I remember back in the 60s and 70s coming to the convention with my family – my parents + 4 children. We’d arrive in Keswick mid-afternoon and drive slowly around looking for a “Vacancies” sign, which we’d always find.
My Dad would give us 6d a day pocket money. (We normally had 6d a week at home). With this 6d we were allowed to buy our own lunch, and there’d be much deliberation about whether it’d be chips again, or something different.
I particularly remember the hymn singing, to the accompaniment of a beautiful grand piano. I thought the multitude of voices sounded like I imagined Heaven would sound.
One children’s song I’ve never forgotten although we only sung it one year at Keswick in 1969. Our theme was space travel and each team in the Eskin Street tent had a space craft which made it’s way along a piece of rope towards the centre of the tent in a race for first place. The song was this –
It is not just the moon we seek
It’s the God who put it there.
With Christ His Son he made the earth,
the sea, the sky, the air.
He sent His Son to take away
all fear of sins dark power.
I will not fear for Jesus
will be with be with me every hour.
That’s a 67 year old (now attending the convention with her grandchildren) remembering something she learned age 11 during a convention week. I’ve never really sung it again with anyone else because it was a one-off song for that week – but I’ve not forgotten it!