Two couples have turned motorhome ownership into a new career after taking over as the management team at a new £1 million touring caravan park in the picturesque Snowdonia National Park.
Nick and Wanda Hilditch, originally from Criggion, near Welshpool, have been appointed managers of Llanberis Touring Park by the owners, Shrewsbury-based Morris Leisure.
Their assistants are Steve and Debbie Hann from Martock, Somerset, who say they have been waiting for years to land their dream job with Morris Leisure.
Llanberis Touring Park, which has 54-pitches on eight acres of land on the edge of the popular village of Llanberis, enjoys stunning mountain views and is set alongside a scenic pond and a network of public footpaths.
Nick and Wanda have previously worked as assistant managers at two of Morris Leisure’s other parks – Stanmore Hall Touring Park at Bridgnorth and Ludlow Touring Park.
They joined the company two years ago, having both fancied a change of jobs and lifestyle. Wanda previously worked in a call centre for BT handling direct enquiries while Nick was a welder for Shropshire Leisure Fabrications at Halfway House, near Welshpool.
“We both felt we had done as much as we could in our jobs and we fancied doing something different,” explained Wanda. “We wanted a complete change of lifestyle.”
Nick said the hard work preparing the new Llanberis Touring Park for opening had been well worthwhile with the park, which opened last week, already proving popular with caravan and motorhome owners. Such is the demand that the park is full for Easter.
“We are working for the best company in the business and we had very good trainers at Stanmore Hall in managers Mark and Tracy Kilmartin,” he added. “This is our opportunity to put our mark on the new park and the welcome we have received from everybody in Llanberis has been fantastic.”
Steve and Debbie, who have previously been wardens of touring caravan parks in Somerset and Devon, said their desire to work for Morris Leisure started in 2012 when they stayed at Stanmore Hall in their motorhome.
“After talking to the managers, we both thought it would be good change of lifestyle,” said Steve. “We were both working and hardly ever saw each other. We were a bit like passing ships in the night.
“We wanted to work for Morris Leisure because they are a professional company with high quality parks and care about their employees. We were delighted to get the call to come for an interview and to be offered the job. There is so much we want to explore in this area.”
Steve previously worked as a weaver, training and personnel officer, coach driver and council workman during his career while Debby worked in retail for Halfords and the Co-op store.
