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Radio Butlins

The tannoy system heard across the Butlin’s camps began operating in 1946. Today, it is often jokingly referred to as “dreaded,” but the camp radio station was once regarded as the camp’s nerve centre and with good reason. Its use could certainly be called “active,” although the level of activity depended on how enthusiastic the announcer was with the microphone. Nearly every manager and seemingly even his grandmother could get access to it. Each day opened at 7.30 am with the “wakey” announcement and a gentle tune.

Radio Butlins

Click on this photo to load YouTube and listen to this song.

The song called "Singing Piano" by Tolchard Evans, was the longest-running selection. Halfway through the record, the music would fade, and the announcer would state that it was 7.30 am and give the breakfast times: 8.15 am for the first sitting and 9.15 am for the second. Broadcasts went out to campers every day of the week and continued until 6 pm. The usual programme included music, advertising, jingles, requests from campers, details of the day’s events, and general news.

Radio Butlin ran through the end of the 1974 season; after that, its broadcasts were restricted to emergencies. At Ayr, the final broadcast concluded with Bobby Butlin breaking the “Wakey” record live on air. Throughout its existence, the station was seen as a useful service rather than a nuisance. People may remember it fondly and humorously today, but at the time it did what it was meant to do and suited holidaymakers’ expectations. The script below comes from real broadcasts: first, the tune used to wake campers, then the early-morning announcement by Radio Butlin announcer Iris.

Morning Script announcement

Song

Good morning, good morning, good morning
Another lovely day for when it's wet, it's fine at Butlin's
We never let it spoil your holiday
Good morning, good morning, good morning
There's a good time on the way
For wet or fine, the sun will always shine
On your Butlin holiday

Announcement

Hello everyone, the time is almost half past seven, and this is your Radio Butlin announcer, Iris, wishing you a very good morning and just reminding all our first sitting campers that breakfast will be available at a quarter past eight

Tune fades back in

Good morning, good morning, good morning
There's a good time on the way
For wet or fine the sun will always shine
On your Butlin, Butlin holiday

The following is a broadcast made just before first sitting for breakfast on a Saturday morning, the day of departure.

"This is Radio Butlin calling all first-sitting campers.
The time is quarter past eight and your breakfast is now available.
Would all campers who are leaving today who would like their luggage transported to the station by the Butlin lorries. Please leave it outside the Crazy Horse saloon before half past nine.
Luggage must be collected from the station by four o'clock this afternoon after which time it will be returned to the camp.
Also campers will you please check to see if you have any mail waiting for you in the campers mail office before leaving"

Another typical announcement was for chalet patrols

This is radio Butlin calling, I'm so sorry to interrupt your game campers, but there is a baby crying in chalet ZH 10
A baby is crying in chalet Z H for Harry 10

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Founded by a gentleman named Glen in 2001, the Butlins Memories website became a valuable source of information about Butlins’ history. When development on the site paused, Mark designed the Butlins Memorabilia website in 2018 to offer a more frequently updated resource. Butlins Memories stayed online to share its important story, and a new owner took charge, making some small changes to the website. In August 2026, the website would change hands once more and become part of the Butlins Memorabilia story. The two websites would work together to celebrate the campers, the staff, the Butlins name, and Sir Billy Butlin.

Is Butlins Memories or Butlins Memorabilia the official Butlins Archive?
There exists only ONE official website that represents Butlins, and that is located at www.butlins.com. The Butlins Memories and 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 its respective parent company have no role in the development of this site and have not participated in its creation. The 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 the 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.

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