Skegness Magazine

This news article tells of the death of Billy Butlin’s mother, Bertha Cassandra Butlin (nee Hill), in February, 1934. The article wrongly states that her age at death was 65 instead of 56, Bertha being born in the March quarter on 1878. Miss Hill married William Colborne Butlin in the December quarter of 1896 in the Cheltenham registration district.

The news story tells us that Bertha Butlin died (and was registered) in the Kensington registration district, and also that she was buried at St Clement’s Church. Both Skegness and Kensington have a St Clement’s church, and we are in the process of determining WHICH of the two she is buried in. However, the article states that Canon Morris, rector of Skegness, conducted the service, and it seems unlikely, but not impossible, that he would have travelled to Kensington to perform this.

We are also told in the news story that Mrs Butlin resided in Skegness. However, the family is not listed on the 1928 Skegness Street Guide.

There are references to Bertha Butlin’s death on the internet, including Wikipedia, quoting the year as 1933. We did a number of checks to ascertain the correct year, including checking her birth, marriage and death certificates via the General Records Office. The correct year of her death is in fact 1934.

February, 1934

Mr. William E. Butlin, the Skegness and National “Amusement King,” suffered a sad bereavement in the death of his mother, Mrs. Bertha Cassandra Butlin, which occurred in the Princess Beatrice Hospital, Earl’s Court, London, on Tuesday of last week (February 20th,).
The deceased lady, who was 65 (see above) years of age, had made several friends while, residing at Skegness, and she was also well-known at several other seaside resorts to which her son has extended his enterprises, and in London. For a fairly long period she had charge of Mr. Butlin’s Amusement Park at Bognor, and she enjoyed the esteem of all who knew her, both enjoyed a business and a private capacity.

Although the funeral, which took place on Saturday morning last, was of a quiet nature,there was a considerable assemblage of mourners. The coffin had reposed in St. Clement’s Church, throughout Friday night, and Canon Morris conducted the simple service in the sanctuary on Saturday and committed the remains to earth in the burial ground adjoining.

Mr Billy Butlin’s last tribute to his mother took the form of a beautiful cross, composed of Arum lilies and bearing the inscription, “All my love, Darling Mother – Billy, Dolly and baby Shirley.”

The principal mourners included: