Lyn Parsons

I arrived, all spick and span, to start a new part-time job in the Pier Cafe. I cannot remember the year but know I was 15 or 16 years old. As I strolled past the various doors along the pier building, looking for the staff entrance, a rather harassed smartly dressed man appeared, grabbed my arm, demanded to know why I was so late and hurried me into the pier bar – due to be officially opened that very afternoon by the Mayor, the ceremony to be attended by all sorts of dignitaries, councillors, businessmen, etc. Before I could explain, he had ushered me behind the bar and begun explaining where everything was, how I should address the Mayor, all ‘shorts’ should be doubles, all drinks were free. I had never been behind a bar before, but thoroughly enjoyed serving the drinks, doubles all, and watching everybody becoming tipsy! And imagine, a photo of me in the Echo, serving the Mayor, aged 15/16, at the opening of the opening of the pier bar!!! Naturally, the next time I turned up I was hastily shown to the cafe where I served knickerbockerglories to kids on holiday – pretty tame after the bar work!