Mr. Punch at the Seaside - Yesterday & Today

There is a long tradition, in Britain, associating the Punch & Judy Show with The Seaside: coastal holiday resorts to which the whole population would flock during the Summer months. Greater affluence, easier global travel and more flexible holiday arrangements have decreased the popularity of the traditional seaside holiday and consquently it is much harder for a punchman to make an adequate living on these pitches, and the numbers of seaside professors are dwindling.

[CLICK PICTURES TO ENLARGE]

Click to enlarge this 2003 Weston Super Mare poster
advertising Punch shows throughout the summer.



Prof. Mark Poulton appears on Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon.




1. Goodrington Sands 1989 .. 2. Weston Super Mare 1990
3. Lusty Glaze Beach, Cornwall .. 4. Goodrington Sands 1999
Click picture to enlarge

1. Teignmouth Beach 2002

2. Goodrington Sands 2002 (with TV presenter Bradley Walsh)

Click picture to enlarge

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Prof. Basil (Punchman, author and theatrical historian Michael Byrom) at Paignton 1981

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Mr. Bimbamboozle (Chris Somerville) on the seafront at Llanfairfechan, North Wales.
chris@bimbamboozle.comWebsite: http://www.bimbamboozle.com

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Professor Paul Bruce was for many years the resident punchman at Swanage,
following veteran Punchman Jock Armitage.
The resort now has a lady Punch Professor, Wendy Wharham.
pvbruce@aol.com

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Sergeant Stone provides Punch at Brighton
His website: http://www.display.co.uk/punch/punch.html

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Prof. Guy Higgins at Weymouth Sands, Dorset. Click on the picture to visit his website.

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Broadstairs are featuring this animated Punch mosaic on their website at http://www.broadstairs.gov.uk


Prof. John Alexander performs at Broadstairs, Kent. Click the picture to go to his own website.

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Prof. Jingles appears at Lowestoft. Click the picture by Leianne Russel to read an interview with the Professor.

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Prof. Davey appears at Lyme Regis. He also makes puppets and equipment for fellow puppeteers. See Puppetree Company

CLACTON

Peter and Miraiker Battey present Punch and Judy on the beach at Clacton through much of the summer each year. They can be contacted by telephone: 01473 831365

Click a picture to enlarge

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EXMOUTH

Malcolm presents Punch and Judy on Exmouth Sands, Devon, near the Octagon, throughout the summer. He can be contacted by email apunchandjudy@hotmail.com or telephone: 01626 891328

Click a picture to enlarge

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PAIGNTON

Mark Poulton's new booth and proscenium for his 2003 season at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon.Email him :mark@poultonpuppets.co.uk or visit his website.

Click a picture to enlarge

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RHYL, NORTH WALES

Ted Green performed for many years on the promenade at Rhyl, and many visitors remember his pitch, by the clocktower. Ted died in the mid nineteen eighties.


Now Prof. Magico (Eddie Hughes) presents Punch throughout the summer at the children's village on the promenade at Rhyl.
Email: jehmagic@supanet.com

And here are some Rhyl cards from the wonderful Geoff Felix Archive

Punch on Rhyl Promenade in 1910

Punch on Rhyl Promenade in 1919

Punch on Rhyl Promenade in 1929

Punch on Rhyl Promenade circa 1970

Prof Ted Green's Punch Show in its familar clocktower site. Circa 1982

Almost identical to the previous picture - by rival postcard company. Circa 1982

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If you know a punch performer appearing on a seaside beach, pier or promenade site please encourage them to send their details for inclusion on this site. If they are on the web then they should initially email webmaster Chris Somerville chris@punchandjudy.com. Otherwise they can write to Chris Somerville, Harlequin Puppet Theatre, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, North Wales LL28 4EP, UK.

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AND NOW SOME SEASIDE PICTURES OF A BYGONE ERA

Click this small picture to enlarge. Prof Smith on Margate Sands, 1895. Postcard courtesy of Prof Mark Poulton.

AND THESE FROM THE GEOFF FELIX ARCHIVE

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