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In 1987, the Rector of Mark, Revd. Michael Pavey, announced that he planned to run a camp for disadvantaged children from the East End of London.

To create the very first Avalon Camp, he was very soon in contact with the Church of England Children’s Holiday Camps Organisation. Through them he acquired a couple of marquees and numerous tents. He had earlier acquired a coach, to use for outings for the parishes and then also for the camps, and persuaded various businesses into providing sheds, caravans and a toilet.

He chose six teenagers from the villages to be Tent Leaders and adult villagers were encouraged to volunteer their services on a rota for tasks such as washing-up, washing clothes, removing rubbish, and hosting a child once a week into their home. For the children, various activities on-site and offsite were proposed and organised.

The camp was to last 11 days. So successful were the first three camps that Michael decided to add a second week. However, this began to stretch both finances and personnel. Faced with these rising costs, Michael decided to abandon London in favour of offering the camp experience to children from the Hartcliffe and Withywood areas of Bristol.

He worked initially with Gus Grimshaw, the Headteacher of Teyfant School (now called Bridge Learning Campus). Gus gave enthusiastic support to the project and came to involve disadvantaged children from the neighbouring Hareclive, Fair Furlong, Four Acres and Gay Elms Schools.

In 2002 Michael indicated that he would be retiring as Rector of Mark with Allerton, so he handed over the baton in 2001 to Jon Glauert who served as Camp Director until 2012. Jon worked tirelessly over those years to ensure Michael’s great work continued. He was succeeded by Richard Cook for one year and then by Steve Short.

Michael’s magnificent and visionary legacy still pervades everything we do. Inevitably, there have been many changes over the past 38 years – but Avalon Camps are incredibly fortunate in having the dedicated assistance of more than 150 villagers and Young Leaders. Over the years we have been able to give a memorable holiday to over 2500 children.

In 2017 there were a number of changes to the status of Avalon Camps. We became a charity, and as such we faced an exciting but challenging future. As part of the process we have become a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, 10526565, and a registered charity 1172169.