What Britons believe made the summer holidays of yesteryear more fun

The jingle of the ice-cream van and being chased with a hosepipe: What Britons believe made the summer holidays of yesteryear more fun revealed…

• Splashing in the sea is the No.1 thing that Britons feel most nostalgic about
• Over half of parents wish their kids could experience the summers of their youth
• READ MORE: How Britons are staying cool this summer revealed

Eating a 99 with a flake, making ice lollies and the jingle of the ice-cream van. 

These are among the 25 things that British parents believe made the summer holidays of yesteryear more fun, according to a survey. 

Ranking second, third and fourth respectively, eating a 99 with a flake is a treasured memory for 29 per cent of those polled, making ice lollies is fondly remembered by 26 per cent and the jingle of the ice cream van is a choice memory for a quarter (25 per cent). 

But the memory that Britons feel the most nostalgia for? It’s ‘splashing in the sea’ (33 per cent) that takes the top spot.   

In general, trips to the beach play a big part in Britons’ happy memories – in joint seventh place it’s exploring rock pools with a net and eating sandy sandwiches on the beach (both 19 per cent).

The 25 things that British parents believe made the summer holidays of yesteryear more fun have been revealed – being chased with a hosepipe ranks joint 11th (14 per cent)

And ice lollies, 99 ice creams and sandy sandwiches aren’t the only foods to feature in Britons’ fond memories – there’s also heading to Woolworths for a bag of ‘pick n mix’ (sixth, 20 per cent), charred sausages on the barbecue (joint eighth, 17 per cent) and going strawberry picking (joint eighth, 17 per cent). 

Cycling has a special place in the hearts of the parents surveyed too, from getting a ‘backie’ on a friend’s bike (13th, 10 per cent) to going biking with your friends for hours (12th, 12 per cent) and building a BMX ramp in your garden (16th, four per cent).

When it comes to trips away, 14 per cent reminisce over playing cards in the rain in a caravan (joint 11th), while 17 per cent fondly remember leaving the house at 3am to go on holiday (joint eighth).

Ranking fourth overall, the jingle of the ice cream van struck a chord with 25 per cent of those polled 

Fourteen per cent of Britons reminisce over playing cards in the rain on a caravan holiday (joint 11th) 

For those that stayed at home for the summer break, nostalgia-infused memories include camping in the garden (joint ninth, 16 per cent), being ‘thrown out’ of the house and told not to come home until dinner time (joint 10th, 15 per cent), being chased with a hosepipe (joint 11th, 14 per cent) and kickabouts in the park with jumpers for goal posts (joint 10th, 15 per cent). 

Other choice memories include playing the penny machines in the arcade (fifth, 23 per cent) and heading to Blockbuster to rent a VHS video (joint 14th, nine per cent). And as many as 16 per cent agreed that when the teacher wheeled the big TV out on the last day of term (joint ninth), they knew it was the start of summer.

The study, commissioned by Hovis, which polled 2,000 adults, also reveals that overall 68 per cent of parents agree that summer holidays are different now compared with when they were younger, while 59 per cent feel grateful when they look back on their childhood summers.

Almost one in five (18 per cent) feel sad that their children will not experience many of the same things as they used to during the summer holidays.

Over half (54 per cent) of parents wish their children could experience the long seemingly endless summers of their youth.

A staggering 80 per cent wish their youngsters spent more time outdoors in the sunshine getting exercise rather than stuck in front of a screen, while 90 per cent agree that summer is one of the most nostalgic times of the year.

In general, trips to the beach play a big part in Britons’ happy memories – in joint seventh place it’s exploring rock pools with a net and eating sandy sandwiches on the beach (both 19 per cent) 

When asked what parents think is stopping kids from making the most of summer, an increase in tech came top (63 per cent), while money pressures (40 per cent), and worries about safety (41 per cent) were also factors.

Overall, 88 per cent of the parents polled insisted they spent longer on their bike than they did in front of a screen over the six to eight-week school holiday period.

Meanwhile, 73 per cent remember fondly the days they spent riding their bike in the summer, with keeping fit and healthy and the feeling of the wind on your face as the main reason cited.

Claire Parlour, from Hovis, which is marking the 50th anniversary of the brand’s memorable boy on the bike advert, commented: ‘We know the boy on the bike advert is fondly remembered by people across the country. As we approach our 50th anniversary, it seemed the perfect time to look back on some of our favourite summer pastimes.

‘Alongside the ice cream truck, sandy sandwiches at the beach and kickabouts in the park, it’s no surprise that bikes play a big role in a lot of our childhoods.

‘While pushing a bike up a cobbled hill on your bike might not top the list, it’s great to see that cycling is still a much-loved activity by the Great British public.’

THE BEST THINGS ABOUT SUMMER HOLIDAYS OF THE PAST… ACCORDING TO BRITISH PARENTS

1. Splashing in the sea – 33 per cent

2. A 99 with a flake – 29 per cent

3. Eating ice lollies from the freezer – 26 per cent

4. The jingle of the ice cream van – 25 per cent

5. Playing the penny machines in the arcade – 23 per cent

6. Heading to Woolworths for a bag of pick n mix – 20 per cent

7 = Eating sandy sandwiches on the beach – 19 per cent

7 = Exploring rock pools with a net – 19 per cent

7 = Heading to the outdoor swimming baths – 19 per cent

8 = Going strawberry picking – 17 per cent

8 = Charred sausages on the BBQ – 17 per cent

8 = Leaving the house at 3am to go on holiday – 17 per cent

9 = Camping in the garden – 16 per cent

9 = Your teacher wheeling out the ‘big TV’ on the last day of term – 16 per cent 

10 = The smell of suntan lotion – 15 per cent

10 = Kickabouts in the park with your friends (jumpers for goalposts) – 15 per cent

10 = Being thrown out of the house and being told to be back before dinner – 15 per cent

11 = Playing cards in the rain in a caravan – 14 per cent

11 = Being chased with a hosepipe – 14 per cent

12. Going biking with your friends for hours – 12 per cent

13. Getting a ‘backie’ on your friend’s bike – 10 per cent

14 = Heading to Blockbuster to rent a VHS video – 9 per cent

14 = Going fishing – 9 per cent 

15 = Jumping into lakes – 8 per cent

15 = Playing badminton in the garden – 8 per cent

16. Building a BMX ramp in your garden – 4 per cent

Source: Hovis 

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