Skegness Magazine

Rousing Skegness Welcome for Royal Midgets.
Shortly before 7 o’clock on a night in September of 1931, a casual passer-by might have been excused for enquiring what was afoot, seeing that little knots of people were beginning to assemble in Lumley Road and there appeared to be a general air of expectancy about. The knots rapidly grew into an endless chain from the Railway Station to Butlin’s Amusement Park and the news quickly spread that the Royal Midgets, a party of international Lil’putians, were to “process” in state on the occasion of their first visit to Skegness.
Something out of the ordinary always attracts, and Mr. William Butlin’s sense of showmanship stage-managed a triumphal entry for this distinctly novel Revue Party who will give their first performance at Butlin’s Amusement Park. The entertainers performed there daily until the end of the month.
The Royal Midgets were nothing in the nature of a collection of freaks. They comprised 12 male and six female artistes, varying in age from 19 to 46 years of age, none of them exceeding three feet in height, who presented a revue entertainment in a first class style.

They appeared thoroughly to enjoy their reception by the residents and visitors and having arrived at their destination they tapped their feet and danced with each other to a rhythmic tune which was being played by the Skegness Town Band.

The party, which had toured the United States of America , Germany, Spain, and Italy, came to England for the first time in May 1931 to the Merrie England Amusement Park, Ramsgate, from where they had a big send-off on departing for Skegness.

Of seven different nationalities, including Austrians, Swiss, Poles, and Hungarians, they spoke nine different languages between them, picked up on the tour round the world. There were no husbands and wives in the party but two of the younger element fell in love and eagerly awaited “the day.”
The company which was in the charge of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Singer, arrived by the 7.17 train from London. They made a happy picture in top hats, evening dress, and Hungarian native costumes as they followed the Skegness Town Band in landaus which had to be hurriedly requisitioned because of the sudden visitation of rain. All approaches to the Amusement Park were jammed with Fred Cooper, Chairman of the Skegness interested and excited spectators and it was with the utmost difficulty that the Midgets made their way to the platform where Coun. U.D. Council, supported by Coun. J. Crawshaw (Vice Chairman) was waiting to give them a welcome to bonny, bracing Skegness.
Coun. Cooper said he had given welcomes to many organisations during his year of office as chief citizen but never one to such a stalwart body of ladies and gentlemen as he saw, but only just, that evening. (Laughter). They welcomed the whole company to the healthy pleasure resort of Skegness because they had come to entertain their visitors.

They congratulated that master of Amusement Caterers, Mr. William Butlin, upon having secured such a talented company and he hoped their sojourn in Skegness would be both happy and prosperous. (Applause). If any of them awoke in a morning and felt stiffness in their joints they should not be alarmed. They would be merely growing pains. (Laughter). He had no doubt they would all be exhilarated by the bracing air.
Responding, Mr. Austen Glauer, the chief with a twinkling smile, said he did not speak English very well but he thanked the people of Skegness and its visitors for their very kind welcome. (Applause).