Memories of Pingley Camp, Brigg

Elizabeth Jolley - 29 August 2005

I have happy memories of Brigg in the early 50s. I went with some friends of mine from Bradford on a farming holiday and we were based at Pingley Camp.

I first went to Lincolnshire as a 14 year old school girl on a Potato picking holiday. Our whole class went to Blyborough to work for a farmer by the name of Pat Dickinson. It was my memories of that enjoyable holiday that made my friends in the Mill decided to take a farming holiday in 1954. We chose Pingley Farm as it was near Brigg. I stayed on an extra week as it was such fun. Got into a bit of trouble though for not returning to my job at the mill :):)

I shall never forget the time in 1948 whilst we worked on his farm how he invited us all to his home and he showed the film of the Royal Wedding. It was shown in a small barn and we all thought it was wonderful and so exciting. We were there from Wibsey Secondary Modern School in Bradford Yorkshire. I was 14 at the time so Pat must now be getting on in age as well as he was much older than we were.

There were four of us. We all worked in the Mills . Living in a Mill Town it seemed like a great way of getting some good country air. we were all in our early 20s at the time so had plenty of energy. We worked for a farmer called Tm but forget his last name. we worked in his sugar beet fields. One day it rained so much that we were unable to work in the fields, so we got sent instead to Springs Jam Factory in Brigg. All day long we took the stems off the strawberries. I said I never wanted to see another strawberry as long as I lived but of course I soon changed my mind. Next day we headed back to the fields.

Pingley Camp was a lot of fun. we met folks from all over the country. We were fed good meals and sent off with a nice packed lunch. every working day. One of the cooks was from Poland. I still have photos of our stay at the camp.

We went to The Corn Exchange in Brigg where they held dances . The girl I went with met a nice chap who lived in the area and they eventually married.She was from Liverpool but kept in touch with him. I was invited to their wedding in Liverpool . So that was one holiday romance that survived for many years until he died. My friend still lives in Scunthorpe where he was from.

Two of the girls from Bradford I went with became nuns in Rome. One of the girls still lives in Bradford and I am now in California.To all of us it was a holiday we will always remember.

A few years ago I came back for a visit and was given permission to look through the camp. it was like a Ghost Town. Huts had all sorts of things still left in them. It was like folks had just taken off and left their belongings.

Looked round Brigg and found it still a wonderful place. It is somewhere I will always remember with fondness.

I have lived here in Venice California since 1961. Before that I lived in NZ for 2 years. I have always enjoyed travelling. I always mention to folks over here my experience on a farm in Lincolnshire.

Elizabeth Jolley
Venice, California, USA