Butlins
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Butlins Holiday Camps were founded by (later Sir) Billy Butlin to provide economical holidays in Britain.
The growth of the business was spurred by World War II when a number of camps were requisitioned for use as training camps, generating revenues for a post-war boom. The business was merged into the Rank Organisation, but sold off in the 1990s.
The camps were noted for their famous "Redcoats" who provided entertainment and organisation at every level. There was a UK TV satirical sitcom during the 1980's based on a Butlins type holiday camp called Hi De Hi
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Locations
There are Butlins resorts at:
Butlins Skegness has a large caravan park called Butlins Skyline Caravan Park (http://www.butlinsholidays.biz) You can hire caravans from owners, for example Liesls Holidays (http://www.lieslsholidays.co.uk), or buy a caravan of your own. Butlins will send you a free information packon (http://www.butlinsholidays.biz/Static-Caravan-Sales.htm) owning a caravan.
Butlins Minehead has a smaller caravan park, Butlins Minehead (http://www.butlinsholidays.biz/Butlins_Minehead.htm)
Butlins and Dodgem Cars
Dodgem Cars were invented in the USA by the Dodgem Cars Ltd. Billy Butlin saw them and obtained the UK franchise. As a result Butlins Skegness camp saw the first Dodgems cars in the UK, in 1923.
See also
External links
- Butlins Official Site (http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/)
- South Wales Echo story about Butlin's early career and first holiday camp (http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0750expats/newsletter/page.cfm?objectid=12533596&method=full&siteid=50082)