Special occasions are Cathy McConaghy’s business. Cathy spent more than a decade in the bridal industry, but her love of the VW camper, coupled with her quest to find a new challenge, brought about the innovative catering business she launched last year.

Cathy had always wanted a camper and decided to buy one so she and her five-year-old daughter, Tallulah, could spend weekends away.

She sourced Lulabelle through a dealer. “She was originally a fire engine in Germany. She is 52 years old and had gone through active fire service in Germany to a collectors’ museum in LA,” explains Cathy.

The rare 1959 split screen camper was red and bearing all the hallmarks of its past life from the siren to the interior fire fighting fittings when it arrived in the UK, but within a few months it underwent a pink-and-white makeover.

The addition of a pair of metal eyelids and a shabby chic interior with floral roof, pristine white kitchen units and a striking black and white chequered floor make her look oh-so-pretty.

“I thought I wanted it to work for itself because it is a big investment to have for the odd weekend. Originally I thought about hiring it out as a holiday camper, then I thought I would so something with food,” says Cathy.

Lulabelle’s Lunches launched in May last year with Cathy originally serving home-made cakes and sandwiches to office workers.

Conscious of the growing popularity of cupcakes and high teas, Cathy decided to introduce Lulabelle to the party scene.

Corporate events, food-and-drink shows and festivals are just some of the occasions she has catered for. Tallulah often accompanies her mum and Lulabelle at family-friendly festivals. “She loves it,” says Cathy.

“That was part of the reason why I started it. I wanted her to have good memories of her childhood, going off in this pink camper and doing and seeing different things and I created a little life as well for us.”

Lulabelle has also been booked for weddings and children’s parties proving you can combine business and pleasure!

Later this month, she will be serving tea and cakes to festival-goers at the Magic Loungeabout, Broughton Hall, Skipton and at Harvest At Jimmy’s, the four-day festival for music-lovers and foodies at Jimmy Doherty’s Suffolk farm in September.

Less than a year since Lulabelle took to the road serving her tasty home-made treats, she is already making her mark on Britain’s mobile food industry.

Last year, she beat thousands of other entrants throughout the country to clinch the ‘Best Looking Mobiler’ in the British Street Food Trading awards, and Cathy has entered Lulabelle into another competition which, if successful, could secure them a four-week trading pitch at the 2012 Olympic village in London.

“It is just amazing. I was looking at my diary and I’ve been trading less than a year and I’ve been invited to some amazing places doing some amazing events.

“Every event is different, I just love it. I don’t care if it’s chucking it down with rain or snow, whatever the weather I just love it.”

Cathy is enjoying a busy summer. “As soon as March hits, you are out every single day and weekends until mid-September.”

The quiet winter months give Cathy the chance to catch up on her administration and compiling recipes for her home-made fare.

“I remember baking with my grandmother, but food was not a huge part of my life until I met my ex-husband. He was really into food. He was a good cook and it sparked my interest,” explains Cathy.

Baking became her forte. “I do have a good feel for it and a skill for it, so that works for me and I enjoy doing it.”

Strawberry and cream muffins, carrot and cream cheesecakes and cupcakes are just some of Cathy’s flavoursome combinations. Whether she’s whetting the appetites of visitors to the regular vintage fairs in Saltaire and Skipton, or fine-dining wedding guests with her high teas served on vintage crockery, Lulabelle is the perfect hostess.

She captures the imagination, too. Cathy says customers are always curious about Lulabelle’s background which is why she has created an information board for them to read while waiting to be served. “I had to make an A-board to put the history on because the customers want to talk about the van and I don’t have time because I’m working!” she said.

And Cathy looks set to fulfil her original dream of providing camper van holidays. Bubba Jo joins Lulabelle in Cathy’s fast-growing camper van fleet.

The 1960 American airstream has been renovated and will soon be available for family holidays through The Glam Van company Cathy has set up with a partner.

“I have created a business which has incorporated all my loves – my daughter, our camper van and food, and I’ve created a little lifestyle for Tallulah,” says Cathy.