Essex holiday park celebrates 80th anniversary

TRADITIONAL VALUES CREATE 80 YEARS OF SUCCESS FOR OSEA LEISURE PARK

Maldon-based Osea Leisure Park celebrates 80 years in business this month. Family owned and operated, the park began as a camping facility for visiting pea-pickers in 1933 and has transformed to a thriving family-orientated leisure park.

The Osea story began pre-WW2 in 1933, when farmer’s daughter, Mabel Speakman, opened her land to pea and fruit pickers for camping and to enjoy spending time with their families. Mabel’s daughter, Pamela Boutflour fondly recalls her childhood on the farm and swimming in the Blackwater: 'Of course, there weren't any caravans in those days, just tents and canvas structures. The campers would come to the farm to buy eggs and milk and we all collected water from the communal well on the Osea Road.”

Current managing director and Mabel Speakman’s great-granddaughter, Janie Robinson, has been directly responsible for the park since 2007. Janie has diversified the business to develop an additional 33 acres of the park to offer luxury camping facilities, including a lodge tent, shepherd huts and exotic tipis. Janie comments: 'Diversifying our business in line with changing consumer needs has been an important factor in our success. A lot has changed since 1933, but one thing that has remained constant is the need for families to have a place where they can relax, spend time together and be close to nature. That is the true essence of Osea Leisure Park - family, friends and fun.'

Today the park is fortunate to have many fourth generations of the same family as clients. Many have grown up visiting Osea and now bring their families to the park to enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of modern living. Peter Gould, 72, has been visiting Osea Leisure Park for over 65 years. 'I was seven when I first visited Osea Leisure Park when my family purchased their first caravan at the site. It was a great place for youngsters to visit and we spent a lot of time on the beach and exploring the surroundings,' he says.

The ideal location of Osea Leisure Park makes an abundance of outdoor activities possible including sea and fresh water fishing, swimming, cycling, boating, kayaking, bird watching and walking. For more information on Osea Leisure Park visit www.osealeisure.com

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