There doesn’t appear to be a generally available catalogue of the badges produced by the Camping Club or their previous and subsequent incarnations. This is an attempt at a simple checklist of the badges produced by and for the oldest camping club in the world- The Camping and Caravanning Club.
There are undoubtably further badges than those shown below. What follows is simply those that Three Points of the Compass has or is aware of. If you know of any others and can supply image and detail on any not shown, it can be added to those below. There is a brief history of the club here.
Camping Club badge, made by Gaunt
Note- where 1901 appears on a badge, this does not signify its year of manufacture. Instead, this date refers to when the club was founded
Association of Cycle Campers
Earliest incarnation of The Camping Club from 1901, Name change in 1909 to Amateur Camping Club. Reformed in 1944 as a specialised section of the main club
Early club badge. Enamel membership badges were introduced when membership exceeded 200
Association of Cycle Campers. Enamel badges were introduced in 1904. Pin back. 28mm x 25mm. No maker’s name shown (there is an identical badge with J R Gaunt maker’s name on rear)
Association of Cycle Campers 1901. Pin back. 23mm. No maker’s name
Association of Cycle Campers badge. Pin back. No makers name. 20.4mm
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 27.5mm
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 36mm
Amateur Camping Club
From: Handbook of The Amateur Camping Club, 1914. Badges cost 2s 6d, postage 1d extra
The Amateur Camping Club incorporated the Association of Cycle Campers, the Camping Club and, later, in 1910, the National Camping Club. It existed from 1909 to 1919, when it became the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland.
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 29mm
The Camping Club
From 1919, club now known as The Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland. Hand painted enamelled Camping Club badges were available for club members after their second name change.
Hand painted enamelled Camping Club badge. 1920-1954. Crescent stud buttonhole fastening. 22.25mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 29mm
Enamel Camping Club badge. Plain surround. Crescent stud buttonhole fastening. 23.35mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
Enamel badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, small lower letters. 1920 – 1983. Crescent stud buttonhole fastening. 23.20mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
Enamel badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, small lower letters, 1920 – 1983. Pin back. 23.20mm. No makers name (but confirmed as Gaunt)
Enamel badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, small lower letters, 1920 – 1983. Pin back. 23.20mm. Maker: J R Gaunt, London
Enamel badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, large lower letters (grass same level as O and D), 1920 – 1983. Pin back. 23.20mm. Maker: J R Gaunt, London
Small lapel enamel club badge. 1920 – 1983.
Pin back. 14.35mm. No maker’s name
Enamel badge with gilt surround given to new members as a goodwill gesture. 1920-1950. Pin back. 24.60mm x 27mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 30mm
Enamel and brass badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, 1920 – 1983. For key fob. Plain back with no fastening. Brass hanger. 28mm x 33.5mm. No maker’s name. ‘Made in England’ on reverse
Enamel badge of The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland, 1920 – 1983. On Key fob. Metal (not brass) hanger. 28mm x 33.5mm. No maker’s name. “MADE IN ENGLAND” on reverse. Leather fob with steel split ring.
Small enamel and brass badge with gilt surround given to new members as a goodwill gesture. Also, for presentation to friends as souvenirs. 1950-1964. The Camping Club of G.B.&I 1901. Note ‘four-nations’ corner decoration. Crescent stud buttonhole fastening. 16.40mm x 19.25mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
Enamel and brass badge given to new members as a goodwill gesture. Also, for presentation to friends as souvenirs. 1950-1964. The Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland 1901. Note ‘four-nations’ corner decoration. Pin back. 26mm x 31mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
Enamel and brass badge with gilt surround given to new members as a goodwill gesture. Also, for presentation to friends as souvenirs. 1950-1964. The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland 1901. Note ‘four-nations’ corner decoration. Crescent stud buttonhole fastening. 26.5mm x 31mm. Maker- J R Gaunt
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 33mm x 40mm
The Camping Club- Jubilee (1951)
1951 Jubilee badge, available to members on the fiftieth anniversary of the club’s creation. Pin back. 32.75mm x 20mm. No maker’s name
The Camping and Caravaning Club- Centenary (2001)
National Camping Week. 2001, club centenary. Pin back button badge. 55mm. No makers name
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 30mm
The Camping Club- overseas
The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland. International enamelled badge for use at overseas rallies. 1950-1964.
Pin back. 23.30mm x 34mm. Maker- Gaunt
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 27.5mm
District Association badges
District Associations of the Camping Club (later, Camping and Caravanning Club) were instituted in 1907. Birmingham District Association was the first. There were a great many more badges than those shown here.
Enamel badge of The Camping Club-North Warwickshire District Association, 1970. Pin back. 25.45mm. No maker’s name
Durham D.A. badge. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 27mm. No maker’s name
Enamel Birmingham District Association badge. Pin back. 35mm No maker’s name
Enamel Cardiff District Association badge. Pin back. 33mm. No maker’s name
Enamel Cornwall District Association badge. Pin back. 35mm. No maker’s name
Enamel Derby District Association badge. Pin back. 27mm. No maker’s name
Enamel New Forest District Association badge. Pin back. 35mm. No maker’s name
Enamel Solent District Association badge. Pin back. 35mm. No maker’s name
West Midlands District Association Western Section badge. Pin back. 34.5mm. No maker’s name
Enamel Shropshire District Association badge. Pin back. 34.70mm. No makers name
Enamel Liverpool District Association badge. Pin back. No makers name
The Camping and Caravanning Club
Enamel badge. The Camping and Caravanning Club, post-1983. Pin back. 23.65mm. No maker’s name
Enamel badge. The Camping and Caravanning Club, post-1983. Pin back. 23.50mm. Maker- TKS. Note change in tepee support poles
2001 reproduction badge by SMT Associates for the Camping & Caravanning Club. Butterfly clasp. 31mm
The Camping and Caravanning Club badge, post-1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 23.75mm. Maker: Toye UK (www.toye.com). Note white infill below caravan towbar
The Camping and Caravanning Club- The Friendly Club
Current badge. Butterfly clasp.Post 1983. 25.45mm. No maker’s name
Painted metal badge and hanger for The Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. For key fob. Metal hanger. 32mm x 36mm. ‘Corporate Media 0121 702 1445’ on reverse
Youth Camping Association (formed 1941) / Camping Club Youth
Small enamel badge for the Youth Camping Association, sponsored by the Camping Club in 1941. Pin back. 14.35mm x 15.70mm. No maker’s name
Enamel badge for the Camping Club Youth section. This is aimed at young people between the ages of 12-17. Pin back. 25.20mm. No maker’s name
Recruiter badges
Acrylic ‘recruiter’ badges were earned by recommending another individual for new membership of the club- ‘friends recommendation’. These were cheaper produced badges than the much loved enamel badges of yore. Again, a slight change in design was introduced following the 1983 re-branding exercise. Recruiters must be doing quite well, for today, at the time of writing, there are over 720,000 club members.
Congratulatory letter sent to member recruiter, 1997
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 27mm. No maker’s name
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter. Post 1983. Pin back. 26mm. No maker’s name
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 25mm. No maker’s name
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter. Post 1983. Pin back. 25.6mm. No maker’s name
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 28mm. Maker- TOYE 0121 2363615
Camping & Caravanning Club Recruiter badge. Post 1983. Patterned edge. Pin back. 29.50mm. No maker’s name
Veteran membership (unbroken)
Club members who had completed 25 consecutive years of membership, and were eligible for state pension, could claim Veteran Membership of the Club.
25 years unbroken membership of the Camping Club of G B & I. Pre 1983 Pin back. 22.60mm x 23.15mm. No maker’s name
25 years unbroken membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club [CCC]. Post 1983. Pin back. 22.55mm x 22.65mm. Maker- Bromfield Sports/Shoreham by Sea
Long membership (broken)
25 Years membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 25.30mm x 22.15mm. No maker’s name
50 Years membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. Brooch pin with safety wheel. 25.30mm x 22.15mm. No maker’s name
25 Years membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. Butterfly clasp. 21.50mm x 25.10mm. No maker’s name
50 Years membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. Butterfly clasp. 21.40mm x 25.10mm. No maker’s name
Sub-sectiongroups
The Camping Club of G.B. & I. Folk Group. Acrylic on brass. Patterned gilt surround. Pre 1983. Pin back. 29mm. No maker’s name
The Camping & Caravanning Club Folk Group. Acrylic on brass. Plain gilt surround. Post 1983. Pin back. 29mm. No maker’s name. ” British Made” on back
The Camping & Caravanning Club Folk Group. Whitworth Castle Easter 1984. Plastic badge. Black and gold. Note that rose is white, as in the White Rose of York. Glued on brooch pin with safety wheel. 47.65mm. No maker’s name.
Motor Caravan Section- sub-section formed in 1962
The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland- Motor Caravan Section. Pre 1983. 22mm
The Camping & Caravanning Club- Motor Caravan Section. Butterfly clasp. Post 1983. 22.20mm. Maker- AAA Badges
The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland- Motor Caravan Section. Pre 1983. Pin back button badge. 24mm. No makers name
Trailer Tent Group– sub-section formed in 1967
Trailer Tent Group- C.C.G.B.&I. [Camping and Caravanning Club of Great Britain & Ireland]. Pin back. Post 1983. 27mm. Maker- Lambournes
Long Service
The Camping and Caravanning Club. 30 Years Service. Post 1983 (possibly post 2013). Pin back. 26.5mm x 31.5mm. Maker- Bromfield Sports/Shoreham by Sea
Other…
Badge and certificate awarded to the members who have contributed to the club in significant manner. A prestigious award. Post 1983.
Small Welcome Host badge. Used at rallies etc. Butterfly clasp. 13mm
Cloth (sew-on) badges
Cloth badge- The Camping Club of Great Britain & Ireland. Pre 1983 76mm diameter
Cloth badge- The Camping Club, plain surround. 79mm diameter
Cloth badge- The Camping and Caravanning Club. Post 1983. 86mm diameter
Cloth badge- The Camping Club. Post 1983. 76.5mm x 51mm
Car grill badges were also produced by The Camping Club and their later incarnations however those fall outside the scope of this list. Also not listed here are the plethora of small plastic badges produced by the District Associations for sometimes extremely limited attendance meets, these could include district rallies or even dinner meets for a handful of members.
A framed ‘club and badge history’ was produced by SMT Associates as a limited edition retail product for the Camping and Caravanning Club on the occasion of their centenary in 2001. This contained nine reproduced badges. Each of these is included in the above listing.
Reproduced club badges produced for the Camping Club on their centenary in 2001
Three Points of the Compass has recently been checking the various backpacking lanterns from the gear locker. On a grey winter's day, time was taken out to service two UCO candle lanterns.
The UCO Candle Lantern has been around for decades. It may be thought a little surprising that UCO have not produced more accessories in the past forty years. But what can you add to a candle lantern? Three Points of the Compass has a glance at what there is.
The Olight Obulb is a small rechargeable LED globe lantern that provides 360° of soft light. It has a wide range of possible applications. The light weight and size, weather proofness, warm low light and runtime also makes it suitable for some backpacking and camping application.
Victorinox do like to release limited editions of their standard range of knives. Normally these will simply be a special colour for the handles. In 2022 Victorinox took the Cadet, one of their most popular knives and changed the handle material. This enabled them to add a couple of tools. Careful scale design has also made this an extremely attractive knife that pays homage to many of the iconic sights to be found in its country of origin.
Three Points of the Compass has previously looked at a couple of small and light lanterns for use in camp or home. One was candle-powered, the other was gas-powered. As an alternative- the little BRS-55 is a gas-powered 'candle' lantern.
This map measure is a quality instrument from a well-known French manufacturer, but with a twist. The Miledial was especially made for export to the US market, to be sold by one of the premier retailers of nautical instruments
On their 125th anniversary, Victorinox opened a new Flagship Store in the UK. Three Points of the Compass ventured into London to see what was on offer.
The study of many aspects of natural history, both indoors and in the field, can often be aided by the use of a magnifying lens, also called a hand lens, or loupe. There are cheap loupes and there are expensive loupes. There are really poor loupes and there are excellent loupes. What there isn't, is a really good cheap loupe. But it is possible to buy one that isn't too scarily expensive.
![25 years unbroken membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club [CCC]](https://3pointsofthecompass.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/22.-veteran-badge.jpg){kind=icon}
Three Points of the Compass 