Click the names if you would like to send them an email
Simon Holloway – President
One of the club’s founding members, literally member number 1, the key name behind BusFest and long-term member of the Volkswagen scene since the 80s, Simon has accepted the role as President of the club from 2020.
The Exec
Malcolm Marchbank – Chairman
Malcolm has been a member of VWT2OC since 1997 and was made Chairman at the 2016 AGM. Malcolm has had several T2s and a T25 over the years and has stories to tell about all of them. He is currently in the middle of the long task of restoring a Bay window Westfalia. We wish him luck fitting it in along with all his other jobs!!
Phil Aldridge – Vice Chairman
My wife and I have owned our ‘79 Devon Moonraker “Bluebell” since 2013. Since then, we have completed a full restoration of the interior and exterior. We have taken trips all over the UK and had the odd trip over to Europe too! You can read about some of these trips in the club’s magazine with an occasional article called “Tales From The Driving Seat”. We joined the VWT2OC as soon as we took the plunge into campervan ownership and are former editors of the club’s magazine “Transporter Talk”. Phil accepted the role of Vice Chairman in March 2023.
Maggie Ward – Club Secretary
Maggie & Bob have had many great adventures with “Freddie” the Rotti in their 1974 Westfalia Continental named “Ginger”. Maggie joined the team in 2012 and is enjoying all its challenges.
Val Lewis – Membership Manager
Val took on this job in 2014 and is responsible for all of your membership matters. She keeps a record of your membership details up to date and processes all your payments, cheques, Paypal and BACS. She may be contacted for any membership or club enquiries and will give you the BUSFEST discount code if you ask.
She lives in Herefordshire with Malcolm the Chairman and Lottie the Cocker spaniel who attends all VW camps with us and often features in the TT magazine.
Working together with Malcolm they make a great team supporting the VWT2OC.
Jon Dyer – Production Manager & Club Treasurer
Jon has had two camper vans the first from 1996 to 2006 and his present Devon Moonraker double top since then. Jon has been a member since 1996 and has been on the team since 2012. Other VW’s to pass through his hands have been a 1303 Beetle, a Fastback and a Polo for his children to learn to drive in. His wife Tracey is grateful that they don’t have enough storage for more than one classic vehicle. Jon took on the role of Club Treasurer in 2021.
Andy Jones – Assistant Magazine Editor and Assistant Website Manager
I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself, as you might see my name popping up in the magazine from time to time. I’ve recently offered to help out the management team — mainly by writing articles and putting together some tasty recipes — to support Nick with the editorial side of things and hopefully take a bit of pressure off his shoulders.
I’ve just turned 60, have three grown-up children, and a 7-year-old grandson who’s already a big fan of camping. In fact, I almost sold my beloved 1979 Bay, Nancy after COVID, as all my camping mates sold their vans and opted for those “all-inclusive” holidays abroad. You know the type — endless buffets, pool bars, and sun loungers with towel battles at dawn.
But then Reuben said, “Grandpa, can we go camping in your van?” — and that was that. Three years later, Nancy is still very much a loved member of the family.
I’ve been part of the VW scene since my dad bought his first Volkswagen back in 1969 — a basic, no-frills 1200 Beetle. It didn’t even have a petrol gauge (those were optional back then). Instead, there was a little lever down by the pedals to switch to the reserve tank when you ran out of fuel. Not exactly ideal when approaching a busy junction!
Once I passed my driving test, the obsession properly kicked in. Over the years, I’ve owned several Beetles, Polos, and Golfs — with a few non-VWs in the mix too (yes, family life does have its compromises…apparently “we need something with more boot space” is a real thing!).
Today, I’ve got two wonderful motors: a VW Golf Mk6 Cabriolet and my trusty ’79 Bay, Nancy.
I bought Nancy in 2017 and joined the club soon after, although I didn’t actually make it to a meet until last year — definitely an “armchair supporter” for a while!
Back in 1982, I had the chance to visit the VW factories in Hannover and Wolfsburg with my parents, on a trip organised by the Worcestershire VW Owners Club — sadly no longer running. If anyone here remembers them or was part of that club, I’d love to hear from you and share a few stories.
Now, as I begin my 60s and with a bit more free time (I run my own graphics business from home), I can finally indulge more in my lifelong passion — the mighty Volkswagen. Being self-employed also gives me the flexibility to get to more shows throughout the season, which is a lovely bonus.
So, if you spot my name in the mag from time to time, now you’ll know who I am! And if you see me out and about at any shows, please do come and say hello — I love meeting fellow VW lovers and having a good natter about all things air-cooled and beyond.
Helen Hinchliffe – Competition Manager and Discounts Manager
Helen accepted the role of Competition Manager in March 2022 and works on the Competitions for the magazine. Helen accepted the role of Discounts Manager in March 2022 taking over from Phil Aldridge. Helen is also our charity co-ordinator.
Michelle Tatner – Events Manager
We bought our T25 about 5 years ago, basically because our son Kyle had one called Rusty (for obvious reasons) which he took us out in and we liked it so much that we bought one for ourselves.
We called her Misty (Mi in Michelle, St in Steve and Y for why on earth did we do that), which we have had some great times with. Misty has had a lot of money lavished on her for reconditioned engine, starter motor, all electrical parts etc.
Misty still likes to play up and break down whenever it suits her, a problem which I am determined to correct. So we decided on something more reliable when we need it, so we bought a T6 camper which we are using on a regular basis.
Michelle was an accountant and chief executive for a firm of solicitors in Winchester but decided to leave it all behind and now does upholstery (we reupholstered the seats in Misty).
Nick Gillott – Editor and Website Manager
Nick joined the club in 2015 and joined the team in 2017, taking on the role of website manager from Taff Hart at the AGM in 2018. After building a new wooden interior for Poppy the camper van in 2013, rewiring and numerous other odd jobs around Poppy, he bought Eric the Viking in 2015 which is undergoing a full restoration. Read about Eric’s progress in the club magazine and on this site. Nick took over the role of Editor in June 2022 when Phil stepped down after 5.5 years in role.
Noel and Nicky Shipston – Assistant Membership Secretary
Nicky, my wife, and I have been Club members since 2012 but it wasn’t until 2023 that we started attending club events. Having both taken early retirement from our full time jobs the previous year and having more free time available. Nicky was in the Fire Service and I was a Fuel Tanker Driver, commonly known by my domestic customers as ” The Oil Man”.
Whilst my name is in the frame as Assistant Membership Manager, Nicky will be firmly by my side supporting Val with Membership matters.
We live on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds when we are not touring in our 1973 bay window “Olly” whom we have had for the last 11 years. I was wiened on a Split Screen as a child of the sixties. I introduced Nicky to the VW campervan scene hiring a Westy for a week for her 40th birthday. We bought our first bay “Louuie” the following year but sadly he was taken from us in 2013. We always say that Olly is one of the family and we would sell the house before we got rid of him.
Assistant Treasurer – Andrew Hinchliffe
Andrew and Helen like to enjoy life in the slow lane travelling around the country in Gertie, their 1978 Westfalia Berlin. We can be found at many VW Camper shows or camping with family and friends whatever the time of year or weather. Andrew is our key Field Marshall on the Busfest field.
Event Support – Brian and Sharon Redden
Event Support – David and Wendy Marriott
David assistant Discounts Manager. Wendy Event support.
We’ve been members now for 15 years. When we retired in 2021 we became event support I have now taken the position of assistant discounts manager. We’ve had our bus a 1979 bay window Devon Moonraker since 2008 she’s called Millie. Millie has an original interior and the bright Marino yellow paint work mean you should see her coming!
Event Support – James and Marina Reeves
Event Support – Steve Tatner
I am an electrician and work in Larkhill near Salisbury looking after the Army buildings.
We also have a little dog called Pesto (Cocker Spaniel) who doesn’t do much at all. We live just outside Salisbury in an area called the Chalke Valley where we have been for over 20 years.
Event Support – Tracey Dyer
We have owned VW bay campervans since 1996. Enjoying the current Devon Moonraker double top which has taken us on many an adventure around the UK, Spain and France. It’s just a great way to relax, have fun, explore new places and meet new people, even if occasionally it’s on the side of the road! With a busy work schedule our little camper “Garvey” is always ready to go and help slow the pace down a little. My favourite camping trip was to the Vendee in France in Jard Sur Mer which I can highly recommend.
Magazine Editor – Vacant
Phil and Sophie Aldridge stepped down from the Editor role after 5.5 years taking the magazine to the next level. Nick Gillott has been editing the magazine since Summer 2022. If you are interested in editing the magazine, please contact any of the management team.