One of the original holiday centres run by PGL will close at the end of this season and not reopen next year.

Hillcrest was one of the first sites operated by PGL when it began as the dream of Peter Gordon Lawrence, who was inspired to start his activity holiday business after a trip canoeing on the River Wye.

Although attracting youngsters from all over the country and even worldwide, many local youngsters are familiar with it from school holidays or from youth organisations making use of the facilities. Generations of Ross and Monmouth Sea Cadets learnt their sailing skills at Drummonds Dub.

Hillcrest was one of the smaller sites in the PGL group and appealed to younger children.

A spokesperson for PGL told the Ross Gazette: “After reviewing our operational requirements, we have reached the difficult decision to cease operating at PGL Hillcrest from next year.

“Hillcrest has been an important part of our history and was one of the very first centres purchased by Peter Gordon Lawrence when he founded PGL in 1957.  

“Unfortunately the site does not offer the same level of facilities that our customers have come to expect and over the last few years we have seen a decline in the number of bookings for this site.

“Our head office remains in Ross-on-Wye and it is from here that we will make arrangements for the 6,000 schools and groups that will travel to a PGL centre across the UK and France in 2020.”