A Barry Island transformation: see what the old butlins sites looks like then and now

[@markthacker9387]

Remember it well the pig and whistle, Busbys night club by the poolside, many happy family memories....

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

So many good memories 😌

[@journeymenforlife]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you!

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

You're welcome. Thank you for your comment

[@susanrobson8309]

We went every year and was the best camp of all the Butlins. So many happy memories 💓

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

So wished, butlins still had barry. I did read a few months back that butlins were looking to expand

[@anthonycross6392]

Great video, thank you. This was my first butlins holiday back in the late 70's and early 80's again. Shame its gone now.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

It is. would have been great if they kept the site

[@anthonycross6392]

@@ExploringwiththeJones I agree mate.

[@daisydaug10]

It's coming back

[@MrOneillrobin]

worked there in the summers as a student in the 70s - nice to see some of the stuff that I remember...

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Bognor is defo missing another butlins

[@Brokensoul1974]

Even though it wasn't that far away.From my home in merthyr tydfil I had the best times and memories of being with my nan we always stayed at butlins barry and even now at 50 years old.And not living in Wales anymore it will always hold a special place In my heart butlins and barry island.❤❤

[@stevenwade7466]

So sad it's gone THANKS TO THE LOVELY COUNCIL. WHAT A SURPRISE NOT . Great video .

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Thanks 🙂 such a shame they let this happen. Surely, it has had an impact on barry since butlins has gone.

[@stevenwade7466]

@@ExploringwiththeJones Well the council threatened to close Butlins unless improvements were made allegedly. So Butlins decide to sell up . From nowhere a construction firm come along & decide to buy the Butlins site to put houses on . I guess you can work out the rest 😕

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Yeah, it sounds a bit dodgy to me. Saw somewhere the site sold for just over 2 million.

[@stevenwade7466]

@@ExploringwiththeJones Not that I'm trying to imply, that these people including MPs are corrupt !!!!!!!! DEFINITELY NOT. Nothing could be further my mind 🤯

[@daisydaug10]

​@ExploringwiththeJones Mr Henry Danter has put in an application to bring it bk in a modern way. Support his page please

[@Heather-ve9ow]

My childhood holidays were spent here twice a year for years.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Loved barry Island as well

[@garethpayne1560]

Spent many happy holidays there. We booked for a week and on handing the keys back booked for the following year. Had everything to keep the kids entertained from dawn till late and a cracking beach too. Crying out for something to replace it

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Barry definitely missing something

[@kcgeil]

Shout out to the arcade that had the star wars and firefox sit down cabinets.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

🙂

[@heliwindmill]

I loved Barry butlins as a kid , if it was still there I would of took my child there ☹️

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Think butlins have missed a trick there now. If they had the site still, I bet it would be very busy

[@daisydaug10]

The new owners are trying to bring it bk. Support there page

[@StevenDurose]

I was there in 94 I remember ablss called bekki from Birmingham I loved it there

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Shame butlins couldn't tell the future. I think they missed a trick getting rid of the site.

[@davehall3273]

Replied to your message mate but has it gone onto someone elses messages ? lol just check i.m using my phone so its a bit fiddly and awkward cos i don.t have a PC anymore now lol.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Yeah, I find it different trying to read and see messages on your phone compared to the PC

[@davehall3273]

lol yes very true. i would probably be same if i was there now turning the clock and it was all a holiday centre again. but at that time i guess i was quite shy and introverted i only changed from that in the early 90s. the place there had an awe about it somehow a type of old and new sort of feel. when it was buzzing with holiday makers it was a super sight. yeah the bosses were pratts really and walked and strutted about in their suits. that kenny roberts was a right pillock lol. what was alan holts missus name i.m trying put a face to her. musta seen her a lot on there if she was on security too because i did portering etc i saw a lot of the security staff on their patrols lol. 😂😂

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

🙂

[@davehall3273]

Alan do you know where all the bosses are now that were at barry island.? andy jamieson camp general manager. and the miserable kenny roberts asst boss. graham simpson. chris ulliot catering bosses. some may have passed away by now. there was also bill in the stores. and jim grimes bars manager. and dave cooper boss of all the cleaners. no end of names still come to mind from down there.

[@alan-n3d]

No, I'm afraid I never knew any of the bosses, I was only interested in whatever occupied a skirt! (Scotts exempt of course). L.O.L. It was really good fun working there. I miss those carefree years.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Did you ever find out if any of them are still around

[@davehall3273]

Thanks for reply alan well my first season there was 83 so i.d just missed you i guess. yes thats right alan carr was the geordie and very strict and quite rufty tufty too and he stand by the staff chalets and told off anyone who was noisy they.d be sacked if they weren.t quiet lol. alan holt was big and stocky and reminded me of a c.i.d officer lol. he took over from mr hougadi who died on the centre in 83 he wasn.t that old i don.t think. there was also george bewley also from staffs same as me he did security in 83 and he was a tough nut aswell apparently. hands like dinner plates. and there was phil dibble was it who worked for the vale of glamorgan security staff in 89.

[@alan-n3d]

Yes, spot on about Alan Carr! I had met a female guest towards the end of one week and Alan commented that if she produced my offspring, it would be named "Butlin Control", after the office call sign. Appently, I was the last security person she had befriended! They all had befriended her in turn before me!

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

🙂

[@kenneth22643]

You might be in this video

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

you never know

[@filmremaker4436]

sad outcome really but great effort there

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

It is shame its not there anymore

[@daisydaug10]

It's coming back..thanks to CEO Mr Henry Danter

[@queend2815]

What rubbish now not the good memories i had when younger the pools the shops the train the entertainment was such a shame would of loved to takd my children but now no chance

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Think they made a big mistake getting rid of the site it would be booming If they still had it

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

yup and porthcawl, they are about to build 300 homes for asylum seekers on the old theme park there!

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Well that's not good 😐

[@danteharrison52]

Was going to retire here escaping from Islamists and asylum seekers, had no idea that the council was removing Coney pleasure beach for this.

[@davehall3273]

lol he was hilarious he used to brag about being the champion bonker on the camp for many seasons. all bull it was and tosh. he musta thought i.d arrived in an as cracker.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Haha 😂

[@FlyPimpDude]

I went there as a kid, this video is a true liminal space for me right now. edit: liminal confirmed 8:41 Tier 3 SCP (A.K.A SCP-003 - Biological Motherboard) XD

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Bognor needs another butlins

[@davehall3273]

Yeah i agree its all to do with money and finding some good alternative compatable sites. if they thought a bit more the vale of glamorgan council they could have had a smaller holiday site coupled with a theme park or something. they just don.t think at all its all an erratic whim they act on with no directional sense at all. typical thick as a brick council.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Think that sums up pretty much every council up and down the country really 🤔

[@davehall3273]

What was cuthberts first name mate. the big scots guy. personnel boss lol. ? i think he.s dead now

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Did you find out his name

[@davehall3273]

Yep absolute mindless stupidity. councils and govs are obsessed these days and that was 20 years ago with building houses on any land they can get hold of they are worse than ever now present day. those houses on that site will not last 30 years i.m sure of it. materials these days are complete rubbish. vale of glamorgan council should have retained it as a holiday centre come theme park. total disgrace seeing it like that. they want stringing up. 😡😡😡

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

It's all about money. Just a shame they couldn't hold on to 1 of their sites in Wales, the same as Scotland, as well. Did hear they were looking at buying couple of pontins sites

[@independentpuppy7520]

They have to ruin everything don't they. They can't stand people being happy. Butlins was just fine as it was.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

So true butlins is so under staffed

[@jeffreypike3899]

anyone heard anything about jeff and alan worked security 1980-84

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

No sorry

[@davehall3273]

do you mean alan carr or alan holt.? both be gettin on a bit now 40 years on. jeff i.m not sure i can recall him. anyone remember. andy jamieson site manager. graham simpson. kenny roberts. brian evans. chris ulliot all bosses on there in 83 and 84. but when i returned in 89 for majestics they had all gone and its was new bosses running it.

[@davehall3273]

I worked in burger bars in ball room and reception. then on ice cream with emma then in 89 i was with terry prices poppers with toni and adrian. then went on stores with gordon wilson. great times and i so miss the place i really do. 😢

[@alan-n3d]

I'm Alan and also worked security in summers of 1981/82. I remember "Pike", Alan Carr and Alan Holt very well. Alan Carr was the good-looking Geordie with curly black hair and a smile that made women weak at the knees! Alan Holt had the curly perm and worked with his wife as a team. I'm 66 now but remember those days like yesterday! All written in my memoirs SOME RANDOM BLOKE! Bless you all.

[@alan-n3d]

@@davehall3273 I'm Alan and also worked security in summers of 1981/82. I remember "Pike", Alan Carr and Alan Holt very well. Alan Carr was the good-looking Geordie with curly black hair and a smile that made women weak at the knees! Alan Holt had the curly perm and worked with his wife as a team. I'm 66 now but remember those days like yesterday! All written in my memoirs SOME RANDOM BLOKE! Bless you all.

[@davehall3273]

Remember a guy called mike who helped out on security for quite a while down there. average height beard quite stocky apparently he was a jeweller from cardiff or so he said. he helped out on poppers later on too in 89. but when i asked him what he actually did he said well i.m a womanising con man if you really want to know lol. got be in his 80s now if he.s still alive lol. apparently was as hard as nails but he didn.t look it. well not to me anyway lol. 😂😂

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

🤣

[@JudyWelch-q1k]

We visited in 1987, the place was an absolute tip, dangerously dilapidated and should have been condemned. It was not fit for habitation. In the end we sued to get our money back. I'm sure it's very nice now, but back then it was the holiday from hell.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Did go down hill alot towards the end. Shame, though, as I think it would have been fantastic if butlins were still in Wales

[@chuckmaddison2924]

I honestly believe the demise of Auschwitz on the Island was a great move. Barry is beautiful without it.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

It's OK to think that. I think a few people might agree, but I think quite a few would disagree.

[@chuckmaddison2924]

@EXPLORING WITH THE JONES' Very true . Many years ago, late 60s, when in the UK, dad booked us in at Skegness for 2 weeks. We left after only a couple of days after both parents found the service and lack of cleanliness intolerable.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Thanks. We never had a bad experience at butlins. But a few people have said the rooms let butlins down due to not being cleaned.

[@jellyboy123]

vale of glamorgan council ruined barry island

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Shame, though, would have been great if butlins was still there

[@davehall3273]

No mate i still can.t think of what it was. a very oldish christian name i think it was. no i haven.t found out how many ex bosses from there are still about. if there are any they are knocking on a bit now 40 years down the line lol. dave h.

[@ExploringwiththeJones]

Hope you find out if any of your old bosses are about