Christine Friend
Life and Times at Butlins 1961 – 1966
1961 SKEGNESS
End of season Redcoat party. Invite
1962 SKEGNESS
Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, with Ringo Starr on drums played in the Rock
Ballroom.
Elephant walked into the swimming
pool and drowned.
1963 FILEY
The Camp was so large that I was
issued with a bicycle to get around.
1964 FILEY
Tramps Party – end of season. [See photo]
Redcoats Team had to dress up and
perform 'The Lancers” in the ballroom.
1965 BOGNOR
Met my husband,
David Ingram, also a Redcoat. You can see him on the Bognor 1966 Redcoat team photo.
1966
BOGNOR
Frank Mansell was Area
Entertainments Manager for the East Coast.
After the end of season at the camp, we would return to Head Office in
Oxford Street and deal with hundreds of applications from people wanting to be Redcoats. Mr Mansell would then hold interviews in
three or four major cities around the UK to finalise recruitment for the
following season.
Camper Weekends in the Wintertime
I would catch the Friday evening
train to Clacton, Margate, Bognor or Brighton. The Redcoats would escort the train from Victoria with campers on board.
Royal Albert Hall Reunions
October/November once a year there
was a Butlin's Reunion week-long event held at the Royal Albert Hall. I
remember Al Fried Orchestra playing and some dancing finals being held.
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6th January 2022