Stories Of London

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When Jackie was employed by the BBC and worked on the radio and television versions of The Billy Cotton Show, he often accompanied the performers when they appeared on stage in live productions in his capacity of music arranger and occasional conductor.

During Jackie’s time in performing on-stage with The Billy Cotton Show, he appeared at the Granada Theatre Slough (December 1956), the Winter Gardens Bournemouth (June 1959), the Opera House Blackpool (1963) and the Winter Gardens Margate (1966) and most likely at other venues.

Left: Poster; Right: The Band on Stage at the Granada Theatre Slough, December 1956

Poster advertising the appearance of The Band with a variety of Acts at
The Winter Gardens Bournemouth, June 1959

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In 1963, The Billy Cotton Band appeared in a summer season of variety at the Opera House Blackpool along with the actor-comedian Jimmy Edwards (1920-1988) and The King Brothers.

Left: Front Page of the Programme for The Big Show of 1963 at the Opera House Blackpool
Right: Part of the Programme showing that The Billy Cotton Band appeared just prior to the Interval

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In July 1965, Jackie appeared at the Winter Gardens Margate with the entertainer, Val Doonican (1927-2015).

In July 1967, Jackie appeared on the BBC Light Programme entitled Make it Margate along with a number of other entertainers who were appearing in the area and recorded at the Winter Gardens Margate.

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At some time in the 1960s, Jackie was employed to provide musical entertainment to Campers at a Butlin’s resort. Jackie’s daughters are unsure where the Camp that they visited was situated, but Jackie’s daughter, Amanda, believes that it was in Margate.

Seemingly there was no Camp in Margate, but Butlin’s did operate a number of hotels in Cliftonville, (which is part of Margate) and it may have been that the family stayed at one of them during this time.

Postcard of Four of the Hotels operated by Butlin’s at Cliftonville

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Amanda remembers staying at a Butlin’s Hotel in Margate (Cliftonville) where there was an indoor swimming pool. She said that the pool has a glass side, which allowed them to watch people’s legs as they ate in the restaurant! She said that she and Julie found this to be hilarious! She also remembers three different hotels in the area where they were allowed to use the facilities. She also remembers the swimming pool of the Queens Hotel. Apparently the pool was deep, which prompted Jackie to remain close by in order to be sure nothing bad happened to the girls.

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There were nine Butlin’s Holiday Camps built in the U.K.: Skegness (built in 1936), Clacton (built in 1938), Filey (1945), Pwllheli (1947), Ayr (1947), Mosney (1947), Bognor Regis (1960), Minehead (1962) and Barry Island (1966). Today only the Camps at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness are open for business while the others have closed. In addition to Camps, Butlins operated a number of hotels in the UK, including six in Cliftonville and one in The Bahamas.

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In the summer of 1968, Jackie was once again performing at the Winter Gardens Bournemouth. He was appearing each Sunday from mid-July until the end of August with The Baron Knights.

On one of these Sundays in July, Jackie also appeared with the comedian and singer Max Bygraves (1922-2012) and Company.

During his stay in Bournemouth, Jackie and his family took the opportunity to visit The Shell House which apparently has sadly been demolished.

Amanda & Julie at The Shell House

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Amanda remembers staying in a Caravan in a park in Great Yarmouth at some time during the 1960s. She believes that Jackie was performing in a summer season of entertainment there. She recalls that she and her sister, Julie, took part in a children’s Fancy Dress Competition with Julie dressed as a caravan, which our mother had made from a large cardboard box, and I, t with a sheet over me, going as a tent (although I remember everyone thought I was a ghost!).

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