Eastern Region of The Camping and Caravanning Club

Thetford Forest Club Site in Norfolk picked up the 2009 MMM (Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly Magazine) Camping and Caravanning Park of the Year Award at a prestigious ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The Awards are held each year to acknowledge manufacturers, dealers, sites and companies who have performed admirably over the past 12 months and are voted for by the readers of MMM. The award will be presented to the site owners Rob and Dawn Muggeridge and Neil and Julie Purnell at the National Boat Caravan and Outdoor Show at the NEC Birmingham next month.

Neil Purnell said: “We were over the moon when we heard the news.

“In the short time we’ve been here at Thetford Forest, it’s certainly been a huge challenge to get to where we are now.

“There’s been a lot of hard work and long hours involved, and of course it goes without saying that if it wasn’t for our campers who voted for us then we wouldn’t be where we are now, so a big thank you to all our customers who voted for us.”

Meanwhile, Damage Barton Club Site, a beautiful 600-acre beef and sheep farm in North Devon, has scooped two awards after another successful year.

The Lethbridge family-run Site won the Best Camping and Caravanning Club Site 2008 from Out & About Magazine and were also runners-up in the North Devon Plus Tourism Awards Category for Best Campsite.

Helen Lethbridge was understandably delighted to have their efforts recognised.

She said: “We would like to thank all of our staff who worked so hard to keep the site in such beautiful condition and to all the members who visited us and made the most of a tricky year.”

Damage Barton also managed to collect £1,265 for charity in 2008, which will be distributed locally.

Camping and Caravanning Club Director General Robert Louden added: “On behalf of everyone connected with the Club, I would like to congratulate Thetford Forest and Damage Barton on these great achievements.

“It is individuals’ efforts like all those involved behind-the-scenes at Thetford Forest and Damage Barton which allow us as a growing organisation to offer members a record-breaking number of beautiful Club Sites.”