OB alumnus Frank Dawson visits Aberdovey after over 40 years...

Frank Dawson attended our Aberdovey Sea School at the end of January 1968 for a three week course and had a fantastic time. He recently returned to the centre after 43 years and enjoyed every moment of his visit. Frank says of his recent trip:

“I recently re-visited Aberdovey for the first time since my 3-week Outward Bound course in January 1968. I slept in my campervan on the seafront on the evening I arrived, and remembered that this is where we sailed from for excursions to sea, and where we used to run back to the centre from.

I visited the Outward Bound centre the next morning and the square was just as it was when I was there, where we got our orders for the day from in the morning – the bell was still there too.

I was shown around the centre and saw a new exciting ropes course in the same area we used to do cross-country running in. It seems the school makes more use of the grounds now, and everything I saw was very good indeed. Although there is still lots of teamwork involved, from what I saw the courses seem less “regimented” now, and I think in the long run this probably makes for a nicer person at the end of the course!

The centre is run just as efficiently as when I was there and seems very good fun. It is still doing a very good job at turning out some good young people. My visit brought back some fantastic memories that will still stay with me; I am very glad I went back. When I am sitting having my cup of tea at night, I will think of all at the centre, learning about themselves and their friends. Long may Outward Bound last, and thanks for all the memories”.

Whilst there, Frank took some fantastic photos of the local area, which can be viewed on our online gallery on Flickr by clicking here.