Inside abandoned Pontins that survived an air disaster before abruptly closing
A Pontins holiday camp which survived a tragic fatal air disaster has been demolished more than a decade after it closed its doors for good.
If you grew up in the North West anytime between the late 1960s to the turn of the millennium, it's likely that you spent a holiday or two at one particular holiday park in Lytham St Anne, close to Blackpool.
The former Squires Gate holiday camp site, which was purchased by Fred Pontin in 1961, was transformed into a pocket friendly destination that welcomed in generations of families across the region, Manchester Evening News reported.
Late in the 1960s the original outdoor pool at the site was enclosed beneath an arched glass roof before Pontin carried out a series of refurbishments at the park.
A brochure for the site from 1972 lists its amenities including a ballroom and theatre, three bars, heated indoor swimming and paddling pool, TV lounges, two cafes, an amusement arcade and even a betting and fish and chip shop.
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The park welcomed families for decades (Reach Content Archive | Trinity Mirror)Outdoor entertainment included a boating lake, sports courts, an adventure playground, as well as on site talent shows, comedy nights, and fancy dress competitions.
The blurb inside the brochure reads: "When evening falls on Blackpool, and illuminations switched on, the camp swings into high powered entertainment.
"Most people find there's so much going on at Pontins that they are not bother about going out. And of course here it's all free!"
Young children spent much of their time in the creche, while older kids could hang out with Captain Croc, Pontins' mascot and leader of the Croc Crew who led parties and games.
After it shut in 2009 the Pontins lay empty for more than a decade (Getty Images)The holiday park was thrust into the spotlight in 1972 for the most tragic of reasons when a plane crashed into the site, destroying a ten chalets at it exploded into the ground.
The twin engine executive jet had skidded off a nearby runway, smashing through a fence, twisting a railway line and throwing concrete blocks into the air. Two staff from the holiday camp had a lucky escape when a burning fuel rank crashed past them.
The members of the seven air crew died, with one member of the jet surviving after being pulled out of the wreckage by the camp chef. There were no other deaths.
The park was let to turn to rubble (Getty Images)Despite the tragedy, the camp survived and business boomed there for years to come, making it a go to place for holidaymakers all over the north west. Sadly, after 50 years under the Pontins banner, the park closed.
The firms former owner, Ocean Parcs, blamed the closure on falling visitor numbers. Ian Smith, the company's chief executive, said the decision had been taken by the company board 'with deep regret'.
He added: "It was not an easy decision for the board to make. We looked at it long and hard but bookings have deteriorated and the level of investment required for a short lease meant it was not commercially viable to continue."
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Pontins holiday camps were initially the brainchild of Fred Pontin, who opened his first Pontins in a former US army base in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset in 1946.
The Pontins was previously Squire's Gate Holiday Camp (Getty Images)Over the years, the holiday camp magnate bought more camps, expanding his empire to 30 sites at its peak. Smaller and less expensive than Butlin's holiday camps, Pontins had Bluecoats to entertain guests as opposed to the Redcoats of its major rival.
TV stars who learned their comedy trade as former Bluecoats include Bradley Walsh, Shane Richie, Bobby Davro and Lee Mack. To this day the remaining parks in Southport, Prestatyn, Morecambe and the ever popular resort in Blackpool proper attract tens of thousands of punters a year.
By the time the park in Lytham St Anne closed in 2009, only five Pontins holiday camps remained in the UK.
A few years after it closed the derelict chalets and last remnants of the abandoned holiday camp were cleared and the site demolished.
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