Let me set a little scene for you, it’s the late 1950s the country is finally recovering from the effects of the war and people have more leisure time than ever before. What does this mean for The Camping Club? Membership numbers were going up and DAs growing, for Essex DA this meant weekend meets averaging between 40 to 50 camping units and bank holidays numbers could reach into the hundred. OK the main camping season was shorter with the first meet being Easter and the last sometime towards the end of September, but remember most people camped in tents, a few arrived on site in a car, others on motor cycle combinations and the rest on pedal cycles and of course one or two came by train carrying their worldly goods for the weekend in back packs. Sites also didn’t open until 6.00 on a Friday evening and closed once the rain stopped on Sunday.

A lot of members from the east of the county found the travel to sites and the risk that the site may be full when they arrived something of a concern so a group of six, that included Eric Jarvis and Les Rogers decided to petition Region and HQ to start a breakaway DA called East Essex, the boundaries of which were defined as the county boundary in the north, the A12 to the west (in 1960 the A12 ran through the centre of Chelmsford, the A12 by-pass running through the Army & Navy had yet to be built) and the A128 from the centre of Brentwood to the Thames in the South. The DA would also include the greater part of Chelmsford. After a lot of consideration Region and HQ agreed that a ‘sub-section’ of Essex could be formed in 1960. In 1961 the group proved that it was viable so East Essex DA was formed and the first Committee was elected and among its members was Pete Bodell who became Youth officer. Pete and Gwen formed the first youth section and looked after the youth for a year. At the 1962 AGM Peter was elected Chairman of the DA and had to pass the role of Youth Leader onto Jim and Pam Brookes but that wasn’t the end of his involvement with the youth because Jim and Pam wanted to allow the children (aged 12 to 21 years old) to camp on their own away from the parents’ units and put on their own rally once or twice a year. Many established members thought this would be the start of a very slippery slope but Pete as chairman gently persuaded the sceptics that youth areas at meets were a good thing and youth rallies even better so the first youth sections and meets started in East Essex in 1963.

In 1973 The Club decided to reorganise the Regions into smaller more manageable units. Pete was asked to be one of the first Eastern Region Councillors. The others were Ron Bailey (Chairman), Keith Jackson, our current club chairman (Secretary), Alan Read, Wally Wright (another EEDA member) and Eric Pallin. An inaugural meeting was held on 14 April 1973 and the first council meeting was held on 7 July 1973 at The Buildings, Great Dunmow. Pete served on the council for two years.

Peter served as DA chairman for 3 years before stepping down but did come back as chairman for 2 or 3 more terms of office. Pete and Gwen were always at the forefront of any activity organised by the DA and its members and as DA chairman on three occasions I was grateful for the help and advice that both Pete and Gwen gave when tricky problems needed to be addressed. Pete and Gwen were always willing to help with stewarding and when we started to open meets at 3.00 pm on a Friday often stood in as early steward until the meet steward could get to the site after work. At the 2003 Regional Spring meet Pete spent several hours on the gate directing traffic onto the pitches and again at the 2003 NFOL Pete was involved in helping direct traffic and supporting the entertainment team. Pete and Gwen lasted camped with the DA in 2005 but retained their club membership and were due to receive an award for 50 years membership in February 2010.

We sadly said a final farewell to both Pete and Gwen on 3 December 2009 at St. Mary’s Church, Hawkwell. Pete was 86 when he lost his battle with cancer and Gwen died seventy two hours later from a stroke. Both Pete and Gwen have contributed to a legacy that we are sure will live on for many years in the form of EEDA and Eastern Region Council.

Chris Nursey