How it all began

Avril Dankworth had the idea of running a music camp long before her brother John Dankworth and his wife Cleo Laine bought the Old Rectory and its Stables in Wavendon, but it was when she visited the proposed site for their theatre, and saw the lovely field behind it, that she started to think that her idea could become a reality.
Avril had enjoyed camping with the guides as a girl, and loved the outdoors, she was also becoming very well known as a music educationalist, and thought a music camp for young people was the perfect way to marry her two loves.
The dream became a reality in 1970 when Avril borrowed tents from the scouts, rallied friends to tutor, and held the first junior camp for forty children.