Derek Stephens on Seaside

In those days when we run the Pier Shows there, on Regatta Night, they used to break for the fireworks. So, they used to do the first half and sometimes they extended the first half a bit and then, I mean the fireworks were always half past nine, and they stopped and they opened all the side doors because in the Theatre in the Pier, all the doors used to open onto the actual walk outside, and people could still go out and watch the fireworks. Then they’d come back and then off we’d go again; we’d carry on with the show.

But in the earlier years, before I worked there, they used to have a Midnight Matinee on Regatta Day. They used to do the Show, finish the Show and then they used to have a midnight Old Tyme Musical to about two in the morning. I mean this was before my time.

Regattas in those days were a big thing in Shanklin, you know as they must have been all round the country. That’s when the Navy used to come and park one of their warships and they used to come over and drink and join in and that sort of thing, but no, good days.