Name: Nanette
Age: 63
Occupation: Retired senior education welfare officer

Have you worked in camps before?
Yes, from 1961 to 1974.

What attracted you to working in camps?
In 1960, I went on holiday to Butlins with two girlfriends and had such a great time and I won the Holiday Princess competition. I decided I'd like to work as a Redcoat and then I saw a job advertised at Pontin's the following year and I did the interview and the audition and got the job!

What was the best thing about working on the camps? And the worst?
The best thing was the friendship – you became like a family cocooned from the outside world. And the holidaymakers came year after year – I still keep in touch with a few all these years later. The worst thing was a whole wet week – you used to feel so sorry for the holidaymakers!

Do you like the holidaymakers on the whole?
You can't do the job if you don't like people. Very occasionally people didn't settle, but if they weren't enjoying it they would be offered their money back. We only had about two of these in a season.

How did you like to spend your time off work?
I often used to get a ferry to Bournemouth or Portsmouth and see a show. I love shows.

When you go on holiday what do you like to do?
Cruises are my favourite holidays nowadays. In fact, the holiday camps were run along similar lines to the cruise ships of today.

What's the main difference between now and the 1960s?
There are more comforts now. The chalets are more upmarket. They all have en suite bathrooms, TVs and most are self-catering. This is a shame because when everyone dined together there was a great atmosphere, everyone joined in and we could announce house points and things.

What was the best thing about the 60s?
The best thing was the changing fashions and music. It was alive and vibrant.

What's got better today? And what's got worse?
The best thing about today is the freedom of choice, there's so much more on offer. And the worst thing is bad behaviour and a lack of discipline in the young.

Would you rather work in a 60s camp or a modern camp?
A 60s one, definitely! Although I'd love to try a modern one out.