This is such a sad film to watch as i have known Devon Valley since it was a caravan site in April 1956. My parents friends Joan and Charlie Smith bought a new Sprite Major caravan in Bristol and had it delivered down to the site being towed by a 1955 Vauxhall Cresta used by the caravan suppliers for that job. Back then, it had not been open too long but had been an apple orchard owned by a cider company..Whiteways or Bulmer?? Caravans were set alongside the entrance road and on the hillside to the right, some chalets were erected overlooking the field and river estuary. On the level ground behind that (still existing)stone wall, there were swings for children and on the house side of the wall was a mini putting green. None of the huge additions and pool seen in your film then existed but there was a walled garden where the park Groundsman, Ralf used to grow vegetables sold in the shop which was then inside the main house. That house had several rental flats overlooking the river. The Manager then was a Retired Naval Commander who in the early 1960’s, drove a dark blue Rover 3 litre saloon so looked very important. The reception hut was a small white building at the point where the road diverts to what was the car park behind the house or towards the chalets and was run but a lady called Tolly…she also owned a caravan proudly bearing the name “ Tolly’s Lolly”. General site Maintinence was done by a grey haired man who I thought looked a lot like “ Mr Pastry” the children’s entertainer who was Richard Hearne and famous in the 1950’s! He drove a tired 1936 Hillman Minx parked in the now badly overgrown lane to the left of the car park where there are/were steps down to the beach. In 1958, a second caravan field was added beyond the house which also gave access to the river shore. That field was also used as a camping field though it did tend to suffer from streams of rainwater running through it in bad weather. On the shore, Charlie Bloor used to hire out rowing boats and also gave river trips in his former lifeboat “Patrol”…either up to The Smugglers Inn or down to Shaldon and out for mackerel fishing. He spent a lot of his days in a battered home made green caravan just beside the shore. My parents bought our caravan on site in July 1960 being a Paladin Trailavan sited on the lefthand side of the access road in the middle line of caravans that was there at that time. We owned it only until June 1963 as my Dad got tired of buying replacement plastic sinks which were regularly burnt by hirers placing hot frying pans in them! I have an original 1956 brochure of the site as it was…rose bushes were a feature against the walls, in borders near the swings and especially around the site entrance. It was beautifully maintained and more a garden with caravans than a holiday park. Your film is so sad to see…those dreadful buildings that were erected in later years reflect changing tastes and expansion but I remember a very different place from a long time ago. I had actually planned to visit there again this year…not by staying but by walking up from Shaldon….i see the pathway in front of the house is now blocked off and rapidly becoming overgrown….i have film of it from 1961 with me as a child looking over the wall and film around our caravan plus some pictures. Devon Valley was special place to me….life and time moved on…it was in a poor state when it closed….i guess it will become prime building plots very quickly now which was probably the new owners intention even before buying it. Thank you for your film…..I will remember better times and a different World.🙂🙂🙂
Thankyou so much for all the lovely history you have imparted. Such great memories! I've 'Pinned' your comment to the top, so others should see it and read it - Thanks for taking the time to contribute! Much appreciated 👍👍👍
We stayed at Devon Valley several times in the 90's with the kids. Sent a shiver down my spine when you told us about Saville.The first time we went there we had dreadful weather, but when we asked the kids if they wanted to return it was a big yes, as they loved it so much. Thanks for the video Bill, but sad to see it looking so run down.
Well what can I say about this Bills adventures . we used to stay in this Site each year over about 25 years , we always enjoyed it , as wife was born locally so had family still in this area ; Devon Valley was our Family meeting place ; Having caravans on site meant we did not have to Tow from Kent, as we could cuse these Devon Caravans to stay here . We really really miss this Site , its closing was a great disapointment to us , but watching Bills coverage reminded us of previous years escapades there ; Thanks again Bill , your video was just great reminders of how much we enjoyed the site ;
Thanks Mike - Glad you had good memories there. Although I was only really a small part of it for a couple of years, I was still a 'cog' in peoples holiday experience. Its great to know that even though I had long since gone, all those 'cogs' continued on, to provide 25 years of pleasure to people! Such a shame its gone now... But I guess I don't really need to say that - We all know. Thanks for watching 👍👍👍
Mr Big Bad Trev. Really enjoyed going down memory lane with you and hearing all your stories from back in the day. Yes, indeed, you should never go back, we have been disappointed a couple of times where things and people have changed, and all it does is spoil your memory. We wish you and your family continued strength in supporting your grandson. As to saville, almost worse are all the people that knew and kept quiet about it, allowing it to continue.😸
Cheers Trev - Yes, as I said to others, I really enjoyed filming that one - The memories just came flooding back. There was always something 'off' with Saville - Its just back then, you couldn't put your finger on what it was... 👍👍👍
Cheers Bill, great video on the abandoned Devon valley site we spent many holidays as a family and later as a couple on this wonderful site. Previous to this we spent holidays on the campsite on the Shaldon end of the bridge. This would be the 1960s/ early 1970s. We think the campsite may have been called Wakehams?Love Teignmouth your daily videos fill my wife and I with great pleasure.
Hi Alan - Glad you enjoyed the video - I enjoyed revisiting the old place immensely 👍 I cant for the life of me remember the name of the one the other side of the bridge. I 'Do' know it - Its on the tip of my tongue - But in the 80s onward, it wasn't Wakehams - Sorry... 👍👍👍
Hi Bill, what a fabulous video. The first time I stayed at Devon Valley was 1996. I remember that they used to do steak night, which that year fell on my birthday. What better way to celebrate your birthday with a nice steak. I always thought that they were really cheap prices for a week, but I never stayed there during the school holidays. Thank you for 28 minutes of pure nostalgia. See you tomorrow mate.
First of all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 👍👍👍 I mentioned you in todays video (next Wednesdays) - Hope your having a great day - When I was there they didn't really 'feature' food much - I know they sold food, but to be fair, never heard anything about it! Glad you enjoyed the video anyway - Such a weird, spooky feeling, to be back there once again!!! 👍👍👍
Yes, a great day indeed that was - Prob my fav walk of the year so far - Meaning the unedited version will probably be used as my 'Birthday' video, which is the one day I dont go out and film 👍👍👍
I made and painted them decorative shields on the kids play area ship on the front you walked past... I worked here to be Entertainment Manager but as covid happened it obviously closed but i stayed on the park alone throughout the whole lockdowns to be security and lived up by the front gate in the owners area, which was so lovely. The park was owned by Mrs Massey who is Debra Meaden Sister from Dragons Den for 25 years, but sadly she sold it to the investor who didn't obviously care too much about the place and then closed it, but they do still own it and are thinking of turning it into a residential park only, like the next door park, which to my heart is such a shame! I truly hope it doesn't go that way and it's bought back to holiday life again, because it's such a beautiful area and i was so lucky to have the whole place mostly to myself over all the lockdowns. I love the fact i see my work still there on the Park, but sadly not appreciated anymore by any holiday makers. I am definitely going to visit it again soon. Thank you for this video.
Thank you so much Mark - Great information - Thanks for that. Lets hope there is some twist of fate that means it reopens one day - Cheers - Ive 'Pinned' your comment, so others see it 👍👍👍
Hey Bill what an interesting video. Sounds like you had a lot of good times at the park. Lovely nostalgia. No doubt they will flatten it all in time and build houses on it. What a shame. All good wishes for your grandson on his birthday, bless him
Thanks Bill! So great to see the old camp. We stayed here for our first family holiday just after lockdown and went back the next year. We were devastated at the news it was to close.
Yes, it was a shock to hear of it closing - Just 8 months after new owners took over! As you can guess from my ramblings, it was FANTASTIC in the 1980s though 👍👍👍
Thanks so much for sharing this video. We are from the Midlands and visited this site for so many years. We just love the location of Shaldon and the estuary. It’s so sad to see it abandoned like that. I know people would prefer it to stay a holiday park but if it did become a residential park, I would move there tomorrow! Thanks Bill
Thanks Adel - Glad you enjoyed it, and that it stirred up some memories for you - It certainly did for me! No idea what will happen to it, but rest assured, as soon as I get wind of anything, I'll update on the channel 👍👍👍
Enjoyed that bill great stuff my freind. Very interesting. Glad birthday party went well god bless him and thanks for sharing your memories with us. Hope mum well and thanks for today 👍👍
thank you for the walk around devon valley, seems ages since we've been there. And thanks for sharing your memories of working there. ❤❤❤ 22:35 thanks for saying hello to the doggy too 🤣🤣🤣
Lovely film Bill. We stayed at Devon Valley when our kids were small, really enjoyed it. And i can remember staying at the sister site when i was a boy. Wasnt aware of Saville!!!!
Thanks Simon. Glad you enjoyed it - I enjoyed going back after all this time and filming it. Yes, Saville was very much a part of the place unfortunately. It was some sort of kids charity caravan that he raised the money for - And when it wasn't being used by the charity, he came and stayed - Only for a couple of days at a time (as was his M.O.) but 4 or 5 times a year... 😥
As I said last week excellent place and if only I had the money “Andy’s fun holiday park “ 😂. One thing Bill , your grandson is well loved and has a decent family around him and that’s the most important, precious thing. Glad you had a nice party and enjoyed the pizza . Andy
I bloody loved staying there, every year for 15 years, my last stay was the year before it closed, no doubt they will build houses there unless you know otherwise so very very sad. Thanks for showing it.
No worries Allen - I enjoyed making that one 👍 No idea as to the future of the site - I'm sure there are plans for it behind closed doors that I am not aware of... 👍👍👍
Cheers Anita - I actually have a pic of the other site coming up in a video - It was submitted to me by a viewer 👍 That will be at the start of the video, within the next few days 👍
My Niece used to work there. Used to see Savile. Its amazing it hasn't been vandalised. Are they hoping to turn it into a housing estate? We did a different Butlins each year when I was a kid. Barry Island my favourite. Butlins is nothing like it used to be, such a shame, so much free stuff back then.
There was an old boy moving some stuff in the distance on a forklift, but I didn't film him. Meaning that there is somebody on site - I guess they didn't spot me, as I was just doing my thing, but I guess had I broken a window or something, Id have been noticed 👍👍👍
Oh Bill what a fantastic video the pure joy in your voice makes me quite emotional bless you such wonderful memories for you wonderful . I'm pleased you and Mum managed to join in your grandsons birthday celebrations lovely 🎉 thanks Bill and Andy for the video of the sleeper super 😊what a bonus seeing Chunker too . Anyway once again thanks for the fantastic video much enjoyed as always enjoy your curry stay safe see you tomorrow ❤😊xx
This is a great but sad video. I used to work here as an entertainer back in the early 2000's. There is a reunion happening this year. It will be held at Finn Lake in October.
Yes, Sad indeed - Most of the people Ive talked with since making the video are of that same era. I never went back over at all more recently, as there didn't seem to be a reason to go... Wish I had now - Enjoy the reunion 👍👍👍
Thank you for posting this. First started going to Devon valley in 1995. And went almost every year until closure. One of the palm trees by the house was planted in my mums memory by the manageress cindi morgan. So many happy memories made there over the years. Love the place so much. Miss going to shaldon zoo, smugglers tunnel. Teignmouth etc. managed to find a nice place to stay in dawlish warren for next year so look forward to visiting my favourite places again. Could you possibly pop back to DV again at some stage? Thanks again. 👍
That was quite the hike Bill. Lovely to see the old camp where you worked all those years ago. My brother, who lives on Teigmouth Road, has never mentioned the camp so I'm wondering if he even knows it existed ! I'll mention it to him for sure. So sad to see it now, I'm sure those walls could tell some stories. Looks as though it would take a ton of money to fix up and re-open so as you mentioned, probably a developer will build homes so he can make a ton of money !
Thanks bill a great video and makes me so sad to see Devon valley like that it was a happy place for my family and I and many others we visited for almost 50 years and many staff guests and villagers in Shaldon and ringmore became friends it’s a shame it’s been allowed to die and hope it shines again in the future on our video I can hear the kids playing including myself and people having fun sad times indeed Daniel
Thanks Daniel - Glad you enjoyed what was indeed a sad video - As you know, it holds a special place in my heart too. Lets both keep our fingers crossed that it gets taken on by someone else, & that I'm not posting a video called 'Devon Valley Being Demolished!' at any point in the future 👍👍👍
Hi Bill, what a brilliantly interesting video…. Bills Phone does Urban X 😂 Was there really a ghost ????. Thankyou for sharing your personal stories it’s a lovely touch. Also loved the fast walking and funny voices, 😊😊😊. Made me laugh loads 😂😂😂
Its a nice walk up beside the river at low tide, swimming at high tide. Sand and gravel too Combe Cellars, but beyond there its a bit muddy in places till you get to about A380 bridge and proper path starts.
Bill, Smashing video love the bit about the abandoned holiday camp and didn't relise there was a sleeper service on trains nowadays, I thought our train service was very quick!!! Sorry if I missed the explanation as to why the camp site shut but why did it?
No one knows for sure. The previous owners sold it as a going concern to the new people, who ran it for just one season, and closed it. Rumour was they wanted to use it via government contract to house migrants, but that never happened, so the caravans were all sold off, and it remains how you saw it in the video - Real shame, but I'm sure there are reasons behind the scenes that I am not privvy to... 👍👍👍
Yes, great views - Such a waste. Yes, Seagulls are awful for pooing on you when they are not happy - Or on my drone! 🤣🤣🤣 Thats happened multiple times 👍👍👍
I took one of those coastline trips last summer a few miles south from Teignmouth (side note, I can't remember where exactly, but it's amazing how the familiar red rock just abruptly ends!) The chap on the boat joked that one of those new-builds overlooking Shaldon was a plot once owned by Saville, demolished and recently rebuilt. I think we all believed him for a minute. Turns out, maybe his joke was a little closer to reality than he knew!
Hi Dan. Pretty sure he didn't own property here, as he like to keep on the move, but he was certainly at Devon Valley on a regular basis. As I just said to someone else (Excuse my copy pasting) " It was some sort of kids charity caravan that he raised the money for - And when it wasn't being used by the charity, he came and stayed - Only for a couple of days at a time (as was his M.O.) but 4 or 5 times a year... 😥" You could tell there was something 'off' about him though. Due to my innocence, 'Children' never crossed my mind, however I could still tell there was something not right with him... 👍
What a bloody shame, we loved this place, we were there when Roy Cooke was the fat controller 😂, and Shelly, Alan ,Aloma, Chris, and Nicky, about 1996, absolutely brilliant fun, we went back a few times and still enjoyed it
Yes Stephen - An awful shame indeed - As you know from the vid, I was a bit earlier in my 'time served' but a great place with fantastic reviews, right up until they announced the closer... So sad... 😥
Probably wont re-open, sad reality - But I like to imagine that it might 👍 Perhaps in a year or so, I'll be doing a 'Demolition Of Devon Valley' video... 😥 But... As I say... 'It IS what it IS'... 👍👍👍
I sent this video to Tricky Micky Childrens entertainer who worked there 79-82. apparently the pool room was the original seagull club that changed starcruiser club before it became the amusement arcade. Ps: I was both photographer and Sydney Seagull at Ladbrooks Seaton the year before, ;-)
I like the garden, reminds me of mine back in Sth Wales....nice to see this old site...like the different views of the riverside Bill....time for chicken cully?
We were there the last weekend it was open and had booked the following summer. The old owner supposedly had sold it the year before and the new owners didn't understand what they had bought
@BillsPhoneTeignmouth they were supposedly changing it to an adult focused riverside resort, but looking at your video, it looks like they have changed their minds.
Sorry Ben, I must admit I misread your original comment first thing this morning, while I was half asleep - I read it as 'We were there last weekend and we are booked up for next year' Thats why I said fantastic news! I thought you were saying they were re-opening! 🤣 My apologies. I must try and wake up properly before replying to comments! 👍👍👍
Our family spent many a year here and we had some magical holidays. It's a real shame to see the place like this, it really has to be bought from the current owners and brought back to its former glory.
Remember the good times not that arrogant creep jimmy Saville. On another note it's sad if you think how many camps we have lost in our area especially torbay we had lots of pontin camps
Indeed - I also used to have Xmas each year, at Barton Hall - Thats on my list to go and have a look at one day - Its a PGL camp now - Focusing on Kids, so I have to choose my visiting time carefully, when its closed for the season 👍👍👍
This is such a sad film to watch as i have known Devon Valley since it was a caravan site in April 1956. My parents friends Joan and Charlie Smith bought a new Sprite Major caravan in Bristol and had it delivered down to the site being towed by a 1955 Vauxhall Cresta used by the caravan suppliers for that job. Back then, it had not been open too long but had been an apple orchard owned by a cider company..Whiteways or Bulmer?? Caravans were set alongside the entrance road and on the hillside to the right, some chalets were erected overlooking the field and river estuary. On the level ground behind that (still existing)stone wall, there were swings for children and on the house side of the wall was a mini putting green. None of the huge additions and pool seen in your film then existed but there was a walled garden where the park Groundsman, Ralf used to grow vegetables sold in the shop which was then inside the main house. That house had several rental flats overlooking the river. The Manager then was a Retired Naval Commander who in the early 1960’s, drove a dark blue Rover 3 litre saloon so looked very important. The reception hut was a small white building at the point where the road diverts to what was the car park behind the house or towards the chalets and was run but a lady called Tolly…she also owned a caravan proudly bearing the name “ Tolly’s Lolly”.
General site Maintinence was done by a grey haired man who I thought looked a lot like “ Mr Pastry” the children’s entertainer who was Richard Hearne and famous in the 1950’s! He drove a tired 1936 Hillman Minx parked in the now badly overgrown lane to the left of the car park where there are/were steps down to the beach. In 1958, a second caravan field was added beyond the house which also gave access to the river shore. That field was also used as a camping field though it did tend to suffer from streams of rainwater running through it in bad weather. On the shore, Charlie Bloor used to hire out rowing boats and also gave river trips in his former lifeboat “Patrol”…either up to The Smugglers Inn or down to Shaldon and out for mackerel fishing. He spent a lot of his days in a battered home made green caravan just beside the shore.
My parents bought our caravan on site in July 1960 being a Paladin Trailavan sited on the lefthand side of the access road in the middle line of caravans that was there at that time. We owned it only until June 1963 as my Dad got tired of buying replacement plastic sinks which were regularly burnt by hirers placing hot frying pans in them!
I have an original 1956 brochure of the site as it was…rose bushes were a feature against the walls, in borders near the swings and especially around the site entrance. It was beautifully maintained and more a garden with caravans than a holiday park.
Your film is so sad to see…those dreadful buildings that were erected in later years reflect changing tastes and expansion but I remember a very different place from a long time ago. I had actually planned to visit there again this year…not by staying but by walking up from Shaldon….i see the pathway in front of the house is now blocked off and rapidly becoming overgrown….i have film of it from 1961 with me as a child looking over the wall and film around our caravan plus some pictures. Devon Valley was special place to me….life and time moved on…it was in a poor state when it closed….i guess it will become prime building plots very quickly now which was probably the new owners intention even before buying it.
Thank you for your film…..I will remember better times and a different World.🙂🙂🙂
Thankyou so much for all the lovely history you have imparted. Such great memories! I've 'Pinned' your comment to the top, so others should see it and read it - Thanks for taking the time to contribute! Much appreciated 👍👍👍
We stayed at Devon Valley several times in the 90's with the kids. Sent a shiver down my spine when you told us about Saville.The first time we went there we had dreadful weather, but when we asked the kids if they wanted to return it was a big yes, as they loved it so much. Thanks for the video Bill, but sad to see it looking so run down.
Glad you enjoyed it Steve. I enjoyed revisiting the old place, and having the memories come flooding back - Yes, it was a great place indeed 👍👍👍
Well what can I say about this Bills adventures . we used to stay in this Site each year over about 25 years , we always enjoyed it , as wife was born locally so had family still in this area ; Devon Valley was our Family meeting place ; Having caravans on site meant we did not have to Tow from Kent, as we could cuse these Devon Caravans to stay here . We really really miss this Site , its closing was a great disapointment to us , but watching Bills coverage reminded us of previous years escapades there ; Thanks again Bill , your video was just great reminders of how much we enjoyed the site ;
Thanks Mike - Glad you had good memories there. Although I was only really a small part of it for a couple of years, I was still a 'cog' in peoples holiday experience. Its great to know that even though I had long since gone, all those 'cogs' continued on, to provide 25 years of pleasure to people! Such a shame its gone now... But I guess I don't really need to say that - We all know. Thanks for watching 👍👍👍
Mr Big Bad Trev. Really enjoyed going down memory lane with you and hearing all your stories from back in the day. Yes, indeed, you should never go back, we have been disappointed a couple of times where things and people have changed, and all it does is spoil your memory. We wish you and your family continued strength in supporting your grandson. As to saville, almost worse are all the people that knew and kept quiet about it, allowing it to continue.😸
Cheers Trev - Yes, as I said to others, I really enjoyed filming that one - The memories just came flooding back. There was always something 'off' with Saville - Its just back then, you couldn't put your finger on what it was... 👍👍👍
Cheers Bill, great video on the abandoned Devon valley site we spent many holidays as a family and later as a couple on this wonderful site. Previous to this we spent holidays on the campsite on the Shaldon end of the bridge. This would be the 1960s/ early 1970s. We think the campsite may have been called Wakehams?Love Teignmouth your daily videos fill my wife and I with great pleasure.
Hi Alan - Glad you enjoyed the video - I enjoyed revisiting the old place immensely 👍 I cant for the life of me remember the name of the one the other side of the bridge. I 'Do' know it - Its on the tip of my tongue - But in the 80s onward, it wasn't Wakehams - Sorry... 👍👍👍
Hi Bill, what a fabulous video. The first time I stayed at Devon Valley was 1996. I remember that they used to do steak night, which that year fell on my birthday. What better way to celebrate your birthday with a nice steak. I always thought that they were really cheap prices for a week, but I never stayed there during the school holidays. Thank you for 28 minutes of pure nostalgia. See you tomorrow mate.
First of all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 👍👍👍 I mentioned you in todays video (next Wednesdays) - Hope your having a great day - When I was there they didn't really 'feature' food much - I know they sold food, but to be fair, never heard anything about it! Glad you enjoyed the video anyway - Such a weird, spooky feeling, to be back there once again!!! 👍👍👍
Bless you for sharing that info about your Grandson 🙏.
Thanks Pooky-Cat. Appreciated 👍👍👍
Yes. ❤
A real adventure today Bill. Sweet and sour memories and a lovely day ☀ too. And a Chunker bonus. Marvellous 🤗
Yes, a great day indeed that was - Prob my fav walk of the year so far - Meaning the unedited version will probably be used as my 'Birthday' video, which is the one day I dont go out and film 👍👍👍
Used to go here basically every year as a kid with my family. So many memories, such a shame it’s been abandoned. Thanks for this video ❤
My pleasure! - I enjoyed my trip down memory lane myself when I visited 👍👍👍
enjoyed Devon Valley so much with our children went back years later twice with our grandson
Hi Kaye - Yes, it was a fabulous place that held a special place in the hearts of so many generations - Such a shame its no more... 🥲
I made and painted them decorative shields on the kids play area ship on the front you walked past... I worked here to be Entertainment Manager but as covid happened it obviously closed but i stayed on the park alone throughout the whole lockdowns to be security and lived up by the front gate in the owners area, which was so lovely.
The park was owned by Mrs Massey who is Debra Meaden Sister from Dragons Den for 25 years, but sadly she sold it to the investor who didn't obviously care too much about the place and then closed it, but they do still own it and are thinking of turning it into a residential park only, like the next door park, which to my heart is such a shame!
I truly hope it doesn't go that way and it's bought back to holiday life again, because it's such a beautiful area and i was so lucky to have the whole place mostly to myself over all the lockdowns.
I love the fact i see my work still there on the Park, but sadly not appreciated anymore by any holiday makers.
I am definitely going to visit it again soon.
Thank you for this video.
Thank you so much Mark - Great information - Thanks for that. Lets hope there is some twist of fate that means it reopens one day - Cheers - Ive 'Pinned' your comment, so others see it 👍👍👍
@@BillsPhoneTeignmouththank you and yes I am definitely with my fingers crossed because I'd love to work there again 👍
@@MARKANTONYJONES 👍👍👍
Great! Will be watching more of your videos and hope to be back to Shaldon this year. Thanks again
Fantastic memories bill was great to see your old holiday camp and your wonderful stories of the place thank u mate 👍 🤗
My pleasure - Really - I had a great time that day. Glad to be able to share it with you all too 👍👍👍
Hey Bill what an interesting video. Sounds like you had a lot of good times at the park. Lovely nostalgia. No doubt they will flatten it all in time and build houses on it. What a shame. All good wishes for your grandson on his birthday, bless him
Thanks Janice. Yes, it will probably be destroyed, but we can always hope that something might happen in the future 👍👍👍
Thanks Bill! So great to see the old camp. We stayed here for our first family holiday just after lockdown and went back the next year. We were devastated at the news it was to close.
Yes, it was a shock to hear of it closing - Just 8 months after new owners took over! As you can guess from my ramblings, it was FANTASTIC in the 1980s though 👍👍👍
That was brilliant Bill! what a lovely place it still looks like there should be people there. Thanks, enjoyed that 😎
Thanks mate - I really enjoyed filming that one - Never thought Id ever go back there again - So many memories 👍👍👍
@@BillsPhoneTeignmouth IT was very kind of you to share them, it really enriched the footage 👍
Thanks so much for sharing this video. We are from the Midlands and visited this site for so many years. We just love the location of Shaldon and the estuary. It’s so sad to see it abandoned like that. I know people would prefer it to stay a holiday park but if it did become a residential park, I would move there tomorrow! Thanks Bill
Thanks Adel - Glad you enjoyed it, and that it stirred up some memories for you - It certainly did for me! No idea what will happen to it, but rest assured, as soon as I get wind of anything, I'll update on the channel 👍👍👍
Enjoyed that bill great stuff my freind. Very interesting. Glad birthday party went well god bless him and thanks for sharing your memories with us. Hope mum well and thanks for today 👍👍
Cheers Barry 👍👍👍
thank you for the walk around devon valley, seems ages since we've been there. And thanks for sharing your memories of working there. ❤❤❤ 22:35 thanks for saying hello to the doggy too 🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Scott - Glad you enjoyed it 0- I enjoyed filming that one - Never not say hi to a doggo! 🤣🤣
What a shame the camp looked really nice..glad it brought back some good memories .😊
Yes it was nice in its heyday... But yes, some great memories indeed 👍👍👍 Cheers Al
Thank you for that Bill. Great memories of that place as worked there Summer of 1980 as Site Photographer. J S had his Caravan back then.
Small world innit? Glad you enjoyed it - One of my favourite walks this year so far 👍
Lovely film Bill. We stayed at Devon Valley when our kids were small, really enjoyed it. And i can remember staying at the sister site when i was a boy. Wasnt aware of Saville!!!!
Thanks Simon. Glad you enjoyed it - I enjoyed going back after all this time and filming it. Yes, Saville was very much a part of the place unfortunately. It was some sort of kids charity caravan that he raised the money for - And when it wasn't being used by the charity, he came and stayed - Only for a couple of days at a time (as was his M.O.) but 4 or 5 times a year... 😥
Interesting visit to the holiday park. I never knew about it. God bless you and family. ❤2mum too.
Thanks Bob - Yes, to me, it had just always been there - Kinda thought it always would be there... I guess I was wrong 👍👍👍
As I said last week excellent place and if only I had the money “Andy’s fun holiday park “ 😂.
One thing Bill , your grandson is well loved and has a decent family around him and that’s the most important, precious thing. Glad you had a nice party and enjoyed the pizza .
Andy
Yes mate - Indeed - Cheers 👍👍👍
I bloody loved staying there, every year for 15 years, my last stay was the year before it closed, no doubt they will build houses there unless you know otherwise so very very sad. Thanks for showing it.
No worries Allen - I enjoyed making that one 👍 No idea as to the future of the site - I'm sure there are plans for it behind closed doors that I am not aware of... 👍👍👍
Thanks for the video bill was nice to see this caravan park think we drove around it once i remember the other site more
Cheers Anita - I actually have a pic of the other site coming up in a video - It was submitted to me by a viewer 👍 That will be at the start of the video, within the next few days 👍
My Niece used to work there. Used to see Savile.
Its amazing it hasn't been vandalised. Are they hoping to turn it into a housing estate?
We did a different Butlins each year when I was a kid. Barry Island my favourite. Butlins is nothing like it used to be, such a shame, so much free stuff back then.
There was an old boy moving some stuff in the distance on a forklift, but I didn't film him. Meaning that there is somebody on site - I guess they didn't spot me, as I was just doing my thing, but I guess had I broken a window or something, Id have been noticed 👍👍👍
Probably because they are training police dogs there is the reason it hasn't been vandalized
Had a great holiday there once watching the trains go by.
Good to hear - Lovely place for holidays - Such a shame its no longer operating... 👍
Oh Bill what a fantastic video the pure joy in your voice makes me quite emotional bless you such wonderful memories for you wonderful . I'm pleased you and Mum managed to join in your grandsons birthday celebrations lovely 🎉 thanks Bill and Andy for the video of the sleeper super 😊what a bonus seeing Chunker too . Anyway once again thanks for the fantastic video much enjoyed as always enjoy your curry stay safe see you tomorrow ❤😊xx
God Bless your grandson Bill thank you for sharing 🙏 xx
Yes, I really did enjoy that trip down my own personal memory lane Pam - Glad you enjoyed it too 👍👍👍 Curry later - See you tomorrow 👍👍👍
This is a great but sad video. I used to work here as an entertainer back in the early 2000's.
There is a reunion happening this year. It will be held at Finn Lake in October.
Yes, Sad indeed - Most of the people Ive talked with since making the video are of that same era. I never went back over at all more recently, as there didn't seem to be a reason to go... Wish I had now - Enjoy the reunion 👍👍👍
Thank you for posting this. First started going to Devon valley in 1995. And went almost every year until closure. One of the palm trees by the house was planted in my mums memory by the manageress cindi morgan. So many happy memories made there over the years. Love the place so much. Miss going to shaldon zoo, smugglers tunnel. Teignmouth etc. managed to find a nice place to stay in dawlish warren for next year so look forward to visiting my favourite places again. Could you possibly pop back to DV again at some stage? Thanks again. 👍
Glad it stirred up some happy memories for you. I may pop back in the future to report on what its like in say 6 months time or something 👍👍👍
That was quite the hike Bill. Lovely to see the old camp where you worked all those years ago. My brother, who lives on Teigmouth Road, has never mentioned the camp so I'm wondering if he even knows it existed ! I'll mention it to him for sure. So sad to see it now, I'm sure those walls could tell some stories. Looks as though it would take a ton of money to fix up and re-open so as you mentioned, probably a developer will build homes so he can make a ton of money !
Yes, it was an almost magical place when I worked there - Simpler times and all that - It would be great if it did reopen, but alas, probably not...
Thanks bill a great video and makes me so sad to see Devon valley like that it was a happy place for my family and I and many others we visited for almost 50 years and many staff guests and villagers in Shaldon and ringmore became friends it’s a shame it’s been allowed to die and hope it shines again in the future on our video I can hear the kids playing including myself and people having fun sad times indeed Daniel
Thanks Daniel - Glad you enjoyed what was indeed a sad video - As you know, it holds a special place in my heart too. Lets both keep our fingers crossed that it gets taken on by someone else, & that I'm not posting a video called 'Devon Valley Being Demolished!' at any point in the future 👍👍👍
Great episode Bill.I can’t wait for the drone to look too.Really fancy going for a spy.Paulineand Nic
No chance of drone I'm afraid - Simply too many seagulls nesting - I'd be attacked! - Glad you enjoyed it though 👍👍👍
Hi Bill, what a brilliantly interesting video…. Bills Phone does Urban X 😂 Was there really a ghost ????. Thankyou for sharing your personal stories it’s a lovely touch. Also loved the fast walking and funny voices, 😊😊😊. Made me laugh loads 😂😂😂
Glad you enjoyed watching Linda - I really enjoyed making that one - Cheers 👍👍👍
Wow so much today bill very interesting great to hear about what you did in your younger days enjoy your curry night 😊
Thanks so much - Glad you enjoyed my ramblings! - Yes, curry in a few hours time 👍👍👍 lovely!
Its a nice walk up beside the river at low tide, swimming at high tide. Sand and gravel too Combe Cellars, but beyond there its a bit muddy in places till you get to about A380 bridge and proper path starts.
Yes, I dont think I would have like to have walked much further up on the beach - A little bit hard going these days! 👍👍👍
@@BillsPhoneTeignmouth I did stop for a pint in the pub. If I do that walk again I would take the lanes beyond the pub.
Yes, & I wouldn't blame you ! 👍
Bill, Smashing video love the bit about the abandoned holiday camp and didn't relise there was a sleeper service on trains nowadays, I thought our train service was very quick!!! Sorry if I missed the explanation as to why the camp site shut but why did it?
No one knows for sure. The previous owners sold it as a going concern to the new people, who ran it for just one season, and closed it. Rumour was they wanted to use it via government contract to house migrants, but that never happened, so the caravans were all sold off, and it remains how you saw it in the video - Real shame, but I'm sure there are reasons behind the scenes that I am not privvy to... 👍👍👍
good long walk that shaldon camp looks like it has some lovely views could even do trainspotting is it? a seagull made a mess on my new coat last year
Yes, great views - Such a waste. Yes, Seagulls are awful for pooing on you when they are not happy - Or on my drone! 🤣🤣🤣 Thats happened multiple times 👍👍👍
I took one of those coastline trips last summer a few miles south from Teignmouth (side note, I can't remember where exactly, but it's amazing how the familiar red rock just abruptly ends!) The chap on the boat joked that one of those new-builds overlooking Shaldon was a plot once owned by Saville, demolished and recently rebuilt. I think we all believed him for a minute. Turns out, maybe his joke was a little closer to reality than he knew!
Hi Dan. Pretty sure he didn't own property here, as he like to keep on the move, but he was certainly at Devon Valley on a regular basis. As I just said to someone else (Excuse my copy pasting) " It was some sort of kids charity caravan that he raised the money for - And when it wasn't being used by the charity, he came and stayed - Only for a couple of days at a time (as was his M.O.) but 4 or 5 times a year... 😥" You could tell there was something 'off' about him though. Due to my innocence, 'Children' never crossed my mind, however I could still tell there was something not right with him... 👍
What a bloody shame, we loved this place, we were there when Roy Cooke was the fat controller 😂, and Shelly, Alan ,Aloma, Chris, and Nicky, about 1996, absolutely brilliant fun, we went back a few times and still enjoyed it
Yes Stephen - An awful shame indeed - As you know from the vid, I was a bit earlier in my 'time served' but a great place with fantastic reviews, right up until they announced the closer... So sad... 😥
Nice one Bill. Sad to see the place disused like that. Sadly I doubt it will ever open again. Maybe end up as a housing estate.
Probably wont re-open, sad reality - But I like to imagine that it might 👍 Perhaps in a year or so, I'll be doing a 'Demolition Of Devon Valley' video... 😥 But... As I say... 'It IS what it IS'... 👍👍👍
wow what a wonderful place x
Yes. I wish I could have taken some pics of it years ago, but film was so expensive! 👍👍👍
I sent this video to Tricky Micky Childrens entertainer who worked there 79-82. apparently the pool room was the original seagull club that changed starcruiser club before it became the amusement arcade. Ps: I was both photographer and Sydney Seagull at Ladbrooks Seaton the year before, ;-)
Crazy - I was there in either 86/87 or 87/88 - I really cant remember what year it was exactly 😂
I like the garden, reminds me of mine back in Sth Wales....nice to see this old site...like the different views of the riverside Bill....time for chicken cully?
Couple of hours to go, then its 'special curry time' Cheers David !
Thank you for this. We loved a Devon Valley holiday,kids used to moan if we went abroad and didnt go to Devon Valley.
Cheers Jim - Yes it was a lovely place - Such a sad loss... 😥
We were there the last weekend it was open and had booked the following summer. The old owner supposedly had sold it the year before and the new owners didn't understand what they had bought
Really? That's fantastic news! Ive yet to hear anything myself yet, but fingers crossed 🤞
@BillsPhoneTeignmouth they were supposedly changing it to an adult focused riverside resort, but looking at your video, it looks like they have changed their minds.
Sorry Ben, I must admit I misread your original comment first thing this morning, while I was half asleep - I read it as 'We were there last weekend and we are booked up for next year' Thats why I said fantastic news! I thought you were saying they were re-opening! 🤣 My apologies. I must try and wake up properly before replying to comments! 👍👍👍
I've often wondered what that building was now I know
Our family spent many a year here and we had some magical holidays. It's a real shame to see the place like this, it really has to be bought from the current owners and brought back to its former glory.
I would love it if it was John - As I said in the video, Id even work there for free! 👍👍👍
I wonder if the owners will sell so it can be a happy camp site once again?
I love it to be reopened. Even if its not a 'Hi-De-Hi' style holiday camp, at least it would get some use... Such a waste... 😥😥😥
@BillsPhoneTeignmouth my boy wants to go there and see capt dv....
Shame - I don't think he's going to be in luck... The captain DV head has been stolen from the property, and was last seen on Paignton Seafront...
Remember the good times not that arrogant creep jimmy Saville. On another note it's sad if you think how many camps we have lost in our area especially torbay we had lots of pontin camps
Indeed - I also used to have Xmas each year, at Barton Hall - Thats on my list to go and have a look at one day - Its a PGL camp now - Focusing on Kids, so I have to choose my visiting time carefully, when its closed for the season 👍👍👍
we stayed here the year before it closed , sad to see , big waste
Indeed Andrew - Very sad indeed... 😥
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Cheers Derisley
What a shame
It really is mate, it really is... 😥
Great video, thank you!
Hey Mark 👍👍👍 Glad you enjoyed it 👍👍👍