New Forest Holiday Park VE Day

Nostalgia in the New Forest Holiday Park VE Day as celebrations brings bonus for military veterans. This victory flag was hoisted on VE Day this year by Dorset’s Back of Beyond holiday park after it raised a £1,500 windfall for the British Legion.

The award-winning Ringwood adults-only park staged a fun-filled day for guests and local residents on its 30-acre grounds on the fringes of the New Forest.

Celebrating VE Day on the Park

Martin and Victoria Bowrey, the husband-and-wife team behind the park, peppered the event with activities ranging from a rock-and-roll bingo challenge to themed games and quizzes.

The park’s popular bar also became the venue for a celebratory evening sing-along of familiar wartime songs, led by suitably-uniformed staff member Peter Burns.

When the takings were counted up, Martin and Victoria doubled the donations themselves to create a £1,500 gift to the British Legion’s local fundraising appeal.

British Legion’s fundraising appeal

The charity provides financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants.

It was just over 12 years ago that the couple sold their London photography business and took a gamble on their future by buying a campsite in their favourite county.

The aim, said Victoria, was to run a sustainable holiday park for nature-loving guests in a part of the country where she and Martin often went camping.

Since then, they have invested much time and energy into creating five-star surroundings which include not just camping and touring pitches, but also a host of glamping options.

“We had a wonderful day, celebrating our New Forest Holiday Park VE Day and it further strengthened the close ties we have with our local community which has been so welcoming to us from the start,” said Victoria.