Going to the seaside around 1950-1955

My nana ran her Ramsgate home as a boarding house in the 50's and I stayed with her every summer. I remember the sands with Punch and Judy/donkeys/the nuts'n'raisins man and the seafood stall, where I'd be given a little parcel of winkles and a pin to eat them with.

The lights round the harbour and along The Front were magical and we'd go for a promenade every evening just to see them lighting up. On the way back it would be rig and chips and a bottle of Vimto. Of course, it never rained .

Living on an island, we often went to the beach with my mum.
Sometimes we would really live it up, and go to Shoeburyness at the weekend.
A poncho to get changed under, a flask of tea, and some warm cheese sandwiches, and orange armbands for swimming.
What a treat!
We had to sit for a while after lunch, to let our food "fall off the shelf", otherwise we would have drowned.

Thank you, everybody, for your lovely nostalgic memories.

You brought back other memories: the donkey rides, sticks of rock, and little guest houses. Also waiting for the fairy lights to come on along the promenade - always a magical moment.

I had a ‘ruched’ swimsuit, too, *Marydoll’.

I seem to recall my father having dark red woollen swimming trunks but maybe not hand knitted since I don’t remember them sagging - he swam with us in the sea a lot so I’d def. have remembered saggy embarrassment when he got out.

This was in the (early) 60s: We always stayed at Scratby, near Gt Yarmouth. Our holiday let was literally just on top of the cliff. There was chicken wire around the garden but it was easy to get out and make the almost vertical descent down the sandy footpath to the beach. I was an early riser in those days and would scare my parents by clambering down the cliff and walking about on the beach on my own before they were up. I remember my cousin being sent down to look for me.

Nowadays I would have conniptions if I knew a six-year- old was attempting that descent on their own and then walking about so near the sea, but the path is probably concreted over and equipped with hand rails, and the bungalow door would be locked and the gate bolted!

Another Channel Islander here although a small one. Practically lived on the beach during the summer months when young. Could wander across without supervision, an idyllic childhood that none of appreciated at the time. Someone once pointed out it was Swallows and Amazon’s and it really was.

Giulia I remember those train journeys that seemed interminable and the constant “Are we nearly there yet?” Those first glimpses of the sea were wonderful too, but the smuts from the open window less so. I think that’s why people always chose to sit “back to engine”. Nowadays I have to sit facing the way I’m going and I love train journeys.

Goodness, JackyB, you must have enjoyed that freedom. No, it would certainly be different nowadays.

We used to go to Butlins Holiday Camp (as it was called then) A different one every year. I remember going to one in Ayr.
My mother used to enter me for various contests, and I have pictures of me being on a stage holding a number and with my hair in ribbons looking something like Shirley Temple! I think my mother was always disappointed my hair was blonde and straight, and used to curl it!

Like dogsmother we lived in a seaside town and I went to the beach with my friends most days after school. Even if it was raining - it was warmer in the sea when it rained.
Later, nearer 1950, I helped the beachpony owner exercise the horses on the beach hard sand and the sand dunes.
During the war the beach was closed off because we were on the NE coast and there was a threat of German invasion. There were protective tank traps, and concrete lookout posts. Some of which are still there now.

Jacksjacky

I have memories of Lepe Beach as well. We used to stay with relatives in Blackfield every summer. I remember putting a live crab in a bucket and taking it into the cafe that used to be there. Of course the bucket got knocked over, the crab escaped and we were scrambling around the floor trying to catch it.
Then there were walks in the New Forest, Day trip to the Isle-of-Wight, and rides on the little train at Hythe to catch the Hotspur ferry to Southampton.
Happy memories.

lavendermine

We used to go to Butlins Holiday Camp (as it was called then) A different one every year. I remember going to one in Ayr.
My mother used to enter me for various contests, and I have pictures of me being on a stage holding a number and with my hair in ribbons looking something like Shirley Temple! I think my mother was always disappointed my hair was blonde and straight, and used to curl it!

We only went to Butlins once. I got smacked by a Redcoat!!! Goodness knows what would happen if such a thing happened now!! I probably deserved it.