View Full Version : Who was your most memorable Redcoat?
By IQ
Posted: Jul 11, 2003 4:29:57 am
For me it was "Uncle Chris" at Ayr (early 80s). He did some pretty good children's magic and variety shows and also entertainment in the beavers club, including getting himself thrown in the pool a lot!
He really knew how to relate to young kids, and once when we were in one of the bars one evening, my brother was a bit upset at the fact we were leaving the next day. Uncle Chris by that time was off duty and not even in his redcoat uniform, having a drink at the bar. Still he saw my brother (who was only about 6 years old) was upset and came over to tell him some jokes, give him his autograph and generally have a chat with us, which really cheered him up.
My parents were so impressed they got talking to him, asked him where he lived, which it turned out was near Manchester where we lived, and they offered him two hundred pounds to be the entertainer at my brothers birthday party, which he did an excellent job of!
By KEITH
Uncle Rhubarb! Childrens redcoat at Skeg - early 80s.
By DIZZY
Keith I knew Uncle Rhubarb personally, have lost touch though. Would love to get back in touch if anyone knows his whereabouts.
By GOLDEN GRILL
Early 80s: BOGNOR REGIS: Uncle Bob and Auntie Anette (their big clap, little clap routine was always a winner) BOGNOR REGIS: Uncle Morris
MINEHEAD: Uncle Iain, Auntie Lil, Uncle Kerry
By DEAN
In the 70's there was a Redcoat called Lliam Kelly, Irish lad i think, not sure why. Pretty good singer, had a song he made all his own called 'Little Rosa' a real tear jerker. He cut an album, which we still have called Liam Kelly sings.
Became freinds with my family, used to come back to our flatlet when all the bars had shut and have a few drinks. I am sure that must have been against the rules, certailnly was in my day 15 years later. I think he was after my aunt but I was too yuong to realise at the time.
Just remember him being an all-round good bloke.
By CHR
Totally agree about Liam Kelly - not only did he create the most amazing atmosphere in the Regency Bar at Filey (he seemed to be in there every night, did he ever have a night off?) but also popped up during the daytime compering childrens competitions etc.
It was LK and the Redcoats who made the Sunday morning grand get together such a highlight of the week. Such a simple format, two teams playing games against each other with probably a couple of thousand watching, but they made it so entertaining and fun.
Also remember a Redcoat called Terry Winter who did a tap dance routine in Old Tyme Music Hall (around 76 or 77) who was great fun whenever he was on duty.
Not forgetting "Babyface" Peter Simon who went on to host BBC's Run the Risk kids programme.
It must be said that Redcoats are only usually as good as their entertainments manager and so Rocky Mason (himself a former Redcoat) must surely merit a mention.
When I was a kid in the sixties (and an adoring teenager in the 70's) we used to follow the Redcoats everywhere, it must have been a complete pain for them. They seemed more mature in those days than the spotty youths we tend to see now although they were probably of the same age!
Isn't it strange that most of the Redcoat memories are of the lads, what about the girl Red's, any of them memorable enough for a mention?
By KEITH
"Uncle Mick" redcoat at Filey in 1982. Used to help out at times with the junior fairground rides such as the seals and the carousel with buses and other vehicles/animals on. Always used to take handfuls of popcorn or slap your hand as you went round!
By Tom
My most memorable redcoat has to be "Rockin' Roe" from the 1990s. She was great with kids and was very funny, too.
By BLINKING OWL
There was one Lady Redcoat who always got the crowd going,by singing..."Nuts whole hazel nuts" to which the campers then sang the "ohhh" bit,followed closely by "cadburys take em and they cover them in chocholate" If you do not remember the advert,then you will be giving a 'blank' look right now. It was in the mid 70's, either Skeggy or Clacton.
By butlins fan
For me and my kids, who are now grown up, it has to be Silly Willie who was in Skegness in the 90s. He was great with the kids and had so much patience. I was one of the mutants (Adults as he called us)
I went back to Skegness for an 80s break last year and i've been told he's now the boss. God help us all
By Windypops
I don't remember the guy's name but I have a vivid memory of a Redcoat being called in to entertain us kids in the Children's Theatre at Filey one night, probably in the late 70s sometime. Obviously something had gone wrong with the entertainment that night and this guy came on with a guitar after a rapturous introduction "Here's Uncle Whatever etc etc......!".
He then proceeded to sing us a selection of songs which were probably unknown to most of the kids, the most memorable being "Lucille" (you know "you picked a fine time to leave me Lucille etc etc......") and the poor guy was just dying on the stage - us kids were just sitting looking at each other. The poor poor man - talk about beyond the call of duty - just wanna say even at the tender of age of 9-10 I felt for ya!!!
Dishwash
11-12-03, 10:59 PM
:D My favourite Redcoat was a stunner called Julie and boy was she a real goer :lol:
flickers-golden-oldies
12-12-03, 04:22 AM
For us it was a guy called Tony Sweet. We had he pleasure of working with him in 1988 at Bognor at "The largest sixties festival in the world", their words, not ours. He was so intense in everything he did he would lose his voice often where he got so excited. A brilliant compere and an absolute gentleman. I wonder what he is doing now!
My favourite was Uncle Tony at Ayr in the 80's. He always wore a hat and I can remember the hat having something on the front, an orange or something, think it was called Fred.
Just wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to all those boy and girl redcoats who did (and are still doing) their bit to create all the fab memories we read about on this site. It just wouldn't have been the same without you.
And you thought you were only doing your job........
Anonymous
25-04-04, 11:44 AM
My favourite redcoat was a guy called Tony (can't remember his surname). He worked at Butlins Minehead in the early to mid- 90's and later became chief redcoat. I was about 7 and was there with my mum and friend when I first met him, I remember he worked in the club for the older kids but he always used to take me and my friend along with them on trips even though we were technically too young! He used to sit by us everyday at meal times and when we left we brought him a chocolate heart with 'Thank you Tony' written on it in icing.
Tony, if you're out there get in touch!!!
lindseytew@aol.com
My favourite redcoat was uncle Ron, who was at Minehead around 1972 - 1974. I was about 5, 6 or 7-years-old. I remember singing Three Blind Mice on the stage! :oops:
Domestiques
19-10-04, 05:38 PM
I liked willie and tony carter, perfectionists both of them and at skeg in the 90's. Ivan was good as well.
Rainbow
19-10-04, 10:31 PM
willie(tho no longer a red when i worked with him )was best i worked with, i learnt alot about working with kids from him.
Butlins Lass
28-10-04, 05:50 PM
One of my fave reds was Party Paul, Minehead late 1990's....he was totally crazy but very sweet as well.
There are loads of other reds who were great but far too many too mention
Skegness chick
28-02-05, 09:15 PM
My fave redcoat was lee simpson he was redcoat at skegness in 2002 and he was great with both me and my little brother i loved him he was the best he was there twice when i went and both times he was the same he talked to me and my family as if he knew us as if he had known us for ages. when i went in september 2003 he had gone i was gutted and so was my little bro but we soon got a nother fave but he still wasn't the same as redcoat lee my other fave resdcoat was redcoat graham he was great but he never got up to the standard of what lee did but in that year there was also redcoat tilley, jonny, daniel and matti they where all great but graham just seemed to stand out from the rest. graham was there again in 2004 when I went but half of the other reds that i liked from the previous year where there. Tilley was still there so was Jonny. but again there was new reds i liked alwell the new ones where Chris Loftus (from darlington where i am from), Chris healy, Keighley and mel all the redcoats mentioned in this where great redcoats and done there jobs brilliantly. And from watching all the redcoats doing there jobs so well and seeing how much they were all like it has made me want to be a redcoat and i am hoping to be a redcoat when i leave school. has anyone got any tips for me in helping me to become a redcoat if so please send me a message thanks Kimberley
bluecamp
28-02-05, 09:37 PM
As a kid at Pwellhi (could never spell that) I recall Uncle Jonny and Clarence the rabbit, not strictly reds, but still excellent!!
I remember Party Paul too, good laugh with the Wizzy kids at Minehead!!
Also Neil at Bognor (village inn and 5th Avenue bars) mid 80's, really good stuff.
Thanx to all the Reds :) :
Hey Skegness Chick,
Nice to meet a fellow Darlingtonian!!!!
Jules
wizebuys1
01-03-05, 11:33 AM
hi all
we went to bognor in may 1998 for my daughters 9th birthday , she had a crush on a redcoat called kevin, that night in broadway she was presented with a spice girls birthday cake by redcoat kevin along with redcoats gemma & mark , she stood on a chair and was really embarrassed when redcoat kevin gave her a kiss on the cheek, that was also the week my son then 6 was on stage with the wizzycrew & pulled wizards trousers down in front of the whole audience, hi wizzycrew (paul,rickeylee,shelly & tanya) if your out there thanks for a great holiday
In '82 when I was 14,I remember a Redcoat called Alfie at Ayr,I think his brother worked there too although I may be wrong on that.
I thought he was just gorgeous.I followed him everywhere lol :oops:
I liked him so much that other than the photos I got taken with him,I even bought an kind of official one of him,I could show you all but I haven't got it anymore :(
Captain Peacock
01-03-05, 02:47 PM
Back in the late 70's early 80's in Skeggy the only Red I can recall was called (I think) Leonard Jordan - he may have been Chief Red, not sure. He was an older Red (something you don't see these days!) but then I was only a teenager so he may not have been that old!! he-he
He was always good with everyone and always seemed to be smiling and laughing.
Having worked in Minehead for 7 years there are a lot of Reds i could mention, my mate Russ - coz I've known him so bl**dy long so I've gotta say he was good!! - alright Russ!!, Worzel who was always doing impressions which the kids loved, fatbeermonster dippy - well Minehead wouldn't have been the same without you John!, and many of the girls just for being... well... girls!. But the one that stands out, and I only knew him for a year was Chief Red 1991 Simon Bennett - he was always larking about, being silly, and generally entertaining the kids - and as a Customer Services advisor it was great to have guys like him around - if the kids are happy the parents are happy!!
Of course nowadays the working time regulations mean that the Reds don't have to work anywhere near as long as they used to per week so a little bit of the element of the Red always being there is lost. They used to be the last out of the venue at night and still up for 'swanning' at the dining halls for breakfast so the kids thought they were always there. Not so much nowadays with a maximum of 48 hours a week i think.
Skegness chick
02-03-05, 07:50 PM
Hi Jules
it is great to see someone from Darlo
Skegness chick
07-03-05, 07:40 PM
there was a redcoat about 5 year ago that was really great he used to mess about with all the guests like taking their shoes and hiding them and then takeing the other redcoats shoes and hiding them then blaming it on the kids it was so fun! he had us running around looking for our shoes. But he can't remember his name.
By BLINKING OWL
There was one Lady Redcoat who always got the crowd going,by singing..."Nuts whole hazel nuts" to which the campers then sang the "ohhh" bit,followed closely by "cadburys take em and they cover them in chocholate" If you do not remember the advert,then you will be giving a 'blank' look right now. It was in the mid 70's, either Skeggy or Clacton.
Skeggy Tom, pretty sure her name was Jackie, she was brill and she was nutty lol
So many faves over the years let me try and remember some:
Liam Kelly of course
Karen & Paul did the sports academy thingy in the 1980s
Redcoat Sue who was seeing one of the gorgeous lifeguards named Paul at Filey
Jackie I think see above post
Tony Kelly
Irish Mick
and my all time fav redcoat : Little Willie at Skeggy he was also there when I worked there in 1989 a great laugh and am told he made it higher, u deserved it Willie :)
Sure i will remember more as time goes by
LAUGHALOT
11-12-07, 05:44 PM
1994 Funniest Redcoat Ever Was Paul Traynor Does Anyone Rember
The Stupid Things He Used To Do
sassysaz
01-03-08, 01:16 AM
got to say people. red coat jonny from skegness please return, they need you more than sky! On the other side though who has visited skegness and never met the one and only red coat Chris Tarrant, i think not many lol. Hes just as famous as the telly dude, but more fun, younger and MUCH more entertaining and attractive lol. Long live the Tarrant!:lol::lol:
SkeggyReds
01-03-08, 06:48 AM
My most memorable Redcoat has to be the one that i married !!! ;)
Eileen.
beatles
01-03-08, 01:06 PM
maybe they should make a programme on what happened to some of then now because it would be interesting to know and because im nosey
beatles
04-03-08, 10:52 AM
i would have to say i would be hard pushed for choice because there have been so many that were my favs it seems to be a different one each year because by the time i go back they have changed them again so i find someone new
maybe they should make a programme on what happened to some of then now because it would be interesting to know and because im nosey
i think most of them post on this forum. xx
beatles
06-03-08, 03:43 PM
it would have to be the ones from not to far back because i might not remember then
Chez1979
06-03-08, 08:02 PM
my favourite redcoat was Albert Beardsall, he was at Skegness in the 90's, i think he went onto Cheif Redcoat and then to entertainments manager, anyone remember him?:-P
beatles
07-03-08, 11:02 AM
my fav would be the one that made my holiday special for what ever reason i do find some times that because i go on my own that i get ignored by reds some think there just for the familys or old people.so years you get really good ones and other years there not very good
Twirlstar...xxx
07-08-08, 10:02 PM
Hi There,
well i,m going back to 1976/7...Redcoat Lynney , I used to take a group of 60 and the laugh,s of excitment on the way to Bognor and yet the tears of heartache because we had to leave our new friends behind...
Lynney had this loud laugh that made us all respond and where ever we all went Lynney was always there to make sure our holiday was never going to be for got...
Bob Price was the swimming coach and a stage manager called A.B. was even at hand to supply all the things my group had to find in the tresure hunt... My group were called The Valerettes... From Basildon, Essex... Bye for now x:lol::p
blue3168
07-08-08, 11:35 PM
I asked my kids this question and apart from them mentioning redcoat chriss they both said someone who isnt even a redcoat but who they both agree they remember he is the man who greets you going in to I think ocean drive resturant (skeggy)
When I was little I loved all the redcoats and thought of them as celebrities and still have some of my autorgraph books but I cant say any one individual stands out they were all good to me and what made butlins that extra special to me as a child.
nite_owl_babe
08-08-08, 02:24 AM
It has to be redcoat chris ( skeggy ) he is fun and loves to join in with the kids, he has got a lot of people skills, and i remember 1 time my young son got a sward out the shop it broke as he was playing with it, and redcoat chris saw him upset so he took my son into the shop, and said he broke the sward and got my son a new 1 of his choice. That will stick with me forever, and redcoat chris aslo thro out our holiday made sure my son was happy with his new sward
For me, itttt's.. Redcoat Fuj who would have been @ Skeggy in 2002?? Maybe? There was also another guy who was pretty good, think his name was Dan? They're the two that stood out the most for me. Probably Fuj the most because he was the first one I met and I was SO shocked that they were nice, haha. I'd not been before so i expected them to be just staff, but Fuj and Dan really 'made' that holiday.
After that I think I outgrew the whole favorite thing, although I spoke to a Gemma I think she was called, who was from North Wales when I last went in 2006 (I know, wayyy to long ago!) who was pretty awesome. It was her and other girl, and I took about 5-6 tubes of glow-sticks with me (as you do) and she was look "Oh cool, could I have some to give to the kids??" so I said sure etc.... a couple of mins later, after she gave them out i read the back where it said not to be given to kids under 5, so I pointed it out to her and she was like "Oh my ****. What 'do' i do now?!" - very funny, still makes me laugh to this day.
i think mine, lil brother and sisters have got to be Chris M and Dan they cant decide between them lol they all realy make an effort with the kids.
mrs_butlins
12-12-08, 11:50 PM
Sorry .. any excuse to bring an old photo of Kath's back !!
I don't know any redcoats as I've only been on the adult weekends for the last few years. However, here's my favourite! No wonder your face is about to crack Kath!! :wink:
MMMM well Mrs B think we will all let you off as he is lush, I remember going back years when i was still a real mrs a lee at skeggy he was mega lush, and her really knew the how to red coat flirt, and yea push even on adult weekends there was some red coats about, its changed now as they realise really reds are not needed xxx
keno051
13-12-08, 01:17 AM
Chris currently at Minehead- a breath of fresh air that lad is.
Sorry .. any excuse to bring an old photo of Kath's back !!
I don't know any redcoats as I've only been on the adult weekends for the last few years. However, here's my favourite! No wonder your face is about to crack Kath!! :wink:
lol everyone likes Dan just a shame he's not there now my little brother is gutted, we couldn't walk past him without him screaming his name!
For me, in the 70's and early 80's, it was always Big John. ...Big Bad John. :)
redcoat wana be rose
17-01-09, 01:11 AM
aww redcoat Chris in Skeggy is the best redcoat ever , he's really great at his job nd canny fit too haha
i met him around 2005 i think : ) was on holiday with my best friend and my family .
hopefully one day i will be working along side him and all the other great redcoats at skeggy too :)
discokev
17-01-09, 12:53 PM
aww redcoat Chris in Skeggy is the best redcoat ever , he's really great at his job
Have to agree that Chris is a great Redcoat, he always seems to be able to get a fantastic party going in Reds!
Another Redcoat from Skeggy who's stuck in my memory is Charlotte who only started there early December but kept Kath & me company in Centre Stage on New Years Morning when we were the only people waiting to see the Polar Bear! Everyone else was a bit slow at waking up for some reason!!
From Minehead I can remember Dan who was made by two other Redcoats to go around shaking everyone's hands and asking if they'd had a good holiday, causing him to miss his break, when Kath & me were there last May! He managed to keep smiling throughout and being nice to everyone!
I can also remember Mark & Chris M who kept us entertained at Hot Summer Party last June with their antics which involved covering Chris in bread and sending him to the mercy of the seagulls!!
redcoat wana be rose
23-01-09, 12:04 AM
lol yeah , i don't really spk to that many female redcoats , i adore all the male redcoats in skeggy cuz they just brilliant nd more entertaining i reckon lol xx
happy camper
08-02-09, 12:25 AM
All of the redcoats were special but some always stand out from the rest Ron de maxim childrens entertainer and his son terry (do the doves still eat hardboiled eggs cooked in a kettle?). reds Phil scott, Laurence, and Fagin minehead early 70s and Big john, Frankie, Ernie, Chas Elliot and Peter White Clacton late 60s what happy memories of them all.
where are they now?
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