HOTTER THAN THAT

In a recent warm spell, Rhylites were heard to complain, It's too hot! Well it was hotter in the early 1980s on board HMS Rhyl according to an account by sailor Stephen Griffin published in Daily Mail newspaper.
Click on the image to read small print.

This item was provided by Dilys Bagnall - thanks, Dilys.

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The unrelated photo below is from my own collection; HMS Rhyl is shown on 28th March 1967 in Malta:

To see all posts relating to HMS Rhyl please click here:
https://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/HMS%20RHYL

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HMS RHYL # 9

Recently to hand came this trio of unusual close-up photos of HMS Rhyl (F129). They were taken in 1964 at Portsmouth:

HMS Rhyl was a Rothesay class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy built at Portsmouth, launched 1959, in service until 1983, and sunk for target practice in 1985.

For further notes and list of commanding officers see Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Rhyl_(F129)

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SEA HERE

Seems there has been a disagreement elsewhere on Internet about Foryd Bridge - somebody believes it has always been blue. No, it hasn't. These contrasting images have appeared previously in this blog:

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While we are the subject the Foryd, the following have not appeared previously in this blog. The first is undated and catches a figure of a fisherwoman. Underneath it is a watercolour by Shropshire-based artist Ken Field.

Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

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And thrown in here for good measure is an HMS Rhyl miniature shield which I thought you might like:

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LIFE IN PERHYL

Today, out shopping on foot, I encountered a car in Kings Avenue, parked squarely on the pavement forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.

At corner of Wellington Road and Princes Street my shopping trolley collided with an advertising board put there by a 'community' group.

On my way to Morrisons a cyclist wobbled towards me on Vale Road Bridge, one hand on the handlebars while talking into a mobile phone.

Later in High Street there were vehicles on the pedestrianised area, more advertising boards and more cyclists, and twice I received a faceful of cigarette smoke.

When finances allow, please may we have pavement safety wardens?

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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

Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine!

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PAIRING AGAIN

This is another post that pulls together pairs of pictures not previously published in this blog. Firstly two dramatic shots of building the present Foryd Bridge which opened in 1932 (pictures from Rhyl History Club):

Next are a couple of photos of HMS Rhyl. The one on your left is 1960s and the other is probably 1970s:

The following are World War 1 and World War 2 memorial plaques in Christ Church, Water Street, Rhyl, photographed by Fred Burns:

The family name Rhydwen Jones appears on both plaques. 

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

Now, here are two adverts - the front and back covers of a Pavilion circus programme which is said to be from 1954:

A connection between the two shows advertised above is that they were both staged by Captain A. Prince-Cox, F.R.M.S. (This is an acronym of which I can make no sense in a showbiz context. Perhaps a reader will enlighten us on this point.)

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Above is a colour postcard from my own collection showing the Sun Centre (opened June 1980) as it looked before the new Pavilion Theatre was built at its side.

Below is a Daily Post photo of the new Pavilion Theatre being built; it opened in September 1991.

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

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HMS RHYL # 8

Recently these images of HMS Rhyl came to hand via an anonymous donor to whom I send thanks and best wishes.

Rhyl maritime pictures and information are always welcome on this site. Please send to: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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WED 13th SEP 2017 UPDATE: Here is a rare photo bought recently by Yours Truly. HMS Rhyl (F129) is shown at Gibraltar. In the background on your left is HMS Blake.

The seller's description repeats some info posted earlier on Rhyl Life and adds more:

"HMS Rhyl was a Rothesay class frigate commissioned on 31st October 1960.
     "Following commissioning Rhyl served in the Far East, Mediterranean and on the East Africa station, including being diverted to stand-by off Goa following the Indian invasion in 1961.
      "She was leader of the 23rd Frigate Squadron by the time she attended Portsmouth Navy Days in 1965. She served, along with HMS Ark Royal and HMS Lowestoft on Beira patrol and then in 1966-7 served in the Mediterranean as Captain D 23rd Escort Squadron with HMS Lowestoft, HMS Dainty and HMS Defender.
     "HMS Rhyl returned to UK waters in 1967 to become Captain D Home Fleet, eventually decommissioning in Plymouth to undergo a major refit to upgrade to a Leander like specification.
     "She was sunk as a target ship in 1985."

Not only was there a previous HMS Rhyl (J36) but also a dredger to note. The British Transport steam suction and grab hopper dredger RHYL was built in 1911 and operated in North Wales ports:

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HMS RHYL # 7

This photograph is from the collection of Roy Turner. It was taken in April 1959 at Portsmouth and shows the launching of HMS Rhyl. The ship was named by Lady Dorothy Macmillan who was the wife of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Roy on behalf of Rhyl Urban District Council was a guest of honour.

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HMS RHYL # 6

I discovered this HMS Rhyl press cutting on Internet quite by chance. It is from Portsmouth Dockyard’s web site.

Regarding the names carved inside the ship’s bell, Helen Windus of Rhyl town council staff has examined the bell and reports that there are 15 names engraved inside. They appear to be as follows:

17.6.72 - Duncan Simon Williams
17.6.72 - Mark Shaun Herbert
17.6.72 - Sarah Kifton
17.6.72 - Steven John McManus
17.6.72 - Fiona Cooper
17.6.72 - Sandra Diane Cantrill
5.11.72 - Ian John Milton
12.11.72 - Sheraton Melissa Melanie Tait
5.6.76 - Patrick William Henry Brice
25.8.76 - Delwyn Barker
16.12.76 - Joy Claire Boyall
9.7.78 - Kristien John Watts
no year - Thomas Matthew Bradby
21 or 27.3.81 - Adam James Gold
20.4.86 - Gemma Louise Williams

On behalf of the sons and daughters of sea dogs, thank you Helen!

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HMS RHYL # 5

In May this year I posted the picture above (TOP) showing a scale model of HMS Rhyl and wondered about the fish-shaped artefact on the floor underneath the table. Mr. Douglas Brown has been in touch with an explanation. He says,

It was nice to see the model of HMS Rhyl on which I served from 1972-75. I believe the item under the table is a support for hanging the ship’s bell. A few people have asked me what became of the bell. It was used to baptize crew members’ children; I’m sure the names were engraved inside.

And some time ago this message came: My name is Kris Watts, and my father served on HMS Rhyl back in the 1970's. I myself was christened on the ship in 1977 and I've always been told my name was engraved on the ship’s bell. Do you know its whereabouts?

Yes, the scale model of HMS Rhyl, the bell holder and bell are all on display at Rhyl town council offices in Wellington Road; they are in the chamber where council meetings take place. To make an appointment there please phone (01745) 331114.

Mr. Douglas Brown concludes, It’s nice to see mementos of our ship are still around. I think the ship’s charity was Toc H in Rhyl. I felt sad when I saw pictures of HMS Rhyl being used for target practice. Ships now have the numbers painted out to avoid them being recognised by ex-crew members.

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HMS RHYL # 4

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

On this blog some previous posts about HMS Rhyl brought feedback including the picture above, which is said to have been taken in 1972 when the frigate was visiting Newport in South Wales.

There is a website dedicated to reuniting friends who served on particular ships and in other units and bases of the armed forces:
http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/index.asp

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MON 8th MAY 2017 UPDATE: More images of HMS Rhyl. The first is from the 1960s / The second is a photograph of the ship entering Malta in September 1974 (the strange marks are creases in the photo) / The third is dated 21st April 1981:

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

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HMS RHYL # 3

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

Further to previous posts about this frigate, the picture above shows an official Ministry of Defence scale-model which is in the keeping of Rhyl Town Council in Wellington Community Centre, Wellington Road.

The model is in the chamber where council meetings take place; it is a large item usually kept in a sealed display case. Underneath the table is an unidentified part of the real ship. Someone in the know please send email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

Nearby is HMS Rhyl ship’s bell dated 1960, pictures of which I'll save up for another time. My thanks to council staff members Phil Thomas and Helen Windus for being of assistance in this afternoon’s photographic expedition.

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HMS RHYL # 2

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

A couple of days ago on this blog there was a post about HMS Rhyl. To my delight, this brought a response from Mervyn Weaver of Worcestershire who is pictured above with a large piece of the ship. Merv says that it’s a generator engine which was fitted to the bow of HMS Rhyl to provide emergency electricity supply if the usual system failed to operate. The generator is in working order and goes on display at vintage shows. What a great picture – thanks, Merv!

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HMS RHYL # 1

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

The first ship named HMS Rhyl was a World War 2 minesweeper which had J36 on its side.

The second HMS Rhyl was marked F129. This was a Rothesay class anti-submarine frigate built at Portsmouth and completed in 1960. Like all other Royal Navy warships of the time, was part of the NATO fleet which patrolled to 'discourage aggression by Russia and the Soviet Block' during the Cold War.

The vessel made several visits to Rhyl from its base in Birkenhead. Its arrival was welcomed by cocktail parties, football matches, church services and very special events. Among town council documents is a letter dated 15 August 1981 to the Mayor from a member of crew saying that HMS Rhyl was in the Indian Ocean and had been at sea a long time and it would be nice to get some friendly correspondence from the town’s residents (particularly young ladies no doubt).

In October 1983 the ship was retired after having been part of the Navy’s task force during the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. In 1985 it ended its life as a target for guided missile practice before being blown up and sunk to the bottom of the sea off Land's end.

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