The first holiday camp

The word “camp” in a holiday context is almost archaic in our language today, a relic of the past conjuring up memories of cramped accommodation, crowded dining halls resembling military messes, over-enthusiastic zealous hosts and hostesses in coloured blazers, and knobbly knees competitions.

“Holiday” remains in use by those naming their sites, but “camp” has been ousted by “park” – or even “resort” - often with the word “chalet” or “caravan” added.

But the entire British leisure industry of this nature owes its origin to a Caister landowner, John Fletcher Dodd, who pioneered the holiday camp that has developed from his concept almost a century ago into the up-market, all-mod-con centres of 2005 that provide the entertainment and facilities of such range and quality that their guests need not venture beyond the gates unless they want to do so.

But he was no forerunner of Billy Butlin or Fred Pontin, businessmen providing all-found holiday packages within the pocket of the ordinary working man. His brainchild was a blend of social, humanitarian, philanthropic and political.

In an era rife with radical political activity Mr Dodd, an active member of the Independent Labour Party, decided that working-class families deserved a better holiday than a day’s outing to the country as reward for the hard graft and deprivation that was their lot. So he took a small party of ten from London East End slums to spend a week under canvas in the grounds of his home on Ormesby Road at Caister.

His experiment was a resounding success. The fame and reputation of Dodd’s Socialist Holiday Camp spread throughout the nation, and soon a landmark 1000 people a week were staying there, and it earned a place in the Shell Book of Firsts.
Guests lived in Bell tents, sleeping on bedsteads and mattresses, or in wooden huts.

Entire families came – parents, grandparents, children – and many hired bigger accommodation for an extra three shillings (15p) a week. By 1914, it cost £1 2s (£1.10p) for full board, and the meals were usually more wholesome and appetising than the campers ate at home. The red flag fluttered above the camp which expanded across the road to the water’s edge.

There was a downside: everyone had to help with the chores, the women cooking while their menfolk lifted vegetables from the gardens and cleared litter. A bugle call summoned campers to meals which were taken outdoors if possible. Punctuality was essential. Men and women had separate bathing times. Tents had to be kept clean and tidy.

Rules were strictly enforced, and instant banishment resulted from drinking alcohol, or talking loudly after 10pm. Mr Dodd’s discipline was beyond challenge.
On the other hand, despite his fierce belief in Socialism that was a factor in founding the camp, he showed tolerance by being at pains to welcome guests of any political persuasion.

As the years passed, the once-humble establishment covered 90 acres and evolved into Caister Holiday Camp, a modern vacation centre with the expected amenities, capable of accommodating 1000 guests; the site of the original Dodd camp is now part of a residential estate.

The Dodd family sold the business some years after the war, and there have been other changes of ownership. Today Caister Holiday Park is part of Haven Holidays.