Butlin's Memorabilia Website
In depth Research about Butlins Bahamas Vacation Village - Pt 5
1950

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Chapter 13 - Have you heard about the Bermuda Plan? - Part 5

As we continue from the fourth segment of the Butlins Bermuda plan, we now explore an essential chapter in the Butlins Caribbean saga.
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Butlins Bahamas Vacation Village logo

January 1950 - The new Butlins opens

The moment had arrived to officially open the gates for the first time, proudly displaying the renowned Butlins logo. However, Billy Butlin was confronted with several unresolved challenges. At this juncture, the camp was still undergoing construction and needed considerable work to meet its planned capacity. Billy Butlin indicated that the difficulties arose from a shortage of workers and delays in the delivery of supplies and fittings, resulting in the gates opening while the village was not yet fully completed, despite continuous efforts to work day and night. To mitigate any dissatisfaction from guests regarding the ongoing construction, Billy Butlin chose to place a bottle of champagne in each chalet along with a brief note. He recounts in his book,

"The gesture cost me about £5000--- but I made friends and dubbed 'Champagne Charlie' by the guests"

To promote his new vacation village, Billy Butlin worked diligently, arranging a mystery flight with Capital Airways that offered an all-inclusive Caribbean weekend for $129 without disclosing the destination. He also travelled to the United States, where he successfully encouraged several major industrialists to send groups of their workers and families to his village. Although customer turnout suggested that his efforts were fruitful, the press did not share the same enthusiasm, providing reviews that were critical of the vacation village. They described the setting as having "incredibly blue waters and impossibly golden sands",  yet criticised the accommodations as "squarish cells with the appearance of dollar saving at the expense of beauty". However, I have found some that give good reviews also, shown below for you to read and judge for yourself about this new Butlins adventure. 

The new chairman of Butlins Bahamas Ltd

There were going to be a lot of changes made with the leadership of the Butlin's Bahamas, now changing as Mr Drayton's investment had made him the controlling stakeholder in the company. The money invested was finalised in January 1950. Mr Drayton would start to make some changes to the leadership team at Butlins Bahamas Ltd. Sir Bede Clifford would no longer be the chairman of Butlins Bahamas Ltd, as Brigadier Critchley's number two from his company, Skyways and executive from the H. C. Drayton Group, Brigadier Keith Thorburn, would replace him. Mr Drayton felt that Brigadier Keith Thorburn would be the replacement it needed to get the Holiday village back on track. The holiday village was opened in 1950 to new guests, however, the resort is not completed and still behind schedule. 

Page 190 - 191 - The Billly Butlin Story

The Butlin Story Book - Pages 190 and 191 - The Butlin Story - By Sir Billy Butlin

Huddersfield Daily Examiner - Wednesday 11 January 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 11th January 1950

Image © Reach PLC. 

Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Showing the important role of selected staff that was trained to help start the new camps/resorts. In this article is Joan Brook, one of fifty people specially selected to help with the opening of Butlins Bahamas. 

Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner Saturday 12th January 1950 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 14th January 1950

Image © Reach PLC.

Huddersfield and Holmfirth Examiner
Another article showing the contribution that Joan Brook had with Butlins and its development over the years. 

Evening News (London) - Tuesday 31 January 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 31st January 1950

Image © Daily Mail & General Trust. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Evening News (London)
This small article confirms that Brigadier Keith Thorburn has taken over the position at Butlins Bahamas Ltd. This also shows the moment when the village opened. 

Butlins Caribbean article Nottingham Guardian - Tuesday 28 February 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 28th February 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Nottingham Guardian
This article confirms that Sir Bede Clifford has resigned from the chairman position in Butlins Bahamas Ltd with Brigadier Thorburn as the replacement. However, what is interesting is that Sir Bede Clifford continues as a vice-chairman. 

Butlins Caribbean article Daily Express - Thursday 09 March 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 9th March 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Express 
The newspaper article also shows the same information that Billy Butlin wrote in his book as he continues to fight for his Bahamas dream to continue.


The Evening Star - 26th March 1949 - Page 4

The Evening Star has an article showing the new Butlins Bahamas from their 26th March 1950 newspaper. Further zooms ins for the document as shown below for you to be able to read more.

Evening Star - 26th March 1950 - Page B-6 Zoom ins

America was enthusiastic about the new Butlins, ready to embrace the exciting environment of fantastic company. Publications began to present the options available to American customers, explaining the concept and how they could take advantage of the experiences offered.

Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Image found at the Library of Congress website (B6) Image found at the Library of Congress website (B7)
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story
The Evening Star, 26th March 1949 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story

Mystery Flight to Butlins

To help promote the resort, Billy Butlin would arrange for a $125 mystery flight to the resort, which is sponsored by Capital Airlines. Lucky for us, I found a copy of Life magazine that shows you this important event.

LIFE 27 Mar 1950

Image from Life Magazine

LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 136
Forty passengers are set to pay $125 each for a secret getaway that includes round-trip flights and a two-and-a-half-day weekend retreat. The ticket price covers all resort expenses, with the exception of tips and bar bills. Clues will be provided to the travellers, indicating what clothing to bring and offering maps to help them guess their destination. The pilots will intentionally reverse the compasses in the aircraft to introduce an element of confusion, making the adventure even more exciting.

This photograph illustrates the question mark positioned on both sides of the plane, signifying that it was a mystery flight.

LIFE 27 Mar 1950

Image from Life Magazine

LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 136 & 137
Upon arrival at the airport, the mystery flight passengers will discover that their destination is the expansive 430-square-mile Grand Bahama Island. They will learn that they are headed to the new Butlins Vacation Village, which differs from those located in the United Kingdom.

Travellers arriving from the aircraft to get on the transport that would take them to Butlin's Bahamas. Their awareness of the destination came only when they flew around the island.

LIFE 27 Mar 1950.jpg
Image from Life Magazine
LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 141

This image showcases the Butlins Beauty Contest, won by contestant number 14, Maureen Barbour. In the background, you can see the iconic water fountain that was a staple at all Butlins camps and hotels.

LIFE 27 Mar 1950.jpg
Image from Life Magazine
LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 136

This image showcases an example of the mystery flight tours. In the photo, Mrs. Frances Moffat Sargent is seen checking in at the Butlins Bahamas resort, dressed in a fur coat and shorts to prepare for any weather conditions. Capital Airlines had advised warm weather, but why take any risks?

LIFE 27 Mar 1950.jpg
Image from Life Magazine
LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 136

This picture highlights the beaches that Billy Butlin refers to as the best he has ever experienced. It features Anne Bromley and her husband enjoying the Grand Bahama beach. Anne Bromley is also the cover star of the magazine from March 27, 1950.

Life Magazine - 27th March 1950

Image from Life Magazine

LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 137

The Butlins Bahamas Holiday Resort offers its customers two restaurants, bars, swimming pools, a breathtaking beach with six dormitories in pastel colours, and 20,000 tropical plants sourced from abroad. Available activities include spear fishing, sunbathing, cocktail parties, and swimming in the warm ocean waters adjacent to the Gulf Stream.

In this image, Mr. Alfred Wolf is seen engaging in spear fishing for Bonito. He is utilizing a rubber raft in the clear, shallow waters.

LIFE 27 Mar 1950

Image from Life Magazine

Photo with Billy Butlin

LIFE 27 Mar 1950 - Page 138
In this remarkable image, Billy Butlin is seen seated with customers, wearing his striped tie. He would describe the beach bonfires, sightseeing excursions, and a pigeon racing event he provided. The resort also featured British shops that offered a variety of English goods.

Butlins Caribbean - Skegness News - Wednesday 12 April 1950

Skegness News - Wednesday 12 April 1950

Image © Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Butlins Caribbean article Skegness News - Wednesday 12 April 1950
Butlins Caribbean article Skegness News - Wednesday 12 April 1950
Butlins Caribbean article Skegness News - Wednesday 12 April 1950
Butlins Caribbean article Weekly Dispatch (London) - Sunday 16 April 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Sunday 19th April 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Weekly Dispatch (London)
As the Butlins vacation holiday village emerged as Billy Butlin's primary focus, he began to step back from the two hotels. The Fort Montagu Beach Hotel is now under lease to an American named Dr. George J. Gerson.

Not everything was going to plan...

The Butlins Vacation Village in the Bahamas has opened its doors, yet it faces considerable financial difficulties and still requires more work to finish the project. According to Chairman Brigadier Keith Thorburn, the magnitude of this Butlins project was beyond their initial projections, resulting in a need for extra funds to elevate the resort to the anticipated standards. His role involves seeking a large financial investment, a process that proves to be quite challenging. Additionally, the Brigadier is expected to deliver a report to the shareholders of Butlins Bahamas Ltd, providing an update on the site's condition and the financial data it is attracting. Further news is that 6,000,000 1s ordinary shares are now placed privately in Butlins Bahamas Ltd. 

The Scotsman - Saturday 22 April 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 22nd April 1950

Image © National World Publishing Ltd

The Scotsman
This article confirms the story of the resort having some financial problems and that they are seeking to find extra funding. 

Birmingham Daily Gazette - Saturday 22 April 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 22nd April 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Gazette
This newspaper article confirms that Sir Bede E.H. Clifford is no longer the chairman of the board and that Brigadier Keith Thorburn is the new chairman of Butlins Bahamas Ltd. It also explains the issues that the resort is facing.

Daily Express - Saturday 22 April 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 22nd April 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Express
This article tells the story of the champagne that was provided to the guest as a means of apologising for the continuous construction taking place during their time there.

An interesting twist to the Butlins Bahamas story...
While researching the history of Butlins Bahamas, I was surprised to learn that during Brigadier Keith Thorburn's efforts to secure extra funding, Billy Butlin was approached by American businesses eager to invest in the Bahamas initiative. These investments would surpass the projected costs for the village by £300,000. In his statement, Billy Butlin mentioned;

"Everything I have touched so far has been a success. I will spare no effort to make this enterprise an even greater success"

Sunday Express - Sunday 23 April 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Sunday 23rd April 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Sunday Express
This article confirms the information about Billy Butlin receiving offers from American firms who had an interest in Butlin's Vacation Village.

Evening Star - April 23rd 1950 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story

Image found at the Library of Congress Archive website

23rd April 1950

Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Evening Star 
An advertisement from America that includes the Butlins Grand Bahamas, which include the resort and hotels.

*Some areas of blurred and darken in accordance to the terms of usage. However, the high light area shows the information related to this story. 

Evening Star - April 30th 1950 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story

Image found at the Library of Congress Archive website

30th April 1950

Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Evening Star 
The Butlins Bahamas Vacation Resort was also used on the Eastern Steamship Lines cruise. 

*Some areas of blurred and darken in accordance to the terms of usage. However, the high light area shows the information related to this story. 

Not going to plan....
As of July 1950, the Butlins Bahamas Vacation Village required additional funds to finalise the site according to the submitted plans. Shareholders have been contributing financially to enhance the resort's finances, but it remains insufficient. The initial construction cost of the resort was projected at £1,030,000; however, due to various challenges faced by Billy Butlin from the outset, the expenses have escalated to £1,750,000.

Daily Herald - Saturday 01 July 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 1st July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Herald
The Daily Herald confirms the story that the Butlins Bahamas still requires extra funding and that the dividend was not going to be paid. 

Shareholders
The confirmation that the government would not provide support for the airstrip's construction has led Butlins Bahamas to experience worsening financial conditions. With no dividends being issued, shareholders are calling for the annual meeting to take place in London. The current location of the meetings in the Bahamas restricts most shareholders from voicing their concerns and applying pressure on the executives regarding the project's status and its impact on their financial stakes. Mr. Roy Hopkins, a notable shareholder, is interested in creating a committee to safeguard their interests. Nonetheless, the major challenge for shareholders is that almost half of the preference shares are controlled by Mr. Drayton's trusts, which diminishes the chances of forming such a committee.

Daily Express - Thursday 06 July 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 6th July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Express
Sadly, the news about the new Butlins is not good as pressure increases from shareholders.

Birmingham Daily Post - Saturday 01 July 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 1st July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
Showing that no further support was coming from the government with the Butlins Bahamas resort. 

Further Bad news
The Butlins Bahamas Holiday Vacation village received further disappointing news as Billy Butlin was informed that the anticipated additional funding from the government would not be forthcoming. This situation escalated the financial demands on both the shareholders and Billy Butlin to fulfill the requirements outlined in the planning permission submission. With rising costs of materials, the devaluation of the pound, ongoing dock strikes, and delays in the construction of the resort, Butlins Bahamas Ltd would need an additional £800,000 to avoid the risk of closure within a year of its opening.

Sunday Express - Sunday 09 July 1950

Sunday 9th July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Daily Express
Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Sunday Express
(for those who can not see the above, here is what it tells us all)

With the news that Billy Butlin required an additional £800,000 to complete his Butlin's Bahamas dream, he would make an appeal to the United States of America for help. The reality of the project and his involvement was coming to him fast as he realised a great deal. In the article above, he tells the reporter

"Unless this money is found, someone else will be in and I'll be out".

Billy Butlin could see that obtaining the financial backing from the United Kingdom was not an option for him

"So on Wednesday night, June 21st, I flew to New York and had meetings on the three following days with three groups who were prepared to put the money up. One was a stockbroking group, another represented a bank, and the third was composed of lawyers specialising in investment. I arranged for the three groups to come down separately to the Bahamas to look over the camp. The first group was to have left on Monday, June 26. On Sunday, the war in Korea started. Two groups said they would prefer to wait, but the other went down to the camp, and I stayed with them."

Billy Butlin returned to the United Kingdom to have a meeting with the largest investor, Mr Harrold Drayton, the head of the City Financial Group. Mr Drayton, at this stage of the Butlins Bahamas development, had already invested £650,000 into the project. 

"Mr Drayton agreed to the suggested terms for the finance. So if there is no serious development in the war. I hope to fix it up in the next few days"

The new terms agreed with Mr Drayton were not told in the newspaper article however, Billy Butlin did respond to the question with this;

"But as I've got £250,000 of my own personal money invested in the camp, it's unlikely I would do anything that would prejudice the present shareholders"

The site that Butlins Bahamas was built on was a scrub-ridden island, and the transformation of the area was a great deal. Billy Butlin also built a school for the local children and brought in doctors and nurses for all to use for their needs. However, the resort has had a great deal of bad luck with only enough accommodation for 500 guests, when it should have been 1000. From the figures given, Billy Butlin explains that £200,000 is required to complete the original build to allow 1000 guests to arrive and stay on the site.  

"The rest of the £800,000 will be needed to repay the bank and provide working capital. We have 24 shops in the village, and it will cost a lot of money to stock them with British goods"

However, despite all the above, Billy Butlin continues to show confidence in the Butlins Bahamas resort and believes this location is going to be successful. The shareholders can only see what is in front of them and that is their shares are lower than when they purchased them, and no payout. 

There is a new hope
A considerable amount of effort was invested behind the scenes to maintain the Butlins Bahamas dream, with hopes for its continuation for many years. Recent news has surfaced indicating that the chairman, Brigadier Keith Thorburn, was in discussions with the City group in the United Kingdom. He was working to convince them to contribute an additional £800,000 to Butlins Bahamas Ltd to assist in finalising the planned developments. There was also another group that was outside of the Drayton interest who was talking with Butlins Bahamas Ltd about investing their money. If they agree to a deal with the company, the money would become a First Mortgage Debenture stock. (To learn more about the First Mortgage Debenture and how it could impact Butlins Bahamas Ltd, please click on these words (opens new window) ) 

In the event that this deal is successful, it would secure the Butlins Bahamas resort, with the new company taking an equity position in the business. What are the implications for Butlins Bahamas Ltd and its shareholders? This would mean that the new company would have the primary entitlement to the company and its profits. However, it is essential to recognize that these discussions are merely at the preliminary stage, and negotiations are still in progress to determine if a settlement can be achieved. If the talks do not succeed, the onus will be on Billy Butlin, who is currently in New York, to find an investor and raise the crucial funds they are seeking.

Daily Express - Tuesday 11 July 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 11th July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Express
An interesting read from the Daily Express which has confirmed the story above about the investment. 

Evening Star - September 3rd 1950 - Butlins Memorabilia Butlins Bahamas Story

Image found at the Library of Congress Archive website

3rd September 1950

Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Evening Star 
Further development of the Butlins resort is reported on the Evening Star in America.

*Some areas of blurred and darken in accordance to the terms of usage. However, the high light area shows the information related to this story. 

Bradford Observer - Tuesday 05 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 5th September 1950

Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Bradford Observer
Showing an extremely important time in Butlins Bahamas timeline where there is a financial difficulty that needs to be solved. 

Birmingham Daily Post - Tuesday 05 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 5th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
Showing the hard work that Billy Butlin was doing in hope to find the extra money needed and how his trips to America was giving him new hope that this dream can stay alive. 

In response to the concerning news about the potential closure of Butlins Bahamas Limited, Billy Butlin was unwilling to concede defeat regarding his resort, as he believed in its ability to provide value to all. When confronted with such a difficult scenario, it seemed that Billy Butlin's thought process was one of determination: 'This does not signify failure, but rather presents a challenge that must be overcome.' (These are not the words of Billy Butlin, but how I see him in regards to Butlins Bahamas). The Sunday Express published an article in 1950 featuring a statement from Billy Butlin with the headline  "For me, all or nothing" and further below this, Billy Butlin saying " I have almost fixed it". He had traveled to the United States to seek out investors and was on the brink of securing agreements.

Billy Butlin demonstrated a realistic perspective when he communicated to the Sunday Express, stating, "But if I don't get the money within a fortnight, we will have to close the camp down temporarily . I wish I had more time before the meeting of shareholders next Thursday. I might have been able to announce success but I would like to make it clear to you that I am only one director". This reveals that Billy Butlin was aware of the camp's significant challenges, striving to address the issues independently. His remark regarding being just one director suggests a lack of the necessary support that could have facilitated his efforts. He was then asked by the Sunday Express "Will Brigadier Keith Thorburn, Butlins (Bahamas) chairman have good news for shareholders on Thursday?" . What shocked me and made me come to the conclusion that the support was not there was by Billy Butlin response "I cannot say, I have not see him yet". 

The response from Billy Butlin is quite compelling, as it appears he is working alone to avert the closure of his Bahamas camp. The article ended with the inquiry, "Will it mean any changes in the board of directors. Are any changes contemplated?" He replied, "Don't ask me, I'll say it again, I am only one director"  This suggests that there was considerable activity occurring behind the scenes, with Butlin facing two challenges: obtaining the funds required for the Bahamas resort's continuation and negotiating with shareholders and directors to maintain his aspirations.

Page 192 - Billy Butlin Story Book
Further details of the this issue is shown in the Butlin story book where Billy Butlin wrote "Over many years I had never experienced any difficulty raising money and I did not expect any now. This time I was wrong. It was obvious that if anybody was going to raise that £800,000 it would have to be me"

Sunday Express - Sunday 10 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Sunday 10th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Sunday Express
Showing the article from above and how Billy Butlin was continuing to fight to keep his Bahamas resort from closing down. 

There was hope and someone ready to invest.....but.... (Page 192 - Billy Butlin story)
According to Billy Butlin, he identified an American investor willing to contribute the essential £800,000 to keep the camp operational. Nevertheless, a problem emerged since the investor planned to use only his blocked sterling. This created a hurdle, as accessing these funds required permission from the UK government, a process that would likely be difficult. The proposal was a simple demand made to Billy Butlin. "He agreed to invest £800,000 in the company, provided I could arrange for the amount to be withdrawn from his blocked sterling". In his pursuit of financial support, Billy Butlin worked tirelessly, believing that it could salvage his Bahamas Butlins resort and enhance his chances of proving to the shareholders that this aspiration was indeed successful.

During a meeting with Mr. Hugh Dalton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Billy Butlin detailed the intended use of the funds, the reasons for their necessity, and how the release of blocked sterling had previously aided other businesses in Great Britain. He also noted that Butlins Bahamas is expected to contribute around £5,000,000 to the UK economy and is showing positive indicators of success. Billy Butlin felt that he had effectively presented his case in the meeting, which he believed would be advantageous for him. Regrettably, news emerged two days later indicating that the blocked sterling would not be released. Dr. Dalton explained to Billy Butlin that substantial losses in Africa from a groundnut production initiative had caused the government to reassess the risks associated with using blocked sterling for overseas endeavours, leading to the decision to deny such requests.

Billy Butlin made the journey back to America to seek more financial backing, but he was dismayed to find a news article that reported a very slim possibility of achieving his objectives. The headline was 'War in Korea.' Convinced that the war would discourage any potential investors, Billy Butlin recognised that he had come to the conclusion of this project, and it was time to let go of his vision for Butlins Bahamas with help from American investors. 

£1 million investment
Billy Butlin recognised that the American investment was unlikely to yield positive results, but he maintained a slight hope for a favourable outcome. To ensure the company's continuity, he communicated to the shareholders his intention to invest £1,000,000 into the camp. At the shareholders' meeting, he was asked, "Are you willing to honour your statement pledging £1M of your own funds to Butlins Bahamas?" Billy Butlin responded,  "I am." Nevertheless, the path forward was not straightforward, as the shareholders would need to consent to the new arrangement. There was a sense among the attendees that it might be time to wind down the company, as they believed that potential investors were hesitant due to doubts about its viability.

Brigadier Thorburn
As the meeting continued, he would tell the shareholders his opinion of Butlins Bahamas, "Ever since I joined the company, it has, in effect, been broke. Creditors have been 'staved off' for the last six months, and day-to-day supplies brought on a cash basis. Unless we get the money in the next fortnight, I am perfectly certain that creditors in Nassau will apply for liquidation. We owe £88,000 in Nassau, and we can not resist in any way"

Dundee Evening Telegraph
The newspaper article from Thursday 14th September 1950 - page 6, also continues to tell a similar story with a small addition from the Brigadier Thorburn;

"First, I don't think that in the original estimate people had really taken into consideration the very great difficulty of building a camp on what was virtually a desert island. All the material had to be landed in tank landing craft. If you forgot anything you had to send an aeroplane to fetch it. It was not a matter of going down to the village shop and buying a bag of nuts."  The airfield had cost more than expected and dollar devaluation had added to the cost. The dock strike in England had thrown out their priorities and the arrival of material, and they had to buying the U.S. at greater cost. 

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 14 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 14th September 1950

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd (Aberdeen cut-off). Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Dundee Evening Telegraph
Showing the pressure and news about the Butlins Bahamas resort and how much was on the line for both Billy Butlin and the shareholders. 

Manchester Evening News - Thursday 14 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 14th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Manchester Evening News
Showing the details of the shareholders meeting and how Billy Butlin was trying to keep the idea alive. 

Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 14 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 14th July 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Gloucester Citizen
Showing the details of how the dock strikes in the United kingdom had a deep impact on the Bahamas Butlins. 

Liverpool Evening Express - Thursday 14 September 1950

Thursday 14th September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Liverpool Evening Express
For those who are unable to read this, here are some details about this amazing article. 

Commencing with an overview, the article outlines the urgent requirement to gather £800,000 in the next two weeks; without this vital capital, Butlins Bahamas faces the prospect of liquidation. Brigadier Keith, the chairman, remarked:

"The company is getting writs and judgments against them, and people are chary about putting in their money"

The article indicates that at this point in the year, Butlins Bahamas had liabilities amounting to £450,000 to the City Group, £103,000 to the bank, and an additional £250,000 to creditors. The chairman asserts that securing the necessary funds could lead to the camp's success; however, without this crucial investment, its current operations cannot be sustained. Furthermore, the article mentions that Billy Butlin is prepared to invest £1,000,000 from his personal funds, and both he and the chairman have been travelling to the USA to seek potential investors.

The article further explains that the outstanding debts have created a challenging situation, preventing them from settling smaller creditors as the larger ones take precedence. A shareholder inquired whether any applications had been submitted to dissolve the company. The chairman replied, "I was told only this morning that there has been a petition to wind up in this country. The petition was for the £140, but the company had no assets in this country, we are still negotiating" 

Inquiries were made concerning potential investors from American groups, to which the chairman replied, "I don't want to hold out very large hopes of this as time has grown extraordinarily short"  The article further corroborates the earlier information regarding funding from the Colonial Development Corporation. The chairman expressed his sentiments on this matter, stating, "a very great disappointment"

Both Billy Butlin and the chairman acknowledged that the situation in Korea has significantly hindered efforts to attract investment from American companies. He elaborated further on the resort, indicating that it must achieve a 40% occupancy rate to generate profit. Occupancy levels above 40% would result in substantial profitability for the resort. It was estimated that with a 51% occupancy rate, the resort could potentially earn approximately 4 million dollars.

Shareholder Mr Greenwood suggested that the preference shareholders could be approached for extra funding, the chairman responded with "There are worse gambles". Shareholder. Mr Hill asked for Billy Butlin personal opinion on the camp's prospects if the money was to be raised. Billy Butlin responded, "In my opinion, this is one of the best ventures I have ever been in, but it is under-financed. I am prepared to put in £1,000,000 of my own personal assets as additional security for anyone who will put up this money". Col, Trevor, Mr Hammond and Mr Newton (The committee of three) were elected to be members who looked at the interests of the preference shareholders and discussed any money raising projects. 

Daily Record - Saturday 16 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 16th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Record
Confirming the story of the petition for the £140 debt. 

The ambitions and objectives of Butlins Bahamas Ltd turned out to be more difficult than Billy Butlin expected, as he was not the only one accountable for the outcome. He is prepared to undertake whatever is necessary to achieve success, but is facing challenges on his path. During my investigation, I discovered another startling article with the headline 'Butlin camp food to be sold.' It describes how large quantities of food belonging to Butlins Bahamas holiday village were listed for sale in an advertisement. This sale was ordered by the Provost-Marshal after a judgment was secured by the owners of the facility concerning storage costs.

Remarkably, Brigadier Keith Thorburn, the chairman of Butlins Bahamas, had no prior knowledge of this decision and was displeased to receive the news concerning the sale of food that belonged to Butlins Bahamas. In response to inquiries from the Daily Express about this ruling, the chairman stated that "I had a cable from the Bahamas 24 hours ago, and there is no mention of a judgment. The only writ I have heard about is for the £1400 which has been settled. We have big stocks of Australian meat,, which we have been trying to sell for six weeks. The meat, about £15000 worth, became surplus a week ago when we decided to close down the village for the season to complete it".

Daily Express - Thursday 14 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 14th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Express
The article confirming the details about the sold food that the chairman was unaware was happening at the time. 

Daily Herald - Saturday 23 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 23rd September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Herald
Showing that the bank has now served three writs against Butlins Bahamas Ltd for £99,600. This small article also shows you the additional adding up to the essential £800,000 that they were trying to find.

Petitions are starting, and a winding up of the company has started 
(For those who do not understand what winding up the company means, please click on these words.)

Billy Butlin and Butlins Bahamas Ltd received distressing news when petitions and requests for winding up the company began to emerge. The articles below illustrate the pressure Billy Butlin experienced and his necessity to obtain further financial resources.

Birmingham Daily Post - Friday 29 September 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Friday 29th September 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
Showing further details about the petition made against Butlins Bahamas, increasing the pressure for Billy Butlin.

Slowing moving away from his ideas  and vision...
Billy Butlin was making every effort to pursue the dream of the Butlins Bahamas holiday village, aiming to illustrate its offerings and the benefits it would provide. However, he encountered a series of unfortunate events. By October 10, 1950, Billy Butlin and the shareholders were notified that they must urgently secure funding, or the project would face compulsory winding up. Mr. Justice Wynn-Parry from the Chancery Division issued a winding-up order based on a petition for  a judgment creditor owed £144, along with other claims that exceeded £7,000.

The troubling news continued as the court in Nassau, Bahamas, commenced a winding-up petition initiated by a creditor on October 18th. However, despite this setback, Billy Butlin and the shareholders of Butlins Bahamas expressed optimism that the resort could still proceed and that efforts to raise the £800,000 required for its completion are ongoing. The story remains that the resort is looking towards the negative result than the positive with both Billy Butlin and Brigadier Keith Thorburn, the chairman, working hard to find the money required. 

Daily Herald - Tuesday 10 October 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 10th October 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Herald
The newspaper headline was showing how much time there was remaining until the deadline to stop it from closing down. 

Birmingham Daily Post - Tuesday 10 October 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 10th October 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
The story continues with winding up the company and petitions being made. 

Louth Standard - Saturday 14 October 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 14th October 1950

Image © National World Publishing Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Louth Standard
Additional details including the information that Butlins (UK) was not connected to Butlins Bahamas and is not affected. It also confirms that Billy Butlin was still working towards finding a solution to keeping Butlin's Bahamas open.

Birmingham Daily Post - Thursday 19 October 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 19th October 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
Another application filed with 51 creditors with the agreement of waiting until November 9th 1950 for any updates. 

The Miami times October 21 1950,PAGE ELEVEN

Image found at the Chronicling America Historic American Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 21st October 1950

Image provided by University of Florida 
Library of Congress, Washington, DC


The Miami Times
The American newspapers also acknowledge the closure of the Butlins Bahamas and how proceedings against the company been filed. It also includes information about the employees status. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 10 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Friday 10th November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Liverpool Daily Post
This article shows you details on how Billy Butlin was working hard to keep the Butlins Bahamas dream alive. 

American firm interested....

It became evident to Billy Butlin that obtaining further financial resources was proving to be more difficult, and he continued to apply all his skills in pursuit of funding, though with minimal success. In a noteworthy turn of events concerning the Butlins Bahamas project, Billy Butlin encountered an American firm that expressed interest in taking over the village. While this was merely in the initial stages, such news could extend the timeline for the petitions and the company's liquidation. Research has shown that a person named Mr Lionel Marks, who was the president of the Ajax Corporation, is one of the people negotiating an agreement for the possible purchase of the holiday village.  On page 192 in the Butlin Story book, Billy tells us "There was no alternative but to try and sell the village to the Americans", as all the options had been used, there was only one more he could try.

Billy Butlin clarifies that he faced a restricted business allowance due to the absence of government backing. This limitation meant he could only spend £7 per day, which posed challenges in delivering outstanding hospitality and leaving a favorable impression while dealing with the Butlins Bahamas matter. He adds that this strict budget confined him to using either a taxi or a bus for his business appointments.

Grimsby Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 21 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 21st November 1950

Image © Reach PLC.

Grimbsy Daily Telegraph
This article published by the Grimbsy Daily Telegraph in 1950 shows that an American firm was interested in purchasing the Holiday village from Butlins Bahamas Ltd. 

Leicester Evening Mail - Tuesday 21 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 21st November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Leicester Evening Mail
Another newspaper confirming the story of a possible new owner of the Butlins Bahamas Ltd holiday village. 

Some good news...
Billy Butlin is a wise businessman who understands the necessary actions to take, and there are occasions when it is necessary to acknowledge that an alternative plan may be the required course of action. In discussions with Mr. Lionel Marks regarding a potential acquisition of the holiday village, Mr. Butlin requested that the petition for winding up the company be suspended until the meetings have concluded. Chief Justice Bancroft reviewed the matter and rescheduled the winding up for April 14, 1951. This decision removed some pressure on Billy Butlin, providing hope for the holiday village's continuation, whether under the Butlins name or otherwise. The American firm also contributed to the dialogue by requesting more time to conduct a survey to inform their decision on whether to proceed with the purchase or withdraw, as they wished to develop the site.

Recent updates indicate that the ninety staff members employed at Butlins Bahamas from the United Kingdom have been instructed to return to Britain, as it appears that the resort will not continue operating under the Butlins brand. Currently, Billy Butlin has experienced a slight reprieve from the pressures associated with resolving the challenges faced by Butlins Bahamas Ltd holiday village.  Billy Butlin explains on page 193 - the Butlins story book, that Lionel Marks bid on the site was to make it into a "richman's" gambling casino, which was something that he knew the Bahamian government would decline due to their laws on gambling

Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 23 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Thursday 23rd November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Hull Daily Mail
Confirming the story about the latest development including the extension on the Winding up the Butlins Bahamas Ltd company.

Creditors start to meet
The first creditors' meeting was attended by sixty individuals who came together to discuss the future of Butlins Bahamas Ltd. This meeting took place in London, with Mr. H. P. Naunton serving as the Senior Official Receiver. The agenda included a discussion on the concept and setup of the resort, with April 13th, 1948, identified as the date of commencement. The meeting also covered historical insights, including topics such as devaluation, labour strikes, and hurricane precautions. I found a newspaper article from the Coventry Evening Telegraph from 1950 that contains further details about this meeting.

Coventry Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 29 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 29th November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Coventry Evening Telegraph
An interesting article showing the details of this meeting, which shows you that the future of Butlins Bahamas Ltd is currently in the hands of interested American companies. 

Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 29 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 29th November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Liverpool Echo
Further details were starting to come through regarding the situation with Butlin Butlins Bahamas Ltd and how this deal with the Americans could help solve a lot of issues. 

Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 29 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 29th November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Gloucester Citizen
Showing the details of the meeting with the American firm and how it could help with solving the issues that the company was having. 

The sale to the American enterprise is not the ideal option for Billy Butlin, who prefers to operate it in the manner he is accustomed to. However, understanding that some decisions are beyond his control, he realizes that this is the most appropriate course of action for the time being. Billy Butlin has requested the assistance of his second-in-command, Mr. R. P. Stokes, to help delay the company's closure, as it would significantly affect the sale to the Americans. Mr. R. P. Stokes will make every effort to convey to the decision-makers how the liquidation of the company could lead to numerous complications, asserting that selling the resort is undoubtedly a more advantageous choice for all parties concerned. In an unforeseen turn of events, the plan was unsuccessful, leading the meeting to decide on the appointment of a liquidator to begin the company's winding-up process. A slight advantage for Billy Butlin was the difficulty in reaching a consensus on the appointee. Nonetheless, it was becoming apparent that Mr. H. P. Naunton was likely to be appointed by the court as the senior official receiver.

Evening News (London) - Wednesday 29 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 29th November 1950

Image © Daily Mail & General Trust. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Evening News (London)
Billy Butlin was working hard to get the best solution for his resort and would try to delay the closure of the company by showing alternative options that could be far better than closing the gates for good. 

Daily Herald - Wednesday 29 November 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Wednesday 29th November 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Daily Herald
Confirming the story above about a liquidator for Butlins Bahamas Ltd. 

Birmingham Daily Post - Tuesday 19 December 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Tuesday 19th December 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
This newspaper article tells us all the details of this deal and how it could help save the Bahamas resort. 

Birmingham Daily Post - Saturday 23 December 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Saturday 23rd December 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Birmingham Daily Post
After the informal meeting, the feeling is that this offer is the very best option for the Butlins Bahamas project.

The journey to keep Butlins Bahamas was coming to an end
Billy Butlin had already recognized that his undertaking in the Bahamas for the Butlins camps was coming to a close, and he determined that selling the company would be the most advantageous path forward. An article by Bernard Harris in the Sunday Express discusses this matter in greater detail in the Christmas Eve edition of the newspaper. Billy Butlin had not earned any revenue from the Butlins Bahamas project and had invested a substantial amount of his own personal finances to keep it operational. According to his personal accounts, he had spent over £10,000. To provide context in today's currency, have a look on your favourite search engine to see how much this is worth today, I got mixed results from £350,000 - £400,000 in todays currency (as of 2025).

Billy Butlin understood the possible missteps and was committed to evaluating what was required for improvement. Butlins Bahamas Ltd was indebted to its creditors and shareholders, and the mounting pressure from a postponed decision regarding the company's closure weighed heavily on him. Throughout the entire period of Butlins Bahamas villages, Billy Butlin was compensated with only £500 as a director's fee. In addition to the £10,000 he had drawn from his personal finances, he had previously invested £200,000 to launch his vision two years prior. There was no doubt that Billy Butlin was fully aware of the current condition of the holiday village, with no further investments, petitions filed, and the company's winding-up process set for review; selling the property was likely the best option available at this stage.

Billy Butlin was not happy that his Butlins camp was closing down however, he was also a very wise business man who knew that the personal feelings are not going to help with solving this issue. Doing what he does best, he reviewed all that has happened and told Bernard;

Don't think I'm grumbling. Money isn't my main object. I've still got more of it than I can spend in the rest of my life. I put this loss of £200,000 down to experience. I shan't make the same mistake again"

This suggests that Billy Butlin has progressed past the point of attempting to save the holiday village and sought to assist those who had invested in it. Even though he faced considerable financial setbacks, Billy Butlin exhibited resilience in leadership and business strategy by striving for the best possible result from the sale of the holiday village. This does not mean that he no longer believed in the resort; instead, the collective decision-making process made it challenging for him to execute his ideas. He was of the opinion that the Bahamas holiday village could succeed with further financial support, but acknowledged that it was time for it to be handed over to others.

Billy Butlin went on to clarify that the unsuccessful attempts to secure £800,000 to save the company highlighted the absence of assistance from the United Kingdom. After obtaining consent from the board of directors, he realised that the answer to the challenge would be located in the USA. However, fate was telling him another story as Billy Butlin explained about about that trip.

"The day before I was due to meet a U.S. group, I would be strolling around Times-Square, New York. I glanced up and read in lights 'War in Korea'. Next day Wall-street broke. Everybody was panicky. So I went of to the Bahamas". 

Upon reviewing the inception of the resort, Billy Butlin would further clarify that by September, petitions had been filed in both London and the Bahamas to begin the process of dissolving the company. He endeavored tirelessly and made numerous flights in search of a resolution. It was during these excursions that he identified the possibility of selling the resort as a means to address the issues confronting him and the company. Billy was referenced in a newspaper article;

"It was only my determination to save the £300,000 put up by small private investors that kept me going"

The vision for the resort in the Bahamas may have come to an end after two years, with only one year of actual operation. Nevertheless, Billy Butlin remains committed to restoring the confidence of his investors. After engaging in discussions with the American company, Billy informed the newspaper that they had already allocated $100,000 for surveys and research related to potential developments for the site. The American firm's proposed plans included shopping streets, dining halls, reading rooms, a theater, a ballroom, cocktail bars, a beauty parlor, and a swimming pool. It was projected that their expenditures would be around £1,000,000. As for Billy Butlin, his objectives have significantly shifted, as he conveyed to the reporter.

"I've done business in most parts of the world and I've decided the best place to do it is here" (United Kingdom)

Sunday Express - Sunday 24 December 1950

Image found at the British Newspaper Archive website

Sunday 24th December 1950

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Sunday Express 
An amazing newspaper article by Bernard Harris and how the story of the Butlins Bahamas was coming to an end. 

 Do you have any fond memories of Butlins Bahamas that you'd like to share?

Holiday Village - 1949 Message Mark Postcards of Butlins Bahamas

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    Butlins Memorabilia website is the unofficial website for Butlins!

    The research and details provided on the Butlins Memorabilia website have been thoughtfully assembled by Mark Banks, the site's owner. It is important to emphasize that Butlins and its owners have not reached out to me or requested that this information be collected and displayed here. Butlins has a rich legacy, with its founder, Sir Billy Butlin, celebrated for his success in establishing a company that continues to offer joy and create cherished memories. The official website for Butlins is www.butlins.com. As such, the information on this site should be considered unofficial, as the Butlins Memorabilia website is a fan-oriented endeavor.

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An exciting addition to the website is the section titled "Untold Stories of Butlin's," which includes a range of personal stories. These narratives have been contributed by members of the Butlins Memorabilia social media groups, who have shared their individual experiences at Butlin's. It is important to understand that these stories are not sanctioned by the official company but are personal recollections from the individuals, as indicated on the page. The accounts shared reflect the magical atmosphere of Butlin's and the memorable moments it has inspired.

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