‘Our usual communal meal became a “Bring and Don’t Share” affair, where everyone ate together yet separately.’ Photo: Sahin Yesilyaprak on Unsplash.
‘The ability to generate distanced silliness is a key skill in lockdown Britain.’
Tent revival: Amy Rugg goes Quaker camping
A singular summer experience this year was Quaker Camping at White Mark Hill, in Watlington, Oxfordshire. Covid rules were observed but didn’t prevent campers enjoying a wonderful holiday experience.
Of course, there were many of the usual beloved summer activities of tree climbing, marshmallow toasting, eating fish and chips from the beloved chippy, trips into the city of dreaming spires, Oxford, including the stunning Ashmolean museum, canoeing down the Cherwell, and swimming in the Thames (more picturesque and cleaner than it sounds). There were dinners at the Half Moon and the Fox and Hound where diners were able to ‘eat out to help out’ (never was ‘helping out’ so effortless). To burn off the calories, we hiked up and over the ancient chalk hill from which the campsite takes its name (owned by the National Trust) along paths across the ridgeway, forests and beyond.
It was a year of firsts for our annual Quaker holiday under canvas. There was extra handwashing and generous amounts of antibacterial gel; we had to queue for fewer toilets, sinks and showers; the campsite was split, with families pitched at one end of the field and couples, older people or singles at the other; and our usual communal meal became a ‘Bring and Don’t Share’ affair, where everyone ate together yet separately (like a fashion show for food). But we loved the fabulous physically distanced games, led by our camp organiser and innovator, Anna Brannigan, which were unexpectedly jolly, increasing all-age fellowship and silliness. The ability to generate distanced silliness is a key skill in lockdown Britain.
We also managed ‘Tent Vaudeville’, a possibly unique Quaker Camper invention, where performers, staying faithful to Corona restrictions and zipped tightly into their tents, belted out ballads while an enthusiastic, supportive audience listened at a safe distance. The ‘real world’ glampers at the cordoned-off end of the field must have wondered what was going on, but Quakers have never obsessed over social conventions!
A heatwave struck during the first half of the week, creating time to sit in the shade, chat, nap or just be together (yet apart) in good company, renewing friendships and catching up on news. We offer our sincere thanks to Anna Edelstein and Anna Brannigan, who had the unenviable task of organising an ordinary holiday in extraordinary times, and doing so with courage, humour and practical organisation. A singular holiday? Perhaps, but no less memorable and lovely.
