Off to the seaside in the 1930s

Now if you are of a certain age you will remember the works outing to the seaside and the variation which were organised by the local pubs.

In my case it was a boozy day out to Brighton for the employees of Glenton Tours, and I guess because numbers were a tad low Dad asked me if I wanted to go and also if I wanted to bring some friends.

And so that was how at the tender age of 15 I went on my first “Beano” or “Jolly.”

What they all had in common was that they ended up at the seaside, involved numerous stops for “refreshments”, “comfort pull ins”, more refreshments and somewhere along the way a meal.

In most cases you paid for the trip in instalments, travelled by motor coach set off early in the morning returning late at night.

And the benefits of the sea air and countryside were slightly negated by the enormous amounts of beer and cigarettes consumed on the journey but what fun they were.

In an age before paid holidays and when the annual leave from work was little more than a week and a bit a day out with friends and family was an important occasion.

They would be remembered for years after and the stories of those left behind along with the raunchy seaside entertainment would be told and retold becoming ever more outrageous and funny with each retelling.

I was reminded of all this by two photos from the collection of Ken Fish which date from the 1920s or 30s.

Both convey that mix of fun, excitement and anticipation at the trip ahead, and are an important record of the day away.

And long before the coach it was the horse drawn charabanc, but that is for another time.

Pictures; from the collection of Ken Fisher, date unknown

*The day the photographer took the picture of the charabanc, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/day-photographer-took-picture-of.html