Flo’s 80-year wait for gypsy caravan
A WOMAN’S childhood dream came true 80 years later when her husband bought her a gypsy caravan for her birthday.
Flo Essex, 87, said the handpainted wagon from Jim, 91, was the “best present ever” .
The couple – who celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary yesterday – met at a fairground 73 years ago when brightly decorated wooden caravans were still a common sight.
Flo’s father Benjamin Thorne came from a travelling family and had 11 children with his wife, also named Florence.
Flo, who celebrated her birthday last Thursday, said as a child she loved seeing the caravans when the fair came to town. She added: “My dad used to say to me, ‘One of these days I’ll make you one,’ but he never did.”
Jim spotted the wooden wagon for sale for £3,000 in a classified advert and knew it was the perfect gift. Amazingly, it was built in October 1930, the month and year Flo was born.
Now the couple, who were awarded MBEs for raising thousands of pounds for charities, have the caravan in their back garden in Yeovil, Somerset.
Jim said: “When I saw it advertised I said to myself, ‘That caravan would do for my wife’ – it was the same year she was born in. It is a lovely thing to have.” Rolling along... Jim and wife Flo at home in Yeovil with the wooden gypsy caravan he bought for her birthday