England - Minehead - 'Made in England' Butlins lifeguard

At the famous Butlins holiday camp in the Somerset town of Minehead, a poolside lifeguard overlooks the main pool from an overhead bridge. Behind him a monorail transports holidaymakers around the resort. Wearing the large letter B for Butlins on his red vest, the young lad sucks on his whistle held between his lips and prominently, the words 'Made in England' have been tattooed on his left shoulder - as if a statement for his patriotic ideals but also for those of Butlins - an institution for the British working classes who after the war had the opportunity to spend their summers at special resorts in seaside towns that provided entertainment and fun. Butlins and other camp businesses went into decline when the masses preferred Spanish vacations but have since been revived as travel costs have again soared and holidays at home are once again popular.

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Filename: butlins_pool08-16-1986.jpg
Copyright: © Richard Baker. No copying, screen grabbing, transmission or publication without permission.
Image Size: 5430x3543 / 5.3MB; www.photoshelter.com/support/license; https://www.bakerpictures.com/contact; Butlins lifeguard poolside Minehead monorail train overhead summer heatwave English England Britain British Made in England B holiday resort institution traditional vacation Somerset swimming bathers pool chlorine crowds above overlooking oversee safety whistle male man young holiday camp South-west improved 80s 1980s eighties shades Ray Bans vest singlet bare shoulders arms tattoo holiday at home popular masses domestic economic economy business statement patriotism patriotic nationalist revival working class tourism travel
Contained in galleries: 1980s

At the famous Butlins holiday camp in the Somerset town of Minehead, a poolside lifeguard overlooks the main pool from an overhead bridge. Behind him a monorail transports holidaymakers around the resort. Wearing the large letter B for Butlins on his red vest, the young lad sucks on his whistle held between his lips and prominently, the words 'Made in England' have been tattooed on his left shoulder - as if a statement for his patriotic ideals but also for those of Butlins - an institution for the British working classes who after the war had the opportunity to spend their summers at special resorts in seaside towns that provided entertainment and fun. Butlins and other camp businesses went into decline when the masses preferred Spanish vacations but have since been revived as travel costs have again soared and holidays at home are once again popular.