The 1980s heralded a new age of contesting as the Pontins Championships grew to their peak. An age of Mrs Thatcher, Liverpool dominence and Detective Gene Hunt firing up the old Quattro to catch the bad guys...

Yesteryear

At the 1982 Brean Sands qualifying contest 85 bands took part, including bands of yesteryear such as Viking Youth, Illogan Sparnon Silver, Appledore Silver, Avon School of Music and Hymac Rhymney Works.

Original

83 bands made it to the 1983 Finals including Reepham, Fulwell, Copperfield Brass and Denton Original – the first ever winners of the National Championships in 1900. A record 235 entered the three qualification contests that year.

Bad behaviour

The first record of bad behaviour was recorded in the 1984 Finals programme after the Llansaint Band having several members ejected from the Holiday village and had to pay £120 damages.

The ‘Miss Most’ contest was replaced by ‘Miss Glamorous Legs’ – under the byline ‘Come on girls show us what you are made of!’ and ‘King Kong Competition to find the biggest man on the centre. Oh happy days…4BR

Allan Withington

The first Norwegian Band to compete at the contest was Krohnengen Band who took part in the 1984 qualification contest at Southport under a young conductor called Allan Withington. What ever became of him?

PC Brigade

The PC Brigade had started to have an influence on the Pontins entertainment in the 1980’s.

The ‘Miss Most’ contest was replaced by ‘Miss Glamorous Legs’ – under the byline ‘Come on girls show us what you are made of!’ and ‘King Kong Competition to find the biggest man on the centre. Oh happy days…