WASH 1985 was held on October 18th, 19th 20th, but couldn’t get a mention in Plus News as it was still classed as a Regional Event and clashed with a National Event – The Small Games Weekend !
I’m not sure how many people gathered somewhere to play Monopoly and Cluedo… but it probably was less than 10% of the 463 Plussers who attended WASH.

Plus News, Autumn 1985 – No WASH !

What the Committee said…

Second wash for plussers

The second Hunstanton Holiday Weekend – WASH ’85 – took place between Friday October 18 and Sunday October 20.
This new 18 plus event saw more than 450 plussers from 40 different groups descend upon the quiet backwaters of Norfolk to make the most of three action-packed days in caravans.
The Friday night welcome disco saw the return of popular disc-jockey Dick Ropa and sixties band The Merseybeats. Both carried on exactly where they left off at WASH ’84.

Highlight of the weekend was certainly seventies band Smokie, the Yorkshire band who reformed for the Bradford Disaster Appeal.
Their music was excellent and their style, one of genuine commitment. It was very mich a close contest who enjoyed themselves most, Smokie or the audience.
By the time everyone had sampled the daytime delights of swimming, horseriding, the jacuzzi and parties, it was time for Mud. The rock and roll band led by Les Gray wrapped up things superbly.
Memories of the weekend must include Dick Ropa getting a custard pie in the face whilst caught with his trousers down and the annual sight of Rugby group’s flasher.
WASH ’86 will take place from October 17 until October 19. Value for money will again be the key with the entertainment just a little more varied.
Mike Parsons, WASH Organising Committee (Plus News Winter 1985/86)

Back then there was no restaurant at the back of the Mariners Bar, all that was available was this menu of Bar Meals, not exactly a wide choice, but just look at those prices…

The Sign of the Seal… from what I recall the seal used to reside in the outdoor swimming pool area, which was then much bigger and had a bigger pool than it does today, the new indoor swimming pool and games arcade took up space where the outdoor pool had been (of course when I say ‘new’ it’s 20 years old !)

The seal as the picture above shows, is now in the fountain that serves as the roundabout at the site entrance… ignore the 1960’s Morris 1100 heading out onto the road, this picture was taken in 2002

A funny thing happened…

Everybody remembers their first WASH and their first WASH party. In all my years at WASH I don’t think I have ever been in a caravan as full as the party I was in on the Friday night of my first WASH. It was one of the old 6 berth caravans and all the loose furniture had been moved into the bedrooms and the entire place was full, I mean we were packed in like sardines. There were people waiting outside to get in, but it seemed like the only way in was to push and push until someone was forced out of the other door. I think it took me about 90 minutes to get in one door and get slowly jostled down the length of the caravan until I was squeezed out again. Fortunately in the early years WASH was in the middle of October and the weather always seemed to be warmer than the freezing, wet and windy weather we now get every November WASH.

WASH Weekend accomodation in Searles luxury caravans

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Previous Year 1984
Next Year 1986

The story of WASH begins in 1984. The way the Israelite tells it is that in looking for a place to hold a weekend away he went with his father to see Mr Searle… who told them that they didn’t hire out the whole place to one group. However when told that there would be at least 300 people there each drinking a couple of drinks each on each of the 2 nights that they were there… the idea of selling over a 1,000 drinks changed Mr Searles mind !

I wasn’t there – The first time I went down to Wharfedale 18 Plus was to a New Members Evening on Monday 15 October 1984, – just four days before 18 Plus hit Searles for the first time. So I missed the very first WASH.

What the Committee said…

PLUSSERS’ FIRST WASH

FOUR hundred plussers tried something new in October, taking a WASH !
The WASH in question had nothing to do with cleanliness however, it was the name of a new caravanning weekend organised by members of North Anglia Region in East Anglia.
Thirty-nine groups attended, ranging from Orpington in the south, Pudsey in the north, Coventry in the west and of course numerous East Anglia groups from the east.
Entertainment at the luxurious caravan site in Hunstanton – just up the road from Caister – kicked off with local four-man band Haleys and disc-jockey Dick Ropa.
Saturday lunch-time saw a fancy dress disco and in the evening, seventies glam rockers The Sweet, topped the bill. The audience seem surprised at their new macho heavy metal image.
Sunday’s farewell disco featured sixties stars The Merseybeats, hailed by many as the highlight of the weekend.
Organiser Mike Parsons said the group who undoubtedly made the most impact, however, were a band of ducks. “They wandered around the site giving an early morning alarm call”, he added, “not even cries of ‘Duck a l’Orange’ frightened them away”.
Mike said the weekend proved so successful it is going to be repeated on October 18-20. He added: “We wanted to give plussers a complete new package including entertainers not seen before and it seemed to work. Now we’re hoping to continue it every year”.

Plus News, Spring 1985

Luxury Caravans – as they used to be.

Hunstanton in the Autumn – it’s rather quiet

And most of the people you see are Plussers

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Next Year 1985