Bible school's holiday club spans the generations

He was in the crèche when this holiday club first met. Thirty years later, he’s bringing his own son.

Richard Wilson comes all the way from Reading each year to help out at Denmead Activities and Bible School (DABS), which is meeting for the 30th time this week. And his two-year-old son Joel is now part of the next generation to enjoy learning about God there.

Around 200 children and more than 100 helpers are meeting at Denmead Community Centre for four days this week (August 10-13) for action songs, art and craft, games and Bible stories. It’s run jointly by the Anglican, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches in Denmead.

Richard cut a celebratory cake to mark this year’s anniversary alongside Andrew Skeet, whose father the Rev Ted Skeet set up the first DABS in 1981. A total of 92 children attended the first one.

“I came every year from the first one until I was 15, and I’ve done most years since then as a leader,” said Richard. “We really enjoy it. There’s always a fun family atmosphere, and it reaches out into the Denmead community. Joel loves playing the guitar, so he likes strumming along to the band.”

Liz McCue from Hayling Island was also at the first DABS as a nine-year-old. She grew up in Denmead and came each year before returning as a leader a couple of years ago with her seven-year-old son Joseph.

“I remember not wanting to come to the first one, but then really enjoying it,” she said. “My dad helped to convert the old school into the community centre where we meet, and Denmead is our family home. I love helping out with the kids and there is a real family focus here. And although it is Christian, it’s not too heavy about it.”

They are among several parents who first attended DABS as youngsters and now bring their own children along.

A live band leads worship each morning and afternoon in a marquee behind the community centre. The children are then split into different age groups for activities throughout the day, looking at the life of St Peter through the theme of ‘Starship Discovery’. The teenagers have planned trips to Salisbury Cathedral, West Wittering and INTECH near Winchester.

Tina Cottam, who chairs the DABS committee, said: “Most of the children who come aren’t part of any church, so it’s a great place for them to discover more. They write prayers that are used during the week, and they come along to church on the Sunday after DABS to talk about what they’ve done.

“In the past we’ve had as many as 330 children registered. This year it’s not so many, but we have an amazing number of volunteers, many of whom are teenagers themselves. Some of our helpers have ended up at church because they’ve volunteered here.

“And there’s a great thread of continuity through the 30 years, with different generations of the same families involved. Our orange juice is still supplied by Hartridges in Hambledon, just as it was in 1981!”

Anyone is welcome to the DABS service at 10am at All Saints Church, Denmead, this Sunday.