A tent reborn!

[-Ralph-]

Posted as there's a few on the forum interest in camping.

Well it's a new tent to me and I'm well chuffed.

This has recently passed onto me as a family heirloom. It's a Stuart Lloyd 'Blenheim' aluminium frame tent, designed and manufactured by my stepfather (the Lloyd part of the brand name) and his associates, in Birmingham round about 1980, so in the region of 30 years old.

As tents go they don't get much more classic, respected and collectible than this. Widely thought to be the best quality tent available at the time, they were made to order, bespoked where requested, and shipped worldwide. These will stand up to anything the british weather can throw at them. There are very few left in active service.

It's been in the attic of my Stepfather's ex business partner (the Stuart half of the brand name) for 20 years and is now going to be pushed back into service by me, my wife and my son, for family camping holidays.

It may make an appearance on an org weekend sometime soon.

A few pics, sizes are approximate...

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Stuart%20Lloyd%20Tent/SNC00089.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Stuart%20Lloyd%20Tent/SNC00093-1.jpg

6ft x 4t kitchen

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Stuart%20Lloyd%20Tent/SNC00095.jpg

2 x 6ft x 4ft bedrooms

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Stuart%20Lloyd%20Tent/SNC00096.jpg

12ft x 7ft living room

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Stuart%20Lloyd%20Tent/SNC00097.jpg

[Fruity-ya-ya]

Love it.

Thanks for sharing.

I particularly like the curtains.
Remind me of when I was a nipper.

[Specialone]

My family had that style tent in the 70's cost a fortune back then, didn't get used when my dad passed away.

I remember it was heavy canvas and took ages to put up :)

[scooby]

Nice to see a propper family tent again

[-Ralph-]

My family had that style tent in the 70's cost a fortune back then, didn't get used when my dad passed away.

I remember it was heavy canvas and took ages to put up :)

Don't know if it was a Stuart Lloyd do you? If it was it would have been bought from Camping Europa next to Dudley zoo, which was co-run by my stepfather.

[Specialone]

Don't know if it was a Stuart Lloyd do you? If it was it would have been bought from Camping Europa next to Dudley zoo, which was co-run by my stepfather.

Dunno Col tbh, i was very young, I remember us going to the camping shop some Sunday afternoons and it wasn't by Dudley zoo.

It was a 6 berth and we had 6 at the time inc me.

Dad used to fit everything in including stove, 6 people etc in his wolsley 1500 ( ( I think, big ass saloon car) :)

[Bibio]

nice one. its a bit like the one i have, a good proper frame tent.

you cant beat canvas tents :-)

[dizzyblonde]

Now thats what I call a reet proper tent!!

They go for mega money on the bay of evil I think. Retro geeks would love to get their mitts on yours :) Could do with one of those as a marshal tent at the AR!

[Quiff Wichard]

That is brill Col.. love it.. and yer lad will love it when he is older and sees the pics and knows of the provenance (sp) .. lovely story that is..

I recall seeing loads of them around in my youth in wales on family holidays .. do you have a windbreak and a swing ball to complete the set.. ?

you are bound to get folk coming over on sites asking you about it .. and how lovely to say it is connected to your family heritage .

[Quiff Wichard]

ps- I dont see a smaller tent at the side for my mate Murphy ?

[The Guru]

I take it you wont be strapping it on the back of your bike though?

[Skip]

Fantastic tent! Thanks for sharing :)

[Stenno]

Bwahaha my parents had that one too! I remember just one trip in it though as a kid.