2005 Family Holiday

“A holiday to Remember” by David Groves

Take 18 adults and a handful of children and put them into a large old mansion set in over seven acres of gardens. Add comfortable rooms and first class food and two fine Bible teachers for good measure and what do you have? A recipe for a wonderful OBT family holiday.

This year it was held on the Isle of Wight, famous for Cowes Week, an international week of sailing. The island is itself unspoiled, offering every kind of attraction any visitor could want, from historic houses (Osborne House, the country retreat of Queen Victoria) to pretty villages such as Godshill, and steam train rides on the Island's private railway.

St. Rhadagunds, the house which accommodated us, belongs to the Christian Endeavour movement and the staff set out from the start to do everything possible to make it a holiday to remember. They organized various outings each day for any who wished to join in and some were attracted by a visit to the Needles while others found the Botanical gardens and St. Catherines lighthouse more to their taste. Some decided to go further afield and explore the costal walks while everyone found a visit to the glow-worms in a nearby field an absolute must.

Food is an important part of any holiday and St. Rhadagunds excelled. With three starters, three main courses and three sweets to choose from we were spoiled for choice. Homemade treacle and Bakewell tarts went down a treat and those who were a little more adventurous found something to delight the palate.
On Sunday morning the OBT held a service to which all the residents were invited. Mike Penny spoke on Ephesians 1 verses 1-10, reminding us that the cravings of our sinful nature can be something as simple as a game of tennis. The morning bible studies were an overview of the book of Galatians rather than a verse by verse exposition. Mike and Willie Henry shared the teaching and I felt they very much complemented one another.

Two voices made for easy listening. Informative notes enabled us to enter into the problems of a Church affected by the expectancy that gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be saved and keep the Law of Moses. Paul made clear to them that salvation is by faith alone and was not dependant on law keeping. Lively discussion with much humour brought each session to a satisfactory conclusion.

The children were well catered for by staff member Michael whose daily 'Hi ho, suncrew. Are you ready?' brought forth an enthusiastic response. All sorts of activities were arranged including toasting mallows, colouring and drawing and competitions. Thursday evening was hugely entertaining as the staff organized a concert when residents were invited to display their talents. A pantomime headed the programme and members of the OBT family participated. Mike's doleful blues song will be long remembered. The holiday concluded on the Friday evening with an outdoor barn dance.

We were delighted to have four OBT authors in our midst: Mike and Sylvia Penny, Willie Henry and Charles Ozanne who, with his wife, was attending their first OBT holiday.

The holiday next year will be in North Wales - reserve the dates July 22-29: for fellowship, teaching and scenery I suspect it will take some beating.

Click here to see details of the 2006 OBT Family Holiday.