Bailey of Bristol welcomes the Bailey Owners’ Club for their biennial factory visit
The main attraction of the event for members is the opportunity to visit the company’s South Liberty Lane manufacturing facility where they received a guided tour of the premises by the Bailey Production Team. There they witnessed first-hand the assembly process from start to finish, giving them a greater understanding of how their caravan or motorhome was produced using the Bailey patented Alu-Tech construction system. It was also an opportunity for them to meet the people who made their vehicles including Bailey Senior Management team who also spent time with club members and their vehicles at Dyrham Park over the weekend.
The manufacturing facility is already widely regarded as one the most advanced in Europe, featuring as it does the only mechanised production line in the UK, however as a forward thinking company Bailey has continued to invest in plant and machinery to ensure it maintains its competitive edge. Club members were able to witness first-hand the changes introduced following the relocation of its Large Panel Laminating Plant to the new site in Clevedon, North Somerset, as part of the larger scheme to enable future re-development of the company’s South Liberty Lane production facility. They also got a glimpse into the future when they were shown round the new £2.3 million Replenishment Centre, the first phase of Bailey’s extensive 5-Year site re-development programme.
As part of the weekend itinerary members also got the chance to visit Prima Leisure, the new home of Bailey Parts Direct, located to the north of Bristol near the M4 / M5 motorway interchange. This 1,200m² facility offers customers an expanded range of 20,000+ parts and accessories, 85% of which can be delivered to their door in 24 hours. As a result Prima Leisure has become a fully commercial operation, providing a seven days a week service via a dedicated customer-friendly web site. and a professionally staffed Click and Collect centre.
In addition to the tours there was the opportunity for club members to have a sneak preview of some the new caravan and motorhome models being launched at the forthcoming NEC show, as well as meeting the representatives from some of the Company’s key component suppliers – notably Alde, Dometic, Truma, Thetford, Whale and WSL. Bailey also held a parts and accessories sale in aid of its chosen charity – St Peter’s Hospice. The Bailey Owners generously dipped into their pockets to raise a total of over £1,000 for this very worthy cause.
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary Bailey of Bristol also had two vintage caravans on display for members. While a 1955 Bailey Maestro was on loan from Bristol museum Mshed, visitors also had the opportunity to have their photo taken in a photo booth outside of caravan expert, Lee Davey’s 1967 vintage Bailey Maestro, Gladys.
Commenting on the weekend Nick Howard, Managing Director of Bailey of Bristol said: “We always enjoy hosting the BOC on their Works Rally weekend. It is great for our staff to meet people who are genuinely interested in what they do and who really enjoy using the leisure vehicles they produce”.
“We were particularly encouraged by the positive feedback we received on the changes we have made to the production facility since their last visit two years ago. It has been a period of great change for the company and it reassuring to know that our most loyal group of customers are appreciative of our efforts to take ourselves forward as a business” he added.
The BOC was founded in 1970 and now has over 600 members making it one of the largest in the UK. It is open to the owners of all Bailey leisure vehicles, both caravans and motorhomes. For more details on how to join the club and to take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit the Bailey factory click on www.baileyownersclub.org.
