Celebrate Father’s Day With Dad At The Custom & Hot Rod Festival Sunday 16th June 2012

1931 Ford Model A

Instead of buying Dad the usual socks or beers for Father’s Day, why not treat him to a day out at Beaulieu’s fun-filled Custom and Hot Rod Festival on Sunday 16th June? A great day out for all the family, this fantastic festival features the Custom Car Show, in association with Victory Wheelers, as well as the Custom Motorcycle Show, also taking place over the weekend.

On the Sunday, anyone owning a Hot Rod, Custom or Classic American car or motorcycle can drive to Beaulieu and display their vehicle alongside hundreds of others in the beautiful grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Admire some of the quirky and unusual designs that can only be found on the colourful custom scene, and enjoy some great entertainment, including live music from The Mad Bones as well as free rides on the fairground dodgems. You can also browse a number of trade stands selling clothing, Americana memorabilia, merchandise, accessories and the latest custom magazines.

In another exciting feature at the 2013 show, Europe’s first dragster, Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler, will be on display in the grounds alongside Andy Robinson Race Cars’ Pro Mod 1969 Camaro and both will be firing up at intervals throughout the Festival to demonstrate their engine power to visitors.

Custom Motorcycle Show

The Allard Chrysler, which is owned by the National Motor Museum Trust, has been fully restored by a group of enthusiasts, the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG), in a lengthy, but very successful five year project.

All custom vehicles at the Festival will have the opportunity to win one of the Beaulieu awards up for grabs in categories including Best Hot Rod, Best Chopper, Best American and Best in Show. Each winner will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in the afternoon awards ceremony, before taking part in a cavalcade around the attraction’s grounds. There will also be a People’s Choice Award, given to the owner of the vehicle voted for the most by Beaulieu’s visitors that day. The winner of this category will receive an exclusive trophy from Willydog Hotdogs.

The Custom Motorcycle Show taking place on Saturday and Sunday, a “World Class” event promoting engineering excellence and celebrating the wonderful world of custom and modified motorcycles, will be making a welcome return to Beaulieu as part of the Festival. This show gives visitors a rare opportunity to view a unique collection of stunning custom bikes and check out the bike-related trade stands in and around the Grand Marquee. As part of the show, a UK affiliate round of the AMD World Championships will be taking place, with the winner being invited to attend the Grand Finals of the World Championships in Essen, Germany in May 2014.

Admission to the Festival includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which features the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION exhibition, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the grounds and gardens, plus unlimited rides on the high-level monorail and open-topped veteran London bus.

On the day ticket prices for those participating in the Sunday Drive-In with a custom vehicle are £10 per adult. One child will receive free entry when accompanied by a paying adult, and any additional children will be charged £5 each.

All those wishing to visit the Sunday event as spectators should buy normal Beaulieu attraction admission tickets on the day from Visitor Reception.

Or why not take advantage of a special discounted rate for advance tickets for both participants and spectators, available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on ticket line 01590 612888.

For those arriving in a custom vehicle on Sunday, entry is from 8am, when catering will be available. The show opens to the public from 10am.

If you fancy making a weekend of it, camping tickets for the whole Festival weekend are also available. These weekend tickets give access to the whole Beaulieu attraction and on-site camping all weekend, and entry to the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, with the opportunity for custom car or bike owners to take part in a Saturday Cruise Out in the surrounding New Forest. Each day, evening entertainment and catering will be available from 7.30pm, with a pub-style atmosphere and background music in the Brabazon Restaurant on Friday night and on Saturday night a DJ and karaoke in the restaurant plus a live set from The Mad Bones near the Beaulieu Arena. To find out more about weekend tickets please visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk

For more information about the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, please visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #customfestival

Four Days of Delicious Delights at the Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair 1 & 2 June and 8 & 9 June

The Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair is back bigger and better than ever this year with four days of mouthwatering treats on offer on 1-2 and 8-9 June.

The annual foodie event takes place on the hill below the Stables and gives visitors the opportunity to sample a mouth watering selection of the best food and drink on offer in the region.

More than 60 stalls will feature gourmet delights, seasonal specialities and dining accessories alongside a whole array of tempting delights to enjoy on the day as well as to take home. Look out for homemade ice cream being sold from tricycles; sample medieval drinks brewed from plants and take home some artisan bread from the Chatsworth Farm Shop.

Choose from artisan cheeses; sweet and savoury puff pastry tarts topped with local produce; homemade pies; cured meats and plenty of pickles and chutneys. For the sweet toothed, there will be heritage puddings; homemade crumbly fudge; cakes and biscuits. On the drinks front, there will be gin and vodka liqueurs; sloe gin and blackcherry liqueur; a range of whiskeys and bottle conditioned beers.

The award winning Chatsworth Farm Shop will be bringing some of the highlights from its range of quality produce to the fair. The new head baker Roger Coulson will also be taking along its wonderful range of breads, tarts, cakes and biscuits produced by the team of inventive bakers who create different specialty breads each week, inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Face painters will be on hand to keep the kids happy while the adults indulge their tastebuds.

Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair is open 10am to 5pm on 1,2,8,9 June. £3 parking charge applies. For more information, visit www.chatsworth.org


Chatsworth is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, 10 of the most magnificent palaces, stately homes and castles in England. www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Top Visitor Attraction Acknowledges Volunteers

House Steward

National Volunteer Week, 1 – 7 June, recognises the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the country, including an army of volunteers working at Harewood House, visitor attraction and educational charitable Trust in Leeds.

The volunteers are the life-blood of Harewood, generously giving their time to support the work that Harewood Trust does and sharing their passion and interest for Harewood. Many of the team of volunteers have worked at Harewood for a number of years, acquiring anecdotes and tales as if the House were their own.  Harewood is an educational charitable Trust that relies entirely on its own endeavours to meet its funding needs and volunteers make a significant contribution in enabling the Trust to deliver a first class service to its visitors. There are endless volunteer opportunities at Harewood, ranging from Room Stewards, Shuttle Drivers, Gardeners, Bird Garden Rangers to Bookshop Helpers. In return, volunteers receive free admission to Harewood House and grounds, and help to preserve one of Britain’s most historic treasure houses.

Chief Executive of Harewood House Mike Schafer comments:-
“The 2012 London Olympics has drawn attention to the value of volunteers; although not on the same scale, we have welcomed volunteers for over 20 years. They are an integral part of the team, providing an exceptional experience for our visitors and ensuring they enjoy their day.”
Volunteer co-ordinator Richard Brice comments:-
“Our diverse group of volunteers keeps Harewood running smoothly. They are a pleasure to work with and being new to the team myself, I’m continually surprised by their vast knowledge and enthusiasm for Harewood. We like to appreciate and recognise their hard work each day, as well as on this special week.”

Shannon Cross, University student and Room Steward explains:-
“I was lucky enough to visit many historic houses as a child and my interest grew when I studied Country Houses in GCSE History. I’ve been hooked ever since, and in fact my GCSE history teacher is now a Tour Guide in the House. Volunteering at Harewood has inspired me to further my studies at Leeds University, and I am currently earning my degree in History of Art with Museum Studies. I would definitely recommend volunteering at Harewood as it is a chance to keep this history alive, meet new friends, gain experience and confidence.”

Tracey Watkins, working mother and Senior Volunteer Gardener said:-
“I started volunteering to get some ‘me time’ away from the children. I can really recommend it for all parents, it’s very therapeutic with no clocks and no four walls. I’ve been volunteering at Harewood for 12 years now alongside my day job, and it’s turning out to be a new career plan for me. The camaraderie in the gardens is great; I’ve made a lot of friends over the years.”

To see the full range of volunteering opportunities at Harewood, visit www.harewood.org/join-the-team

Beaulieu’s Best Spring Autojumble Ever

Record numbers flocked to this year’s Spring Autojumble, held in the Beaulieu parkland on the 18th and 19th May, making 2013 the most successful year of this event so far. Against the odds and despite some appalling weather forecasts at the beginning of the week, it actually remained fine and dry for most of the weekend, with sunny spells throughout and just a few showers on Sunday.

Total admissions reached 16,507 – a record breaking number for this event, up 1,183 on the previous highest total of 15,324, recorded at the first ever Spring Autojumble in 1994. The number of vehicles in the Motormart has reduced in the last couple of years but there has been an increase in the number of autojumble stands, with 1,069 in total over the weekend. Whilst the Mart figures are slightly disappointing, the stand and admission figures are very encouraging, and reflect the increasing importance of Beaulieu’s Spring event in the autojumble calendar.

Beaulieu Events Manager, Judith Maddox, said: “It has been wonderful to see this event grow over the years and we were delighted to finally break the record attendance numbers set in 1994. This year’s show has been thoroughly enjoyable, with some great displays from the car clubs, particularly Morris, with one of the largest club displays we have ever had at the Spring Autojumble.

“We are very grateful that the weather has been kind to us, exhibitors have reported brisk trading with many visitors commenting on the high quality of the stock on offer.”

There were 37 car clubs in attendance over the weekend, but the largest presence by far was the Dorset Branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club, who put on a fantastic display of Morris vehicles, in celebration of the marque’s centenary anniversary. Over 200 Morris cars of all models were on display with examples from nearly every one of the seventy years Morris were in production, from the 1913 Bullnose Oxford to the 1983 Morris Ital. All participants received an engraved travel clock as a memento of the occasion, with the committee receiving theirs from Lord Montagu.

The Hillman Imp Car Club also put on an impressive display of Imps to celebrate their own 50th anniversary and each entrant was presented with a commemorative mug. The Wessex Car Club also brought along a small selection of their beautiful motors for visitors to admire. Another star of the show was a fully 1910 restored horse drawn fuel tanker, complete with Anglo American Oil Company stamped brass hub covers, original paintwork and sign writing, which has been lovingly restored by Petroliana standholder, Alan Chandler.

Despite the reduced numbers in the Motormart, there were, nevertheless, some incredible bargains to be snapped up by savvy spenders, and after the first day a number of cars were already displaying SOLD signs in their windscreens, including an eye-catching limited edition yellow and black Mitsubishi FTO Version R V6.

Prices ranged from as little as £1,750 for a black 1953 Wolseley Four Forty Four barn find to as much as £33,000 for a beautiful 1997 maroon Bentley 400RT LWB with just 29,000 on the clock. There were some sporty little numbers on sale; a very neat little silver 2004 MG TF 1.8 for £2,400, a stunning scarlet 1997 Alfa Romeo Spyder for £2,450, as well as a silver 1998 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera for £9,750.

Jaguars seemed to be taking over the Motormart and there were some bargains to be had, including a 1998 Jaguar Sovereign XJ8, which was a steal at an asking price of just £2,000 and a 1987 Jaguar XJS selling at a very reasonable £14,950.

Among the quirkier offerings was a 1987 Mini Moke imported from Spain selling at £7,500 and a bright yellow 1965 Morris Minor convertible at £2,450. A customised matt black 1955 Ford pick-up was also attracting a lot of attention from visitors, as was a stunning looking 1990 Bentley Eight with cream leather interior, 28,000 miles on the clock and an asking price of just £9,995.

In a chance coincidence, a 1951 Lagonda 2.6 DHC barn find stored since 1966 and open to offers was parked not far from a mint condition maroon 1950 Lagonda Drop Head Coupé, selling at £30,000. This was a great opportunity for visitors to see how barn finds compare to show room condition vehicles, and demonstrated what the barn find could look like following extensive restoration work.
New show sponsors, Practical Classics, had plenty to keep the crowds entertained on their stand. Many visitors congregated there each day to take part in a lively Pub Quiz, with a range of motoring related head-scratchers to get the brain cells working. Visitors were also invited to watch as the PC team set about the engine rebuild of their current project, a 1973 MGB.

Sunday features once again included Sodbury Sortout, with stands selling all things Land Rover related, which has always attracted a dedicated following of Land Rover enthusiasts. This year was no exception, with plenty of people making a beeline for the Sortout to rummage through the stacks of giant-sized tyres and piles of Land Rover parts. Nearby, Trunk Traders, with amateur jumblers selling their surplus bits from the back of their vehicles, brought a welcome injection of new stock to the field, with both exhibitors and visitors happily rooting around for bargain buys and hidden gems.

2013 saw the welcome return of the Walkabout Auction, which was trialled at last year’s show and proved to be a very popular new feature. The auction offers an ‘end of show’ chance to buy and sell, giving exhibitors an opportunity to sell off surplus items of stock on the Sunday afternoon for just a £1. This year Practical Classics Editor, Danny Hopkins, took to the microphone as guest auctioneer, providing a thoroughly entertaining commentary and selling 47 lots, the lowest for £1 and the highest for £90. Amused spectators looked on as eager buyers crowded around boxes to bid on all sorts of automobilia, from books and prints, to car parts and lights – there was even a complete vintage bicycle on offer which the purchaser could ride home!

Even Danny got carried away, making a bid on a box put in by nine year old TJ Lamb. TJ, is already a great car fan – his dream car being an AC Cobra.  In order to fund this dream he has started a little business, www.magnacars.com selling model-sized car magnets, with the goal of trying to raise enough money to buy a real-life AC Cobra. He was delighted to make around £200 towards his target on his stand over the weekend with his auction box selling for £5 – although Danny lost out to another bidder.

The Best Stand trophy, donated by Lolly Lee in memory of her father, Terry Lee, was awarded to Mike Rowell and his stand of Classic Cars Spares.  Mike ‘s stand is a mini autujumble all on its own, selling new and second hand car parts, automobilia, workshop manuals, engine gearboxes and axles. Mike has a vehicle recovery and scrap business, based in Southampton, and has been attending the Spring Autojumble for the past thirteen years. Chosen by show sponsors, Practical Classics, the stand was commended for embodying the spirit of the Beaulieu autojumbles with its wide variety of stock, in particular, the heavy, rusty and useful metal that is the life blood of vehicle restoration.  Recognition was also given for the physical effort required to lift the large number of heavy engines on the stand – not a job for the faint hearted!

The date of the 2013 International Autojumble is the 7th and 8th September, and Spring Autojumble 2014, the 17th and 18th May. Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk nearer the time for more information or join the conversation on Twitter with @Beaulieu_Hants using #autojumble.

Beaulieu Wins Prestigious National Award

The Beaulieu attraction has been awarded Gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category at VisitEngland’s prestigious 2013 Awards for Excellence ceremony.

Beaulieu received its award from Sue Gill, Head of Skills & Training at Tourism South East. The VisitEngland citation stated: This attraction exceeds expectation. There are 'attractions' within Beaulieu that could be stand-alone businesses in their own right. Interpretation and presentation are of a very high standard throughout. Staff excel in customer care and their enthusiasm creates a 'special' experience for every visitor. Nothing is 'too much trouble' and their 'can do' attitude comes to the fore. Beaulieu really is a memorable and enjoyable attraction for all.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn, said: “England is world-renowned for the quality of its visitor attractions, which number over 6,000, and with this award Beaulieu is delighted to be recognised as the ‘best of the best’.”

VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford, said: “The quality of the 320 applications we received was very high, making the competition for a Gold Award extremely tough. It is therefore a tremendous achievement for Beaulieu to win a Gold Award, the highest accolade for Excellence in Tourism which VisitEngland can bestow. They raised the bar for excellence which others can aspire to. I warmly congratulate them.”

Beaulieu was one of the first stately homes to open its doors to visitors in 1952 and in the 60 years since, has developed into an award winning attraction that offers something for all ages and tastes. In addition to the world famous National Motor Museum it features World of Top Gear, Palace House and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

To celebrate Beaulieu’s 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films in 2012, the attraction played host to BOND IN MOTION. This exclusive, official exhibition of 50 original James Bond vehicles, is the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world. The exhibition has brought a whole new audience to the attraction and, due to its phenomenal success, its run has been extended to 5th January 2014.

Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk for more information.

Chatsworth Takes Inspiration from Plant Hunters of Old for the Florabundance Festival 14 to 18 June

The exotic plants introduced to Chatsworth by the intrepid plant hunters of the 19th century are the inspiration for this year's Florabundance festival. Now familiar blooms, they were the height of fashion when brought into the Chatsworth garden by Joseph Paxton and the 6th Duke of Devonshire.

Each room will be decorated with a different variety of flower from Paxton's list for the first ever summer Florabundance festival from 14 to 18 June. More than 20,000 individual blooms - including 500 stems of lilies, 1,000 roses and 500 alliums - will transform the house and garden with a wealth of summer flowers.

The 6th Duke developed an intense interest in horticulture after he met Joseph Paxton (1803 - 1865), a young gardener working in the Horticultural Society's gardens at Chiswick. He appointed Paxton to be head gardener at Chatsworth in 1826 and together they changed the garden radically, introducing exotic species and giant rockeries.

Florabundance will see traditional mid-summer blooms fused with tropical flowers to echo the naturalistic style of planting introduced by the Bachelor Duke and Joseph Paxton to the Chatsworth garden.

Led by renowned floral designer Jonathan Moseley, a team of 35 people will install the designs over a two day period after days spent preparing the containers, putting together the constructions and treating and conditioning the flowers.

Jonathan gives a glimpse of what the visitor can expect when they enter the house. "The Painted Hall will display a large open arch cascading with fabulous flowers and foliage featuring stunning summer roses inviting visitors to enter the voyage of Florabundance.

"From the formality of the Painted Hall to an enclosed bath in one of the bedroom suites bursting with frothy gypsophilia, the designs will illustrate a combination of both contemporary and traditional floristry."

Chatsworth will also host a series of demonstrations and workshops led by Jonathan Moseley in the beautiful 19th century theatre. Participants will learn how to create breathtaking designs and come away with lots of contemporary and classic design ideas for displaying flowers creatively at home. The floral demonstrations take place on 15 and 16 June and the floral workshops are on 17 and 18 June.

Florabundance is free upon admission to the house and garden. For more information and ticketing options, visit www.chatsworth.org

Musical May Bank Holiday Weekend at Chatsworth

Music lovers are in for a treat over the bank holiday weekend (25-27 May) as Chatsworth’s house and garden are filled with the sounds of Mozart and Mahler, Beethoven and Bach, performed by the musical maestro’s of tomorrow.

Students from the University of Sheffield Department of Music will be entertaining visitors to Chatsworth, including final-year students getting in some last-minute practice with only a week to go before they have to perform live as part of the final examinations for their Bachelor of Music Degree.

Up to 30 students from across the world (including Doncaster and Sheffield) will be going through their paces at locations around the house and garden, performing 45 minute sets throughout the afternoons (12noon – 5pm) either solo or in groups. The students will play mainly Classical music but also some Jazz and tunes from popular Musicals while the students studying World Music will play some perhaps less well-known Chinese works.

“We have some top talent amongst the students so I’m sure people will enjoy what they hear,” says University of Sheffield Concerts Director Stewart Campbell. “There will be something for everyone, representing the broad and diverse programme our students study. It’s an excellent opportunity for the musicians to perform in the beautiful surroundings of Chatsworth and I hope our students’ music-making enhances visitors’ experience of the house and gardens over the bank holiday weekend.”

Chatsworth House, Garden, Farmyard and Adventure Playground (www.chatsworth.org), are open every day during the bank holiday weekend and school half-term (27-31 May) including:

• Treasure Island, 31 May: Bring the family for a merry romp to the sunny Caribbean with Cambridge Touring Theatre's swashbuckling musical adaptation. Suitable for all ages, the performance is outdoors, ideal for a picnic on the grass with the whole family.

• Three major art exhibitions: William Turnbull large-scale sculptures, drawings and paintings; Emma Tennant watercolours; Rembrandt landscape drawings.

Trucks Galore Attending Beaulieu’s Truckmania Sunday 26th & Monday 27th May 2013

In just a few days, on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Beaulieu’s newest event, Truckmania will be rumbling into the grounds of the National Motor Museum. Lots more trucking companies and activities have now been confirmed for this fantastic family event.

Beaulieu is delighted to announce that trucking star and Twitter sensation, Mark Dixon, will be attending the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Mark, who has been tweeting about the show in recent weeks, and can hear him in conversation with show presenter, Kevin Harris.

A range of colourfully customised and branded trucks will be on display, including a Lewis Hamilton F1 themed truck from Sean M Taylor Transport, an Ice Truckers’ branded lorry provided by KER Transport and a number of film-branded vehicles from Dalton’s Transport, including The Hangover, Rocky and The Avengers. Saints Transport and Harris Transport will also be in attendance at the event with their own lorry transport.

Sunseeker International Ltd will be bringing a Sovereign boat belonging to Sunseeker founder, Robert Braithwaite. The boat, which Robert drove in the James Bond film, QUANTUM OF SOLACE with Daniel Craig onboard, will be displayed on a Volvo truck.
A whole range of transport vehicles will be attending the event, spanning the motoring generations. White & Co PLC will be displaying one of their oldest commercial vehicles, the dray, alongside one of their most modern, eco-friendly lorries, Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Society will be showing a selection of their stunning classic and vintage vehicles, and a fully-restored 1910 fuel tanker, complete with Anglo American Oil Company stamped brass hub covers will be on display for visitors to see, courtesy of its owner and restorer, Alan Chandler.

There will be plenty of trucking demonstrations and displays to keep families entertained. World-famous monster truck, BIGFOOT, will be performing in two live, action-packed displays each day. In the morning, this motoring leviathan will be demonstrating its power in the Beaulieu Arena, and in the afternoon, wowing visitors with some incredible stunts in the event fields including car crushing, with cars provided by vehicle recycling specialists, Silverlake Garage. Watch as truckers take part in Truck Agility, a series of skills tests designed to make even the most experienced truck drivers break out in a sweat as they manoeuvre around an obstacle course.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to get involved in the trucking action too. Mums and Dads can test their strength in Tug-a-Truck, to see how far they can pull a real lorry cab and every brave person who has a go will receive an ‘I’ve pulled at Beaulieu’ badge to wear proudly. Meanwhile younger visitors can take a ride in mini trucks on Beaulieu’s Dipsticks Driving Circuit* and have a go on the fairground dodgems free of charge, plus enjoy an inflatable playground**.

Beaulieu is also pleased to welcome Mini World to Truckmania. This incredible model-sized track, complete with a wide range of remote controlled model trucks, will be recreating trucking scenarios on a small scale, from construction sites to road networks, in the Grand Marquee. Visitors can have a go at controlling one of these amazingly detailed models on a specially designed circuit.

Each day, Beaulieu’s visitors can vote for their favourite truck in the People’s Choice Awards, and each afternoon, the driver whose vehicle has received the greatest number of votes will be presented with a Beaulieu Trophy.

Truckmania can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction. See the National Motor Museum and exciting James Bond vehicle exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the beautiful gardens, plus enjoy unlimited rides on the high-level Monorail.

Beaulieu attraction admission tickets are available to buy on arrival on the day of your visit, or at a discounted rate in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

For more information about Truckmania, please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #truckmania

*Maximum height restriction of 127cm (4’ 2”)
**A small extra charge applies to this activity

Truckmania Set To Be Larger Than Life At Beaulieu

On Sunday 26th and Monday 27th of the May Bank Holiday weekend, TRUCKMANIA will be unleashed at Beaulieu as this exciting new event welcomes a swarm of truck-sized displays, demonstrations and activities into the grounds of the National Motor Museum.

The world-famous monster truck, BIGFOOT, will be wowing visitors with two live, action-packed displays each day. In the morning, see this leviathan of the motoring world doing a demonstration of power in the Beaulieu Arena, and in the afternoon, head over to the event fields to see BIGFOOT crushing cars provided by vehicle recycling specialists, Silverlake Garage, who will also be in attendance at the event with their own lorry transport.

A range of colourfully customised and branded trucks will be on display at the event, including a Lewis Hamilton F1 branded truck from Sean M Taylor Transport, an Ice Truckers branded lorry provided by KER Transport and a number of film-branded vehicles from Dalton’s Transport, including The Hangover, Rocky and The Avengers. Saints Transport and Harris Transport will also be bringing a number of their company branded vehicles.
A whole variety of transport vehicles will be attending the event, spanning the motoring generations. Bournemouth & Poole Preservation Society will be showing a selection of their stunning classic and vintage vehicles and a fully-restored 1910 fuel tanker, complete with Anglo American Oil Company stamped brass hub covers, will also be on display for visitors to see, courtesy of its owner and restorer, Alan Chandler.

Don’t miss Mini World, a model-sized track complete with a wide range of remote controlled model trucks. From a construction site to a road network, these RC trucks will recreate anything a full-sized truck does on a daily basis.

Each day Beaulieu’s visitors can vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards, and each afternoon the driver whose truck has received the greatest number of votes will be presented with a Beaulieu Trophy.

Younger visitors can get involved in the trucking action by taking a ride in mini trucks on Beaulieu’s very own Dipsticks Driving Circuit*, or by having a go on the Dodgems free of charge.

Truckmania can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction. See the National Motor Museum and exciting James Bond vehicle exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the beautifully-kept gardens, plus enjoy unlimited rides on the high-level Monorail and open-topped veteran London bus.

Beaulieu attraction admission tickets are available to buy on arrival on the day of your visit, or at a discounted rate in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

For more information about Truckmania, please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #truckmania

*Maximum height restriction of 127cm (4’2”)

Beaulieu’s Simply French C’est Fantastique!

Barry Lowdell with Sylvie Planchard
and his 1973 Citroen SM 3L

Last weekend, visitors to Beaulieu were once again transported to France as crowds of French vehicles formed a colourful display in the attraction’s picturesque parkland for the second Simply French rally.

All the major French marques were represented, with Renault, Citroën and Peugeot all present, as well as some of the lesser known manufacturers such as Facel, Simca and Panhard. Members of the DS3 Club and Citroën Car Club also attended in large numbers.

Show sponsors, Citroën UK, created a wonderfully traditional French atmosphere, encouraging visitors to step into their special Café Citroën, with its red and white check clothed tables, where delicious French patisseries and coffee were served throughout the day. Traditional French music played in the background and a caricaturist and mime artist kept visitors entertained. On display outside the Café were a number of stunning models from Citroën’s current range, including a five-door DS4 coupé, a DS5 – voted Top Gear’s Family Car of the Year 2011 - a compact C1 city car and new C3.

Citroen DS3 DSport belonging to artist Peter Vaillant

Another eye-catching vehicle on display was a Citroën DS3 DSport which has been used as a canvas by artist and photographer, Peter Vaillant, to showcase his artwork. Peter has covered the car in a piece titled La Primavera from his Four Seasons series. Peter wanted a car that would be stylish, comfortable and individual, and chose the DS3 for its dynamism and shape. The car is now a moving piece of art and can be seen on the roads as Peter drives between his home in Devon and his London studio.
Throughout the day, visitors to Beaulieu were asked to vote for their favourite French vehicle on display in the People’s Choice awards and in the afternoon the top eight most popular vehicles took part in a cavalcade through the grounds of the National Motor Museum before Citroën UK Events Coordinator, Sylvie Planchard, presented the prizes. Barry Lowdell from Hatfield, Hertfordshire won with his gold 1973 Citroën SM 3L, and received a Beaulieu Trophy. Barry repairs SM models for a living with his family business, BL Autos and is a member of the Citroën Car Club.

Runners-up, Des Collins from Wareham with his blue Renault Alpine and Jim Baumann from Sarisbury Green with his blue Renault Caravelle, each received an Autoglym pack as a prize, as did Lisa McCurdy from St. Albans, the winner of the voters’ prize draw, into which all those who voted in the People’s Choice Awards were entered.

Spring into summer at Beaulieu

Bluebird

Lotus Esprit Wet Nellie from The Spy Who Loved Me

Richard Kiel The Spy Who Loved Me

During the May Half Term, 25th May – 2nd June, spring into summer at Beaulieu and enjoy all the fantastic features of one of the south’s leading visitor attractions, plus special activities for all the family.

In the grounds of the parkland, have a go on some Giant Games! Balance blocks in a towering Jenga game, get tactical with giant sized Noughts and Crosses and test out your logic skills with larger than life Connect Four.

Visit the National Motor Museum and see over 250 vehicles on display, including Land Speed Record Breakers, F1 race cars, family cars of the 30s and 40s, plus rare motoring oddities such as a giant orange on wheels.

Younger visitors can follow a Quiz Trail through the museum’s BOND IN MOTION exhibition, the largest ever display of original James Bond vehicles. Answer the questions, crack the code, and hand in your completed quiz sheet for the opportunity to be entered into a draw to win a Bond-themed prize. See some of Bond’s most popular and iconic vehicles, including the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car from The Spy Who Loved Me, the quirky Crocodile Submarine used in Octopussy and the Die Another Day Aston Martin Vanquish with ‘adaptive camouflage system’.

On Sunday 26th May, actor Richard Kiel, who played famous Bond villain Jaws, will be in BOND IN MOTION meeting and greeting visitors. Richard starred in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ and ‘Moonraker’ and at a towering seven feet and 1.75 inches tall, was famously recognisable for his razor sharp steel teeth.

Visitors will be able to purchase Richard's autobiography, 'Making it Big in the Movies' plus copies of his official photographs. He will happily sign purchases and pose for a photograph, so don't forget to bring a camera!

Richard will be accompanied by Blanche Ravelec, who played his true love 'Dolly' in ‘Moonraker’ and they will be signing for periods between 10.30am and 4pm.

Visit World of Top Gear to see actual vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James during some of their most memorable challenges, including two from the latest series; Richard and Jeremy’s exploding ‘Grannymobile’ and the P45 micro car driven through the British Library by Jeremy.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

Monorail Bus

Take a ride on the high-level Monorail or hop onboard the open-topped veteran London bus for a different way to explore the grounds.

See Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and discover the history of 13th century Beaulieu Abbey in the Domus Exhibition of Monastic Life.

All-inclusive attraction admission tickets can be bought on the day of your visit, or take advantage of the 10% discount offered on tickets bought in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk

Beaulieu is open daily, 10am – 5pm. For more information, visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

The Treasure Houses Of England - As Seen On Screen

Pride & Prejudice filmed at Burghley

As well as being among the finest palaces, historic houses and castles in the country, the Treasure Houses of England have also provided the backdrop for some of the most memorable screen and television moments of the past quarter of a century.


From iconic television series like ‘Brideshead Revisited’ (Castle Howard) to blockbuster films like ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (Blenheim Palace) the Treasure Houses of England have become ‘stars’ in their own right.

Among the most familiar properties is Hatfield House in Hertfordshire which was used recently as a filming location for Anna Karenina with Kiera Knightly and Jude Law and the multi-Oscar-winning hit ‘The King’s Speech’ starring Colin Firth.   It’s many other credits include films from The Libertine, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, My Week with Marilyn to Clash of the Titans, Tomb Raider, Batman to more traditional costume drama with Vanity Fair.

Visit Beaulieu for ‘On Screen Cars’ to view the actual ’Flying’ Ford Anglia that featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  Also on display; Mr Bean’s notorious Mini and television’s most famous set of three wheels from Only Fools and Horses – Del Boy’s Reliant Regal.  Beaulieu is also extending its hugely popular and critically acclaimed BOND IN MOTION exhibition for 2013, an exclusive, official showcase of 50 original James Bond vehicles including cars, boats, motorbikes and jets.

Blenheim Gulliver's Travels
® 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Blenheim Palace’s impressive film credits include Harry Potter, The Young Victoria and Gulliver’s Travels. Discover how it becomes transformed by Hollywood’s finest in a brand new exhibition – “Lights, Camera, Action” opening on the 9th February until 1st April.  Talks, tours and special activities will explain how the palace has played out everything from murder to mayhem and action adventure.

Pride & Prejudice filmed at Burghley

From historical films to modern movies, Burghley brilliantly brings history to life on the big screen courtesy of its original Elizabethan buildings and inspiringly eclectic interiors. Wander in the starlit footsteps of the famous who have featured in films such as The Da Vinci Code, Pride and Prejudice and Elizabeth: The Golden Age and relive various movie scenes for yourself.

Castle Howard is particularly famed for its role in Brideshead Revisited, in the acclaimed Granada TV production in 1981 and again in the 2008 movie by Ecosse Films.  A new exhibition brings together the story of restoration at Castle Howard and the filming Brideshead Revisited.  In this exhibition visitors can witness the extraordinary transformation of the High South, from derelict rooms to film set, learn about the great fire of 1940 and subsequent restoration in this part of the house, and discover how Evelyn Waugh’s famous novel came to be filmed not just once – but twice – at Castle Howard. Other notably movies filmed at Castle Howard include The Buccaneers and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties

Chatsworth recently aired a popular and prime time behind-the-scenes TV series giving the BBC authorised access to its 30,000 acre estate.  Affording a rare insight into the lives of the people who live and work there – including the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire – ‘Chatsworth’ explores the real-life relationships and everyday events in the stately home, including the £14million Masterplan restoration project.  It’s also provided locations for films such as The Wolfman, The Duchess and Pride and Prejudice.

Continuing the Austen theme, Harewood House in West Yorkshire was the setting for the mini-series ‘Lost in Austen’ .  Its unsurpassed collection of Chippendale was also the subject of the recent BBC4 TV documentary about the famed furniture maker, Thomas Chippendale.  You can also spot scenes and settings from popular television series such as A Touch of Frost, The Royal, At Home with the Braithwaite’s and Emmerdale.
Leeds Castle in Kent was used as a film location for Elizabeth Golden Age and regularly appears on television productions including The Apprentice, Celebrity Masterchef to The Antiques Roadshow.

BBC’s Countryfile continues to favour the wonderful walled gardens and Victorian glasshouses of Holkham Hall, reporting on their Community Growers’ Scheme and ‘Hot Pepper Sauce’ creation with the beautiful backdrop of one of Norfolk’s most renowned country estates.  Holkham’s award winning beach was featured in ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and the Hall as a location for ‘The Duchess’ which starred Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes.