Yes, that’s me. As a Pontin’s Bluecoat, 25 years ago. And spookily, this weekend I’m off to Pontin’s Pakefield camp, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, again - a quarter of a century later.
And all because of Frozen In Time. It’s funny how being an author suddenly brings up stuff from your past. After FIT won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award back in March one of the national papers ran a story on it with the headline ‘FORMER PONTIN’S BLUECOAT WIN’S BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD’. And yes, there is a fleeting reference to my early career tucked away on my website, but this still made me chortle. It was so unexpected.
And then Pontin’s head office got in touch and said COME BACK! For a weekend. And – yeah – bring the family… So I will be revisiting my past at the site of one of my first seriously fun jobs. The monsters are leading me through the tunnels and up out through one of the the old east coast war fortifications and there I’ll be!
Talking a bit about it on BBC Radio Suffolk tomorrow between 1.30 and 2pm (go HERE to listen live or later on iPlayer) and the Eastern Daily Press is covering it too. Doing an author session instead of a cabaret set will be seriously peculiar… talk about two worlds colliding! Go on. Talk about it. Guys! Has this sort of thing happened to any of you yet? Back to your old school or something..?
25/08/2010 at 7:40 pm Permalink
Good luck Ali! Will you be judging a knobbly knees competition while you’re there?
I am holding out hope that Harry Ramsden’s Fish and Chip Emporium asks me back to do an author visit. My time working there represents two stones of my life.
26/08/2010 at 8:10 pm Permalink
man frozen in time has gotten SOOOO mcuh publicity
i wonder how wishful thinking will be received.