It's rather sad the donkeys weren't able to carry on - but I hope they are enjoying a happy retirement in a green field, although no doubt they will miss the company of the children on the beach.
Yes, a long tradition, people were enjoying donkey rides on beaches long before they were enjoying rides on the Scenic Railway! A proper 'bucket and spade' holiday would have been nothing without a donkey ride and a Punch and Judy show.
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Oh I remember it all well - and the itchy wool bathing costume, followed by a new fangled yellow cotton ruched with elastic affair, with a tie which went around the neck, (naughty boys would undo the bow...) then an even more new fangled ruched blue nylon one, which went transparent when wet.
http://www.seasidehistory.co.uk/sixties.html#swanage
Happy days!
http://www.seasidehistory.co.uk/traditional.html
The joys of playing at making sand castles in a wet bathing costume (wool didn't dry rapidly) and the struggle to get undressed and dressed on the beach wrapped in a towel! Posh folk had windbreaks and even small canvas tent structures, in which to retain their modesty.
http://www.tynelives.org.uk/seaside/page7.htm
Sand in your egg and tomato sandwiches, a flask of tea, and the treat of a candy floss. Sigh.