PC to surf the Web!!!). The best were Roy and Sue Anderson from that great Scottish town of Rugby???? The raffle was next and then it was time to clear up and go home. We thanked Kath & Ged the Site Wardens and made for home. It had been tiring but we thoroughly enjoyed Stewarding our 3rd rally and hope to do one again soon.