8 December 2024
Caldecott children in my time generally got by without being overly protected by the relatively few young-ish staff. We found our way when hiking around or cycling for instance to Whitsun camp in Sussex. Of course, risk did exist, for instance with a boy breaking his leg in an accident, as in a later era when CN broke her arm falling off a tree.
Caldecott got adventurous with boat trips and land journeys even in the continent even though some children got ill or lost for a while or money ran out and more funds had to be requested. At Whitsun 1970 David Carver took numerous West Wing boys to France assisted only by a Colt House boy (CE) and a passing stranger.
CA's account of the Whitsun 1980 Colt House trip to France refers to three days lost in waiting for repairs to Dean Kinsey's bike that was hit by a car.
Funds for an adventure playground were later raised in various ways such as by SH and CD giving conducted tours of Hatch and selling raffle tickets. In December 1980 IP and staff member Jane Loffhagen were sponsored to jump with parachutes over Lympne - IP landing in a ditch and Jane ending up among some sheep.
I expect that things are done rather differently in modern times.