Family ‘camp regulars’ for 36 years

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 1

Family ‘camp regulars’ for 36 years

In 1944, Mr Evelyn Woods, of Christchurch, and Mrs Nellie Woods, snent their Christmas holidays at, the Woodend Beach camping ground. They have returned every year since, but with a larger family now. . Mrs Woods relaxed in her sun chair among pine trees and sand \ .knolls yesterday andcxplained returned to ~ Woodend Beach. -«lt’s the freedom, and it is so quiet,” she said. In IM4, it cost half a-crown and Mr Woods to

spend a week there, but the family considered that today’s charges were still good value for money. , Mr and Mrs Woods arrived in Christchurch from England in 1925, and have ; lived in Gibbon Street, Sydenham since then. Mr Woods makes four trips from Christchurch to Woodend Beach each December to get all that is required for the holiday. Their campsite' is like aj seasonal home, and is fi'S five Secluding one “longhouse’ for .“'kitchen.

‘ Most of the Woods’s six children and 17 grandchildren are ’ with them. , again this year. There were 13 for Christmas dinner last week. ■ Mrs Woods said that they had taken occasional holidays elsewhere, “but we always like coming back here at this time of the year.” The family arrived at their campsite on Decernber 4 and, will return to .. Christchurch on January 30. . ' ... ' Motor camp proprietors

right through next month. Many were regulars, although the Woods example was rare. However, 10-year associations were common.

“The price of petrol has had an effect on us. We are just as busy as ever,” said the manager of the Spencer Park holiday camp, Mr A. A. Adcock. People were finding it too expensive to travel very far from home, he said. Some of the Spencer Park campers were from Kaiapoi and Belfast, only Bkm away. Mr Adcock estimated that 80 per cent

of his guests were from Christchurch. “Well, what could I do in Nelson that I cannot do here?” said Mr David Stapley, carefully shielding his budgies from direct sunlight. A police recruiting officer, he has been commuting from the camp to the Central Police Station in Christchurch for about two weeks.

"It is good to come back here and enjoy four hours of daylight in a holiday atmosphere,” he said. Mr Stapley will remain at Spencer Park for another fortnight.

Most motor camps and camping, grounds have organised entertainment for this evening. New Year's Eve. The camps will be closed off to anyone but legitimate visitors and returning occupants. Gatecrashers will not be welcomed. The manager of the Waikuku Beach camping ground said that he had “made it plain” to any groups of young people who had arrived for the New Year that families were not to be disturbed tonight