Remembering Caravan Holidays in the early 1990s
(and your guide to what's on in the North East this weekend)
Hello and welcome to my ‘new look’ what’s on guide. The first part of this post is sharing a memory I have of caravan holidays in the 90s and the second half is your guide to what’s on in the North East this weekend.
If you’re just here for the what’s on and don’t fancy a trip down memory lane, feel free to quickly scroll past the first part.
Remembering Caravan Holidays in the early 1990s
Caravan holidays were a staple of my childhood. Almost every year we’d head off to Scarborough for a week in the summer- usually staying at Haven Blue Dolphin or Haven Primrose Valley.
Part of the excitement of the holiday for us was the journey and some of my core childhood memories stem from these trips:
*Making my own ‘holiday diary’. Did anyone else do this? I’d fill it in every night and it would start with the journey where I’d fill in what I could spot from the window. What a geek!
*Suitcases piled on top of the roof and tied in place with rope. How much stuff did we take????
*Going through the Tyne Tunnel - this was such a novelty from us and we only really did it when going on holiday or to FlamingoLand
*’Helping’ my dad with navigating using the AA map despite now being pretty sure he definitely knew the way
*The excitement / fear of driving up Sutton Bank with all of us in the car plus the weight of the suitcases. We always made it but did sometimes have to stop at the top for the car to cool down
*We’d nearly always stop off at Guisborough on the way to stretch our legs and look around the market
*We used to listen to tapes in the car back then - it would nearly always be either Meatloaf or Tina Turner’s Greatest Hits but occasionally we’d listen to the War of the Worlds too.
*Sometimes my grandma and grandad would follow us in their car and rather than visiting a coffee shop for coffee which is probably what we’d do now, my grandad would whip out his camping stove and camping kettle and make us all a brew on the side of the road during the journey down
Our friends/cousins would often join us on our caravan holidays too and I remember once, 4 adults and 4 kids all squeezed into one van. Sometimes I find it a squeeze with 5 of us so I’m not sure I’d cope with such tight living arrangements now.
Back then, we’d always get properly dressed up for the night time entertainment. We didn’t really go out for meals so would have tea in the van followed by a shower and change into our ‘good’ clothes which had more often than not been bought at our school fashion show at the end of summer term. I don’t think many people do this now (I certainly wouldn’t bother) but back then, it was the done thing.
My dad would take the kids down to the clubhouse early and we’d watch a film on the big screen sitting on the dance floor while my mam was left to get ready in peace and would join us later. I absolutely LIVED for the evening entertainment - loved the party dances (‘We’re having fun in the Tiger Club’), disco, shows they’d put on and family quizzes. I bought the Haven Holidays tape with all of the party dance songs on it and can pretty much still remember them all word for word.
We always had such a laugh. We were usually allowed a pop / slush from the bar and a light up toy of some sort from the gift shop which felt like a real treat too. We’d stay out late and watch the singer which usually started at 9pm. It’s strange that I don’t really watch any entertainment on holiday now considering how much I used to enjoy it.
There were always competitions to enter and we were usually divided into ‘Chimps’ and ‘Monkeys’ teams for games across the week. I was a shy child at school but on holiday, it was a different matter and I used to enter all of the competitions including talent shows! I once won a talent show with my stand up routine (OMG!) and was given a coveted Haven trophy and certificate which I wish I still had now.
During the day we’d venture into Scarborough and visit the beach / Peasholm Park / amusements, go swimming or play something like crazy golf/hire a pedalo. Once we hired those bikes where two people are at the back and two at the front and my mam ended up getting her foot stuck and broke her ankle!! She was on crutches for the rest of the holiday.
I never remember it raining during these holidays and in my head, the sun was always shining.
Happy days!
Ideas for the weekend:
Always check with venues direct for up to date info before heading out as info can change. You can find out more about these events / get their links in this post: https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/03/whats-on-in-north-east-for-kids-teens.html
(ad) Daily until 2 April - FREE SmileyWorld® Trail around North Tyneside
Daily until 6 May - Northumberland Now Exhibition at Woodhorn (closed Mon&Tues in term time)
Daily until mid-April - FREE Zen Garden Sensory Play at Theatre Hullabaloo (closed Sundays)
11 - 17 March - FREE Entry to RSPB Saltholme for National Lottery Players
11 -17 March - FREE Entry to Souter Lighthouse for National Lottery Players
11 - 17 March - FREE Entry to Gibside for National Lottery Players
11 - 17 March - FREE Entry to Wallington for National Lottery Players
11 - 17 March - FREE Entry to Lindisfarne Castle for National Lottery Players (check tide times)
11 - 17 March - 2for1 Planetarium Tickets at Great North Museum for National Lottery Players
11 - 17 March - 2for1 Entry + Kids Go Free at Bowes Museum for National Lottery Players
13 - 16 March - Protest at Northern Stage
14 - 16 March - Kaleidoscope at Theatre Hullabaloo
13 - 17 March - FREE Entry to Seaton Delaval Hall for National Lottery Players
14 - 17 March - FREE Entry to Ormesby Hall for National Lottery Players
15 & 16 March - FREE Entry to Segedunum for National Lottery Players
(ad) Daily from 16 March - 23 June - Brand New FREE Spirit of Invention Exhibition with Hands On Activities (+ a chance to design your own inventions) at Discovery Museum
16 March - Small & Mighty Family Art & Craft Session at Washington Arts Centre 16 March - British Science Week Big Science Party at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
16 March - Early Year's Musical Teddy Bear's Picnic at Seven Stories
16 March - Family Art Class at Shipley Art Gallery
16 March - FREE Superhero Saturday with Character Appearances in Darlington Town Centre
16 March - Spotlight on Colour Day at Centre for Life as part of British Science Week
16 & 17 March - Science Weekend at Beamish
16 & 17 March - Light Boxes Weekend at Centre for Life as part of British Science Week
16 & 17 March - Free entry to Belsay Hall for lottery players
Always check with venues direct for up to date info before heading out as info can change. You can find out more about these events / get their links in this post: https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/03/whats-on-in-north-east-for-kids-teens.html