Norman Bunny Brooks Untold Butlins story

In loving Memory of Norman Bunny Brooks

The story of Norman"Bunny" Brooks is extremely important to the Butlin's timeline. The news was told about a new holiday camp opening in Ingoldmells Skegness that is a part of Butlin's, an idea of inspiration and a different way for people to have a break. Mr Brooks had applied for the role and joined the team in 1935 in the first and eldest Butlin's camp. Working with his colleagues, Mr Brooks would contribute towards the preparation of the camp to the standards of William (Billy) Butlin. With much work to do, the camp was developing into a masterpiece and Bunny Brooks was one of the people who helped in this development.

In 1936, Billy Butlin would do his checks on his camp and prepare himself for the opening of his first-holiday camp. Standing with him would have been Norman Bunny Brooks. Then the moment came as Mr Brooks was one of many standing in the camp to witness the gates open for the first time as a Butlin's. The campers would walk in to see the new holiday camp as they were greeted by the staff that helped get the camp ready. The Butlin's magic had just started with Mr Brooks welcoming all the new campers to a location that would become an inspiration to so many.

The camp was open and all was going to plan as the team with Billy Butlin would show why Butlin's is the best place for that important break. As nighttime arrived, entertainment was the next task for the team to master. As Billy Butlin notice that his campers did not look like they were having fun, he would ask Norman Bradford to help out. It was a complete success as the birth of the Redcoats was written into the history books of Butlins.

As Billy was so very pleased with the idea of the Redcoats, he would ask for a much larger team. Mr Brooks joined that team immediately as he loves to entertain others to see that smile. Bunny Brooks is one of the very first people to wear the Redcoat uniform for the first time as he helped entertain the campers who came to Butlin's Skegness. Bunny was loving every moment to give another person a chance to smile during the day and night. The Butlin's magic was truly strong with Mr Brooks as he helped towards that memory creation.

The Butlin's Holiday camp was doing extremely well as the team of Redcoats would be representing Butlin's to a high standard. Behind the scenes was another important person that was also contributing very hard towards the Butlin's magic. These are the people who are doing maintenance, chalet cleaning, bar staff, and of course, those in the catering department.

In this photo, you can see Mr Brook's father, Isaac Brooks (in the white coat), working as a part of the team that was contributing towards the memory creation for so many campers. The hard work in the background that many did not see was in good hands. The catering department was responsible for all the campers on the site as there were no self-catering options in the early days of Butlin's. This means that the gentleman shown in this photo had to prepare meals...three times a day for all the campers.

The Butlin's experience had come with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, giving Isaac Brooks and his team a large task to do. With his son working hard in entertaining the campers, Isaac was hard working behind the scenes to feed the campers on time and with quality food. It's a team that was perfectly matched to help deliver the Butlin's magic to all.

Bunny Brooks continued his career in Butlin's Skegness as he climbed the ranks to become a stage manager. With Butlin's Skegness in good hands, Billy Butlin would leave the camp to help the Warner's with their new project. Working alongside the Warner's, he would help develop and open Dovercourt Bay with much pride. With the new Warner's camp now open to all, Billy Butlin would travel to Clacton to start the next stage in the Butlin's timeline.

Billy Butlin would purchase an estate in the west of Clacton and sought permission from the local council to start building his second camp. The plans were objected to as the idea was seen by many as bringing the value of their properties down and taking trade away from others. However, Billy also had those who supported the idea and knew it was a case of convincing the other half. As Billy Butlin was a problem solver, he would invite the councillors to his camp in Skegness to see the advantages that the camps bring to local areas.

Mr Brooks and his father would have been one of the members of staff that had helped with this extremely important part of the Butlin timeline. The Clacton councillors had arrived to see the benefits of employment to the local area as Billy Butlin would explain how the camp uses local produce for the camp, local traders to service the camp, and the increase in tourism affects Skegness town. With the help of all the staff including Mr Brooks, the plan was a complete success as approval was granted. This is an extremely important moment in the timeline of Butlins.

Continuing to entertain the campers in Butlin's Skegness, Mr Brooks would be invited to the new Butlin's Clacton camp. Bunny made his way to the camp to see it all new as he looked around at the birth of the second eldest camp. Helping where he could, the day would arrive when Mr Brooks would witness, for the second time, the opening of another Butlin's camp. In 1938, he would be one of many staff members to see the gates open to welcome the new campers and some from Skegness coming into Butlin's Clacton.

Working to entertain the guest, Bunny Brooks would continue to help towards the Butlin's magic and represent the name extremely well. Mr Brooks continued to work in Butlin's Clacton until it closed down to help and support World War Two. When the war had come to an end, Mr Brooks would join the entertainment staff in a holiday camp at Prestatyn North Wales.

In 1962 he and his wife Alice bought a guest house in Blackpool however when opportunities for entertaining guests in a camp had arisen, he would venture out. In the 1970s, Mr Brooks was offered a chance to run a holiday camp in Somerset in St. Audrie's Bay. Taking up the offer, he would organise the entertainment and take guests to rambles and Quantock Hills, teach swimming and continue to entertain on the stage including competitions. Mr Brooks would return back home in the winter and then back to what he loves to do in the summer.

During the out-of-season holiday, Mr and Mrs Brooks would love to take their breaks at the Butlins hotels in Brighton.

Sadly Norman Bunny Brooks passed away in 1974 at the age of 62.

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Found in Gillian's Butlin's viewer is this smashing photo of Mr Brooks sitting down with a Redcoat.

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Fancy dress. He is on the right.
Paper mache outfits and he won!

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Mr Brook's son is on the left, and Alice (Mrs Brooks) is on the far right in the red dress.

Bab's Connection

Bunny Brooks Son Memories

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Mark Banks owns and created this website to show his collection of Butlin's memorabilia items. It was created during my spare time at work and is a hobby of mine and has since grown into a site that offers a chance for others to smile. This website is NOT the official website for Butlin's and is NOT the official archive of Butlin's at any stage. The website has expanded to show stories, with permission from that person, of a moment in Butlin's from people who are either a customer or former staff. This website is in loving memory of all that had come to this amazing company and to Sir William Butlin, the founder. This website also has information about research regarding Butlin's history with information obtained from the research I made, which is not official.

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In loving Memory of Norman Bunny Brooks

Mr and Mrs Brooks wedding

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Butlin's Brighton Hotel

Bab's Connection

Bunny Brooks Son Memories

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