When one thinks of Newmarket, horses and racing instantly comes to mind.
However, this is not all this great town is famous for. Newmarket is the birthplace of the now famous and synonymous brand of caravans, Sprite. The Sprite's fascinating story begins back in the early forties, with a young entrepreneur whose unbounded enthusiasm and determination would be the making of him and the caravanning industry.
Sam Alper brought Sprite Caravans to the world, constantly innovating to make a better experience. Some worked, some didn’t, but what was prominent was the popularity in both the product he made, and the idea he was so passionate about in order to bring light to the lives of many who had faced the darker years of the forties.
Using his skills as an aircraft electrical mechanic from the war and surplus supplies left over, he was able to create happiness from the darkness and bring relief to many who could not afford the hotels but needed the well earned break!
Andrew Jenkinson is the author of The Story of Sprite Caravans, and has cleverly and creatively documented Sam Alper’s achievements, with stunning pictures and detailed documentation of Alper’s successes and failures along the way to becoming an OBE and an institution in the industry.
If you don’t fancy going out this weekend, take in a book with a cuppa on a cold winter’s morning and let the local nostalgia warm you up, you can learn a little something too!
The Story of Sprite Caravans is now available in bookshops.
