your comments
Selwyn Roberts
I was born and bred in Pwllheli, I was known as Sel Bach, son of Thomas Hugh. I also worked as a luggage lad at Butlins at the same time as Dolwyn Barma. We went to primary school together, Penlleiniau. My dad worked on security at Butlins. I also worked for Lyons Maid ice cream, in a kiosk just over the bridge in south camp, opposite the boating lake. I now live in Wigan, Lancs.
Mon Aug 17 10:05:58 2009
John Dale Pinches, Leicester
Redcoat 1961 - Fantastic experience met wonderful people eg Ringo Starr, Jonny Ball, Dave Allen and many campers. Involved mostly in sporting activies and of course Good Night Campers. Have been back to Butlins as a holidaymaker to experience the other side of life.
Wed Aug 12 14:49:49 2009
Stephen Germany
Have fond childhood memories of "Peely-weely". Hunt The Pirate was a favourite highlight of our annual fortnighter, so too endless round-trips on the cable-car. A few weeks after the big fire, I remember searching for pennies on the site of the amusements. Extremely charred, I did manage to pocket quite a few I remember. I adored the meals at Butlins, and am still extremely proud of my annual badges and my Beaver Club certificates. I got one for managing to fit 27 different items in a matchbox! Wonderful memories.
Fri Aug 7 11:50:21 2009
Melanie Stone, Wythenshawe Manchester
I was born on the 16 July 1979 at Butlin's holiday camp, Pwllheli, in a first aid room. My mum and dad wanted a last holiday before I came along in the September, but I arrived early. Mum says I just wanted the sun. The Manchester newspaper said: 'Oh baby what a holiday!
Tue Aug 4 13:43:19 2009
Russell Rees-Davies from Bagillt
I was appointed Redcoat House Chairman at Butlin's Pwllheli in 1963. I chaired meetings every morning with the campers' committees. In addition to hosting, organising games, my main task was to compile any complaints and immediately deal with them and gather suggestions from campers to improve and advance facilities at the camp. My daily reports were personally perused by Sir Billy Butlin himself. Great times. I have been involved in part-time entertainment ever since.
Mon Aug 3 09:41:20 2009
Brian Waller Barnsley South Yorkshire
visited in 1957 a party of six three boys and three girls 18 years of age.The one thing that sticks in my mind is the out side pool dived in one side straight out the other shouting to the other it's luvverly and got some abuse when they dived in and surfaced - it was freezing to put it mildly.But all in all we had a great time.
Mon Jul 27 09:51:27 2009
Jimmy and Eileen Boyd from Liverpool
I worked at Butlin's as a chalet maid 1966-1967 and met my partner who worked as photogragher. We have been married now for 40 years. We took our chidren on holiday there, they had a great time and recently took our grandkids they loved it. We will be going back this year for a weekend break.
Thu Jul 23 11:02:49 2009
Wendy Gardner from Somerset
My mother and I had several holidays at Pwllheli in the 1950s, and it was wonderful. I have such happy memories of horse riding every morning, olde tyme dancing, great shows with big stars, plays in the the repertory theatre and fun every minute of the day. I cried every time we left! Unfortunately I parted with my badges many years ago, but still have lots of photos which I could share.
Wed Jul 22 09:46:48 2009
Danny Murphy, Manchester
I worked at Pwllheli Butlins the summer season of 1989. I can honestly say it was the best four months of my entire life. I was there with my mate Gabe, or Angel as he was known. I worked on the fairground and the chairlift. All that summer, until the unfortunate tornado that hit the camp, it was like being in Spain - stunning weather every day, so it was party time every night after work. At only 21 the girls were a plenty. There was an accident that summer. A guy who worked with me on the fair was working on the Boomerang rollercoaster when he slipped and fell into the path of the oncoming carriages. I was the first person to arrive to the scene which still haunts me 20 years on. I am very saddened that there was never a permanent memorial for him at the camp or a mention on the Butlins website under the obituaries.
Tue Jul 21 09:03:09 2009
Suzie Bishop from Bournemouth
The best years of my life were as a Redcoat at Pwllheli from 1970 to 1973. Radio Butlin was my home for the summers and the winters were spent at Butlins Ocean Hotel at Saltdean, Brighton. Gordon Hayes with his 'Mrs Wimmleworsalls quick growing plant', seemed to follow me around and we were always fortunate to have Rocky Mason as our ents manager. Dave Collwell and Dave Spicer were deputy Ents Managers, Billy Scouse the camp comic. As well as Radio Butlin, I was on ballroom duties and always dressed in Welsh costume in the Spanish Bar for the baby crying service during the late night cabaret. Can anyone remember The Barron Knights - great, Hughie Green - not so great, the wonderful Bob Monkhouse and not forgetting Diana Dors who would sneek into Radio Butlin at 7.15 the following morning for coffee before I woke the campers and they started wandering around. There was the fantastic Dave Lee Sound who were in the Blinking Owl, the great John Gee, the Aristcats and so many more. How I cried when the fire destroyed the Gaity complex.
Mon Jul 13 12:06:30 2009
Mark Shone, Chester
My mum and dad took me to Pwllheli three times in the 1980s as I was growing up. They were the best times ever, I loved everything about the place; the expectation of which colour 'camp' you were in, the vast family clubs and dining halls, the funfair, the amusements, the outdoor swimming pool. I've also stayed at Minehead and Barry Island, but Pwllheli had a magic all of its own.
Regrettably, I never returned to Butlins after 1989 - the year the red camp was devastated by one of those freak tornados we get in the UK from time to time. We were there the week it struck and were ! one of the 3,000 devastated campers who got sent home after only two days of our holiday. The roof of our chalet block was ripped off and engineers had to retrieve our belongings while we sheltered in the family club on the other side of the camp. Terribly exciting at the time, but really lucky no one was killed.Last year, I returned to Pwllheli to stay a few days at the site, which is now a Haven caravan park. I was so, so sad to see how little of the former Butlins is still there - just one or two buildings converted into new facilities. I'd love to experience the holidays I had as a kid again, but I guess times change and people's expectations from a holiday are totally different now.
Fri Jul 10 11:29:38 2009
Gary Boyd, Heywood Manchester
I worked at Butlins seasons 83,84,85 and again in 87. I worked on the chairlift, mainly at the beach. it was so much fun a young lad of 18 away from home have the time of my life. the staff were brilliant and the guest's new how to let their down. when it was to windy or wet to run the cable cars, all the lads had to go and work on the fairground, on various rides. the Mexican hat, the paratrooper,ladybirds, vintage cars,bi planes dogems and even the boating lake. Room and board was paid for by the company. wages was yours to spend how you liked, it was not a lot, but%! 20it was enough. i got myself a part time job in the evening collecting glasses in the Regency bar of the French bar. Also selling sea food around the various venues. It was a special time and i made lots of freinds who i am still in contact to this day.
Fri Jul 10 09:45:09 2009
Gareth Jones, Coventry
My Dad was a vicar and Billy Butlin used to offer holidays to the clergy at reduced prices. We went to Butlin's Pwllheli many times during the 1950s and there are several things that stick in the mind including the fact that it used to take us a full day's travel to get there from Coventry. We often had chicken for lunch - this was in a time when chicken was a luxury meat! There was the knobbly knees competition which my Dad would enter and the Miss Butlin's swimsuit competition - which my Mum didn't enter. There was a club for kids with activities such as dressing up as pirates and roaming around the headland looking for treasure. The closing song at the theatre sticks in my mind too:
Good night campers, don't sleep in your braces,
Good night Campers, soak your teeth in Jeyses,
Drown your sorrows and bring the bottles back tomorrow,
Good night campers, good night.
Tue Jun 9 10:26:39 2009
Dave Sansome, Wolverhampton
It's really super to give memories to this Pwllheli slot. Phillip, I worked with Pwllheli Peggy. I also did a recording for BBC Wales at the rock gardens. Met Tommy Trinder. That ages me. Got thrown into the boating lake with my reds on. Also we were involved in the beating on the dance floor - was it 1966? See Butlins memories excellent site. One of the 1966 reds passed away last week, my friend Jim Lord.
Fri Jun 5 10:39:32 2009
Hefin Underwood, Pwllheli
I also used to work the luggage boy shift on a Saturday with 3 or 4 of my childhood mates, catch the early morning train. Before season would start we would go and see Mr Wilson who used to live up 60 steps at Abererch Rd who would give us our luggage boy cards, we would work hard in the morning to get as much of the outgoing campers then a lull before the new arrivals. We would then wait for the train home at Penychain, feet dangling on the platform edge counting our tips. Between £10-£20 on a good day back in those days was very welcome.
Thu May 28 12:08:59 2009
Phyll Wood from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Worked in Windsor Dining Room as a waitress in 1967 (between school and college). Also did extra hours as bar waitress for terribly low wages. Mixed memories - life challenging!
Fri May 15 14:10:53 2009
Barry Lord, Worthen Nr. Shrewsbury.
I remember going to Butlins with my parents, brother and sister in 1973. I would have been seven at the time and remember, as our car (a Triumph Herald) stopped at the security barrier, asking the security man if he was Billy Butlin.I seem to remember there was a baby sitting service, with a woman going from chalet to chalet, listening out for children. There was also the Butlins Beaver Club to take children off their parents' hands by day.I remember the swimming pool with its underwater windows, which you could look through from the adjacent cafe.We were there before the Gaiety fire - I remember seeing an afternoon show in the theatre there. As I remember, there was also an Empire Theatre. I remember the train and the chairlift to the beach. My mother and I walked to the beach on account of her being afraid of heights, while my dad, my brother and sister went on the chairlift.When I returned to school the following week I was really upset and remember crying because my holiday hadn't lasted long enough!
Wed May 6 09:47:32 2009
Sam Barnes from Shrewsbury
My family and I went to Butlins every year for our summer holidays from the early 1970s. It was always exciting wondering which of the many holiday camps we would visit that year, would it be Barry, Minehead or Pwllheli? My parents would always keep it a surprise right up until the very day our holiday began. I have just returned from Pwllheli (which is now Haven) and I felt a real sadness at just how much the camp has changed. I had my children look at me in wonder as I explained to them, that on arrival we were given our own key, a few pence to get a cola or to put in the slots and told to be back in time for tea. I was six years old at the time! Something my children will never be allowed to do. It was the freedom I remember the most and feeling like a grown up getting to choose which fair ride I would go on, or which movie I would like to see. That's what I loved best about Butlins. Once you arrived you didn't have to hear your parents say no as everything was free you could do anything you wanted when you wanted. Now they were the good old days!
Tue May 5 10:02:46 2009
Rob Owen
As a schoolboy luggage porter at Butlins' there were certain 'advantages' to be had in that you could (unofficially) enjoy the free rides in the fairground when there was a lull in the day, which was usually around Saturday lunchtime. Most departing campers would have left and the new arrivals were still on their way to the camp. One time, my friend and I hid our trucks and white jackets in some bushes and went for a fairground ride on the revolving chairs. When we were flying around, the operator must have gone for his lunch as we kept on going round and round for what seemed like an age. When he eventually came back, the operator stopped the ride and we got off feeling very dizzy indeed. We ended up 'sleeping the experience off' for a couple of hours as we felt quite ill (or at least I did). We didn't do it again. Lesson learned!
Tue Apr 14 09:48:15 2009
Sue Rushton, Manchester
I too worked at Pwllheli in 1967, as a coffee bar assistant in the Continental Lounge and, Bob Wilson, I remember you well. We all went to work at Minehead at the end of the season.
Tue Apr 14 09:36:50 2009
Dave Sansome from Wolverhampton
I was a Redcoat at Pwllheli 1966-1967 with Ron Stanway and crew. Started as a swimmer and ended up as children's theatre red. It was the Empire Theatre then, packed with children every night.
Mon Mar 30 09:49:14 2009
Mary Barma nee Richards Barmouth Gwynedd North Wal
i came to work at Butlins Pwllheli in the summer of 1960 in the mirror coffee bar. and met up with 3 of my home town friends Barbara,Doreen, and iris(where are you now)it was the season which inc entertainers tarbuck , Rory & hurricanes (with ringo) ect wonderful time. great memories. never went back home to live, married a local lad. thanks Mr Bulin
Fri Mar 27 09:15:07 2009
John (no 27) now Croydon
Dolwyn - Knew you family very well, you lived opposite. I also, with friends, used to walk to Butlins along Abererch Beach, then sneak in via South Camp to enjoy the boating lake with "Captain" in charge. He knew we were local but still allowed us on the boats. I also quite frequently was on the beach there with Bill McGill and his Uncle George Ferris who ran the sea trips on his boat "Janet". That was until I worked at the airfield at Broomhall (included in a previous comment). After Butlins I'm almost certain that you were into the family famous No8 business. Glad to know you are still around and remembering the good times. There is also a comment on this site from Teddy Ravenhill (now in Thailand) who also did the luggage lugging at the camp.
Wed Mar 25 13:49:23 2009
Dolwyn Barma, Manchester
I was born in Pwllheli and as a boy used to walk to Butlins and sneak in. It was like being in heaven - swimming pool inside and outside. On a saturday I had a job on the trucks meeting campers from the train. At the age 17 I met the girl of my dreams. We got married and we are still together today. I thank Sir Billy Butlin. He gave me plenty of fun.
Tue Mar 24 12:33:14 2009
Chris Booth
I was at Pwllheli as a redcoat in the seventies, and then a season at Filey when Rocky Mason (ents manager) moved. I remember Sacha and the lifeguards well. I had some great memories there. Did a double act in the redcoat show with Kathy (who is now my wife). Remember Peter Simon, Terry, Mike etc.
Mon Mar 16 09:53:20 2009
Neil Cowie, Coatbridge, Glasgow
Went to Pwllheli every year from 1970-1984 as my mum married the kitchen manager and worked in the reception. Every year I would be taken down with with my gran who I lived with in Scotland and spent the whole of the Scottish school holidays on camp. My early years were spent at their first house up the lane at Broom Hall and we used to get the old green and white croeso bus to camp in the morning and my stepfather or mother would bring us home in the evening. One of my most vivid memories was being woken up (I believe in 1974) to look at the sky which was a bright red due to a devastating fire which engulfed the camp and caused millions of pounds of damage. In 1978 my parents moved to a farmhouse on the camp across from the mini train station. How cool was this? I was only ten. The fun I had with my brother John Hughes was unbelievable - swimming ,2 choices of pool, roller skating, canoeing, the fair rides, snooker, donkeys, the zoo, amusement arcades, fishing, the chairlift and, of course, the friends from all over Britain. As I got older I was given a job, varying from being a trolley boy meeting the holidaymakers coming off the buses and ferrying their luggage to reception and then onto the accmomodation, £15-£20 in tips every Saturday. A year as a binman and, the very best job at 14, working on the boating pond outside the Windsor dining hall. Unfortunately I spent more time in the water much to the amusement of my workmates. My stepfather decided I didn't have sea legs and had me moved onto the fairground rides. Butlins has left me with so many happy memories from eating in the Windsor, glorious weather the town market and the Welsh language, along with many others.
Mon Jan 12 10:27:14 2009
Paul Graham. Skegness
Visit the Butlins Memories website (see link right) to find old photos, postcards and information regarding all the camps.
Thu Jan 8 14:21:17 2009
John Hopkins from Goostrey, Cheshire
Can anyone help with the pre-history of the Pwllheli holiday camp, please? Was it not a wartime shore base for the Royal Navy? If so, what was its ship name and what was its activity, e.g., basic training, or whatever? I am in contact with the son (aged about 80) of one of its naval personnel.
Thu Jan 8 09:28:57 2009
Roy Harrison, Sydney
I was the camp coach driver at Pwllheli 1971. I drove from the outdoor pool over the bridge to the indoor pool back and forth all day, picking up campers along the way. My cossie was my uniform so I had a dip each circuit at the outdoor pool till I had passengers. I later became a bluecoat and returned in 1972 as a bluecoat. One night at the cabaret bar Diana Dors was the star act and she failed to show. We found her 'out of it' in her chalet.
Mon Jan 5 09:26:23 2009
Derek Hughes, Birmingham
To George Sinclair, ref Gideons Few, Dave Alderson is still in York, Mick Fallon lives in Germany, Mike Mathews in Canada and me, having toured the world with Detroit band MC5, now live in Birmingham.
Tue Dec 30 09:23:50 2008
george sinclair, gateshead tyne and wear
Derek Hughes, what happened to the rest of the band?
Thu Dec 11 09:50:18 2008
Sacha Van Weenen from Enfield
So many memories, i was there teaching swimming 72 73 74 in no particular order. The awful fire, my lifeguards,Eddy,Glyn Jo,Jeff Spanish bar late night caberat Rita Rocky Mason Linda, sweet bird of youth where have though flown.
Mon Nov 24 10:35:11 2008
Phillip Jones from Cambridge
Many of my childhood holidays, and some of my adolescent ones, were spent at Butlins in Pwllheli. I remeber the 'Wild Mouse', the boating lake, the chair lift, the indoor pool with the glass panels and the milk shake bar, the Gaiety Arcade, and being a Beaver and watching films such as Ivanhoe in the evenings. I can still smell the chalets, which had a sweetness to them, and the bathroom blocks, tip toeing down the chalet lines at night. I remember a redcoat called Pwllheli Peggy - I have her autograph, something I treasured as a child.
Massive dining rooms - would we be first or second sitting? The Tannoy, the sheer joy of every day. I would be almost beside myself with excitement for weeks before we went. Very happy memories indeed of great childhood moments and the rowdy beer-keller, when I was older. Sigh...
Mon Sep 8 10:10:56 2008
eric nelson, lancs
i was at pwllheli in 1967 from stockport. we traveled by single decker north western bus company probably a leyland tiger - it took us about 7 hours it went all the way around the world! the records i remember at butlins were 'are you going to san fransisco' and 'up up and away'.
Mon Sep 8 10:10:10 2008
Diane from Stockport
I remember going to Butlins Pwllheli for just 1 week in 1976 and the highlight of my holiday was meeting someone who worked on the fair - Clive Richard Joseph Feast - one of those love at first sight things that brings happy memories when you think back!!
Mon Sep 1 10:26:19 2008
Gwyneth Bruce, Australia
How I remember going to Butlins for the day with my dad in the mid 1960s - organised by the Dolgarrog Aluminium factory as a day out for its workers & families. What an eye-opener it was - I'd never seen anything like it before. Had an amazing day going on all the rides and the highlight was a rowboat on the lake. Sorry I can't view the video as it's only available in the UK - why is that BBC?
Web team: Sorry, rights agreements mean that BBC TV coverage online is only available to users in the UK. As the same technology is now used for publishing archive clips like this one, you won't be able to see that either.
Fri Aug 15 10:22:21 2008
Trev John, Australia
From Southport originally. Mum & Dad took my brother and I every year during the seventies, always in Yellow camp and we always got chalet G103.What a magical place for a youngster! Highlights for me, the Big Giant on entering the Fairground, The Donkey Derby, The Chair Lifts, The Golden Grill, Beaver Club/913, French Bar, Space Hopper Race, the road over the railway line which took you to the other side of the camp, the place seemed huge!Memories to last a life time, thanks Mum & Dad and Butlins!
Tue Aug 5 09:20:44 2008
Neil Spruce, Liverpool
I went to Butlins Pwllheli with my parents in 1973 & 1976, still remember chalet number H109. Won loads of games on stage. I thought it was great and didn't want to come home, was in 913s club as I was too old for Beavers. When did Butlins sell Pwllheli? Not been since 1976 so I expect it has changed, still remember the steam loco in the camp and giant statue.
Thu Jul 24 09:41:02 2008
R. Owen
Anyone remember Harry Ayers who played double bass in Val Merrell's orchestra at the Gaiety Theatre, Pwllheli, 1966 season? He lodged with us all season as my mum did B+B most summers when I was a teenager. He got us passes to see the week-end shows when 'big names' appeared. I recall seeing Freddy(Mr Parrot-Face)Davis and the Morcambe-Frazer Harmonica Gang and all the supporting acts. All my school-mates also had Saturday jobs as Luggage Boys at the Camp. It was good money despite there being NO Butlins wage! Most campers were very good tippers but bought a mountain of stuff with them - just in case! (pun i! ntended).
Tue Jul 15 10:25:29 2008
iona from pwllheli
does anyone remember the elephant that was at butlins pwllheli? mayby you have photos, my dad use to work with the elephant and then on the bobby horses?
Mon Jul 14 10:28:40 2008
Derek Hughes, Birmingham
I was bass player for Gideons Few. I remember Chet (see below) staying with us, we took pity on him. We played 1966-67 at Pwllheli, such great days never to be forgotten. I remember Sgt Pepper being released. We heard that someone on camp had a copy and we went round to this guy's chalet only to find about 30 people outside. Amazing. I also remember we did a spot on a BBC Wales topical show which was aired on Sundays. I'm sure Wilfred Pickles hosted it.
Wed Jul 2 09:55:36 2008
Robert Wilson aka bobby 1967 1972
I worked windzor dining hall from waiter to stores manager i loved the life the lovely girls from all over the world will never 4get the memories are embedded like a virus
Fri May 2 10:04:06 2008
Colette Aspinall (Nee: Brown)
I was Chief Hostess at Butlins Pwllheli in 1963/4. (My name was Colette Brown then.) I was presented to the Queen and Prince Phillip by Billy Butlin during their visit to the camp in August 1963. There were so many photos taken on that day but I never saw any. However a few years ago I was sent a photo of me meeting the Queen, from the Butlins photo archives. I would be interested to know if anyone has any photos of Redcoats meeting the Queen in 1963
Thu Apr 10 10:04:20 2008
george chet sinclair, northeast
I started working as a chef at pwllheli but lost my job after i was beaten up in the dance hall. at the time i was friendly with the guys from the band Gideons Few, and i ended up staying with them for the rest of the season, we ended up living in cricceth till the end of the season. for me it was the best of times and i often think back to that time.
Mon Mar 10 11:40:01 2008
Eddie Hartley from Manchester
I went with my wife and children every year to Butlin's Pwllheli, for about 20 years, had many happy times, and was there when Ruth Madoc was there doing "Songs of Praise". We were there so often the staff in the shops knew us well. We especially liked the area outside the camp, Cricieth being a favourite place of ours even today. And the big Wednesday market was a good day out for us in Pwllheli, dining at our favourite cafe in the main street. I still have a lot of Butlin badges in mint condition and a lot of happy memories.
Mon Jan 14 09:30:07 2008
Ted Ravenhill Taiwan
Lived in Pwllheli and I spent school vacations at Butlins - first as a luggage boy, then working in the Mirror Coffee Bar, then my university vacations as a Red Coat at Butlins, and continued as Red Coat during my first few years of teaching. Super days and super times - simple fun, genuine friends established for a lifetime. Holidays were very special times and summer then seemed so much warmer and cleaner. Regular stars were Jimmy Tarbuck, Mike & Bernie Winters, and Roy Castle, and de Vere Dancers. Richest experience was the non-stop laughter - 24 hours each day. Happy days linger through to this moment - golden memories - to live with for ever.
Wed Jan 9 09:44:10 2008
Pete Roberts, Wrexham
I remember going to Butlins in 1967 with my mum, gran and my cousin John who was 12 at the time, I was 10, we were allowed to go off on our own for the day, we went straight onto the rowing boats where we spotted 2 girls aged about 10 and 12 (our age) who had dropped an oar in the water and needed help, so we pulled them ashore. To our surprise they asked us if we'd like to keep them company for the day as they were on holiday all week, we had the best day imaginable, the fair, zoo, games room etc and a milk shake and chat with 2 great kids who were out for a super day out as we were. I think their names were Yvonne and Gill and they moaned about the soup in the restaurant. You should've seen my mums face when she spotted us arm in arm walking by the outdoor pool, and boy did she tease us both on the way home.
Thu Nov 1 09:50:11 2007
Jo Bowles from Llandudno (living in Benllech when
I worked in the 'French Bar' in 1985 from April to September. I lived in accommodation by the fun fair which isn't there anymore. There was a mini train and chair lift too. I remember it being fun, but hard work and made a lot of friends, some I still see.It seems funny when I come back to see all the changes and it's hard to get my bearings, apart from crossing the bridge at the end of my shift to go to my small room. It was an experience, thanks Butlins!
Fri Aug 17 13:36:20 2007
Marian Williams, Southport
Every year without fail we would go on our Sunday school trip from Blaenau Ffestiniog (Capel Bowyth) to Butlins for the day in the 60s. I nearly drowned in the indoor swimming pool, followed my dad into the deep end, at the tender age of round five, watched the people through the glass window on my way down. I was picked up with the big hooks they had on the end of long sticks, hooked through the ribbons in my pigtails. I'm still not a good swimmer to this day, but I can drown perfectly!
Fri Aug 3 12:36:10 2007
Susan Harris , Insch, Aberdeenshire
Sunday school trips galore. I attended All Saints Church Sunday school in Deganwy in the mid sixties till 1973 and most years we would go to Butlins many a time. I bought my first single there, 45 pence, it was Metal Guru by T Rex, still have it somewhere. The food was okay but the rides were fab.
Thu Aug 2 09:34:41 2007
Chris Sayle, Colwyn Bay
Oh happy days - we looked forward to June all year round for our trip to Butlins from when I was one till 14. We went religiously every year and as the coach drew nearer and we saw the chairlift I would start screaming with total excitement. 'Good mornin, good mornin, let's smile the whole day through' would be the song on the tannoy at stupid o'clock in the morning and my did we smile all day. The Blinkin Owl bar with all mirrors and picture of famous stars. The boating lake, the Princess Rose train, the stables, the zoo, oh I could go on for days about the best days of my life with my family there.
Thu Aug 2 09:34:16 2007
Tommy Davies, Ynyswen, Treorchy
I worked as a blue coat at Butlin's Pwllheli back in 1952 -53. Had a great time, tried to become a red coat but there were no posts going. That job to me was the greatest. I have also got the badges plus the staff badge after all this time.
Wed Aug 1 16:51:43 2007
Barbara Jones, Cellan, Lampeter
I remember spending a week at Butlin's Pwllheli back in 1966 when relatives took me along with their children. I'd never been to such a place. As a 13-yr-old it was amazing. I can remember as if it were yesterday, roller skating to the sound of the Stones singing 'Paint it Black'. Going to the swimming pool was a novelty, I'd never been to one before, we usually went to Aberaeron or to the river Teifi. The children's shows were great, plenty of fun and laughter. We had loads of fun at the amusement park, but thinking back I know most of those rides would have been condemned. We used to hear the tannoy every morning waking everyone up to tell us to go for breakfast, which as far as I remember was OK. I remember huge dining rooms with everyone sitting down and eating. There was so much to do, and for someone from the country it was like wonderland. I've still got my Butlin's 1966 badge to prove that I went - now a collector's item.
Tue Jul 31 09:54:10 2007
