At Barry Nub News we aim to support our community. We promote shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups. We have been profiling some of these businesses and organisations as well as the personalities who do their best to help others in a feature called 'Up Close in Barry'.

Paul James has always been drawn to the nomadic way of life.

Immediately after finishing school in his hometown of Bridgend, he embarked on a series of adventures.

Between ski seasons and various water sport trips, Paul travelled around Europe and South America on four wheels.

You could call him something of an early adopter of 'van life', which has developed into a worldwide craze in recent years, particularly among the so-called Instagram generation.

"It's the freedom of it really," he tells Nub News. "Being able to go where you like and sleep where you stop has always appealed to me."

He even saved up to buy a van of his own named 'Fan Goch', or 'Red Van' to non-Welsh speakers.

But, even for the most adventurous among us, reality has a habit of creeping in and taking hold.

Seeking stability and a fulfilling career, Paul became a special educational needs teacher at Cardiff and Vale College. He taught there for fifteen years and moved to Barry with his girlfriend two years ago.

"But I took the step to hand in my notice," he says. "I loved teaching in so many ways but honestly the salary was capped and I've got the baby now. I just felt I needed to go and set up a business.

"They say either move into a skill you have or move into something you know. Campervans are something that I know about and love, so it made sense really to choose that."

Now, Paul is the owner of a small fleet of campervans and the business Campervan Getaways. Starting at £75 a night, holidaymakers can take one of his four converted vans on an adventure.

They include the two-berth Vivaro 'Fan Goch' (£75 a night in mid-season), a four-berth Mercedes Sprinter 'Fan Las' and Renault Trafic 'Fan Lwyd' (£85), and a luxury four-berth Peugeot Boxer Fan Gwyn (£95). (Prices increase by £10 in peak season.)

All are equipped with solar panels and were lovingly converted by local company SW Van Conversions. Awnings, kayaks, surfboards and roof boxes are also available.

Establishing a business during the pandemic initially proved difficult. As a new business, Paul was only eligible for base-level grants. The winter was tough as van hire is a notoriously seasonal pursuit.

But summer is booming and his vans are all but booked up. He puts this down to customer service, price, quality of van, and the fact that he found a niche.

"A lot of the businesses are either motorhomes or expensive VWs. This has allowed me to undercut pricewise because I'm converting cheaper vans that are absolutely the same.

"Feedback has been amazing."

It really has. Campervan Getaways has received 100% 5-stars after 17 Google Reviews.

One reads:

"Have used camper van getaways twice now and each time was blown away. From start to finish is amazing, friendly easy collection, accommodating staff, easy drop off. Fully equipped vans that are clean, spacious comfortable and everything needed to make our getaways perfect."

Given the business' early success, Paul hopes to add more vans to his fleet.

"I would like to learn the craft of converting vans myself and keep growing. People are discovering the freedom of camper vans so I'm confident about the future."

For more information, visit campervangetaways.com or their Facebook page.