Warners Dovercourt Bay.

[Butlins_Remembered]

I always remember this warners holiday camp, I went in 1987 when i was the young age of 14, It was only a small camp but it had every thing you needed, I remember it had a disco place for the under 16s a small games room and a main ballroom, plus on the side of the building it had 2 tv rooms (one for BBC and the other For ITV). And in reception it had pics of the HI-DI-HI cast from the program made by the BBC, HI-DI-HI was made there and it was great to see the camp when the program was on. :D

Sadly the camp was Demolised in the Late 80s :(

[johnot]

Was an okay holiday there but not as good as Butlins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SweetDenzy]

No other camp could match up to Butlins, I went to Dovercourt in 1982, nice chalet near the BMX track. Smashing food, loved the machine you got the milk from and the layers of toast at breakfast time. BUt no free amusement park like Butlins. :cry: NOt much to do either, no roller skating, outdoor swimming pool was freezing. :lol:

[basguy]

i worked at this camp just before it closed back in 1990.I did 3 seasons.
it was hard work but i enjoyed it . still keep in touch with friends from the camp. its sad it is no longer there

[johnot]

Hi basguy do you live in dovercourt? My mum worked there for at least 2 seasons and a guy named Mike Newman did too! I haven't been to Harwich for about 10 years now has it changed much!! Obviously the camp was knocked down when I last went

[johnot]

hi basguy, I don't know how you send e-mails seperately. So first thanks for the reply. My Mum worked there after '84 I think. Her name was Sylv I think she worked in domestics or catering. Mike or Michael was a painter who worked there all the time on maintenance. I am not quite sure how many seasons she worked, but she did enjoy the work there (most of the time.)

[Smileysal]

Hiya,

We went there during the last season in 1990. They were still taking bookings for the 1991 season, but Warners decided to close it (again - another one bites the dust!) because it had building rights on it. They also sold Devon Coast (in Paignton) 93/94 and Sussex Coast (middleton on sea, sussex) 93/94 to Shearings who only had the place 1 year, run them into the ground and sold them too, again cos they had building rights on em.

:) Sal

[basguy1968]

Lovley camp it still holds many happy memoires for me, I cant belive its 16 years this year since the camp closed

[tonyoz777]

stayed there several times during mid - late 70's on our annual hols. i remember one of the green coats was known as "stevie" and used to go round making out he was a bit simple - pulling faces and talking funny. his sidekick straight man used to belt him one and everyone would feel sorry for him - then on about the wednesday night, the all star cabaret - he would reveal all and sing norman wisdoms "dont laugh at me cos im a fool" and be normal for the rest of the week !!

there was also a fishing pool at the bottom of the camp - i remember thats why we first went there so my grandad could fish - we always went to warners but it had been seaton and hayling island before that

[manofmystery]

Are there any plans or maps of Dovercoat camp?

Regards

Paul

[Smileysal]

ill have a look see if mum and dad still got the 1990 programme. can't remember off hand whether they had a map in there somewhere. i think they did tho. will ask em. if i do find it then ill put it up. x

[Roy S]

Went there twice before it closed down (obviously) had a great time. What was the name of the late night bar? simple green or something like that

[warren]

No other camp could match up to Butlins, I went to Dovercourt in 1982, nice chalet near the BMX track. Smashing food, loved the machine you got the milk from and the layers of toast at breakfast time. BUt no free amusement park like Butlins. :cry: NOt much to do either, no roller skating, outdoor swimming pool was freezing. :lol:

:D Yeah, but you're missing the point. The reason Dovercourt was so great was that it was small. By the end of the week you knew everyone and it had a great atmosphere. At Butlins, you made friends with someone and you were lucky if you saw them again before the end of the week. At Warner's, if you joined the kids clubs, there was also something going on.

[basguy1968]

The camp was demolished in the 1990"s the final season was 1990,.I still have many happy memoires of my time at the camp

[basguy1968]

I still have a programe of the final season,

[KAF2]

Just been watching He-De-Hi. Wondered if all the Butlinsesque fibre-glass animals were usually around the camp at Dovercourt - or whether these were just put up for filming?

KAF

[Disco Stu]

in sereies 6 you can see the camp is in sorry state.. it makes me sad!

[CurlyTherms]

Lovley camp it still holds many happy memoires for me, I cant belive its 16 years this year since the camp closed

hi basguy, you still working in M & S in basildon.

16 years wow i didn't realise that either. I went there in 1984. the swimming pool was freezing and I got goose bumps. not much to do there unlike butlins

[tim]

HO HO Dovercourt.I went there in 1982 when there was a Hi Di Hi week on.I Do remember the simple one.At the week was guests from the show i saw Ruth Madoc And Felix Boness.I ask how they spend time when not filming,he said ...wait for it ...they played Table Tennis,guess who was a table tennis champ,no not him but Paul Shane.Went on a Ghost noight at about half eleven with the greencoats one nite.Does anyone remember it .When watching the video or dvd of the series i tryand its difficult sometimes to work out where abouts places are on sight.I have still got the programme

[kendolder]

I was scanning some old photos yesterday and came across the attached, which must have been taken around 1947, shortly after WWII, on my very first trip to a Holiday Camp (and as a matter of fact, my very first holiday after living through the blitz). Viewing it made me search for any references to Dovercourt Bay Holiday Camp as I remember that holiday quite well. That's how I came across this thread. I'm now at the ripe old age of 70 and have lived in the USA for the last 40 years. This photo certainly brought back some memories for me so I figured it might do the same for some other campers from that period. I used to live in Romford but till now, never realized that Dovercourt Bay was also in Essex. I'm the older one on the left and that's my brother and sister with me.

[basguy1968]

Hi yes im still at m&s in Basildon working in the food epartment. still enjoy it, been there 10 years this year [ QUOTE=CurlyTherms;87710]hi basguy, you still working in M & S in basildon.

16 years wow i didn't realise that either. I went there in 1984. the swimming pool was freezing and I got goose bumps. not much to do there unlike butlins[/QUOTE]

[davidmummery]

Many thanks, Ken, for such a prompt reply. I was not over-optimistic that you might recall my grandmother, but it was a long shot worth taking.
Mother is amazed that the internet even facilitates such an exchange!
May I wish you good health and a Merry Christmas?
David Mummery, Colchester.

[basguy1968]

I cant believe its 18 years the camp closed. I still keep in touch with friends from the camp, i did 3 seasons there as a cleaner in the ballroom

[Paul Long]

Does anyone have any images on this historic camp ?

[basguy1968]

Hi paul, on ebay there is a home made dvd on the camp, just doa search of hi-de-di its about 3.99, i have some old pics of the camp if i had a scanner i wouldput them on here

[Paul Long]

thank you for that info,much appreciated

[Pyramid]

Hi All

We were resident band Pyramid summer season 1990.

I've got some pix plus a live recording of Eric Delaney form one Thursday Night.

Going to see Barry Santana soon!

Hope you're all doing well.

Pete

[basguy1968]

I remember pyramid well and eric delany, and his drums .Being the last season at the camp its was a specail season, one never to forget

[the senor]

Hi All

We were resident band Pyramid summer season 1990.

I've got some pix plus a live recording of Eric Delaney form one Thursday Night.

Going to see Barry Santana soon!

Hope you're all doing well.

Pete

I remember Barry he did the summer season in Great Yarmouth. Stayed in a touring caravan on SeashoreHoliday park. A really nice guy. He was performing one night when the fire alarm went off. The auto message was " In the intrest of saftey this building must be evacuated" Barry joking said to me he thought it said," In the intrest of music this building must be evacuated."