As the summer vacation period approaches in just a few weeks, households across Coventry and the surrounding region are getting ready for their yearly getaways. While modern breaks might feature all-inclusive deals overseas, rental properties, or visits to attractions such as Disneyland, this was not always how breaks were spent.

Between the 1930s and the 1960s, numerous people visited the Co-operative private holiday camp located in Rhyl, a spot nicknamed Coventry-on-sea. Guests typically accommodation consisted of tents or wooden structures.

Securing a place was not always straightforward. During that era, there was no internet booking system available. Instead, individuals would wait in line through the night in bitterly cold February weather to obtain a reservation.

Historic images from 2nd February 1969 show groups of people assembled outside the King Street reservation office, anxiously hoping to book their accommodation at the Co-operative private holiday camp.

A photographer documented that almost 60 individuals remained awake through the night as temperatures dropped to 26 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to minus 3 degrees Celsius. A wash tub filled with burning logs served as a source of warmth against the severe cold.

Here, those who visited share their fond recollections of time spent at the camp.

Phyllis Smith, who was part of Coventry’s largest family at the beginning of the Second World War, remembered joyful holidays complete with games, paddling in the ocean, straightforward but tasty food, and what seemed like endless sunshine. She described how each night would end with everyone singing a farewell song to campers as the performances concluded in the main hall.

All twelve siblings of the Tweed family were captured in a photograph taken at the outbreak of the Second World War.

She mentioned that despite their financial hardship, they were always brought to Rhyl for one wonderful week annually because her father, Robert Rueben Tweed, known as Percy, worked on the railways and therefore possessed a complimentary rail pass, without which the trip would have been impossible. They had to stand in queues to book this treasured holiday.

Janet Jenkins, born Herron, from Potters Green, explained that they would stay in a basic hut resembling a garden shed. She remembered bunk beds fitted with grey blankets and a very outdated cooking stove. There was typically a sports afternoon midway through the week and a celebration every Friday, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Sylvia Owen, from Stoke, reflected that she was approximately eight years old when she first visited the Co-operative holiday camp in Rhyl alongside her parents, younger brother and sister. They would typically spend a week there during September.

They travelled by charabanc. There was a small retail outlet offering groceries, beverages, tobacco products and similar items.

The site contained no nightclub; instead there was a spacious timber hall with a raised platform. As a family they would head to the shoreline once the tide had retreated and hunt for crabs in the shallow pools left behind by the sea. They would also search for jellyfish and collect winkles from the rocky areas. They would bring these winkles back to their chalet where their mother would prepare them.

A committee consisting of the site manager and holidaying parents would organise a variety of activities for both adults and children throughout the week. Beach games and camp-based entertainment were available. The competitions, which included egg and spoon races, wheelbarrow races, and three-legged races, were open to both parents and children. Sandcastle building contests took place on the beach along with kite flying activities.

Only the most dedicated individuals would abandon the comfort of their warm beds to endure an entire night in temperatures that plummeted to 26 degrees Fahrenheit. Almost 60 people undertook this challenge in their attempt to reserve chalets at the Co-operative private holiday camp in Rhyl, North Wales. By dawn, a substantial queue had formed outside the King Street reservation office in Coventry. A wash tub filled with burning logs helped combat the freezing conditions. February 2nd, 1969.

Fancy dress outfits were frequently assembled spontaneously.

During the evenings, they would attend the entertainment building where bingo and beetle drives were popular. Film screenings were also arranged. When they preferred not to visit the entertainment building, they would play card games in their chalet, read, or play cricket, tennis or football on the grassed areas.

Occasionally they would venture away from the camp into Rhyl itself, locate a fish and chip establishment and sit on the beach to consume them. The September weather was typically very warm and she cannot recall daytime rainfall, only during the night.

On the final day, a celebration was held for all the children, followed by a prize presentation for race winners. However, no child was overlooked as everyone received sticks of rock as a memento. Before departing on Saturday morning, someone would conduct a thorough inspection to ensure everything was clean, tidy and undamaged. She continued visiting even after marrying and when she had two daughters of her own, with the family continuing these trips until her eldest reached 14 years old. They look back on 27 years of happy memories from the Co-operative camp.

Mrs B Joyce, from Binley, explained that after approximately two hours of queuing, guests could select either a wooden chalet without water supply, requiring trips to a nearby tap, or a brick-built chalet with running water, which was considerably preferable. Her three daughters thoroughly enjoyed participating in the well-planned activities and games, which catered for all age groups. Her youngest daughter was awarded a teddy bear for being the youngest child present. They visited on numerous occasions and thoroughly enjoyed each stay.

Thanks to all our readers for sharing their recollections.