England fan visits same holiday spot every year since 1965

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Richard Dowell, 78, has visited Cowden Holiday Park in East Yorkshire every year since 1965, witnessing its transformation and building lasting community ties. His six-decade loyalty highlights the enduring appeal of holiday parks as places where traditions and relationships persist across generations.

For more than six decades, Richard Dowell has made an annual pilgrimage to the same coastal holiday park, cementing a unique connection with the site and its community. The 78-year-old from Hull began visiting Cowden Holiday Park near Hornsea, East Yorkshire, in 1965 and has returned every year since.

Dowell’s longstanding tradition includes vivid memories of the summer of 1966, when England secured its only World Cup title. He was at the park during England’s historic victory, marked by Sir Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick at Wembley, and plans to watch the current tournament from the same location nearly 60 years later.

Although Dowell has traveled internationally over the years, he describes the caravan park—just 30 minutes from his home—as a second home. “I’ve seen so many people come and go over the years and I’ve made a lot of friends,” he said. He highlighted the park’s enduring family atmosphere as the reason for his loyalty, reflecting on photographs from the 1960s that chart the site’s evolution.

Over the years, Dowell has stayed in or owned nine different holiday homes within the park. He has observed its transformation from a basic getaway, once reliant on gas lamps and standpipe water, into a contemporary destination. Yet, despite the physical changes, he said the sense of community remains unchanged. “The people are what make it special,” he noted. “I’ve seen generations of families grow up here, made lifelong friends and watched the park develop over the years. It still feels like home.”

The park’s current owner, Larkham Leisure, acknowledges the significance of Dowell’s enduring relationship with Cowden. Tyrone Larkham, director of the company, described Dowell’s story as a testament to the importance of holiday parks in people’s lives. “To have someone choose to spend their holidays with us for more than 60 years is incredibly special,” he said. “His loyalty, friendship and enthusiasm for the park mean a great deal to everyone here.”

Dowell’s six-decade commitment to Cowden Holiday Park reflects a deep personal connection that extends beyond the holiday experience, underscoring how traditions and communities can endure through generations and changing times.

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