My Butlin's collection had started with one item

Location of where my location work was and it remains today

When I worked at Butlin's Minehead

The year is 1999 and I am an employee of Butlin's Family Entertainment Resort in Minehead, under the management of the Rank Organisation. My role was known as a "Room Attendant" and it was my job to make sure that the chalet rooms were ready for the new customers and to also maintain them during their break. I was working under the instruction of Mandy B (reduced surname as I do not have permission to use her full name) and she was the main housekeeper for Ocean Point at the time.

I am unsure if Mandy continues to work here, however, she was an amazing leader who knew how to adapt to the needs of the day with quick solution thinking, an inspiration to me with no need to panic and use what is close to you. Working on the double-deckers, I would find new ways to expand the service and went beyond my duties to make sure that my block was representing me well. The location still remains there today, as shown on the map (behind these words).

The Former Beachcomber Building, Was replaced as grass and then rebuilt as Studio 36

There was another change coming to Butlin's Minehead

Going to the housekeeper's office, I would pick up my keys for the day to start another day to keep our guests happy. Mandy would sit us all down and tell us that we are required to help with a relocating program that needed to be done. The work should not take long to do and is necessary to be done. Mandy informed us that we are moving items from a building into the Quaser unit. As we arrived, I would see that the building in question was the former Beachcomber/Wizzy World building.

My colleagues had no problems as they got ready but for me, it was personal as this was the building that I had been in not so long ago as a camper and the memories would start to flood back to me. Holding back my tears, I would listen to the instructions from the supervisor on duty.

The location of the stair way

My heart was truly broken

Making our way to the stairway, I would remember the time when I use to run up these stairs with my friend Dean and my brother Robert. All the times that my nan, mum, dad and friends of the family would come here for fun. As I got to the top, the smell would hit me instantly of a time that was no more. Walking into the main area, I could see the old small arcade on the right-hand side, the bike track that I had ridden on as a youngster, the room that was filled with snooker tables and to the left, still there in great condition was the Bowlingo. It was at this moment that I was so sad to see my old friend, which I thought was gone due to the changes. A small part of my Butlins remained and it was planned to be demolished.

the wizzy world club

I did not think it would still be there!

With most of the jobs completed, some of our colleagues wanted to see more as they realised a room at the end of the building. From the stairway, this room would be directly in front of you. They asked "what's in there?" with a large smile, I said "That is the former Wizzy World, I use to go there" Even the toilets to the right-hand side remained in place with everything being where they should be, frozen in time.

Going inside, I was deeply touched to see that the room was exactly how I remember and was just waiting to entertain the new Wizz kids. The curtains, the speakers, the lights, the seats...EVERYTHING was still there. For the others, it was "Oh, nice" but for me, it was a large upset as my depression about something deeply important to me was now at the end of its life. All the memories of this time hit me so very hard, even now as I type this, I feel so very sad as the memories of a time of no worry and pure fun...well, I guess I just love this era so very much.

It changed everything and created this website

Then there was the start of the Butlin's Memorabilia collecting

So very sad, I would try to hide my upset from others but deep down inside me, I was so very upset. As we were coming towards the end of the job, I noticed something on the floor. Picking it up, I had this item in my hands reminding me that Butlin's Holiday Worlds is somewhere, in this case, a cloth. I asked the supervisor "May I have this please?" with a look on his face he said, "That old thing, it's worthless and needs to be in the bin but you can have it if you want". I took it back to my chalet and I admit, I cried so very much on this day as I realised that my Butlin's was gone.

The scan here is an old one showing a large watermark however, the story of this important item remains strong in my heart. It took me several weeks to get past this moment and that was because of my visit to another old friend in town, called the Monorail train. Now today, it's a symbol to me that my era of Butlin's is indeed gone but not forgotten. This cloth, as silly as it might read, is extremely important to me and something that remains close to my heart.

Who and What is Butlin's Memorabilia Website
The Butlins Memorabilia website was originally established as a place on the internet where people could view Mark Banks' Butlins collections. As a passionate enthusiast of the brand, Mark took the initiative to explore the extensive history that led to the website's transformation. Now, the Butlins Memorabilia site has matured into a historical education platform, demonstrating to visitors the meaningful ways in which Butlins has fostered joy and created unforgettable memories.

Are you the official Butlins Archive?
There exists only ONE official website that represents Butlins and that is located at www.butlins.com. The Butlins Memorabilia website is NOT the official archive of Butlins, nor does it serve as the authentic historical record of this extraordinary company. Butlins and their respective parent company have no role in the development of this site and have not participated in its creation. The singular official source for all Butlins information is the one indicated above. This site is strictly a fan-created platform, and any material presented here should be viewed as unofficial. Butlins and their esteemed parent company have NOT reached out to me to create this site, nor have they requested me to promote them. I undertake this effort solely to demonstrate my appreciation for their remarkable name and brand.

If you want to know more about this website
If you would like to read more about this website, you are more than welcome to click on these words. This special page will show you more about this site, how my Butlins collections started, how to get in touch with Mark, Social media links, our Facebook experts and the friends of this website.

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
An exciting addition to the website is the section titled "Untold Stories of Butlin's," which includes a range of personal stories. These narratives have been contributed by members of the Butlins Memorabilia social media groups, who have shared their individual experiences at Butlin's. It is important to understand that these stories are not sanctioned by the official company but are personal recollections from the individuals, as indicated on the page. The accounts shared reflect the magical atmosphere of Butlin's and the memorable moments it has inspired.

Can I get in touch with you about my situation at Butlins for some help?
For any issues related to bookings, inquiries on how to use the app, or to file a complaint, it is essential to follow the official procedure by contacting Butlins directly. Unfortunately, the Butlins Memorabilia website is not equipped to handle these matters, and no assistance can be provided through this platform. Complaints must be directed to Butlins, as they are the only ones capable of addressing them; this site lacks the direct control or involvement necessary to assist. The sole website that can provide help is the Butlin's official site, www.butlins.com. Everything you need can be found there, including their contact page, which is available on this link, and assistance with the Butlins app can be found on this link.

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When I worked at Butlin's Minehead

There was another change coming to Butlin's Minehead

My heart was truly broken

I did not think it would still be there!

Then there was the start of the Butlin's Memorabilia collecting

Supplied by Butlins

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