Summer camps 1961-1966

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This article first appeared 2007 in the 'Old Northavian' magazine.

A Month in the Country - 1962

 

A Month in the Country

by Paul Kleiman

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In October 2007 my mother and I were reminiscing about the summer camps for Jewish children and teenagers that she, my father and her parents (my grandparents) used to run during the month of August between 1961 and 1966. If truth be told it was my mother who ran the camp, with the others trailing in her wake and attempting to follow her instructions.  

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In the summer of 1962 we came to Northaw School, near the village of West Tytherley in Hampshire.

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I was eleven years old, and have very fond and clear memories of that month in the country. I remember the impressive red-brick front of the building built around a forecourt; the elegant white classical architecture of the side of the building that fronted onto a balustraded terrace with steps leading down to the grounds. I remember the swimming pool, and that the names of the dormitories were named after famous battles from English history. And I remember exploring the extensive grounds of the school – which was a magical, fantastic adventure for a young boy far more at home in the urban landscape of London.

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Shirley's father, Solomon Finn (right, photographed  by Shirley on the terrace at Northaw with his grandson Colin Frey) had grown up in the East End of London amongst what was then a large and largely poor Jewish community. He and his brothers had become well-known teachers in the area. After WW2 he became a much loved and respected teacher at the Jewish Free School in Camden Town.

 

Inspired by the North American camp tradition where kids would go away for a month or more to an organised camp in the countryside, a small number of summer camps began to be organised in England. Two of Solomon's brothers ran their own summer camps. The idea was to provide Jewish children from the major cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds etc. a decent break away from home (and parents!) organised around social, educational and sports activities. 

 

The first ‘Finnesse’ summer camp, in 1961, took place in a school near Horsham in Sussex. In 1962 the location was Northaw. Other locations were Ramsgate (1963) and Hastings (1964-66). Usually there were about 80 Jewish children and teenagers aged between 7 and 16. They were divided into Juniors, Intermediates, and Seniors. There was a group of supervisors, and the whole lot was organised by my mother, ably assisted by my father Alfred and my grandparents Sol and Millie. 

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Following our walk down memory lane, Shirley wrote the following:

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“When I went with my parents to see the school at Northaw we were struck by the impressive building and lovely grounds and the beautiful countryside around. When I went a second time more practical matters took over such as organizing separate bedrooms for boys and girls - also separate bathrooms of which there were not too many! I remember the grand staircase with the deer head on the walls which really  frightened Michael who was 4-years old. There was a big room we used as a hall - was it the school hall? - which had big windows along one side with a wonderful view, and I always recall the uplifting feeling that gave to the Saturday morning Sabbath Service.

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After the first two-week session we had the ‘last night concert.’ In the hall. The second ‘last night concert’, at the end of August, was outside with a stage rigged up on the grass and the audience on the steps of the terrace.

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On last nights the youngsters were always up to pranks and trying to outwit the supervisors, so I remember one of the supervisors slept outside Rhine dormitory and another outside Matapan. The weather was not great that August - 1962 - but there were regular outings .........to Cheddar Gorge (in the rain)..........to Southsea (in the rain)............and to Stonehenge (also in the rain)!

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One famously successful ‘activity’ was the Mystery Ramble. The senior youngsters were blindfolded, driven around, let out, and had to find their way back to the school. Then the ‘inters’  and the ’juniors’ wanted something similar and we had to think of something. My father went mad...and you certainly wouldn’t get away with doing such a thing today!

The grounds were perfect for organised “Wide Games” after the sun went down. General mayhem as the various groups roamed around the grounds attempting to grab the flags of other groups and then trying to reach the house and not be caught. Again, my father not pleased!

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However, we all enjoyed walking in the woods - there was a small hut there which we grown-ups called The Lady Chatterley Place! We also had groups going horse riding at Whiteparish. Then I used to have to go to Dean Station frequently to collect parcels or people or something.

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At the end, when everyone else had left and we were packing up, I took one last walk through the grounds – past the pool - looking back to the house.”

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My mother’s final diary for that particular month in the country entry reads:

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“Aug 30

 Coach left. Thank goodness!! Settled our account at horse riding. Took Dad for a drive in the evening up Dean Hill. I had left the lights on in two dormitories so we could see the house from up there.”

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My mother ends her reminiscence: 

“Northaw has always been my favourite summer school”. 

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