The Beehive Darts Outing
50 years ago, an ‘outing’ meant a pantomime at Cambridge or seeing Max Miller at the theatre. Even a bus journey to Bury St Edmunds was a treat. If you were lucky enough to go further afield it meant ‘on your bike’ to Newmarket railway station, thence a ride on a steam train. Not many buses would match up to catching a train! If you had five shillings to spare you could get Sonny Lever to meet you with his taxi (never on time, was Sonny!)
But the dart club outing was to a lot of us the highlight of the year. As many as three buses would park out the front of the Beehive, I have known 112 members of the club, of which possibly 20 could play darts! The others were there for the social side. Whole families would be at the pub to go to either Yarmouth, Southend, or Clacton. These were the most popular seaside places then.
Buses line up outside the Beehive Pub for an outing
First, crates of bottled beer, some lemonade, then trays of sandwiches - all would be stacked away ready for the stop half way on the journey for beer and refreshments. For some this was just the start of the day’s drinking, let me tell you. Some of the old boys and some a bit younger could soon put back a few pints. Then, back on the bus to complete the journey.
As soon as we arrived, it was a fast exit from the bus to the nearest toilet - what a relief! Some with young children went straight to the beach, bucket and spade at the ready to build the biggest sand castle ever. When this ended, off came shoes and socks for a paddle in the sea to wash the sand off.
Some of the parents ventured into the sea, trousers rolled up for the men, shoes and stockings off for the women. I think someone said ‘salt water would cure corns on your feet’ although I never met anyone who could actually confirm it had worked.
Come 12 o’clock we all went to the good old fish and chip restaurant (I don’t know why fish and chips always tasted better at the seaside!) Then it was off to the amusement park...
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