h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Butlins, conception and pleated skirts. - A880553
Author: G - U209725

Not a completely buried gem, since it has been in the Post. But that was Dec'02, an age ago.

piece, I think.

And this would be the summer of 2005. I hope he's not in therapy

Pretty excellent piece of writing, I'd say. Filled me with grins.

Me too. Excellent !

Whether this piece is entirely factual, or only partially so, with the remaining element written for aesthetic or dramatic effect, it is a chronicle of earlier times; the mid 1950s to about 1965ish I would guess.
It is certainly an interesting read for us living in the UK, but I doubt whether it would have the same impact for, say, the American or Australian h2g2 membership. Butlins is an essentially British phenomenon. Organized holidays for those mainly in search of affordable breaks from the daily grind of work, for parents with young children who need a baby-sitting service while they enjoy an evening show, or a rare chance to dance and recapture their courting days of carefree romance, a drink and a later bag of fish and chips with sloppy peas. Teenagers would arrange to have a week or two with the girls from work, away from the strict control of worrying parents. 'Pretty ankle' competitions and 'Miss Butlin, 1958' beauty parades were all the rage. Cheap-thrill rides through the tunnels of the ghost train hid all kinds of 'misbehaviour'.
This is a well written and interesting take, a life 'once removed' from the author's parent's stories of their younger days. Modern, younger readers may wish that such organized holidays still existed, and that they too could enjoy such 'adventures' equally as much as the earlier generations.
I recommend it to prospective readers.

f.

I remember reading this a while back and thought upon seeing the title here again "My, this Butlins sounds like a VERY popular place"

Of course the piece is one and the same as I had read originally, and I found it every bit as enjoyable to read again. Thanks for unearthing this gem for our perusal Waz.

Spynxxx