BUTLINS SKEGNESS 1973 1974

CAMPERS' CORNER - The KINSEY FAMILY

Dear Alan, I had the great fortune to stumble on your Redcoats Reunited website today. I absolutely love it. When I saw your photo I recognised you instantly, including Basil Brush - although you won't remember me out of the hundreds of children you would have entertained over your time at Butlins. I was one of three children who, in the early 70s, was regularly taken to Butlins Skegness for a week by my mum and dad.

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys a

Lincoln Dining Room
SKEGNESS 1973 or 1974

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys 2

LEFT: That's my mum, Ann, with my sister Cathy.

ABOVE. My other sister, Jan, with my dad, Peter.

BELOW: Me, Paul, with Jan.

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys 1

SKEGNESS LINCOLN DINING ROOM 1973 or 1974
By the time I'd eaten my soup, then the roast pork dinner, with 10 slices of bread,
washed down with two pots of tea, I nearly missed the show at the children's theatre!!

PAUL KINSEY - My Memories of Butlins Skegness

We always stayed in chalet SD3 and I seem to recall eating in the Lincoln dining hall? - especially some very thick, green pea soup! As Skegness Butlins was a child's paradise to me, I was distraught every time we had to leave for home in Liverpool, having had such a great time. Your website is a goldmine of memories of features from the camp and of times gone by (my mother has now passed away sadly - although dad is still going strong). I remember all of the places in your photos and many of the personalities and features of the camp from that time, particularly...

Irish's 'Nuts, Whole Hazel Nuts' (I think it was Irish).

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys 5

Paddy & Irish as they were (but Irish and Paddy as in this photo.)
Irish would always let people know she was entering a venue
by shouting at the top of her voice:
'Nuts - who-ole hazel nuts,'
to which all the campers would respond: 'Hooh.'
[For anyone not from that time, this was the jingle
from the Cadbury's hazelnut chocolate bar TV advert.]

The Merry-Mixer and Wild Mouse at the fairground (is my memory playing tricks?)

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys 6

The Merry-Mixer was certainly there (left corner)
and, I am assured, so was the Wild Mouse. [AJM]

1970s wrestling shows (bizarre - with old ladies clobbering these showmen with their handbags!)

Radio Butlin waking us up in the morning with Sleepy Shores and Cavatina (both of which take me back instantly).

Donkey Derby, Captain Blood and The Beavers.

My sister winning the children's fancy dress (cheese wrappers with a banner saying 'I'm cheesed off')

March of the Mods (my dad even bought the Joe Loss album!)

Ye Olde Pig and Whistle (didn't it have placards saying things like 'You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps'?). Princes Ballroom (alas!), Beachcomber, Monorail (seemed so advanced to a 9 year old in 1973) and the marvellous Gaiety Theatre which had huge knights on horseback (at least huge to a child); had great shows (did it play the Shadows before the shows started?); and neon lights with 'Baby crying at chalet...etc'

PIG & WHISTLE	PRINCES BALLROOM
BEACHCOMBER	GAIETY THEATRE

My mum winning the 'Miss She' competition, and getting a week's holiday at the Metropole. I'll try and get you a photo.


MISS SHE Ann Kinsey coming 3rd. in the 'Miss She.' (Skegness 1973)	MISS SHE Rare photo of the winners by the North Pool. Centre is Chief Redcoat Norman Cox (Skegness 1973)

MISS SHE
Ann Kinsey coming 2nd. in the 'Miss She.'
Centre is Queen's Bar Host and Compere Bobby St. John.
(Skegness 1973)

MISS SHE
Ann Kinsey is contestant No.3


MISS SHE Things are improving. Here Ann is 2nd. Left is Dot Daniels. Right is compere Paddy Jesson. Centre is table-tennis coach Paul Beck.	MISS SHE And finally Ann wins 'Miss She' and goes through to the Northern Area Final, in Blackpool.

PAUL BECK was a table tennis coach in the 1970s, under a coaching scheme sponsored by the News of The World (before it became a tabloid). I was lucky enough to win the 'Butlin Cup' weekly tournament, having been coached throughout the week by Paul, who I recall was very supportive. I googled 'Paul Beck table tennis' and came up with this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcUqyUjvHlw - which is allegedly of Paul playing the famous Denis Neale earlier this year. I have a feeling it might be the same Paul Beck. [AJM: Yes it is. I checked this Youtube link in February 2018, and it was still working.] Funnily enough, I also seem to recall Denis playing all-comers in an exhibition match at Skegness with a frying pan and winning virtually every point!


MISS SHE Ann Kinsey coming 3rd. in the 'Miss She.' Left is Ents. Manager Alan Ridgway, doing a spot of compering."	MISS SHE Ann Kinsey at the Metropole Hotel, Blackpool.

Shane's chalet had a sign which said 'Happiness is pi***ng in the sink.' I remember this as he took care of me one day whilst mum and dad were doing something - he even took me to one of the snooker competitions.

Butlins Skegness 1973 74 At Redcoats Reunited Kinseys 19

I very much remember Shane Norwood, Nat King and Annie (I think I had a crush on her at the time). Both Shane and Nat became very good friends with our family. I adored Shane. In fact they both visited us at separate times at our house in Liverpool (Shane in the 70s) and Nat later.


Left: Shane Norwood (Skegness 1974)	Nat King - Skegness Taken 1976, but there from 73	Right: Annie Thomas (Skegness 1974)

We all grew very close to Shane, but sadly lost touch with the passage of time. Have you had any contact from them? I would love to know what they are doing now if, God willing, they're still around, or if it's possible to contact them.

I do recall the postcards with pictures of you and Shane (wasn't there also a tea-tray?).
[AJM: Yes! and a biscuit tin, and a calendar]


'A.J' Marriot postcard, taken 1973, but still sold in the 80s.	Shane Norwood postcard. Taken 1972 or 73.


WATNEY'S SINGING WAITER competition My dad, Peter Kinsey, is 3 from left. [Is that Mick Simpson 2 from left? 2 from right is Dot Daniels] Which year and venue is this? It looks like 'Les Shannon' written on drum	WATNEY'S SINGING WAITER competition Or should that be 'Singing Waitresses?' Pig & Whistle - Skegness.

Would be great to hear from you.

All the very best,

Paul Kinsey

(September 2011. Now aged nearly 47 - married with two children).