MARTIN'S
MEMORIES
.
Every season, during the last seventy years, thousands of children have left Butlins vowing - 'One day, I'll be a Redcoat.' Happily, for many of them, the dream became a reality. Once such lucky camper is the fourth in our series on REDCOAT PROFILES. MARTIN
KELLEHER Nick duly went back to Skeggy for the 1980 summer season and, after a week or so, he rang and said they were in need of a Resident DJ/Entertainer to join him, and was I up to it? Well! not one for saying 'no' at the time, I packed a suitcase and my box of records, and said farewell to my girlfriend Claire, promising, 'I'll be back' (I gave that line to Arnie) and off I went.
I`d been to Skegg, Minehead, and Pwllheli for of our summer holidays, as a child, and still savoured the memories Being from a one-parent family (I lost our mum as a small child) my dad felt it was the ideal place for us. He'd book us into a chalet with full-board and, on arriving, he'd collect the keys and place them on some string around our necks and tell us what time to meet up for our meals. If we weren't hungry, then we'd still go to the dining room and tell him where we'd be. Our first pocket money was spent on buying an autograph book. We'd have contests, with the friends that we made within the first few hours of arrival, as to who could get the most autographs from the Redcoats. We scouted the camp in search of our heroes and, with a slight pull on their jackets, we normally got there attention - together with a smile. We'd made a friend for life .
Those memories of the Reds of the sixties and seventies left their mark and, on arriving now as a potential Redcoat myself, I was in a place that was full of smiling faces and I felt 'This is it.' I was to meet the Entertainments Manager, Mr Brigden. 'RED' (colour of his hair) as he was later to be known, but we always addressed him as 'Mr. Brigden.' He called all the Redcoats in every morning for a pep-talk to start the day off, and he'd always finish off his meeting and inspection with these words 'Remember! a Butlin's Redcoat is never properly dressed without a smile.' He was a fantastic leader and motivator for all us Redcoats. Our
day started at 8am
breakfast with the guests, and it was
all go
from then on in. I think we went by the Entertainments Office before
nine,
to get our schedule for the day. Normally we were split up so that the
guests
would find us spread through the week at different venues, even though
we
all had our 'resident locations' - mine being the Disco.
Our schedule didn't leave much time for lazing around. By the time it was six in the evening we'd been and changed into our evening wear, which consisted of our frilly shirts and black bow-ties. It was now that we were running on adrenalin. Our evenings were full of fun and laughter, and the occasional flirt in the shadows, but we hadn't to favour any individuals. No! that wasn't the way for a Butlin's Redcoat to behave (I never managed that one so well.) Everyone treated us like stars. We were looked upon as idols by the youngsters, and their parents treated us with respect. By the time it was 11pm we'd be finished for the day - a bit cream-crackered, but that adrenalin works wonders.
Our working week would be from Tuesday
to Sunday, and on Monday it
was
payday. If I remember correctly my pay-packet had £27 in it.
Fantastic!!
A few of us would get together and head off into town to 'The Mardi
Gras'
club on the sea front, and party and dance till late, but we'd always
get
back for our breakfast and the next day's escapades.
I can remember halfway
through the season, I'd
been burning the candle
at both ends and was taken aside and given a talking to, and asked if I
really
wanted to be a Redcoat. I was devastated and pulled my act together for
the
remaining time. Today I look back thinking how lucky I was to be a part
of
that fantastic history.
I left at the end of the summer season of 1980 with so many great memories, and friends that I've never forgotten. I carried on my career travelling to tour Norway as an 'International Disc Jockey' and, like many others, found my better-half and settled down after my roller-coaster ride came to a halt in 1990.
Together with my
wife Hanne (now deceased) we moved to
her home
town
on the Lofoten Islands off the north coast of Norway (a group of
Islands
just above the arctic circle). We took over the running of the family
shop
and petrol station, and introduced a new way of customer service that
was
soon noticed by others. Our petrol station was in the Shell group. In
the
'90s they had evaluation control for their 460 stations around the
country,
and twice we scored highest of all for giving the best customer
service.
This we achieved, I believe, because of what I'd learnt from my days at
Butlins
- which was how to appreciate each and every customer for who they are;
always
give them a genuine smile; look them in their eyes as a friend; and
always
make them feel welcome. 'Thank
you! Butlins'
Keep Smiling Martin
Martin's last words on his time as a Redcoat at Butlins Skegness were: I can safely say
that
every day came with smiles
and just the odd few tears, but mum and dad,
or one of the fantastic team of Redcoats, were always near by. What a time it was - from early in the morning to late at night we Reds were driven by adrenalin, and the smiles we received from every holidaymaker that we met. Martin |