What year did it open??

1969

Originally Posted by Nell

1969

I seem to recall it was 1968, I was working around the area at the time and I remember a lot of work going on around there, Brosley had started building the estate and the council were selling off plots of land on the Chatsworth Road estate for around a £500 /£1000.
In fact Fred Pontin bought one of the houses down Chatsworth Road and he used to come down there every few weeks with his secretary (for some light entertainment we were told). We always knew when he was there because his Rolls Royce would be parked up.
When he came out (of the house), Fred would always give us the 'thumbs up', I believe it was his trade mark for when things were going well for him. 😎

Originally Posted by CapabilityBrown

I seem to recall it was 1968, I was working around the area at the time and I remember a lot of work going on around there, Brosley had started building the estate and the council were selling off plots of land on the Chatsworth Road estate for around a £500 /£1000.
In fact Fred Pontin bought one of the houses down Chatsworth Road and he used to come down there every few weeks with his secretary (for some light entertainment we were told). We always knew when he was there because his Rolls Royce would be parked up.
When he came out (of the house), Fred would always give us the 'thumbs up', I believe it was his trade mark for when things were going well for him. 😎

O I always thought that was Billy Butlin 👍

Originally Posted by blackys dad

O I always thought that was Billy Butlin 👍

Here's a picture of Fred, with his 'thumb up' !
He was noted for saying 'Book early' and I recall him leaving his house and shouting out to us, I'm sure he said 'Book early' but the wind was always blowing around there and his words could haven been misconstrued, I do recall he always had a smile on his face when he got into his Rolls with his secretary, I believe she had to take down and make a record of his particulars!

Originally Posted by CapabilityBrown

I seem to recall it was 1968, I was working around the area at the time and I remember a lot of work going on around there, Brosley had started building the estate and the council were selling off plots of land on the Chatsworth Road estate for around a £500 /£1000.
In fact Fred Pontin bought one of the houses down Chatsworth Road and he used to come down there every few weeks with his secretary (for some light entertainment we were told). We always knew when he was there because his Rolls Royce would be parked up.
When he came out (of the house), Fred would always give us the 'thumbs up', I believe it was his trade mark for when things were going well for him. 😎

I worked on the building of Pontins took time off to get married Jan 1969
It opened in the summer of that year.
And by the way I'm still married to her 47 years later

Originally Posted by in the shed

I worked on the building of Pontins took time off to get married Jan 1969
It opened in the summer of that year.
And by the way I'm still married to her 47 years later

Well done that's great 👍🏻 as for Pontins 😧