The Butlin Story Book - Page 30/31
By Sir Billy Butlin
Written by Sir Billy Butlin himself, we can see the most important moment in the Butlins timeline story...
"More recently, however, I had concentrated on accumulating enough capital to launch my holiday camp idea. It had been born in the early Twenties, when, as a young and struggling travelling showman, I had taken a short holiday on Barry Island in South Wales.
I had stayed at a small boarding house. It was my first experience of such places and I was astounded at the way the guests were treated. We had to leave the premises after breakfast and were not encouraged to return until lunchtime. After lunch, we were again made not welcome until dinner in the evening. When the weather was fine the 'routine' became acceptable, but when it rained life became a misery. And it rained incessantly all the time I was on Barry Island. I feel sorry for myself, but I felt even sorrier for the families with young children as they trudged around and bedraggled, or forlornly filled in time in amusement arcades until they could return to their boarding houses.
(skip to further down the page) ... 'I remembered my years in Canada, and the summer camp on the shores of Lake Ontario run by Eaton's, the big Toronto department store, for its employees. I had gone there as a very junior employee and I had greatly enjoyed the swimming, canoeing and fishing. But most of all I recalled the atmosphere: it was happy and friendly, largely due to the fact that everyone paid the same for their holiday and there was no snobbery.
(skip to page 31) ... In the rain on Barry Island, I decided 'One day I'll build a camp like that here in Britain, with the same happy atmosphere. But it will have more indoor facilities to allow for the British weather"
