As children we holidayed with my mother at Butlins Holiday Camp - Pwllheli every year. In those days to get to North Wales from South Wales would involve a long but interesting journey by steam train up the West coast of Wales. Being a post war innovation by Billy Butlin the camps were rather regimental. Breakfast was served in large canteens with tables set out to 'feed the five thousand'. We stayed in chalets carefully numbered in regimental fashion and were awakened each morning by the familiar "Hi di hi" over a loud hailer beckoning us to the canteen; the worst thing some these days folk could imagine for a relaxing holiday. Throughout the week various activities were set out such as the "Mr. Tarzen" competition and the "Fancy Dress" competition for children or for older folk there was "The nobbly knees" competition or "Miss Butlins" which for some reason my mother, despite encouragement, never entered. A mechanical elephant toured the site for children to ride on and I learnt to swim at the outdoor swimming pool, tutored by Gus, one of the familiar red coats. For my mother the holiday was ideal for young children such as Margaret could be put to bed in the evening (in the knowledge that chalet nurses regularly patrolled the rows of chalets checking on any young children that might be crying!) I being that little bit older used to accompany my mother to a show organised by Red Coats. How things have changed, but for "working class" families in those days, prior to the introduction of budget air flight, we considered it a good option to staying at a guest house. After all we lived by the sea-side in South Wales with the lovely Gower peninsula beaches. Strange 'though it might seem in those days it was a good holiday and we went back year after year. Margaret in her late teenage years used to work each summer at Butlins Pwllheli prior to entering college. Some of the stories she told, made one realise all that went on behind the scenes. It is little wonder that on a later family holiday with our Aunt, Uncle and their two eldest children we suffered food poisoning. The camps would not stand a chance these days given Health and Safety regulations.