For almost a century, the esteemed Redcoats have signified the heart of Butlin’s, with the Skegness resort being a chief constituent of this tradition. In the previous November, a group of hopeful entertainment enthusiasts attended auditions at Skegness with ambitions of joining this illustrious lineage. As the resort prepares itself for its 90th jubilee celebrations, we hear from three new Redcoats from the previous year on their experiences. Joe Jenney, originally from Hull, fondly recounts his journey of how a childhood aspiration was realised when he was initiated as a Redcoat. ‘It’s an ever-changing, thoroughly exciting journey,’ he shares. ‘No two days are the same.’ Jenney’s audition was marked by a spontaneous game show that gained the approbation of the judges. Concurrently, Katy Beddoes, a local of the area, basks in the ‘unreal experience’ of wearing the esteemed red jacket. A regular at Butlin’s Skegness during her childhood, the attainment of becoming a Redcoat was indeed a dream come true for Beddoes. Conversely, Leicester’s Stephen Gamage talks about the awe-inspiring lineage and fame that comes with this role. The conception of the Redcoats by Billy Butlin in 1936 was a direct result of his aspiration to engage holidaymakers. Norman Bradford, an engineer, was the very first Redcoat. As the resort gears up for its 90th anniversary, Gamage looks forward to the plethora challenges and possibilities that lie ahead, such as acquiring new talents like DJing and the opportunity to meet ex-Redcoat Stephen Mulhern. With auditions for the forthcoming generation of Redcoats in progress, the judges have the complex job of determining who will be the next to join this prestigious ensemble.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from initial reporting by www.bbc.com.
