Heading for Skegness beach (1948)As a young lad one of the highlights of the summer was a day trip to Skegness. As there were few cars in those days, we had to go by Roadcar bus, that ran every Sunday throughout the summer from Metheringham. The bus left Metheringham at 9 o'clock and meandered its way, at 30 mph, through numerous villages, picking up passengers en route, before eventually arriving at Skegness at half-past eleven. After asking seven or eight times where we were, I was always told 'nearly there.' The last leg of the journey from Burgh-le-Marsh to Skegness was a straight road, about three miles long. It was half way along this stretch that a large water tower came into view, and the excitement would mount, now you really were nearly there. On arrival it was a short walk from the bus park to the Clock Tower and the first stop of the day. Here, on the corner, was a shop selling buckets and spades, kites, beach balls, large plastic sharks and 'kiss me quick' felt hats. First purchase of the day was a bucket and spade. Unlike today's plastic versions, the buckets were made of tin and the spades had wooden handles and brightly painted metal bottoms. Then it was straight on past the Clock Tower down to the beach. It was here where the adults had their first treat, a plate of cockles or whelks, or maybe a bag of shrimps. Then on to the beach, sandcastles, football, collecting shells and paddling in the sea. Just time for one donkey ride before lunch. In those days lunch was sandwiches, cake, tea and pop, brought with us in an old brown suitcase. Lunch was always eaten just outside the fairground on a grassy area, next to the man-made river, built for pleasure boat rides. The afternoon was spent wandering through the fun fair, strolling along the pier, and walking around the town, in and out of the endless bazaar's, selling trinkets, souvenirs and saucy postcards. Several sticks of lettered rock were bought to give to people at home. Strange tradition! It was in one of these bazaar's, that every year, I would spend what was left of my pocket money on the same two items. A rubber ball, hollow inside, and its two halves painted different colours and a bazooka. For anyone not familiar with a bazooka, it was made of thin tin, silver in colour, hollow inside and shaped rather like a canoe, but tapered at one end. On the top was a hole with a paper membrane stretched over it. By blowing and humming at the same time into the wide end, you could make a tune, rather like we used to do as kids stretching grease proof paper over a comb and blowing through it. After about two days it would stop working, usually because the paper was wet, and your musical ambitions had to be put on hold until the following year. Finally, it was back to the Clock Tower corner for a fish and chip tea, eaten out of the paper. Then back to the bus park by six o'clock to catch the bus home. I remember there was always a certain urgency to get back to the bus park on time. No one wanted to be stranded in Skegness for the night. Happy days!
