Our family went 2 years running in 1973 and 1974, I remember the steps down to the beach and getting the sky lift back to the other side where our chalet was!, remember getting my 1st ever knicker blocker glory in the ice cream parlour and thinking I was so special
When I was 15 in 1989 we stayed at primrose valley I was so bored and wandered off .. found myself at a chain link fence with security signs.. so like you do I wandered in 😂 I found myself wandering around an abandoned holiday park!! Chalets still had furniture with beds made & curtains blowing in the breeze there was an old shop with walls ice cream signs and coke signs (I remember very well as it was hot & I was thirsty) some areas had already been started to be demolished like the theatre as it’s roof was coming in I still remember the theatre had massive light fixtures and there were garlands all around! I had no idea it was an old butlins or that my mum had taken me there in the early 70s! If ONLY we had the technology back then! I could have taken pics but obviously cameras were expensive for a poor 15yr old 😂 but I still have my memories 👍❤️
Brilliant story but such a shame this pleice of amazing history was just removed like that wish id been too butlins. I love the style and look of the inside of the buildings i love old things it would been great if u too had phtos.
This is a great story. If only we could turn back time. I do think this place could have been preserved and turned into a Butlin’s Beamish type of museum of how the holiday camp used to be.
@@bunkerboy02 On a much smaller scale I remember reading somewhere one of the still existant Butlins camps has a couple of Chalets preserved in their original state, Skegness I think it is?
A wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane! I went there in 1969 with a group of friends just after I had done my GCEs. I have a photo of one pal and I (he is now sadly dead) sitting at our table in the main dining hall. It evokes such wonderful memories of starting to holiday without my parents - a 'right of passage' into young adulthood, a fabulous week chasing anything and everything that wore a skirt! Many thanks 'Adventure Me' and I look forward to the next films.
stumbled across this video while searching for something else. wow i never knew there was a butlins at Filey, i would of been eight years old when it closed. My parents never really bothered with holiday camps when i was that age but as ive grown older ive stayed at primrose valley in a caravan several times and have seen the lake and roads many visits but i did not know that about the tennis courts and ofcourse that road leads to the beach (which brings back is own memories) Im somewhat local to the area too, about an hours drive away perhaps one day i shall go back and revisit the areas in this video, thank you for an amazing tour.
Went there in 1971.............. Chalets had large painted plywood ends on them and a sign in your room telling you not to prepare your own food. Tannoys called out when breakfast started (early) and continued during the day. I liked to ride on the 'Cyclone' and back then the spinning 4 car arrangements on the ends of each of the 4 booms were driven by shafts and cogs where todays versons use friction drive via car tyres. The ride made a lot of peculiar grinding noises and a park worker told my dad that they didn't bother with maintainance much and would just scoop grease from where there was some and stick it in other spots rather than go get the proper greasing gear. My dad asked him if Butlins ran the cable chairs to the beach and he laughed and said 'Not likly - that is run by a different company'. I remember the wild mouse which my parents would not let me go on and some sort of (penguin?) club for kids where you got a badge and ran around a bit and that seemed to basically be it. I enjoyed it but it was definatly in decline when we were there.
Reminds me of the Holiday Camp sequence in Ken Russell's TOMMY. That was the first time I (being an American raised on Disneyland) had heard of these places. Very well done and rather touching.
your videos are absolutely fantastic....what a professional approach you take to them....i felt chills run up my spine when you fade the old photos in to the present day sights....you are so bang on accurate with them.more of your astounding work please.
We had a holiday at Primrose Valley as kids (my dad rented a static caravan from one of his workmates) I remember it was when Charles & Diana got married (it was on tv). My dad told us he was the manager of the bar back in the 1960s (he was a young bloke at the time)
There is something incredibly sad and tragic about alot of rotting old holiday camps in the UK. It feels like the fun days have all decayed. Nostalgic colourful memories of family's having fun for little expense seem like a different lifetime now. How could we let things decay so badly. Same goes for lack of indoor leisure centres. Sad.
Nostalgia is not what it used to be ! Great video, I have a ton of photos of the place, that I took around summer 1982 , not having a clue that it was only going to last one more season. Much earlier, my family stayed at Butlins, Skegness when it was more in the 'Swing of things' I was fascinated by the Monorail there ! and would love to see a video just about it's technology etc. Keep up the good work, cheers !
I may have seen or commented on this before, I forget, but I have to comment again because it's really sad seeing this as it is now. I don't recall it, but as a young kid, toddler or whatever I was, we went here on holiday in the early 60s. I have a few photo's that were taken by photographers at the camp, as they used to do then, of me on little rides and swings etc with my mum and other members of my family. We only went here the once though, we went to Skegness Butlins later.
Trevor Guy was a crook of the first order. My only memory of Butlins Filey was as a child , they had to stop the mini Big Dipper to let me off as I was feeling sick. 😂
Love the old photos faded in and out. Gives you a real sense of how the holiday camp used to look. Love things like that! Thanks for filming and sharing!
Absolutely it’s the wee bit more effort you appreciate. Would love him to do that place in Scarborough above the outside swimming pool Mr Marvels above the open air theatre. I walked through it a few years back and some of the stuff was still there but very little. One of the Volcanos from the Dinosaur area I visited while a kid. When your Seven you think what was probably poor to an adult amazing 😁
I was a summer temp cashier at Filey in 1963 and 1964 during my student holidays. On Saturday changeover day, when the arriving campers paid the balance of their holiday, the takings amounted to over £100,000 - £1.9 million today, with inflation. All banknotes had to be bundled, wrapped and with the Queen's head facing the same way. We worked late on Saturday nights! My secondary job was relief limelight operator in the theatre - Eddie Calvert "The Man With the Golden Trumpet" topping the bill. By 1983 I was an airline captain, flying Scottish passengers on their foreign holidays. The Corfu flight took us on an airway segment between Newcastle and Amsterdam, just off the east coast. I used to look down at the bright lights of Butlin's Filey of an evening, smile fondly and think "Still going!" The following year there were no bright lights and of course with it the realisation that my industry had played a major part in its downfall, which made me sad.
You use of old B&W photos fading in and out with "today" shots is top notch. It really helps with the story, almost like being there. Now to watch part 2 and 3......
I've already seen a few videos of this site, so was expecting more of the same. I was wrong. Well done Darren. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
My goodness me. All these people at Butlins. Once upon a time I was one of them. What a journey through time this is. So nostalgic. Thank you so much. You have a gift Darren. That’s for sure. Well done.
I went to this camp in 1973 with three friends and had a great time. I really like the way you superimpose the old with the present photos and videos.I remember entering a singing contest but came nowhere and the four of us made a 45 rpm record of us singing on top of old Smokey. Great times with friends who are sadly gone now.
I hold very special fond memories of Butlins at Filey. This video brings tears to my eyes knowing it was never preserved 😪 we came from 79-82 from Scotland. I wish it was still there for my now children to enjoy too ❤️ I'd love to come back to see & touch what remains.
Had 3 wo derful holidays at Butlins in the 70s, people dont have those kind of holidays anymore, they were unforgetable, happy days always something to do somewhere to go, kids were active all day, slept all night, happy kids ment happy parents. Thank you for the memories, such a shame they destroyed everything..?
Went to Butlins Filey many, many times as a day visitor - most of them sneakily for free as my dad was a refrigeration engineer and he used to repair all the Walls and Lyons Maid ice cream fridges on site. If he had a job to do there I'd go with him in the van, and then head into the funfair on the rides while he was working. I also have a fair chunk of Butlins attached to my house. When they started to demolish the site, Trevor Guy set up an area where you could go and buy reclaimed building materials and other items from around the camp. My dad built a workshop so we have bits of timber, doors, window frames and wall boarding all from some part of Butlins Filey. Your video is bringing back lots of memories.
They have done the same to the old Butlins Pwllheli site in North Wales. I have many fond childhood memories of that Butlins camp which is now sadly unrecognisable.
My family were there in the final week of operation at Filey Butlins. 9am sharp on the last saturday morning, a knock on the door of our apartment. They were taking the TV's away from all the apartments. I remember being absolutely terrified on the cable car that went from the centre of the camp down to the beach when it stopped midway. Right up against one of the pylons over some chalets. It was good old Yorkshire weather that summer. Dull and very windy. Not nice for someone scared of heights as i was. Great video Darren. Excellent!!!
@@bunkerboy02 Maybe they were going straight back to the rental company! I went to this camp with my family in 1975, if memory serves me right. I remember riding on the miniature railway with my late Mum but did not realise the site had its own railway station. (We arrived by car so maybe that was the reason).
@@martinporter4980 I think you’re spot on with the rental company idea. They will have been rented back then for sure and that’s where they will have headed after being collected.
An interesting story, assumedly as the final guests departed that Saturday the place was made secure, and most of the reusable equipment like the TVs you mention was subsequently removed?
My grandad was one of the original drivers of the mini railway, after retiring as driver of the flying Scotsman , we had some wonderful holidays at filey butlins in the 60s 🤗☀️🍹
This video is brilliant my friend. I am 60 now and visiting Butlins at Filey with mum and dad are some of the happiest most memorable times of my childhood. I have recently been looking at a lot of Butlins memories vids and they bring tears to my eyes especially the Filey ones. I have somewhere a great book called "Butlin's Filey, thanks for the memories" and have desperately been trying to find it. Sorry to the Author for not remembering your name. I am from Lincolnshire and remember having the shock of my life back in the eighties when I happened to go for a day out to the Filey area with my girlfriend at the time and witnessed the camp being bulldozed, it was an horrific site. Anyway looking forward to your other vids. Thank you so much!
It’s sad. Never went, I was born in 91 but I’ve been to primrose valley and the bay. Never knew it was an old butlins. All the happy memories of millions held within that land, it’s quite moving
I was an AA Patrolman back in the days when it was open, it was so busy on the Saturday morning when all the guests were trying to get their cars started after being parked up for a week, it was crazy, you could go on the camp after the Saturday breakfast and not come off again until the middle of the afternoon, just going from one car to another to get them started.
@MIND No - But if I remember correctly you had to get a ticket, or apply to leave the camp whilst you were there. I know when I was there with my parents our car stood, like Steve says for the entire week (however i think Dad did go and run the engine during our stay). Thanks for sharing Steve - I do recall it was always a hasty exit to meet the checkout time!
That’s one of the best ‘before and now’ videos I’ve seen on here in a long time. Superbly edited and the fade in and out was a nice touch. As a child in the 70s, our family went to Butlins Pwllheli in North Wales for many years. It closed a long time ago and is now a Haven Holiday/caravan park. I went back there couple of years ago and there is still a lot you can see of the old park amongst the new. Then mini railway platforms are still there in the undergrowth and some of the original Butlins roads and pathways are still there. I’d love you to go there and do a video….keep up the good work mate 👍👍
Thanks mate. That's my intention. I went to Pwllheli many times as a kid so remember it quite well. The before and now thing I do quite a lot in most of my videos.
@@AdventureMe I came across your channel by total accident and am slowly working my way through all your videos. I’ve sent the link to a couple of friends and they’ve now subscribed because some of them brought back a lot of memories so well done and we can’t wait to see the others….👏
When you're reading your script your presentation is impeccable. Perfect speed and perfect intonation. Such a joy to listen to in age when fast is meant to be exciting.
I keep returning to this Brilliant Production!!!!!!!!!!! What fantastic memories, the fading Photos Present to past are just, well, Terrific indeed.and Your passion for Butlin's Filey comes over very clearly.Beautifuly done.
I used to go to primrose valley in the 90s with my parents, the main entrance used to be the touring caravan entrance and I think it was one of the entrances for butlins originally, behind the tennis courts (which may have been the old butlins ones) was a raised up area with a small set of steps up to it, and behind there was a fence surrounding the almost flattened butlins site, I remember going and looking through and could make out the old blue fountain up in the distance, would have loved to have climbed through and gone for a nosey but I didn't dare unfortunately (I was only 10 in fairness) but like you say there was so much more left back then, ace video Darren, can't wait to see the next ones, loving all the local history you've done round east/North yorks so far!!
Hi Darren, great video on Butlins Filey pt 1, it has been released after a "rival" of yours did a video couple of weeks back which was just as entertaining, if you've not seen Andrews work check him out North Yorkshire Wanderer, you've both got a keen eye on music and careful editing, perhaps a joint video in pipeline? It's a great shame that such a facility was shut down, I never visited but love Filey, Scarbro' and Whitby. I've watched quite a few of your videos over the last few days, I'm local to the low Moor branch line which you recently covered and indeed the Leeds New Line videos too, I've been looking for proper photos of it and you scratched my itch or vice versa! Fascinated to see the Heckmondwike viaduct near Ponderosa. That particular subject is rather prescient as being a Kirklees resident, I have been sent some consultation information on improvements to the a638 from Chain bar to Dewsbury incorporating new Bus stations. The traffic wouldn't be a problem if the branch lines had been mothballed, rather than part developed, which would save a fortune and save the environment if they'd been "reactivated" with perhaps space for a path for pedestrians too as there's plenty of space yet to be utilised. Indeed as you alluded about the "Ringway" in Heckmondwike its under threat of development with the result of more traffic on our congested roads clogging up whatever these improvements achieve! . Thank you also for showing our Bus Depot @ "hecky" off too, as again as you showed the original ticket office is adjacent to our depot, which if we had an integrated public service policy would be ideal for our buses too with no loss of revenues! I'm fascinated by the infrastructure on all of these lines, eg the Harry Mann Dam access bridge which is amazing, even more so that its still there!, the initial construction costs never mind the permanent upkeep of these "abutments"! 😆😂, by BR, Sustrans and now DFT, which mean they don't cost nowt to keep open as greenways, or today just random open bridges, walls etc making me sceptical that they might as well be Railway lines again, as a footnote to that the Ringways 9 bridges are a record holder if I'm not mistaken, never mind the Train strength bridge on the Low Moor Branch spanning both carriageways of the M62 at Chain bar. That said I do use the Greenway, it is nice, but it makes me wonder how clean our urban air (& fluctuating weather) would be like with a train/tram on it! Speaking of waste I was fascinated about Milner Field and the colossal waste of a stately home. This is a bit choking especially as Saltaire's status as a living museum (& I think World Heritage site or similar) is reknowned, as I recall a school trip there. Wouldn't it have been great to see the Workers Houses AND the boss' House! I found your bit about the Home Guard using it as a practice house ridiculous. Anyway, essay over, great work, don't watch terrestrial telly anymore! Best wishes, and Happy Yorkshire Day. Ben 🚍🚌🇬🇧🙏
Your video brings back many memories, when my Father, brought us all here. I especially love the way you superimpose old images over today's images. It was so sad to see the Demise of Butlins. It had so many memories for me. Your images brought a lump in my throat and it was a honour to see that there are still a few sections of the old Butlins left. We visited Primrose Valley a few years ago and also noticed they are chipping away at what is left of the old Filey Butlins, for their own expansion. Thankyou for taking the time to make the video, it was lovely to look back at what was a lovely experience.
We went in there in May 1982 as a family, I was 17 remember that because the Falkland's War was on, didn't know that a year later it would be closed for good 😔 From what I can remember it was a nice camp still, but holidays like that were starting to die off. But I still have the memories of happy holidays in Butlins from when way back in the 70's as a little kid 😃
I used to go here often in the 70s 80s I used to enter the talent competition where I won it 4 years in a row, I was like a mini celebrity there as I kept winning free holidays there. My mam went in for the glamourous granny contest when she came 2nd, we used to eat in the Beach Coma restaurant where we'd eat cockles and mulses, it had a big pond inside and nets up holding plastic marine life, lobsters and crabs etc. I used to sit and put my hands in the water, and the staff used to say there was sharks and dolphins in there lol....we had so amazing times as a family there. Unfortunately it's just not the same now, that sense of family fun is gone. Back then kids could go off and play with no worries, now we can't let our kids out of sight...the breakdown of society over the years can be blamed on the government, it's too expensive to run this kind of operation now, no one's interested in spending time with other families anymore, because there's no trust in the community anymore, and that's thanks to the government that's sold us out to the middle East years ago, and slowly our heritage has been squeezed out, people say it's times move on etc, but it's not....it's all part of the taking of British values, culture out of the UK replacing It with everything non British, slowly but surely one by one, our heritage and sense of fun has been overtaken by multiculturalism, pc bullshit, and corrupt government s owned by the middle East.....
What a shame it had to close. I went there in 1972 with 3 mates, we had just left school and I remember one day when we were playing football an announcement over the Tannoy saying that Leeds United's Paul Reaney would be coming to visit and take part in some games. I was over the moon as I am a Leeds fan and I ended up playing along side him in the blistering hot sun, I got his autograph and photos of the game. A great holiday I'll never forget.
I love these kinds of videos, they're so fascinating, you've researched well, pinpointing all the exact locations, looking forward to the next one, just subbed, many thanks for sharing.👍
Interesting...worked as a challet maid around 1981. A group of us students sneaked off site through a hole in the fence and walked the sea front to scarborough and went to a night club. A group called 'spiz oil' or 'spiz energy' - always changed their name - were playing; had a hit with 'where's Captin Kirk'...
Sad in a way, I do admit somethings are gone for the better and modernized but I can't help feel somethings like is shouldn't have. Just because something is old don't mean it should be taken away for the sake of modernization and globalization, it's part of our culture and it's disappearing faster than ever. As I get older I appreciate the places I had, my own city has changed some for the better and some not.
Holidayed at Butlins Filey in 1947. I was 9. Had my first taste of rockmelon when served as desert. Spent many happy hours in the paddling pool. 1947 was a very hot summer. Had a blue badge for years. Still remember chalet number F14
I worked at Filey in the summer of 1970 as a student on summer vacation having worked at Butlins Pwllheli the year before. Dishwasher, Waiter, Barman, Gridlop. It was a great times with a whole bunch of people of a similar age together with the many seasoned Butlins workers. I well recall dancing away in the disco to '250624' (Chicago) and 'All right now' (Free) in my dishwasher overalls and wellies! Drove by about 16 years ago to witness the place disappearing fast. A really fascinating video, thanks for helping bring back some amazing memories.
I remember as a local of Clacton, going to Butlins as a young boy. I’ve seen Butlins back when it was a fully functioning camp, when it was a derelict shell, and then it’s complete eradication from its site. It is now a housing estate situated by sea. I don’t know if Filey found itself in the same predicament but Clactons woes were compounded by the alleged refusal of the local council to give the camp rate relief to the tune of £216000 for one year, in order to invest in the camp. With that the camp was subsequently closed resulting in the loss of around 60 full time and around 900 seasonal jobs. Butlins format for entertainment had remained roughly the same over the years, leaving it lagging behind due to package holidays and differing tastes. It is sad to the these titans of the great British holiday industry fall by the wayside. The question is though, would they be viable in today’s world?
Went to Filey in the 60s, 70's and 80's then Skegness and lastly Minehead in the 80's and 90's. So glad my kids got to experience Butlins when it was still something special. I was quite surprised at the feelings your video brought out of me.
Site as there was no security then, we even found redcoats in the staff chalets, it was unbelievable how it was left but very fond memories of the place. Rgds Simon.
Thank You, great video. I was there in 1969 as a present as I had passed my 11 plus exam. Remember some of it like the chair lift, But even then, it was changing , the tennis courts had gone as had the around the lake railway. Half of the the original chalets had been demolished to make way for self catering flats, we were in L22!!. However, still a great holiday, even though I was sick after too many rides on the free funfair!!
Yorkshire Day greetings. Fascinating video. Had a family holiday there in 1965. Unfortunately we had to return home mid week because my sister and I caught chickenpox. I still have the pin badges.
Love these videos...we been holidaying In Scarborough for over 20 yrs a d we stay at Reighton.....everytime i go down that road i say to my family the old butlins railway is behind them trees...and always say about butlins Filey... Keep them coming mate....great vids...
Great video. I've only been to Filey once & that was 20 years ago........& I'm still here. It's a great place to live. However I came from a very poor background & it was just far too expensive for my Father & Mother to pay for a holiday for the 4 of us. A week in a cheap B&B in Scarborough if we were lucky, spending most of the day on the beach....it's free. Is it too late to start a GoFundMe page?
Loved staying there 81/82, the snooker tables were fantastic but couldn’t get a game as I was too young.But if I hung around long enough the gents who were playing would give me the odd shot and were amazed at how ‘good’ I was. Didn’t have the heart to say it was a fluke 😄. The high board of the pool outdoor was a challenge, bloody high and the water was freezing so you broke the speed record to get the side.Thanks for posting this was great to reminisce and see the old place again. Looking forward to seeing other snippets from the past.take care and stay healthy.
Brilliant vintage documentary that took me right back to being 5 again travelling in car with my mum dad and Sister saying are we there yet all the way from edinburgh i remember seeing the flags swishing in the wind And just being so excited ahh memories those steps down to rock garden took me right back thanks again
Went in 1960s remember the train from Scarborough and I loved the chairlift to the beach. We had an upstairs chalet , think it had a bathroom.Shame it closed we went to several Butlins holiday camps and Filey was the best followed by Minehead..loved your film
I remember the posh snooty middle class kids at school going to France and Spain in their holidays in the seventies. Our family went to Butlins and boy did the posho's make fun of that. I wouldn't change it though.
Really enjoyed this! Have stayed at primrose valley a couple of times and had no idea butlins used to be there until recently. Brilliantly put together!
Great video & thanks for letting us look back !!! I feel sad thinking those memories have been squashed by bulldozers !!!! I was there in 1977 , we were down from Essex , it was a long trip in Hillman Minx , crossing the river Humber via ferry ? As no bridge there in 70 s , but we were all teenagers, skint , had no mobile phones back then , life was simpler , but far nicer quality!!! It has great nostalgic feel this video , but I guess we cannot hold on to the past forever , but if only we could eh ???
Lovely memories of Butlin's! My dad saved 50p pieces in the '70's all year to pay for our week there. Then l remember going to the big dance tournament with Freda Compton's Dance Academy when all the UK dance academies fought it out. It was a huge thing then and took the whole week! Great, great times. Memories of knobbly knees contest and search for a star before all these knock off TV programmes now thanks for reminding me of easier times 😊
I will never forget our family holiday in 1966. My mum had sadly passed away in summer 1965 leaving my dad, me, my brother and sister. Our first holiday away together since mum died was at Butlins ,Filey in summer 1966. This video brings back so many memories. I remember Charlie, the huge elephant, fair rides, theatres and the massive canteen where we ate our meals. Also, the holidaymakers cheering when an unfortunate waiter or waitress dropped a plate or 2 whilst serving a meal.!!! This wonderful video has brought back so many happy memories. Thank you so much! And guess what! This summer, my mum’s great grandchildren,grand children and son are holidaying at The Bay, Filey, previously unaware of the close historical connection with Butlins…We are so looking forward to it 😊
Great video, thank you. Plenty of room on RUclips for more of these type of films, I love them, especially of this quality, something sadly lacking in the stuff the so called 'professionals' put out! They don't have the passion or the commitment to do proper research. You do and it shows.
This is a remarkable and well thought out video. I stayed at the Haven caravan park in early Oct 23, £59 for 4 nights in one of the caravans adjacent to the modern houses. A really lovely site altogether. adjacent to the England Coast Path, which I now have documented from Bridlington to Bamburgh. So it was intriguing with some sadness to learn of its history. I had not heard of Billy's art deco house before not the plaque on the pub.
Really enjoyed this. I was actually searching for some videos showing Butlins Pwllheli back in the 80's and 90's. We used to take groups there when I worked for social services. This was a fascinating look back though. Now subscribed to watch more. Thankyou
My Nanna and grandad use to have a caravan at primrose valley in 2000 and we use to go through a old fence into the old site of butlins and you could see the flooring still from the old buildings. Sadly now it’s gone as primrose valley have built over that part.
Very well researched and presented video Brought back memories from the early 70s where as a child I remember a day out with a friend and going on the Mouse Rolleecoaster ride. Was wrecking my brains for ages where we had enjoyed this and so assume that as we had a caravan at Skpsea it would have been the Filey Butlins as it was fairly near. Also remember us going into a recording booth and making s record which were - am i right here? - dispensed from a machine but were in the shape of a floppy vinyl record. Thank you for making this engaging film.
Very sad to see what became of this fabulous sight. Thanks for the update on the sight. That pin your dad gave you was the highlight of the day. Thank you Darren for the tour. Cheers mate. 🏴👍🇺🇸
Wonderful video, you have taken me back to the early 1960's we went there for 2 /3 years used to love the open air pool & the cable cars down to the beach.
Loved this. Brought back lots of faded happy memories. Being from Bridlington my family came here often for the day in the 1970s. I used to live swimming in the outdoor pool here. My now deceased grandfather had a job here as a night watchman/ security guard at the gates on the main road to Scarborough. Look forward to the next instalment 👍
Went on holiday every year. To Butlins.sheffield works holiday. I was 5 or 6years old. My mother and father and brother John. Remember the boating lake. And train.I was a BUTLINS BEAVER. CLUB MEMBER. WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS.
Really liked the photo-shoppery, Darren. Especially, you at the 1945 opening night ball. Always sad to see places developed beyond imagination of what was there before. The entire lake could easily have remained, tennis courts updated and at least the rock garden and a concrete fountain as a tribute to the original site's use. Looking forward to seeing Billy Butlin's house.
Margaret Thstchers Britain.! I'm an old man now. I don't forget. She said, everything is for sake. Wether it is for the public or not. Everything went, all for making a few quid for the privileged elitites. We are left with memories of "Great Britain"! God help us!
My family used to have a caravan at Reighton Sands back in the 70s. I can remember taking the bus into Filey that called at both Primrose Valley and Butlins, but we never went in. I loved that stretch of coast and the huge beach stretching for miles.
Our family went 2 years running in 1973 and 1974, I remember the steps down to the beach and getting the sky lift back to the other side where our chalet was!, remember getting my 1st ever knicker blocker glory in the ice cream parlour and thinking I was so special
Another beautiful video. I love your enthusiasm and fascinating for Britain's past.
Thank you very much!
@@AdventureMe Thanks. I'm guessing you know about this? Holiday Camp from 1947 & filmed at Filey. ruclips.net/video/kWtRgJ6IlQM/видео.html
When I was 15 in 1989 we stayed at primrose valley I was so bored and wandered off .. found myself at a chain link fence with security signs.. so like you do I wandered in 😂 I found myself wandering around an abandoned holiday park!! Chalets still had furniture with beds made & curtains blowing in the breeze there was an old shop with walls ice cream signs and coke signs (I remember very well as it was hot & I was thirsty) some areas had already been started to be demolished like the theatre as it’s roof was coming in I still remember the theatre had massive light fixtures and there were garlands all around! I had no idea it was an old butlins or that my mum had taken me there in the early 70s! If ONLY we had the technology back then! I could have taken pics but obviously cameras were expensive for a poor 15yr old 😂 but I still have my memories 👍❤️
Yes. I really regret not doing this earlier. Much more to be found back then.
Brilliant story but such a shame this pleice of amazing history was just removed like that wish id been too butlins. I love the style and look of the inside of the buildings i love old things it would been great if u too had phtos.
This is a great story. If only we could turn back time. I do think this place could have been preserved and turned into a Butlin’s Beamish type of museum of how the holiday camp used to be.
😭 so sad....Butlins had real magic in the 70s. Tech has ruined it now, nothing is a surprise to children. Just memories now.
@@bunkerboy02 On a much smaller scale I remember reading somewhere one of the still existant Butlins camps has a couple of Chalets preserved in their original state, Skegness I think it is?
To sum up in one word my opinion of this video... FANTASTIC. Very immersive with the photo overlays. Well done..
Thanks mate. More to come
@@AdventureMe Excellent, look forward to them. I've subscribed so not to miss them, stay safe..
A wonderful nostalgic trip down memory lane! I went there in 1969 with a group of friends just after I had done my GCEs. I have a photo of one pal and I (he is now sadly dead) sitting at our table in the main dining hall. It evokes such wonderful memories of starting to holiday without my parents - a 'right of passage' into young adulthood, a fabulous week chasing anything and everything that wore a skirt! Many thanks 'Adventure Me' and I look forward to the next films.
stumbled across this video while searching for something else. wow i never knew there was a butlins at Filey, i would of been eight years old when it closed. My parents never really bothered with holiday camps when i was that age but as ive grown older ive stayed at primrose valley in a caravan several times and have seen the lake and roads many visits but i did not know that about the tennis courts and ofcourse that road leads to the beach (which brings back is own memories) Im somewhat local to the area too, about an hours drive away perhaps one day i shall go back and revisit the areas in this video, thank you for an amazing tour.
Thanks for watching
Brilliantly made series and quite fascinating. 👍👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Loved this video, you did a great job of showing what it used look like, will be watching the rest of these videos.
Thanks mate. Plenty more like it on my channel.
Went there in 1971..............
Chalets had large painted plywood ends on them and a sign in your room telling you not to prepare your own food. Tannoys called out when breakfast started (early) and continued during the day. I liked to ride on the 'Cyclone' and back then the spinning 4 car arrangements on the ends of each of the 4 booms were driven by shafts and cogs where todays versons use friction drive via car tyres. The ride made a lot of peculiar grinding noises and a park worker told my dad that they didn't bother with maintainance much and would just scoop grease from where there was some and stick it in other spots rather than go get the proper greasing gear. My dad asked him if Butlins ran the cable chairs to the beach and he laughed and said 'Not likly - that is run by a different company'. I remember the wild mouse which my parents would not let me go on and some sort of (penguin?) club for kids where you got a badge and ran around a bit and that seemed to basically be it. I enjoyed it but it was definatly in decline when we were there.
Yes I have heard similar stories, I can imagine the lack of maintenance back then.
Best butlins documentary I’ve seen defo brings back memory’s
Thanks Kev. More to come.
Reminds me of the Holiday Camp sequence in Ken Russell's TOMMY. That was the first time I (being an American raised on Disneyland) had heard of these places. Very well done and rather touching.
Thanks. They were very unique.
Great video looking forward to watching the 2nd one
Thank you
Great research. Looked like a great holiday destination with loads to do.
Thanks. More to come
your videos are absolutely fantastic....what a professional approach you take to them....i felt chills run up my spine when you fade the old photos in to the present day sights....you are so bang on accurate with them.more of your astounding work please.
Thanks Anthony. They take a fair while to get right.
We had a holiday at Primrose Valley as kids (my dad rented a static caravan from one of his workmates) I remember it was when Charles & Diana got married (it was on tv). My dad told us he was the manager of the bar back in the 1960s (he was a young bloke at the time)
Thanks. More to come
I have fond memories of quite a few of these camps they really new how to spoil you😃
Thanks. More to come
There is something incredibly sad and tragic about alot of rotting old holiday camps in the UK. It feels like the fun days have all decayed. Nostalgic colourful memories of family's having fun for little expense seem like a different lifetime now. How could we let things decay so badly. Same goes for lack of indoor leisure centres. Sad.
Great video, thank you for your thoughtful video
Nostalgia is not what it used to be !
Great video, I have a ton of photos of the place, that I took around summer 1982 , not having a clue that it was only going to last one more season.
Much earlier, my family stayed at Butlins, Skegness when it was more in the 'Swing of things' I was fascinated by the Monorail there ! and would love to see a video just about it's technology etc.
Keep up the good work, cheers !
Yes I loved the monorail at skeggy.
Excellent and informative video mate, glad to see that people still like our local history.
Thanks. More to come
I may have seen or commented on this before, I forget, but I have to comment again because it's really sad seeing this as it is now. I don't recall it, but as a young kid, toddler or whatever I was, we went here on holiday in the early 60s. I have a few photo's that were taken by photographers at the camp, as they used to do then, of me on little rides and swings etc with my mum and other members of my family. We only went here the once though, we went to Skegness Butlins later.
Brilliant!..Thank you...Gonzo from the grill room...c:1969. Liam Kelly/Rocky Mason...When can we look forward to eps 2 & 3?
Trevor Guy was a crook of the first order. My only memory of Butlins Filey was as a child , they had to stop the mini Big Dipper to let me off as I was feeling sick. 😂
I've heard as much before.
Just realised you have called this series..."Butins" with the l missing.
I didn't noticed when I watched it last month. Great series btw as ever.
I just watched movie called 'Holiday Camp' or Huggets on Holiday and this looks like it was filmed there I think.
It was yes
Why dont the other camp site buy the land and extend on there park, maybe it will attract more tourists?
They have Katie. Primrose Valley have taken over the majority of the old Butlins site now.
Love the old photos faded in and out. Gives you a real sense of how the holiday camp used to look. Love things like that! Thanks for filming and sharing!
Absolutely it’s the wee bit more effort you appreciate. Would love him to do that place in Scarborough above the outside swimming pool Mr Marvels above the open air theatre. I walked through it a few years back and some of the stuff was still there but very little. One of the Volcanos from the Dinosaur area I visited while a kid. When your Seven you think what was probably poor to an adult amazing 😁
I was a summer temp cashier at Filey in 1963 and 1964 during my student holidays. On Saturday changeover day, when the arriving campers paid the balance of their holiday, the takings amounted to over £100,000 - £1.9 million today, with inflation. All banknotes had to be bundled, wrapped and with the Queen's head facing the same way. We worked late on Saturday nights! My secondary job was relief limelight operator in the theatre - Eddie Calvert "The Man With the Golden Trumpet" topping the bill. By 1983 I was an airline captain, flying Scottish passengers on their foreign holidays. The Corfu flight took us on an airway segment between Newcastle and Amsterdam, just off the east coast. I used to look down at the bright lights of Butlin's Filey of an evening, smile fondly and think "Still going!" The following year there were no bright lights and of course with it the realisation that my industry had played a major part in its downfall, which made me sad.
Yes so true. It lost its charm I think.
A fascinating slice of social history, well researched and imaginatively recreated. Thank you!
Thanks Malcolm. More to come.
Your welcome
You use of old B&W photos fading in and out with "today" shots is top notch. It really helps with the story, almost like being there. Now to watch part 2 and 3......
I've already seen a few videos of this site, so was expecting more of the same. I was wrong. Well done Darren. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thanks David. Glad it was different.
My goodness me. All these people at Butlins. Once upon a time I was one of them. What a journey through time this is. So nostalgic. Thank you so much. You have a gift Darren. That’s for sure. Well done.
Thanks Shirley. More to come
I went to this camp in 1973 with three friends and had a great time. I really like the way you superimpose the old with the present photos and videos.I remember entering a singing contest but came nowhere and the four of us made a 45 rpm record of us singing on top of old Smokey. Great times with friends who are sadly gone now.
Thanks. More to come
I hold very special fond memories of Butlins at Filey. This video brings tears to my eyes knowing it was never preserved 😪 we came from 79-82 from Scotland. I wish it was still there for my now children to enjoy too ❤️ I'd love to come back to see & touch what remains.
Glad you enjoyed it
Had 3 wo derful holidays at Butlins in the 70s, people dont have those kind of holidays anymore, they were unforgetable, happy days always something to do somewhere to go, kids were active all day, slept all night, happy kids ment happy parents. Thank you for the memories, such a shame they destroyed everything..?
Went to Butlins Filey many, many times as a day visitor - most of them sneakily for free as my dad was a refrigeration engineer and he used to repair all the Walls and Lyons Maid ice cream fridges on site. If he had a job to do there I'd go with him in the van, and then head into the funfair on the rides while he was working. I also have a fair chunk of Butlins attached to my house. When they started to demolish the site, Trevor Guy set up an area where you could go and buy reclaimed building materials and other items from around the camp. My dad built a workshop so we have bits of timber, doors, window frames and wall boarding all from some part of Butlins Filey. Your video is bringing back lots of memories.
That’s a fascinating story! And to think you’ve got some of the Butlins Filey site at your house is amazing.
In some ways the old Butlins looks much more fun than acres of static caravans with not a lot else going on.
They have done the same to the old Butlins Pwllheli site in North Wales. I have many fond childhood memories of that Butlins camp which is now sadly unrecognisable.
My family were there in the final week of operation at Filey Butlins. 9am sharp on the last saturday morning, a knock on the door of our apartment. They were taking the TV's away from all the apartments.
I remember being absolutely terrified on the cable car that went from the centre of the camp down to the beach when it stopped midway. Right up against one of the pylons over some chalets. It was good old Yorkshire weather that summer. Dull and very windy. Not nice for someone scared of heights as i was. Great video Darren. Excellent!!!
Thanks Anthony. Good memories.
That’s some story that. You have been there right at the end and for them to come and take your tv away it’s like a final takeover. Fascinating stuff.
@@bunkerboy02 Maybe they were going straight back to the rental company!
I went to this camp with my family in 1975, if memory serves me right. I remember riding on the miniature railway with my late Mum but did not realise the site had its own railway station. (We arrived by car so maybe that was the reason).
@@martinporter4980 I think you’re spot on with the rental company idea. They will have been rented back then for sure and that’s where they will have headed after being collected.
An interesting story, assumedly as the final guests departed that Saturday the place was made secure, and most of the reusable equipment like the TVs you mention was subsequently removed?
My grandad was one of the original drivers of the mini railway, after retiring as driver of the flying Scotsman , we had some wonderful holidays at filey butlins in the 60s 🤗☀️🍹
This video is brilliant my friend. I am 60 now and visiting Butlins at Filey with mum and dad are some of the happiest most memorable times of my childhood. I have recently been looking at a lot of Butlins memories vids and they bring tears to my eyes especially the Filey ones. I have somewhere a great book called "Butlin's Filey, thanks for the memories" and have desperately been trying to find it. Sorry to the Author for not remembering your name. I am from Lincolnshire and remember having the shock of my life back in the eighties when I happened to go for a day out to the Filey area with my girlfriend at the time and witnessed the camp being bulldozed, it was an horrific site.
Anyway looking forward to your other vids. Thank you so much!
No problem Pete. Glad I helped to spark some fond memories. That's the whole point of doing this. And the book was by Paul Wray. I have it too.
It’s sad. Never went, I was born in 91 but I’ve been to primrose valley and the bay. Never knew it was an old butlins. All the happy memories of millions held within that land, it’s quite moving
I was an AA Patrolman back in the days when it was open, it was so busy on the Saturday morning when all the guests were trying to get their cars started after being parked up for a week, it was crazy, you could go on the camp after the Saturday breakfast and not come off again until the middle of the afternoon, just going from one car to another to get them started.
That’s a great story, thank you for sharing.
@DBHD Not quite, 1977 onwards until closedown.
@MIND No - But if I remember correctly you had to get a ticket, or apply to leave the camp whilst you were there. I know when I was there with my parents our car stood, like Steve says for the entire week (however i think Dad did go and run the engine during our stay). Thanks for sharing Steve - I do recall it was always a hasty exit to meet the checkout time!
Imagine all the happy family memories made here!
I went there for holidays in late 60s, 70s as a child...loved it back then.
Brings back so many memories of my dad who passed away 8 years ago today.
Glad you enjoyed
That’s one of the best ‘before and now’ videos I’ve seen on here in a long time. Superbly edited and the fade in and out was a nice touch. As a child in the 70s, our family went to Butlins Pwllheli in North Wales for many years. It closed a long time ago and is now a Haven Holiday/caravan park. I went back there couple of years ago and there is still a lot you can see of the old park amongst the new. Then mini railway platforms are still there in the undergrowth and some of the original Butlins roads and pathways are still there. I’d love you to go there and do a video….keep up the good work mate 👍👍
Thanks mate. That's my intention. I went to Pwllheli many times as a kid so remember it quite well. The before and now thing I do quite a lot in most of my videos.
@@AdventureMe I came across your channel by total accident and am slowly working my way through all your videos. I’ve sent the link to a couple of friends and they’ve now subscribed because some of them brought back a lot of memories so well done and we can’t wait to see the others….👏
I’ve walked on that beach and admired the White House many times. Never knew it was Billy Butlins holiday home. So fascinating
When you're reading your script your presentation is impeccable. Perfect speed and perfect intonation. Such a joy to listen to in age when fast is meant to be exciting.
Thanks Chris. My first time doing something scripted in a video.
hear hear , smashin bloke , what he does for all of us
Very true, I am quite fluent in English, but it is not my language of daily use, and I can understand perfectly.
perfect
I keep returning to this Brilliant Production!!!!!!!!!!! What fantastic memories, the fading Photos Present to past are just, well, Terrific indeed.and Your passion for Butlin's Filey comes over very clearly.Beautifuly done.
Thanks guys. I really enjoyed this one. A pet project of mine
I used to go to primrose valley in the 90s with my parents, the main entrance used to be the touring caravan entrance and I think it was one of the entrances for butlins originally, behind the tennis courts (which may have been the old butlins ones) was a raised up area with a small set of steps up to it, and behind there was a fence surrounding the almost flattened butlins site, I remember going and looking through and could make out the old blue fountain up in the distance, would have loved to have climbed through and gone for a nosey but I didn't dare unfortunately (I was only 10 in fairness) but like you say there was so much more left back then, ace video Darren, can't wait to see the next ones, loving all the local history you've done round east/North yorks so far!!
Thanks. More to come
Hi Darren, great video on Butlins Filey pt 1, it has been released after a "rival" of yours did a video couple of weeks back which was just as entertaining, if you've not seen Andrews work check him out North Yorkshire Wanderer, you've both got a keen eye on music and careful editing, perhaps a joint video in pipeline? It's a great shame that such a facility was shut down, I never visited but love Filey, Scarbro' and Whitby. I've watched quite a few of your videos over the last few days, I'm local to the low Moor branch line which you recently covered and indeed the Leeds New Line videos too, I've been looking for proper photos of it and you scratched my itch or vice versa! Fascinated to see the Heckmondwike viaduct near Ponderosa. That particular subject is rather prescient as being a Kirklees resident, I have been sent some consultation information on improvements to the a638 from Chain bar to Dewsbury incorporating new Bus stations. The traffic wouldn't be a problem if the branch lines had been mothballed, rather than part developed, which would save a fortune and save the environment if they'd been "reactivated" with perhaps space for a path for pedestrians too as there's plenty of space yet to be utilised. Indeed as you alluded about the "Ringway" in Heckmondwike its under threat of development with the result of more traffic on our congested roads clogging up whatever these improvements achieve! . Thank you also for showing our Bus Depot @ "hecky" off too, as again as you showed the original ticket office is adjacent to our depot, which if we had an integrated public service policy would be ideal for our buses too with no loss of revenues! I'm fascinated by the infrastructure on all of these lines, eg the Harry Mann Dam access bridge which is amazing, even more so that its still there!, the initial construction costs never mind the permanent upkeep of these "abutments"! 😆😂, by BR, Sustrans and now DFT, which mean they don't cost nowt to keep open as greenways, or today just random open bridges, walls etc making me sceptical that they might as well be Railway lines again, as a footnote to that the Ringways 9 bridges are a record holder if I'm not mistaken, never mind the Train strength bridge on the Low Moor Branch spanning both carriageways of the M62 at Chain bar. That said I do use the Greenway, it is nice, but it makes me wonder how clean our urban air (& fluctuating weather) would be like with a train/tram on it!
Speaking of waste I was fascinated about Milner Field and the colossal waste of a stately home. This is a bit choking especially as Saltaire's status as a living museum (& I think World Heritage site or similar) is reknowned, as I recall a school trip there. Wouldn't it have been great to see the Workers Houses AND the boss' House! I found your bit about the Home Guard using it as a practice house ridiculous.
Anyway, essay over, great work, don't watch terrestrial telly anymore!
Best wishes, and Happy Yorkshire Day. Ben 🚍🚌🇬🇧🙏
Your video brings back many memories, when my Father, brought us all here. I especially love the way you superimpose old images over today's images. It was so sad to see the Demise of Butlins. It had so many memories for me. Your images brought a lump in my throat and it was a honour to see that there are still a few sections of the old Butlins left. We visited Primrose Valley a few years ago and also noticed they are chipping away at what is left of the old Filey Butlins, for their own expansion. Thankyou for taking the time to make the video, it was lovely to look back at what was a lovely experience.
Thanks mate. Plenty more to come. The fade ins I do a lot in my videos.
We went in there in May 1982 as a family, I was 17 remember that because the Falkland's War was on, didn't know that a year later it would be closed for good 😔 From what I can remember it was a nice camp still, but holidays like that were starting to die off. But I still have the memories of happy holidays in Butlins from when way back in the 70's as a little kid 😃
The use of the Radio Butlin "wake up" music was a nice touch.
Thanks. Very appropriate I thought.
I used to go here often in the 70s 80s I used to enter the talent competition where I won it 4 years in a row, I was like a mini celebrity there as I kept winning free holidays there. My mam went in for the glamourous granny contest when she came 2nd, we used to eat in the Beach Coma restaurant where we'd eat cockles and mulses, it had a big pond inside and nets up holding plastic marine life, lobsters and crabs etc. I used to sit and put my hands in the water, and the staff used to say there was sharks and dolphins in there lol....we had so amazing times as a family there. Unfortunately it's just not the same now, that sense of family fun is gone. Back then kids could go off and play with no worries, now we can't let our kids out of sight...the breakdown of society over the years can be blamed on the government, it's too expensive to run this kind of operation now, no one's interested in spending time with other families anymore, because there's no trust in the community anymore, and that's thanks to the government that's sold us out to the middle East years ago, and slowly our heritage has been squeezed out, people say it's times move on etc, but it's not....it's all part of the taking of British values, culture out of the UK replacing It with everything non British, slowly but surely one by one, our heritage and sense of fun has been overtaken by multiculturalism, pc bullshit, and corrupt government s owned by the middle East.....
My mum won the glamorous granny & my nephew won the beautiful child. Summer ‘77. 😎
What a shame it had to close. I went there in 1972 with 3 mates, we had just left school and I remember one day when we were playing football an announcement over the Tannoy saying that Leeds United's Paul Reaney would be coming to visit and take part in some games. I was over the moon as I am a Leeds fan and I ended up playing along side him in the blistering hot sun, I got his autograph and photos of the game. A great holiday I'll never forget.
Loved it. Really interesting but sad.
Great video, the intro superb. Very moving!
I love these kinds of videos, they're so fascinating, you've researched well, pinpointing all the exact locations, looking forward to the next one, just subbed, many thanks for sharing.👍
Thanks Alison. Plenty more like this on my channel and to come.
Spent many days there as child as we only lived in Bridlington got there by bus then sneaked in through the fence happy days
Great story!
Interesting...worked as a challet maid around 1981. A group of us students sneaked off site through a hole in the fence and walked the sea front to scarborough and went to a night club. A group called 'spiz oil' or 'spiz energy' - always changed their name - were playing; had a hit with 'where's Captin Kirk'...
Thanks. More to come
Sad in a way, I do admit somethings are gone for the better and modernized but I can't help feel somethings like is shouldn't have. Just because something is old don't mean it should be taken away for the sake of modernization and globalization, it's part of our culture and it's disappearing faster than ever. As I get older I appreciate the places I had, my own city has changed some for the better and some not.
You might still do this in part 2 or part 3,but if you follow the railway line to where it crosses the main road,it's a got a lovely abutment!
Oh yes. It's in part 3.
@@AdventureMe I can't wait!
@@AdventureMe do you know the accident story about one of the trains?
Holidayed at Butlins Filey in 1947. I was 9. Had my first taste of rockmelon when served as desert. Spent many happy hours in the paddling pool. 1947 was a very hot summer. Had a blue badge for years. Still remember chalet number F14
Thanks Rita
I worked at Filey in the summer of 1970 as a student on summer vacation having worked at Butlins Pwllheli the year before. Dishwasher, Waiter, Barman, Gridlop. It was a great times with a whole bunch of people of a similar age together with the many seasoned Butlins workers. I well recall dancing away in the disco to '250624' (Chicago) and 'All right now' (Free) in my dishwasher overalls and wellies! Drove by about 16 years ago to witness the place disappearing fast. A really fascinating video, thanks for helping bring back some amazing memories.
Yes. The Pwllheli camp I saw before and after. What a change.
I remember as a local of Clacton, going to Butlins as a young boy. I’ve seen Butlins back when it was a fully functioning camp, when it was a derelict shell, and then it’s complete eradication from its site. It is now a housing estate situated by sea. I don’t know if Filey found itself in the same predicament but Clactons woes were compounded by the alleged refusal of the local council to give the camp rate relief to the tune of £216000 for
one year, in order to invest in the camp. With that the camp was subsequently closed resulting in the loss of around 60 full time and around 900 seasonal jobs. Butlins format for entertainment had remained roughly the same over the years, leaving it lagging behind due to package holidays and differing tastes. It is sad to the these titans of the great British holiday industry fall by the wayside. The question is though, would they be viable in today’s world?
Thanks Jason. Hopefully I'll get to cover the Clacton camp soon.
Went to Filey in the 60s, 70's and 80's then Skegness and lastly Minehead in the 80's and 90's. So glad my kids got to experience Butlins when it was still something special. I was quite surprised at the feelings your video brought out of me.
Site as there was no security then, we even found redcoats in the staff chalets, it was unbelievable how it was left but very fond memories of the place. Rgds Simon.
Thank You, great video. I was there in 1969 as a present as I had passed my 11 plus exam. Remember some of it like the chair lift, But even then, it was changing , the tennis courts had gone as had the around the lake railway. Half of the the original chalets had been demolished to make way for self catering flats, we were in L22!!. However, still a great holiday, even though I was sick after too many rides on the free funfair!!
Brilliant! Can't wait for the other installments. Love the fade ins, you can really see where everything once was, it brings it all to life.
I agree.
@@RossCompose me too
Thank you, more to come.
Yorkshire Day greetings. Fascinating video. Had a family holiday there in 1965. Unfortunately we had to return home mid week because my sister and I caught chickenpox. I still have the pin badges.
Ouch. Bad memories lol
Love these videos...we been holidaying In Scarborough for over 20 yrs a d we stay at Reighton.....everytime i go down that road i say to my family the old butlins railway is behind them trees...and always say about butlins Filey...
Keep them coming mate....great vids...
Never let the history fade and keep sharing!
Great video. I've only been to Filey once & that was 20 years ago........& I'm still here. It's a great place to live. However I came from a very poor background & it was just far too expensive for my Father & Mother to pay for a holiday for the 4 of us. A week in a cheap B&B in Scarborough if we were lucky, spending most of the day on the beach....it's free. Is it too late to start a GoFundMe page?
Loved staying there 81/82, the snooker tables were fantastic but couldn’t get a game as I was too young.But if I hung around long enough the gents who were playing would give me the odd shot and were amazed at how ‘good’ I was. Didn’t have the heart to say it was a fluke 😄. The high board of the pool outdoor was a challenge, bloody high and the water was freezing so you broke the speed record to get the side.Thanks for posting this was great to reminisce and see the old place again. Looking forward to seeing other snippets from the past.take care and stay healthy.
Thanks. More to come
Brilliant vintage documentary that took me right back to being 5 again travelling in car with my mum dad and Sister saying are we there yet all the way from edinburgh i remember seeing the flags swishing in the wind And just being so excited ahh memories those steps down to rock garden took me right back thanks again
Thanks mate. More to come
Went in 1960s remember the train from Scarborough and I loved the chairlift to the beach. We had an upstairs chalet , think it had a bathroom.Shame it closed we went to several Butlins holiday camps and Filey was the best followed by Minehead..loved your film
Thanks mate. More to come
I was there as a 12 year old in 1966, loved it
Honestly. One of your best yet
Thanks Ian. I really tried on these three. Took me weeks.
I remember the posh snooty middle class kids at school going to France and Spain in their holidays in the seventies. Our family went to Butlins and boy did the posho's make fun of that. I wouldn't change it though.
Me neither. Always a Butlins trip for us. Best times. Shove your Costa del snobbos lol
Showed this to my dad he absolutely loves this series thanks mate👏❤️
Really enjoyed this! Have stayed at primrose valley a couple of times and had no idea butlins used to be there until recently. Brilliantly put together!
Great video & thanks for letting us look back !!! I feel sad thinking those memories have been squashed by bulldozers !!!! I was there in 1977 , we were down from Essex , it was a long trip in Hillman Minx , crossing the river Humber via ferry ? As no bridge there in 70 s , but we were all teenagers, skint , had no mobile phones back then , life was simpler , but far nicer quality!!! It has great nostalgic feel this video , but I guess we cannot hold on to the past forever , but if only we could eh ???
Great stuff shared with butlins staff group on fb
Thanks Phil. Much appreciated
Really enjoyed this video. Was a really interesting insight into an institution that like many others is now sadly gone.
Can't wait for part 2
Lovely memories of Butlin's! My dad saved 50p pieces in the '70's all year to pay for our week there. Then l remember going to the big dance tournament with Freda Compton's Dance Academy when all the UK dance academies fought it out. It was a huge thing then and took the whole week! Great, great times. Memories of knobbly knees contest and search for a star before all these knock off TV programmes now thanks for reminding me of easier times 😊
I went there in the very early 80s with my mum and dad great memories love it 👍👍
I will never forget our family holiday in 1966.
My mum had sadly passed away in summer 1965 leaving my dad, me, my brother and sister.
Our first holiday away together since mum died was at Butlins ,Filey in summer 1966.
This video brings back so many memories. I remember Charlie, the huge elephant, fair rides, theatres and the massive canteen where we ate our meals. Also, the holidaymakers cheering when an unfortunate waiter or waitress dropped a plate or 2 whilst serving a meal.!!!
This wonderful video has brought back so many happy memories. Thank you so much!
And guess what! This summer, my mum’s great grandchildren,grand children and son are holidaying at The Bay, Filey, previously unaware of the close historical connection with Butlins…We are so looking forward to it 😊
Great video, thank you. Plenty of room on RUclips for more of these type of films, I love them, especially of this quality, something sadly lacking in the stuff the so called 'professionals' put out!
They don't have the passion or the commitment to do proper research. You do and it shows.
Thanks Ken. Appreciate that. Two more to come.
This is a remarkable and well thought out video. I stayed at the Haven caravan park in early Oct 23, £59 for 4 nights in one of the caravans adjacent to the modern houses. A really lovely site altogether. adjacent to the England Coast Path, which I now have documented from Bridlington to Bamburgh. So it was intriguing with some sadness to learn of its history. I had not heard of Billy's art deco house before not the plaque on the pub.
WOW amazing how you have pieced everything together , this truly was a brilliant time capsule ..
Thanks for watching
Really enjoyed this. I was actually searching for some videos showing Butlins Pwllheli back in the 80's and 90's. We used to take groups there when I worked for social services.
This was a fascinating look back though. Now subscribed to watch more. Thankyou
Thanks mate. I'll get round to all the Butlins eventually.
Worked 5 camps except from Filey, started 1975 bognor, Clacton, minehead, Skegness, Pwllheli, well documented
My Nanna and grandad use to have a caravan at primrose valley in 2000 and we use to go through a old fence into the old site of butlins and you could see the flooring still from the old buildings. Sadly now it’s gone as primrose valley have built over that part.
Very well researched and presented video Brought back memories from the early 70s where as a child I remember a day out with a friend and going on the Mouse Rolleecoaster ride. Was wrecking my brains for ages where we had enjoyed this and so assume that as we had a caravan at Skpsea it would have been the Filey Butlins as it was fairly near. Also remember us going into a recording booth and making s record which were - am i right here? - dispensed from a machine but were in the shape of a floppy vinyl record. Thank you for making this engaging film.
I went to Butlins, Ayr in 1978, and then again a few years ago since it was taken over as a holiday caravan site. Very little remains there either.
Very sad to see what became of this fabulous sight. Thanks for the update on the sight. That pin your dad gave you was the highlight of the day. Thank you Darren for the tour. Cheers mate. 🏴👍🇺🇸
Wonderful video, you have taken me back to the early 1960's we went there for 2 /3 years used to love the open air pool & the cable cars down to the beach.
Loved this. Brought back lots of faded happy memories. Being from Bridlington my family came here often for the day in the 1970s. I used to live swimming in the outdoor pool here.
My now deceased grandfather had a job here as a night watchman/ security guard at the gates on the main road to Scarborough. Look forward to the next instalment 👍
Went on holiday every year.
To Butlins.sheffield works holiday.
I was 5 or 6years old.
My mother and father and brother John.
Remember the boating lake.
And train.I was a BUTLINS BEAVER.
CLUB MEMBER.
WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS.
Really liked the photo-shoppery, Darren. Especially, you at the 1945 opening night ball. Always sad to see places developed beyond imagination of what was there before. The entire lake could easily have remained, tennis courts updated and at least the rock garden and a concrete fountain as a tribute to the original site's use. Looking forward to seeing Billy Butlin's house.
Yes I agree. I had to do that photo lol
Margaret Thstchers Britain.! I'm an old man now. I don't forget. She said, everything is for sake. Wether it is for the public or not. Everything went, all for making a few quid for the privileged elitites. We are left with memories of "Great Britain"!
God help us!
My family used to have a caravan at Reighton Sands back in the 70s. I can remember taking the bus into Filey that called at both Primrose Valley and Butlins, but we never went in. I loved that stretch of coast and the huge beach stretching for miles.