The Walpole Bay Hotel 1940's Weekender, Margate

On the unseasonably hot weekend of 30th September to 2nd October Janneke and I travelled down to the fabulous Walpole Bay Hotel on the coast of Cliftonville near Margate, Kent. The weekend, the fifth annual event of its type, was organised by Gypsy John and Crazy Karen who run The Cinque Ports Lindyhoppers. The hotel itself was built at the beginning of the 20th Century and has become, not only a lovely, family-run hotel, but a museum of artifacts from the 1920's to the 1950's.

As we pulled up to the hotel we were greeted by our butler and maid. Janneke managed to take a snap of them with her Brownie.

The weekend is populated with people from all over the south of England who have an interest in the dancing and style of the 1920's to the 1940's. Everyone dresses up appropriately for each meal, including breakfast when the gents don their stripey pyjamas and the ladies their silk dressing gowns. In fact, although the ladies tend to bring an outfit for every occasion I had a much larger and heavier suitcase than Janneke! We had a very pleasant surprise when we picked up our room key from reception. The receptionist asked, "Are you two special, because you've got the best room in the hotel?". Well, of course we are but we don't like to brag! Anyway, the room was a superb suite with two balconies and panoramic views. You can shots we took of each other, and a man with a hat and case, from our balconies. After a swift freshener, courtesy of Messrs Gordon and Schweppes, and dinner, the Friday night dancing began to Mr John Farr's superb tunes from the 40's. Just like last year, the floor was full of Lindy Hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag dancers progressively getting braver and trying new moves and old favourites alike. And also just like last year the music was hot hot hot! Talking of hot hot hot, you wouldn't believe that we had such summertime teperatures in October. The man with the hat and case was taken from one of our balconies while we were sunbathing on the Saturday afternoon after getting back from a stroll into Margate. The Saturday walk in to Margate, to meander around the vintage shops and grab a slow coffee have become a staple of the Walpole Bay Weekender. As with any time during the weekend, everyone was togged up, causing many an inquisitive question from locals and shoppers. Vintage and second-hand shopkeepers know this weekend and make sure they are fully stocked up for the influx of vintage soles. We were wondering why Margate seems to have more than its fair share of antique, vintage and second-hand shops and one theory put forward was that there is a high proportion of elderly folk in the town and, when they pop their clogs, shuffle off their mortal coil, their effects may be bought up by the shops and house-clearers. Just a thought to leave you with.