Creative Captures

Cheap and Cheerful Caravan Holiday

I was seven years old in 1970, as we entered a new decade. I remember being excited whenever holidays were mentioned in our house, because going away was such a rare occurrence for our family during my childhood.

When we did go on holiday we never ventured far – it was a caravan park on the South Coast, invariably Bognor Regis. We always took my Aunt Alice because she was on her own and mum felt sorry for her. I was fond of her but boy, did she scold us if we played up!

Caravan rental was around £10 per week in the early seventies. It was a cheap option for many working-class families, which inevitably resulted in packed caravan parks and beaches, where us kids played for hours building sandcastles and paddling in the sea, whilst our parents’ hired deckchairs for 20p an hour, so they could keep an eye on us when they weren’t falling asleep in the midday sun.

One thing I do remember – I was never bored. Amusement arcades provided endless entertainment with bingo, one arm bandits and kids’ rides.

If you took your own food, as we always did, it was cheaper than eating out every day. Mum always brought the essentials: eggs, sausages, bacon, baked beans, bread, butter, cow’s milk, and a bottle of sterilised milk, which I loved. Waking up to the aroma of sizzling bacon is one of my happiest childhood memories.

We’d eat out a couple of times at the beach, where fresh fish and chips were a must. Mum always had rock salmon, with a slice of bread and butter and lashings of salt and vinegar. Dessert was always tinned fruit with vanilla ice cream.

We were back at our caravan in time for tea, which was usually spam and pickle sandwiches or cheese on toast. After that, we all got ready for the on-site evening entertainment, which included competitions, more bingo and a band or disco.

They were happy, carefree days, when ‘staycations’ were the norm, not the exception; I miss those times.