LIFE GOES ON: JUL 2018

Vintage photo by Rae Pickard – Pendyffryn Road, Rhyl

Photo by Rae Pickard – West Parade, Rhyl

By Rae Pickard – Marine Lake Fun Fair, Rhyl. In the foreground is
a lethal-sounding 'Electric' Fishing Pond.

During July 2018 the following posts were updated:

Alcohol minimum pricing in Wales -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/12/tread-softly.html

Circus: Uncle Sam’s Great American Circus in Rhyl -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/05/sands-of-time.html

Colet House boys school / Rae Pickard -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/04/boys-will-be-boys.html

Gaming: One arm bandit fruit machine -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2015/12/rhyl-gift-suggestions.html

Lyons Holiday Park Limited -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2017/03/little-acorns.html

Morecambe & Wise in Rhyl -
https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-singing-cartoonist.html

Promenade Gardens -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2016/02/seafront-west.html

Promenade ‘ walking photos ‘ -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/07/toms-story.html

Royal Alexandra Hospital / Rae Pickard -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/02/alex.html

Victoria Pier / Belvoir Hotel -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/02/for-heavens-sake.html

YMCA Cinema, Kinmel Park Camp -

https://rhyl-life.blogspot.com/2009/08/jones-swan.html

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THE EASTERN FRONT
Further to last month's 'Life Goes On' I can report that the eastern prom is now home to a skateboard park.
Looking left to right, we see the skateboard park followed by Garden Of Remembrance, the Sun Verge pub/restaurant (still under construction), Travelodge (under construction), and recently face-lifted Pavilion Theatre.

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IT’S NOT COMING HOME

This month I felt relieved to hear that England’s hopes of a FIFA World Cup win had ended. I was around in 1966 when England actually did win and I’ve had to live with continuous reminders ever since. The prospect of another win was more than I could bear.

At World Cup time the English in Wales behave badly, waving their red cross flag under our noses and going large. But what really astounds me is the emotional frenzy surrounding big sporting events. If only that passion could be directed at something more important! 

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TRUMP VISIT TO UK

The biggest blight on our summer has been an official visit by the appalling Donald Trump, America’s biggest mistake. Among Mr. Trump’s fans are the arrogant Nigel Farage and clownish Boris Johnson who are almost as much liars and fantasists as he is.

Mr. Trump’s delusional tendencies were on show again recently when he said of the UK, “I think they love me there.” 

Photo of anti-Trump demo in London © Hollywood Life

Having to do trade deals with the likes of Donald Trump and the world’s other hucksters and shysters is a very good reason for us to remain safely within the European Union.
The BBC News website has an interesting article about his activities in Scotland:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Trump_and_Scotland

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TUE 21 AUG 2018 UPDATE: Two of Mr. Trump's sleazebag associates are heading for jail.
Paul Manafort, ex-Trump election campaign chief, has been found guilty on eight charges of tax fraud, bank fraud and failing to disclose foreign banks accounts.
Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump's former lawyer, has been found guilty on eight counts, including violating election campaign finance laws, tax evasion and bank fraud.

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TUE 18th DEC 2018 UPDATE: Attorney General of New York State, Barbara Underwood, has announced that Donald Trump’s dodgy charity ‘The Trump Foundation’ is to be shut down.
She has accused Mr. Trump and his three eldest children of using it for private and political gain. In a statement, she said there had been "a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful co-ordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and wilful self-dealing, and much more.
"We'll continue to move our suit forward to ensure the Trump Foundation and its directors are held to account for their clear and repeated violations of state and federal law."

Hmmmm, Donald Trump is looking more and more like the crook I have always suspected him to be.

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

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LIFE GOES ON: MAR 2018

Above: stamp albums published in Rhyl by Thomas Cliffe of The Philatelic Factory, Marsh Road, and one by Martin Mills of The Philatelic Workshops, Lusanga Mews.

Lusanga Mews?

Since 1st March 2018 the following posts have been updated:

Albion Hotel, Rhyl -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/quiz-answer-123.html

Botanical Gardens: lily pond -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/flashback-21_9.html

Coal mines -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/quiz-answer-190.html

Derbyshire Miners’ Camp -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/derbyshire-miners.html

Fiveways Café -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/quiz-answer-47.html

Floral hall: birds -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/floral-hall-advert-1970s.html

Kavern Records -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/quiz-answer-115.html

National Eisteddfod 1985 -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/rhuddlan-request.html

Rawicz & Landauer at Pavilion -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/mark-hambourg.html

YMCA Kings Avenue -

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/wellington-and-kings.html

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BARNES BOOKED

As hinted in a previous post, there exists a biography of Albert Barnes the creator of Marine Lake Fun Fair and Ocean Beach Fun Fair. The book is written by Kathryn Nedd. The back and front covers are shown above.

Click on the image to read the blurb.

Kathryn is Mr. Barnes' granddaughter (and Eric Hughes' daughter). Although essentially a piece of family history, the book gives a thorough appraisal of the Barnes contribution to Rhyl. He was one of the most important figures in the development of the resort.

The first edition of the book, 'White Socks and a Walking Stick' by Kathryn Nedd, was circulated privately. The second edition is yours for £10 in Central Station at Marine Lake or £11 via the Rhyl Miniature Railway website:

http://www.rhylminiaturerailway.co.uk

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At long last the chain store named The Range has opened at Marina Quay the former Ocean Beach Fun Fair site. The Range sells furniture, bedding, curtains, and has a garden centre and cafe. The company's headquarters are in Plymouth.
To see the Rhyl store's opening hours please click here:
https://www.therange.co.uk/stores/rhyl/

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6720. Additional image added in July 2020:
Re: The Philatelic Factory (Thomas Cliffe) mentioned above, here is a rare glimpse of the workshop interior – 

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EARLY ROYAL VISITS

Although television executives seem to believe we are all royalists, they can include me out. The bestowing of massive privileges on one particular family for hereditary reasons seems to me an outdated and offensive idea.

Nevertheless I have a soft spot for Alexandra of Denmark (shown below) patron of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. We had Alexandra Hotel and still have Alexandra Bridge i.e. the Vale Road Bridge.

She was Princess of Wales and wife of Edward, Prince of Wales, who became King Edward V11. Alexandra visited Rhyl in 1894 for laying the foundation stone of the hospital, and in 1902 to open the hospital. On the second occasion her husband was with her in his coronation year.

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A later Prince of Wales was to become King Edward V111 for less than 12 months. He abdicated (gave up the throne) in order to marry his lover, a divorced American woman. I always admired this Edward for flying in the face of convention.

Here he is, in his days as Prince of Wales, opening the War Memorial Hospital, Grange Road, Rhyl (now Hafan Deg Day Centre and War Memorial Court):

This was taken on the same occasion:

Click on the image to see a bigger version.

[Strangely, considering how brief his rule, we have a miniature train at Marine Lake named Edward V111.]

All very well, but the only king that really interests me is The Wire King who used to bend wire into novelties at a booth on the prom in Rhyl, and of course our May Queens & Rose Queens and – who said Johnny Dallas! Go and stand in the corner!

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The following references are added here for indexing purposes:

Duke of Windsor, Buckley Jones, Hughes Jones, G.J. Evans.

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ALL IS FAIR

Film maker Mike Theaker has dug into his archives and come up with footage of Rhyl fairground in 1959. At that time we had the old fun fair at Marine Lake and a newer one at Ocean Beach.

The shots are brief, the video’s total running time is less than 3-and-a-half minutes, but the material has not been viewed publicly before. Click on the link below to see on my YouTube channel.

Thanks, Mike!

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=GVw9JKqGg8A

Only videos marked RhylTime are mine. Don't blame me for the others.

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ECHOES OF WORLD WAR 2

Of the above, the late Les Slee of Molineaux Road, Rhyl, said: "This is a picture of Military College of Science (later RAMTS) Group 37A taken in Rhyl in September 1941 after the passing-out parade following completion of apprenticeships. I am on the right-hand end in the middle row. One of the officers in charge was Colonel A. T. 'Goldie' Gardner who was a test driver for MG cars. He had only one arm.
     "These boys went all round the world as Artificers reparing motor vehicles, instruments and guns, and some never came back alive. Quite a few of us (including me) got married to Rhyl girls and settled happily here."

In the photo below, Mr. P.T. (Phil) Trehearn is shown far right in fundraising mode. As President of Rhyl Individual Traders' Association (RITA) he started a war comforts fund and organised the local British Red Cross Penny-a-Week Fund. Mr. Trehearn became a member of Rhyl Urban District Council during the war. Photo supplied by Peter Trehearn.

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

The image above was supplied by Eric Hughes whose wife Doreen commented as follows:
"At Marine Lake Fun Fair my father, the engineer Albert Barnes was resident director. When the war began I was only 13. The fairground was open as usual on summer evenings and I used to help out there. My father's workshops in Westbourne Avenue were requisitioned by the Army. He experimented with apparatus to be fixed on the front of tanks to explode land mines.
     "The picture above shows an example of a rolling device. In the background is a government inspector. The outcome of the experiments was a device involving flailing chains, which was actually used by the military."

The image below was supplied years ago by Mr. Joe Cooper of Prestatyn. It shows 'C' Company Home Guard GPO Rhyl (that's right, Dad's Army) with a serious gun known as the Northover Projector.

All four images so far are from the book 'Rhyl In The Second World War' by Yours Truly which was published in 2003 and may be available from local libraries.

The one below, showing 'F' Company Home Guard Rhyl, came to hand too late to be included in the book.

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MON 2nd APR 2018 UPDATE: 'Rhyl In The Second World War' says, "The beach was spiked with long wooden poles, and pyramid-shaped concrete objects were positioned on the sands to prevent enemy landings by air or sea."
Below is an image not in the book, a recent acquisition showing holiday-makers and donkeys among the beach barricades at Rhyl in 1944.
Click on the image to see a bigger version.

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

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/RhylTime

Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine!

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RHYL MINIATURE RAILWAY

Last month a bumper crop of Rhyl Miniature Railway (Marine Lake) postcards came up for sale on Internet, unused and therefore undated. Below are examples that have not appeared previously in this blog.

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

'Atlantic' Type Locomotive by Bassett-Lowke

Miniature Railway & Marine Rifle Range
Foryd Hall top left

Central Station & Funland Arcade

By Rhyl photographer Rae Pickard

No. 101  - 'Joan'

No. 105 - 'Michael'

No.44 'Clara' - built in USA

To see all posts relating to Marine Lake please click here:

http://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/MARINE%20LAKE

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FLASHBACK #27

Above is a reminder that in the 1920s the fun fair at Marine Lake was sometimes known as Ocean Beach before the newer site was developed.
Westbourne Cafe is just about discernible centre left.
The remarkable Figure Eight Rollercoaster would have been fairly new when this aerial photo was taken. On its far side, Oakland Avenue seems in the process of being created.
There is something peculiar built on decking over the water centre right.

Below is ostensibly a shot of Foryd Harbour but shows how the fun fair eventually reached West Parade. This is a card postmarked 1961.
By that time, Marine Lake Fun Fair and Ocean Beach Fun Fair were both operating. The clanking, the swirling, the screams . . .
Bottom left corner of the picture would be part of Ritz Ballroom, and the 'Casino' to your left of the Big Wheel would be an amusement arcade.

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QUIZ ANSWER # 189

On Monday 31st July 2017, Question 1 was: What do these two buildings have in common?

The answer: They were both music shops.
At the top is the part of North Wales Women's Centre, Water Street, that used to be Price Evans Music Shop which sold sheet music, musical instruments and records. I bought my first jazz records there in the very early 1960s and recall the husband-and-wife team behind the counter and their daughter T(h)eresa, a wild child around my own age. I wonder what happened to her.
Previously the building was named Harmony House, home of the music shop Box & Co. (originally Box & Stansfield) operated by bandleader and saxophone/clarinet/guitar player Albert Williams. In the book 'Rhyl Music In The Ritz Years 1955-1968' I described Water Street as the Tin Pan Alley of Rhyl. Dance band musicians looking for gigs would hang out next door in Ellis' Bar.
These days it seems unlikely that Jobcentre Plus would accept that as looking for work.

The other picture shows Chilli Pink Express at 42 Queen Street, a food take- away & delivery service. To an older generation of Rhylites the building will always be Greaves Record Shop.

Bill Ellis says that Greaves was previously in Market Street where R.K.M. wool shop is now. Bill remembers queuing outside with guitarist Dennis Rothwell to buy ‘Apache’ by The Shadows. That would have been 1960.

[Going further back in time, ex-Musicians' Union branch secretary Morgan Borthwick remembers the Gold Charm jewellery shop in Market Street on corner of Glanglasfor as a record shop named R.G. Jones, and sheet music was sold at Alan Edwards’ sports shop on corner of High Street & Russell Road where Detour clothes shop is now. Thanks, Morgan.]

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Question 2: How are the following people connected with Rhyl?
a) Albert Cronshaw
b) Mrs. Blake and Miss Grimwood.

The answers: 

Albert Cronshaw was a well known character at Marine Lake Fun Fair. The following is from 'Rhyl At The Fun Fair' by Eric Hughes:
"In the 1930s as a visitor to Marine Lake Fun Fair I saw lightning artist Albert Cronshaw who could paint up to 100 complete pictures in one day. [Wouldn't I love to find one of those! - Ed.] 
Eric continues, "Albert Cronshaw also operated Spider and the Fly (or Spider Racing Game). This was a competitive game for a number of players: a large spider's web was depicted on a back wall, by turning a handle you sent a spider creeping towards the centre of the web where a fly was revolving. If your spider was first to stop the fly, you won a prize. It was not a straight- forward speed game, the handle was fitted with a clutch device that slipped if you turned too fast."

Mrs. Blake and Miss Grimwood were in a news story retold in 'Rhyl In The Second World War' by Yours Truly:
"In Rhyl on April 12th 1945, tragedy struck in a spare room in Brighton Road. Two middle-aged ladies, Mrs. Frances Gertrude Blake and her companion Miss Muriel Elsie Grimwood, committed suicide. They were overwrought after experiencing difficulties in finding suitable accommodation. The ladies were financially secure but said to be mentally unsound. They were found in bed facing each other with hands clasped. An inquest the following month found that Mrs. Blake and Miss Grimwood had died of poisoning caused by an overdose of sleeping pills."

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SAT 19th AUG 2017 UPDATE: Although Eric Hughes refers to Albert Cronshaw more than once by that name, the following image is captioned Photo by Cronkshaw. 

Were Albert Cronshaw and Cronkshaw the same person and, if so, which spelling would be correct I wonder.

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SUN 21st JAN 2018 UPDATE: In the book ‘Strange Requests And Comic Tales From Record Shops’ by Graham Jones (published in 2013)
a former sales rep named Martin Palmer says,“The most unusual shop I visited was Greaves Records in Rhyl. The owner maintained a shrine to Elvis in a corner at the back of the shop; yes, a proper shrine! It didn’t do much for the atmosphere of the shop, in fact they should have renamed it Graves!”

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SUN 13th MAY 2018 UPDATE: In Rhyl, homage to Elvis continues in the shape of a model outside Millie's Fish & Chips Diner, 57 Water Street near junction with Crescent Road.

What was that song? Ah yes, 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis' by Kirsty MacColl. All the elements of a good quiz question there!

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QUIZ ANSWER # 187

On Wednesday 31st May 2017 I posted three images. The question: How many of the images are Rhyl pictures?
The answer: Two.

The first IS a Rhyl picture - the maritime scene shown below has its caption restored.

Pleasure trips came and went from the far end of the pier and occasionally collided with the edifice. The steam packets 'St. Olaf' and 'The Fawn' did considerable damage to the pier and so did the schooner 'Lady Stewart' before them.
Fire and storm damage took their toll as well. Metal was taken from the far end for repairs so the pier grew shorter and shorter.

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The second IS a Rhyl picture - Claude Lane tram in 1954 on miniature track at Marine Lake.

You can read more about Mr. Lane's trams in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaton_Tramway

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The third IS NOT a Rhyl picture - it's a Kinmel Bay card postmarked 1959, shown below with caption restored.

• If you got the right answer Two for the right reasons, count yourself a winner.
• If you got the right answer for the wrong reasons, count yourself lucky.

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DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING YET

Many mysteries here at Jones Towers such as these three images of  shops with no information to explain when or exactly where they existed. They are captioned as being Rhyl pictures and I have no reason to doubt.

Click on any image to see a bigger version.

Firstly, Stott & Owen, newsagents tobacconists sweets chocolates. Something about this suggests possibly Wellington Road. Next door bears the name Westward House, and this may be a clue.

Next is F.H. Homan, hairdresser and tobacconist. I have seen seen Mr. Homan's name in old Rhyl newspapers and wonder where the shop was. Bill Ellis thinks Kinmel Street:

Finally, Hughes's Service Café & Stores, fish & chips groceries provisions. Possibly not a town centre shop. Twist my arm and I'll say Wellington Rd or Vale Rd but I could be wrong. The width of pavement may be a clue.

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More is known about the following picture. It was taken in 1921 in Rhyl and is a typical shot of a coach party.
Far left: love the knitted hat with pom poms.

The untypical thing is that this is neither a Brookes Bros White Rose nor a Rhyl & Potteries Primrose. It is a Royal Blue coach - a company based in the South and West of England.
Where is it parked? Rhyl west end obviously, but what street? Younger legs than mine could go and investigate.

More info about Royal Blue Coaches in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Blue_Coach_Services

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TUE 7th FEB 2017 UPDATE: Gareth Morris reports that the coach was parked in Seabank Road opposite the present Rhyl Bowling Club. Thanks, Gareth! Circumstantial evidence suggests that the party was on a visit to Marine Lake Fun Fair.
On your right in the image below is the Fun Fair's first novelty ride known as the Canadian Water Chute. On your left is the spectacular Figure Eight Rollercoaster which was built where it stood in 1920, the year before the coach picture was taken.

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Re: STOTT & OWEN. Mike Davies reports that the building in question is 177 Wellington Road now occupied by Coastal Homes letting agents. It is near the junction with Palace Avenue. Thanks, Mike.

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THU 17th MAY 2018 UPDATE: Another mystery shop! Below is an amateur snapshot of a business named Quality Photos, slightly blurry and dated 1954.

On far right is the building number, 36. But what street – anybody know?

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

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FUN ON THE CUSP

Above is an aerial photo dated 1949 showing Marine Lake Fun Fair in the background and the plot of land that would become Ocean Beach Fun Fair in the foreground.

In the 1930s the Ocean Beach site had been bought by Albert Barnes, Managing Director of Rhyl Amusements Ltd the company that owned the fun fair, for use as the company's coach park and for travelling circuses and exhibitions.

The late Eric Hughes, who became manger of both sites said, "We began moving rides from Marine Lake to Ocean Beach where we had to fill the new site to form a surface level with rest of West Parade.
"We also had to build a retaining wall and extend the site by building decking over the coach park at the rear.
"Marine Lake and Ocean Beach were linked by a walkway parallel to the west side of Sydenham Avenue."
[Later the walkway became known as The Walk - Ed.] 

At the bottom of the photo, on your right with slanted roofs is the Alhambra cafe and dance hall which was destined to become the Ritz Ballroom. The picture shows the fun fair on the cusp of becoming two fun fairs.

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A recent addition to this blog's book list is an A5-size booklet of fourteen arty black-and-white photos by Stephen Clarke titled 'Ocean Beach Rhyl' (published 2014) in a limited edition of 150.  

The booklet contains no text and therefore tells you nothing about Ocean Beach - not even the dates when the photos were taken. It is not that kind of book, it's more of a mood piece capturing the feel of the fair as it neared the end of its life - on the cusp of extinction you might say.

The longer I live with this little publication the more I like it. Some of the plates have an end-of-an-era sadness about them, others reflect the mad love of being thrown all over the place by machines. The following is just half of one of the pictures; the ride is The Waltzer:

Stephen if you are reading this, do get in touch to tell us about your other activities in Rhyl. 

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

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These refs are added here for indexing purposes: Westbourne Avenue, gasometers, Dodgem, Cafe Royal Books, Craig Atkinson editor.

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JUST FOR A LAUGH # 2

Roller skating is always good for a laugh unless you're the one underneath a pile-up. Costumes may not be an accurate guide to the date of this item, but the venue would be either the Queens in West Parade or the Olympia Skating Rink in Wellington Road. The back of the card holds no clue:

The following Marine Lake item tickled my ribs. Not only are some of the buildings in the background sketched by hand, the picture is captioned accidentally as Morville Lake:

Is this where the Morville Hotel used to brew its beer? Only joking!!

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FOOTNOTE:

Years ago the Morville seemed a disreputable place. The name was changed to the Fiorenzo Cazari Hotel. Now I read that the present proprietor, a qualified solicitor, has been jailed for trying to pervert the course of justice:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/washington-fiorenzo-rhyl-hotel-jailed-11830572

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TUE 22nd NOV 2016 UPDATE: Daily Post reports that the Fiorenzo Cazari Hotel has been closed down because of unsafe electrical wiring.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyls-worst-hotel-britain-shut-12214592

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SUN 4th FEB 2018 UPDATE: The Fiorenzo Cazari Hotel has been renamed as The Mews Inn. The word Mews used to mean converted stables. I wonder what it means now.

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QUIZ ANSWER # 143

Last Sunday I posted this picture from Rhuddlan Borough Council days showing a land train at Marine Lake. In the land train's name, your crafty blogger covered one word with black dots. The question: What is the missing word?
The answer: Rocket.
Here is the Rhyl Rocket picture in full. Note the lake site's temporary name The Marine Leisure Park:

Also posted was the following vintage photo by Rhyl photographer Rae Pickard, showing a corner of Marine Lake. The question: What corner is it - North East, North West, South East or South West?
The answer: South West.

You needed both correct answers for 1 win, and the only winner is Sue Handley. Well done, Sue!

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Below is a Rae Pickard business card. The address is 63 High Street which must have been demolished to make way for Marks & Spencer; the address of Marks' successor Poundland is 61-71 High Street:

Here is a reminder that in the early days of the lake a business was based there. It is an advert circa 1905 for W. Hudson boat builder:

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