Review of the decades: 1980s holidays

TOURISM continued to be vital to Southport's economy, and in the 1980s the resort found new ways to impress visitors.
We organised railway excursions in the resort with the Southport Visiter," said Phil King, director of tourism and attractions in Sefton from 1977 to 1998.
Many of our readers will remember watching the "Southport Visitor" steam train puff past - the brainchild of Phil's department and the then Southport Visiter editorial director for Sefton newspapers George Cregeen.

In his role at Sefton council Phil spent the 80s booking big names to wow the holiday crowds in Southport, bringing Hank Marvin, Cliff Richard and Barry White to the resort.
In a particularly exciting fortnight for Sandgrounders the arrival of the LA Centrefolds was followed by a visit by the Chippendales.
But one star was a bigger box office draw than all the others.
Phil said: "The best summer season the resort had ever seen was the Ken Dodd show in 1984.
"There were queues twice round the block every night."
Not every show was a success, and one ended in tragedy.
Phil said: "Dustin Gee: It was going to be our best pantomime ever when it came to taking money.
"He collapsed in the Southport Theatre dressing room with a heart attack.
"He and Les Dennis were the upcoming Morecambe and Wise - they were big business on TV."
Dustin later died, and the panto was forced to carry on without him.
In happier times Phil remembers working with the much-loved Connie Crighton.
"She was our Summer Hostess and she used to host the Southport Rose beauty queen," said Phil.
"The Search for a Star competition which started in Southport in the mid 1970s went onto become sponsored by the brewers Tetley Walker and we had entries from throughout the country so successful was it.
"Eventually we got it made into a national competition.
"That was when people realised it was much more than a talent competition and somebody obviously saw it and thought it would make great television - but the real one started in Southport years ago!"