Butlins Filey Holiday Camp

A look at the history of Butlins Filey Holiday Camp on the North Yorkshire coast. Almost 40 years after the closure of Butlins Filey, I took a walk along what’s left of the old railway line and station that was built specifically to serve Butlins, as well as looking at what’s on the site now.
With the British staycation likely to be as popular as ever this year, Butlins have been specialising in this for over 80 years - even offering transportation by train to its holiday resorts since the 1940s. There is little left of the original holiday camp but this is still a great story of the Yorkshire coast.
(Special thanks to the following people for sharing their content: Adrian Ball, Stuart Galloway, Chris Lipthorpe & Neil Cholmondeley.)
MORE ARCHIVE OF BUTLINS FILEY
'Filey We Remember' - • FILEY WE REMEMBER
'Butlins Filey' - • Butlins Filey
The Butlins Story - • THE BUTLINS STORY
'Secret Lives Billy Butlin' - • Video
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Primrose Valley - www.haven.com/...
The Bay Filey - www.ariaresort...
Book train travel to Filey - prf.hn/l/7QA4jA2
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[@Dan_M91]

The lady talking on the black and white video is my Grandma.. lovely memory to have ❤ Rebecca

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

That's brilliant. Thanks for the comment Rebecca :)

[@valtovey3676]

How lovely 😊

[@Dan_M91]

My grandad Lawrie ran the Butlins club in Stockton-on-Tees and arranged days out for the youngsters in the 50s/60s. There is another clip of him talking it was filmed by Granada in the 90s I believe.

[@dwayneabsolutelydribblin3903]

Delightful

[@mickyfinn1737]

Wow what a fantastic memory this is for you . Such a wonderful thing would love to have my nana on film to watch so happy you have this

[@carolcheesbrough3045]

I met my husband at Butlins, Filey in 1955. We were both student workers. He was at Glasgow University, I was at Leeds University. So we owe our 64 years of married life to Mr Billy Butlin! We took the children there on holiday several times, both when quite young, and again as teenagers. Everyone had a wonderful time, the teenagers in particular. I worked as a waitress for four summers. John was a store-man. My brother was a Redcoat, and I bathed in reflected prestige when he came and sat with me during morning coffee time. Redcoats were the 'cream!'

[@alancummins7218]

Quite by accident I came across your video and viewed it with extreme interest. I was a Redcoat at Filey and to my astonishment I am one of the Redcoats in the very brief clip of us performing back in the mid seventies on the stage at the Gaiety theatre. This was the Redcoat show which was performed once a week. I had to laugh, when I spotted myself. It brought back so many memories and I found it quite haunting to see how it is now. Life was quite tough being a Redcoat. Long days and rehearsing to the small hours. It was a great experience and I really loved the campers. We were there to host, help and ensure the paying guests had the most wonderful "Butlin's" experience. We were meant to be seen, hence the famous Redcoat, but there were also places we were not allowed, so the guests could be Redcoat free! Thank you for bringing it back to me.

[@popazz1]

I was a barman on the Gaiety Bar, the season of 1980. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed the time I chose not to return the following year.

[@typower9]

Your account of being a redcoat sounds a bit like holiday tour reps' days. At least what I learnt from the reality tv series about it. I think it was the first reality tv series ever. It was riveting. Sadly tv has become almost nothing but reality tv!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks for commenting, Alan. Glad you got to see the video!

[@alancummins7218]

@@NorthYorkshireWanderer Thank You! It was great to watch, especially seeing myself all those years ago. I am 68 now and it really brought the memories of Filey flooding back!!!

[@rockinbillyboy]

Me too Alan, love to see these old abandoned places, as sad as they are.

[@johnboro64]

My nana and grandad took us every year between 69 and 74. I was 5 first time. The best place in the world. I really miss those days. Me and my sister used to get holiday clothes that we wore for the first time before getting on the bus from Redcar to Filey. The bus journey was so exciting. At 12 I won a portable record player in the space hopper race. My grandad won the weekly snooker championship every time he went and the prize was a free weeks holiday the following year. A self financing holiday. I just loved it so much it nearly makes me cry thinking about it. I’m 57 now and the memories are like yesterday

[@Norfolkbiker50]

My parents took me here for a family holiday in 1973. I was 8 years, it was magical and the best holiday I remember. Such a shame how times have changed and not for the better.

[@winstrolchurchill821]

I get you but is sort of for the better now we can go canaries or Spain for bargain plane fair and see so many nicer places with far greater weather and diversity that England some old shit

[@mistypuffs]

All the seaside towns lost out to package holidays abroad :(

[@mistypuffs]

@@winstrolchurchill821it’s totally understandable, just pretty shitty for the former UK resorts

[@winstrolchurchill821]

Yep do agree @@mistypuffs

[@liamfraserobrien]

They still exist it’s called Center parks

[@DanielDare100]

That really brought back some wonderful memories of my first visit to North Yorkshire. Back in 1964, I was an East End lad living in West Ham when my Dad said we were going to got to Yorkshire for our two weeks holiday. To be honest, I wasn't very pleased as I imagined Yorkshire to be full of Mills and Factories and a far cry from our usual holidays spent in a caravan on the South Coast. We travelled by Steam Train from Kings Cross, changed at York and were picked up by "Uncle Lance" at Malton Station. Uncle Lance and Auntie Sheila as they became known to me and my Sister, ran a Pub in Pickering. My Dad met them when he stayed in their Digs whilst building the Fylingdales Early Warning Station and now they had taken over "The Horseshoe Inn" and we were to be staying there. From day one, I fell in love with Yorkshire. For me living in East London, Countryside was Wanstead Flats, part of Epping Forest on the edge of Forest Gate. The vastness of the North York Moors took my breath away to be honest and the places to visit within easy reach of Pickering was amazing. We went to Butlins in Filey on a Day Ticket and I loved all the free rides, especially the Cable Car. Scarborough was also heaven to me with all the Arcades and a .proper beach (unlike Southend, our closest bit of Coast) Saying I was upset when we had to leave is an understatement and I started to make plans on how I could convince my Parents to move to Pickering. Obviously, that was a Pipe Dream but I was hooked. I studied how fast I could get up there on a Motorbike but at 11 years old, that wasn't going to happen, even though I could ride one. Any way, moving on, I have holidayed and visited North Yorkshire most years since those childhood days and have got to know all of the wonderful things and places it has to offer. Sadly, Uncle Lance and Auntie Sheila have passed on now but until they retired and left the pub, we went to Pickering every year until I was old enough to get pissed in the Bar of the Horseshoes with my Dad I'm 67 now with 4 grown up kids and 5 granddaughters and guess what, we are holidaying in Yorkshire this year in August. There will be 8 of us jammed into a Caravan at a Holiday Camp just South of Scarborough and I can't wait!! Keep up the excellent work with the Videos mate!!!!

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

When I was a kid we used to go to Lowestoft for our holidays, as that was my mum's home town and we could stay with relatives free - otherwise we couldn't afford a holiday every year. Now when you tell young people that, they look at you as if you're mad - as they go on-line to book a flight somewhere exotic, and couldn't imagine staying with relatives for a holiday. They were happy times - I still love Lowestoft even though it has become a bit run-down now.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Loved reading that! It's a brilliant area. Hope you all have a great time in August!

[@katherinecross8059]

Mr Worple, you are an honorary Yorkshireman !! Born and Bred in Barnsley and Wakefield, your comment filld me with tears ... and pride. Thank you! Enjoy the Dales again.

[@Richard-io9xe]

As a proud Yorkshireman, I loved reading that Sir. I agree, Pickering is a lovely place. Hope you enjoy your holiday.

[@keithparker5103]

J Worple, I would say you are an honourary Yorkshireman now. I remember that station at the holiday camp being built. How? I was there being a native of the area, first nearby Hunmanby then Filey. My father had a license to drive STEAM rollers which he did to roll all the surfaces for the road trains between the station and the tunnel. As a small boy he used to take me with him, I remember it well. Pickering is a delightful place, in the late '50s I used to ride there on my bike from Filey. I am 80 now, still riding and could definitely still do that. Kind regards.

[@scopex2749]

Heartbreaking as we spent many happy holidays here with our Dad. I got my first kiss in the disco in the camp when I was 12! Im now over 60 and dad was taken by the virus last year. I seems that all my childhood memories and places we loved are all being demolished and housing estates built on them. I used to have viewer thing you could look through that the camp gave the kids. They would take photos of you on holiday then put a small transparency in this viewer which was then sealed. I had this up to about 20 years ago it was very precious, sadly everything I own was lost in a flood I was left with only the clothes I had on. The picture was of my 4 year old brother and myself in the dining hall! Happy days RIP Butlins and our dear Dad.

[@brmh1667]

So sorry to hear of your sad losses. But so happy to read about your good times. Keep those memories fresh! They are what got you here. All the best.

[@djdoolittle1315]

God bless

[@jaynestag95]

To cope we have to look at life as chapters. That's how I cope.

[@scrapwomblecreatives6944]

i have me and mum in the red with white front viewer its just like looking at her think its one from something we entered R.I.P YOUR DAD MY DAD MUM NANA hope its a sunny day in filey or skeggy and your all there having a laugh like we could before this silly virus take good care and be safe lass

[@stevenhaining3696]

I remember the little red viewers too Thanks for the memories god bless you

[@Steve-qz4vt]

Remember going when 7, 1961, arriving by train from Sunderland. What a week, boating lake, miniature railway, sky lift to the beach, the bunk beds, mum and dad winning a ballroom dancing competition. Exciting for me at that age. Thanks for the video.

[@martinhayles1646]

The good old days , health and safety! Me and my older brother would go in the cable cars 100s of feet up and at it’s highest point my brother would rock it violently ! The car door was a fairly simple latch the either of us could open in milliseconds.We roamed all day and night nurturing an addiction to slot machines and tipping point like contraptions.We played snooker , table tennis, darts .We swam , ran , ate , laughed and cried .Watched films and shows , played forever in the amusement park .Kid today will never know the joy and the freedom and the sadness I feel now looking back at the utter joy and amazement of this magical land.Blessed we were for never again will such an oasis , mythical , Brigadoon exists.

[@MichaelElton-kw7oz]

Thank you so much for the video. Butlins Filey was my favourite holiday camp ever ❤️

[@ClipperDays]

I worked on the camp for one season. There were lots of things to remember, but one stands out. A young couple in the swimming pool had apparently forgotten that it had glass sides and were, let's say enjoying each other's company in the water. A small crowd had gathered before they were interrupted. The older folks disgusted (but still watching) the younger ones cheering them on.

[@blackbob3358]

how did i know it was gonna be sexual ? the blossoming of a lot of us.surely.

[@wir154]

I was just 4 when I went there, but my 3 memories of it were the glass side of the swimming pool. (I was too young to appreciate anything that might have been going on in it!), the cable car (which I was fascinated by and pearsuaded my dad to take me up loads of times) and that there was a goat in some sort of animal/pet area.

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thanks life's like that 🤗 my pal Tony was a redcoat and mentioned how professional he had to be on his night round 🤗

[@briankellock6922]

Yes mate I remember the glass sides and me and my mate were only about eleven then but we still had a wee perve at the adult women,yeya it was funny.l loved it there and spenta few summer holidays there from fife in Scotland, happy memory's indeed,cheers for that

[@lindat2009]

The 1947 film Holiday Camp was filmed at Butlins Filey

[@percythepig5207]

Never been BUT found this video both moving and informative so Thank you...

[@lesleypulling129]

Have many childhood memories of holidays at Butlins Filey

[@edsilvester]

I never went to a Butlins but I can only imagine how exciting that must have been in the 70s. To be a child arriving by train with other families sharing a compartment, must be unforgettable.

[@michaeldavies9533]

We had two weeks at Filey in 1972,we bought our daughter and her friend,they really enjoyed the holiday,but don't ask my wife what she thought about it,,I think it bought back memories of when she went to Squires Gate end of the 1940s with her parents and young brother,,I think she had nightmares about her Squires Gate holiday that has never left her,,shame because my daughter and her friend enjoyed our holiday.

[@debbiewalker312]

So sad that Butlins closed

[@alansussex7867]

What a fantastic documentary well formatted thank you so much well done. As a 12 year old boy in 1962 we had our first holiday here,there was a father and son computation my dad said son quick lets get changed into our suits. one always traveled in a suite tie in those days as jeans were for working in. Well we were the only pair looking smart so got first prise! A free week for the whole family for the following year. Happy days.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Alan.

[@leroyholm9075]

Hi The video brought back fantastic memories and thank you for creating the video. I was there in 1954 with my parents aged 6. We had been holidaying in Cornwall previously and the folks thought it would be a good idea to holiday at a place with plenty of entertainment and a chance for me to meet loads of other kids. Living in Worcestershire at the time we came by train from Birmingham. The packed trains were lined up in the station with hundreds of holiday makers pouring out. The holiday has stuck with me ever since. Wow what a place for a six year old and I had a whale of a time. The entertainment was wonderful with fantastic facilities for myself and the adults. It was an utter bargain. At this time in 1954 Charlie Drake was a Redcoat and also had an act called Mick & Montmerency. At breakfast his favourite trick was to climb on a chair behind the breakfast hall door and hit all of us kids on the head with a rubber hammer! The fifties was a great time for Butlins and it provided a brilliant contrast to the war torn years and austerity of the forties. Never forget it!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks for commenting Leroy. Great memories.

[@dianeallen9039]

Just found this film. Brings back happy memories. We had a family holiday there in the early 70s. We drove up from Hampshire. It was a lovely camp. My abiding memory was the disco which was all Northern Soul. Fantastic for a southerner who loved Northern Soul. (Still do).

[@ken-vc8bf]

I am now 70 years old and have many great memories of Butlins Filey. My sister and l tormented our parents to have a holiday at Butlins and we visited for several years. As a student l worked there for two summers and loved every minute. When l tell people they always say, " Were you a Redcoat? " l reply " No l didn't have the qualifcations - you needed two " O levels" or less." HA HA. Happy times, many thanks for sharing this video. PROFESSOR KEN.

[@frankiepitt9135]

I expect you were far too superior to be Red Coat 😂

[@ken-vc8bf]

@@frankiepitt9135. Indeed l was, if that doesn't sound too snobbish. Best wishes to you and yours. PROFESSOR KEN.

[@ken-vc8bf]

@Boodysaspie. Indeed that was our standard joke to that question. The real answer to that question would have been that to be a Redcoat you had to commit to a full season and, of course, us students could only commit to several weeks at the end of summer term. But as l said it was a brilliant place to work and to holiday and l will always have fond memories of it. Regards. PROFESSOR KEN.

[@kingy002]

This is a superbly informative video. No hype, just the facts laid out in a calm manner. Production quality of the video is excellent. The scene with all the holiday caravans is actually quite bleak to me here in New Zealand.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks!

[@rabsrealm]

I remember Filey so well. We went there from Glasgow on holiday many times in the 70's. I loved the place. My fondest memories were the chair lifts, the big wheel and of course the Red coats. They were absolutely brilliant. I guess Butlins just couldn't compete in the end with the introduction of the cheap Spanish package holiday and the sense of adventure that came with flying overseas. My parents succumbed in the end to the Costa Blanca. Sure it was an exciting new world to a child but it never held a candle to Butlins and the Red coats.

[@williamfence566]

Went as a child in the 70's year after year and enjoyed every minute as that was our only holiday for the year. Remember the outside pool was always freezing and meal times were regimented due to the numbers of people attending . Mum loved it because for a week she didn't have to cook.

[@lwaves]

We visited a few Butlins in my youth of the mid/late 70's and early 80's. We always went self-catering, which usually only meant breakfast and lunch as we ate out at night. I think one of them was Filey but I can't remember the camp at all. They got a lot of stick from other kids/people but I also enjoyed them, they had everything you could want and you could ignore the planned activities. Good times.

[@minkgin3370]

Same for my mum too. 😀 It meant she could have a complete holiday. Mum & dad told us not to go off the camp then left us to our own devices & we only met them for lunch (dinner as it was in those days), & tea. I had my 13th birthday here in 1960. My friend came with our family for the week & as usual we had a great time. I still have the photo my dad took of the two of us outside our chalet & the one taken at breakfast with everyone in the dining hall singing happy birthday to me.

[@mjami60427]

Malcolm Jamison. Went to the camp at Filey in 1946 with my parents and two brothers. They were still converting the last of the chalets at the time from their wartime use back to holiday accommodation. Returned a few years later with my girlfriend, later to become my wife. We arrived in a little prewar Austin Seven which my pal had fitted a roof rack to for our luggage. we were put out of sight at the back of the carpark away from the posher cars. Happy days.

[@markholroyde9412]

Awesome, respectable folk doing sensible/respectable things....today?...push most of 'em in a furnace for me.

[@susanyork5089]

We went to Primrose Valley for our holidays , I was a toddler in 1953 for the first , every morning we would be woken up at 7am by Good Morning campers from the Butlins Camp . Primrose and Filey has a special place in my heart , my beloved mam loved the place . Still holiday 3 times a year in Filey nothing beats that bay .

[@shanewhite9421]

Poignant , beautifully shot viewed with tears in my eyes, had a holiday there with my mum back in the very early seventies lost her a couple of years later so Filey holds a very special place in my heart .

[@terrybutler1096]

I was 18yo and worked at Butlins Holiday Camp Filey as a dishwasher during the summer of 1966. It was a bustling place enjoyed by staff and campers alike. Great memories of Bridlington and Scarborough. I met my wife to be at Butlins. She was a waitress in the dining rooms.

[@albertatlock]

I worked at butlins Filey as a photographer photographing campers on holiday. I was there in 1981 , it was enjoyable work , met loads of people. I remember photographing campers at evening dinner time producing key rings that you viewed by holding up to the light.

[@stuartbooth6929]

Visited Butlins Filey in the late sixties. What was surprising is how long it took to get there by coach. Great time was had by all.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

I ran the skating rink at Filey for a season, I didn't realize it then of course but these were some of the greatest days of my life, young a fit {18} with no worries lol, great people I met there and my introduction to Northern Soul, I was one of only a handful of Geordie s there as Butlins usually put you to work in a camp far away from where you lived . FANTASTIC days I will never ever forget

[@Pendlewitch]

Very fond memories of holidaying at Filey and Skegness Butlins when I was young. Loved walking on the beach hunting for fossils and taking many rides on the chairlift. Loved everything about Butlins and think of it every time I have asparagus soup.

[@lesleygilbert1945]

I live in Hull and took my daughter for a day trip to Filey via a bus early 70's. I always remember a ride called *The Mouse*. In 1989 I went for a weeks holiday to Skegness with my sister and her 2 Grandchildren. We had a great time with lots of things to do on a daily basis - happy memories :)

[@FunFindervids]

I visited the old Butlin's site in 2010, there were two recognisable features still standing, or semi standing. The outdoor pool, which due to recent rain still had a reasonable amount of water in it, and the remaining bit of the indoor pool. Next to the indoor pool was a pile of rubble, containing very recognisable thick pieces of glass. These had been the glass in the swimming pool so campers could swim underwater and look through the glass and see family and friends in the coffee lounge on the other side! I now have a piece of this glass on display in my home in Australia, polished and engraved with the Butlin's logo and a description of where it came from

[@apm763]

My aunt took me in 1976 when I was 13. The main things I remember was sitting down on long benches and tables for meals in the canteen and everyone cheering if one of the kitchen staff dropped a cup or plate and it broke. Hardly any plugs for the communal baths - you had to screw up a load of toilet paper, push it in the plug hole and have a bath as quickly as you could before the water dissappeared. Going in the cinema and every so often seeing a box light up saying, 'Baby crying in Chalet No. 4 (or wherever)' and one of the staff banging on the chalet window telling me to get up if I'd slept in after a certain time in the morning. Everything was just like Hi-De-Hi. Great fun!

[@Psykelektric]

My dad was in the resident band that played Butlin's, Filey in the summer season of 1961. One of the happiest summers of his life.

[@MatthewRSimpson]

Thanks for this, this took me back to my childhood. In the early 80's when i was a early/mid teenager we used to mainly go to Wallis's at Cayton Bay, but would also go to Butlins and Primrose Valley when our dad would take us. We would always drive from our home town of Thornaby, so not really use the train at all. My dad passed away early Nov this year. Its quite sad to see how its gone into decline, but did bring back good memories, and has now got me searching for Wallis's.

[@leslowe6475]

My Mum worked as a chalet maid in the early 80s, probably one of the last years it was open. She loved it there. Still got a photo of her and some of the friends she made.

[@eleanorporteous766]

I'm 60+ and as a child my father took us to Butlins for our weeks annual holiday a lot of pitman's families holidayed at Butlins in the miners fortnight very happy memories pit closers finished Butlins I think love the memory you have created here x

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Eleanor.

[@iang1955]

I worked there in 1973 for the summer season in the 'Shops & Bars' section. This was in between my A levels and going to Huddersfield Polytechnic. Some great memories. Think I got paid about £11 a week. Food and accommodation was included.

[@revengenerd1]

Ha ha ha, makes me think of when I worked at Primrose Valley around 2002 just after I spent a year at college, because the wages weren't much better despite it being decades later, after taxes and "rent" I was left with about £30 a week and had to buy my own food so by time I did that I was likely getting about £10 a week

[@CulturedThugPoster]

We used to go to Filey for the dance competitions when I was a child in the 70's and 80's. Off season the weather was quite 'brisk', but as the competitions were all indoors it didn't matter that much.

[@alunhoskins4513]

I went there in 1969 and loved it. Always taken there by a favourite uncle - I guess it gave mum and dad a break😆 Travelled up from Hastings by train. Played snooker there for the first time ever in the large snooker halls. I remember getting bitten on the neck by a horse fly whilst playing the game! Funny the things you remember. (Mind you, it did hurt) Very fond memories of very different times. Suddenly, or so it seems, I’m 64. Thanks for making the video.

[@binarybox.binarybox]

We went to Filey around 1950. I think we went on a coach. I have a pic of me in the outdoor pool learning to swim...had a great week. When I had my own children, we went to Butlins in the 1980s once or sometimes twice a year to different places...always had a good time. An army helicopter landed in the camp one time and I got some pics of it...we were allowed to go up to it and have a close look and a chat with the guys.

[@juliejordan5472]

Really enjoyed watching this, how times have changed!

[@neill392]

Although it opened as a holiday camp in 1946, it was completed in 1939 and saw wartime service as RAF Hunmanby Moor during WW2. A number of the camps were built during the war in an agreement between BB and the war office, he got to keep them after the war. Skegness was HMS Royal Arthur and Pwllheli was HMS Glendower.

[@theartyyvonnemixedmediaart7259]

Loved Butlins as a child in the 70’s. My mum was a redcoat so we went to every camp around U.K. plus we got free stay for 2 weeks. We went to Filey in the early 1970’s via London from Scotland. We finished at Barry Island Butlins in 1981. I have photos from Butlins as a child wearing my huge flares, tank tops or shorts. Every camp looked the same, the Butlins 901 kids club and Beaver Club were great. Donkey derby would now be considered illegal. Such innocent, fun times. I loved watching Hi de Hi on tv lol as it was a tongue in cheek version of Butlins,

[@duncanrhodes4778]

Thanks for this. Absolutely fascinating. In the summers of 1975-78 I worked on a pig farm at Withernwick near Hornsea. Twice a week we drove a truck to Butlins to collect bins full of waste food which was boiled up with meal to feed the growing pigs. We also collected from many Bridlington hotels, but the bins used at Butlins were smaller than our regular size, and referred to as “Butlin bins”. In those days at age 18-20 the holiday camp seemed almost exotic to me!

[@wishmastermaker]

You didn't know a bloke called Eddie in 1975 by any chance did you, he only worked there that season, he was just a helper in the kitchens, my wife's friend is trying to locate him as its her biological dad who she has never met, he left when she was just 15 month old

[@johnhenderson5389]

Brilliantly photographed . . . well done and a superb record. Thanks.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks John.

[@adamlee3772]

A really interesting and well produced video. I am an Australian born Sheffield man, (my parents moved us back to UK when I was five), I’ve never ever visited a Butlins but loved watching the video to get a feel for how the place is. We moved back to Sheffield but holidayed around the UK, dad was lucky, he got a company car so we could afford a caravan. We used to go somewhere every other weekend including Filey, lots of places in Gods own country, Yorkshire, and further afield in the summer holidays. I’ve been all over the world and Yorkshire does take some beating, I promise you that.

[@lewisbarlow]

As a family we ran the run the world charity run around the camp on a beautifully sunny day, Brilliant day out. You can loose the camp, but you always have the memories. Great video thank you. the Barlows.. Wolverhampton.

[@joedow6180]

I remember going into the beachcomber themed bar with running water ,colourful lights and animal noises, it’s was magical

[@dawnied1785]

I remember that too 🙂

[@juliawilson4642]

Had a wonderful family holiday at Butlins Filey in 1970 ..remember the train and the family talent show, I still have my Lucky Duck which was bought in Whitby on a day out while we were there. I also have the viewer with the photo in of our family eating dinner. It seemed magical at the time 🤩I’m 60 this year ..lovely memories

[@alanparkinson9135]

Your video was very interesting. The world has moved on from holiday camps so it was sad to see the site abandoned. But I have to correct you - Filey re-opened in 1945 and my family must have been among the first holiday makers to be there in that year. My three memories of our holiday are the photograph taken on Filey beach by Butlin's photographer of our whole family. That is the only photo I have of our whole family and it now sits on my buffet. The other two memories are that Ted "Tiny" Evans was one of the red coats - he was 7 feet 6 inches tall. The other, and this shows we were there in 1945, is that during our holiday, there was great celebrations in London and all over Britain for VE Day on 8 May 1945. Butlin's posted many photographs of the celebrations so that we could all join in. Thanks for the memories.

[@ColinInYorks]

We lived near Grimsby and did a week at the Skegness camp several times in the late 60’s when my dad got our first car (a Ford Popular) it wasn’t until we went to Filey that I actually saw cliffs for the first time ! The view of Bridlington Bay from the chairlift is one that will remain with me forever - was a real “wow” to a Lincolnshire kid so used to flat fields!

[@gillchatfield3231]

Thank you for this. My mother and her friend went to Filey in 1946. Mum would have been 22 and her friend perhaps 19. Her friend died just last year. We holidayed at Butlins as a family for about 8 years, but never at Filey. They were great holidays - something for all the family, and I remember the double bikes. Although people say they were regimented, things generally were more organised at that time, and it was certainly better than seaside boarding houses. I look at today's cruise liners and wonder what's the difference? On-site entertainment with resident staff, bars, dining rooms with set mealtimes - very similar structure, and you're effectively captive for most of the time. I know which I'd prefer.

[@charliesouthgate6125]

Different mind set Gill and the weather is worth taking into account, chalk and cheese I think, after saying that I've never been on a cruise!

[@angeladavison9323]

My dad called cruises upmarket Butlins on Sea

[@vinadamswood586]

You ask Gill, what is the difference between Butlin's and a cruise. None really, apart from with cruising you have the chance of drowning thrown in.

[@Foxybiker72]

So sad to see this video. I used to have holidays at Butlins Filey in the 70's fantastic times. I have driven down from Newcastle and seen these sights for myself. Rest on peace Butlins Filey. Very highly misssed.

[@yettsoman4364]

This is an excellent video, well done 👏🏻. I came to Butlin's Filey with my family in 1965. I was six. I remember it so well...the train station and the camp itself...I thought it was a wonderland!

[@karonhorne9922]

Great video but also so sad that a camp is high so many people and families enjoyed is no more. As a child I went to Skegness, Bognor and Minehead , even at Christmas it was wonderful, so much to see and do made so many friends best holidays ever.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Cheers mate!

[@gedheaton1415]

Fantastic video,well done and thank you, I.m a Butlins kid now 60+ cancer survivor and though I never actually went to Filey (always Skeggy) this brings back sooo many memories from 50 yrs ago, absolute gem of a vid,again mate Cheers

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Ed. Really appreciate you commenting.

[@mikelewis4273]

brought back some memories, really enjoyed the video, after the last year, I wonder how many people would love a simple fun holiday like Butlins was back then.

[@fluffybunny7840]

As a child my parents used to take me to Butlins in Blackpool....it was a fabulous experience and have fond memories!

[@deanosanders203]

When England was England, happy days, many happy holiday memories at at butlins in minehead and Barry island! sad really these videos how life as changed.

[@thephantomarse]

Some great memories sad that my kids can't experience the Butlins we did as kids

[@moorzymoores]

"When England was England"????? Eh?

[@mjc5509]

@@moorzymoores i guess that means white???

[@cjn01]

Talk about rose tinted glasses. When it was legal to discriminate on age, race, sex etc. When being gay was illegal. When cancer was a death sentence for nearly everyone getting it. Brilliant times for sure.

[@danbreen6946]

@@moorzymoores When england got beat in the Euro's FORZA ITALIA 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@nevillehenderson8600]

My Uncle Jim was camp controller there.Used to over there every school holiday from Barrow and had a great time as he would organise a free pass for me for the whole holiday.Happy memories.

[@rjfossilsauce5387]

Stumbled upon this by accident. A fantastic, informative and well produced piece of nostalgia. I was born in 81 so never got to see the Filey camp, but I've always loved Butlins. Thank you for making this film.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thank you.

[@kylegregory2693]

My word - was just chatting with someone today about local history as he was researching for a novel based in the area and he mentioned this video. Then tonight it showed up in my recommendations (phone must be listening!) I'm fascinated by the old Butlins, and managed to explore 12 years ago with a friend under the tunnel

[@michaelcampbell5039]

1964 and thirteen years old. Loved every minute of it. My first ever holiday.

[@donr2176]

Never stayed at any Butlins; as I was a Kiwi in England on a working holiday, in 1967. Our London company took us all to Clacton on Sea for a day's outing...where I found a Butlins camp there.. I was surprised to find it had a barbed-wire fence around it! The person on the gate was not amused when I enquired "Is the fence to keep Butlins folk in- or the public out"? I recall taking a speedboat ride out and around a Pirate Radio Station, [ Radio 390, from memory] which was on an old WWII tower.. Although it was summer, the sea was damn freezing! Only two of us swam.. Happy days half a century ago..

[@hulmedav]

Wonderful how nature takes over if left alone. we used to love jumping into the freezing out door pool then run inside to the heated pool,the heated pool had glass panels so you could watch people in the pool swimming. The mock beams I have on my living room ceiling were reclaimed from the old chalets so I still have a piece of Butlins history. Our generation had the best of times life is getting very dark now and I fear for what is coming.

[@BarrySmallwood]

in 1969 after my a level exams and before university i went to butlins at filey and worked there for 13 weeks .i was a kitchen hand serving out and preparing the meals .i was in grosvenor kitchen for 3 or 4 weeks generally washing thousands of pots ,then i moved into kent kichen on the plating tables plating thousands of meals .i have so many good and bad memories of my stay

[@mikeardington8530]

I worked at Butlins Filey in 1982 best time of my life

[@stephenhiggins8821]

Great video what brought back many memories we had some wonderful holidays as families there in the 60 s and 70s thank you

[@chrisholt2474]

A brilliant film thank you, I have never been there but enjoyed your film. It’s great to have some knowledge of the history and read the comments of the people who visited and remember Butlins. Thank you, regards, Chris.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Chris! I've been blown away by all the comments.

[@kts64]

Butlins was the best butlins camp, as a kid we holiday at Filey in 70s, should a shame butlins let this camp go as it was one of the best , so much to do for all ages, we always stayed in the yellow chalets near the sports hall, my best childhood memories was our family holidays at Filey butlins so sad to see it abandoned had so much going for that holiday park specially now Thxs for the memories 👌👌👌

[@RichardWells1]

Poignant. A great story, brilliant presentation, well-shot and narrated, evocative soundtrack, superb editing. How holiday expectations have changed!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Richard!

[@jillfoster6369]

Fabulous. My friend and I went to Butlins in the early 1970s and had a fabulous time. I think my friend’s sister may have worked there. Remember Primrose Valley as well 👏👏

[@andywelburn432]

Thank you for making this. I have happy memories of holidays at Butlins as a child during the 60s.

[@sambrooks7862]

I went there a couple of times in the early 70s. Butlins holidays were great for kids back then, make a friend on the first day then spend the entire week having fun and only checking in with the parents at meal times or when you needed more money. For me the first half of the 70s was the most amazing time to be alive, pity we can't go back!

[@cashcrop70]

Great memories of two holidays in September '80 and '81. Dad went to church and the last week of the season was something like 'Christian week'. The only difference was the dining halls became book shops, but everything else was open; we simply went self-catering. I missed the second week of school both years (as a 10 and 11 year old), had a Wimpey burger for the first time, and saw Chariots of Fire.

[@trammix]

Thanks Andrew, fascinating video, well explained, nice camera work and historic footage. Mum & Dad took us to Butlins Filey in the mid 60's when I was a wee nipper.

[@iaindouglas6861]

A very well made documentary. It’s sad to see how things we enjoyed when we were young, have now faded away.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Iain.

[@pgmetcalf]

That's a great video. I was born in Sheffield in 1966 and although we never went to Filey on holiday, I remember it being a large and special place and always wanted to go. We nearly always ended up at Ingoldmells on the Lincolnshire coast which also had a Butlins camp. We never stayed at the camp, but you could buy a day ticket if you wanted and we did that a few times. Being young, it was great and we never needed much to entertain us, it was simple innocent pleasures, but looking back to what we're used to now, I suppose it was a bit naff. Unfortunately, time has moved on and people seem to be more dissatisfied these days and continually demand more and seem to be rushing around and getting as much done as possible rather than relaxing and having fun. Thanks for the memories

[@cryptopumpit7459]

So many good memories of going there as a kid. No other holidays compare! Great work 👍👍👍👍

[@foleyartist62]

Have faint memories of the Butlins site as too young to remember actual stays. We holidayed most of the time in Bridlington and Skipsea caravan site. What strikes me looking at the vintage photos is the vibrancy of the colours of the building and recreation areas. I do recall when about 9 or 10 visiting to go on a not too scary 'mouse' rollercoaster ride and making a record with a friend in one of the recording booths. You took away a floppy 45 record so you could play it on a record player. It's criminal tgst after demolishing the site there has been no major effort to re landscape and remove debris. Many thanks for making this well made doc. Love to see others on Brid, Filey, Scarborough and Robin Hoods Bay.

[@tonygarrett7214]

Excellent video. It’s important to make videos like this as it is an effective way of recoding social history. Well done lad!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Tony.

[@vinadamswood586]

I salute you for an extraordinary video. Most professionally produced, with your relaxed delivery making even a Desmond Lynam seem positively manic. I was working as a travelling salesman in 1983, driving my car along the M4, and switched on my radio for the 3pm news summary. The newsreader said "The Rank Organisation have today announced the closure of two of their Butlin's Holiday Camps, the ones at Clacton and Filey"… I was in such a state of shock, I had to come off the motorway at the next exit… and seek out the first available lay-by. Why? Well, because the two camps they were closing were the camps that I had worked in as a management trainee for 27 months some decade and a half earlier. Go today to Clacton, and - like Barry Island - you'd never know there had been a camp there, as it is a housing estate. At least their subsequent closures at Pwllheli and Ayr have retained their purpose of providing inexpensive holidays, even if they lack the distinctive idiosyncrasies and branding of their Butlin's incarnations. Your wonderful film has amazed me, because even though I knew Filey was the biggest camp for capacity, I had zero knowledge of a railway station there… and I was manager of Self-Catering Reception there (under my true name of David "Dai" Woosnam… VA is an anagram) in 1970…!! It shows how rail figures must have dwindled by then, if nobody told me about it. Talking of figures, I was always told that 1963 represented the year when Butlin's achieved highest occupancy per camp, After this, cheap flights to the Costas started to eat into Butlin's numbers. Colleagues who remember me at Clacton and Filey can write to me at Hotmail. It is a dot com address, and before the at sign is daigress. In closing, let me again commend you for a superb job. I have subscribed. Netflix please note: this guy should be making docs for you.

[@shiver_me_timbers]

Spent many a holiday at Primrose Valley in the late 80's early 90's. You could see the old Butlins camp from the edge of the site. It was covered in ivy and trees, It was like an abandoned town. Never plucked up the courage to go in at the time dam it. Prob would have been awesome and also a death trap. Great vid btw, keep it up!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thank you.

[@jayatkinson1152]

Oh my... I spent a week at Butlins, Filey in 1972 with my best friend Gillian. We had a ball! I met a Redcoat named Trevor from 'darn Sarf' and after the holiday we met up in Hull for the day, but he wasn't the same without his red coat on! Hee Hee Brilliant memories, thanks for this xxx

[@popazz1]

By the 'eck, that's stirred up a few memories, not all of them pleasant. I never holidayed there with my parents and siblings, it was always Whitby and Scarborough. But I did work a season there, in 1980. I was 20 and had been out of work a couple of months, (born and raised in M/Boro), and spotted an ad' in the Evening Gazette for seasonal staff. Me and a mate went along to the Dragonara Hotel in M/Boro, and before we knew it we were Butlins bar staff! She was put on the Cabaret bar and I was on the Gaiety bar. Much of it was full of happy times, bloody long hours, but fun. A major issue was having to share a chalet with another staff member. It was smaller than a box room, two awful single beds either side of the door and on the opposite wall a wardrobe and a wash basin! My original chalet mate was a bloke who was a good 20 years older than me and he was a sex mad Irishman who brought a series of one night stands back! Imagine having to lay in bed night after night with some randy goat not more than 2 feet away getting his jollies with a succession of women. It went on for 2 months until he was caught with the wife of one of the holidaymakers in a compromising position! That sealed his fate and he was unceremoniously sacked and given 1 hour to pack and leave! All in all I did have a great time and whilst the wages weren't brilliant you didn't pay for your cell, oops, chalet, lol and all meals were free and there was a laundry room, again free. The only thing we paid for was our entertainment and even then if guests recognized you out of uniform on your free time then quite a few would buy us a drink. I'd forgotten how soon after I'd worked there the place closed down. Thanks for uploading this.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Enjoyed reading that, thanks for commenting!

[@popazz1]

@@NorthYorkshireWanderer ... No worries, pleased you enjoyed it. I've reconnected with the lass I worked the season with after joining the Memories of M/Boro group on Facebook. We lost touch after I left the Boro in 83, haven't had any contact in 37 years! We had a good catch up about this and that and she vividly remembered our season at Filey.

[@Ardoyne10]

nice one john paul i was 20 and worked there in 1980 as well i was a waiter in the full board restaurants and from boro would you believe was there 79 80 happy days pal

[@popazz1]

@@Ardoyne10 ... Hahaha, seems the Boro recruitment campaign paid off for Butlins. Yeah, they were (mainly) happy days.

[@thephantomarse]

I worked at bognor as a teen in the 90s still had those crappy tiny rooms with the two beds and the wash basin used to get a roulette of people to share with Horrible memories of the staff bar and Butlins larger 😀

[@chemistninja]

We had our first big family holiday at Filey in 1967. It was a fantastic place for a young kid. I remember the big fountains by the outside pool, the Big Mouse(?) rollercoaster as you thought you were going to head off the top at the corner, standing underneath the Giant’s legs and best of all, watching swimmers’ legs through the pool underwater windows. A magically place through a kid’s eye!

[@davemorris1479]

I really enjoyed this video. Andrew the presenter is excellent and overall the video had a professional feel about it.

[@neilmurray1492]

Thank you for the video. I enjoyed it immensely. My mum and dad took my brother and me to Butlins Filey in 1947 when I was 4 years old. I don't remember a great deal but I remember being knocked over going into the dining hall by a man who pushed the door into me as he was leaving. The nurses were lovely. Perhaps that's why I don't remember much. Though I did have a great time.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Cheers Neil 👍🏼

[@michaelgamble296]

We were a railway family and my father knew Billy Butlin and developed the railway connection to Filey Holiday Camp. Indeed we spent a week there, having arrived by train and been transported into the camp proper by the road train. We lived in Chalets which were constructed of wood and placed back-to-back. It was possible to hold conversations with those in the attached Chalet! It was at Filey we had our first Whale meat steaks in the vast refectories. And there were boating pools too where you could help yourself to a hand operated paddle boat - which my brother and I used to do in the dead of night. All lit up until midnight! Every night and morning the Tannoy speakers used to greet the campers. We were woken up by the Tannoy system every morning . . . a cheery "Good Morning Campers!" The night time song remains in my memory: " Good night Campers, I can see you yawning! Good night campers before next day is dawning! Good night Campers I've heard it said that folks die in bed! when tucked up in bed! And so it's Good Night Campers . . . . etc. or something like that! can't remember any more - and even that's not right! Many of the entertainers were ex-forces who had, by working as teams, drummed up some patter or other to the amusement of all. I know I wrote down the words of that evening song and have it still somewhere! The last Bastion of Butlins were the Hotels. I used to work in one near Brighton - Butlins Ocean Hotel where there were the usual Red-coats and the knobbly knees competitions! All great fun" Now . . . . . ? all g o n e . . . . .

[@paulpayton8238]

Thanks for sharing this video I love it up north Yorkshire 😊

[@chriswilkes5938]

I stayed here for a week in the sixties. My parents hated it and left every day as soon as they could each morning, and came back at night. I loved it and went on everything while they were out. I was about 12.

[@liveinhope]

I went to Butlins Filey in the summer of 1965 aged 10. It was the best weeks holiday I can remember with the family. We went there by car from Bradford.

[@janefalcone7852]

Don't know how I ended up here but what a brilliant find. Thank you so much for a look back at a far more gentle and innocent time ❤️xx

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Jane. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@themanftheworld8439]

I visited for my first family holiday camp trip in late July, 1972, by coach as a six year old from the North East of England.We stopped off at Guisborough there and back. Great video.Enjoyed it.

[@mordanthamster2753]

I remember visiting Butlin's, Filey as a five-year-old kid. My mother and I came second in the lookalike competition that week ( - we still have the photo's - ) and I was surprised to see a mousehole in the skirting board of our chalet - just like in the Tom 'n' Gerry cartoons! I also remember going to a wrestling match. The whole thing left a big impression on me and the memories linger... Thank you for the video. Good stuff!

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks for commenting - great memories!

[@HolyGoddessMotherAnne]

Sounds brilliant for ya mate,as long as it kept ya happy.

[@tassiedevil49]

Tassie Devil What an excellent video of Butlins Filey. I remember going there in the early 60's as a 11 or 12 year old. The excitement of such a fabulous place with so many people and great things to do, what an adventure it was. One of the "things" that has stuck with me all these years was the way everyone was fed, what a feat, 2 sittings each meal time, hundreds of people to feed and the women that served the meals did an unbelievable job. These women had a carrying frame for 5 or 6 plates to speed up the serving and what an huge cheer went up when one of them dropped a plate or dish, much to the embarrassment of the lady concerned, poor woman :) . I also remember that I had to give in the chalet key to do things, like using the boating lake or playing snooker etc., good job Mum & Dad got an extra key for me to use! Very fond memories from long ago.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Mal.

[@maryphillips864]

My first holiday away from home without my parents... summer of 68, and I was only sixteen! I went with two workmates, and to this day I'm still surprised my parents let me go! I can remember the Hawiian Bar, it was like being abroad 😄 It's sad that things have to change... but that's progress. Many a family had a happy time at Butlins, and we should thank Billy Butlin for that!

[@willbee6785]

‘77. The Hawaiian bar was brilliant. On my mum’s birthday, our family were having a meal together. In the entrance came her sister (my auntie) & her best friend and sang, happy birthday to my mum. It was brilliant. Happy memories. 😃

[@colinwhite5355]

That this special place was conceived, built, used, enjoyed, closed, to then become what it is, today, and all within the lifetime of a single man, is difficult to comprehend.

[@essanjay8604]

Life was simpler in those days but holidays seemed a lot more exciting somehow. I used to pester my parents to take us to Butlins as it appeared to be child heaven but we never managed it. Although the camps were designed for working class families they were still too expensive for many.

[@suzannekucukhavutcu145]

Wow!!!!!brings back many memories,holidayed there with my mum and sister back in the 70s.😀

[@Ricksta66]

Me and my family was there at the Butlin's Filey Holiday Camp way back in 1980, great teenage memories:))) Sad it all closed in 1983. Tracey Large I loved you, my teenage Holiday romance X

[@stevesmith3451]

Superb video presentation,spent a week at Butlins way back in 1966 with my parents and still visit the area to this day at the Bay this August.

[@NorthYorkshireWanderer]

Thanks Steve.