Showing posts with label PERSONAL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PERSONAL. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 March 2018

FOR ST DAVID'S DAY


Welsh

In 1993 after a long absence I returned to the Vale of Clwyd where born and raised. My mother and her mother being Rhylites, I had known the town all my life and was shocked to see how much it had changed.


Since then I have been involved with community groups in Rhyl, and from early 1990s onwards with the resort’s history. One way or another I have been thinking about Rhyl on a daily basis for a quarter of a century.

It’s time I thought about something else.

Rhyl Life therefore is closing today, but the existing posts will continue to be updated, and ‘Life Goes On’ bulletins about these updates should appear occasionally.


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I've had my say about the inadequacies of local politics and about the 2016 referendum on UK's membership of the European Union having produced the wrong result for Wales.


In my 72nd year I feel unhappy about the bigger picture but could never feel pessimistic about Rhyl – it has as much potential as ever. It is a young town with far more of a future than a past. 


Rhyl Life has operated on-and-off for ten years. Many early posts were of a temporary nature and have been deleted. At the time of writing there are 1,220 posts and an estimated 3,000 images.


At its height, the site attracted about 10,000 pageviews a month. A large part of this success was due to the contributors who generously supplied material for inclusion.


With a final word of thanks to the contributors, I sign off here and wish all readers the best of health and happiness.



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

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CHEETHAM BOOKED

book by Philip Lloyd

Arthur Cheetham the Rhyl-based movie pioneer and businessman is the subject of a new book by Philip Lloyd whose previous work 'Glorious Rhyl: a peep at its past' was published in 2002 and well received.


Of the new book, which is titled 'Silvograph, Arthur Cheetham 1865-1937, pioneer film maker', Philip writes, "Arthur Cheetham arrived in Rhyl in 1889 and set up in business as a phrenologist, ‘medical electrician’ (offering ‘treatment’ for a variety of ailments with his ‘electro-curative battery’), printer, publisher and photographer.


"But he is best known as the town’s pioneer film maker. Between 1898 and 1912 Cheetham shot at least 47 films, depicting aspects of contemporary entertainment, sport, industry, transport etc, well over half of them in Rhyl, including the arrival of the first through Euston/Rhyl summer-service train."


Arthur Cheetham, film movie maker

The new book will be on sale on Thursday 22nd March 2018 at Rhyl Library. The author will be available to sign copies between 9.30 am and 5 pm and will screen a selection of Cheetham films at 2 pm.

Most of the films came from the collection of the late Eric Foulkes of Foulkes' Bar, High Street, Rhyl.

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Saturday, 13 January 2018

FLASHBACK #32




These two photos were taken on the Dyserth branch line that operated 1869-1973 from Prestatyn to Meliden to Dyserth for the quarries.

Ah yes, the quarries. As a schoolboy on the Dyserth side of Rhuddlan I used to hear a warning siren followed by eerie silence, and then big boom accompanied by a chorus of dogs barking.

The mountain looked as if a giant’s spoon had removed a portion to eat. We took the disfiguring of the landscape by heavy industry for granted.

On visits to Wrexham area I joined the children playing on ‘spoil tips’ from the collieries until 1966 when a big one collapsed on houses and a school at Aberfan in South Wales and killed 28 adults and 116 children.

Our industrial past is less than glorious.

You can read about the Dyserth branch line, most of which is now a footpath, in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyserth_branch_line

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Mr. Gerald Turner, now of Canada, thought he saw a picture of Yours Truly and my pal Jill on this blog ages ago  and he has spent a long time trying to find it again. He didn't say what for!

Well Gerry, the pic was taken in 2015 by Lynn Roberts outside The Piazza Restaurant, High Street, Rhyl. It appeared as part of a temporary post and got deleted. Here 'tis.


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

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Sunday, 25 June 2017

ROCK ON, JEREMY!

Photo: i2.mirror.co.uk
I was just the right age to get caught up in the idealistic youth culture of the 1960s. We wanted a world built on peace, friendship, mutual respect, understanding and sharing. We wanted an end to wars, an end to all kinds of discrimination and an end to poverty and deprivation.

We saw all that hijacked by commercialism and the drug culture, and gradually it collapsed into selfishness and self-indulgence in the 1980s.

Yesterday, watching on TV as Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed a massive, cheering crowd at the Glastonbury Festival, I felt the old buzz of the ’sixties again.

Mr. Corbyn believes in building bridges and not walls – so do I.
He believes in human rights, peace, justice and democracy – so do I.
He believes that people should not live in poverty surrounded by riches – so do I.

He spoke against the trashing of our environment, and against racism, sexism, homophobia and Islamophobia, and he pointed to a decent, better world where everybody mattered.

You would find these sentiments embedded in Plaid Cymru, Scottish Nationalist and some other smaller parties but rarely in the governing Conservative Party. 

Jeremy Corbyn spoke of releasing the creativeness locked inside children and the yearning for change in young people, and - in a master stroke - he quoted the poet Shelley:

'Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you,
Ye are many - they are few.'

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

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Tuesday, 23 May 2017

MILITARIANISM # 2


A post on 8th January this year, now titled MILITARIANISM #1, featured some local military camp pictures from the World War 1 era. These drew a considerable amount of interest so here are more of the same.


I present these as items of social history and would not wish to condone or glorify military conflict in any way. In my lifetime I have not supported the UK's involvement in any war. Peacenik, that's me.

The following images are dated.
Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
1908 - Cheshire Regiment at Rhyl

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
1914 - North Wales Comrades training at Rhyl
(not to be confused with North Wales "Pals")

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
1914 - North Wales Comrades training at Rhyl (2)

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
1915 - Service Batt. Welsh Regt. (Carmarthenshire)
outside Rhyl Pavilion

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
1916 - Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Kinmel Park Camp near Bodelwyddan
Aber. Hut (Aber Where,  I wonder)

The following images are undated but from same period.
Click on any picture to see a bigger version.

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
 Church Lads' Brigade - Morning wash at Rhyl Camp No.7
(Magic Lantern slide)

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
 Royal Welsh Fusiliers - Church Parade at Rhyl Camp

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Kinmel Park Camp

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War
Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Kinmel Park Camp (2)

To round off this post, here is a rare snapshot of WW1 soldiers in Rhyl, marching down High Street and about to cross the Alexandra Bridge which these days is called Vale Road Bridge:

World War 1, World War One, First World War, The Great War

Furthest right is a tantalising glimpse of the building that was demolished in the 1930s to make way for Odeon Cinema (now Apollo Bingo).

In centre of the picture is William Roberts' corner shop, and to your left of the shop is a hotel; I have it on good authority that the hotel's rooms still exist on the upper floors.

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MON 11 SEP 2017 UPDATE: Another image of Church Lads' Brigade. Here they are marching along the prom in Rhyl. This pic is presumably from World War 1 period.


You can find out more about the Church Lads' Brigade and Church Girls' Brigade in Wikipedia:

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Friday, 28 April 2017

THE WORKS


Ocean Plaza

Lot of works going on in Rhyl at present. The scene above is part of the Marina Quay development on the former Ocean Beach Fun Fair site, and so are these two:

Ocean Plaza

Ocean Plaza

The big unit on corner of West Parade and Sydenham Avenue has an entrance in the same place as the fun fair's main entrance was. The resemblance ends there.

The Marina Quay development will bring more shoppers to Rhyl, but will it take more trade away from our town centre? We'll have to wait and see.

All photos in this post were taken this month by Yours Truly.
Click on any one to see a bigger version.

Further along West Parade there is nothing doing on the derelict plot of land at top of John Street, but the Skytower is getting a lick of paint in advance of further decoration.


Across the road, at top of Water Street, work has commenced on site of the demolished Honey Club (previously Rosy O'Grady's, originally Monica Hotel). The plan is for a Premier Inn. Not much to see at present because of a high fence.

Near top of Queen Street the scaffolding is a work of art and should be preserved:


Near Rhyl Golf Club, opposite Lyons Robin Hood Holiday Park, large moles have become a problem.

sea defences

No, it's just more flood defence work:

sea defences
sea defences

Nothing doing on site of the demolished Grange Hotel in East Parade, but the Pavilion Theatre's facelift is coming along nicely and plans to your left of the theatre include a Travelodge hotel and a pub.

At present the theatre looks like this from Conwy Street:


The shows go on as usual. See Pavilion website -

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Sorry to have to note here that my pal Fred Burns the photographer, who has been operating a studio at 44 Bedford Street, Rhyl, for more than ten years has opted for early retirement due to illness. Fred and I worked together on several projects and had a lot of laughs.
By coincidence, GMG's wedding dress shop next door at No.42 has closed down because proprietor Geraldine also is afflicted by illness. One-person businesses have a fragile existence.

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LIFE GOES ON: APR 2017

During April 2017, eight older posts were updated:

Brexit / Regrexit!

Coventry Co-op Camp, Kinmel Bay -

Jolly Boys Football Club -

Knights Caverns, Palace Fun Centre -

Ocean Beach Fun Fair/1970s -

Promenade boating lake (pedal boats) -

Rebecca Trehearn -

Stoke-on-Trent Children's Holiday Home -

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

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Tuesday, 14 March 2017

QUIZ QUESTION # 184


Attention all quizzers, quizettes and quizlings! Here are a couple of teasers. Both photos were taken this year.

Question 1) Where in Rhyl would you find the above scene?

Question 2) Re: the photo below, where was the photographer standing?


No need to send me an email - just check your answer against mine on Friday 24th March 2017 after 12 noon.

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RHYL MAN GOES WEST

Last week I spent a pleasant afternoon in Caernarfon – my first visit in half a century – and walked round the town centre and castle and visited the offices of Gwynedd County Council. During all that time I heard only Welsh spoken except in response to my questions.

Afterwards in a cosy café I reflected on what Y Rhyl might be like today if the railway had never arrived and how – this month – Rhyl councillors saw fit to mark St. David's Day by standing outside the railway station singing songs in English.

There are enough incongruities and things wrong in Rhyl to fill a book. Still and all, this is not the worst town in the world nor, as recent publicity announced, the worst place to live in Wales. People who think it is should take a trip to scruffbag Bangor.

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Thursday, 8 December 2016

GREETINGS


The above image of Elwy Street, Rhyl, under snow appeared in a previous post. I said at the time that it would make a nice Christmas card, so here it is from me to you. Thanks for reading.

An item has come to hand re: Kinmel Park Camp near Bodelwyddan, a card dated Christmas Day 1919 (the year after World War 1 ended) and signed by W.B. Hughes, Chaplain to the Forces:
Click on it to read the small print.


More local militaria is in the pipeline for next year plus more of everything from Rhyl and district. Stay safe until then. Best wishes.

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Frohe Weihnachten und Happy New Year

веселого Рождества и счастливого Нового года

joyeux Noel et bonne année

З Різдвом і Новим Роком

Feliz navidad y próspero año nuevo

Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku

vrolijk kerstfeest en een gelukkig nieuwjaar

メリークリスマスと新年会

UPDATES
During the course of 2016 quite a few old posts were updated. To see the updates please click here:

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Don't forget my YouTube channel featuring Rhyl videos and slideshows. The channel is named RhylTime. Click here to see RhylTime's Top Ten:

Only YouTube items labelled RhylTime are mine.

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

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Monday, 14 November 2016

GIVE 'TIL IT HURTS


Time to focus on gifts and presents. What can I suggest for the Rhylite who has everything? A Rhyl-crested china miniature grandfather clock, teapot, three-handled loving cup or jug? 



How about these suggestions from Dave Williams: on your left a travel charm for your bracelet, and on you right a little badge for your lapel.


How about a pig? Don't see many of these in Rh . . . Oh I don't know, though . . .


Much appreciated might be a Bicycle brooch, Rhyl Golf fridge magnet or an old Pavilion sugar bowl.


And here is a T-shirt for wearing on days out in Llandudno:

T shirt Tee

On the general subject of giving, here is a tankard inscribed, "CYRIL JONES ESQ. ON THE OCCASION OF HIS OPENING THE CLWYD MARKET RHYL JULY 4TH 1972"


Who can tell me who Cyril Jones was and/or where Clwyd Market was? This is not a quiz question - I am looking for the information.
Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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Statistics watchers may like to know that the total number of pageviews of this blog has now passed the 400,000 mark.

Last month the number of pageviews from United States of America was more than double the number from the UK.

Germany, France and Netherlands are showing a lot of interest, and so are Russia and Australia.

My thanks to everybody who contributed comments, info and pix. Diolch!

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Thursday, 27 October 2016

RHYL LIFE

Wellington Road card postmarked 1908

Future posts will not be so frequent. To be sure that you catch them all (including occasional quiz questions) please follow by email. Just type your email address in box at top left of this page.

Pip! Pip!

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

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Thursday, 15 September 2016

FLASHBACK #20


Although the name Bradfield House does not spring readily to mind when considering Rhyl hotels, boarding houses and guest houses, it must have been a serious player to have put its name on this multiview card.


At the time of the card – 1950s I suppose – Bradfield House was offering full board at £2.20 per week. It offered winter residence at cheaper rates. There was garage space for 50 cars.


The card is a reminder that the part of promenade opposite Abbey Street was once called Abbey Gardens, and the original paddling pool to your left of the old Pavilion was the Children's Lake.


Seeing Rhuddlan Castle covered with ivy reminds me that my father, who lived close to the castle at the time, was one of the workforce engaged to remove the ivy. He said it was teeming with insects including kinds that he never saw before or after. My mother agreed.


Bradfield House has long disappeared. The address 48 West Parade is now - guess what - a block of flats. It is between Abbey Street and the present barren waste at the top of John Street.


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Don't forget my YouTube channel featuring Rhyl videos and slideshows. The channel is named RhylTime. Click here to see RhylTime's Top Ten:

Only YouTube items labelled RhylTime are mine.


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Sunday, 4 September 2016

QUIZ ANSWER # 153



Last Sunday I posted the above photo taken last month by Yours Truly showing a derelict house or bungalow abandoned years ago. The question: Where in Rhyl would you find it?
The answer: Tarleton Street.
The building is next door down after St. David's Residential Home.

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Also I posted an image of the soccer team Rhyl Football Club. The question: Does the image date from 1940s, 1950s, 1960s or 1970s?
The answer: 1960s.
Here is the picture in full with caption restored:


The pic has appeared before in this blog but not dated so precisely.

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Scoring 1 win for Tarleton Street and/or 1 win for the other correct answer:
The Great Gareth scores 1.


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LIFE’S RICH PAGEANT

When I started this Rhyl Life blog in 2008 it was open to comments and quickly filled up with such foul-mouthed abuse against the town that I had to ban comments except via email. 

The purpose of the blog is to give as round as possible a view of the place, past and present, good and bad, and in addition to contending with Rhyl haters I have to deal with people who want to hide the cracks.

A few days ago I was photographing an interesting detail in one of the corridors leading to Queens Market. It had been my intention to phone the owners' office about using the pic as basis for a quiz question.

While I was taking the shot, a man who did not introduce himself but must have been to do with the company approached and said, “Don’t you think the town has enough problems with you taking photographs like that?”

He was not referring to the object of my scrutiny, he was talking about the decay and litter around it. In respect for his sensitivity the photo will remain unblogged but let's agree parts of the Queens are in a shameful condition.

In addition to Rhyl’s ‘business community’ our elected representatives also tend to shy away from the truth like Dracula faced with garlic. They clutch at straws, trying to pretend the scene is better than it really is.

Rhyl shoppers have to run the gamut of cyclists on pavements, vehicles encroaching on the pedestrianised area, junk shops spilling out into the streets, and tramps lying around begging.

We are not going attract shoppers with serious money to spend by offering them an experience like this. It would not be acceptable in any other town in Denbighshire and it's not OK for Rhyl.

Previously I have called for pavement wardens to be introduced. A new by-law would be needed to bestow on wardens the necessary powers to deal with any problems. This ought to be achievable.

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Sunday, 10 July 2016

QUIZ ANSWER # 145


Last Sunday I posted this picture of the old Pavilion. The question: What is the nearest date - 1913, 1923, 1933 or 1943?
The answer 1933.
If you clicked on the image to see a bigger version you might have noticed the name Syd Seymour over the main entrance:


Mr. Seymour and his Mad Hatters Band played a number of seaside resorts in that year and Rhyl was one of them. The show was broadcast on BBC Radio; the following is from BBC Archives:

broadcast

Funny to think there was a comedian named Lenny Henry long ago! The Ten Hazel Hastings Girls were a resident act at the Pavilion, not part of the touring show.

If you are wondering what the crazy Mad Hatters Band was like, you could see them on YouTube:

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Also I posted the following 1970s photos of Rhyl buses. The buses are NOT in Rhyl and NOT in the same other place. Question: Where are they?


The answer: St. Asaph (upper photo) and Denbigh.
Many times I stood at that bus stop in Lenten Pool after visiting my parents who used to live in Denbigh, Bryn Garth at first and then Bryn Seion.

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Scoring 1 win for 1933 and/or 1 win for the two buses: Richard & Ceri Swinney 2, Sue Handley 1, The Great Gareth 2, Jane Shuttle 1.

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The following references are added here for indexing purposes:
Leonard Henry, Jaqueline piano, Billy Rawson, Alfred Grant singer, Leslie Glenroy, Norah Savage, Ten Hazel Hastings Girls, Ed W Jones producer.

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