Denis: Bring back the seaside snaps

Mar 16 2009 By Denis Kilcommons

The reason behind this promotion was to boost circulation when industrial towns like Huddersfield would close during textile holidays and a large percentage of the population decamped en masse to the coast. It was to encourage people to continue buying their daily paper while they were away.

The Daily Mirror used Chalkie White, a character from Andy Capp, and the observant had to use a specific phrase such as, "Tonight’s the night, Chalkie White."

Of course, this could lead to cases of mistaken identity and arguments with complete strangers.

"Eh, Bert? What’s she mean, tonight’s the night?"

"I’ve never seen her before in my life, love."

Or, "Give me my fiver, you cheating so-and-so."

"But I’m not Chalkie White. Honest."

As far as I know, the Examiner never did this but, as late as the 1970s they did follow their readership to the seaside during wakes weeks. A photographer and reporter would be dispatched to a resort to snap Huddersfield holidaymakers for a page of pictures hoping they would phone home and tell relatives: "We might be in the paper. Buy me half a dozen copies."

We no longer have wakes weeks so this isn’t possible, but we could revive Lobby in a way that reflect changing times and holiday choices.

I shall tell the editor I am quite happy to be Mr Lud if he wants to send me to Benidorm for a week. Oh go on then, Blackpool. But I want a decent boarding house, use of cruet and my own donkey.