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Norah and Billy Butlin separate

Shelia and Billy Butlin form a relationship

1960 - Butlin's Bognor Regis opens 

The story of the camp that was always meant to be is in Bognor Regis. At first, like Clacton, he was refused permission to have a camp represent his name in the town. However, Billy was always one step ahead and knew that having the zoo and shops there was enough for his name to be shown. It was much later, in 1960 that we see the council require the properties he has for development.

The deal was simple "give me that land there for a camp and you can have these", well maybe not the exact words but that is how Billy got his camp in Bognor Regis. You can read more about this special event via this link, which has more information about this story.

Butlin's Bognor Regis

One of the last remaining camps/resorts that still represent the Butlin's name. It's the smallest one of the three however, it had the most changes made to it with a £40 million swimming pool

Historic Moments

Bognor Regis town has a rich history with Butlins with the reaction center being a major point of the history timeline.

Further Research with Videos

Click on the screenshot to load YouTube and watch the videos
Sir Billy Butlin Video - Timeline
Uploader: brianormary

A homemade8-cine film made in 1961, using a standard 8 cine camera

Sir Billy Butlin Videos - Timeline
Uploader: British Pathe

Viewing Butlins in the 1960's.

Butlins Timeline

Click on the screen shot above to view this moment on Youtube

A movie called "The Leather Boys"

Butlin's Bognor Regis featured in the movie - The leather boys

1960 - William Butlin (Junior) is born

1960 - William (Billy) Butlin is awarded the Carl Alan Reward

1962 - Butlin's Minehead opens

Butlins had arrived in the Southwest of England in Somerset. Around an hour's drive from Taunton, it was located near the West Somerset Railway. Butlins Minehead had cost £2 million pounds to build.


Butlin's Minehead

This camp has remained very close to the way Billy Butlin had designed it.

Historic Moments
Minehead was the only camp to receive a modern chalet rebuild on the former location of single-decker accommodation and the carpark. It was planned for this location to have a hotel, however, these plans have changed.

Further Research with Videos

Click on a screenshot to load YouTube and view the videos
Sir Billy Butlin Video - Timeline
Uploader: Huntley Film Archives

Butlin's Minehead in the 1960s, a very young Butlins

Sir Billy Butlin Videos - Timeline
Uploader: Fun Finder

Butlins Minehead in 1969, showing how much has changed over the years since has been opened.

28th January 1963 - The Bill Butlin Charity Trust is open

Further Research

Click on these words to view the website above to see further information.

Small note: the design is from their website and can be removed from here at any time.

Jacquie Butlin is born

1964 - William (Billy) Butlin is knighted to become Sir William (Billy) Butlin

Billy Butlin MBE will now be known as Sir Billy Butlin

Butlins Timeline

Click on the screen shot above to view this moment on Youtube

William (Billy) Butlin MBE is now known as Sir William (Billy) Butlin

William (Billy) Butlin becomes Sir William (Billy) Butlin.

1964 - 1965 - The Butlin's Monorail Train arrives to Butlin's Skegness.

Further Research with Videos

Click on the screenshots to load the YouTube videos
Sir Billy Butlin Video - Timeline
Uploader: British Pathé 

The design and making of the Monorail Train, ready for its historic moment in Butlins. 

Further information about the Monorail train can be found on the icons of Butlins, just click on these words to see more.

Sir Billy Butlin Videos - Timeline
Uploader: Kino Library

Showing you the Monorail Train in 1970.

1966 - Butlins Barry Island Opens

One very important camp is Barry Island as it was this location where Billy Butlin had the idea of starting his legacy. A landlady for a bed and breakfast had locked him out and he had waited for her to come back to gain access. It was at this point that Billy knew what he wanted and started his idea. At this stage, in 1966, Billy had hotels and camps representing his name. Barry Island was the last camp to open in Butlins and the last one where Sir Billy Butlin was leading the company.

Butlin's Barry Island

This location is where Billy Butlin had the idea of starting his holiday camps.

Historic Moments

This is the second camp to be featured in Wales and it's told that if you went to the beach, Minehead camp will be in the background looking back at you.

Further Research with Videos

Click on the screenshots to load the YouTube videos
Sir Billy Butlin Video - Timeline
Uploader: Chris Brown

Video showing Butlin's Barry Island

Sir Billy Butlin Videos - Timeline
Uploader: Fun Finder

Video showing Butlin's Barry Island

1966 - Sir William (Billy) Butlin becomes the chief barker at the Variety Club

1966 - Further research

Butlins Timeline

Click on the screen shot above to view this moment on Youtube

The Variety Club 1966

1966 - The Bill Butlin Chairt Trust

Billy Butlin donated £100,000 into the Bill Butlin charity trust. This was in support of the police officers that were incapacitated or fatally injured while on active duty. This generous donation gained public support, which allowed the fund to grow to £250,000. This continued and went over £1 million pounds.

1966 - The Butlin's Top of the Tower opens

Further Research with Videos

Sir Billy Butlin Video - Timeline

A video showing the views from the tower, giving you a chance to see London in 1967 and how the restaurant worked.

Sir Billy Butlin Videos - Timeline

Another video from 1966 of the restaurant.

Butlins Timeline

Click on the screen shot above to view this moment on Youtube

Showing footage of the Post office tower opening in 1966 with Sir Billy Butlin and a speech. It also looks like Robert Butlin is in the crowd sitting down.

1967 - The Butlin's Monorail train arrives to Minehead

Butlins Timeline

Click on the screen shot above to view this moment on Youtube

An iconic ride that is greatly missed in today's Butlin's. This footage shows you the train in Skegness.

1969 - Sir William (Billy) Butlin retires 

1968 - 1969 - Robert Butlin takes the seat to run the company

Further Research

Click on these words to view the website above for further information 

Small note: the design is from their website and can be removed from here at any time.

1969 - Sir Billy Butlin returns briefly to stop take over

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Who and What is Butlin's Memorabilia Website

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. 

Butlins Memorabilia extra areas

This website is made and maintained by me, Mark Banks, as a fan site to celebrate the amazing Butlins name as it has such a large meaning to me.  Below is additional information about the website and answers to questions that you might be thinking of (hopefully I have covered them all, if not, get in touch)

Learn more about the Butlins Memorabilia website by clicking on these words

Butlins Memorabilia Support and help

If you get stuck and need help with an area of the website, please click on these words to read about known problems and how to solve them

The Untold Stories of Butlin's

The website has expanded to now include an area called "Untold Stories of Butlin's". These stories have been added to the site by a member of my group who has shared their moment at Butlin's. These stories are not from the official company and are from the person it represent, as shown on the page. The stories shared are from that person's memory and show the magic of Butlin's on how it creates that special moment. 

If you are not official, who is Mark?

Butlin's Memorabilia is NOT the official website for Butlins. This site is also NOT the official website for the archive of Butlin's. The owners of Butlin's, Butlin's company, and Butlins.com have NOT approached me to design this site. They have no involvement with the development of the website or with the information that is shown. I am extremely thankful that they allow me to continue showing you their company's rich history. 

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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