Brian Pendleton was born in 1931 in Prince Edward Avenue, Rhyl, and went to St. Anne's School and Emmanuel. The above photo of Brian was taken circa 1950 at Golden Sands holiday camp in Kinmel Bay where he performed impressions of radio comedians such as Frankie Howerd and Al Read, sang a bit, drove a van and did some joinery. He was versatile!
Below: Saxophonist Albert Williams on guitar, 'Uncle Vic' Dodd on double bass, Brian on washboard, and trumpeter Bill Roberts on piano, at Golden Sands doing the song 'Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier'.
The song was from a Walt Disney film of the same name (1955) starring Fess Parker as the American folk hero and frontiersman who became a politician. Brian made the coonskin cap out of an old fur coat. Note the background: a mural decoration by local cartoonist Roy Lance.
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In 1958 Brian moved to Robin Hood camp in Rhyl (under same ownership as Golden Sands). His knowledge of joinery came in handy in constructing the Pavilion at Robin Hood. The building had been previously an army gymnasium at rear of Ferry Hotel, Kinmel Bay.
Here, looking for all the world like a vocal group, are (left to right): Albert Williams again / pianist Rod Williams / alto saxist Harry Elliott who was related to music hall star G. H. Elliott / clarinettist, saxist and arranger George Bazeley / drummer Benny Humphries. The photo was taken in 1960s at Robin Hood:
Incidentally, Benny Humphries was brother of guitarist Frank whose name I mis-spelt as Humphreys in the book Rhyl Music In The Ritz Years 1955-1968. Hey ho.
Brian stayed at Robin Hood until 1974 as Entertainments Manager, and then worked for a while at Miller's Cottage camp in Towyn before fate returned him to Golden Sands. Below in 1980s at the camp are the highly-rated organist Ian Savagar and drummer Fred Williams:
Meanwhile Brian had become Media Resource Officer at Rhyl High School (from 1975 until he retired in mid 1990s). He was at the school daytime and at the camp in evenings. Well I did he say he was versatile.
The following is an end-of-season party circa 1980 at Golden Sands. The bearded gent at the back is manager Bill Blake. In the yellow top is Esther Davies and the big baby is her son Kevin:
It was a pleasure to meet Brian Pendleton last month and listen to him reminiscing. At 85 years of age with a clear memory, he is in enviable form and long may he continue! This photo of Brian is by Yours Truly:
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SUN 4th FEB 2018 UPDATE: The image below of Miller's Cottage camp in Gainc Road, Towyn, is taken from a card postmarked 1950.
Now the site is a caravan park:
http://millerscottage.co.uk/
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