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The zany Mike Onions was a compere and comendian who worked for a season or two at Clacton and I snapped him there in 1971 at the Donkey Derby. |
"Janet Denney's career as a professional dancer started, at the age of eighteen, when she joined a Richard Stone Review Company at Butlins, Minehead. While working there she met the compere and comedian, Mike Onions, whom she went on to marry in 1972. Mike now comperes and performs in shows that his wife produces."
www.janetdenneydancers.co.uk/
Mike Onions
'Due to lack of interest, tomorrow has been cancelled.' - was a notice on a door in the staff chalet lines at Clacton.
[April 2003]
Mike writes...
"I am told by my daughter that my past life has emerged on the internet in the form of a photograph of me at the Donkey Derby at Butlin's, Clacton in 1971. I feel greatly honoured.
I have two overriding memories of the Donkey Derby that year. Trapnell's brought along a donkey that they claimed was the largest in the country and we had to find a Redcoat prepared to ride it. We had one Redcoat who was anxious to make his mark and, despite being scared stiff, got on board each week - he certainly made his mark later on in life when he changed his name from Mike Parker to Michael Barrymore. The other event was the arrival of the police who came to arrest one of the Redcoats in the middle of proceedings on suspicion of theft in the town - we never saw him again.
I feel that I have an important place in the history of Donkey Derby's at Butlin's in that I compered the pilot one at Minehead in 1969. I was not supposed to do it, that was to be done by the Executive who had organised the event, Ron Hayter. I was supposed to sit with him to learn the ropes. About 10 minutes before it was scheduled to start he said, 'I'm just going for a quick drink' and never came back.
Thank you for remembering me - the country must be full of 40 something's who kicked me at the end of 'The Farmer's In The Den' at the Children's Welcome - all are forgiven."
Mike Onions
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A Merry Xmas from Mike Onions. |
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Tonight in the Theatres |
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A young Mike Onions. |
Michael Barrymore also worked at Clacton:
Michael Parker was born on 4th May 1952 in Bermondsey, South London and left school at 15 and became a redcoat at Butlin's in Clacton-on-Sea. He changed his surname after reading a book on the Hollywood and Broadway actors Lionel and John Barrymore.
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