A COLD, damp camping trip to the Yorkshire Dales set one couple on the road to a new life.

Tracey and John Richardson endured a miserable break in the Yorkshire Dales in 2006, with rain lashing their tent. “We were with a group of friends and it was freezing cold and uncomfortable,” recalls Tracey. “Then one of our friend's dad turned up in his motorhome - it looked very warm and snug.”

That experience led to them deciding to buy a camper van “with a nice, warm bed.”

In 2007 they became the proud owners of Dylan, a 1963 split screen, German-built camper. “Dylan used to work in a market in Northern Italy ferrying shoppers,” says Tracey. “We have a bus ticket which we found as John was working on him.”

That same year John was made redundant from his job at the local Volkswagen garage, where he had worked as a VW technician.

“We realised how lucky we were to not only own an amazing camper, but to be able to maintain one,” says Tracey. “Owning is one thing, but keeping it reliable is another. Dylan has always run smoothly thanks to John’s care and attention.”

After much research - through which they discovered that there was no company in Yorkshire hiring campers for holidays or weddings - the couple made the decision to buy another camper to rent out.

Their venture, Liberty Campers, quickly expanded. Dougal, a 2009 camper, was swiftly followed by Daisy and a further three characterful bay window campers. “We could not rent out Dylan, he is part of the family,” adds Tracey.

The couple were keen for other people to experience, as they had, the unique pleasure and thrill that comes with holidaying in a VW camper van.

“When we drive Dylan people wave at us and come over to chat,” says Tracey. “They talk about when they were young and used to either have one in the family, or their grandparents had one. They talk about their happy memories. With Dylan you are never alone on a campsite or in town - he attracts attention where ever he goes.”

Tracey and John have taken Dylan as far as France. “We went all the way in the inside lane and over two weeks we did not overtake anything,” Tracey recalls. “It was quite intimidating on the Parisian ring road with all the fast cars and lorries. We have even been overtaken by push bikes.”

The couple now rent out a range of campers from their Ilkley-base and, with the boom in staycations due to the pandemic, they have never been busier.

“With concerns about isolation, camping is one of the safest holidays and if last year is anything to go by, we estimate that we will be fully booked again for this season,” says Tracey.

The company hires out a range of vehicles. “For a camping self-drive holiday, we offer the modern style T6 campervans,” says Tracey. “We have just added a very exciting member to our VW family - a VW 2021 California, which is the Rolls Royce of campers.”

Each camper sleeps four: two adults, and two children who sleep in a pop-up roof. There is a gas stove, running water with a sink, a fridge and a small freezer compartment.

A new addition to the fold is Winnie, a 1974 coach-built VW Jurgens Auto Villa, made on licence from VW by the Jurgens family in South Africa. She is named after Winnie Mandela.

“She is 1970’s brown everywhere, the seating the cupboards,” says Tracey. “There are some lovely original features - her sink is in a cupboard which you pull open and it pops out. There is a bathroom with an ‘engaged’ lock on the outside of the door when in use.”

“I believe that they made around 1,200 Jurgens Type 2 VW campers, and there are around 300 left and about 40 in the UK.”

Tracey and John also hire campers for weddings - a quirky, fun way for newlyweds to travel to their reception or head off into the sunset.

“The campers are so photogenic - a beautiful pastel green which compliments all colours and yet doesn’t outshine the bride,” says Tracey.

All the campers have names. Dylan is named after Bob Dylan, Dolly, the couple’s chauffeur-driven wedding camper, is almost identical to Dylan so is named after Dolly the famous cloned sheep.

“We imported Dolly in a very poor state, had her renovated and had Dylan’s paint scanned so they are a matching pair - I am not aware of another matching pair of this colour anywhere in the UK,” says Tracey. “We have Poppy a 1970 Westfailia Bay Window, in very good condition.”

Tracey and John take good care of their customers, some of whom have never camped before. “We get mums or dads on their own, who take their children on holiday. It gives them confidence that they can call us 24 hours a day for support. Some are looking for that wild camp experience, and others a relaxing getaway. We also can advise on where to go, with it being their first camping trip."

The couple are reluctant to name a favourite camper. “Oh gosh, if you say one the others will be upset, they have feelings you know,” laughs Tracey. “I suppose it must be Dylan our very first, and maybe Winnie our Jurgens because she is so unusual.”

John’s mechanical knowledge and expertise is invaluable. “We couldn’t offer this service without John’s skills and knowledge of campers,” says Tracey. “He is affectionately known as Doctor Dub.”

Many couples have proposed in the campers and others have gone from hiring a holiday camper to having a chauffeur-driven ride for their wedding, and returning to hire again with their family.

“It is lovely to see this full circle,” says Tracey. “I am friends on Facebook with many couples whose weddings I have driven, we were invited to one couple’s wedding after becoming friends when they hired Dylan for a holiday.”

The furthest They have travelled for a wedding is the Isle of Man. “We took Dylan on the ferry with all our camping gear, set up camp and chauffeured the bride and groom the following day.”

The couple take their campers to local events including Ilkley Carnival and Burley in Wharfedale classic car show. “Many people come to see us and chat. We love to show our campers off, they attract a lot of attention.

“We once were involved in a promotion in Leeds and so many people who had hired Dylan for their wedding came up saying ‘It’s Dylan’ - people recognise him all over - he sparks such amazing memories.”

*libertycampers.co.uk