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Main Entrance |
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As you entered a Butlin's camp,
you stepped into a magical world of fun and games,
of brightly painted umbrellas, star - shaped
luminaries, coloured lights and all the daily
routines of a well organised holiday...
Even for the
grown-ups, it was like a second childhood with
everything to hand, an in-all tariff for 3 meals a
day and lots of activities for the children to
enjoy.
Photo: On guard at
the front gate © 1965 Light Straw Archives.
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EXIT | Main Entrance |
Another Time |
Outdoor Heated Pool |
Eastern National | |
Step into a Dream
'Step Into A Dream' sung by pop group White Plains, originated as the
jingle used for a Butlin's advert in the 1970s. The words 'Butlin
Land' were replaced by 'Freedom Land'.
It really was a dream adventure with children's characters at every
turn; animals, large smiley faces, the famous Butlin Beaver Club, it was
just like visiting toytown. As you began your holiday, first call was
Reception, a very large foyer packed full of people with cases and bags.
Lots of hustle and bustle as queues formed to pay your deposit and
collect your chalet keys. Oh, and the number of keys hanging on the
wooden boards behind the counter, hundreds of them, all jingling and
jangling, wonderful times!
On Guard
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This hut was used as a checkpoint
for holidaymakers to let them in/out of the Camp
with valid passes.
Photo: On guard at
the front gate © 1965 Light Straw Archives.
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Butlin's was always alive with
activity. If it wasn't a Children's Train, then a
motorised trailer moving supplies from one end of
the camp to the other would be negotiating the roads
and passageways between the 'warehouse like' green -
roofed buildings.
Postcard: A
Children's Train.
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Earlier Days |
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The 1930s Camp was continually
evolving in an attempt to keep up with current
trends in the holiday scene...
Postcard: Butlin's
Luxury Holiday Camp.
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Outdoor Heated Pool |
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The L-shaped heated outdoor pool
and fountain was the main attraction at the front of
the Camp.
Postcard: Outdoor
Heated Pool and Butlin's
Luxury Holiday Camp.
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Eastern National
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This is the type of coach which
would have carried holidaymakers to Butlin's in the
1960s.
Photo: Eastern
National coach (Wikipedia).
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Butlin's Clacton.
Scan: Sticky label
for suitcases.
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Design, images and text compiled by ©
Light-Straw. Page last updated 18th Jan
2016.
Checked May 2021.
All logos and trade marks are the property of their respective owners
and are used on the Light Straw site(s) for review only. Students and
researchers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries as
to the accuracy of the information contained therein. |