FOR many Bradford children, Linton Camp was a home from home. The camp, near Grassington, housed evacuees in the Second World War and later became a holiday home. Now plans are underway to turn the site into a hotel complex.

Our recent picture spread looking back at Linton Camp prompted a flood of memories from readers, many through the T&A’s We Grew Up in Bradford Facebook page. Here are some of the memories:

Darren Palmer says: “My dad Brian was sent there in 1951 when expelled from Tyersal School for being a ‘bad lad’. He always spoke of Linton as the best time of his life, of going to the cinema in Grassington and swimming in the river by the falls (something I do every year in his memory). He’s the goalie in the team photo. When he passed away I scattered his ashes in the meadow just over Emily’s Bridge.”

Susan Hargreaves: “My uncle was there in the 1930s with his sisters . He’s 88 now and talks about how he enjoyed it. The kids all helped to build a swimming pool.”

Sandra Deegan was there in the 1950s: “I made my first Holy Communion from there. I enjoyed walks to the stepping stones and the maypole dance, but all in all I didn’t like it. I was very homesick. You only had visitors once a month.”

Mary Dodgson was there in the 1960s to early 70s: “There were good and bad days. Me and my brother went because of ill health.”

Andrew Bowles says: “I was there 1978-1980s. I loved the freedom of the countryside and going down to Grassington, the stepping stones and great teachers.”

Edward Tong recalls: “I have very fond memories of Linton Camp. I was there three years, looking back it was like a family as the teachers lived with you. I enjoyed experiencing the Dales and learnt to swim in the river at Grassington. I kept in touch with three of the teachers.”

Sue Burrows says: “My mum was there 1949/50 due to having asthma. Mum said it was the best four years away from home as she was fed three times a day and had a clean bed to sleep in. Mum was one of 13 children.”

Diane McMahon’s mum June Barker was also there in 1950: “Mum loved it and had many special memories.”

Edward Tong was six, living at Bradford’s Joseph Nutter Orphanage when he was sent to Linton Camp in September 1939. “I knew something was happening because I saw knapsacks being packed. We went to Forster Square Station, it was an adventure on a train,” he told the T&A. “Linton Camp was rough in winter but I enjoyed it. The teachers lived with us, it was like a family. We played football; the only camp we didn’t beat was Clitheroe.”

Sandra Kenny: “I’ll never forget the little swimming pool, it was bl***y cold.”

Katy Brown: “That’s my mum at the front in the checked dress. She attended with her sister. Mum passed away in 2013. I’d have loved to ask her if she remembers people in the pictures. Her ashes are scattered in St Michael’s Church in Linton and my dad’s ashes are with her. She had many fond memories of the place and we her children do.”

Elaine Wills: “The photo (of children outside Linton Camp) was taken when we went on an exchange trip to London. Linton church is a special place, we had Sunday School there, I married my first husband there and my children were christened there.”

Dawn Brown Burnett: “I smashed a window by accident and were in right trouble.Talk about a Spanish Inquisition.”

Sue Charlton: “It’s such a shame it wasn’t still used for kids from inner cities to have a break away as we used to do.”

John May: “I went to Linton 1967-70 aged 13-16, had the best years of my childhood there. Fantastic place.”

Jennifer Baldwin: “I was there in the 1950s, I was sent there by Mr Kavanagh, consultant at Bradford ENT hospital. I wasn’t very happy there as I missed home so very much.”

Claire Pell: “My dad and brothers were there in the 50s. Malcolm, Jeff and Dennis Pell, he remembers the headmaster and rabbits.”

Jennifer Baldwin: “It was a strange time in our lives. I haven’t met anyone from Linton since I left and sometimes it feels a bit dream like.”

Lawrence Killian: “The Bradford Met Concert Band had a residential there in October 1976. Norman Wells was conducting, with Jim Shepherd coaching the brass. I was playing trumpet.”

David Stocks: “My aunt used to look out for it as a ‘signpost’ for home whenever they went for a car ride in that direction.

Amanda Jayne: “My mum hated it! She was forced to go with her twin when recovering from scarlet fever.”

Elaine Battersby: “My dad and uncle lost their father young so went there to help the family out. He had fond memories.”

Maureen Mohamed: “Went there in the 60s when I was at Allerton Junior School, used to get peanut butter sandwiches for packed lunches, we threw them over the edge for the cows but we had a good time.”