Jane Bedenham, 62, from Evesham, has been holidaying at Whitemead Forest Park in the Forest of Dean for more than 25 years, a tradition that now spans three generations and involves over 40 relatives and friends. The annual trip, which began in 1999, has become so cherished that even her son Oliver, a cabin crew worker who travels the globe, never misses it.
A tradition born in 1999
Jane's first visit to the park came in 1999 with close family friends Graham and Cath. Having lost her mother at just 13, Jane said the couple, nicknamed Grampy Graham and Granny Cath, became almost parental figures to her, with Cath often referring to Jane as her "daughter."
The group enjoyed their first stay so much that they booked to return the following year before they even left, sparking a tradition that has continued ever since. Over the years, more than 40 relatives and friends from across the country have joined the getaways, and Jane said she has managed to "convert" virtually everyone she knows to Whitemead.
Why the family keeps coming back
Jane explained that the regular gathering ensures her loved ones, scattered across the country, see each other more often than just at significant milestones. She told PA Real Life: "Sadly these days, if you don't have something like this booked in, sometimes the only time you catch up with people is at weddings or funerals. This is the one time when everyone really tries to get together."
Jane first brought her children Jack, now 34, and Oliver, 30, to the park when they were just seven and three. Neither ever reached an age where they considered themselves too grown-up for the trip. Oliver, who now works as cabin crew for an airline, still ensures he makes it back each year. Jane said: "He gets to travel all over the world, but he still never misses Whitemead. There was never an age when the kids didn't want to come."
A step back in time
Part of the park's appeal, Jane said, is that arriving feels like stepping back in time. Mobile phone reception throughout the forest remains unreliable, allowing the family to disconnect from the outside world. She said: "It permanently feels like 1999 when we're there, as there was no internet really back then. The phone signal doesn't really work, so you can switch off from the 21st century. It feels like something from that era – family being together and making memories. I'm old-fashioned like that."
The original trip came about after Graham and Cath stumbled upon Whitemead and extended an invitation to the wider family. Jane said: "My 'grandparents' were more like parents to me in many ways. We loved it so much that first time that we booked to come back the following year before we'd even finished the holiday."
Honouring the founders
Graham and Cath died in 2015 and 2022 respectively, but Jane believes they would be astonished to see the custom they established carrying on through later generations. She is now considering having a memorial bench installed at Whitemead in their memory. She said: "I think they'd be amazed if they could see what they started and that we're all still coming here."
Among Jane's cherished memories are organising Easter egg hunts during the children's early years, while nowadays she watches a new generation starting to create their own special moments. She said: "As the family continues to grow, I think Whitemead will keep being the place we return to. It's about being together and making memories, and hopefully that will carry on for many, many years."
