From the Kinolibrary Archive Film collections. To order the clip clean and high res or to find out more visit www.kinolibrary.... Clip ref GR109 1970s Butlins family holiday
I am American but somehow found this due to standup comedy about Butlins. At any rate, I feel as one being born in the early 80s that life has gone downhill in so many ways. On purpose, it seems. To me it seems the 1970s was the freest time in human history , at least as far as freedom of movement, speech and an affordable life, and not being spied upon all the time.
Brilliant video but makes me feel sad that it's not like that anymore. People enjoying themselves and interacting instead of just sat looking down at their phones. Great days I was there in the 70's
No, cos we were made to go outside and play for most of the day, bedrooms were for sleeping not dossing and we had cross country runs in PE lessons, parents were usually at home to make us proper dinners so no snacking, and a 'big shop' was usually a full to the brim basket rather than a big trolly full..we were all mostly skinny in the 70s...great times wish I was back there..
I worked at Aye one year and Filey the next in the 1970's I started as a dishwasher at Aye in Scotland {it was not by hand, it was a huge machine} and a waiter. In Filey { Yorkshire } my future wife worked with me and I started Filey as a waiter but ended up managing the skating rink. I was SO happy, they where the best days of my life and I wouldn't have missed them for the world. It was really hard work but we were young and could do anything, we had so much energy.
Jane O'keeffe .And me went in 72 75 76 wish I could go in a time machine and go back to my late teens summertime romances and carefree days great times😭
I love to look at old photos of my holidays in Skegness and Minehead 1975 and 1976. I haven’t for many years though. This is making me nostalgic and a little tearful
I am 61 and have fond memories of butlins in the 60s and 70s. This was a place where children could be away from the parents safely. Meet other people of the same age and play on the rides. I remember the monorail and roller skating and the outdoor swimming pool that only children were brave enough to swim in.
The best bit of all was the ability to safely go around without your parents and no need for any money as everything was included. Really enjoyed the times we had here in the 70's. Best childhood holidays of all.
I agree. All the achievements thrown away. Health and Safety too means no boating lakes, no chairlifts, no trains and no monorails. Butlins is still good today but would be better with those attractions still.
@@neilhilton35 Erm, how does health and safety ban boating lakes, monorails, trains or chairlifts? All those things still exist in the UK and Europe - there is a boating lake in my local park.
fab film. I'm going to watch it again when I get home, we did Butlins every year in the 70s, I might be on it lol. Butlins was great when we were kids. hand your key in to get roller skates and stuff lol, couldn't do that now days 👍😆
Butlins was a magical place. The colours, the architecture of the buildings and all the facilities. Without Butlins holidays would have been dull and boring. This home cine film footage is excellent. Thanks for uploading 😁👍👌
I worked on the camp at Filey in 1974/75 and through the winter as I was on the maintenance team with Richard, Gareth, Jimmy, Pete and Nick & Rick though the winter months. I met the mother of my two children there in 1975. I have so many memories of my time there and will never forget the people I met. Walter, who was out boss lived in Filey and was a great character. On the video is a sort clip showing the staff accommodation. I shared a chalet with Pete from Scotland during my first season. Aahhhh happy memories on the camp, in the Beachcomber bar, sneaking into the kitchens for some food during the campers meal times. I loved it and wish I stayed longer. Nigel from Letchworth.
You didn't happen to know a bloke called Eddie who worked in the kitchens in 1975, he only had the 1 season there in 1975, i dont know his last name unfortunately, my wife's friend is trying to locate him as uts her biological dad, she was 15 months when he left
Were you there the year that it caught fire? I was holidaying with the family at Brid when my mother told us that Filey Butlins had been on fire through the night. I'd always wanted to go to Butlins, and I thought my chance had gone when I heard that. I didn't know there were other camps at the time. Many years later, I managed to go to the ones at Skegness and Pwllheli.
@@wishmastermaker When I lived in Redditch mid 70s there was a lad probably 18 - mid 20s (I was only 10ish) who worked at Filey, Skeg and Minehead as a chef each summer. Us young ones just knew him as chef Eddie and during the winter months he lived with his parents about 5 doors down from us and worked locally, one year in the kitchen at my school then he would disappear to Butlins for the summer. He was a Big Birmingham city fan and on a Saturday morning when we were having a kickabout by the garages he would join in while he waited for his mates to go to the game. No idea what year he worked at each place but he was at Skeg in 1977 as he got us a discount and we saw him on camp a few times that week we were there. As for his surname I would have to ask my parents if they can remember.
Superb piece of history - this brought back so many childhood memories of happy holidays spent at Butlins in Skegness in the late 60's. As children, it all felt so magical - even the use of bright coloured paint was a change from our "grey" industrial colours at home.
I often think about my holidays at butlins, when my family were still alive, and so many of us in one family. I'm glad I saw the 70s britain when I did. Politeness, families, pig and whistle pub, redcoats, cold swimming pools, and coke and crisps😊. If u see a red coat now, they're scruffy and look bored. Billy butlin would turn in his grave if he saw what his empire back then has now become!!😢😢😢
I have never done the kind of dancing seen on here, I don't think I have ever wanted to! So why the hell did I grin all the way through the dancing bits and felt as though I wanted to have been there and done it too? I am 70 next month so maybe that has something to do with it, not sure. I have never been to any Butlins in my life, we were a poor family and couldn't afford it and 7 kids was a lot for my poor lovely Mum to look after as my old man never helped in any way. But this is on my bucket list. Hope I'm around long enough to make it. Better start saving the pennny's now! A lovely gem of a vid this and thanks for posting it!
It would have been cine film, not video, so yes the resolution would have been very good...it's just the chemical fading over time that would have degraded.
Happy memories of Skeggy! Thank you for posting this movie it bought back so may varied thoughts of friends, fellow staff and happy campers!! Regards. Tony Jones ex Skeggy swim coach and redcoat.
We were on holiday at Ayr in 1974 at Butlins (we are from Hartlepool) and some great tunes frequently played over the tannoys in the fairground, with "See My Baby Jive" by Wizzard, "Poppa Joe" by The Sweet. "Whiskey In The Jar" by Thin Lizzy, "Summerlove Sensation" by The Bay City Rollers. I was 11 at the time and just wished the holiday didn't end. Beautiful fun times.
yes brings back fond memories of the good old days and remember the dining room for breakfast the waiters came with a rack of full english breakfasts would love to turn back the clock
guys, where was the butlins, that use to have the bar, that changed seasons through the day, tropical storms etc. it was awesome, i think it was minhead, i was about 8 at the time
And it's changed slightly, then a magical place where hard working families could have an amazing, action packed holiday for very little money, now its just a commercial machine, don't think sir Billy would approve of what it's become
I will never ever understand what anyone gets out of that dancing! Why do it? What's it in aid of? It's like they're being forced at gun point to do silly movements! Anyone?
You are of a different time and mindset, this was an age when men and women would dance in harmony rather than sit apart in the same room on their smart phones.
Yes, it was Skeggie. Monorail started outside the Shopping Centre and went to the fair. First turn was by the swimming pool, along by the boating lake and duck pond then turned to the station near the fair. You can see the Big Mouse as the monorail turns. Then it leaves the fair station and eventually comes past the dining halls, the roller skating rink on the right and the putting Green, before turning by the ??? Grill back to the Shopping centre. I worked in accounts as a cashier (accounts clerk) in 1981, and a wages clerk, in 1982. My first year, 1980, I was a bar man in the Empress Ballroom. I was 17, my mum knew the management because my family had been going for two weeks every year since the 1950s. The General Manager, Ray Gosling, and Accounts Manager, Doug Parker, told me yo just say I was 18, and not to let anyone know. On my induction, was a very beautiful girl. I can’t remember her name or where she was going to work. She asked me to go swimming with her, and I had to admit I couldn’t swim. Unlike Terry, I didn’t lose my bird (people of a certain age will know that reference!) However, it was when she asked me how old I was, and I said “18”. She was 25 and she decided I was too young for her. (I was actually 17, 18 in Nov 1980). After that incident, when asked how old I was by a girl, I retorted “how old do you think I am?” As they always assumed I was at least 18, I was then onto a winner! In the dining hall, the two waiters, one with curly hair and a heavy moustache, and the other one with a typical 70s haircut, I actually knew. First as a guest, then when I was working there. The guy with the fair hair, I’m almost certain his name was Robin…the other Batman….kidding. I had an amazing time there as a kid growing up, then as a teenager, working there made of Teflon. I used to skateboard around the camp, and no security ever said anything to me. I was a “famous” skater, and when one security guard, “Skip” God bless him, tried to do something, Mr. Sims, head of security asked him “do you know who he is and who he knows?” Lol… such happy times surrounded by happy people, honest hard working people who were incredibly kind to each other. This film had me wishing for those times again.
