QUIZ QUESTION # 98

This week you need 3 out of 4 answers right to score one win.

1) Above is a card postmarked 1948. IT IS NOT RHYL.
It is one of these: Abergele, Bodelwyddan, Dyserth, Gronant, Prestatyn or Rhuddlan.
The question: Where?

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2) This one is unmistakeably Rhyl! It is a card postmarked 1952.
The question: What is wrong with it?

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3) This handsome couple were VIPs for a while in 1960s Rhyl.
The question: Who are they?

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4) This photo was taken a few days ago by Yours Truly. A street name has been blanked out. (It may be a street / road /avenue / whatever).
The question: What is the missing name? 

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Remember - This week you need 3 out of 4 answers right to score one win.

You have until the end of Saturday 4th July 2015 to send your entry.
Second tries not accepted.
The result will be published on Sunday 5th July 2015 around Midday.


Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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QUIZ ANSWER # 97

Last Sunday I posted a nice old pic of NOT RHYL which was taken in

one of six named towns and villages.

The question: Where?

The answer: Abergele.
Here is the complete picture with the caption Sea Road, Abergele:

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Also I posted a nice old pic of a shop that could have been in any one

of six named Rhyl streets.

The question: Where?

The answer: Market Street. Here is the complete picture:

"The Bon", 1a and 1b Market Street, must have been part of the building that was recently the shop Next, but would not have included the Market Street/High Street corner which has a High Street address:

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And finally I posted the following photo with a place name blanked out.

The question: What is the missing name?

The answer: Arran Drive.

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Scoring one win for 2 correct answers out of 3: Richard & Ceri Swinney, The Great Gareth, Jane Shuttle, Dave Williams and Sue Handley.

Incidentally, Sue Handley and husband Roger keep a remarkable shelf of Rhyl crested china! 

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ON THE BEACH

Rhyl became renowned for its sands before we had man-made attractions. The salty images below have found their way here to Jones Towers in the last few months.

The first is a reproduction by Clwyd Record Office of a real photo showing Rhyl Beach circa 1910, followed by a couple of undated items.

Then we have a steps card postmarked 1956 (which I discovered too late has appeared before in this blog). The picture is significant - it illustrates the extension of Rhyl promenade to the Prestatyn boundary, which opened in 1951.

Finally - just as comedians like to finish with a song – I like to finish with a donkeys picture. Enjoy!

The chap in the blue top looks familiar. Can anybody put a name to him?

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COMING ALONG 

Our new post office is destined to be part of a shop named Pen2Paper
in High Street and should be ready soon. The photo below was taken yesterday by Yours Truly from main entrance to White Rose Centre.

Last I heard the counter staff at Water Street P.O. were not transferring. They were not willing to accept the less favourable conditions and lower pay on offer at this new place. Good luck to them wherever they go.

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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RhylTime

There are hundreds of Rhyl videos on YouTube. Only the ones labelled RhylTime are mine - don't blame me for the others!

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RHYLIANA & RHYLERY

Recently the above item turned up for sale on eBay. The seller described it as a painting on glass, about 14” square. It is proof - if proof were needed - of how much of a town emblem Rhyl Pavilion was.

Same comment could apply to this old plaster plaque made in Austria:

The photo of the plaque was sent in by Dave Williams who supplied the following two pix of Rhyl crockery.

Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

[Youngers please note that Robins Corner Café was the forerunner of Les Harker's Corner Cafe.]

More from Dave Williams in due course - thanks Dave. Have you, dear readers, got any unusual Rhyl items? Well, take a photo and send it in to share with the world!

Meanwhile I shall leave you flat with an iron:

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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RhylTime

There are hundreds of Rhyl videos on YouTube. Only the ones labelled RhylTime are mine - don't blame me for the others!

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QUIZ QUESTION # 97

This week you need 2 out of 3 answers right to score one win.

1) Above is a nice old pic (undated). IT IS NOT RHYL.

It is one of these: Abergele, Bodelwyddan, Dyserth, Prestatyn, Rhuddlan or St Asaph.

The question: Where?

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2) Another nice old pic (undated). This one is Rhyl.

The shop is in one of these: Bodfor Street, High Street, Market Street, Queen Street, Sussex Street or Wellington Road.

The question: Where?

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3) This photo was taken this year in Rhyl by Yours Truly. A street name has been blanked out. (It may be a street / road /avenue / whatever).
The question: What is the missing name? 

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Remember - This week you need 2 out of 3 answers right to score one win.

You have until the end of Saturday 27th June 2015 to send your entry.

Second tries not accepted.

The result will be published on Sunday 28th June 2015 around Midday.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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QUIZ ANSWER # 96

Last Sunday I posted the above photo in which a street sign has been blanked out.

The question: What is the missing name?

The answer is Kingston Road.

Kingston Road is in the west end, off Garnett Avenue. The greenery on your right is in the car park of the Catholic Church.

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On the same day I posted the above showing three former mayors of Rhyl.

The question: Name one of them. (Just one.)

The answer would be one of the following: on your left Ronald Davies; in the centre Gordon Overthrow the glazier; on your right Ronald’s brother Eric Davies. Thanks to Roy Turner for identifying a couple of them.

I met Eric Davies a few times. He and my father were colleagues for a while at MANWEB in Abbey House, Rhuddlan. Eric was a councillor a long time and I liked his gentlemanly ways - even though he was a member of Rhyl Labour Party.

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So, scoring one win for the street sign and/or one for mayor are: Jane Shuttle 2, Dorothy Jones 2, Dilys Bagnall 1, Richard & Ceri Swinney 1, Sue Handley 2 and The Great Gareth 2.

Gareth maintains a narrow lead in this season of the quiz with 21 wins. Close behind are Jane Shuttle with 20, and Richard & Ceri Swinney 19.

Sue Handley and Dorothy Jones are doing well, and we have three more scorers.

Everybody is welcome to join in, it's just a bit of fun!

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WED 29th JUL 2015 UPDATE: A reader cast some doubt on the identity of the mayor in the middle but my pal Bill Ellis, who knew Gordon Overthrow personally, has confirmed that it is is indeed Mr. Overthrow!

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SAT 5th SEP 2015 UPDATE: Re: Kingston Road, the book ‘The Catholic Church In Rhyl 1854-2005’ by Leslie Slee and Mary Owen says that the Rhyl building firm Garnetts built most of the houses near the church in 1920s-30s and named one of the Church's boundary roads Kingston Road after the Kingston family who attended the church every day.

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EVE IN WONDERLAND

Eve Gilkes (was Eve Hubbard) writes, “During WW2 my family moved to Rhyl. We lived in 5 Knowles Avenue.

     “My brother Lynden Hubbard went to Pendyffryn House School. My elder sister Lynne went to Southlawn School in Brighton Road until I started at Christ Church school in Vaughan Street, then she came with me to Christ Church School.
     “The above photo of me was taken in 1941 on Rhyl seafront by a street photographer. They would take your photo without you asking; they just took it as you walked along, and then ask if you wanted it. My Mum must have been with me and bought it from him. 

"Mum used to take us to Marine Lake Fun Fair and Ffrith Beach for picnics, and to Prestatyn where we climbed the mountain and had picnics there too. We used to catch the bus. This was in the 1940's
     "In Rhyl the swimming baths on the prom were fantastic. American servicemen, G.I.s used to hang out there.The above photo was taken in 1942 at the baths.
     "I am kneeling in the centre with Lynden on your right of me and Wynne on left. Nearest to the camera is my younger sister Judy.
     "On right of the picture, looking at the camera, is Rita Booth. She was the daughter of our next door neighbour in Knowles Avenue.
     "Those hand knitted bathing costumes looked good whilst you were dry, but once wet in the pool became heavy and almost fell off with the weight of the water!"

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Just for good measure Eve throws in the above snap taken in Llandudno on the Great Orme, outside Randy's Bar part-owned by champion boxer Randolph Turpin who was the licensee from 1952 to 1961.

Thanks for sharing family memories Eve, and thanks to Dilys Bagnall for the booklet from which the following images were taken:

If you wish to read about Randy Turpin in Wikipedia please click here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randolph_Turpin

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SAT 15th JUL 2017 UPDATE: Origin of Randy's Bar - Telegraph Hotel, Gt. Orme's Head, Llandudno on a card postmarked 1910.

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HERE'S A FUNNY THING

Further to recent posts about Roy Lance who drew cartoons for Rhyl Leader newspaper, here is a 1950s reprint of one of his from late 1940s depicting Rhyl councillors as pantomime characters. (There would have been no malice in this.) The following identifications are by Roy Turner whom I regard as The Oracle in such matters.

Left to right:

Back row: Stanley Roose who was a school teacher and Musical Director of Rhyl Operatic Society; Don’t know; Don’t know; R.L. Davies leaning out of a window looking at the promenade clock tower that he donated to the town; R.L. had a clothes and material shop in High Street.

Front row: Broker's man left - John Brookes who owned a shop in Vale road by the bridge; Broker's man right - Frank Hadley who owned property and one was the butcher's shop which Brian Stable's mother had at the bottom of Grange Road bridge; The Dame is P.T. (Phil) Trehearn, and Buttons is Roy Lance the cartoonist; Cinders - Joe Holroyd the Director of Little Theatre Club; The Witch - Don't know.

Peter Trehearn is delighted to see his Grandad in drag! The cartoon, as in previous posts, is from files of the late Glyn Rees. My thanks to Roy Turner for the IDs. 

In the days of the cartoons, Rhyl council (Rhyl Urban District Council) was a comparatively powerful body that made important decisions affecting the town. Members such as the ones above, would have been well known enough to appear in a cartoon context and be recognised by the reading public.

How times have changed! These days Rhyl Town Council is merely a community council and not very important. Few members of it would be known to a large proportion of town residents. Until recently I had no idea who my present ward councillors were.

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Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RhylTime

There are hundreds of Rhyl videos on YouTube. Only the ones labelled RhylTime are mine - don't blame me for the others!

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QUIZ QUESTION # 96

Above is a photo taken this month by Yours Truly. A street sign has been blanked out.

The question: What is the missing name? (It may be a street / road / avenue / whatever).

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Here we have not three little lambs but three former mayors of Rhyl.

The question: Name one of them. (Just one will do.)

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You would score one win for getting the right street sign, and/or one for mayor, making a possible total of two wins!

You have until the end of Saturday 20th June 2015 to send your entry.

Second tries not accepted.

The result will be published on Sunday 21st June 2015 around Midday.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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QUIZ ANSWER # 95

Last Sunday I posted the above photograph of High Street, Rhyl.

The question: Was it taken in 1973, 1978 or 1983?

The answer: 1983.

It is a Daily Post picture in which there are not many clues, so well done
if you got this right!

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Also I posted the above showing three comedians with a Rhyl connection and something else geographical in common.

The question: What is the something else?

The answer: They were all born in Liverpool.

Incidentally, the capital of North Wales is Rhyl. Right?

On your left: Robb Wilton (1881-1957) who was born in Everton.

Mr Wilton lived in Rhyl for a while during WW2. In 1942 he crowned our May Queen Doreen Lawley - there is pic of the event in this blog under the label MAY DAY/ROSE.

In the middle: Tommy Handley (1892-1949) who was born in Toxteth Park.

In 1944 he and the cast of his radio show It’s That Man Again (ITMA) performed at our Queens Theatre to raise funds for Rhyl & District Salute The Soldier Campaign.

On your right: Arthur Askey (1900-1982) who was born in Dingle.

‘Big-hearted Arthur’ performed a summer season in 1964 at Rhyl Pavilion where, despite his fame, audience numbers were disappointing. Television had lured them away.

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Scoring one win for the right answer to High Street question, and/or one for comedians question are: Richard & Ceri Swinney 2, DilysBagnall 2, Jane Shuttle 2, The Great Gareth 1, Sue Handley 1.

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THE FOURTH MAN

From Val Lovibond comes this photo taken in 1952 at Christ Church School in Vaughan Street.

Standing next to their project How Gas Is Made which includes a model of Rhyl Gas Works are (left to right) Val's brother-in-law John Lovibond who became an architect, then a Don't know, then J. Armstrong and then Keith Roberts. Keith became a pharmacist; his shop was in High Street where Lloyds Pharmacy is now.

So we have three out of four names but what about the fourth man? Who is that lad 2nd from left - does anybody know?


Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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UP AND UNDER

High Street alterations continue to cause disruption, but how nice it is to be able to walk in the middle of the road at the lower end which has never been pedestrianised.

Pity to let the cars back in permanently. A short traffic-only underpass between Russell Road and Wellington Road would allow pedestrianisation of the whole street.

Shops in the pedestrianised part of High Street seem to have fared better than shops at the lower end where traffic has been permitted.

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TALE OF TWO PAVILIONS

Rhyl Pavilion (1908-1974) pictured above on a card dated 1921 figures often in this blog. The big dome was a landmark and an emblem of the town. Not much else could be said in favour of the place.

We lost Rhyl Pavilion because keeping it up to rising standards of comfort and safety and in a good state of repair would have cost county council too much money. Same applied in the case of our pier and still applies to council-owned attractions.

Now the Sun Centre has become a liability and has to go. 

Councils can get grants from higher authorities to create new things but maintenance costs have to be found locally, and there is a limit to how much council tax payers would tolerate before turning up at county hall brandishing pitchforks.

If you are not a council tax payer spare a thought for those who are.

We may be waving goodbye to the Sun Centre but the adjacent Pavilion Theatre looks likely to remain and be re-clad and re-modelled, whatever that means. Thanks to Cheryl Evans for supplying the following pix:

Here is a link to the Pavilion’s forthcoming shows. See if anything tickles your fancy. Remember – use it or lose it!

http://www.rhylpavilion.co.uk/

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QUIZ QUESTION # 95

Above is a photograph taken at northern end of High Street, Rhyl.
The question: Was it taken in 1973, 1978 or 1983?
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These three comedians flourished in the days of radio and variety shows. They all have a Rhyl connection and something else geographical in common.

The question: What is the something else?

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You would score one win for the right answer to High Street question, and/or one for comedians question, making a possible total of two wins!

You have until the end of Saturday 13th June 2015 to send your entry.

Second tries not accepted.

The result will be published on Sunday 14th June 2015 around Midday.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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QUIZ ANSWER # 94

Last Sunday I posted the following photo which was taken by Yours Truly.
The question: In what street/road/avenue/whatever was I standing?

The answer: Burns Drive.

The big clue is the chimney-like tower (at rear of the fire station).

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On the same day I posted the picture below with a Rover dealer's name blanked out. The question: What is the dealer’s name?

The answer: Hollingdrake.

Here the picture in full:

Click on it to see a bigger version.

With a win for the right answer to where-was-I-standing, and/or one for the dealer's name, the winners are:

Jane Shuttle 2, Sue Handley 2, Dilys Bagnall 1, Richard & Ceri Swinney 2, The Great Gareth 1, Dorothy Jones 1.

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THE LATE CHARLES KENNEDY

Charles Kennedy, a Member of Parliament from 1983 to 2015 and a decent man, died on 1st June of a haemorrhage linked to alcoholism.

May he rest in peace.

But the outpouring of sorrow from his ex-colleagues was a classic example of Parliamentary hypocrisy. Successive governments have ensured that alcoholic drinks are cheap to buy and as easily accessible as bread or milk. They have encouraged alcoholism.

Many MPs use alcohol, and some have financial interests in the industry. Perhaps that is why we never see determined action against the stuff even though, according to our National Office of Statistics, it kills more than 8,000 people a year in the UK.

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READ ALL ABOUT IT

RHYL SUN CENTRE TO BE DEMOLISHED: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/rhyl-sun-centre-demolished-new-9388482?ptnr_rid=381515&icid=Untitled4

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Llandudno’s new £5 million hotel: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/watch-llandudnos-new-travelodge-opens-9241703#rlabs=4

Llandudno pier sold to Tir Prince boss: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/llandudno-pier-sold-tir-prince-9194642

Colwyn Bay pier’s future in doubt: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/colwyn-bay-piers-future-doubt-9290819 

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WED 21st JUN 2017 UPDATE: At the beginning of February 2017 part of Colwyn Bay pier collapsed, and at the end of that month a large section fell into the sea during a storm. The following pix are from drone footage by Lis Aerial Photography, published by Daily Post.

Now, the nearest pleasure pier to Rhyl is the one at Llandudno which remains fully functioning and almost as handsome as ever. Here is a Raphael Tuck postcard of the structure circa 1950 showing a steamship docking at the end.

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6720. Additional image added here in June 2020:

Adam Williams, owner of the pier at Llandudno and the Tir Prince complex in Towyn.

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