90 years since the first Oakley Holiday at Ardingly in Sussex, 107 boys and girls attended the summer 2009 holiday held at Bilton Grange, an imposing house standing in 160 acres of beautiful grounds on the outskirts of Rugby. 18 members were at their first Oakley Holiday and nine were leaders for the first time.

The fourteen comfortable dormitories used ranged in size from 4 to 10 people and everyone enjoyed the top-class cooking from the school catering team which included cooked breakfasts on request, a picnic with strawberries and specially baked cakes for the 90th Anniversary.

The excellently-kept playing fields were a much appreciated setting for team games of volleyball and podex and an energetic and popular football and hockey tournament involving 15 sides. The Water Games were manic on a sunny afternoon and the Octathlon was equally manic on a very wet afternoon. Each morning many were up promptly at 8 am to attend a social swim in the heated pool before breakfast.

In the afternoons there was a very wide variety of activities to choose from - everything from Japanese for beginners, cookery and dance to face painting, squash and water polo.

In morning Quiet Times, in discussions groups and in our evening services we thought about and debated a number of current personal, social, religious and environmental topics. These included including the role of women in different cultures, the power of the spoken word and the individual’s place in society.

On Wednesday 29 July the official 90th birthday of Oakley was marked by a special service, by the launch of a book about the ninety years of the Holidays written by Lewis Kent and by the release at twilight of Chinese Lanterns.

Each dormitory created their own gift box for orphans living in children’s homes in Romania and members also contributed over £700 to three chosen charities. Further details of these and other good causes supported are on a special Charity Review webpage.

Every possible variety of disguise – Charlie Chaplin, Zorro, Buddha, a White Rabbit, Forensic Scientist, Chef, Centurion, Bee, Bank Robber, Cavewoman and a Tugboat included – was on display as the leaders spread out on Thursday morning through Rugby town centre and Caldecott Park as the younger members tried to spot them – much to the amazement of the citizens of Rugby.

The theatre seating, lighting and stage of the Ravenscroft Hall was ideal for members to put on an excellent range of diverse entertainment each evening. This featured comedy sketches including a special appearance by a Russian singing quartet, a Harry Potter spoof and an unspoken rap using cue cards! The audience also enjoyed bassoon, violin, piano and guitar solos, tap dancing and story-telling, together with quizzes, solo and ensemble vocal items and community singing.

Certificates of achievement and a book were presented to new members to mark their first holiday and the nine members making a significant contribution as leaders for the first time marked their new role at the Holidays by choosing gifts for communities in developing countries worth £100.

At the end of the week members were delighted to hear that there will be no increase in the cost of the two holidays planned at Bilton Grange for April and July, 2010. Many will meet up again on Saturday 12th September at 2 pm when the 90 years of the Oakley Holidays will be celebrated at Carrs Lane Church in the centre of Birmingham.