Greetings, Sunny Buddies,
I am in a holiday mood today as I think about going away next Friday:)
Here in Edinburgh's first two weeks in July are called 'The Fair Fortnight'. In days of old, this was a time for the tradespeople to close up and head to the coast for a break. But it was also a time to meet other tradespeople, see what they were doing, and barter. It all began when Bishop Jocelin of Glasgow was granted the right to hold an annual eight-day fair in July by William the Lion in the 1190s. It then became a custom for each region in Scotland to have its own Fair Fortnight.
So each year, my family would pack their bags and head for the seaside. I have such happy memories of the anticipation of the holiday. That delicious excitement when you see the sea and the beach for the first time. Of leaping out of the bus with my siblings, throwing off our shoes and running to the sea's edge. There were squeals of delight as we ran in and out of the waves.
These two weeks were a bumper time for the local boarding houses and tourist venues. On the shoreline, there was the Fun Fair that always seemed to magically arrive each year. There were Big Dippers, Walzers, Dodgems and an array of stalls to test your skills. The Wall of Death was particularly scary.
I created the photo collage above in black and white as it captures the essence of this time in the 1950s. You can see how this holiday would be an escape from the routine and toil of post-war daily life. There was still rationing during this time.
In the 1960s, there was a move away from this traditional seaside vacation. The ‘boarding house holiday’ was too rigid for post-war needs. You were often expected to go out for the day, and there could also be curfews. The landlady was often considered notoriously bossy!
This situation opened the door for a new holiday type to emerge—the holiday camp. The most popular one was Butlins. As I looked for photos of Butlins holiday camps, I could appreciate the desire to move on from the austerity of the 1950s. The contrast between the two collages is quite marked. The black and white images capture the tradition and orthodoxy that had been there for decades. The one below in the 1960s has a riot of colour and a sense of freedom.
These family-friendly facilities offered chalet accommodation, activities, meals and live entertainment. The was a Fun Fair, amusements as well as sporting activities, such as table tennis, and snooker. These were all included in the price. Competitions included the famous Knobbly Knees, Bonny Babies, and Glamorous Grandmothers contests. There were colossal catering halls where you turned up for your meals. As we became older, this was the only time Mum and Dad saw us before bedtime. The chalets were luxurious for the time. They had running water, electric lighting and a veranda where campers could soak up the ‘sun’. No toilets, though! There were toilet and shower blocks instead.
I have very happy memories of my Butlin family holidays. Whilst I can see that it was pretty formulaic now as a holiday, many aspects of my experiences stayed with me for life. For example, I learned to swim and roller skate there. As a teenager, I went to the Bridge Club daily, where the elderly ladies and gents kindly taught me how to play. I entered talent competitions, which gave me confidence in my singing and performing abilities. this experience paved the way for my professional singing career in the 1970s.
I can see how good it was for my parents, too. Dad, with the quiet lounge and swimming lengths in the big pool every morning. Mum, with her love of bingo and not having to cook a meal or entertain the kids.
A happy sigh as I just sit here with these family memories.
Questions for Today
Oh my, I could wax lyrical about these happy times. But, for now, here are my questions for you this week.
Are you planning for a holiday soon?
Do you have a happy place where you used to go for family holidays?
What memories come to you as you think about childhood holidays?
Are there any observations you would make about your holidays over the years that are a social commentary?
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
Dearest Ann,
How absolutely lovely to remember such holidays!! Many years we would go up into the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, and hike and swim in mountain lakes. My favorite is the beach! Sometimes we’d go to enjoy Half Moon Bay, the cold pacific waters. Many times it was foggy and grey, but a treat, none the less. Thank you for your delightful descriptions of your family memories! Have a magnificent week ahead!! 🙏🏼♥️
Dear Ann, thank you once again for all the memories that your writing brings forward for me. In the 1950's we would always have a family holiday. Scarborough was our usual place to visit as it was about as far as our old car could travel without breaking down! When we did venture further afield Dad would hire a car. Other memories are about working on a Fun Fair at a place called Crimdon, where I started working in the 'roll a penny' stall and was eventually promoted to being a Bingo Caller - 'Eyes down look in, any straight line or four corners to win. etc!! I notice you mention William the Lion, well interestingly it turns out that he is ancestor of mine 30 generations Back https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Lion