The Summer of '69

The summer of '69 was a very exciting one for me.  I left school - I passed my exams and I started working in an office as an invoice typist meaning I had some money of my own.  However, the most exciting thing was that I went to Butlin's in Filey, Yorkshire.  

I went with my Mam (in the middle), Dad (taking the photo) and school friend G (on the right).  I had been once when I was 13 and I had a wonderful time.  However, being older and being there with my friend was totally different from the time before.  

One thing was that we were allowed a bit more freedom although that did not stop either my Mam or Dad turning up at places where we said we were going just to check up that we were really where we said we were going to be (very embarrassing).  We loved that everything was free - well we thought it was but it was of course included in the in the price of the holiday.  We went swimming, to the cinema, the disco, the beach, the fairground etc.  

One of the best things I remember was that we went to a talent competition and there was a lad there (I think his name was Hugh) and he sang 'Thank You For The Days' by the Kinks.  My friend and I loved his version and supported him through the heats, semi-final and then the final.  We were very disappointed when he came second.

All too soon, the holiday was over and it was back to work (no 6 weeks summer holiday for me).  In my mind I have it that the sun shone every day (although I'm not sure it did).  Although the holiday was decades ago I have really happy memories of it.