The Ultimate Holiday Romance at Andrewshayes
We know that many of you who visit, Andrewshayes hold special memories about the park. From quality time spent with the family to holidays with grandparents who brought you camping, watching the cows being milked or being allowed to help Farmer Harry. For those of us of a certain age, in world before of social media and smart phones when we learned to make our own entertainment, being a teenager at Andrewshayes was a special gift. An element of freedom, in a safe environment where maybe it was best that parents didn’t always know what was going on!
We have been asking customers for their stories as we celebrate our 90th Year, and here is a very special one which we are delighted to share.
.Sarah and Jordan’s Story
There is always something magical about a holiday romance, but who would have predicted meeting at Andrewshayes would end in marriage! To make it even more special, Sarah and Jordan were also teenage friends with our manager Josh and they have remained great friends. As a family they continue to holiday here, what a wonderful story to share. Here’s the questions we put to Sarah.
About Your First Meeting
We met in 2004 at Andrewshayes Holiday Park. I was 14 and Jordan was 13.
Do you remember the very first time you saw each other at the campsite?
I don’t actually remember the exact moment we met, but Jordan does! He always tells me it was at the swimming pool. What makes me laugh is that he remembers exactly what I was wearing, which shows how much of an impression that moment made on him. At the time, neither of us could have imagined where that first meeting would eventually lead.
Can you remember your first impressions of one another?
I remember thinking Jordan was the funniest person I’d ever met. Everything he did and said made me laugh.
Was there a particular spot on the park that holds a special memory for you?
The playground treehouse was a favourite place for our friendship group. We also spent hours riding our bikes around the entrance to the site, much to the annoyance of the wardens! Those places hold some wonderful memories for us.
Friendship
Did you stay in touch after that first summer and how?
Yes, we always stayed in touch as friends and looked forward to seeing each other during the school holidays. During the winter months we would chat on MSN Messenger, and later kept in touch through Facebook as we got older.
How did your friendship evolve over the years?
What started as a holiday friendship became a constant part of our lives. Even though Jordan lived in Bristol and I live in Birmingham, we always kept in touch and looked forward to meeting up again at Andrewshayes each year. Looking back, it’s amazing to think that among all those childhood adventures, we were unknowingly creating the beginning of our own love story.
Your Love Story
When did you realise your caravan park friendship had turned into something more?
There had always been a special connection between us, but it wasn’t until 2017 that we finally went on our first proper date. After years of friendship, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.
Was there a moment when you both thought, “this is forever”?
One of the biggest moments was Jordan’s proposal. He surprised me with a stay at Andrewshayes on Orchard Retreat and proposed during a weekend away in Lyme Regis. It felt incredibly special that the place where our story began was part of such an important chapter in our lives.
Looking back now, do you think your younger selves would have guessed you’d end up married?
Absolutely not! Never in a million years would either of us have imagined that we’d end up married with two beautiful children.
About the Caravan Park
What role has the caravan park played in your story?
Andrewshayes is where everything began. Without it, our paths may never have crossed. From childhood adventures and summer holidays to an engagement weekend and now visits as a married couple with children, it has been part of every chapter of our story.
Are there traditions or little things about the site that still bring back memories for you?
We often find ourselves reminiscing about the adventures we had there with our friends. Every visit brings back memories, and it’s fascinating to see how much the site has changed while still feeling like home. One of our favourite memories is walking down the country lanes with our friends to the Dalwood Fair each year.
We also loved the end-of-season party and always looked forward to the fancy-dress theme. Those traditions were a huge part of our childhood holidays and are memories we still talk about today.
Do you have a funny or sweet “only at the caravan park” memory from when you met?
A few weeks after meeting, we held hands for the first time. Looking back now, it’s such a sweet memory because neither of us knew that our holiday friendship would eventually lead to marriage.
Reflections & Advice
What do you love most about the fact that your story started at a caravan park?
I love how unexpected it is. Whenever people ask how we met, they’re always surprised to hear that it all started on a campsite in Devon. Everyone says it’s such a lovely story, and it’s definitely not the usual way people meet.
What would you tell 14-year-old Sarah about where this meeting would lead?
I’d tell her to enjoy every moment because the funny boy she’s spending her holidays with is going to become her husband. Together you’ll build a wonderful life, get married and have two beautiful children.
Here and Now
What do you still love about the park now you’re grown up and married?
Andrewshayes feels like a place full of memories. Every visit reminds us where our story started and how far we’ve come together. We often find ourselves reminiscing about the good times we had there and how much the site has changed over the years, while still feeling like home.
Andrewshayes has been a huge part of my life for over 20 years, and for Jordan over 30 years. We have made friendships there that will last a lifetime. Bringing our own children down here now is just amazing. It’s such a huge part of our lives and our story, and for that we are eternally grateful.
We’d like to thank Sarah for sharing her and Jordan’s story and look forward to Andrewshayes being a place that they make many more magical memories.