Rhyl Life

GOODBYE FROM HIM

2010-09-29T18:11:00.025+01:00

A few days ago Google 'improved' the Blogger service and, as a result, it no longer works properly. I have decided to close the blog at this point which is, in any case, only a few weeks short of the intended termination date.

The answer to Quiz Question # 79 was Maes Cefndy, and the answer to # 80 was Thorpe Street. Jane Shuttle and The Great Gareth finished as co-leaders with 26 wins each, Sue Handley was in 3rd place with 21 wins, Dorothy Jones and Richard & Ceri Swinney were next with 20. Congratulations everybody!

My thanks go to all the other players in the quiz and to the very many contributors of pictures and information. The purpose of the blog was to stimulate public interest in Rhyl; I believe that it succeeded. Now it’s time to move on. Cheerio everyone and thanks again!

Colin Jones, 11 Plas y Brenin, Rhyl, LL18 1LZ, Wales, UK

My phone number for calls and texts is: 07963 359 349
If you are outside the UK the number is: +44 7963 359 349

The email address is: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

Please click here to see my Rhyl video clips on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=takethetube9010+%2B+rhyl&aq=f

SUSIE LIDDLE

2010-09-29T16:22:00.032+01:00

Susie Liddle is a member of RhylCreate, a consortium of local artists and craftspeople. Susie is from Sale, Cheshire (now part of Greater Manchester) and has been in North Wales since 1971.

She has trained in various aspects of creating and teaching art. She gained a Foundation Degree in Art & Design at Llandrillo College and continues to train for a professional print-maker’s qualification.

Susie is a multimedia artist; she does screen printing, print-making, ceramics, paper cutting, cyanotype and painting. One of the many threads in her work is a Victorian influence as shown below.

She is based at the Regional Print Centre in Wrexham and often has items on sale at RhylCreate’s Gallery 36, 36 Kinmel Street, Rhyl, and Scala, Prestatyn, and other places. Here are more work samples:

Susie Liddle can be contacted by email: susielid@aol.com or by mobile phone 07787 567 892. Please click here to see her blog:

http://susieliddle.wordpress.com

and/or here for her Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=554554585&ref=ts

ODDS AND ENDS

2010-09-22T14:38:00.020+01:00

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

These pictures were received some time ago. They are postcards from the collection of Ann Hayes.

The one at the top would be another scene from the legendary ‘Sunny Rhyl’s June Carnival 1929’ which has been the subject of previous posts. It was published by J Smailes & Son Press Photographers of Grosvenor Avenue.

The soldiers card was published by Mr & Mrs Jno Williams of Rhyl. Ann says, “I hope they weren't real soldiers as they look very young to me. The postmark is not clear but the period must be around World War 1.”

Finally, a card showing St Thomas’ Church, Russell Road, the parish church where Ann was christened. She went to Sunday school there in the 1950s.

Nice pix! Thanks, Ann.

QUIZ QUESTION # 80

2010-09-22T12:42:00.012+01:00

This photograph was taken last month in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Right of the centre of picture is a street name blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 28th September 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTION # 79

2010-09-22T12:25:00.012+01:00

This photograph was taken last month in Rhyl by Yours Truly. The question is:
What is the name of the street in which I was standing?

No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 28th September 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

A HIGH TIME

2010-09-22T12:02:00.012+01:00

This picture is from Rhyl History Club Community Archive; please click on it if you wish to see a bigger version. The caption says Rhyl High School Sixth Form 1975. Of the girls sitting, Vanessa Nash is fifth from the left. I wonder who else have we here. Come on, own up! Send your confession by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 78

2010-09-22T11:24:00.032+01:00

Last Wednesday's quiz was as follows:

Q: Is this Tom Wood and his Merrie Men, E.H. Williams’ Merrie Men or Gilbert Rogers Jovial Jesters?

A: Gilbert Rogers Jovial Jesters. They appeared in summer seasons from 1907 until the 1920s on the minstrel pitch which was on the sands opposite High Street. They were the longest-running troupe to perform there. The photo was taken within the enclosure and is dated 1914.

Q: Near the middle of the picture is a street sign blanked out. What is the missing name?

A: Eastville Avenue.

Q: Where in Rhyl would you find this scene?

A: You would be looking underneath the Vale Road Bridge (Alexandra Bridge) from the bus station side.

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This week the following readers score a win for each correct answer:
Dave Rowlands THREE WINS
Dorothy Jones THREE WINS
Jane Shuttle THREE WINS
Richard & Ceri Swinney THREE WINS
Sue Handley TWO WINS
The Great Gareth TWO WINS

For the first time we have two co-leaders running neck and neck!
24 Jane Shuttle
24 The Great Gareth
19 Sue Handley
18 Dorothy Jones
18 Richard & Ceri Swinney

Geoff Hughes, Pauline Hammans and The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry have all achieved double-figure scores. Comparatively new players Dave Rowlands and Wayne Chadwick are making rapid progress.

This is getting exciting!

PRE-WAR MULTIVIEWS

2010-09-22T10:14:00.013+01:00

The postcard at the top is dated 1921 and was sent from Mabel who was staying with Mrs Bromley, High Street, Rhyl, to a friend in Didsbury. It begins intriguingly: Dear Agnes, We did not go to Birmingham yesterday but Father drove us to Rhyl instead . . .

The card in the middle has an unclear postmark; the date would be around the same time or perhaps a tad earlier. It was written in pencil by E.C. at 28 Victoria Road, Rhyl, and sent to Mother in Macclesfield.

The final one is dated 1938 and was sent from W.B. in Rhyl to Miss Jenkins of Kensington, London, remarking on the lovely sands in Rhyl. I like to think that Miss Jenkins was adventurous enough to come eventually and see for herself.

POST-WAR MULTIVIEWS

2010-09-15T13:43:00.011+01:00

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

Here is another trio of multiview cards. The black-and-white is postmarked 1959 and was sent from Helen in Rhyl to Elsie in West Malvern, Worcs.

The one featuring girl in the Welsh hat and shawl is unposted but someone has written 1961 on the back. The colours may not be real. Pavilion with light green dome? Hmmmm.

The final card is unposted and undated. Seaquarium (top left and right) opened in 1992 and Ocean Beach Fun Fair (bottom left) closed in 2007. Let’s call it mid-to-late 1990s and be damned.

QUIZ QUESTION # 78

2010-09-15T12:40:00.020+01:00

At the top is a picture of entertainers on Rhyl sands. The question:
(a) Is it Tom Wood and his Merrie Men, E. H. Williams’ Merrie Men
or Gilbert Rogers’ Jovial Jesters?
If you don’t know the answer, have a guess – you’ve got a 1 in 3 chance of being right!

In the centre is a photograph taken last month in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Near the middle of the picture is a street sign blanked out.
The question:
(b) What is the missing name?

Finally there is another photo taken this month. The question:
(c) Where in Rhyl would you find this scene?

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If you get (a), (b) or (c) right you score ONE WIN.
If you get two right you score TWO WINS.
If you get all three right you score THREE WINS.

No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 21st September 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

IT'S ABOUT TIME # 1

2010-09-15T11:54:00.016+01:00

It’s about time we had another World War 2 item on this blog.

Mr J. H. ‘Lippy’ Lipman who ran a jewellery shop in High Street has cropped up in previous posts. The picture above includes the man himself; he is the dapper gent in the foreground on far right. The photograph, which shows locals meeting Polish refugee children at Rhyl Railway Station, is from the collection of Peter Trehearn.

Lippy was known as ‘The Wire King’. He had a jewellery shop in town and a kiosk on the prom opposite Queen Street where he would cleverly bend wire into names or pictures, and create bespoke jewellery at great speed before your very eyes.

IT'S ABOUT TIME # 2

2010-09-15T11:36:00.012+01:00

It’s about time we had more sport on this blog, so at the top is a 1960s soccer team pic sent by Les Williams. Can anyone pinpoint the date? The caption says:
Gele Athletic, who consolidated their position at the top of the Dyserth Area by beating the champions, Rhyl Wanderers, 2-1 at the Coronation Gardens, Rhyl, on Saturday. Left to right, back row: W. Miller, trainer; J. Whitney, S. Brewerton, H. Williams, M. McGregor, K. Lamb, M. Snelson, J. Gizzi; front: T. Roberts, J. Jones, J. Holt, A. Jones and B. Morris.

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Also pictured is Randolph ‘Randy’ Turpin (born 1928, died 1966) who was one of Europe’s leading Middleweight boxers of the 1940s and 1950s. He was no stranger to Rhyl having been based for a while at Gwrych Castle, Abergele, where he trained with helpers from Rhyl.

In 1951 in London, Randy beat Sugar Ray Robinson and won the world title; suddenly he became a national hero and some of his glory rubbed off on North Wales. For details of his career and tragic end please click here: http://randyturpin.com/

George Owen is still looking for a film made about Randy Turpin at Gwrych; the soundtrack includes a recording by a local children's choir. If you have information about the film please send an email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 77

2010-09-15T10:21:00.020+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a bigger version of the photo above and asked: In what street would you find this doorway? The answer is Wellington Road. It is the doorway to flats at No.9 Wellington Road
as shown below.

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Also I posted a bigger version of the following picture in which a street sign has been blanked out and asked: What is the missing name?

The answer is Olinda Street.

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The winners:
ONE WIN for Wayne Chadwick (Wayne’s 7th win) and TWO WINS for Dave Rowlands (total 6 wins), Dorothy Jones (15 wins), Jane Shuttle (21 wins), Richard & Ceri Swinney (15 wins), Sue Handley (17 wins) and The Great Gareth (still leading with 22 wins).

SAVED

2010-09-15T09:47:00.013+01:00

These pictures of Bath Street Methodist Church and Epworth Lodge next door were taken this week by Yours Truly.

Julie Roberts writes: "The buildings have been bought by Rhyl Christian Spiritualist Church with help from the Spiritualists’ National Union. We are naming the church Rhyl Spiritual Centre and hoping to have services from Sunday 19th September 2010. A lot of work needed doing on the place but it is still beautiful. We are looking to rent out Epworth Lodge."

Thanks for the info, Julie. Good to see nice old buildings coming back into use instead of being knocked down and lost forever.

SIGNS OF TIMES

2010-09-08T14:32:00.016+01:00

The Conserberal government in Westminster has a Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He is Eric Pickles who is a Conservative MP for an Essex constituency. One of his first acts in office was to urge councils to stop blighting towns with unnecessary signs and other street clutter.

A couple of days ago I watched in awe as a team of Denbighshire council workmen erected signs, one at the entrance to Rhyl bus station and one in the middle of the station, telling bus drivers to SLOW DOWN.

Those came in addition to Denbighshire council signs shown above.

Signs that state the obvious are insulting; signs that are unclear in their meaning are frustrating; and a proliferation of signs can seem oppressive. It is amazing that councillors and staff have been sitting around tables authorising the things for years without ever seeing them for what they are – a kind of pollution.

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On the other hand, decorating public places can improve the environment. The photograph below shows a mural in the bus station. The design incorporates the old Pavilion and the pier with wind turbines to the left and Skytower to the right. The mural brightens up a blank wall, although I am disappointed to find that there are no plans to make it more colourful.

QUIZ QUESTION # 77

2010-09-08T13:48:00.010+01:00

These photographs were taken during the last couple of weeks in Rhyl by Yours Truly.

The upper photo shows a doorway decorated by tiles. The question:
(a) In what street would you find this doorway?

The lower picture includes a street sign on which the name has been blanked out. The question:
(b) What is the missing name?

If you get (a) or (b) right you score a WIN.
If you get both right you score TWO WINS.

No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 14th September 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

THE SKYTOWER

2010-09-08T11:54:00.025+01:00

The Skytower opened on Rhyl promenade in 1989. It had originated at a garden festival in Scotland; we bought it for around £825,000 (not a bad price bearing in mind we’ve had 21 years of use so far). The revolving cabin rises to a height of about 240 feet/73 metres.

The following photographs were sent by George Owen. They were taken by John Price during the erecting of the tower. John is an ex-Pilkingtons employee who went to work for a small local plant hire company. The pictures are unique; we’ve never seen them before.

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

And to bring us up to date, here is a photo taken in April 2010 by Yours Truly:

QUIZ ANSWER # 76

2010-09-08T11:08:00.013+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted this picture of Queens Hotel, West Parade, and posed the question:
What would be the nearest date: 1900, 1905, 1910 or 1915?

The answer: 1900
because from 1902-1907 the Queen’s Arcade (the shopping arcade part of the ill-fated Queen Palace development) would be on the right-hand side of the hotel instead of Connah's. The fuzzy old pic below, which has the hotel's gables on the left, illustrates the point.

After the Queen’s Palace fire of 1907, the row of buildings was quite swiftly repaired and restored to height (without the dome) and there was no intermediate period during which a single-storey Connah’s could have been created.

Seems odd to think that the business could be hiring out motor cars as early as 1900, but local historian the late J. W. Jones (Joe Swan) noted that Rhyl had its first motor car in 1898.

The winners: Dave Rowlands who has chalked up his 4th win in a very short time, and Jane Shuttle who now has 19 wins and is only one step behind the leader The Great Gareth.

QUIZ ANSWER # 75

2010-09-08T10:13:00.016+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted larger versions of these photos of an old shed and interesting sign above its door. The question:
In what street would you see the building?

The answer: Kingsley Avenue.

The winners: Dorothy Jones (13th win), Sue Handley (15th win) and The Great Gareth (20th win).

RHYL HIGH STREET, PAST & PRESENT

2010-09-08T09:33:00.010+01:00

These and some other photos and postcards of High Street (20 in all) have been turned into a slideshow by Yours Truly and uploaded to a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.

If you would like to see the slideshow please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYzFW9pyc9w

PLAY TIME

2010-09-01T12:31:00.014+01:00

The big picture is from Rhyl History Club Community Archive. It shows a 1964/65 production of a play at Christchurch School, Vaughan Street. The play was ‘Heir To The Kingdom’ written by Deputy Head Phyllis Owen. The scenery is by Ken Williams and the assembled are as follows:

Sitting in front: Andrew Smith and Vicki Massey.

Standing (left to right): Brian Jones, Linda Davies, Jane Worrall, Don’t know half-hidden, Susan Hunt, Don’t know half-hidden, Bridget Anderson, Rhiannon Hughes (now a Denbighshire county councillor), Christine Morgan, Maggi Reading (now Maggi Blythin, Sec of Rhyl History Club), Sian Simons, Margaret Hapgood and Stuart O’Hara.

In the detail (l to r): Bridget, Rhiannon, Christine and Maggi.

Information from Maggi: The school moved to its present premises (formerly Glyndwr Secondary Modern) in Ernest Street in 1974 and the Vaughan Street building was demolished two years later. A British Telecom (BT) exchange stands there now.

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Facebook members please note that there is group named
CHRIST CHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOL RHYL NORTH WALES

QUIZ QUESTION # 76

2010-09-01T10:52:00.012+01:00

The colour photograph above was taken this week by Yours Truly and shows the two gables of the building that used to be Queens Hotel in West Parade, not far from the top of High Street.

The handsome old postcard of the hotel is not dated but the picture provides one or two clues. So the question is:
What would be the nearest date: 1900, 1905, 1910 or 1915?

If you don’t know, have a guess anyway – you’ve got a 1 in 4 chance of being right! No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 7th September 2010 at 12 noon and the names of the winners will appear this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTION # 75

2010-09-01T10:09:00.012+01:00

These photos were taken yesterday in Rhyl by Yours Truly. They show an old shed and interesting sign above its door. The question:
In what street would you see the building?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 7th September 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

THE MYSTERY OF ST OSWALD'S

2010-09-01T09:35:00.023+01:00

Until I saw this postcard I had no idea that there had ever been a Rhyl school named St Oswald’s. The card probably dates from very early 1900s, before World War 1.

The building may still be in existence; there is something familiar about the top storey. Of is whereabouts there are no indications. To add to the fog, there were two saints named Oswald: one Catholic and one Anglican.

Before I reach for my Deerstalker hat and pipe (Sherlock Jones) and investigate, you may already have some information about the school. If so, please let me know.

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MON 6th SEP 2010 UPDATE: Mr Les Williams of Rhyl found St Oswald’s listed in a street directory from 1930s. It was ‘next door’ to the right of St Mary’s Convent School with quite a distance in between. St Oswald's was on the corner of Churton Road. The address is 36 Russell Road and Les recalls it being the home of bookie Bill Clapham 1960s to 1990s when it was known as Eagle Court. Now it is a private residence (or residences) bearing the name Tudor House. The east wing has disappeared and other alterations have taken place but it is still recognisable.

QUIZ ANSWER # 74

2010-09-01T09:24:00.007+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted bigger versions of these photographs. In each one is a street sign with the name blanked out. The question:
What are the missing names?

The answers: Aspen Walk at the top, and Winnard Avenue.

The winners:
One win for David Hughes and Dorothy Jones. Two wins for Dave Rowlands, Geoff Hughes, Jane Shuttle, Richard & Ceri Swinney, Sue Handley and The Great Gareth.

CLASSICAL RHYL # 1

2010-09-01T08:14:00.019+01:00

On Wed 6th October 2010, 7.30pm at Rhyl Town Hall, Rhyl Music Club presents Welsh Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anthony Hose, with soloist Rodrigo Moro Martin (double bass). Tickets are £10 at the door or you can join the club on the night and pay £60 (£52 for senior citizens) for a season of 12 fortnightly concerts.

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Of the item pictured below, Rhyl Music Club’s former concert organiser Derek Bartley says, “During 1967, to mark the club’s 21st anniversary, there was a visit by the great 96-piece Washington Symphony Orchestra – ‘The Orchestra of the President’. The itinerary for their European tour was Berlin, Vienna, Parma, Rome, Basle, Berne, Madrid, Antwerp, Monte Carlo, London – and Rhyl!”

CLASSICAL RHYL # 2

2010-08-25T14:28:00.024+01:00

The cutting is from a 1947 newspaper supplied by Peter Trehearn. The Hallé Orchestra and star soloist Moura Lympany (above) were quite a draw and only the Pavilion would have had enough seats. The Hallé, I suspect, might have preferred the acoustics in the Queens Theatre, West Parade, where they had played earlier in 1940s during World War 2.

The Hallé came to the Queens in 1941 conducted by Sir Henry Wood (b.1869, d.1944) the originator of the Proms concerts. The orchestra returned in 1942 and twice in 1943, each time under the baton of Malcolm Sargent (b.1895, knighted 1947, d.1967) who had turned down the offer of a musical directorship in Australia to stay in this country while the war was on.

Whatever the issues of acoustics, the Pavilion during the war years hosted appearances by the Bournemouth, Liverpool and London Philharmonic orchestras and the distinguished concert pianists Poushnoff, Moseiwitsch and Mark Hambourg.

QUIZ QUESTION # 74

2010-08-25T13:43:00.010+01:00

These photographs were taken during the last couple of months in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Right of centre in the top picture and left of centre in the bottom picture, there are street signs with the names blanked out.The questions:
What are the missing names?

If you get one right, you score a WIN.
If you get both right you score TWO WINS.

No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 31st August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

CAFE SOCIETY # 3

2010-08-25T12:05:00.027+01:00

At the top is an addition to last week’s selection of present-day Rhyl cafes and restaurants. It is the Bridge Cafe in Kinmel Street which has the offices of Coastline Taxis above. Photograph by Yours Truly.

The other photos are from Rhyl History Club Community Archive: a 1970s black-and-white photo of what I call Russell Cafe but clearly ought to be referred to as ‘The Russell’ which was in Russell Road, and a 1960s picture of Roose’s Bar B-Q Cafe & Coffee Bar which was No.7 Queen Street next to National Westminster Bank.

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Some years ago Ted Groome of St Asaph, who was a soldier billeted in Rhyl during World War 2 recalled:
“We liked to pop in for a cuppa at Wally Spraggs’ little cafe which is long gone. It was at No.1 Crescent Square; there was a handy courtyard at the back for our bicycles. Sidoli’s (Wellington Road) was a favourite meeting place for soldiers and girlfriends. The coffee was good and there was always a warm welcome from the three Sidoli ladies who managed the place. They were Angiolina (Angie), Esterina and Scolastica (Scolly).”

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Turning to more recent times, Wayne Chadwick remembers Polish Joe’s in Abbey Street:
Polish Joe’s served a breakfast and a half! A ‘belly buster’ was about £6.25 way back in the early 90's but it could feed a family (4 sausages, 4 bacon, 3 eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, fried slice, as much toast as you could eat, as much tea or coffee as you could drink, pork chop, 8oz steak, chips, and if you could finish it all he used to put your name on his 'wall of fame' and the next one was free.

Wayne continues, On the opposite side of Abbey Street there was a small cafe run by Mr & Mrs Jeavons with some help from their daughter Sam; they were very nice people. At the top end of Abbey Street there was Carol’s Plaice which was a good chippy. All the Abbey street cafes and restaurants have gone now.

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FRI 27th AUG 2010 UPDATE: Geoff Hughes writes re Roose’s B-Q: "The cafe was located on the opposite side of Queen Street from the Nat West Bank, next to Maltby's Butchers. The cafe is now known as The Dragon Boat Chinese restaurant; Maltby's is now The Godfather takeaway. The property numbering in Queen Street was changed in the late sixties/early seventies which can cause confusion!
This also happened in Bodfor Street. Our family's business, Clement Hughes the ironmongers (now Corbetts Betting Shop) was originally numbered 6 Bodfor Street, but was changed to 18 Bodfor Street at the same time.
This change of property numbering probably occurred in some other Rhyl streets, changing over to odd numbers on one side of the street and evens on the other side."

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MON 30th AUG 2010 UPDATE: George Owen has kindly sent the following photograph marked 1940 showing Wilton's Cafe, forerunner of ‘The Russell’:

CONSERBERALISM # 2

2010-08-25T10:38:00.008+01:00

Illustration: Rhyl Jobcentre, High Street

It was no surprise to see the new Conservative-dominated coalition government launch an attack on ‘dole scroungers’ while turning a virtually blind eye to the bigger problem of ‘tax dodgers’. Mrs Thatcher did the same thing when she came to power in 1979.

Among the wheezes floated by the present Cabinet is the idea of cutting jobseekers’ housing benefit by ten per cent if they have been out of work for 12 months, even if they have done everything possible to find a job.

That would be an act of brutality. Already many if not most claimants receive a housing benefit payment which is not enough to pay their rent; they have to top it up out of benefits meant for other things such as food.

Piling on the hardship and making unemployed people even more miserable and demoralised does not increase the number of job vacancies.

And what about landlords? What would happen if a private landlord has a good tenant who is out of work more than 12 months and can’t afford the additional top up? Is the landlord to evict the tenant or simply put up with the shortfall in rent?

Another government proposal is to stop benefit payments for 12 months to addicts of alcohol and other drugs if they refuse treatment. Details do not seem to be available at present, but the implications for crime and disorder are obvious.

A town such as Rhyl could be thrown into chaos by spiteful and ill-considered cuts to welfare.

RURAL CHARMS

2010-08-25T10:27:00.014+01:00

In recognition of the fact that Rhyl's surrounding countryside is an important part of the resort's appeal to visitors, here are more old pictures of some villages nearby.

From the top:

BODELWYDDAN: shot of the village by Rae Pickard of 12 Queen Street, Rhyl; CEFN: nice old card of Pont-yr-Allt-Goch; DYSERTH card postmarked 1905; RHUDDLAN station (Vale of Clwyd railway) which was closed to passengers 1955; and TREMERCHION Church of Corpus Christi.

QUIZ ANSWER # 73

2010-08-25T09:39:00.009+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph. In it there is a street sign centre right, behind a lamp post, and the name has been blanked out. The question:
What is the missing name?

The answer: Greenfield Street.

The winners: David Hughes, Dorothy Jones, Geoff Hughes, Jane Shuttle, Pauline Hammans, Richard & Ceri Swinney, Wayne Chadwick and Dave Rowlands (first win for Dave).

QUIZ QUESTION # 73

2010-08-18T15:22:00.006+01:00

This photograph was taken last week in Rhyl by Yours Truly. There is a street sign centre right, behind a lamp post, and the name has been blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 24th August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

CAFE SOCIETY # 1

2010-08-18T14:09:00.013+01:00

The older photos above are from the collection of Peter Trehearn. The black-and-white is from late 1930s and shows his father Vernon in a cricket top with members of staff at the Savoy Cafe, West Parade.

The sepia is from early 1930s and shows Vernon’s father, the redoubtable and ubiquitous Mr P. T. Trehearn (later a councillor and alderman) with a person unknown outside Adelphi Fish Restaurant, 64-66 Queen Street.

The Adelphi passed out of family control some years ago, and the present owners gave the old restaurant a face lift earlier this year. It is now called Chilli Pink and the speciality is Indian cuisine. Parked cars defeated my attempts to get a clear shot of the place so I filched the colour picture from a newspaper advert.

CAFE SOCIETY # 2

2010-08-18T13:01:00.022+01:00

Here’s a random selection of Rhyl cafes/restaurants photographed last Sunday by Yours Truly. Just for your own amusement (not a quiz question) see if you know the street names.

Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

If you have a favourite cafe or restaurant in Rhyl, past or present, do send a pic by email to: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

FLORAL HALL SLIDESHOW

2010-08-18T11:02:00.013+01:00

These pictures were taken in late 1950s during construction of the Floral Hall next to the Open Air Bathing Pool on the promenade opposite Bath Street; they are from the collection of Rhyl Library.

They are among 20 black-and-white and colour images of the (Royal) Floral Hall which I have turned into a slideshow and uploaded to a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.

If you would like to see the slideshow please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47xFO6cKSAw

QUIZ ANSWER # 72

2010-08-18T10:58:00.014+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph. Centre right of picture there is a street sign blanked out. The question was:
What is the missing name?

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The answer is Garnett Avenue.

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The winners: David Hughes, Diana & Berwyn Jones, Dorothy Jones, Geoff Hughes, Jane Shuttle, Mike Owen (first win for Mike), Pauline Hammans, Phil Hughes, Richard & Ceri Swinney, Sue Handley, The Great Gareth.

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Here is a complete list of quiz winners up to and including this result:
David Hughes 2
Diana & Berwyn Jones 4
Dorothy Jones 10
Gaynor Williams 3
Geoff Hughes 8
George Owen 2
Jacqui Bell 1
Jane Evans 5
Jane Shuttle 15
Julie Morgan 2
Linda Gordon 1
Liz Espley 1
Lynn Roberts 1
Mike Demack 2
Mike Owen 1
Moira Evans 2
Pauline Hammans 11
Peter Trehearn 2
Phil Hughes 2
Rachel Sorahan 2
Richard & Ceri Swinney 10
Sue Handley 12
The Great Gareth 17
The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry 12
Wayne Chadwick 5

In the lead at present:
17 The Great Gareth
15 Jane Shuttle
12 Sue Handley
12 The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry
11 Pauline Hammans
10 Dorothy Jones
10 Richard & Ceri Swinney

With 28 questions still to go, there’s everything to play for! You can have a nil score at present and still turn out to be Rhyl Life Quiz Champion!

QUIZ ANSWER # 71

2010-08-18T10:54:00.008+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted larger versions of these photographs and asked:
(a) Re: the upper photo:
What was the name of the upstairs cafe on that corner?
and
(b) Re: the lower photo:
What was the name of the ground floor cafe where The Hair Studio is?

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The answers are:
(a) Evans’ Cafe (M. Evans & Son Clwydian Cafe)
and
(b) Russell Cafe.

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The winners: David Hughes (first win for David), Diana & Berwyn Jones, Dorothy Jones, Geoff Hughes, Jane Shuttle, Linda Gordon (first win for Linda), Richard & Ceri Swinney, Sue Handley, The Great Gareth.

QUIZ QUESTION # 72

2010-08-11T13:57:00.004+01:00

This photograph was taken last month in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Centre right in the picture there is a street sign blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 17th August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTION # 71

2010-08-11T09:31:00.012+01:00

These photographs were taken this month in Rhyl by Yours Truly. They show premises which were formerly cafes/restaurants.

(a) Re: the upper photo:
What was the name of the upstairs cafe on that corner?
and
(b) Re: the lower photo:
What was the name of the ground floor cafe where The Hair Studio is?

ALL readers sending the both right answers shall be credited with a WIN. No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 17th August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

STREET LIFE

2010-08-11T08:49:00.021+01:00

Here are some Rhyl street scenes from about 1900. At the top is a view of Bath Street looking northwards. The large picture in the middle shows the upper part of High Street (The Lorne on left under black sign). Finally we have Bodfor Street looking northwards from near where F. Knowles newsagent is today.

WHITE HORSE

2010-08-11T08:02:00.016+01:00

The black-and-white picture above shows White Horse Inn, Bedford Street, Rhyl c.1890. (The premises are suspected to be a lot older but there is no evidence – the deeds are lost.) The licensee’s name above the door is David Parry; the two figures standing at the door are unidentified. The pic is from Rhyl History Club Community Archive.

The colour photo was taken a few days ago by Yours Truly. The old shop to the right of the White Horse was demolished long ago, and the pub was extended. At present the White Horse is derelict. The most recent operators changed the name to Liberty’s (which was a liberty in itself).

A company has submitted plans to build flats on part of the grounds. The plans were deemed unsatisfactory, met with local opposition and were withdrawn.

PAT WILLIAMS

2010-08-11T07:08:00.012+01:00

Further to recent mentions of the photographer Pat Williams, here is a copy of a newspaper advert from the front page of Rhyl Journal & Advertiser dated Saturday December 9th, 1939. The item is from the collection of Peter Trehearn.

The fire mentioned in the advert was referred to in my book ‘Rhyl In The Second World War':
“The war was raging a long way off, but Rhylites of a nervous disposition may have been unsettled by an event in the early hours of Wednesday 15th November. A fierce blaze broke out at Hampson & James, chemists, at 25 High Street . . . The shop went on fire in a cacophony of exploding bottles and falling glass, and there were spectacular colour effects as the chemicals went up in flames. The premises were gutted, and in the studio of Miss Pat Williams upstairs some equipment was destroyed. Mr Habesch next door had a narrow escape.”

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Re: the Sussex Street address mentioned in the advert: Nos.2-6 are now flats.

QUIZ ANSWER # 70

2010-08-11T06:40:00.009+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph on which a street sign is blanked out. The question:
What is the missing name?

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The answer is Spruce Avenue.

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The winners:
Dorothy Jones (8th win)
Geoff Hughes (6th win)
Jane Shuttle (13th win)
Pauline Hammans (10th win)
Richard & Ceri Swinney (8th win)
Sue Handley (10th win)
The Great Gareth (15th win - still in the lead).

QUIZ ANSWER # 69

2010-08-11T06:23:00.008+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph on which a street sign is blanked out. The question:
What is the missing name?

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The answer is Llys Eirlys.

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The winners:
Dorothy Jones (7th win), Geoff Hughes (5th win), Jane Shuttle (12th win), Julie Morgan (2nd win), Pauline Hammans (9th win), Richard & Ceri Swinney (7th win) and The Great Gareth (14th win).

QUIZ QUESTION # 70

2010-08-04T12:08:00.007+01:00

This photograph was taken a couple of days ago in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Centre left there is a street sign blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 10th August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTION # 69

2010-08-04T11:50:00.008+01:00

This photograph was taken a couple of days ago in Rhyl by Yours Truly. Near the centre of picture there is a street sign blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 10th August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site the day afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

ABBEY WHERE?

2010-08-04T11:24:00.012+01:00

The black-and-white card above is postmarked 1925 and is written in faded pencil to Miss (May) Morrison of Wolverhampton. The picture indicates that the area of promenade immediately westwards of the Coliseum, top of Abbey Street, once bore the name Abbey Gardens.

Abbey Gardens in due course became a boating pool as shown in the colour card which is postmarked 1968 and sent to S. Pearce, also of Wolverhampton. The prom space under advisement is now part of the Drift Park development.

CLAUDE RAINS

2010-08-04T10:44:00.038+01:00

Recently watching Claude Rains in the film ‘The Man Who Watched Trains Go By’ (1952) reminded me that he had a local connection.

Claude Rains (1889-1967) was born in London and became a distinguished British stage actor. He carved quite a career in Hollywood movies; he was a huge hit in ‘The Invisible Man’ (1933) and again in ‘Mr Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939) and immortalised himself as the captain of police in the Humphrey Bogart film ‘Casablanca’ (1942).

According to my Auntie Pat in St Asaph, our family lore says young Claude and his mother lived in Rhyl for a while in very early 1900s, before World War 1. His mother ran a boarding house in the west end; their laundry was done by my great-grandmother who lived in Bedford Street. The Rains’ were not resident in Rhyl for long, but long enough to be remembered.

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The film ‘The Man Who Watched Trains Go By’ was no cinematic masterpiece but I have put a short excerpt on the YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010. If you would like to see it please click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjYV90XsLAQ

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SUN 8th AUG 2010 UPDATE: My great-grandmother’s maiden name was Mary Meaghaer, pronounced Marr. She came from County Mayo in Ireland via Merseyside. In Rhyl she married a Mr Edward Jones of a family of publicans and this may relate me to Rhyl’s first historian J. W. Jones (Joe Swan) – a pleasing posibility. Edward died and a few years later Mary remarried and became Mrs Collins.

Mary ran a laundry business at 8 Bedford Street. The house has been demolished and replaced by a modern building which is now the cake shop ‘Celebrate In Style’ (cakes for weddings, birthdays and special occasions). My thanks go to Carol at the shop for letting me see the back yard where my mother and grandmother used to play.

In 2011, Carol will be celebrating 10th anniversary in business on the premises. Here’s a link to the shop’s web site:
http://www.cakes2suitu.co.uk/

The big surprise for me was that in the back yard a large part of the old laundry house still exists, and here it is:

QUIZ ANSWER # 68

2010-08-04T10:02:00.008+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted these photographs and asked:
Re: the upper photo:
(a) What is the name of the street in which I was standing?
(b) What is on the other side of the fence on the left of the picture?
Re: the lower photo:
(c) What is the name of the street in which I was standing?
(d) What is the name of the street at the far end of the alley?

-----
The answers:
(a) Gordon Avenue
(b) Playground for ball games, or MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area)
(c) Aquarium Street
(d) Gronant Street

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The winners:
Dorothy Jones (6th win)
Geoff Hughes (4th win)
Jane Evans (5th win)
Jane Shuttle (11th win)
Pauline Hammans (8th win)
Richard & Ceri Swinney (6th win)
Sue Handley (9th win)
The Great Gareth (13th win – still in the lead)
The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry (12th win)
Wayne Chadwick (5th win)

SNAP HAPPY

2010-08-04T09:20:00.013+01:00

The names Mr & Mrs Jno Williams turn up a lot on old Rhyl photographs, especially portraits. It seems that Jno was a common way of abbreviating the name John. The picture above was sent by John Powell, or perhaps we could say Jno Powell, who wonders where in High Street the Portland Studio was.

Cobbling together information received from Mike Lewis-Jones in Australia and Geoff Hughes, the picture seems to be that the studio was opposite what is now The Piazza restaurant, formerly Plaza Cinema. It was upstairs above a shop which Geoff thinks may have been Hampson & James the chemist, 27 High Street (recently the Oggi Oggi bakery & coffee shop).

Eventually the Williams' business was taken over by Pat Williams who continued to use the name Portland Studio (family relation maybe). Pat was a female professional photographer who was mentioned recently on this blog in connection with a Rhyl Golf Club publication c.1950.

Mike and Geoff confirm that subsequently Pat's business was taken over by Bob Jones who is still well remembered by Rhyl residents. Geoff says:

"Bob Jones hailed from Pwllheli or somewhere thereabouts. At first he traded with the name Pat Williams in brackets after his own name. Later Bob moved from High Street to a studio in Bodfor Street adjoining the Wynnstay Hotel (he rented rather than owned the property).

"I vividly remember trooping upstairs to that studio with my parents and three siblings to have a family photograph taken in 1967/8. (I was eleven at the time.)

"Bob later bought premises in Kinmel Street and moved his studio there (the shop is now the Eastern Delight takeaway). Tragically he became terminally ill and the business was taken over by Graeme Thomas who had worked for Bob for some years."

MORE FROM DEREK

2010-08-01T13:11:00.012+01:00

These items are from Derek Johnson of New Zealand who says: "Here is a photograph of a Co-operative Wholesale Society CWS Cefndy Road staff function around 53 years ago. On the left are my parents Daniel (Dan) and Eira Johnson. The couple next to them were named Bowles, I think; they used to live in Cefndy Road opposite the old blacksmiths, corner of Vale Road.

"Don’t know the next couple but the ones on the far right of picture were named Winder (or something like that). I think that he was the garage foreman and lived in Vale Park behind St Anne’s Church. There used to be a CWS depot on the corner Vale Park and Victoria Road." (The depot may be a predecesor of the present derelict business park. - Ed)

Derek continues: "Before my father was a CWS milkman, he was a White Rose bus driver. The badge above was his and must be must be well over 60 years old."

BACK TO NOTHING?

2010-08-01T13:06:00.024+01:00

Two news stories about North Wales Police circulated this week. One pointed to the large number of working days (close to 4,000) lost by North Wales Police in 2009-10 because of sickness, particularly stress, anxiety and depression. The other pointed to the possibility of NWP losing up to 700 officers and support staff due to cost cutting by the Conserberal government in Westminster.

It seems odd that the Conservatives, who claimed to be the party of law and order, are seeking to save money by letting criminals out of prison (or not putting them in there in the first place) and cutting police budgets. Also I hear that Home Secretary Theresa May, pictured above in London, is to scrap the system of ASBOs or Antisocial Behaviour Orders.

As a resident of Rhyl West where a few years ago small gangs of trouble-making youngsters seemed virtually out of control and vandalism rates were high, I noticed a difference for the better after ASBOs were introduced. The system is not all perfect, and in about half of cases it is not effective, but it's a lot more useful than what we had before – which was nothing.

THE REAL JOE

2010-08-01T12:59:00.023+01:00

Previously on this blog there were only two pictures of Joe Holroyd the founder of The Little Theatre, Rhyl, and they showed him playing roles on stage. Here is the real Joe on far left in the photograph above which is from Rhyl History Club Community Archive.

The event is Rhyl Odeon Children’s Club Party; the date is given as 1948. Only two other people in the photo are identified: the gent next to Joe is R. W. Williams, and the one sitting next to girl in conical hat is Glyn Vaughan, a member of Rhyl Urban District Council.

Who else is here? If you can identify anybody please send email to: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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SAT 7th AUG 2010 UPDATE: Message from Peter Trehearn: On Glyn Vaughan’s right above the mask is my grandfather, Councillor Phil Trehearn, who was a keen supporter of local drama. Next but one to PT’s right might be Mr Poole, one time chairman of RUDC.

SIDOLI'S CENTENARY

2010-08-01T09:59:00.025+01:00

I am not sure where these pictures originate. Possibly they are from BBC North East Wales web site which always has items of interest to residents and visitors in Rhyl district: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/

As previously mentioned, this year is the 100th year of Sidoli’s Ice Cream Parlour at 32 Wellington Road. In this week’s edition of The Journal newspaper Bill Ellis waxes lyrical about the virtues of Sidoli’s. Inexplicably, he forgot to mention their toast (with real butter) which I firmly believe can have a restorative effect on customers who feel under the weather or down in the dumps.

To read Bill’s article please click on the following link:
http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/91295/100-years-of-selling-ice-creams-in-rhyl.aspx

I LAKE IT

2010-08-01T09:49:00.020+01:00

Marine Lake as shown on this card postmarked 1981 is barely recognisable today. Apart from houses in background, everything in the picture has gone and the place has a quieter, more rural aspect.

A few days ago Marine Lake looked more beautiful than I had ever seen it before. The site was well tended and the grass neatly cut. The unsightly old engine shed near the far end of Oakland Avenue had been removed and the number of benches on site had ben increased for those of us who creak a bit and need a sit down now and again.

On the lake there were some youngsters having a taster session in sailing boats; round the perimeter there were a few dog walkers and kids lolling about as only kids can. The little steam train was running with just two passengers.

Lovely place – shame about the visitor numbers.

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I have made a slideshow of 20 photographs and postcards of the famous old Marine Lake Fun Fair which closed at the end of 1960s. You can find the slideshow on a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.
Please click here to watch or download:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ1PELvi3qc

QUIZ QUESTION # 68

2010-07-28T13:30:00.012+01:00

These photographs were taken on the same day in April 2010 in Rhyl by Yours Truly.

Re: the upper photo:
(a) What is the name of the street in which I was standing?
and
(b) What's on the other side of the fence on left side of the picture?

Re: the lower photo:
(c) What is the name of the street in which I was standing?
and
(d) What's the name of the street at the far end of the alley?

ALL readers sending all four right answers shall be credited with
a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 3rd August 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site a day or two afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 67

2010-07-28T12:39:00.009+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted these photographs and asked:
(a) Where was I standing?
(b) What is the name of the street on the right?
(c) What is the name of the street on the left?

Answers:
I was standing on the roundabout in The Boulevard. On the right is South Drive and on the left is North Drive.

Winners:
Dorothy Jones (5th win)
Geoff Hughes (3rd win)
Jane Evans of Scotland (4th win)
Pauline Hammans (7th win)
Richard & Ceri Swinney (5th win)
Sue Handley (8th win)
The Great Gareth (12th win – still in the lead)
The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry (11th win)
Wayne Chadwick (4th win)

Although this blog is winding down to a close in late Oct/early Nov, the quiz will continue until we get to 100 questions (some of which may be Rhyl history questions). So if you haven’t sent even one correct answer yet, you could still be Rhyl Life Quiz Champion!

RAILWAY SCENES

2010-07-28T11:20:00.025+01:00

These items are from our man in transport, John Powell. The photo at the top shows the famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ train passing through Rhyl station, the occasion being a special trip from Lincoln to Llandudno on Saturday June 6th, 1966.

The newspaper cutting about a mail train is something that I have never seen before. John thinks the date would be c.1910-1920.

Finally, another shot of the railway line that ran from Foryd harbour to Foryd Junction station in Kinmel Bay. This one is dated c.1956 and John wonders if the Clwyd Hotel still exists. The answer must be yes and no – there have been name changes.

These days as you cross the Foryd Bridge into Kinmel Bay, the pub on right is Ferry Hotel and on the opposite side is Harbour Hotel.

HIGH STREET SCENES

2010-07-28T11:11:00.015+01:00

At the top is a photograph dated 1948 showing Habesch the jewellers on the northeast side of High Street. Love the 1940s headscarves.

Next comes a shot from March 1959 showing Boots (centre left) in its present position. To the right of Boots is W. Garson Allen the gents’ outfitters, later Bradleys.

Finally, dated 1962, is a photo that catches part of W. Garson Allen’s shop (far left) and shows Marks & Spencer in its present position. Somewhere in between was Lawrence’s chemist shop.

All three pictures are from Rhyl History Club Community Archive.

LIL'S LIFE

2010-07-25T14:36:00.028+01:00

To add to our stock of lifeboat pictures, this unused postcard has come to hand. It was published just after the present lifeboat house was opened in 2002. Photo by Terry Williams.

The lifeboat marked 12-24 is ‘Lil Cunningham’ which is a 12-metre Mersey class self-righter. The small craft behind, which looks like a rocket, is the D class inshore lifeboat D-485 ‘Stafford with Rugeley’.

MIND THE DONKEYS

2010-07-25T14:24:00.020+01:00

Left-click on any picture to see a bigger version.

The portrait at the top shows a young Lizzie Fletcher sitting on what appears to be a real donkey in a photographer’s studio in Rhyl. Lizzie was born in 1881 and was a Shropshire girl. When she retired she came to live in Rhyl, at Llys Cynon in Bath Street. I'm obliged to Sue of Shropshire for sending the picture.

The donkeys postcard with an elaborate border is from a series in circulation during WW1. This is from June Turner – thanks June.

Finally, from my own collection, a multiview card with a row of donkeys as the centrepiece. The card is postmarked 1953.

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Donkey rides in Rhyl date back to Victorian times. It was an idea copied from seaside places where donkeys were already in use for other reasons such as in the cockle industry.

A hired donkey on the sands would have a name on its bridle be expected to carry a child (or some cases a woman) at walking pace along the sands. The activity became less fashionable and less popular over the decades.

In 2008, new rules tried to ensure that donkeys in British resorts would receive adequate care and rest, and a maximum allowable load was introduced. A would-be rider weighing over 8 stones can be ruled out.

PRESTATYN PIONEERS

2010-07-25T13:57:00.015+01:00

The following photographs came from George Owen who says that they must date from World War 2. On the back are pencil notes indicating parts of the camp used by soldiers. J. W. Jones in his book Rhyl The Town And Its People notes that Prestatyn Holiday Camp was used as a training place for ‘the Pioneers.’ The Pioneer Corps was a fighting unit used for light engineering.

The top picture shows The Britannia Bar which became their Mess, the next shows chalets where they slept 3-per-chalet, and the final one shows The Ballroom where they had concerts and film shows.

The camp was new at the time, having only just been opened in 1939 by the railway company LMS in conjunction with Thomas Cook’s. Pontins took over in 1970s and closed it in mid-1980s. It lay derelict until the present housing estate was built on the site. The estate is named Tower Gardens in memory of the camp’s famous landmark tower which is shown to good effect in these later pictures:

QUIZ QUESTION # 67

2010-07-21T13:51:00.005+01:00

These photos were taken in February 2010 in Rhyl by Yours Truly. The questions are:
(a) Where was I standing?
(b) What is the name of the street on the right?
(c) What is the name of the street on the left?

ALL readers sending the right answers shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 27th July 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this site a day or two afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

UP THE TOWER

2010-07-21T13:37:00.012+01:00

Here are views looking westwards from Skytower. The one at the top is from days of Rhuddlan Borough Council 1974-1996, and the other shows the scene since the present Drift Park was completed in 2007.

FORE AND MORE

2010-07-21T11:09:00.012+01:00

Not being a golfer, I find the terminology of the game rather puzzling but Diana Davies (now of Canada) feels at ease on a green and has sent these late 1950s/early '60s photographs of Rhyl Golf Club members. See if you recognise anyone:

Left-click on any picture to see a bigger version.

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Diana has sent scans of a complete Rhyl Golf Club Official Handbook circa 1950. This 18-page booklet describes the course and greens and is illustrated with photographs by local photographer Pat Williams. (Has anyone got information about Pat?)

The scans are yours for the asking. Please send email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 66

2010-07-21T09:53:00.008+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph which shows the meeting point of three streets. The question was:
What are their names?

The answers: Ellis Avenue, Warren Road and Wood Road.

The winners are:
Geoff Hughes (2nd win for Geoff), Richard & Ceri Swinney (4th win), Jane Evans of Scotland (3rd win), Jane Shuttle (10th win), Dorothy Jones (4th win), Sue Handley (7th win), The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry (10th win) and Julie Morgan (first win for Julie).

The Great Gareth is currently in the lead with 11 wins.

A STUDY IN STYLES

2010-07-18T12:51:00.039+01:00

At the top is a postcard recently acquired by Yours Truly. It shows the altar at the old St Mary's Church in Rhyl by the highly-regarded local photographer Rae Pickard. The card is postmarked 1927.

The sight of it sent me scurrying down Wellington Road to the present St Mary’s, officially named Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, to take a photograph of the current altar area for comparison.

Father Charles Ramsay takes delight in describing the present altar stone (table top) as being made of volcanic lava material 150 million years old. The present Joseph and Mary figures make interesting comparison with the figures in the old postcard.

My thanks go to Charles (pictured in the final photo) for his hospitality. You can get in touch with him by phoning (01745) 353395 or sending email to: chas3free@msn.com

AT THE LAKE

2010-07-18T11:49:00.017+01:00

Here are some images of the long-gone Marine Lake Fun Fair and its still-here miniature railway. They are from a variety of sources and are in probable date order with the oldest picture at the bottom.

WALES IN WHAT?

2010-07-18T11:21:00.020+01:00

In the past few weeks, flowers and plants have been appearing in Rhyl town centre to catch the eye of judges in the annual ‘Wales in Bloom’ competition. We now have planters along Market Street for instance, and in the square at the back of the town hall (where we used to have a circular garden until Denbighshire council took it away).

The ‘Wales in Bloom’ competition seems to me pretty worthless because towns and villages are not judged on their all year round performance.

A big enthusiast for it is Chris Ruane MP whose Labour Party colleagues are in a majority on Rhyl Town Council. There has been controversy over the town council’s financial involvement. Please click here to see: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/internal_review_rhyl_wales_in_bl

While all the nonsense goes on, we westenders who walk into Rhyl town centre have to contend with cars on pavements, shopping scooters, advertising boards, canvassers, foulmouthed ranters and ravers, spitters, drunks, pavement cyclists and dog poo.

IN RESPONSE

2010-07-14T12:15:00.014+01:00

In response to an appeal some time ago on this site, Mr James Russell of Wolverhampton has sent these pictures of Kinmel Bay and Towyn. The one at the top is a card postmarked 1954; the black-and-white is interestingly labelled; and the Towyn card dates from the days of Clwyd County Council 1974-1996.
Thanks, Jim.

QUIZ QUESTION # 66

2010-07-14T11:41:00.009+01:00

This photograph was taken in April 2010 in Rhyl by Yours Truly. It shows the meeting point of three streets. The question is:
What are their names?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 20th July 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 65

2010-07-14T10:36:00.012+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of this photograph. On the right-hand side of the picture a street name has been blanked out. The question:
What is the missing name?

The answer: Thornley Avenue.

The winners:
Geoff Hughes (first win for Geoff)
Wayne Chadwick (3rd win)
Jane Evans in Scotland (2nd win)
Sue Handley (6th win)
Dorothy Jones (3rd win)
Richard & Ceri Swinney (3rd win)
Jane Shuttle (9th win). Jane has now drawn level with The Legendary Lloyd and Kerry and is looking dangerous; they are only
2 wins behind the leader, The Great Gareth.

MARITIME RHYL

2010-07-14T10:30:00.009+01:00

These pictures of Foryd are new to this blog. The harbour photo at the top is dated c.1956 and was sent by John Powell. The sepia postcard is an undated item from my own collection (note the remains of ‘City of Ottawa’ in the foreground). The final image shows a charcoal drawing from 1926 by L. S. Lowry.

These are included in a slideshow of 20 photographs and postcards relating to Foryd harbour and other maritime aspects of Rhyl. The slideshow was created by Yours Truly and is on a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.
Please click here to watch or download:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkOd-whXRJ4

BLIGHTERS

2010-07-11T15:39:00.012+01:00

Today I took a stroll up Abbey Street to see whether the eyesore on the corner of Aquarium Street has been demolished as promised months ago by Denbighshire council. Of course it hasn’t, as the photograph above shows.

Note the new wheelie bins fixed in the street, making the place look uglier. This idea began in nearby John Street in November last year; John Street and Abbey Street are parallel turnings off the seafront.

Chances are that very few people would have been given the opportunity to object to the bins in advance, and the department dealing with refuse collection is arrogant enough not to have taken any notice anway.

Some say that the department is run by a tyrannical expatriate Geordie. If that is the case, I think he ought to be repatriated at the earliest opportunity. County councillors seem too frightened to stand up against him.

LOWTHER COLLEGE

2010-07-11T10:32:00.016+01:00

There has been a previous post about Clarendon School at Kinmel Hall, St George. Clarendon was a private school for girls, and so was Lowther College not a million miles away at Bodelwyddan Castle.

Lowther College (as shown on the old postcard above) started in 1896 in Lytham St Anne’s, Lancs, and moved to Bodelwyddan Castle in 1920. Eventually the operators of the school bought the building.

Lowther College was one of the first schools to have a swimming pool, and it had a private golf course too. Boys were admitted from the late-1970s onwards but the school closed down in 1982 due to financial difficulties.

The colour photo was taken by Adrian Pingstone in June 2008, by which time the castle was owned by Warner Leisure Group.

MAP OF RHYL, 1884

2010-07-11T10:17:00.012+01:00

Ann Hayes has sent the following map and text from one of the North Wales guide books that she has been collecting for years.

Do a left-click on any piece of map to see a bigger version:

Do a left-click on any piece of text to see a bigger version:

Nice item! Thanks, Ann.

HEALTH AND . . .

2010-07-10T11:01:00.023+01:00

Our local hospitals are in disarray. In March 2008 came news that the newest of them, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, would have to be rebuilt at a cost of £200-300 million because of asbestos. Then came a long wrangle over the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl.

At present the Alex seems to be dealing only with out-patients and has no wards open. The controlling body, the awkwardly-named Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board which is based near Bangor, seems deaf to public protests about this.

Last week’s Denbighshire Free Press front-paged the closure of H. M. Stanley Hospital, St Asaph (pictured above) which has a stroke unit and eye clinic. Closure will be in March 2011. Betsi strikes again!

Meanwhile, the new Conserberal government has promised a major shake-up of the NHS. We are told that this will not mean cutting the budget, but NHS workers and patients have been concerned for some time about ‘creeping privatisation’.

Readers who are Facebook members may care to note that there is a group named 'Keep Our NHS Public (KONP)'. Here's a link:
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622&s=20#!/group.php?gid=40921988278

QUIZ QUESTION # 65

2010-07-07T09:46:00.006+01:00

This photograph was taken in April 2010 in Rhyl by Yours Truly. On the right-hand side of the picture is a street sign on which the name has been blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 13th July 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

DILYS & THE ALEX

2010-07-07T09:14:00.018+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Liz Espley (was Roberts) and seeing a wonderful photo album that belonged to her mother who was Dilys Howell Roberts.

Dilys worked as a nurse at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl, from 1921 until she married in 1928; she is shown in the portrait below, and is the one holding the baby in the group photo.

The following snapshot of the Alex, taken from the rear (then a garden, now a car park) catches the hospital at an interesting time. The east wing, on the right-hand side of the photo, was a late addition and had not yet been attached to the main building.

The black-and-white picture below shows children and carers from the hospital gathered together in a High Street shop to watch a street parade. The shop was L. S. Williams’ and it was on the corner where today you would find Next.

My thanks go to Liz Espley, who was herself a nurse in Birmingham
in the 1950s, for bringing the album and joining me in tea for two.

QUIZ ANSWER # 64

2010-07-07T09:11:00.013+01:00

Posted last Wednesday was this photograph in which there is a street name blanked out. The question was:
What is the missing name?

The answer is Conwy Street (the old name Conway Street was accepted) and the winners are:

Sue Handley (5th win)
The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry (9th win)
Pauline Hammans (6th win)
Wayne Chadwick, Dorothy Jones, Rachel Sorahan (2nd win each)
The Great Gareth (11th win and still in the lead)
Jane Evans of Scotland (first win for Jane)

QUIZ ANSWER # 63

2010-07-07T08:41:00.012+01:00

Posted last Wednesday was this photo of a building in a special kind of use. The questions were:
(a) What kind of use?
and
(b) In what street is the building?

Answers:
It is a church (Seventh-Day Adventist Church) and it is in Albert Street.

Winners:
The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry (8th win), Dorothy Jones (1st win for Dorothy), The Great Gareth (10th win and still leading) and Moira Evans (2nd win).

JOHN ON THE BUSES

2010-07-04T14:35:00.021+01:00

Above are pictures received from John Powell who has a special interest in transport. At the top is a card from White Rose Garage, Rhyl, 1920s. Then there is a shot on the seafront near the top of High Street, 1932; that must be Cinema Royal on the left-hand side of the picture. The third was taken on East Parade, 1930s.

The following are from 1950s. The one taken opposite the Queens Hotel is very early ‘50s. The second one was taken at the bus station in High Street, the third outside the Regal Cinema across the road and finally, from late ‘50s, there is a photo taken on the prom.

John Powell has sent more Rhyl railway items as well, and in due course they will appear before your very eyes. Thanks, John.

IN MEMORIAM

2010-07-04T11:01:00.008+01:00

Recent fatalities in Afghanistan included a soldier from Rhyl. I salute that young man’s bravery, and would commiserate with his family and friends.

Britain’s current military involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001 and therefore has been going on for longer than World War 2. It came about as a reaction by Prime Minister Tony Blair in Britain to the bombing of the World Trade Centre in USA by assailants thought to have connections in Afghanistan.

In 2003 there followed the illegal invasion of Iraq by American and British forces. Britain was under the impression that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were ever found. Taking the two military adventures as a whole, the number of British service people killed or injured runs into many hundreds.

The number of Iraqi and Afghani civilians – including women and children – killed or injured would be hundreds of thousands, and tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed. Many people, including our local Labour MP and AM (and some party leadership contenders such as David Miliband) supported military action.

They have blood on their hands.

RHYL PROMENADE, PAST & PRESENT

2010-07-04T09:39:00.009+01:00

These and some other photos and postcards of the promenade (20 in all) have been turned into a slideshow by Yours Truly and uploaded to a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.
Click here to watch or download:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I8sBge3bIY

Have you seen the previous slideshows? They are as follows:

Rhyl pier & sands:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEqbrQ1VQ-Y

Rhyl Pavilion 1908-1974:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhDm-HmZeJw

The Bee Hotel, Rhyl, 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFEGRW8AmZg

2009 Rhyl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEJtB5fmMqU

QUIZ QUESTION # 64

2010-06-30T12:57:00.008+01:00

This photograph was taken a few days ago in Rhyl by Yours Truly. In the lower part of the centre of picture is a street sign; the name has been blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 6th July 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTION # 63

2010-06-30T12:41:00.006+01:00

This photograph was taken a few days ago by Yours Truly and it shows a building which is in special kind of use. The questions are:
(a) What kind of use?
and
(b) In what street is the building?

You have to get both (a) and (b) correct!
ALL readers sending the right answers shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 6th July 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answers by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 62

2010-06-30T12:08:00.005+01:00

Last Wednesday I posted a larger version of the photograph above. In the lower part of the centre of picture is a street sign blanked out. The question was:
What is the missing name?

The answer is Cheltenham Avenue, and the winners are:

Sue Handley (Sue’s 4th win)
Jane Shuttle (8th win)
Pauline Hammans (5th win)
The Great Gareth (9th win and still in the lead)
Wayne Chadwick (1st win for Wayne)
Liz Espley (1st win for Liz)

Well done, one and all!

RAY AND JUNE

2010-06-30T11:55:00.008+01:00

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Ray and June Barton at their home in Rhyl. Ray Barton was, in the opinion of colleagues and audiences, the best of the local accordion players and his wife June was a popular singer.

Ray was born in 1928 in Victoria Road, Rhyl. He attended Ysgol Emmanuel and Clwyd Street School. He started studying accordion while still in school and is to a large extent self-taught. Nevertheless he was doing radio and TV broadcasts from 1958 onwards. His sister was a music tutor and taught piano.

June was born near Wrexham and had an aunt in Rhyl with a boarding house in River Street. June took singing lessons with Tom Bradburn at his school in Chester and sang with Ray’s trio. In 1959, Ray and June appeared with other musicians and singers representing Rhyl in a BBCTV ‘Top Town’ programme in which towns competed by presenting a mini-variety show judged by a panel.

The black-and-white pictures above are from that period. The next picture (colour) was taken later in 1960s at RAFA Club, Windsor Street, Rhyl. That’s Colin Smith on bass guitar; sometimes Ray’s bass player was Cliff Pennington and his drummer was usually Douggie Webb. Other venues were the Conservative Club in Market Street and the holiday camps Golden Sands, Robin Hood and Sunnyvale.

Ray played in all styles and appeared at various times with saxists Albert Williams, Clem Maiden and jazzman Colin Higginson. Ray retained amateur/semi-pro status and continued working as an administrator for Rhyl Urban District Council and later Rhuddlan Borough Council. June kept busy with the trio and sang in concerts at Rhyl Pavilion, Town Hall Warrington and in Spain and Malta.

JUNE'S CHOICE

2010-06-30T11:53:00.003+01:00

June Barton started singing at a time when the big star vocalists included Lita Roza and Alma Cogan. June’s own repertoire included standards such as ‘Ma, He’s Making Eyes At Me’ and ‘All Of Me’, and she took easily to songs of the 1960s such as ‘There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)’.

Shown above are some of June’s favourite singers: Peggy Lee and Karen Carpenter, followed by Rhyl’s very own Roma Taylor who is pictured in early ‘60s at The Sun Inn, Wellington Road, Rhyl, with (left to right) Arthur Leon, Colin Higginson and Harry Lightfoot.
Picture from the collection of Colin Higginson.

Another local singer rated highly by June is Judi Hewitt (Teena of Teena and the Knightbirds). In the final photo, Judi is shown towards the end of ‘60s with members of resident showband at The Haven Hotel, West Parade (l-r) Brian ‘Mousey’ Lewis, Neville Wilding and Ian Birrell.
Picture from the collection of Judi and Bob Hewitt.

SPEAKING FOR MYSELF

2010-06-27T19:36:00.005+01:00

Speaking for myself, I felt a sense of relief on hearing that the England team had been kicked out of the World Cup by Germany. The pageant of swaggering, strutting and spitting (and buzzing) is tiresome for those of us who regard football as just a game rather than a religion.

The presence of flags of St George all over Rhyl seemed oppressive and now they look silly in the light of a 4-1 defeat.

Generations of British men have been brought up to believe that alcohol is essential and/or football is important. They have not yet realised that these are myths and, while they have been following the bouncing ball, the new Conserberal government has been busy cooking up ways of bringing radical changes.

And in the Labour Party camp too, something is stirring. A few days ago, one of the contenders in the Labour Party leadership contest, David Miliband, was spotted in Rhyl’s High Street with our Labour MP and a raggle taggle of party followers and apparatchiks from the Kinmel Street Kremlin.

David Miliband, once a Head of Policy for Tony Blair, may appeal to Tory voters in marginal constituencies, but no one except a tiny number of card carrying members is likely to give a hoot who leads the Labour Party. This blogger certainly doesn’t.

For the time being, for Labour and the England football team, the party is over.

CORONATIONS

2010-06-27T08:58:00.029+01:00

1953 was quite a year. The National Eisteddfod came to Rhyl and the present Queen Elizabeth was crowned. The snapshot above came to me from an international smuggler and shows the Queen passing through Rhuddlan. I was six years old and the family was living in High Street, Rhuddlan, near where the snap was taken.

Ann Hayes, an old friend of this blog, says, “I vaguely remember the Queen's visit. We lived on Rhuddlan Road, Rhyl, and her car drove past – I remember us all standing in the front garden. There was much excitement! Here are some scans from the Rhyl May Day programme of 1953. May Queen Ruth Hall’s mother (was Phyllis Lane) had been a May Queen in 1934.”

LEFT-CLICK on a picture to see a bigger version and be able to read the small print:

These scans should please fans of old adverts. More please, Ann!

SHOWING OFF

2010-06-24T10:34:00.025+01:00

The upper picture is c.1954 and captures girls from St Mary’s Convent School, Rhyl, putting on The Magic Flute, a version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Don’t let the moustaches fool you; they are all girls. Standing are (left to right): Angela Cummings, Shirley Bosson, Mary Sellwood, possibly Valentine Newton, Maureen Digan, Anne Clementson, Don't know girl with star, Judy Watson, Marie Churchill, Judy Cocks, Mary Higgs, possibly Antoinette Heysham, Janet Jones, and Margaret Thomas.

Kneeling: Jennifer Kirkup, Don't know, Nora Watts, Ann Lloyd-Ellis is sitting in centre, Audrey Cordukes, Don't know, Marjorie Jones.

The lower picture immortalises St Mary’s Convent School’s Winter Ballet of 1952. The four on the left are Shirley Bosson, Antoinette Heysham, Sylvia Parr and Ann Yoxall. The four on right are Anne Clementson, Angela Cummings, Diana Nicholas, Christine Broadbent. The tots around the snowman are not named.

Diana Davies of Canada (was Diana Nicholas) is sender of both photos. Diana says:
"Sometimes our productions were staged at Rhyl Town Hall but these photos were taken at the school. We had fund raising events of some kind to buy curtains for the stage and also for the hard surface tennis courts. Our stage had a painted drop curtain at the front. The back walls of the stage area were painted too: a garden scene of some kind, I think, with steps and huge pots of flowers.

“One of the classrooms opened onto the stage. One of the little girls in that class used to wander around the classroom all the time, so the teacher in charge opened the door to the stage and put her just through it and tied her to the chair. Loosely and gently of course, but wouldn't there be a fuss if it was done now?”

I’ll say there would, Diana!

QUIZ QUESTION # 62

2010-06-23T14:56:00.010+01:00

This photograph was taken three or four months ago in Rhyl by Yours Truly. In the lower part of the centre of picture is a street sign; the name has been blanked out. The question is:
What is the missing name?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 29th June 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

QUIZ ANSWER # 61

2010-06-23T13:54:00.013+01:00

Last Thursday I posted a larger version of this photograph and said that it showed a cul-de-sac. The question was:
What is the name of the cul-de-sac?

The answer: Islwyn Avenue. That was a tough one; I had never noticed the place before I photographed it. Islwyn Avenue is off Russell Road and faces the back of Royal Alexandra Hospital.

The winners:

Jane Shuttle. It is the 7th win for Jane. She has drawn level with The Legendary Lloyd & Kerry, only a step behind The Great Gareth.

Pauline Hammans of Australia. It's the 4th win for Pauline (who is at present in Rhyl).

PIER & SANDS

2010-06-22T08:10:00.053+01:00

These pictures are new to Rhyl Life. These and some previously posted photos and postcards of the pier & sands (20 in all) have been turned into a slideshow by Yours Truly and uploaded to a YouTube channel that I run under the name takethetube9010.
Click here to watch or download:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEqbrQ1VQ-Y>

ELIZABETH 'S PIX # 1

2010-06-20T09:18:00.013+01:00

Here are photographs sent by new contributor Elizabeth Espley. The evocative out-of-season snapshots were taken in 1967 just before Elizabeth left to live in Australia. (I am pleased to report that she is now back here.)

The pier was closed awaiting demolition; the basket chairs were approaching the end of their working lives. Elizabeth was about to start a new chapter and the old-style holiday Rhyl was slipping away from us, never to return.

ELIZABETH'S PIX # 2

2010-06-20T08:41:00.030+01:00

These 1967 May Day snaps are from Elizabeth Espley. The May Queen that year was Miss Christine Harrison. The pictures are a
little unusual in that they were taken in Wellington Road opposite Dowell’s (newsagent), Liverpool Arms and Sidoli’s.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

TREVOR HILL

2010-06-17T09:47:00.052+01:00

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Trevor and Enid Hill at their home in Rhyl.

Trevor Hill (born in Rhyl, 1928) is a distinguished pianist and tutor. He attended Christchurch Primary School in Vaughan Street and went on to private education. He studied music from the age of 7 and had piano lessons from Miss Gates (who later became Mrs Evans) of John Street, and took to composing at an early age.

Trevor attended Royal Manchester College of Music and played concerts in all kinds of settings including prisons! He performed for Rhyl Music Club and played for Rita Landi's Choir and was a member of Rhyl Liberty Players (amateur dramatics) at The Little Theatre.

In 1952, he played a season as member of the orchestra at Queen’s Theatre, Rhyl, and while there he accompanied Laurel and Hardy amongst others.

After college, Trevor moved to London while retaining a base in Rhyl. In London he played as soloist and accompanist and studied under Herbert Fryer, a tutor of international standing. In mid to late 1950s Trevor performed recitals at Salle Erard, Great Marlborough Street, and these were important from a career point of view.

Pictured above with Trevor is his wife Enid (was Enid Williams). The couple married in 1956 at Bath Street Methodist Church in Rhyl. Enid’s brother Albert was well known to local musicians because he ran the music shop Box and Stansfield in Water Street, which became eventually Price Evans Music Shop.

In late 1950s/early ‘60s Trevor made some television appearances and obtained an honours degree from Durham University. In 1960s and ’70s he did some part-time tutoring for Open University. From 1972-2009 he ran courses in Music Appreciation organised by WEA (Workers’ Educational Assoc) in partnership firstly with University
of Wales Bangor and later Coleg Harlech.

QUIZ QUESTION # 61

2010-06-17T09:42:00.009+01:00

This photograph was taken last week in Rhyl by Yours Truly. It shows a cul-de-sac. The question is: What is the name of the cul-de-sac?

ALL readers sending the right answer shall be credited with a WIN.
No second tries accepted!

The closing date is Tuesday 22th June 2010 at 12 noon and the result will be published on this blog a day or two afterwards. Please send your answer by email to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk