A progressively warmer and sunnier week enabled the members of the Easter Oakley Holiday, held at Bilton Grange, Rugby, to complete, without interruption, a busy programme of activities.

80 members, housed in ten comfortable dormitories, attended the week, from 3 to 10 April, including thirteen who were on their first Oakley Holiday. We again enjoyed a first-class menu and meals provided by the school’s catering staff and enjoyed the beauties of the 160 acres of excellently prepared grounds and gardens.

Our main team games of volleyball and podex were especially enjoyed this week and the football and hockey tournament was also a highlight for many. In the afternoons the choice of 30 different activities included water polo, face painting orchestra, cycling, self-defence, Mah Jongg, play-reading and squash.

A photographic treasure hunt around the estate demanded energy, observation and much thinking and the younger members took part throughout the week in a lively series of activities on a Winter Olympics theme. The Oakley golf and tiddlywinks tournaments were very well contested as always.

Our own Oakley Sports Relief Mile, in fancy dress and with crème eggs as prizes, was completely crazy and over £600 was donated to four charities chosen by members of the Holiday by means of a special collection. A separate page, with photos, about these and other charity activities is on this website.

In discussion groups and through our evening services we thought about and debated a number of current personal, social, environmental and religious topics including the value and basis of friendship, the importance of silence, what it means to be grown up and a much appreciated debate, followed by discussion, on personal religious belief.

Evenings were spent in the Ravenscroft Hall where members devised and performed a wide range of entertainment. This included musical solos on French Horn, cello, saxophone and guitar as well as choral, solo, ensemble and community singing. Tap dancing, word quizzes and old favourites such as the Three Jellyfish and Call my Bluff, were all on the bill, as well as two chaotic crews of pirates, a Bollywood Dance Solo, an Oakley version of Mamma Mia, two special poems about the Jolliffo and even unicycling to bassoon accompaniment.

The new Oakley members all received certificates and a book to mark their first holiday and the seven new leaders who made a significant contribution to the week marked the occasion by choosing gifts worth £100 for communities in developing countries.