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Camps visited by Birmingham youngsters

Vivienne14

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
Camps were probably a lifeline for children in some families, especially those from the heavily industrialised, inner city areas like Birmingham. Not only could they provide health improving benefits, but also places they could help develop youngsters to become young adults. A lot of happy faces in the photos below.

This was Penrhos, Anglesey in 1939. Press cuttings from British Newspaper Archive. Viv.

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This is a camp in Rhyl where my Dad went in 1933. He was 14 at the time. Is there any way of identifying a more specific location. Looks like they’re camping in a field, so probably a long shot. Don’t know if any of the other boys were from Birmingham. Quite possibly. Viv.

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We didn't go camping but the Kingstanding Settlement club took us to a place called Windmill House, can't remember exactly where it was but somewhere south of Brum near Evesham or Alcester.
Out walking I had my first strawberries and ice cream there post war.
 
Vivienne14 said:
This is a camp in Rhyl where my Dad went in 1933. He was 14 at the time. Is there any way of identifying a more specific location. Looks like they’re camping in a field, so probably a long shot. Don’t know if any of the other boys were from Birmingham. Quite possibly. Viv.

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this site has been going for yonks
Happy holidays since 1933.
Welcome to Golden Sands Holiday Park. Our family-friendly, award-winning holiday park is located right on the beach in North Wales and has been providing wonderful holidays for 86 years. Furthermore, we are privately owned and are focused on ensuring that our guests have the happiest of holidays here at Golden Sands, Rhyl.
 
Looks a good possibility Pete. If so, it would have been when Golden Sands first started out. Id always assumed it was a camp connected with air cadets as he had, from a very early age, a clear ambition to join the RAF. The owner of the camp (Arthur Jones) was, however, in the RNAS, so perhaps the camp was initially run along military lines. Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Looks a good possibility Pete. If so, it would have been when Golden Sands first started out. Id always assumed it was a camp connected with air cadets as he had, from a very early age, a clear ambition to join the RAF. The owner of the camp (Arthur Jones) was, however, in the RNAS, so perhaps the camp was initially run along military lines. Viv.
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could have been
RAF Mona - Wikipedia
 
Eric Gibson said:
We didn't go camping but the Kingstanding Settlement club took us to a place called Windmill House, can't remember exactly where it was but somewhere south of Brum near Evesham or Alcester.
Out walking I had my first strawberries and ice cream there post war.
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Would this be the large house at the top of Weatheroak Hill, near Wythall, now used by the Bettel organisation.
 
It might be, the location looks about right but the house looks different to how I remember it, maybe it's been altered and extended over the years. As I recall it had stone steps all across the front leading to the entrance.

Time for you guys to seek out some old photos. :)
 
This Cinderford excursion has to be part of the September 1st 1939 evacuation, doesn't it? Fascinating extracts, thanks, Carolina, and perhaps worthy of a separate thread including a complete scan?

Chris
 
ChrisM said:
This Cinderford excursion has to be part of the September 1st 1939 evacuation, doesn't it? Fascinating extracts, thanks, Carolina, and perhaps worthy of a separate thread including a complete scan?

Chris
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chris this is what i was thinking as well...my dad would have been at icknield school but he was evacuated to wales

lyn
 
We had a school scout camp July 1953 at Tal-y-Bont, near Harlech. I would have been twelve. I don't do diaries but remember Korean War armistice was signed while we were there, and I've just looked it up on Google. First time I had had lettuce and marmite sandwiches, I still love them. We travelled there by coach, Ludlow Bros. First time I had camped. Gave me an appetite for camping for twenty years to come.
 
My husband and I are just choosing where to travel next year. I have never been to Birmingham, so I would love to go there. I'll have to discuss it with my husband. But first, I would like to know the average prices for camping gear in Birmingham. I want to know if buying the gear in advance would be more cost-effective, or should I buy it there? By the way, I already bought a set of two LED camping lights. . In addition, I need to buy a tent, a camping generator, a tourist bagpack and a thermos. I would be happy to get your advice.
 
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Boys leaving Snow Hill just before the onset of WW2. Wonder if any of the older boys at the back served ? Viv.

AABDA9D9-9F68-411C-BA26-ACA89B8622CE.jpeg
Source: Brutish Newspaper Archive.
 
It has to be quite a few of them, Viv, even though in an area Like Birmingham many would have ended up doing essential war work in arms factories and would therefore have been on the reserved occupation list - whether they wanted to be or not.

What a shame, isn't it, that despite our huge membership here in the Forum, not a single one of these lads will probably ever be identified. I'd bet that a member's grandfather or uncle is there, amongst them - but I know from my own experience just how difficult it is to recognise a face in a photograph after all those years. Worth a really careful look at each of them, nevertheless!

Chris
 
Absolutely agree Chris. I hope as time goes on that someone somewhere will connect the dots in their family history and come across photos like these on BHF. You just never know. Viv.
 
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