Monday, 1 January 2018

BURIAL AT SEA

RNLI

It is not every day you see a photo of three lifeboats together. This one shows 12-24 Rhyl, 13-06 Hoylake and 12-006 Llandudno gathered in April 2017 to mark the scattering of the ashes of long serving Rhyl lifeboat man Gerald Hughes of Frederick Street.

The late Gerald Hughes, RNLI Rhyl

Photos in this post were supplied by Gerald’s cousin, educationalist David Hughes [alias Ambrose Conway, author of 'The Reso' books] who says of the boat codes, “The first 2 numbers refer to the length in metres and the second 2 to the individual boat in the class.
“Rhyl is due to receive a boat like the Hoylake boat - which is why they are going to extend our lifeboat station to fit it in.
“They will also be setting up a small museum with many of Gerald's artefacts taking pride of place."

I look forward to seeing that. Thanks, David.

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PLEASE NOTE

This blog is winding down to a close. The final new post is scheduled for Dydd Gŵyl Dewi / St. David’s Day, Thursday 1st March 2018.
Updating of posts will continue as usual. Subscribers will receive occasional ‘Life Goes On’ bulletins about updates.

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

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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:

Marina Hotel

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, 18 December 2017

CARLTON CAFE


Keith Boyle has written from Queensland, Australia. Keith is grappling with family history and has raised a query about the location of Carlton Café, Rhyl (above left).

The café was at 15 Queen Street before World War 2 but the street has been renumbered at least once since then. The names Bell and Felton have been associated with the premises, and so has footballer Harry Hampton who figures in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hampton_(footballer,_born_1885)

The point is, where was the café? Keith regards the current Victory Club, 60 Queen Street, as the most likely place. My thanks to Peter Trehearn and Roger & Sue Handley for thoughts on this matter.

Now what we need is somebody to confirm absolutely that the Victory Club was indeed the Carlton Café.
Over to you, dear readers . . .  

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


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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Care home are big business in Rhyl, bringing money into the town and creating jobs. A 2017 report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) found no reason to be concerned about any Rhyl homes. Only one in Denbighshire failed to pass muster and that was in Llangollen. Phew!


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Friday, 1 December 2017

LIFE GOES ON: NOV 2017


The town's brass band in 1908 outside Rhyl Pavilion

During November 2017 the following posts were updated:

Albert Barnes, founder of Rhyl’s fun fair -

Denbighshire T.Y. -

Exhibition diving at The Baths -

Gordon Hemm, another drawing -

Grand Theatre again -

Remembrance Sunday, old photo -
http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/in-honour.html

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Cards such as the one below postmarked 1905 (sent from Camberley to Miss Earp of Bayham Gardens, Lamberhurst, Kent) are common enough but not written in shorthand!



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BEST WISHES TO NEARLY EVERYBODY FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

During the month of December this blog shall be paused while the year's posts are double checked and possibly re-edited. The next post will be on Monday 1st January 2018.

Rhyl Life has been chosen for preservation by National Library of Wales for researchers in the future. Been thinking of offering photos and/or info but haven't got round to it yet? Best do it soon.
Remember, your items don't have to be old to be interesting!

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

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Sunday, 26 November 2017

FLASHBACK #31


Many readers would remember Charles Jones timber merchants at Foryd Harbour. In days of yore the harbour was a hive of activity. According to the postcard / business card below, the Charles Jones company was established in 1870. (It closed down in 1988.)



"From SHIP to RAIL"

This would refer to nearby Foryd Railway Station aka Kinmel Bay Halt about which you can read on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foryd_railway_station

"RHYL HARBOUR"

This was a name in common use for Foryd Harbour even though most of it is in Kinmel Bay. Foryd is an old name for Kinmel Bay.

This part of the card's text is repeated here for indexing purposes:

Archangel Reds, Floorings, Bathurst Spruce, Mobile Pitchpine & English Cement.
Vessels discharging at Messrs. Charles Jones and Sons, Ltd.,
Timber Importers & Sawmill Proprietors, Foryd & Rhyl.

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A reader got in touch to say she had searched Rhyl Life for an old picture of St. John's Church, Wellington Road, and failed to find one. What? Can this be true? Hereby I make amends:


St. John's, a Grade II listed building, held religious services from 1887 to 1997 and is now a private residence named Churchill House.

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FRI 16 NOV 2018 UPDATE: Mike Theaker reports that Churchill House is now a Bed and Breakfast business. See Trip Advisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g616283-d2077168

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QUIZ ANSWER # 195


Last Sunday I said that in the late 1950s this entertainer topped the bill at a Sunday concert in Rhyl Pavilion. The question: What is her name?

The answer: Jill Day.
She was Brighton-born, mainly a singer, tried her hand at acting. She was popular on TV before most of us had a TV. As a song stylist she was knocked out of the game by the advent of rock 'n' roll. She died in 1990.

The photo is from Bill Ellis who says her Sunday concert in Rhyl Pavilion was in 1958. This information helped me to date the following, one of my own pix in which Jill Day poster is centre left.


Wow, the roller skating rink looks busy!

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Also I said that in the early 1970s the entertainer below topped the bill at a Sunday concert in Rhyl Pavilion. The question: What is his name?


The answer: Jimmy Tarbuck.
Like other Liverpool comedians, JT played Rhyl more than once. The Sunday concert in question was 1971.


Below: A recent picture of yer man with his wife Pauline after they had been married for 50 years.

Daily Mirror / Getty Images
Daily Mirror / Getty Images

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RHYL SCORES TWICE
Daily Post has chosen 13 of the best places to get a Sunday roast in Denbighshire. Rhyl is there with Barratt's at Ty'n Rhyl, 167 Vale Road (Tel: 01745 344138) and The Bistro Restaurant, 215 Wellington Road - corner of Westbourne Avenue (01745 344333).
Click here if you wish to see the full list:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/best-sunday-roast-lunch-denbighshire-13875288

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THU 8th FEB 2018 UPDATE: In a Daily Post list of best Chinese restaurants and takeaways in North Wales, Rhyl scores twice again with Laughing Buddha, 88-90 Rhyl Coast Road (Tel: 01745 332163) and Yeung Sing, 133 Wellington Road (01745 350773).
Also listed are one in Rhuddlan and one in Prestatyn.
The full list:

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Sunday, 19 November 2017

FLASHBACK #30


The old toll bridge that preceded the present Foryd Bridge is always an item of interest. The image below tells us little or nothing about the bridge but it has a certain charm. Views from downriver looking northwards to the harbour are quite rare.



The image has been re-shaped slightly Yours Truly. It is from a card postmarked 1916. Printed on the back of the card is a copyright notice by

A. Netherwood, Conway. Arthur Netherwood was an English artist who travelled in Wales. He died in 1930.

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Well boys, we men seem to be boxed into a corner: no longer able to take hold of children and – thanks to predatory film producers and the like – no longer able to take hold of women either. We’ll have to learn to hug each other.

A long way from the dark side is this depiction of a young lady landing in Rhyl and being pursued by interested parties while a policeman looks on. Women would send this kind of card to each other.

humorous card

This is postmarked 1903. It is intended to be humorous and I hope most sincerely that it offends nobody.

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MON 15th OCT 2018 UPDATE: Ditto the following item, a card postmarked 1910.

humorous card

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

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