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Post by Sotontraveller on Oct 7, 2009 8:31:18 GMT
Hi Everyone - purely coincidentally I met Viv and her husband at the R25 pre-launch at Losely Park last week. What a fantastic event it was too. Freeborn / Romahome / Citroen were attentive, caring and highly organised, ensuring we were all "entertained" in true, welcoming Romahome style - and some more besides. There were about 125 vans there, parked in lovely parkland during a period when the stately home was not open to the public - we had a private viewing on the Thursday plus the gardens and grounds were open for us to roam at leisure. A visit to Guildford Cathedral (amazing flora display of enormous proportions - including a bridal dress of gysophylla (spelling ?) that was WORN down the isle the night before to "Judas the Priest", and not a pew in sight), narrow boat trip along the Wey waterway / river, historic trail through Guildford and trip to the Castle. To all this was added the hilarity of a BBQ dinner, lots of bubbly and the launch itself (in the marquee, of course !) of the R25 which we were able to inspct at leisure that evening and the following day. We could then strutt our stuff for the barn dance (with reduced price drinks courtesy of Losely) prior to staggering back to our vans. I had never heard of Love Travel before but for those who are as ignorant as I am it is a brand owned by Freeborn that produces a quality magazine six monthly, the first being all about the Isle of Wight (!) as a holiday destination. It also has lots of high quality branded clothing in a wonderful bright red. It is £10 to join in return for two mags / yr and invitation to subsequent similar events at least annually (as a Thank You from Freeborn ie includes non-Romahomers). Mike Freeborn gave me a lift into Guildford on one occasion when we had a good chance for a business natter and when he was able to clarify for me the role of the various companies / brands. I hadn't appreciated Freeborn also has a franchise of non-Romahome motorhome dealers. I have to say all this was significantly aided and abetted by the wonderful weather we had last week. All pre-arranged ?? It was also good to meet and have long chats with Viv. We look forward to meeting again and she advises I should definitely come to a Smallmotorhome meet - she says you, Pauline and Graham, are "lovely"  Viv - I look forward to hearing from you "as and when" ! |
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Post by Graham on Oct 7, 2009 9:39:51 GMT
Thanks for that very interesting report on the meet, it sounds absolutely fabulous it must have cost Freeborn/Romahome a small fortune. The Love Travel Club sounds interesting, similar to the Roma Club, I wonder what the committee members of Roma Club think.
It would be lovely to see you at a Smallmotorhome meet sometime but I don't think we would be able to compete with Losely Park. ;D I'm sure we will be able to arrange something a little less grand next year.
Thanks to Viv for those kind words.
Graham
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Post by Pauline on Oct 7, 2009 9:48:47 GMT
Awww thanks Viv. And we can confirm what everyone already knows, that Viv and Terry are lovely too! It sounds a lovely event, I'm quite disappointed that we didn't get an invite, all our Romahomes have been bought from Freeborns. We probably wouldn't have been able to go but an invite would have been nice  As Graham says we can't compete with Losely, but we do have Jay Jay and KiwiDave - fantastic entertainment ;D It would be great to meet you |
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lizzie
30+ posts.... a 2 wheeler!
Posts: 44
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Post by lizzie on Oct 7, 2009 11:28:32 GMT
Sounds a fantasic meet! I do not quite understand about Love Travel and the connections between Romahome, Citroen and Freeborns seem pretty confusing.
Were the members of the Roma club invited to the event?
Perhaps Brian B can join the thread and explain things in his usual straightforward way!
Lizzie
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Post by wendy on Oct 8, 2009 7:39:33 GMT
Love Travel magazine first appeared about 2 years ago (early 2008) and was free and available from Romahome dealers. I have had 2 issues sent to me by post - never had to pay for it. 6 monthly? don't think so, more like yearly but maybe they are now changing.
The Isle of Wight issue was the first one and dated 2008.
There are several threads on this forum about it which I can't find at the moment. Will have another look later.
Perhaps the editor will come on and enlighten us.
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Post by viv on Oct 8, 2009 8:23:03 GMT
Hi Wendy
You are right, I too remember this mag starting out and there was some feedback on here. I think Freeborn are now going to issue it to all members of their club as it is a way of giving feedback and news.
If their events are anything like the one at Loseley, they will be great. The organisation was fanastic, our name tags were all ready for us, along with tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival, individual greeting from a staff member who told us what trips we were booked onto and when and details of minibus etc, and we were given a goody bag with emergency contact details, mags and information. There was a member of staff to host each table at the evening BBQ and a stunning location and tour of house, all just for us. The staff worked so hard and joined in and certainly enjoyed themselves with the rest of us. It was great fun. As it was a launch I suppose they may have pushed the boat out!
Will be interesting to see how it develops and what happens over the next year.
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Post by roamerog on Oct 13, 2009 0:20:44 GMT
We too went to the Love Travel event at Loseley Park and had a really great time. The weather was perfect considering the time of year and the Freeborn team looked after us extremely well. The new R25 was a very attractive motorhome, built on the new Berlingo small van chassis but managing to look like a much larger vehicle altogether. Although the launch of the R25 was the main point of the event it was nothing like a trade show. It was a really enjoyable club meet. Many of us went on a canal trip from Guildford (paid for by Freeborn) and the countryside was beautiful. Loseley house was very interesting, and the gardens were lovely, with lots of plants in bloom even though the season for garden visitors had finished.
Regarding Lizzie's confusion, I don't think there is any connection between Freeborn/Romahome and Citroen other than Freeborn buying base vehicles from Citroen and sending them to Romahome on the Isle of Wight for conversion. Romahome is now part of the Freeborn group. About Love Travel, this was the name of the free magazine produced by the Freeborn group, but as I understand it Freeborn have now taken the name not just for the magazine but for a new Love Travel Club for which Loseley was an inaugural meeting. The club has other benefits and is for people who bought their motorhomes from Freeborn or Romahome. It isn't just for Romahome owners as Freeborn sell other brands. I have to admit to being confused about the cost of membership as the original invitation said that as we were Freeborn customers we were automatically members, but at the event application forms were available for membership at £10 a year.
As Liz said, the event was great fun, and it will be interesting to see how the club develops.
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Post by Sotontraveller on Oct 18, 2009 18:23:48 GMT
Hiya - one small comment: the magazine seemed to have been somewhat randomly mailed (according to one to one fo the staff on the event) and I didn't seek further clarification. It has apparently been available in showrooms. Since the event, I have been sent - at my request - the first edition which was dated 2008 but I was told "should have been dated 2009" ! The IoW second edition is also 2009 so no idea how frequent it will be.....
I have signed up to Love Travel. We were told there would be other "similar" events in the future so when there is another big launch perhaps we will be treated just as well again.
I look forward to hearing when the next Small Motorhomes meet takes place - where should I look on the site ?
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Post by Graham on Oct 18, 2009 20:25:15 GMT
I look forward to hearing when the next Small Motorhomes meet takes place - where should I look on the site ? We have got our thinking caps on and we will try and sort something out regarding a meet in spring next year, when we have we will put a post in the "Fancy meeting up" section and also email everyone to tell them about it. Graham |
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Post by dancer on Oct 18, 2009 23:06:24 GMT
We are members of the romahome club as are a few members on here, they have about 10 meetings a year at various locations through the uk, we are hoping to organise a rally on the isle of white and a tour round the romahome factory, and also a rally in Ireland is being talked about, and we also haave a big AGM meeting in may down at cambridge, its a great club and well organised venues. memebership is £12 a year, well worth a look.
hope you dont mind me mentioning this graham, just incase people ar not aware there is a romahome club.
Dancer
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Post by Graham on Oct 19, 2009 7:38:37 GMT
hope you dont mind me mentioning this graham, just incase people ar not aware there is a romahome club. Dancer Of course we don't mind you mentioning the Romahome Club in fact we are members ourselves but we haven't been to a rally yet. There is a link to the club on our main website in the links section. Graham |
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