Were you ever a Butlins Redcoat? Well, you were in exalted company!
Sir Cliff Richard, Des O'Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck all took at turn at being Butlin's entertainers during their careers.
Now, 66 years after they were first introduced, one former redcoat is hoping to bring together hundreds of Butlins workers at a reunion at the Grand Hotel, in Scarborough - which used to be one of the company's biggest venues.
In its heyday, the chance to be a glamorous granny, a bonny baby or even winner of the knobbly knees contest brought millions of holidaymakers flocking to the renowned Butlins resorts.
Humble origins
There was also the chance of stardom in the Butlin's talent contest. Did you know that Hollywood darling Catherine Zeta Jones, pictured left, took her first step on the springboard to stardom by winning a junior talent competition in Bognor Regis?
From its humble origins in a Skegness turnip field, Sir Billy Butlin's cheap and cheerful offer of good, wholesome holiday fun grew into nothing short of a phenomenon. And despite being the butt of a thousand jokes, a glance back over the list of names to have worn the famous Butlins entertainers' red jacket reads like a who's who of the national and international entertainment business.
Chrissie Grimston of Northallerton, who first wore the traditional Butlins jacket in Blackpool in 1978, is appealing for past entertainers to get in touch for an event that will celebrate the best traditions of the company.
'I have got people from Eastbourne and Exmouth, as well as Filey and Scarborough. I even have one man from Bosnia who has said he'll come after hearing about it on British Forces Radio,' she said.
Cabaret show
'I'm still friendly with a lot of people who work at Butlins and this started when a few friends got together a few years ago. We all said it would be nice to get more together and we didn't even advertise to start with, it just happened through word of mouth.'
Details of the reunion programme have yet to be finalised, but it will include a cabaret show and there are plans for a special guest speaker. The event starts on Friday, April 3 and will go on for either two or three nights.
If you are a former redcoat and would like to know more
Do you have memories of a Butlins holiday? Drop me a line to
Our picture shows Butlins Managing Director Tony Marshall who went 'back to the floor' for a Bank Holiday weekend as a Redcoat in Minehead for a BBC TV programme. His first job was to help welcome the 8,000 arriving guests. Find out more about
drop me a line or contact Chrissie on (01609) 773684.
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