"Conditions are not all they might be.  Crowding is a serious problem'"

"There are no playground amenities for the children, so the youngsters make the best of a large puddle" 

"We have little to complain about - it could be worse".

"an eyesore ... a scene of desolation with crumbling buildings, dilapidated huts with masonry, barbed wire and rubbish"

"probably one of the worst camps of its kind." 

 "living conditions so bad that in 1951 residents protested outside St Andrew's House."

"a crowd of happy youngsters was seen breaking up the entrance to the recently vacated hut"

 "Soon, all that will be left will be the roadways, concrete Nissen bases and heaps of rubble"

Buildings

"The camp was still laid out in a dormitory/block format with shared kitchen and toilets. There were, according to my parents' recollections, approximately 10 blocks containing a total of about 100 families.

The officers block was lined with plasterboard and was wood-panelled.  The other blocks were constructed of corrugated sheet and other cheaper materials."

Families

"Most families had young children, so the camp was a lively place.

My father, like most men in the camp, was out at work all day and my mother would take her four children, two of whom were born in the camp, out with the pram and visit her mother or friends in Dean Village."

Mixed Recollections

"My parents' recollections of the camp are mixed. On the one hand there were hygiene problems and gastroenteritis outbreaks were frequent. And petty thefts, including my father’s war medals, were not uncommon.

However, despite these negative aspects, Pat and Agnes did have some fond memories of the camp and made some friendships that lasted a lifetime."