| Great site! It brought back many happy memories. I first went to Butlins in 1973 with my parents and sisters. I have continued visiting with 3 husbands (not at the same time), my children, and now my grandchildren. In 1979, when I first took my eldest son and daughter, they were just 1 and 2 years-old. Nowadays, my youngest son regularly takes his 3 children - and is a Premium Club member. They love the "Bob the Builder" theme. |
| We were on holiday at Butlins Skegness in 1974, during the week that the fire broke out in the Princess Ballroom. Earlier that week I entered the "Miss Lovely Legs" competition. |
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| When I visited Skegness in the 70s, I particularly liked the fairground - especially the "Wild Mouse" ride. |
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| My
parents enjoyed
a more sedate pastime, like watching the "It`s A Knockout" on the
sportsfield. |
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The dining rooms were a place of song and laughter. Often the chef would walk through with a birthday cake and the staff would sing and clap. *1 (see below) We still laugh at the memory of the Tannoy speakers, which used to be situated at the end of every row of chalets. Early in the morning you would be woken up by the Radio Butlin announcer bellowing out "Good Morning Campers." |
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And then there were
the notice boards, in the dance
halls and entertainment places, which would light up to let you know
there
was a baby crying in a chalet.
The nursery staff
would ride along the chalets
on their bikes listening out for babies crying and, when they heard
one,
would come into the venues and operate the boards, so that the chalet
number
lit up and flashed.
I personally liked the
Milk Bar where you could
get a frothy Horlicks drink, and the staff would fill your flask up for
the
journey home
I have seen some good
turns in the Gaiety Theatre:-
David Essex, Cannon & Ball, Little & Large, Jess Conrad,
Showaddywaddy,
and many more. Sadly the theatre is long-gone but, ironically, all
those
acts are still working. Usually it's the other way round.
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| Personally, I disliked the chair lifts which went over the centre of the camp - but my children loved them. I did like the boating lake near the beach entrance, and the Crazy Golf at the front of the camp. My sisters enjoyed the skating rink. Sad to say, all three of these attractions have now been replaced by CAR PARKS. At this rate, the whole camp will soon be a car park. |
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In January 1998, we
were the last guests to stay
in the self-catering flatlets on the Roman Bank site, as, almost as
soon
as we had vacated, they were demolished. At the time, a former husband
of
mine was working there.
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I now collect postcards and laugh at
those which
describe Butlins Skegness has having "Running Water." We also chuckle
at
the adverts for "Fish & Chips 2/6d." You wouldn't get much for that
now,
would you?
So
much as changed over the years, but we still
love Butlins Skegness.
Sue Emmerson |
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"A.J" COMMENTS: Hello Sue, Thanks for writing the above.
Some great shared memories
there, which I'm sure readers will enjoy. As for presenting Birthday
cakes,
I certainly remember that, but it was never the Chef or Dining Hall
staff,
it was ALWAYS the Redcoats. We would stand at the Dining Hall doors 10
minutes
BEFORE meal times, and stay there till 10 minutes AFTER. Then, just as
we
were about to sit down to eat, a dining hall supervisor would inform us
there
was a Birthday cake. I used to have to run around the tables gathering
as
many Redcoats as I could see, collect the cake, light the candles, then
take
it to the table and sing to the Birthday person. Sometimes there could
be
2, 3 or even 4 cakes, which left us with about 2 minutes to eat our
meal,
then run the full length of the Camp to open the Gaiety Theatre. No
wonder
I lost twelve pound in weight over the season. I wouldn't like to try
that
routine now the old legs have gone.
o-o-0-o-o |
