The Winter Gardens

My first trip abroad was in 1976 to South Africa.   Holidays prior to that included Great Yarmouth, Scarborough, Margate, Blackpool and Arbroath. 


The annual holiday was taken during the 'Glasgow Fair Fortnight' when businesses and factories would close for two weeks in July.  You would then see coach after coach of holidaymakers leaving Glasgow on their way to Saltcoats or further afield to England. 

There was a frenzy of excitement in our house leading up to 'Fair Friday' .  Suitcases lay open for several weeks beforehand with summer outfits being folded and packed on a daily basis until we had no clothes left to wear.  My grandfather came home from work at lunchtime, had a bath (this was significant as baths were normally taken on a Sunday) and then changed into a 1960's Hawaiian shirt (apparently this is now a popular vintage collector item) and a pair of lightweight trousers declaring himself ready!  A couple of flasks were made up; one containing tomato soup and one chicken soup and we were off.

The overnight journey seemed to take forever with several toilet stops made on the way (buses did not have on board facilities).  There was also a distinct lack of motorway.  Scottish people like to sing and I can remember falling asleep to what felt like 'Sounds of the Sixties'.

We stayed at the same B&B in Cliftonville for years and the daily pattern never seemed to change.  I don't recall my grandparents owning a camera but we had lots of holiday snaps.  These were mainly taken by commercial photographers who took lots of photographs of holidaymakers as they walked along the prom. Often taken with pet monkeys and parrots (don't ask). 


I spent most of my time at the Lido swimming pool or on the beach and at night after dinner (always announced by a gong - in fact, at the same time in each B&B - it was like a seaside symphony orchestra/percussion section), we went to a live entertainment show. Singing Edelweiss at a talent show was my introduction to interactive entertainment. Who knew I would end up singing 🎶 at a karaoke bar in Key West with a drag queen.





I recently visited Margate with high expectations that all the familiar paths walked in my childhood would still be there. The Winter Gardens looked grey and old but it felt comfortable like going to visit an elderly relative that you are particularly fond of. I could see my grandparents with their best clothes ready for a 'show'. I remember having a little autograph book to collect the signatures of the famous variety acts.

I was only there for a few hours. I sat in a cute cafe in the developing old town, had a coffee then browsed around the trendy shops. There was not a stalk of rock or 'kiss me quick ' hats in sight. Margate and I had grown up. There seems to be much to do to polish and prune this seaside town and I look forward to going back again soon to support this and keep in touch with the old dear.