Two camps were held that year at Plattenhof near Sankt Peter in the Black Forest, Germany. The land was owned by Stefan Saum who seemed to combine farming with the operation of a gasthaus. The property contained a lake formed by the damming of a stream, and german families would drive up and sunbathe, swim and drink beer etc. However, the amalgamation of farming practices with the provision of food had a downside in the existence of a dung heap outside the kitchen window, a juxtaposition that didn’t go down well with the local government authorities and led to the revocation of the food license.
Thanks to David Thomas who pointed out a website that specializes in old postcards and displayed this one.
 Front of a postcard showing the gasthaus at Plattenhof |
 Rear of a postcard showing the gasthaus at Plattenhof |
The date of the postcard is not known, but since it mentions Stefan Saum it probably originates from the 1950s. Plattenhof now appears on the web as a smart gasthaus and restaurant, while the area up the hill where the camps were located is occupied by wind turbines. (Look it up on Google earth if you’re interested – Plattenhof, St. Peter will find it)
Amazingly, there are written records of the two 1964 camps in the form of reports written after the event by Gordon Edwards and John Rignall, leaders of the first and second camps respectively. These reports are held in the archives of Edinburgh University’s Children’s Holiday Venture (EUCHV), an institution that has been in existence since about 1964 and is still going strong. EUCHV started under the auspices of Children’e Relief International and Martyn Edelsten, then at Edinburgh university, was present on the 1964 camps.
First camp 13 – 27 July 1964
- Gordon Edwards – Jesus
- Michael Peel – Jesus
- David Beeby – Jesus
- Susan Bennett – Girton
- Ian Cooper – Jesus
- David Ward – Selwyn
- David Thomas – Trinity Hall
- Celia Charnings – Homerton
- Victoria Waterton – Homerton
- Martyn Edelsten – Edinburgh University
The members of the first 1964 team pictured at the campsite in the Black Forest. Standing from left to right are: Martyn Edelsten, Gordon Edwards, David Beeby, Susan Bennett, Ian Cooper, David Ward, David Thomas, Michael Peel. Seated left to right are Celia Charning and Victoria Waterton.
Second camp 3 – 16 August 1964
The names of the staff on the second camp are known from the report by John Rignall. However, there is some uncertainty at present in associating faces with names, and this reflected in the the question marks in the picture caption.
- John Rignall – St Johns
- John Colquhoun – Trinity
- Edward Tozer – Trinity
- Susan Wilmott – Girton
- Robin Horsley – Trinity
- Martyn Edelsten – Edinburgh University
- John Endacott – St. Catherines
- Gill Perry Keene – University College, London
- Paul Hawksworth – Pembroke
- Lindsay Smith – Girton
- Edward Lyttleton – Kings
Staff and boys on the 2nd 1964 camp. Back row left to right: ?, EdwardTozer(?), Mike Peel, Edward Lyttelton(?), ?, John Colquhoun, Robin Horsley(?), Paul Hawksworth, John Endacott. Middle row Gill Perry Keene, Lindsay Smith, Susan Wilmott, Martyn Edelsten, John Rignall, Christine Green.
Children's Holiday Venture Archive 