The holiday season in full swing
Photograph of Great Yarmouth beach packed with holiday makers in 1950's
By Martin Keable
Great Yarmouth still enjoys the reputation of being one of the premier resorts in the country. The three railway stations, which were the arrival point for thousands of holidaymakers, may have reduced down to just the one but the ever growing number of cars ensures that Yarmouth has more than its fair share of summer visitors. Holiday patterns have changed out of all recognition from the era depicted here when a week, or a fortnight if you were lucky, beside the sea was all that people expected from their annual holiday. The sea-front area of town now offers many ways of keeping yourself amused (and spending money at the same time!) but these visitors seem to be more than pleased with the sun, sand and sea which they came here to enjoy. It may not be quite one of the Spanish Costas but the beach scene is highly reminniscent of the pictures you now see of the ranks of people covering, seemingly, every available space on the beach in their quest for a holiday tan.
Below are Audrey Ward's childhood memories of summer holidays on the beach.
Summer holidays seemed long and sunny and we were "free" after doing our jobs to go to the beach. We had jam sandwiches and lemonade made from crystals with water and shaken in the bottle. It was bliss, we had friends and we dug holes - one was a house and the other a shop, where we used empty cigarette boxes, match boxes and stones for stock. If we were lucky we might have a ha'penny for an ice cream from the stall, which was then on the beach. If it rained we played in the jetty shelters. We played in the sea and went swimming most days. It was glorious. Not many of us came to harm. We got home at 4.30 p.m., had tea, got scrubbed and were sent to bed, where we could read for a while.
Written by Audrey Ward
The beach between the jetty and Wellington Pier
Great Yarmouth Museums