ENTERTAINER Gordon Clarkson has fond memories of his time spent at Cliftonville Lido as a child.

Sadly the site has become rundown and neglected over the years. Now it is a shadow of the glitzy venue that Mr Clarkson remembers so warmly.

This year there is a glimmer of hope for the lido's revival as John McKiernan and his group of volunteers, known collectively as the Moonbow Margate project, have organised a series of events, in a bid regenerate the venue.

When Mr McKiernan approached Mr Clarkson for a contribution, he was more than happy to help.

On Saturday, September 24 Mr Clarkson will present a talk about his memories of the lido. He visited the venue many times throughout his childhood, then later worked there as a box office cashier by day and a doorman by night.

Mr Clarkson, a veteran performer who presented the final summer season at the lido, admits: "In my life I have done every job there is to do in the theatre business, many of which were executed in various venues over many happy years at the lido."

In its heyday the lido was home to three theatres, as well as bars and the bathing pool. A number of contemporary performers played at the clifftop venue.

Of his talk, Mr Clarkson said: "It will be an amusing and nostalgic hour of my own memories and will inevitably trigger the audience's own memories."

He remembers watching a country and western evening at the lido in 1969, at the venue's Golden Garter saloon.

His father, Peter Clarkson, posed with hostess Diana Noble for a photo. Many of the performers would do so for a small fee, to supplement their personal income from each performance.

Volunteers from the Moonbow Margate project have already completed a litter clean-up on the lido sands, as well as organising a children's disco.

More than 100 children attended the event on Saturday, and the venue has now been transformed in preparation for the Cliftonville Now and What Is Food exhibitions.

Mr Clarkson will present his talk at the Cliftonville Lido on Saturday, September 24, at 2.30pm. Entry to the exhibitions and Mr Clarkson's talk is free.

What are your memories of the lido? Did you watch the shows there, bathe in the pool or just soak up the sun? E-mail newsdesk.thanet@KRNmedia.co.uk or write to the address on page 2.