BUTLINS OCEAN HOTEL

SALTDEAN, BRIGHTON

FRANKIE SPEAKING - Part 2

by Frankie Bull

I was delighted when I was offered work at the Ocean Hotel, Saltdean, Brighton for the 64-65 winter season. I was told it was unusual for a first-year Red' to be offered winter work, so I was particularly chuffed.

Butlins Brighton 1964 at Redcoats Reunited Frankie 1 guests

OCEAN HOTEL - Winter 1964-65
Posing with some of that week's guests are:
Left: Behind Maggie Ayres is Bill Alison. Front Centre: Frankie Bull,
Second Row: Mike Onions, Paul, Babs Palmer.

The Ocean was a tremendous learning curve for me and I quickly settled in to the routine. Vince and Pam Dimmano were my first managers there. I met the brilliant Martin Tiffen, who was perhaps the best compere I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. (Mike Onions was also damn good.)

Butlins Brighton 1964 at Redcoats Reunited Frankie 1

Regency Bar
That's me, Frankie Bull, sounding just like Frank Sinatra.
Well that's what it sounded like to me!!
Jimmy Noon on Piano - Peter Millington on drums. Winter 1964

We had a couple of temporary managers (Al Harris might have been one. I can't remember) and then Peter and Jo Millington came along. Peter was a very talented musician - great pianist, trombonist, and no slouch on the drums either.

Butlins Brighton 1964 at Redcoats Reunited Frankie 3 drag

OCEAN HOTEL
Posing with the winner of 'Miss She' are:
Linda Noon, Babs Morrison, Maggie, me (in drag), Robin Prescott, girl ?? Bill

I had the pleasure, too, of working alongside the great Jimmy Noon and his lovely wife, Lynda Noon. I was to catch up with them both many years later (1988 and 2000) when they were both still at the Ocean.

Butlins Brighton 1964 at Redcoats Reunited Frankie 2

Staff Party, Ocean Hotel , Saltdean 1965
[They must have been short-staffed!!]


And my fantastic times at Butlins weren't over yet as, come the summer of 1965, I was back at Pwllheli. Follow me there on the link below:
.
Frankie Bull



See also:
.
BUTLINS PWLLHELI 1964 - Frankie Bull

BUTLINS PWLLHELI 1965 - Frankie Bull

BUTLINS PWLLHELI 1966 - Frankie Bull


We are sincerely grateful to the photographers who took these pictures,

and preserved them as windows to the past,
and to FRANKIE BULL and BABS MORRISON for sharing them.


Redcoats Reunited homepage