The picture above (TOP) appeared recently on this blog in a post about war hero/diplomat the late Mac Samples. June Turner says, “There was another hero in that picture: Ronnie Bracchi who was killed while in RAF in World War 2. He was from the Bracchi family that had the Lido Cafe on the seafront and a cafe at 34 Bodfor Street (corner of Kinmel Street) where Imperial Hotel is now. "Ronnie was engaged to Rene Harrison of Kingsley Avenue; her father was the manager of Carlton Bottle Works which was where Salvation Army is now, in Windsor Street. Ronnie and Rene were both related to the Wheale and Harrison families, both well known in Rhyl.”
Peter Trehearn notes that Rhyl’s war memorial roll of honour (in Garden of Remembrance) includes Ronald Bracchi RAF died 21st Dec 1940 aged 19 son of Joseph and Maria Bracchi, Rhyl. Peter sent the photo of five swimmers. The boys are (left to right): Ronnie Bracchi, Geoffrey Rowley, Ivor Lewis, John Arthur Williams, Ron Morgan.
Geoffrey Rowley ran a tobacconist shop next to Woolworths in High Street and then emigrated to Canada. Ivor Lewis went in RAF as a mechanic and became proprietor of Marine Garage, Wellington Road. No information is available about Mr. Williams. Ron Morgan may or may not be Ronald Hugh Morgan RAF died 18th March 1943 aged 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Morgan of Rhyl, buried at Labuan war cemetery in Malaysia.
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Re: Ivor Lewis, here is a family business card (undated):
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