For more than 25 years, a family from the Midlands have maintained a special holiday tradition by returning each summer to the same holiday park, creating lasting memories across three generations.
Jane Bedenham, a 62-year-old grandmother from Evesham, travels just 50 miles to Whitemead Forest Park, nestled in the Forest of Dean, where she and her family enjoy a much-anticipated break year after year. Despite their diverse lives – including her son Oliver, a globetrotting airline cabin crew member – the family tradition remains unbroken.
Jane first visited Whitemead in 1999 alongside close family friends, Graham and Cath, affectionately known as Grampy Graham and Granny Cath. Following the loss of her own mother at the age of 13, Jane developed a deep bond with the couple, who took on parental roles and warmly regarded her as part of their own family.
READ MORE: HMRC introduces £300 penalty for late Self Assessment tax returns from August
The group enjoyed their initial visit so thoroughly that they booked to return the next year before that holiday even ended. This marked the beginning of a yearly pilgrimage that has since included more than 40 relatives and friends from all over the country.
Jane emphasises the importance of the tradition, saying it safeguards against only meeting family during significant life events such as weddings or funerals. “This is the one time when everyone really tries to get together,” she told PA Real Life.
Both of Jane’s children, Jack, now 34, and Oliver, 30, attended their first Whitemead holiday as children and have continued the tradition into adulthood. Oliver’s demanding travel schedule has never prevented him from returning for the family holiday.
A key part of Whitemead’s appeal is the sense of stepping back in time. With patchy mobile phone reception across the forest, the family can disconnect from the digital world and enjoy uninterrupted quality time together. Jane describes the experience as feeling like it is still 1999, with little interference from modern technology.
The holiday park was first discovered by Graham and Cath, who invited Jane’s family to join them. Even after Graham and Cath passed away in 2015 and 2022 respectively, their legacy lives on through the ongoing family gatherings, and Jane is considering placing a memorial bench at Whitemead in their honour.
Among Jane’s treasured memories are organising Easter egg hunts in earlier years and watching the next generations build their own special moments at the park. Looking ahead, she hopes that Whitemead will remain a cherished destination for her family for many years to come. “It’s about being together and making memories,” she remarked.
This enduring tradition illustrates the profound value of returning to familiar places where family connections are nurtured, memories are cherished, and time seems to stand still.