|
a.k.a LITTLE a.k.a THE Contributed by: Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A) |
||||
|
By whichever name we knew it,
here was an oasis of fun and relaxation away from the rigours and disciplines
of life at the nearby The sources of information are
many and varied. Where known it is acknowledged. Where the mists of time hide
the originator then a vote of thanks is due to those who recorded these
memories for us. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
The first section of
illustrations comes from The
Wokingham Times dated 18th June 2003. The article was written under the headline
‘Rekindling the heyday of one of the first holiday camps’. Some are
photographs and some appear to be ‘Artist’s Illustrations’ which don’t copy
too well but are fair enough to give a good picture of what was available
there. Following publication of the
article a reader, Arthur Bush, who was living in New Zealand, sent a letter
to the Wokingham Times in July 2003 in which he gave an interesting account
of the early history of the ‘California in England’ park., correcting some of
the information that had been printed. The letter can be accessed from |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
This was an advertising flyer
extolling the virtues of holidaying at ‘The Cali’ |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
The Ballroom which featured a
superb dance floor with inset glass panels in the centre. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Artist’s exterior impression |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
A general view of the park
layout. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Barbara Joyce, Miss |
||||
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Additional
information added 1st December 2010 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Still on the subject of Bathing
Beauty Contests…….. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
This photo, contributed by
Brian Horsnell, appeared in an article in the Slough & Langley
Gazette reporting on a California
Poppies speedway team reunion in August 2010. The beauties relate very
closely to the girls in the Miss California 1955 beauty contest featured
above. This was taken during a Miss
Berkshire Bathing Beauty Contest held at the once-popular track, which was
based in the California Country Park near Finchampstead. The picture dates
from Sunday, August 29, 1954, one year earlier, and shows three young ladies
sitting on a powerful speedway bike before the start of a match against
Brafield. The title was won by Ann
Johansen, nee Savage, a 20-year-old telephonist sitting on the front of the
bike. She was no stranger to these competitions either, having been crowned
Miss Reading in 1952. Sitting behind her in the photo are Allison Peachy and
Janette Dean. Ann is the ‘runner up’
brunette standing in the centre of the Miss California photo above. The full article from the Gazette can be
read from HERE. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Continue
with the original article. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
One way to tour the grounds. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
A much earlier road train. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Below,
4 additional photographs added 1st February 2011 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Photo contributed
by James Robinson. |
||||
|
Third version of the road
train. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Photo contributed
by James Robinson. |
||||
|
Longmoor Lake, California in
England. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Photo contributed by
James Robinson. |
||||
|
Reception area, California in
England, Lakeside Holiday Camp. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Photo contributed
by James Robinson. |
||||
|
Holiday chalets, California in
England, Lakeside Holiday Camp. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
The following images come from a
variety of sources. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Source: www.butlinsmemories.com Full Board for £9. per week would seem to place the
advert around the late fifties to
early sixties. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
circa 1960 - |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
It was a gathering point for
many motor cyclists. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
The Starting Gate at the Little |
||||
|
|
||||
|
If you remember ‘The California
Poppies’ speedway team then visit another page on our site from which you can
indulge in the world of speedway by accessing a dedicated web site. Click HERE. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
More information is available
on Peter Jacques ‘California In England
Project’ (External web site.) |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
First Published: 15th April
2010. Latest Update: 15th
February 2011. __________________________________________________________________________________ |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
