Summer Camp started way back in July 2013, it started as an event for
members of the TVR Car Club by Clive F and Clive W,  the latter Clive having a small field alongside his house in Merstone which Clive F thought it would be great to fill with tents and TVRs!

We had room for 20 tents, and at the end of the event had £260 left over from the event funds, so we found the YMCA Young Carers in Shanklin and donated it to them, so suddenly we had a camping and charity fundraising event on our hands, which grew in popularity over the coming years being held on the first weekend of each July.

In 2017 the event needed to grow so we moved Summer Camp to a proper campsite with all the facilities required, and with more than- enough room to play with at Ninham Country Holidays Willow Brooke site in Lake. We now have ample space, a large marquee  to sit in for meals and entertainments, catering all done on site, and have room for tents, motorhomes and camper vans.

The amount of fundraising grew each year, the event evolved into something quite special, due mainly to the core group of regulars who would be so welcoming to new campers, that introduced a special atmosphere at Summer Camp that I`m glad to say is still here and growing strong  some 10 years later.

We had a 2 year absence due to covid, but we still managed to hold online auctions on Facebook and during those 2 years still managed to raise over £7000.

2022 was intended to be the "Final Fling" , the last TVR Summer Camp as bookings were slowing up, I felt we had lost some of our appeal, but, 2 days into the 2022 event I felt this was too good to let go, and decided to move forward into 2023 by changing the event name to IOW Summer Camp, by dropping the TVR name we are now attracting people who had not been before because they weren't members of the TVRCC, also friends and family of our regular campers have now come along to see what all the fuss has been about and we are growing from within, many of us have since moved on from owning TVRs, and we now have a great mix of all marques and models, the thing is this event is about the people,not the cars, the right attitude who want to help others, who have a great sense of humour, and enjoy making new friends. 

It was very fitting that in November of 2022 TVR Summer Camp was to receive an award at the Lancaster Insurance Classic and Sports Car Show at the NEC , for "Best Contribution to Charity", something we are all very proud of achieving.

The IOW Summer Camp 2023 event welcomed many new faces who we hope are now old faces and returning each year, and we aim to go from strength to strength, and changing each year to keep things different. 2023 was also the year of breaking fundraising records, again, this year we raised £20,001, the £1 breaking the 2022 total of £20,000, just amazing. 

If you think you would like to get involved, come camping, or donate an item for our charity auction please contact event organiser Clive via the contact page.