LIFE GOES ON: DEC 2018

1960s

These refs are added here for indexing purposes: West Shore Hotel Rhyl, Mr & Mrs. A. Lawton.

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During December 2018 the following posts were updated:

Aubrey Phillips / Gaiety Theatre -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/04/quiz-answer-85_4.html

Grand Theatre / Denbighshire Hussars -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2016/10/grand-times.html

Kinmel School For Boys, Kinmel Hall -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/12/clarendon-school.html

Lifeboat launch, vintage pic -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/10/all-at-sea.html

Lowther College For Girls, Bodelwyddan -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/07/lowther-college.html

Pentre Bach Model Village, more pix -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/04/quiz-answer-85_4.html

Politics: Trump-related sleaze -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2018/07/life-goes-on-jul-2018.html

Vivian Hewitt, aviator -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/02/bodfari-2.html

and

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/03/homage-to-hewitt.html

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In previous posts I said that the old Pavilion "faced a little to the east of Edward Henry Street"; "was between Water Street and Edward Henry Street"; and "near Edward Henry Street".
In 2018 the following image was on auction, illustrating precisely where the Pavilion was in relation to EHS, i..e. just round the corner!

On the subject of auction items, how about this splendid vintage aerial view of the pier:

At shore end of the pier is rear of the original wooden Pier Amphitheatre ("The Amphi") which in early 1920s was rebuilt in brick.

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NO CHEERS

On Monday 17th December 2018 the pub named The Wellington (formerly Liverpool Arms) in Wellington Road, Rhyl, was closed down by court order because it was unhygienic and posed a health risk to the public.
I would have said the same about some of its customers.

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

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LIFE GOES ON: OCT 2018

European citizenship is the most valuable thing that
Welsh people have ever been given.
Fight for  second chance to keep it.

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It used to be a matter of routine to take a photo of passengers setting out on a day trip, as in the Rhyl & Potteries Motors image above.

Here the background is interesting: Midland Hotel, Rhyl, on your left with Ye Olde Welsh Cafe (not very olde) in basement on right.

Midland Hotel was a Victorian building in East Parade, close to High Street; now the site is part of White Rose Centre.

I am obliged to Philip Lloyd for a reminder of its location.

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During October 2018 the following Rhyl Life posts were updated:

Comic postcard, Rhyl -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/11/flashback-30.html

Kinmel Hall as Kinmel School for boys -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/12/clarendon-school.html

L. Volpé photographer, Rhyl -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/03/flashback-22.html

Pennaf / Clwyd Alyn, new boss -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/06/nothing-wrong-with-rhyl.html

Pickard, Rae, Dining Hall at the Alex hospital -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/05/from-canada.html

Pickard, seashore picture -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/10/rae-pickard.html

Pickard, WW1 soldiers on parade -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/03/anyone-for-it.html

Plaid Cymru, new leader -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/10/plaid-on-display.html

Rhyl OAP Friendship Club, Silver Threads Choir -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/01/friendship-club.html

Scottish independence -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/03/local-council-elections-2017.html

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'The Hague' guest house, Rhyl, was at 2a North Avenue, just round the corner
from Butterton Road. The building still exists, still has same name
and is now in residential use.

You may have passed No.36 Eastville Ave and thought it unremarkable, but the very
existence of this late-1940s postcard suggests it was a small B&B.

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Photo: Daily Post Wales

Pictured above is Carl Foulkes who is taking over from Mark Polin as Chief Constable of North Wales Police. Mr. Foulkes is from Caergwrle near Wrexham.
Until recently he has been Deputy Chief  Constable of Merseyside so I'm sure he will see many familiar faces in North Wales, especially in Rhyl.

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

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LIFE GOES ON: JUN 2018

On our eastern promenade two new businesses are emerging. Next door to the west of Pavilion Theatre a Travelodge is being built:

Between this Travelodge and Garden Of Remembrance the Sun Verge pub/restaurant is under construction:

The photographs above were taken a week ago by Yours Truly.

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During June 2018 the following posts were updated:

Arthur Cheetham -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/07/cheethams-revenge_7.html

and

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/01/flashback-7.html

Belvoir Hotel, East Parade -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2016/03/quiz-answer-130.html

Canterbury House care home -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2016/07/quiz-answer-146.html

Floral Hall / Cambrian Railways -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-floral.html

Flying Scotsman train -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/07/railway-scenes.html

Haven Hotel, West Parade -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/11/palacepalace.html

May Queen Beryl 1937 -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/04/leg-show_2.html

Rhyl Love, the song -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2010/06/junes-choice.html

Rhyl Pavilion demolition -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/09/pulling-it-down-2.html

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A new book of interest to railway enthusiasts is on sale at local bookshops and on Amazon, eBay etc. It is Lost Lines of Wales: Rhyl to Corwen by Paul Lawton and David Southern.

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NEWS FROM ICELAND (the shop not the country)

On Tuesday 31st July 2018 the food retailer Iceland will open a new store on Clwyd Retail Park, Rhyl Road, Rhuddlan. The branch in White Rose Centre, Rhyl, will continue as usual. See story in Daily Post:

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/iceland-reveals-opening-date-new-14790939

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

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FLASHBACK #34

As you cross the Foryd Bridge and land in Kinmel Bay you are flanked by hostelries. On your left used to be Clwyd Private Hotel and Clwyd Cafe:

Now in the same building are The Harbour pub and Hungry Horse restaurant:

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Click on any image to see a bigger version.

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On the opposite side of the road used to be The Ferry Hotel. At the time shown below Mr. & Mrs. Marsh were in charge.

Now in the same building is The Mayquay pub/restaurant:

Both of the colour pix above were taken a few days ago by Yours Truly.

• The 2016 message from the UK's chief medical officers still applies. Research shows any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. There is no such thing as a safe level of drinking the stuff.
• On 24th August 2018 the BBC reported that a new global study had been published in the medical journal The Lancet confirming that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

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Below is a 1920s snapshot taken on Rhyl promenade, opposite West Parade. The first turning on your right is Queen Street.

In shot is Mary Hughes of Birmingham with her brother and possibly her mother. There must be thousands of family snaps like this lying forgotten in attics and sideboards . . .


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

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COOL CALLING

Unaccustomed as I am to walking Rhyl seafront in January, curiosity about new works sent me up there today.

The weather was not warm, dear readers but, as is often the case in Rhyl, the general aspect was bright and cheerful. The photos in this post were taken by Yours Truly.

On the promenade, to your left of Pavilion Theatre there are extensive works all the way along to Garden of Remembrance. These should include a Travelodge hotel amongst other things:

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

Above: In Children's Village, aka The Village, the unit once operated by Noah Robinson as Cap'n Noah's indoor playground is being demolished. Nearby at the Tourist Information Centre business is as usual.

Below: Just to your left of the Skytower the forthcoming Waterpark is being constructed:

Opposite the Skytower the Premier Inn hotel/restaurant/pub is nearing completion:

The scene from Water Street:

Rhyl began as a resort with residential areas and became a residential town with a resort area. In the process it lost its sense of direction.

In 2018 though, we see evidence that Rhyl has clawed its way back on course and is gathering strength again.

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THU 12th APR 2018 UPDATE: Regarding the Premier Inn project, I can tell you that the 'Cookhouse and Pub' part is open for business. The address is 21-26 West Parade. Tel: (01745) 775419.

This and the rest of the Premier Inn project are owned by Whitbread PLC who also own the Costa coffee bar in High Street.

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SUN 13th MAY 2018 UPDATE: Pleased to report that the Waterpark is coming along nicely. This photograph was taken today by Yours Truly.

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WED 8th AUG 2018 UPDATE: The Waterpark seems on track to be ready for summer season 2019. Pictures of the interior indicate something like the old Sun Centre with plenty of novelty slides and refreshment areas, plus lots of extra features (I should hope so for £15 million).

In some quarters the new one is referred to as SC2 which probably means Sun Centre 2, but the name SC2 is unlikely to catch on with the public. Our combined bus & railway station site has been Rhyl Interchange since 2010; have you ever heard anybody call it by that name?

For updates on the Waterpark see stories by Kelly Williams in Daily Post:

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/take-look-inside-rhyls-new-15003763?

and
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-water-park-sc2-new-15177358?

The opening is to be Friday 5th April 2019. Ticket prices here:
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-sc2-centre-prices-pool-15454340?

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PLASTIRION PUZZLE

This week the above items landed here at Jones Towers – a pair of group photos taken probably in 1950s on the steps of Plastirion Hotel (now East Parade Apartments, 46-48 East Parade, Rhyl).

The items arrived without accompanying information. Below are the group photos in close up.

LEFT:

RIGHT:

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

I wonder who the children were and why they were at the Plastirion. Were they locals or visitors? Were they on school outings without uniforms?
Were they something to do with the Alex Hospital nearby?

Absence of flags indicates that they were probably not something to do with Festival of Britain 1951 or Coronation 1953. On the other hand they may be.

Can anybody throw some light on this matter?

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

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SUN 4th FEB 2018 UPDATE: Readers report a number of group photos in circulation with artwork similar to those above.
Some are marked Coronation Year 1953. One such, relating to 'Brynteg', Edward Henry Street, appeared on this blog in September 2010:
http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/up-and-down.html

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RHETORICAL QUESTION

This is not part of the usual Quiz.

Below are two old postcards from the same series. They show photos of small hotels/guest houses in Butterton Road, Rhyl, named Mountgreen and Silverdale.
Notice anything funny about them?

Same photo!

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NIGHT LIFE

The following information about night clubs has been moved here from a 2017 post that had become over-long and unwieldy:

Celebrity's was in Marina Hotel, or Hotel Marina if you prefer, in Marine Drive Rhyl. The hotel was closed following a police raid in 2012. Not long afterwards the hotel was converted to flats (Marina Apartments).

On the back of the above flyer, these Celebrity's disc jockeys are listed:
DJ Welly, Pleasuredome Farnworth / DJ Stubby, Mix Factory / Sequins, Blackpool / Banshee, Manchester / M.C. Sack, Legendary 2ForJoy Revenge / DJ Rodge The Dodge & Co, London.

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Here is a 1996 flyer from the Downtown in West Parade (near Ocean Beach Fun Fair).
Click on it to read small print.

Front of flyer:

Steam 2 rave tour

Back of flyer:

Downtown Club residents:

DJ 3.D.O.M, DJ Dolphin, DJ/M.C. Eazy, M.C. Delicious, M.C. Eternal.

DJ Scorpio, DJ Producer, DJ HMS, DJ Loftgroover, DJ Brisk,

M.C. Squidgy B.

Visitors and others:

DJ Nicky B, DJ FDA, DJ Destroyer, DJ Vortex.

DJ Clarkee, DJ Mastervibe, DJ Menace, DJ Psycho 9.

DJ Jay Prescott, DJ Smarti, DJ Sass, DJ Frantic, DJ Macca, DJ Tox.

DJ Mark E.G., DJ Aggressor.

DJ Freak, DJ Jack Hammer, DJ A/Trax.

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Here is another club flyer. This one is from 1992 – 
Click on it to read small print.

References on the flyer:
Clash Promotions, Rhyl Fridays, DJ Symon M, DJ Rob Tissara, PSI Division, DJ Sami B, Sunset Radio 102 FM, DJ Nipper, DJ Slipmatt, DJ Stu Allen, DJ Dave Angel, DJ Kenny Ken, DJ Mike E-Bloc.

The location is not specified exactly but the following clues are in the text "OPEN AIR CHILL OUT DANCE BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE SEA" and "Next door to the fun fair on the seafront" and therefore the finger of suspicion points to the Downtown Club again.

The telephone number is a clue. Was that the Downtown's number?

Additional image added here in June 2020:

Above: This compliment slip shows the telephone number of Downtown Club as 0745 51861.
In due course the first part became 01745 and the second part 351 861.

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

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SUN 19th AUG 2018 UPDATE: A flyer for Saturday 27th Sep 1997 at Club Zinc, Queens Buildings, West Parade, Rhyl.
Click on it to read small print.

References on the flyer:
Music promoter North aka North Radical Technology, music promoter Helter Skelter,

music event All The Fun Of The Fair, music event Spectrum  Night,

DJ 3.D.O.M, DJ M-Zone, DJ Sharkey, DJ Dolphin, DJ Jay Prescott,

[B2B means 2 DJs on stage together back-to-back]

DJ Mark EG, DJ Scorpio, DJ Producer,

M.C. Eazy, M.C. Squidgy B, M.C. Ribbs,

DJ Dare, Wigless Wigy as The Fat Controller,

3rd Planet Records (record shop), 4 Russell Road, Rhyl.

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Two additional images added here in July 2020:

Who remembers The Orange Peel? The entrance was under the big red dot in the photo below.

Other references in the two images:
Acid, trance, techno, dosseposse, trancemission.
Palace hotel, Neptune's Bar, Swinging Sporran Bar, William Younger Ales, Sandringham Avenue.

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MONDAY MEANDER

Rhyl town centre changes so often that a stroll round at any time of year reveals something new or new-ish. The photos in this post were taken yesterday, Monday 9th October 2017 by Yours Truly.

Above is corner of Wellington Road & High Street which not long ago was home to Boomers toys and gifts and way back in time the Mostyn Hotel. Now we have 'Golden Razor' offering haircut, shave and additional hair- removing treatments.

I was sorry to see the closure of Oldhams Bakery in Wellington Road opposite the ex-Post Office, and pleased to see the worthy replacement - Sandbank Bakery's shop in Russell Road opposite Liffy's:

Now, to your right of legendary Jay's Cafe/restaurant in Market Street is Clwyd Bakeries. My pal Jill and I liked this clean and tidy place and added it to our list of approved Rhyl snack bars:

At 11 Bodfor Street, sandwiched (sorry!) between The Bodfor pub on your left and Cash Converters on your right, is Courden's Coffee House & Bistro. Not tried yet.

The following shot was taken while standing in Sussex Street and looking through the gap between George Hotel & Baptist Church. Demolition of buildings on northeast side of Queen Street affords a dramatic view of the Skytower, at least temporarily.

On northwest side of Queen Street, in the building known for decades as Adelphi Fish Restaurant, later Shaw's Restaurant, and recently as Chilli Pink, there now stands Jafflong Spice. Restaurants of the name Jafflong are invariably Indian.

On corner of Water Street and West Parade, on the site of the demolished Honey Club, the Brewer's Fayre pub restaurant and Premier Inn hotel are at long last taking shape opposite the Skytower:

The following names are added here for indexing purposes:
Office2Home stationery, Portal Entertainment games, Grade 1 Barbers, Aquarius Market Street.

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

Don't forget my YouTube channel featuring Rhyl videos and slideshows. The channel is named RhylTime. Click here to see RhylTime's Top Ten:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BKgZiQNRSaVpnyTl8PgEpPusmd3dl_z

Only YouTube items labelled RhylTime are mine.

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QUIZ ANSWER # 191

Last Sunday I posted this photo of a slice of Rhyl townscape. The question: What might you have found here in the 1960s?

The answer is a hotel.

The photo shows corner of Kinmel Street and Elwy Street where Mrs. B.C. Black presided over 'The Central' hotel/guest house/B&B. Her description of the place as being two minutes from the prom and sea might have been a tad optimistic - but that's how landladies tended to be.

[Grammatical note – I tend to write ‘a hotel’ rather than the more correct ‘an hotel’ because the latter now seems archaic. For the same reason I write ‘will’ where ‘’shall’ would be appropriate. Learn the rules then ride roughshod over them, that’s my motto.]

That rounded corner is rather nice. It helps to compensate a little for the angular inelegance of the new-ish medical centre nearby:

Like many small towns in Wales, Rhyl is a remarkably inelegant place. Perhaps this is because - as a poor nation - we can afford only the cheapest and nastiest architects.
Rhyl has also become very prosaic; if you have any poetry in your soul Rhyl would kill it stone dead.

The town is sinking under the weight of people who arrive here already deprived and lacking in spending power.
The latest big name retailer to announce closure of their Rhyl branch is Burton / Dorothy Perkins whose High Street premises are due to close in January 2018.

Top floor of the building in the 1950s & '60s was the Regent Ballroom dance hall. Click here if you wish to read previous posts about this:
http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Regent+Ballroom

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FLASHBACK #29

George Ellis of Colwyn Bay found a reference to the Country Club in Rhyl and wondered where it is/was.
It stood on the corner of Rhuddlan Road and Ffordd Derwen on the site of the present Ffordd Derwen pub. This advert is from Rhyl Urban District Council's tourist guide book of 1948.

In the advert are intriguing references to Ralph "Muffit" Moffat of radio station AFN (American Forces' Network) in Munich and a brochure about High fidelity recordings - Made in your own home . . .

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

In the same guide are details of the council's coupon system in which their coupons were worth twice their face value – even in car parks!

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HOLD VERY TIGHT

Here are some bus items to add to the strength transport pix in this blog. Above: the earliest form of bus, a coach and horses. This one is in Rhyl and ready to depart on a trip. The word TOURIST is just about visible on side of the coach. The image is from a card postmarked 1913.

Above: Brookes Brothers open-top white double decker outside the White Lion Hotel, High Street, Rhyl (where Jobcentre Plus is now).
On the front of the bus is an advert for E.B. Jones, grocers; on the side is advert for a Rhyl Pavilion show titled This Woman Business.

Below: Crimson Coaches vehicle near the Llanberis Pass. It is made by Vulcan of Southport. Crimson is one of the lesser known Rhyl firms, and the driver in this instance is 'Will Llanfair'.

Above: Late 1930s snapshot of a Crosville Motor Services U8 that ran between High Street, Rhyl, and Sandy Cove in Kinmel Bay.

Below: Late 1950s probably. The double decker is near corner of High Street and West Parade, with Woolworth's (now B&M) on your left.

Crosville's 5000th bus, circa 1980 at Marine Lake end of Wellington Road, near an Esso petrol station and an Elf service station.

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6720. Additional image added in July 2020:

This wonky old advert shows that the Brookes Brothers company mentioned above, pre-dated the era of motor coaches.

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