Scarborough - The Human League
I had bought Ian (and myself) tickets to see the Human League at Scarborough Open Air Theatre for Christmas, and the weekend had finally arrived. I had booked into the Camping and Caravanning club Scarborough Site for three nights as it’s within walking distance of the Theatre. When I had booked last year, the worry was the weather. Lots of things could ruin a show at an Open Air Theatre. Luckily, we were still in the middle of a heatwave, a tropical heatwave!
Ian had to go in to work for a few hours on the Friday, but true to his new loosey goosey semi retirement, he was back sooner than I was expecting. We had a sandwich then waved goodbye to Kathy and all the dogs and pointed Dame Shirley in the direction of Scarborough.
Friday afternoon so loads of traffic and hold ups, but Sir Georgie gave us some alternative routes and we arrived around 3.30. I had discovered that Saturday was to be the Veterans Day Parade in Scarborough, and the wardens had done a great job of commemorating it. They were all dressed in World War II uniforms and the site was bedecked in bunting and flags. We were quickly taken to our pitch, not too noisy and not too far from the facilities, and Ian began to set up. The CCC wardens always pick the pitch for you, with your likes and dislikes, which we prefer. Ian noticed that we had two other Rollerteams next door, with one a 696 exactly like ours. We are taking over.
After an hour or two of relaxing, I rustled up a Chicken Parmigiana for tea, before we sat outside in the sunshine people watching. These heatwaves are ace! We eventually went inside and pulled the blinds, watched a pointless, then retired.
We had a lovely lazy morning ton the Saturday, red hot again although the wind had picked up somewhat. We did try to spot the promised parachutists over the North Bay but they were either too far away or cancelled due to wind. When we were ready we had a walk into Scarborough along the cliff top. It was stunning, with loads of Skylarks flying around us and the sea a wonderful shade of blue.
We dropped down into town beside the Sea Life centre, and called at the miniature railway station for an ice cream. We carried on in a bit further before sitting on a bench to watch the acrobatic air display over the south bay. Then I spotted a cafe that did milkshakes. Well, go on then.
We wandered back along the beach, where the sea was right out, dogs were having a ball, and kids were rock pooling all over. Just past the sea life centre is a little pub where a wedding was taking place. In fact the groom was saying his vows as we followed the path behind. When they look back in years to come they will see us scuttling by on their wedding video!
As I puffed my way back up a million steps to the cliff top, another acrobatic display team began so we stopped to watch again.
Back at Dame Shirley we just had time for some Charlie Bingham Butter Chicken and rice before showering and preparing for the theatre. At first I put on a summer dress, but decided the wind was too forceful so swopped to shorts. The doors were supposed to open at 6pm, so we decided to set off then and walk right in. Wrong. After the 40min walk down we arrived to a queue right to the sea front. Eventually it began to move, and quite quickly, but the queue etiquette was appalling. Nevertheless we were queueing for the bar just before 7pm. As we walked away Ian noticed that his pint was almost all froth, but couldn’t be bothered to return.
We took our seats in white section, row U, about half way up. Then the fun and games began. Due to there being many coloured sections all with the same seat numbers it was chaos. ‘These are our seats’ said a party of four. ‘What colour?’ Asked Ian. ‘Yellow’ ‘Well this is white’ ‘where is yellow?’ ‘No idea, but not here!’. This hunt the seat continues for the majority of the first two acts.
We also had a guy next to us who kept going to the toilet or bar, then walking right past. Till his friends, or Ian pointed him in the right direction.
At 7pm precisely the first act, Blancmange, took the stage. All three acts were from our era, and we remembered one or two songs from each. Blancmange were pretty good, and the crowd pretty full, even at that early stage. Must have been the, still 23degree, weather. You may remember them for ‘Living on the ceiling’. (As opposed to’Dancing on the Ceiling’.)
Next up, The Thompson Twins, but just Tom. He had with him three attractive young ladies all dressed in white. They were our favourites I think. He had good stage presence. You May remember them for ‘You take me up.’ (But not ‘The only Way is Up’.)
Then, the main event, The Human League, with all the original lineup. They had many changes of clothes, and we loved the songs we knew, but there were a lot we didn’t. You will remember them for ‘Don’t you want me’.
After the show we made our way back. If Ian sees a person in front he has to overtake them, so it resulted in me running to keep up and many cries of ‘Leave me, leave me’. We rolled back into the site just after 11pm, and went straight to bed.
Musings
The Scarborough CCC facilities are probably the worst we have come across.
The Scarborough CCC location is great for the coast walk, theatre, and north bay.
Dogs running on the beach are lovely.
Bad queue etiquette is appalling, and not what us Brits expect. We are not French!
It’s cheaper for a pint at Scarborough Open Air Theatre than Wembley, but being Yorkshire the cries of ‘How Much!’ Were many and Loud.
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