Any one go to Butlins, we use to get jobs there in the summer,
seemed like the ideal place back then.

My Dad took me the first time, only thing i remember was we rode the 3 wheel bikes made for two, my Dad was so drunk he tipped over the bike, i fell off, grazed both my legs, that was the end of that, stayed in bed the rest of the time.

In later years my sister and i worked there for a free weeks stay.

If it's the Butlins at Filey you are talking about, it is sad to see it has been completly bulldozed now, the land has been baught by Primrose Valley to make room for some more caravan sites, not quite the same is it?

Went a couple of times with my mates to Skeggy Butlins in the late 60s. It was the easiest place for getting a girl ever. And the girls were just as forward at getting guys. All the single lads' chalets were in one row and all the single girls were opposite. There were that many people running backwards and forwards at night I'm surprised there was any grass left between the chalets. They had "security patrols" who were supposed to check for any naughty behaviour at night, but they only came round once so after that you were safe. Strange how songs bring back memories but Canned Heat singing "On the road again" always reminds me of Skeggy Butlins.

I went to Skeggie Butlins with Christine Siddall and her family, we had a great time, I remember the swimming pool and the redcoats, It rained nearly the whole week, the chalets were a bit rough though

Is Butlins still a viable venture? Reason why I ask, is you don't hear about them anymore.

When I was a kid I used to look at the chalet maids (cleaners) and think what an awful job, I would have only wanted to have been a redcoat, that was the glamourous job.
All the teenagers spent there times looking for the opposite sex.

I was last at Butins Skeggness in 99 and it was in full swing.
Whenever I've passed the place since then it was.

Originally posted by poppins
Any one go to Butlins, we use to get jobs there in the summer,
seemed like the ideal place back then.

My Dad took me the first time, only thing i remember was we rode the 3 wheel bikes made for two, my Dad was so drunk he tipped over the bike, i fell off, grazed both my legs, that was the end of that, stayed in bed the rest of the time.

In later years my sister and i worked there for a free weeks stay.

We worked at Pwhelli in 1973 for a season. The year it burned to the ground, (it wasn't me honest).

I worked in the bars as a cellarman so can,t remember much with all the "free" beer ;)

Butlins....Paradise on earth to a little child. Several family holidays at Skegness were I learnt to roller skate, the funfair that was FREE and the large cinema style rooms with BBC showing in one and ITV in the other. Not forgetting all the holiday pals you made there plus Redcoats, adults who actually seemed to like children, as I said PARADISE

We once blagged our way into skeggy butlins for a rave weekender must have been 89-90 really enjoyed it:banana:

I went four years on the trot from 98 to 2003 and must say we loved it there.
It was exhausting with two young kids though as you did not feel you had rested.
The food was fab, good nightlife but the chalets were grotty so we stayed in a caravan for the last three visits.
We gave it a miss last year and cruised the Canary Islands.
Going to do the same this year and go abroad but I would love a long weekend at Butlins with the missus and without the kids.
No chance of that though.:sad:

Cycleracer
That's a bit of a contrast in holidays from Butlins to cruising the canary's!!!!
I know which one I would prefer, although I suppose they are similiar in the fact you are in a place with organised entertainment and babysitting etc, wirh the same bunch of people, but would be more glamorous, and the views much different.

I did 3 seasons working at Butlins in 1998 (Skeggy) and 1999, 2000 (Minehead) working in the half board restaurants as a waiter.

It was an excellent time, spent most of it drunk and ended up shagging loads.

Originally posted by nsiebert
Cycleracer
That's a bit of a contrast in holidays from Butlins to cruising the canary's!!!!
I know which one I would prefer, although I suppose they are similiar in the fact you are in a place with organised entertainment and babysitting etc, wirh the same bunch of people, but would be more glamorous, and the views much different. Well yes I supose so but I had a great time at Butlins and will go back but for long weekends maybe.
The cruise ship was very different but we went a couple of weeks ago so the temprature was in the 70s so not to hot, apart from Madeira and Morocco were it reached about 80 deg.
I felt reluctant to take the kids abroad while they were very young because it gets to hot but now I will take the risk.
This year I have booked into Malta in May, Portugal in Augast and the Carribean in December.
Gonna see the Tour De France too, but without the kids.
2006, back to Butlins maybe.

Originally posted by nsiebert
When I was a kid I used to look at the chalet maids (cleaners) and think what an awful job, I would have only wanted to have been a redcoat, that was the glamourous job.
All the teenagers spent there times looking for the opposite sex.

infact the chalet maids (chalet monsters) were better paid than the redcoats..i worked at the minehead camp in the early 80s,mind you, the redcoats thrived on the tips they recieved from the punters,they were always on the front line entertainment so they never had to buy their own drinks.

i used to work in the beachcomber bar (first season)..lenny henry did the midnight caberet and me and a girl from mancs were singled out to serve the punters with drinks who didnt want to bother going to the bar when the show was on,
we were maid to wear skimpy hawaian tops and grass skirts.we got tips from the blokes and dirty looks from their wives!
plus lenny henry singled us out every night with the spotlight as he didnt like ppl getting up and going to the bar when his act was on.
aunty witch x

When i worked at Butlins i made a lot more than the Redcoats and Lifeguards ever did, i worked as a waiter and on a good week i could more than double my weekly wage.

Some weeks i would have £250 spending money, it was excellent

Originally posted by brownieblade
When i worked at Butlins i made a lot more than the Redcoats and Lifeguards ever did, i worked as a waiter and on a good week i could more than double my weekly wage.

Some weeks i would have £250 spending money, it was excellent

250 pound ? what year was that ?

I can remember going to Butlins when i was about 8-9yrs... for Christmas with my Parents & Sister... was really good... accept Mum couldnt wait for the morning to open our present...

As we got back from the site club quite late we decided to wait a few more minutes till after mid-night to open them :( it was brilliant at the time we were all so excited... that was before going to bed... when we woke Christmas morning we had nothing to look forward to other than Christmas diner an playing my sister's computer battleships... an my Nolans tape on my new cassette player (which we both got) it was quite boring... :?

Saying that tho we we're allowed over to the fair to have a bit of fun whilst Mum & Dad prepared a lovely diner...Dad gaves us a fiver between us... wey hey! while we were stood in the queue my sister spotted a fiver on the floor... we we're right chuffed a fiver each... how cool is that! We had a brilliant time...

All in all we had a great holiday... I would love to go again to Butlins for the laugh! :wink:

Originally posted by poppins
250 pound ? what year was that ? He means £2.50.

We went to Butlins in Minehead and also Pwellheli back in the early 70s. I was a teenager and God I wanted to be a Redcoat when I grew up so badly. We went to Minehead in about 1975 and Mum won the Lovely Legs contest and my Grandma won the Gracious Lady contest. That was the year my brother, nicknamed Carty, and his friend, Wonderboy, started wearing flat caps. Within a few months everybody was wearing them. To this day I still believe they started the craze. That was the year I got drunk on Shandy!

First went to Butlins Filey in 1945, with parents. Carried on with skeggy, Mosney, Ayr & Pwllheli. Then six lads to Fily & Skeggy. Got married and visited Minehead, Pwllheli,Skeggy & Filey with our family. Many happy memories. The typical safe Butlin holiday ended years ago.

Good night campers see you in the morning

He means £2.50.

my grandmother worked as a chalet maid in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, she definitely didn't get heaps of money, more like a pittance, but she had a good time with the other chalet maids.

I rembember seeing Ringo Starr playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at Skegness Butlins round about 1961

I remember going to Butlins Skegness with 3 of my school friends in 1963 on our first holiday away from our parents.We had a great time though probably it was a bit tame to what happens these days.I still retain a connection with Butlins as my son is the catering manager there.

Our eldest works at minehead and has been there for a couple of seasons now and is loving it, he is part of the resort safety team and has his own team working in the night clubs.

Went to Skeggy camp with my pal Steve in about 1957/8 when we were a pair of right posers. Had a drinking contest in the Pig and Whistle and when we came out Steve collapsed over a hedge and I had to carry him back to the chalet over my shoulder. I dropped him on the concrete path outside the chalet as i was trying to find the key but felt nothing! Two lassies from Lancashire we were trying to lead astray helped me put him in the bottom bunk and he was promptly sick which I had to clean up before chalet maid came as they were really keen. Remember a huge group standing watching as several redcoats tried to get a group out of one chalet as it was for girls only and they had lads in there or vice versa. Cracking good holiday that!!!

Me and my mate worked at Butlins Skegness in the 70s.She did 3 seasons 75,76 and 77. I worked there 75 to 79. Loved every minute of it. We were chalet maids(monsters) You had to take your work seriously but once you finished it was like being on holiday. Made loads of friends. Sadly it all came to an end. We both met our husbands there and we settled down. Weve both ended up divorcing them. Never mind were still best mates. Great memories of Butlins though.