There’s something lovely about the seaside and I just love Bridlington.

The smell of candy floss, fish and chips and the sea takes me back to when I was a kid.

Back then, so many years ago, me, my brother, sister and my mum and dad used to go for two weeks – once a year – to Brid and we always stayed in the same chalet.

Back then families didn’t have holidays like they do now and I can honestly say that there wasn’t anyone on our street that went abroad, in fact there was only one family on our street that had a car.

It’s strange how I always returned, year after year. I took my kids there and then the grandkids – it’s as though something is instilled in me that just keeps me coming back.

But by heck I’ve seen some changes over the years. The clubs, for one thing. Back then I can remember as a kid that no children were allowed over the yellow line that was painted across the floor separating the children’s area from the adults, because back then children weren’t allowed in the main pub area.

I would stand on the yellow line leaning forward to try and catch my dad’s eye so that he would fetch me a bottle of pop and if I was lucky a bag of cheese and onion crisps. I thought I had the world if I got pop and crisps and of course a couple of pennies for the slot machines.

Last orders at the bar was 11pm. Nowadays there’s a family room where kids are allowed in until closing time, which on a camp site could probably be 1am. Some of the kids are still up dancing, even though their parents are tired and ready for home.

The Spa near the harbour is still there but has had a good facelift, but with great sadness the boating lake at the side was filled in many years ago to make way for the new lifeboat centre.

I can remember going on the boats with my dad, then later taking our kids and grandkids on them. The harbour doesn’t seem to have changed much, but I suppose it’s hard to change the harbour.

The promenade has all been updated and I’m happy to say that the paddling pool is still there, although the old swimming baths has been knocked down and a new modern one has been built in its place.

I don’t know if any of you will remember or even know but Bridlington used to have a nudist beach it was situated between South Cliff and Barmston.

Well of course that’s changed and it’s no longer a nudist beach, although I must admit there have been times when I’ve walked along the beach and there’s been many bits on show.

I used to have a chuckle to myself and wondered if any Barnsley blokes would have taken their kit off for the world and his wife to see. I mean, it’s not as if it’s scorching hot – it’s Bridlington, not Benidorm.

Thank goodness that’s all changed. Now the summer is coming up, I shall walk along the beach and remember when I was a kid building sand castles and the feeling that we get when we go back to the places of our childhood.

I may even have an ice cream, I think, a 99. Lovely!