What Is a Holiday Camp?

What is a Holiday Camp?

In 1945, at the end of the Second World War in Britain, there were a huge number of families reunited at last with their soldier husband/father after up to six years of fighting. In America the returning G.I.’s were regaled with the G.I. Bill which gave them education and homes. In war-devastated and bankrupt Britain, the returning Tommy’s (British soldiers), got Holiday Camps and The National Health System.

These collective 2-week-a-year vacation spots were first opened along the British coast using converted wartime army barracks by enterprising companies like Butlins & Pontins. Once in the holiday camp all amenities were free, such as food, amusements and baby-sitting. (The baby boom started somewhere!)

Imagine Club Med in pre-fall East Germany. Arnold’s family went to Butlins in Skegness for their first holiday.