Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness Standard 1964

TAKING up the whole of one motor-coach and two boats on the Waterway, the Shipley family of Nottingham on Sunday staked their claim to fame as the largest single family party to spend a special day at Skegness. All 56 of them, from Grandma Shipley at 63 years of age to baby Sara Louise Rugman of Gloucester, just six weeks old, in a family group including 18 children of school age or less, had one whale of a family party by the sea.
With Grandma Shipley were 11 sons and daughters, their wives, husbands and families. 30 grandchildren (some grown up and married) and four great-grandchildren. They came not only from Nottingham and district, but from Gloucester, London and Newport, Monmouthshire. At that, 12 members of the family were unable to come.
‘This is the nearest we have got so far to getting all the family together. although we often try it at Christmas and New Year, and at weddings, birthdays and christenings,” laughed 41-year-old Frank Shipley one of the seven Shipley sons, the man who thought up the seaside day trip. “With a family like ours, we have have lots of opportunities, of course . . .”

His hope is that they will yet reach a 100 per cent turn-out. “Maybe even at Skegness if we are able to repeat this next year.”
Skegness Urban Council Chairman. Coun. F. A. Wise, who greeted them on Central Beach wearing his chain of office, promised that if they could arrange a full turn-out, and notify Skegness Council in advance they would be given a day to remember.
And as a sample, he took all 56 of them for a trip on the Waterway, and handed out sticks of rock to the children. “Like a Sunday School picnic, isn’t it ?” beamed one of the fifty-Six Shipleys after he had finished counting heads to make sure everyone was aboard. Quickly demolishing an ice-cream cornet in order to get at his rock. a 10-year-old Shipley overheard and grinned. “It’s better’n a picnic. Ice-cream -and rock—smashing!” The Shipleys were enjoying themselves…