In all my previous visits to WASH up until 2001 I had always been housed in caravans, ranging from the incredibly old and tatty and horrible 4 berth van I was put in in 1988 to the huge luxury 8 berth model I was in in 1999. However 2001 was different to all that, in 2001 I was accomodated in one of Searles “Leisure Lodges” Only the small 4 berth model, but there were only two of us in it so it didn’t matter, but proper beds, real furniture, a real bathroom, a bigger TV with satellite channels and most importantly proper heating make these ‘sheds’ (as we have to call them to not get the caravan dwellers too jealous) pure luxury accomodation.
We checked on the Searles website and found that the hire price of this lodge for Fri – Mon in the Autumn was £168… and we paid just £48 each for accomodation and entertainment !
What the Committee said…
The 18th Anniversary of WASH being held during the 60th Anniversary of 18 Plus is destined to be one of the best WASH holidays ever. Here we look at just a few of the exciting things you can look forward to.
WASH (Weekend At Sunny Hunstanton) is the largest annual holiday weekend in 18 Plus and is run exclusively for 18 Plus by 18 Plus members from Kings Lynn group. Last year, almost 600 members of 18 Plus took part in the weekend from across the country. This year bookings look set to increase. Help the WASH committee achieve this by encouraging all your friends to book in.
At only £48.00 this has to be the best value for money entertainments weekend available anywhere. This includes your accommodation in luxury caravans plus most daytime & evening activities and entertainment. The on-site facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, supermarket, chip shop & restaurant.
There are 12 acts booked this year, which includes cover bands and top quality entertainers – 2 acts Friday night, 3 for Saturday and 2 Sunday. The WASH committee have been as cagey as ever on exactly what they have planned but they insist that all their acts are top quality.
On the Saturday Clay Pigeon Shooting will be on offer as before. This is provided free of charge by Searles
Big Screen Sky TV is available to keep track of the soccer. There will be comedy and the usual music quiz and Karaoke.
Dukw (WWII Amphibious vehicle) rides will be available for those hardy enough to take a trip along the beach and out to sea (weather permitting).
Most importantly please note that Fancy Dress for Saturday Night will be “Back to School”. So pull out those old school ties and blazers and get dolled up. The WASH committee are looking for a big turnout in fancy dress, for what is all the rage now.
There will be non-stop entertainment at WASH 2001 and plenty to see and do, whether it’s amusement arcades, pool tables, swimming pool, gym, the sauna, or even flying kites on the beach – WASH has it all.
Information sent out to Groups Summer 2001
What they said…
A WASH Virgins Guide to Hunstanton
It is known as Sunny Hunny. The beach and cliffs face west which means they capture the sunshine. There are also beautiful sunsets. The shallow beach runs for 2 miles along the coast all the way to Brancaster.
The tide can go a mile out allowing rock pools to appear around the
groins. The seafront is bordered by large Victorian and Edwardian houses. You can walk along the top of the cliffs to the lighthouse. There’s plenty to do on rainy days. Hunstanton is very much a family holiday destination and is also popular with older holidaymakers.Toilets and public showers are available. Beach chalets can be hired from the District Council for a day and children can enjoy a donkey ride along the beach. Off the promenade are amusement arcades, shops and cafés.
As an alternative to the beach, there’s the Princess Theatre, Oasis Leisure Centre, Sea Life Centre, a pitch and putt course, bowls, tennis and an indoor market. Jungle Wonderland is in the town. You can also take a boat to Seal Island.
Hunstanton has a Seaside Award. Dogs are banned from the main part of the beach between Easter and the end of the school summer holidays in September.
Lifeguards are on duty from Easter to the end of the school summer holidays in September. A lifeboat is based at Old Hunstanton, about a mile along the coast. First aid is also available.
Council-run pay-on-entry car parks are close to the beach, along the promenade and in the town centre. There is one charge for all.
There are ramps onto the beach and toilets for people with disabilities. Free parking is available in all Council-run car parks.
on 18Plus Email forum
What they said…
Wash packing list:
Vodka, clothes, brandy, costumes for evenings, tia maria, swimming cozzie, bacardi breezers, banner (not to be nicked or borrowed or incur the Wrath of Lala!), gin & tonic, make up for the boys, lager, shoes, bitter, food, now there was something else
what is it I have forgotten??
Oh yes.. Scotch!
See you lot Friday lunchtime!
Lara, Brentwood group, on 18Plus Email forum
What they said…
What can you say about WASH other than it is over too soon and doesn’t come around often enough !
MOULIN ROUGE 2001's Film
Friday night was spent in the usual way, getting very drunk and saying hello to all my friends from around the country. The bands I can’t remember, but then I’ve not remembered a band from WASH Friday night for about 10 years.
Saturday morning was spent in the sauna and jacuzzi recovering a bit, the karaoke I missed, rushed down to the cinema to watch Moulin Rouge, managed to stay awake through the whole film, which was more than some people did !.Saturday nights dance was populated by some very scary schoolgirls… scary cos some of the male schoolgirls looked a lot better than the female ones…not sure of some of the school people went to though, a giant purple alien and a male nun didn’t remind me too much of any of the kids I was at school with.
Apparently he went to Roswell High
Three bands on Saturday was perhaps a little too much, there did seem to be a little lack of atmosphere, the first band ‘Floating Greyhounds’ I thought were probably the best band of the week and Limahl was very entertaining, but more dancing and less ‘live’ music please.
Sunday Morning again was spent in the pool / Sauna / Jacuzzi, though there were markedly fewer people there than on Saturday morning, perhaps overdoing it Saturday night required a lie in on Sunday Morning. Then into the bar to watch Liverpool beating the Scum 3-1… there were a lot of Liverpool shirts in the bar, wasn’t sure how many of them were on people from north of Watford though… but being a Man City fan it’s always nice to see United getting beaten. The Comedy show was a little disappointing, maybe I just wasn’t drunk enough at that time of day, but I’d heard nearly all the jokes before. The only really funny bit was when the act went wrong and the performers themselves cracked up laughing.
Sunday night came round too soon, though many people didn’t get across to the venue until late, the first band had a good comedy act, but then proceeded to carry on and on with straight singing of records that the DJ was almost bound to play anyway. The Queen B’s were a good tribute band with a singer who did sound a lot like Freddie, but I couldn’t watch him as I was just cracked up by his false moustache and plastic top teeth… he was a good enough imitator not to need to look that like Freddie.
And then it was over again for another year… well apart from the 3rd late night party.
Roll on next year…………….. WASH 2002 – It’s the only place to be
Fil Bettis, Bromsgrove group, on 18Plus Email forum / Plus News Winter 2001
(Hang on a minute, that’s me ! – don’t remember writing that)
The Sutton Coldfield Girls out on the pull
What they said…
Well what can I say…..Keith and his committee did it again. I think I can safely say a fabulous time was had by all. Friday night passed by in an alcohol induced stupor (I apologise to anybody I might have woken up while going back to my caravan (No 2) at about 1.15 on Saturday morning!!!). Went on the DUKW on Saturday afternoon which passed a very enjoyable half an hour or so (if you haven’t been on it I thoroughly recommend it). Saturday night more alcohol and another late night/early morning. Sunday more of the same. Mostly great entertainment (with one or two exceptions)….my favourite entertainment of the weekend was a toss up between the Floating Greyhounds on Saturday night (anybody who can do covers by The Cult and Metallica definitely get my vote) / the comedy band on Sunday night or the Queen tribute band on Sunday night. Special mention to Dave(?) too for his superb ‘having a go’ at being Tom Jones on Sunday afternoon…..you’ve certainly got guts. My only complaint is the price of the drinks at the bar (£2.54 for a Bacardi Breezer), luckily we took some down with us to get us started!!!.
All in all, roll on WASH 2002.Jo, Whitefield group, on 18Plus Email forum / Plus News Winter 2001
The Floating Greyhounds, Best band of WASH 2001 ?
(and the singers not got his arm in plaster this time, unlike in the picture from 1999 !)
Limahl on stage at Searles
Not the best artist at WASH 2001, but not the worst either
What they said…
I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, congratulations to the WASH committee. It was a shame I had to leave on Sunday afternoon due to unavoidable commitments Monday morning. We all thought the accomodation in the chalets was great, FULLSIZE BEDS and we even got about 3 Sky Channels.
Only one point, I thought it was rather odd that there wasn’t a raffle – I don’t recall there being one last year either – having won the top prize at my first WASH in 1994, I’ve always hoped to repeat the experience! Roll on the next holiday!
Lisa R, on 18Plus Email forum / Plus News Winter 2001
The Bromsgrove / Halesowen girls get ready for school
What they said…
I left my flat in Harold Hill at about 10:30am with Paul Scott & Neil Knox. Onto the A12 then M25, M11 to Cambridge then A14, A10. We Stopped for lunch at a Little Chef near Ely. One slight problem was the closure of the A10 near Kings Lynn, how inconsiderate of the local council to close the road during our busy time. Once we had negotiated the minor roads on our diversion it was up the A149 to Sunny Hunstanton. We arrived at Searles Holiday Camp at about 2.30pm. Booked in at about 3.00pm. Then it was straight round to our caravan (131). After unpacking it was straight on with the party music. Later on I visited the joke shop for some bits for Saturday Night. The bands on Friday night were very good. I got some good
video footage of them and lots more throughout the weekend. It was good to have a really late finish to the disco’s.Saturday daytime was karaoke I Sang House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals. More video footage this time from the karaoke. Saturday Night was very very good with all three bands doing the business. Lots of people in school uniform. Once again it was a late finish, with plenty of video footage taken during the evening.
Sunday was the Comedy show. Poor David how embarrassing to be dressed up like Tom Jones and forced to sing Delilah.The next act was also very good. The poor man who couldn’t get anything right. As the show started a bit late it was a rush to have lunch before the Quiz. The team I joined was called the East Anglia Rejects. We finished in the top ten.Sunday night already, the two bands were excellent. Martin from Redbridge managed to pull the Freddie Mercury look alike. Again more video footage was taken.Monday the journey home left at about 10.30am, diverted again this time due to an accident near Ely. Had lunch at a Tesco Extra north of Cambridge just off the A14. Arrived home at about 2.30pm. I had a really good time and I got lots of embarrassing video footage of our acting chairman Dave S.
Can’t wait until the next WASH.Martin P, Romford group (on 18Plus Email forum)
Just another bunch of drunken Plussers
What the Committee said…
On behalf of all the WASH 2001 committee may I thank everybody for the kind words and cards we have received regarding this years WASH weekend. As you may be aware this year we had many new faces on the committee and I know they found the prospect of organising such an event quite daunting . I am pleased to report they have come through unscathed thanks largely to the support they received from all members attending. Certainly both myself and Sherrie from the old committee appreciated it.
I can confirm that WASH 2002 will take place on the weekend of 1st to 4th November 2002. We intend to contact all groups shortly for general feedback and discuss ideas for the future.Thanks again
The Israelite Chairman WASH 2001 (on 18Plus Email forum)
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