James' Memories of School Trips to Minehead Back

I can remember going on a school trip to Butlins in October 1980 half term.

I went for 1 week to Minehead. The camp was full of schools from all over the uk, the idea was to spend the week doing various activities - I can remember swimming, canoeing on the lake, abseiling and golf.

In the evenings there were discos for the kids.

After the week, if you had managed to do all the various activities, you got a bronze certificate. On the certificate were the words "national pentathelte" patron HRH Prince Philip.

Then, around Easter 1981, my parents recieved a letter saying I could go to the next level (silver certificate) and was invited for a free week in the summer holidays. I went with my grandfather (I had to be accompanied with an adult). The week we stayed was the week when Charles and Diana got married.

Both of us stayed full board for the week for free! When we got there my grandfather asked a couple of people about doing the activities for the silver certificate, but the people he asked didn't know. So we just spent the week having a good time and enjoying butlins.

Be interesting if anyone else has memories of school trips to Butlins. I guess Butlins opened it up to schools as it was out of season.

Kind Regards, James