WHEN I saw recently that Bolton Little Theatre are producing a play about the local holidays, called "Wakes", I thought it a good excuse to print a couple of photographs from those years which people remember with affection.

The play (it will be the world premier of the play, written by Boltonian Roger Spencer) tells of the Walker family from Bolton on their annual holiday in Blackpool, and shares all their fun-filled adventures along the way.

The Artistic Director of the Little Theatre, Andrew Close, tells me that they are also having a photographic display in the bar of holiday pictures of the era. I am sure that both the play and the exhibition will be excellent (it takes place from Tuesday, August 27 until Saturday, August 31 and tickets are available from the Bolton Festival Box Office at the Albert Halls).

Boltonians used to go far and wide for the annual holidays, of course - Blackpool, Morecambe, Rhyl, the Isle of Man, and, of course, the famous holiday camps! And during the first week, at least, the town virtually shut down.

I cannot find in our files any pictures from 1953, but I include two from other years, one of them showing local families in a typical holiday mood at a holiday camp in Skegness in July 1969, the other of Bolton holidaymakers at Morecambe in June, 1966.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Morecambe in 1966

To view the photo, click HERE in our Looking Back Photogallery. The photo will open in a separate browser window. This screen will remain open at the same time.

BRILLIANT BUTLINS: These families enjoyed themselves at Skegness in 1969

Click HERE to view the photo.