As a finalist in the Self-Catering/Caravan Park of the Year Award nerves were high but there was also a sense of excitement as we entered the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. Men wearing tuxedos and ladies in their gorgeous dresses and highest heels were looking around the trains. Helping ourselves to champagne we wandered around the turntable with huge steam trains all around us mingling with 400 guests from across the tourism and hospitality industry.
We were then called to “follow the band” through to the station hall where the awards ceremony was to take place. I’d only ever taken that walk in trainers – never imagined to be doing it in three inch heels! Note to guests – easier to do it in trainers.
Trains from the bygone era were all around us – very surreal to be enjoying the occasion surrounded by trains. The tables were set out over the platform with giant screens at the front. Its not a good sign to be seated at the back of an awards ceremony – do you ever see the Academy Award winners walking from the back of the theatre? Its time to settle down, get the wine open, browse through the menu and grab the freebie pens. The evening was hosted by Gervase Phinn, writer and poet, and he soon put everyone at their ease.
We didn’t have to wait long – we were the third award to be given. The Dovecote Barns and Jollydays Luxury Camping Ltd were our competition. I couldn’t tell you what was said about the category, I couldn’t even tell you which of our pictures was used in the film reel – could be the amount of wine consumed but probably the nerves – I can say that thanks to the guys at York Marriott I did hear a huge cheer when our name was read out as one of the nominees. Nick was opposite me ready with the camera to take a picture of the “look of joy/disappointment” as the winner was announced. I haven’t seen that picture but I’m sure I kept smiling as The Dovecote Barns’ had their name read out. To be fair, we didn’t expect to win in our first year of entering – we were just proud to be in the top three out of eighty other candidates.Once the other awards were out of the way we tucked into a lovely meal. Warm tart of asparagus and Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue Cheese followed by Roast Rump of Dales lamb – yummy - all washed down with equally lovely wine.
After the meal we hit the casino – all for charity with no real money changing hands – shame really we would have come home with a fortune. We didn’t go home completely empty handed – Dad won the magnum of champagne in the prize draw in aid of Marie Currie York and I was allowed to take some balloons home to our daughters. A good night was had by all and we'll try again next year
