Portadown Rally – Country Comes to Town Well, it wouldn’t be a proper rally without a little bit of Irish weather to welcome us, and Portadown certainly didn’t disappoint! The weekend got off to a rather damp start as members began arriving at Portadown Rugby Club. Thankfully, the rain did nothing to dampen everyone’s spirits, and we received a very warm welcome from our hosts, Sam, Andy and Audrey. By the evening, 55 motorhomes had arrived and settled in for the weekend.
The rugby club bar soon became the place to be, with members enjoying a meal, a few drinks and, of course, plenty of catching up. There was also a birthday to celebrate, with John Kerr reaching the grand age of 75. 🎂 A milestone certainly worthy of a toast! Saturday morning brought much better weather, with the rain finally disappearing and allowing everyone to head into Portadown for the Country Comes to Town Fair.
With the town centre closed to traffic, the streets were transformed into a busy and colourful event, with trade stands, displays and a wonderful selection of vintage vehicles. There was plenty to see and browse, and no doubt a few purchases found their way back to the motorhomes — although we’re sure everyone managed to stick firmly to their budgets! After a busy day exploring the fair, Saturday evening saw everyone heading back to the club bar. It was time to put the feet up, enjoy a drink and compare notes on the day. There was plenty of laughter and conversation as members shared their favourite sights, bargains and adventures from the fair.
Sunday morning brought the usual coffee morning, this time at the host's van. Sam took the opportunity to make a few announcements about forthcoming rallies and pass on some information to members. We also took a moment to remember Trevor Hill, one of our founding members, who sadly passed away. Our condolences were expressed to his family and friends, and Trevor was remembered with great respect and affection. It was lovely to welcome visitors who had travelled across the water from Yorkshire and Perth, and we hope they enjoyed their weekend with us as much as we enjoyed having them. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for — the number plate draw! The lucky winners were Tom and Julie, Helen and Eric, and Andy and Audrey.
A number of free loyalty weekend vouchers worth well over £100 were also handed out to some fortunate members. There were certainly a few happy faces around the coffee morning! Sadly, all good rallies must come to an end, and before long it was time to pack up and head home. A huge thank you to Sam, Andy and Audrey for their warm welcome, excellent hospitality and for helping to make the weekend such a success. Thanks also to everyone who came along and contributed to the friendly atmosphere that makes our rallies so enjoyable. Despite the damp start, we certainly finished on a high. Good company, plenty of laughter, a busy day out and a few celebrations along the way — what more could you ask for from a motorhome rally? Until the next one — safe travels, everyone!