Holidays in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in 1955

A time when us locals were joined by tens of thousands of others from across the land who headed our way to enjoy the resorts, armed with the official guide which had page after page of advertisements for places to stay and attractions to enjoy.

The Resorts that have Everything - the official guide from 1955. (Image: Derek James Collection)

And it came with a warning from John A. Kinnersley, director of the Entertainments & Publicity Department.

“May I ask you seriously to consider taking your holiday in either June or September – they are really glorious months – but if you must come in July or August please book your accommodation as early as possible.”

Self-catering was becoming more attractive in the 1950s (Image: Derek James Collection)

There were hundreds of hotels, large and small, guest houses, b&bs, along with holiday camps, caravan parks along with houses and bungalows where you could stay.

Holidays on offer for “old” people. (Image: Derek James Collection)

Relax at the Royal (Image: Derek James Collection)

And some of the best-loved entertainers in the country headed our way to entertain the holidaymakers, and locals, at so many different shows.

Neville Bishop’s McNamara Band at the Marina in the 1955. (Image: Newsquest Archive)

This was a time when holidays for the vast majority of people were on home ground and we were the lucky ones… living in or near these resorts.

It is very sad to hear what has been happening at one hotel I remember well when I was a child, the Star Hotel of East Anglia, now closed and damaged by vandals.

Once a star of the East Coast – the Star Hotel at Great Yarmouth in 1955. (Image: Derek James Collection)

There was a time when it was described as: “A first-class hotel, for centuries the best known licensed house of Great Yarmouth, rich in its historical associations in its links with King Charles I, Cromwell, Lord Nelson, Lady Hamilton, Charles Dickens.

Happy days at GREAT Yarmouth in the 1950s. (Image: Derek James Collection)

It was Dickens who wrote of Great Yarmouth: “Upon the whole the finest place in the Universe.”

Gorleston-on-Sea – described as the family resort where relaxation and recreation went hand in hand to provide that happy holiday atmosphere. (Image: Derek James Collection)

In 1955 most the bigger hotels on the front were charging from around 5 guineas (£5/1shilling) a week for full-board and that included hot and cold water in the rooms and if you were really lucky an interior sprung mattress.

And if you fancied staying at a caravan park then Seabird at the then new Seashore Park in Yarmouth offered “flush sanitation” which was good to know.

Generations have, and still are, loving those snails at Joyland. These two lads featured in the 1955 tourist guide. (Image: Derek James Collection)

Some things never change, thank goodness. How we loved Joyland, the Venetian Waterways, the Pleasure Beach and today the wonderful Hippodrome  offers some of the best shows in the land.

For the grown-ups there was horse racing, dog racing and speedway – come on you Bloaters.

A flight during the day and a spot of greyhound racing at night. Happy holidays. (Image: Derek James Collection)

Whistling Ronnie Ronalde was topping the bill at the Wellington Pier, there were Roller Revels at the Pier and dear old Neville Bishop and his orchestra were the stars of the Marina. Every morning he put on Uncle Neville’s Children’s Parties. There  more than 4,000 seats with prices from 6d.

The much-loved Eddie Gates, of Norwich, a star of the Floral Hall (Image: Derek James Collection)

While at the Floral Hall in Gorleston our very own, much-loved musician, blind Eddie Gates from Norwich, was playing his “mighty electronic organ.” He was a lovely and talented gentleman. It was a privilege to have known him.