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QUIZ ANSWER # 148

July 31, 2016, 3:58 am
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In last Sunday's quiz I said that the man shown above was well known around here in 1970s and 1980s. The question: What is his name?
The answer: Sir Anthony Meyer.
He was Member of Parliament for local constituencies from 1970-1992 taking over from Nigel Birch. He was a pro-Europe Conservative. He did not get on well with Margaret Thatcher PM, stood against her in contest for party leader, and switched to Liberal Democrats late in life. You can read about Sir Anthony Meyer in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Anthony_Meyer,_3rd_Baronet

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Also I said that the woman below was known around here even earlier until even later. The question: What is her name?


The answer Beata Brookes.
She was a politician/social worker/farmer who served on Rhyl Urban District Council, Clwyd Health Authority and as a Member of European Parliament for North Wales. In 1970 she failed narrowly to beat Sir Anthony Meyer in being selected as Tory candidate and never did manage to become an MP. She turned UKIP late in life. You can read about Ms Brookes in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beata_Brookes

I like this 1950s/'60s photo of her on the campaign trail:


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Scoring 1 win for the 2 correct answers:
Roger Jones, Moira Evans, Jane Shuttle, Shirley Quinn, The Great Gareth, Sue Handley.

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QUIZ QUESTION # 149

July 31, 2016, 4:01 am
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Above is a stone or plaster carving in Rhyl depicting a medieval-looking building such as a castle or church.
The question: Where would you find it?

Below is a classical design bearing the inscription Rhyl Urban District Council 1900.
The question: Where would you find it?


You need both answers correct to score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 6th August 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

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

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BRIAN'S PIX

August 3, 2016, 7:49 am
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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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THE SHADOW KNOWS

August 6, 2016, 3:45 am
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In the National Assembly for Wales aka Welsh Assembly, where Plaid Cymru is now the second biggest party to Labour, the team above will be Plaid's shadow cabinet for the next term.

Back row (left to right): Dafydd Elis-Thomas / Neil McEvoy whose portfolio includes Tourism so I hope we'll see him up here / Adam Price / Rhun ap Iorwerth / LlŷrGruffydd / Simon Thomas / Steffan Lewis.

Front row (l to r): Bethan Jenkins / SiânGwenllian / Leanne Wood leader / Dai Lloyd / Elin Jones. Elin is the Presiding Officer (Chair if you like) of the National Assembly.

Leanne Wood says, "I have vowed to make sure the Party of Wales becomes the most effective opposition in the history of the National Assembly for Wales".

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QUIZ ANSWER # 149

August 7, 2016, 3:55 am
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Last Sunday I posted the above photo of a stone or plaster carving in Rhyl depicting a medieval-looking building such as a castle or church. The question: Where would you find it?
The answer: Bodfor Street, above Costigan's.
Here is a wider view:


Photo by Dave Williams. Thanks, Dave.

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Also I posted a classical design bearing the inscription Rhyl Urban District Council 1900. The question: Where would you find it?


The answer: Victoria Road.
The plaque is on the gable above Nos. 6 & 7 The Terrace, Victoria Road (at Ffordd Las end). Original name was Council Terrace; it was one of the first projects by Rhyl Urban District Council which had been formed only two years earlier. Here is a wider view:


Photo taken in July 2016 by Yours Truly. 

Scoring 1 win for getting both answers correct is Dilys Bagnall. Dilys is this week's sole winner and I know she is going to be uncontrollably pleased.

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ABBEY AND AQUARIUM

Regeneration of the Abbey Street-Aquarium Street area is still in progress. The snapshot below was taken a few days ago by Yours Truly, showing part of Abbey Street that used to be grim houses of multiple occupation, i.e. the HMOs that everybody used to complain about.


The perimeter of the newly-created green space named Gerddi Heulwen is a building site. A big question is, What kind of people are going to occupy the new properties? It makes no sense to create social housing for general needs in a town where there is no work.

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QUIZ QUESTION # 150

August 7, 2016, 3:57 am
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In the picture above are early-1920s-looking punters waiting for a trip to start from the booking office of White Rose Motor Tours, Rhyl.
The question: On corner of what two roads/streets is the booking office?
The correct answer would score 1 win.

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Below is a photo taken earlier this year with a place name blanked out.
The question: What is the missing name?
The correct answer would score 1 win.


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You have until the end of Saturday 13th August 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

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

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FREE EVENTS IN AUGUST

August 7, 2016, 3:58 am
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Above: Sunday, 21st Aug from 12 noon at Events Arena.

Below: Saturday and Sunday, 27th and 28th Aug.


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TIME FOR A LAUGH

August 10, 2016, 8:07 am
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HOTTER THAN THAT

August 10, 2016, 8:08 am
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In a recent warm spell, Rhylites were heard to complain, It's too hot! Well it was hotter in the early 1980s on board HMS Rhyl according to an account by sailor Stephen Griffin published in Daily Mail newspaper.
Click on the image to read small print.


This item was provided by Dilys Bagnall - thanks, Dilys.

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The unrelated photo below is from my own collection; HMS Rhyl is shown on 28th March 1967 in Malta:


To see all posts relating to HMS Rhyl please click here:
https://rhyl-life.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/HMS%20RHYL

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FREE EVENTS IN AUGUST

August 10, 2016, 8:09 am
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Above: Sunday, 21st Aug from 12 noon at Events Arena.

Below: Saturday and Sunday, 27th and 28th Aug.


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QUIZ ANSWER # 150

August 14, 2016, 3:54 am
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Last Sunday I posted the above picture of early-1920s-looking punters waiting for a trip to start from the booking office of White Rose Motor Tours, Rhyl. The question: On corner of what two roads/streets is the booking office?
The answer: West Parade and Water Street.
It is the corner where Les Harker's Monte Carlo arcade is now, photographed last week by Yours Truly:


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Also I posted a photo taken earlier this year with a place name blanked out. The question: What is the missing name?
The answer: Buckley Avenue.
Here is the photo with the name restored:


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Scoring 1 win for each correct answer:
Dilys Bagnall 1, Jane Shuttle 2, Sue Handley 2, The Great Gareth 1, Richard & Ceri Swinney 1. 

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GREEN GRASS OF HOME

Recent hi-tech flood defence work in the west end involved widening the promenade and then covering the new space with good old-fashioned grass. The result is that Rhyl is a safer and greener place, although no doubt plenty of people will find fault with it.


This scheme, like virtually all major schemes around here for decades, was made possible by European Union grant aid. It has long been policy of the EU to channel resources from the richer parts of Europe to poorer parts such as Wales.


Don't run away with the idea that, It's our money anyway. Wales is a net gainer from UK's membership of the EU.

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QUIZ QUESTION # 151

August 14, 2016, 3:55 am
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Above is a part of a Rhyl photograph taken a few days ago by Yours Truly.
The question: Where was I standing?

Below is a picture postcard typical of its era.
The question: Was the picture taken before or after 1930?
You have a 50/50 chance of being right!



You need both answers correct to score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 20th August 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

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

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FREE EVENT COMING SOON

August 14, 2016, 3:56 am
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Saturday and Sunday, 27th and 28th August


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TIME AND TIDE

August 17, 2016, 11:03 am
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Old paddling pix reflect innocence, charm and the enduring fun of looking at your feet under water - what will you step on next! These three have not appeared before in Rhyl Life:


Click on any image to see a bigger version.



The one in the middle is circa 1910. The lifeboat pic is a 1923 shot by Rhyl photographer Rae Pickard.

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NO USE BLAMING THE BIRDS

The photo below taken recently by Yours Truly shows the spattered state of the derelict post office in Water Street. Pity the cabbies in the rank opposite who have to look the mess every working day. Owners of private property – which this is – owe it to the community to keep their premises looking clean and tidy.

Birds are being encouraged by cafes, pubs and restaurants that provide outdoor seating for customers, and by take-aways. These businesses (and their permission-givers) fuel the problem. The solution is not killing birds, who have as much right to be here as we do, but educating people to do their eating indoors.


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

See my Rhyl videos on YouTube:
Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine!

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FREE EVENT THIS SUNDAY

August 17, 2016, 11:03 am
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Sunday, 21st Aug from 12 noon at Events Arena


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QUIZ ANSWER # 151

August 21, 2016, 3:51 am
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Last Sunday I posted the above, part of a Rhyl photograph taken a few days before by Yours Truly. The question: Where was I standing?
The answer: on footbridge over railway in Westbourne Avenue.
Here is the wider view:


In Victorian times this was the location of a (possibly manned) railway crossing from Westbourne Avenue to Marsh Road. It was known as the Pen y Braich crossing, the reason being that Pen y Braich was the former name of Westbourne Ave.

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Also posted was the following card typical of its era. The question: Was the picture taken before or after 1930?


The answer: Before 1930.
The era is between the wars (1920s and 1930s). The basket chairs were there in both decades and I might have guessed "After 1930".
But the postmark tells a different story. It would pencil-in as 7 SEP 28 therefore the picture could not have been taken after 1930:


In the pic itself there are no helpful clues to the date, so it was a good for a guessing game. What a tease I am.

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Players needed both answers correct to score 1 win. All of them got the right bridge but the wrong side of 1930. No winners this week!

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JIM TAYLOR
I have been trying to contact Rhyl resident Jim Taylor the artist/musician. Jim if you are reading this, please email your phone number to:
rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk

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QUIZ QUESTION # 152

August 21, 2016, 3:53 am
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Above is a photo taken earlier this year with place names blanked out.
The question: What are the two missing names?
The correct answer would score 1 win.

Below is part of a card postmarked 1917 showing a village less than 10 miles from Rhyl.
The question: What is the name of the village?
The correct answer would score 1 win.


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You have until the end of Saturday 27th August 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

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

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COMING UP

August 21, 2016, 9:41 am
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Saturday and Sunday, 27th and 28th August


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BUTTERICK AT TALBOT'S

August 23, 2016, 8:41 am
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This photo was taken on a rainy day last week by Yours Truly to show the location of Barclays Bank at 68-70 High Street, Rhyl (the 68 part is next to High Street News).

In days of yore at No. 68 was Sidney G. Talbot, General Draper, retailer of dress materials for nimble-fingered ladies, and agent for Butterick dress patterns. Talbot's giveaway leaflet Butterick Fashion News dated August 1940 has just come to hand and here it is in full:


Click on any page to see a bigger version.




Now, three quarters of a century later, how many in Rhyl district would relish the hard work of making their own clothes? These 1940 styles are nice and elegant in a quiet way; I remember seeing variations of them well into the 1950s.

I would prefer to look at the rounded shoulders and shorter skirts of the 1920s and especially 1960s, but male opinion is irrelevant in this matter. Women don't dress for men, they dress to impress other women!

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WED 24th AUG 2016 UPDATE: Ann Hayes of Ruthin writes, I remember going to Talbot’s with my Mum in the 1950s. Her good friend 'Aunty' Rita worked there and I've a vivid memory of her standing behind the counter in a long darkish shop.
Rita and her husband Dixie Williams lived on Vale Road just at the junction with Brynhyfryd Avenue. Dixie worked for MANWEB as a meter reader and Mum said he died of a heart attack during an accident at work. Rita died some years ago.
The couple had no children and were very kind to my sisters and I as little girls and always had sweets ready for us when we visited their home. Here is a picture of Rita and Dixie:


By the way, sewing is now the new baking and is becoming more and more popular - hence the proliferation of new sewing magazines in the crafts section of W H Smiths!
I'm sure if Talbots were still there they would be experiencing an influx of new customers of the younger generation!

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I SHOULD COCOA

August 26, 2016, 12:52 am
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Recently on Internet this coin-shaped token came up for sale. It appears to be made of a soft material such as cardboard. The face bears the name Rhyl Cocoa House Company Limited, and the back bears the number 1.

According to Rhyl History Club's Maggi Blythin there were two cocoa houses under different ownership. The first was in High Street (opened 1878) and the second was on a corner of Bodfor Street and Kinmel Street (opened 1885).

That corner may have been 34 Bodfor Street where the Imperial Hotel is now, because the location has a track record in catering. Before the Imp there was a cafe run by the Bracchi family who may well have utilised former Cocoa House premises.

The cocoa would have been a type of drinking chocolate. Not long ago an offshoot of the Cadbury company tried unsuccessfully to revive the idea of cocoa houses. See Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadbury_Cocoa_House

As for the token, what was it for? A loyalty token? A gaming chip? Your guess would be as good as mine.

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While on subject of catering, here is another 1930s view of the art deco style cafe at Open Air Swimming Pool ('The Baths') on prom:


The cafe is sometimes referred to as Osborne's.

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FUNNY GAME, POLITICS

If you have never thought there might be something creepy about Nigel Farage, this picture would be a good place to start:


As for the EU referendum I see our right-wing newspapers are trying to justify the Leave vote by saying that the predicted big fall in the UK economy has not happened.

Of course it hasn’t. We haven’t left - and nor have we made any legal move to do so.

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