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Hello Campers!

Published on July 27th, 2023

Hi Di Hi! Bringing you a fun selection of nostalgic photos of holiday camps and happy holidaymakers in the 50s and 60s. Featuring holiday camps at Beacholme, Scarborough, Caister-on-Sea and Wick Ferry amongst others.

Swalecliffe is two miles east of Whitstable and a popular area for holidaymakers. Here campers queue up at the camp shop for their daily newspaper, milk, bread and so on. Three other campers enjoy the pleasure of riding a four-wheeled cycle.

Photo: Swalecliffe, The Shopping Centre, Seaview Holiday Camp c.1955.


Photo: Caister-on-Sea, The Holiday Camp, The Kitchen c.1960.


Holiday chalets were an important part of the holiday scene when this view of a camp on the north bay was taken. Small buildings with spartan facilities provided an inexpensive holiday for many people for whom even staying in a boarding house or hotel was beyond their financial reach.

Photo: Scarborough, Holiday Chalets c.1955.


A least three generations of holidaymakers and a dog try their luck on the putting green at Beacholme Holiday Camp in Humberston.

Photo: Humberston, Beacholme Holiday Camp Putting Green c.1955.


Staff and holidaymakers put on a great show at Wick Ferry Holiday Camp c1955, which was bought by Fred Pontin in 1962.

Photo: Christchurch, Wick Ferry Holiday Camp c.1955.


The camp shop stocks all the essentials for holidaymakers' chalets including milk, newspapers, bread and tins of food.

Photo: Humberston, Beacholme Holiday Camp Shop Interior c.1955.


Photo: Lowestoft, "A Jolly Time On The Terrace" Gunton Hall Holiday Camp c.1955.


Hopton is a diminutive village resort on the A12 just south of Great Yarmouth. Here holiday makers could enjoy the quiet attractions of the 'Constitutional Holiday Camp' well away from the bustle and bright lights of its noisier and bigger neighbour. Every effort has been made to intensify the holiday atmosphere: there are 'cabin' style chalets daubed with bright colours, rustic seats, flower-bedded lawns and plenty of beach space.

Photo: Hopton, The Holiday Camp c.1955.


The 'Holiday Camps Express' ran from London to Caister and the other Norfolk holiday camps at California, Scratby and Hemsby every Saturday in summer from 1934 to 1938, and again from 1948 to 1958. The new arrivals all look very happy!

Photo: Caister-on-Sea, The "Camp Special" Arrives, Holiday Camp c.1955.


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