My favourite memory of Butlin’swas going to see the wrestling with my dad, I can clearly remember one of the fighters having his shorts pulled down to reveal a bare bottom beneath. Aged 10, it was the funniest thing ever. The Commodores Three Times a Lady was playing in the background. To this day if I hear that song on the radio, I’m transported back to those happy times.
I was quite a shy child and a bit of a loner but at Butlins I couldn’t wait to join in with the clubs and different activities and my mum and dad were delighted to see me having so much fun. The shows were out of this world, so bright and colourful – cheesy but fun, I think my love of what some people would call ‘downmarket’ entertainment stems from those days, I can remember my grandad being really excited about going to see Vince Hill at the Pig and Whistle.
It was a very innocent time, some parents would come out to the club and leave the kids in their chalet as a smoky bar wasn’t the best place for little ones but my parents used to prefer to have us with them – I remember there used to be lights at the side of the stage which flashed up if a baby was crying in a certain chalet – you could never do that now!
I can’t believe I went into a holiday princess competition and stood in the line-up but it was all good fun — can you tell which one is me in the pic above?** My brother went to play football with an ex first division player and came away with a trophy, it was fantastic.
I also remember the fair at Barry Island and how daring some of the rides were – there was one where it looked like a straight vertical drop – I’ve been an adrenaline junkie at fairs and a lover of the white knuckle rides ever since.
We went to Butlins as three generations with my grandparents, my mum and dad and us kids and we loved it, it’s easy to knock but they knew how to show you a good time. I wasn’t so keen on the food though and have memories of jelly with little squirts of fake cream on it and cold custard with skin on, my poor mum didn’t get as much of a holiday as we would have insisted she looked after feeding us so we could stay out of the communal dining halls and away from the synthetic trifles…
I remember looking up to the redcoats as they got on with children so well, they weren’t patronising but made you feel one of the gang – and we felt they were looking out for us so it was safe to play out on the areas between chalets. This has influenced our holidays with my own children and we have been back to Butlins twice.
A fuller version of this article appeared in last month’s Prima magazine where Trish from Mum’s Gone To also shared her memories of holidays from days gone by, remembering the heady days of early package holidays.*
* Both me and Trish were featured as a result of a media request published on Have a Lovely Time… so it’s good to know it works!
** I’m number 59 by the way!