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It would, perhaps, not be out of place to mention here our annua!
camp re-union, usually held during the week before Christmas.
This consists of an entertainment and a sing-song, with a very
much appreciated "tuck bag" to occupy the interval. For a
brief two hours the holiday spirit of good humour and friendliness
is recaptured. Arrangements have already been made to
hold this year's re-union at Balaam Street School on Saturday,
19th December.
In conclusion, I would express just one regret—in a report
it is impossible to reproduce the real spirit of camp life. It has
to be experienced to be appreciated.
Miss Wise reports—
It is with great pleasure that I present this, my eleventh,
annual report of the Girls' Camp held again at East Cowes, Isle
of Wight.
This year there were so many girls wishing to go—due, no
doubt, to the popularity of last year's camp—that the Committee
felt it desirable to arrange for two parties. The first party, consisting
of 174 girls chiefly from the south of the Borough, camped
from '24th July to the 7th August, and the second party, 184,
from the north, from 7th August to 21st August. Ten staff,
including myself, accompanied each party.
The journey on each occasion was easy and pleasant. The
girls met at Plaistow Station, and travelled in reserved coaches
by District Railway to Southfields, and from there by a special
corridor express to Portsmouth. The boat trip, always a thrill,
added the last touch of enjoyment to a memorable day, especially
to many girls who had never before been out of West Ham.
The luggage difficulties were made easy by the railway officials,
who collected all cases at Southfields, dealt with them at Portsmouth
and Ryde, and conveyed them to Whippingham.
I have nothing but praise for the Southern Railway. The
arrangements they make for us work excellently, and although
we travel at an exceedingly busy season and with a very large
party, everything goes with the utmost ease, and we arrive on
the stroke of time.
The walk from Whippingham Station is rather long, and the
smaller children were conveyed by coach, but most preferred to
walk and enjoy this first glimpse of their new surroundings.
A busy time followed the arrival at Camp, but within an
hour all were comfortably settled in the three large dormitories,
and groups of friends, much to their delight, housed in the smaller
rooms.
This year we were able to have the fourth dormitory converted
into a dining hall, and hot dinner was served there as soon
as we arrived.
I cannot here give a detailed account of our doings throughout
the month, but I think it might be of interest to the
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