Aunty Jeans Pictures

 Here we have a few photos from Aunty Jean, which feature both her and her husband Les back in their early holidays in Lloret 1958-59. I'm sure they must have been the first holiday makers to venture as far as Boadella beach in those days!

Early Days in Spain!

The BBC are making another programme about the early days of holidays abroad and I'm sure that some of you may be able to help. Please read the message below-
Hello,
My name is Vicky and I work for the BBC. I am working on a documentary for bbc4 about the history of the British holiday and I am looking for some people who went on some of the early spanish package holidays to share their memories with us - first taste of foreign food, lots of wine, never felt so much sun on their faces, those kind of things.
can anyone help?

We are looking to film on 14-15-16 May in the London area so it's not much time to find someone.
I would be grateful for any help you can offer, my details are below
vicky.gardner@bbc.co.uk
07977 997085

An important message...

I've just had a look at the message board and there is a message from Kate (a new member) and she would like your help....for those who dont look at the message board here is Kate's message-

Hello, I am looking for photos of my sister Deirdre, we lost contact a long time ago I was only 6 or seven but would like to know if she is ok or anyone knows of her or how she is or maybe still in contact.... her name was Deirdre tall with fair hair and was working for awhile at Las Cuevas DJ in a disco in Lloret de Mar called Las Cuevas,s he had a girl friend called Sheila, it would have been range from 1970....appreciate if you can help or let me know - thank you :) She may have changed her name as a certain stage...

2 Pics from Peter

 Thanks to Peter for these 2 colourful photos along with his info - 

 " My name is Peter worked in Lloret 1980-1990 Moby-Rob Roy-Texas-Beach Boys (thats me middle clown) moved up coast to Lscalla then back to Whitehaven 1994. Married Caroline Owen & Brendas daughter they are in both photo,s but can anyone tell me who Santa is in the second one."

A Pic from Biddy Baxter

Thanks to  Martin (Biddy Baxter) for this photo
In the pic are - Tommy Wells , a potty Spaniard named Tony, (as Martin calls him!) &  Biddy (martin ) Baxter taken in the Texas 1977.

Patrica's photos

 Thanks to Pat for sending us another batch of her photos from Canada...no need for any explanations from me as Pat has kindly included info for each picture!

A Bullfight Story from David!

Thanks again to David our 'resident story teller' for another funny tale from his time in Lloret while working for Thomsons.....
Hi again Jackie, well as promised “worlds greatest bullfighter”.
Having worked 2 seasons in Lloret for Thomsons they decided I would be moved to Just outside Callela to the Massive complex of “Taurus Park”
This because I was being trained and showing signs of being suitable as a hotel entertainer, well the Taurus Park had its own nightclub and its own BULLRING and once a fortnight we were to host a bullfight!!.
So it was once every two weeks I would invite all the young men in the audience to come down to fight the “Baby bulls” now to sell the afternoon I told all the guests at the welcome meetings the bulls were no bigger than Alsatian dogs so there was no problem getting 40 or more guys to join me ringside. I showed them how to hold the plastic sword and red cape and told the 300 spectators watching to shout Olay when a good pass was made and Toro Toro if the bull didn’t move. I gave the sword and cape to the first guy placed him in the ring and took my place on the raised stand (outside) the ring, well there was a recorded round of bullfight music and the gate was opened, every single fortnight without fail when the bull charged out the guy in the ring dropped the sword and cape and ran so did at least 25 of the volunteers, back into the stand to their partners. It took a lot of coaching to get at least some of them back down (the bulls were just a bit bigger than an Alsatian!!! and got bigger as the season went on) the other hilarious bit was after the first couple of outings the bulls soon realised the big red cape always moved out their way but the silly bugger holding it didn’t, so by the second month the bulls just came charging out and straight into the Bullfighter, you could hear the laughter in Lloret?
After the bullfight we would have a game of football in the ring to say sorry with a bottle of champagne for the winners, boys versus girls but to make it fair everyone had to jump in a sack, so the game commenced (I was still on my high stand outside) until 5mins into the game there was ALWAYS a penalty!! Now the Spanish chap who looked after the bulls at the back didn’t speak any English but had been carefully trained that when he heard Penalty, Penalty he opened the gates and let out ALL the bulls, some inside the ring others outside. I have seen without a lie men and women still in their sacks JUMP the 4 foot fence
only to be looking at another bull charging their way outside.
Needless to say I was always escorted from the ring by the two massive owners of the complex as no one would have given me life insurance at that time, and Oh why only once a fortnight? ---- so the guests couldn’t warn the new arrivals as to the size of the bulls, we always had a full house , hundreds, and always the most hilarious afternoon people had ever had (perhaps not so all the bullfighters, but then shorts are easy to WASH?.)
More next month
David