REDCAR – Whit 1937 – Invasion of 70,000 – Thirty-Seven Train Loads

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 22/05/1937

Redcar’s 70,000 ‘Invasion’
Thirty-Seven Train
Loads

   Brilliant sunshine, brightly-clad visitors, and an excellent Race Meeting marked the opening of Redcar’s season on Whit Monday, when over seventy thousand people arrived in the town by bus, train car and every kind of conveyance. It was a record day for Redcar. For the first time in two or three years the day was unmarred by rain. It was the beginning, it is hoped, of the best season that Redcar has ever known. It was a happy crowd which thronged the street, determined to enjoy it.

   It was very early when the first people began to arrive. In addition to the usual train service 22 relief trains were brought into service and 15 excursion trains brought others from all over the North East. The regular service of buses was augmented by many duplicates, and the stream of people into town continued until mid-afternoon.
At first it was expected that the day would be dull but the sun broke through about 10 a.m. and it stayed out the rest of the day. The boats plying for hire on the beach were decorated with bunting, and the sea was calm, broken only with a slow, sleepy swell.
Special buses brought hundreds more into the town and soon nearly all the parking places were occupied. The police had a difficult task in coping with the amount of traffic, but they dealt with the situation in an admirable manner.
Boating facilities at Coatham Enclosure were in great demand and the Baths were crowded while others preferred the sea. The miniature golf courses in all parts of the borough were popular and the sands once again were covered with people utilising the few hours at their command. But while there were many day trippers in the town, there was also an influx of residential visitors.
Rock shops opened, sand kiosks took down their shutters, and sand photographers again searched for likely customers. The Red Cross Depot near the Lifeboat House proved again its usefulness, and the old “Zetland” lifeboat and the present one provided interest to many. The Children’s Corner near the Shelters was in great demand and dozens of young children eagerly awaited their turn to get on the roundabouts. Dozens picnicked on the Stray and cars were parked on the ground near Marske boundary.
At night, station platforms and bus platforms at Redcar resembled a section of the London Coronation Crowds. Buses were lined the length of Zetland Park and the prospective passengers down almost to the traffic island. That was at the beginning of the evening, but late at night the crowds were still coming along. The 70,000 people wanted to go home, gloriously happy, at the end of a perfect day.