Barry Island Photos from the 1980s Back

Thanks to David Church for providing the photos and this account of his time at Barry Island;

"I first worked at barry Island in the accomodation department in 1984, Easter to October, officially as 'Chalet Maid'. I think there were 2 male ones. Other staff had other titles. Duties were delivering bundles of clean sheets to ends of chalet rows, collecting laundry from outside chalets, sorting and counting it in the laundry room (pink on the right, blue on the left, what colour is this one, green of course, yes I know it's green, but is it pink or blue, well I suppose not, just put it to one side and we'll hide it in whichever bundle doesn't add up to a round 20), afterwards we emptied bins, swept up, tidied up, fetched and moved equipment, put rocks in the cisterns (to save water when flushed), cleaned the drains (because not enough water was flowing to flush them), and had rides on the tractor (secretly).

1986 I was a pool lifeguard, with evening Redcoat duties. Christmas full GD Redcoat.

1988 was under majestic, so the uniform was slightly different - no 'B' on the pockets, and I am afraid quite a bit of the equipment was no longer working - such as the stop-cocks for the pool water-features, mostly due to disuse I believe.

1985 I don't really know why I didn't go to BI, possibly not old enough to be lifeguard, but I spent most of the summer at the Island with the St John's first aid/beach rescue unit.

1987 I went on Camp America as a camp counsellor at children's camp, and travelling.

by 1989 I had only a very short vacation from college, which I spent at a hospital in Morocco, and by then BI was closed.

Best Wishes,
David Church, or Rambo"

Click on each image for a larger view