Memories of Highlands End

 Last Saturday I stopped in the Bar for a coffee and met with Peter and Christine Felton.

Peter and Christine were having breakfast before leaving the park after a week’s holiday in one of our Caravan Holiday Homes. Peter told me that he has been coming to Highlands End since 1955 when he first stayed with his parents. Peter has continued to bring his family regularly to the park and his great grandson aged 6 had recently started swimming in the Highlands End Pool.

When camping in the late 1950s, Peter was proud to tell me that he used to cycle from Watford to the holiday park. In fine weather with a tail wind it would take 10 hours and with a head wind the longest journey was 22 hours!

Whilst we were sitting in the bar Peter could recall the old showers in the cow shed, they have since been demolished and turned into the Highlands End Bar. Peter said they were probably eating their breakfast very close to the location of an old shower. The couple had memories of Mr & Mrs Whiffin who owned the holiday park until 1971 and who they got to know very well during their frequent stays.

Christine reminded Peter of their honeymoon on the holiday park in 1965 and that when they had arrived in a Second World War Jeep. Christine said as they were checking in at reception Mrs Whiffin asked them to remove what she considered to be ‘inappropriate words’ that had been written on the side of the jeep by their wedding guests. Mrs Whiffin the holiday park owner thought the wording might offend the other campers!!

Peter and Christine still enjoy their holidays at Highlands End Holiday Park. They have witnessed many changes to the park over the years and I was pleased to hear that they believed that the development of the modern facilities had not destroyed the ‘peace and quiet’ of the location and area.

My conversation with Peter and Christine reminded me of the importance of ensuring each of our visitors enjoys their stay and that the holiday parks can be the foundation of so many precious memories. When I left Mr and Mrs Felton and returned to a mountain of paperwork, their happy memories gave me a burst of enthusiasm and reminded me that the paperwork is all very worthwhile.