Well i was going to write today about my night out but after a conversation with my house mate this morning i decided i needed to write about all the things that make hi-de-hi.
This blog is going to be a dedication to all the past, present and future "Coats", whether you are blue, red or what are now known as "funstars"- THIS ONES FOR YOU!
Back in the 70's a young man called Trev started work at Pontins holiday park as a bluecoat, he worked hard and played hard, while he was working there a young lady called Debbie arrived as a guest for a modelling competition (back then miss lovely legs was the competition to win- it was like x factor for only beautiful people).
The 2 met and several years later Trev left the life of a bluecoat and married his Pontins Princess, they then went on to have 2 daughters and live happily ever after.
As well as Pontins mapping out Debbie and Trevs lives for them it also introduced them to friends that these days are now known as family, thanks to sharing the same memories and love made at a holiday camp.
For some people they really dont get "the holiday park love" but for me its the reason i am here, having Trev and Debbie as my parents has meant a life of love, fun, care and all round entertainment because even though Trev left the bluecoat life we carried on holidaying there for years and years, where we made more memories as a family that will be with us for life.
The conversation i had with my housemate involved her saying "You cant really call working at Pontins a job!", this got me thinking that people really have no idea how hard being a coat is and what is involved.
Back in 2007, i made my way down to Pontins, Brean sands (the same site my dad worked as a bluecoat) and auditioned to join Pontins as a Bluecoat. As i walked in several staff members approached me and asked "Your Trevs daughter?" i couldnt help but smile and feel incredibly proud.
I got the job and moved up to Southport after christmas to take my place as a bluecoat dancer, but nothing could have prepared me for the year i was about to experience.
We would work 6 days a week, sometimes starting at 9am and not finishing until the early hours the following day, with minimal breaks and sometimes doing 2 shows per day, even 3 on a charachter show day.
Your job is to entertain and and give the guests a holiday to remember. You had to constantly walk around looking like you had slept with a hanger in your mouth, make up and hair perfect and your uniform clean and ironed.
This was THE hardest job i have ever done but it was totally worth it because during this year i learnt hard graft, i had some of the best training, made the most incredible memories, met some of my best friends and created the best year of my life.
The people i met throughout that year i will never forget, the Blues, the cabaret acts, the bar staff- even the guests (who were not always a pleasure to be around especially after a few beers).
I cried, laughed, had my heart broken, drank too much, partied too hard, fractured my hand on a toilet seat being sick after 1 too many vodka shots and had a suspicious, sticky substence land on my black jeans in a busy bar (the word "seagulled" comes to mind) but these are just a handful of memories i have from my year as a Blue.
It doesnt matter whether your coat is Blue, Red, yellow etc- if you have ever worked as an entertainer you will know the pride you feel wearing that blazer because it represents a great British institution, something that only our country has, and we as a nation should embrace that.
At any holiday park the punters come to see the entertainers and when the kids go back to school with stories about their holiday what do you think they talk about?...the damp chalets/caravans?.... the fried and overpriced food? nope they will go back to their friends and say "when i grow up i want to be a coat!".
That is what i did, i still remember dancing around my bedroom wearing my dads bluecoat blazer doing the agadoo.
There is so much snobbery in entertainment:- "all that training and your working at Pontins??"
ive heard it all but ya know what? Pontins gave me something no amount of expensive stage schooling ever offered me.
I also believe my best training and skills came from my year in Southport and im pretty sure the likes of "Shane Richie", "Des o'Connor", "Bradley Walsh" etc wouldnt disagree.
As a coat you know that someone, somewhere has a picture of you in their photo album, a piece of video from their holiday with you on it- you have made a lasting memory for that person and for that you should be proud.
So even though i left feeling like i needed a new liver, a holiday for a month and a lifetime supply of sleeping tablets i wouldnt change a thing.
So this is a dedication to every single Bluecoat, Redcoat and funstar,
for every cabaret, bar staff and anyone else involved in holiday parks....
and also a very special thank you to everyone i worked with or met at Pontins, Southport 2007/8
^They are My friends- My family
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