Major Frank Bond's Untold Butlin's Story

In loving Memory of Major Frank Bond

It is a great honor for me to be able to share with you the story, an important one I might add, of Major Frank Bond. As told by his granddaughter, Mandy, you will see and read how Dovercourt Bay Holiday Camp and Major Frank Bond were very much involved in the early days of Butlins.

Mandy had started to tell me the stories of her family and their connection with the Butlin's name. From here we see one of the most important stories to be told as we see another side of Sir Billy Butlin with Major Frank Bond. The photographs of Major Frank Bond have never been seen before and this is what makes this story so special.

The Dovercourt connection came about when I contacted Mandy about her family history with Butlins and Sir Billy Butlin. As the story developed, I began to understand more about the Dovercourt Bay connection. New areas are still being discovered and will be added to this page as time goes on. I am extremely honored to feature Major Frank's story on this website.

Major Frank's Story

Another Untold Story of Butlins

My Grandpa seemed to have so many interests and irons in the fire! A very talented man! Very proud of him indeed!

Dovercourt Bay

Major Frank Bond in Dovercourt Bay, take note of them gems in the background. You can read more by clicking on the name Dovercourt Bay.

This is a photo of Captain Harry Warner and his wife Dorothy

This photo shows Dorothy Warner sitting on the grounds of the Dovercourt Holiday Camp.

In this photo, we have a photo of my Nanna, my Mum and Billy Warner one of Captain Warner’s sons.

Dovercourt Bay

Second from the left is Major Frank Bond, my grandpa. Billy Butlin is in the middle at the back and in front of him is Alderman Ward, who was my godmother, Wendy Ward Spackman. Raven’s grandfather was mayor at that time. Second from the right is Billy Butlin's wife Dolly.

Dovercourt Bay

Dovercourt Bay Holiday Camp. In the centre, is Sir Billy Butlin. What a great photo this is and one that is extremely important in the history of Butlins. Billy Butlin's wife Dorothy (Dolly) is sitting in front of him in a white suit, black hat and sunglasses.

This amazing photograph from Mandy's personal collection shows William Butlin and his wife at Dovercourt Bay. The connection between Dovercourt and Butlin's is one that I am beginning to become obsessed with and I have to admit that I was so pleased to be able to share this with you all on the website. A young Mr Butlin looking at the person taking the photograph and thinking "another one ticked off my list...now on to the next project".

The power of the Warner's working alongside the Butlins in fulfilling their mission to entertain and create memories for all guests. I am truly honoured to show this photo to you all.

The paper cutting describes Dovercourt and the Warner's camp, located on Low Road. It includes a quote from Rex Bale, who assisted the entertainment manager in 1938 while waiting for his camp (Seaton) to open. The manager at the time was Bill Owen, known for his role as Compo in Last of the Summer Wine.

This is Billy’s Butlin wife, Dolly Butlin with Grandpa showing her a plant or something beautiful from the garden in one of the camps. I’m not sure which camp it is.

Grandpa is on the right, but I'm not sure who the other two are. This was part of the Dovercourt and Harwich Festival where they advertised the Butlins chalets and the new proposed camps. So this must have been after the Dovercourt, Skegness, Seaton and Northney camps and before Clacton and Ryde in 1938.

Another picture of the proposed chalets for the new camps. Dorothy Warner top left and I think that might be Cappy Bond, then Captain Harry Warner. Major Frank Bond is just behind the ladies on the left.

Miss. Ruby Ward, my godmother's Mother before she was married, then Major Frank Bond and Noel Roper.

In loving Memory of Cherrie Butlin

Born in 1939, Nora and Billy Butlin were overjoyed to have another member of their family. As Cherrie grew up she became friends with Mandy, Major Frank and Peggie Bond. Wanting an adventure away from the family business, Cherrie decided to move to Australia.

Becoming an actress, Cherrie would marry fellow actor Brook Denning (real name Roy Daniel). Cherrie would host the Desmond and Channel 9 pins between 1961 and 1962.

Click on these words to view a video of Cherri Butlin in 1959.

Pwllheli Photos

Lord Brown, my Mum, Lady Brown and my Nana all at Broom Hall, Pwllheli

My Nana and Lady Brown

Grandpa, my Mum, Mary Bond, Basil Brown, Peggy Bond.

Michael Brown out shooting with my Mums Brother Bobby Bond and Maxi with one of the dogs

Taken at Ayr camp, not sure of the date, Not sure who the lady and child are. Grandpa and Nanna on his right with their car outside the restaurant with doorman dressed very smartly in black tie

Mandy Williams in the middle, sat on top of one of the iconic fountains at Pwllheli camp in the 60’s

Broom Hall and Airfields

As Mandy continues to send me more information about Butlin's history, I am learning new things that I did not know before. Sir Billy Butlin story is growing with the amazing connection between the Bond family and how they helped towards the Butlin's name. The photo shown is from Mandy's personal album and shows Broom Hall House, which is now a Grade II listed building. ( information here). Further research has revealed the Sir Billy connection on the website www.geograph.org.uk. Here is what the website says about Sir Billy Butlin.

"In 1946 the Broomhall estate was purchased by William (Billy) Butlin who was in the process of converting HMS Glendower into the Pwllheli Butlins holiday camp. A keen aviator, Butlin purchased additional land from the adjoining Rhedynog Ganol farm to enlarge the airstrip and provide two runways North-South (2150ft long) and East-West (1,800'). Flights were provided for Butlin campers, few of whom had flown before. Cambrian Airways began a commercial service from the airfield to Cardiff and Dublin using Rapide aircraft. The Dublin-Broom Hall fare was £8.25p".

"Following a fatal accident involving an Auster, activity at Broom Hall came to an end in the mid-1960s and the main hangar was demolished. The land was then sold back to Rhedynog Isaf and is now used for sheep rearing."

Mandy's Memories

Broom Hall, a 300-odd acre estate with a farm and separate piggery that Billy bought in 1947 and sent my grandparents up there to live. Nana ran the house and organised functions for when Billy visited, along with guests he brought up from London, some of whom I remember in the late 1950s and late 1960s. David Coleman, Billy de Wolfe, Jack Warner, Morris Parsons, and Hughie Green, who incidentally was Billy's pilot. There was an airfield on part of the farm where they landed the plane. It was also used for pleasure flights from the camp.

Mandy's Memories

The farm was made into a separate company called Broom Hall Enterprises (no relation to any company that currently bears that name). My mother's brother ran the farm and the piggery. While Nana did most of the entertaining, she had staff working for her in the house and there was quite a lot of other staff i.e. groundsmen and gardeners, gamekeepers, stockmen, piggery men, and more! My uncle Bobby bred chickens on a very large scale, which were sold to the camp already dressed and portioned to feed the campers, and in return, all the swill from the camp kitchens went back to the farm to feed the pigs. It was a massive operation! All the ducks on the lakes in the camp were bred by my uncle.

After the war, my uncle Bobby suffered a mental breakdown because of the time he spent as a skipper of an Air Sea Rescue Launch! He was awarded an MBE. Billy gave him a job up in Filey on the farm there before coming to Pwllheli where he settled down. For as long as I can remember Granddad was always traveling around the camps. I remember one time when the Bognor camp was being built he had been there for a couple of days and Mum, Dad, Nana and I were on holiday and we went to see him. It was a disgustingly wet and muddy site! I was only about 3 years old but one thing I remember to this day is being told "We're going to see Grandpa at Butlins" and all I kept asking for was ice cream because that is what I got when I went to the camp in Pwllheli. I couldn't understand why they didn't sell ice cream anywhere!

Break in Cannes, South of France

Nanna and Grandpa are on holiday in Cannes, South of France with Billy, Norah, some Directors and their wives.

Sir Billy Butlin in Cannes on a break

Nanna and Grandpa are on holiday in Cannes Uncle Billy

Major Frank Bond enjoying the sun

Get the children out! - Mike Levy

Dovercourt Bay and Major Frank Bond are in this wonderful book showing their support during the Second World War. The publisher, Lemonsoul, has this description (they did not ask me to include this)

Mike Levy shines a light on the courageous actions of twenty-two women and men who changed the lives of the Kindertransport and other refugees.In 1938, when the government refused to act and those around them turned a blind eye, these heroic individuals took it upon themselves to orchestrate one of the greatest life-saving missions the world has ever seen.

Until now, the compelling accounts of these extraordinary rescue missions have remained untold. Mike Levy is a researcher for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Association for Jewish Refugees, an educator for the Holocaust Education Trust, and chairman of the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust.

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Additional History

Francis Robert Bond MBE

Trinity House Air Sea Rescue

Francis Robert Bond MBE Painting

The painting is of F R Bond's Air Sea Rescue Launch on which he was skipper and it was painted by my grandfather Major F B Bond. The rescue launch was HSL 2561 and he was known to everyone as Bobby Bond. If you look closely you can see a small yellow dinghy to the left of the painting. It was this rescue that was featured in the film "The Sea Shall Not Have Them".

Francis Robert Bond MBE Painting

Who and What is Butlin's Memorabilia Website

Mark Banks is the individual responsible for the creation and ownership of this website, which displays his collection of Butlin's memorabilia. It was created in my spare time after work as a hobby and has since grown into a site that gives others a chance to smile. It is important to note that this website is not associated with Butlin's and is not an official archive of the company. Furthermore, it includes stories, with the consent of the individuals involved, that recount memorable moments at Butlin's from both customers and former staff members. This website pays homage to the esteemed company and its founder, Sir William Butlin. Additionally, it provides information on the history of Butlin's, based on personal research.

Butlins Memorabilia extra areas

This website is a fan site dedicated to celebrating the Butlins brand. It is created and maintained by Mark Banks. Further information about the website and answers to any questions can be found below. In case of any additional inquiries, please feel free to contact Mark.

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The Untold Stories of Butlin's

The website now includes a section called 'Untold Stories of Butlin's', featuring personal anecdotes shared by members of my group. The website now includes a section called 'Untold Stories of Butlin's', featuring personal experiences shared by members of my group. Members of the group have graciously shared their personal experiences at Butlin's and added these stories to the website. These stories are not affiliated with the official company but rather represent the memories of the individuals who shared them.

If you are not official, who is Mark?

Please note that Butlin's Memorabilia is an independent website and is not affiliated with the official Butlins website or archive. The owners of Butlin's and Butlins.com have not been involved in the development of this site, nor have they approached me to design it. However, I am grateful for their willingness to allow me to continue to share the rich history of their company with you.

The number one website for Butlins is always, www.butlins.com where you see all the information about booking a break.

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Butlin's Memorabilia Website Celebrating Butlins History

You are here: Home ---> Butlins Untold Stories Home Page ---> The Untold Story of Major Frank Bond

In loving Memory of Major Frank Bond

Major Frank's Story

Another Untold Story of Butlins

Dovercourt Bay

Dovercourt Bay

Dovercourt Bay

Keeping Fit Sessions

In loving Memory of Cherrie Butlin

Mandy's story of Cherri Butlin

Another Untold Story of Butlins

Postcard to Mandy from Cherrie

Pwllheli Photos

Broom Hall and Airfields

Remembering Broomhall Butlin's Connection with Major Frank Bond story

Silver Wedding Anniversary

Butlin's Skegness 1945

Butlin's Skegness 1945

Break in Cannes, South of France

Nanna and Grandpa are on holiday in Cannes, South of France with Billy, Norah, some Directors and their wives.

Butlin's Bahamas

When Frank Bond was Captain Bond before his promotion

Driving past the former Butlin's Pwllheli

Another Untold Story of Butlins

Get the children out! - Mike Levy

Additional History

Francis Robert Bond MBE

Francis Robert Bond MBE Painting

Francis Robert Bond MBE Painting

Francis Robert Bond MBE Painting

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