Successful reunion

Saturday's reunion was not just a trip down the lane leading off Ninfield Road but a trip down memory lane.

For many, happy memories of summer holidays spent under canvas at Bexhill as St John Cadets went back to the Fifties.

Others could recall the campsite from its opening in 1947.

In those days most of them lived in the Chichester area. In an era when family holidays were an expensive luxury, a few days away at camp were a taste of freedom and adventure.

Today, though some of the friends still live in close proximity to each other, many have scattered across the country.

Above the hubbub as members of Bexhill and Little Common Macmillan Cancer Support Committee, who provided the catering, served lunch in the hall, event organiser Patricia Ware explained the reunion's significance.

"Some of them camped here when it first opened in 1947. The majority enjoyed camps here between 1951 ans 1958.

"The majority of us are still from Chichester through there is someone here from Lincolnshire, someone from Salisbury and someone from Harrow.

"We meet for a reunion every five years now but this one is one in between.

"It's special because I discovered that this campsite was still in being .

"It hasn't changed! It's been improved since our time - it was pretty spartan then - but it's not changed."

For Patrick and Janet Joyce of Whyke Road, Chichester, Saturday's visit to Bexhill had special significance.

Friendship which began when Patrick and the young Janet Cooper attended the camps blossomed into love."

Memories came flooding back for Patrick.

"We used to walk up the lane to the campsite. Sometimes we would get on the bus and go into Bexhill or Hastings for an outing.

"We used to love to go onto Bexhill seafront and have an ice cream in Forte's.

"They were lovely days. Very happy."

Janet said: "We still live in Chichester. We were married in 1963."

Pat Ware recalled: "When you arrived here you were told to walk back down the lane to the farm to fill your palliasse with straw!

"The boys' tents were over the far side. The girls' tents were over here. We weren't supposed to go over there - but we did!"

The three fall into giggles at the memory of innocent times - like the unfortunate who was told to pack his palliasse to the top. When he trudged back with it he found he'd been duped into carrying his pals' straw as well as his own.

Patrick recalled: "We had games and a sort of mini-sports."

Pat recalled: "....and sing-songs - better not mention them, the singing wasn't very good!"