your comments
Roger Miles
I remember in the 1950s that Fremlins Brewery of Maidstone had TWO full size Mechanical Elephants powered by a 10 hp engine. I know 1 has been restored but no knowledge of the whereabouts of either. Come on Mr Clarkson!
Thu Sep 4 08:06:21 2008
Ian Haynes, Worthing
My grandparents lived in Scarborough during the Fifties and grandpa was a taxi driver in the winter. In the summer he drove one of the mechanical elephants along Marine Drive. There were at least two of them, maybe more.
Thu Jul 3 08:33:29 2008
Angela, London
I write in response to John from Margate's message about the picture that he has of Harry Secombe climbing on a mechanical elephant in London. My mother was sitting on that same elephant with Harry Secombe as part of some big parade and has always been keen on trying to obtain photographic evidence. I would love to see a copy of the photo, especially if there is also a girl sitting on it.
Mon Jun 16 16:46:42 2008
Nick, Web Team
Thanks to Mish for sending us this link [nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk/history/galleries/gall14.html] showing a mechanical elephant at Colwyn Bay in the 1950s. There's also a lot more information on the University of Sheffield website which hosts a National Fairground Archive and includes a lot of history and background about fairs at Rhyl and the surrounding resorts.
Mon Jun 9 08:25:50 2008
Ian Birchenough, Chester
In the early 1950s, when I was about 5 or 6, the family used to go to Rhyl for holidays and stayed in a caravan. I have a photograph of a mechanical elephant with my younger brother and cousin sitting on it. It had a cover with three fleur de lis and a man in a white 'overall' coat is standing at the front, leaning on its trunk. In the background is a kind of flagstaff with a cutout of a diver on top.
Tue Apr 29 08:45:58 2008
Mr. D Smith, Warden Bay Sheppey
I can remember the Mechanical Elephant at Margate in the late 1950s and used to ride on it. Although I seem to remember it was up near to where the Pier used to be. I do have one picture of it. D. Smith, 63. DECEMBER 2007
Mon Dec 10 08:54:16 2007
Gareth Davies, Holywell
Only 1 response so far about the Ffrith Beach to Central Beach in Prestatyn miniature train in the 1970s surely someone remembers it (more interesting than a mechanical elephant!) Desperate for info. Thanks.
Mon Nov 12 09:03:56 2007
Marilyn, Eastleigh, Hants
Does anyone remember the mechanical elephant at Sandy Bay in Devon (now Devon Cliffs holiday Park)? I remember it in the 70s - would love a photo.
Wed Oct 17 08:26:18 2007
Laura James
For Jan: Thank you for responding. I would dearly love to see any pictures you have, for many reasons, too long to go into here. Did you ever meet her? Coincidentally, I live in Norfolk too.
Thu Sep 13 08:17:56 2007
Jan Baines Burton from Great Yarmouth
In response to the question about Aqua Shows in the 1950's and 60's in Rhyl. My father, George Baines used to produce the Aqua Shows in Rhyl and other seaside resorts up and down the country - and yes I know the name Maureen Hilton. She used to be one of the swimmers in his shows. I probably have a pic of her somewhere but unfortunately do not know where she went once the shows disbanded.
Mon Sep 10 15:57:40 2007
Jonathan Haines, Devon, UK
The elephant in question was made by Frank Stuart Engineering about 50 years ago.
Fri Aug 24 09:25:26 2007
Laura James
I wonder if anyone might be able to tell me about the aqua shows which I think took place in Rhyl in the 1940s and 50s. I'd also be keen to hear from anyone who remembers a girl called Maureen Hilton, who would, perhaps, have taken part in these shows and also any beauty pageants. Thank you.
Mon Jul 9 08:12:14 2007
Eileen Heaton from Scarborough
I remember a mechanical elephant that used to carry children along the pathway in front of the Open Air Theatre on the north side of Scarborough in the early 1950's.
Thu Jul 5 07:18:20 2007
Paul, once from Rhyl
Re the mechanical elephant. I have never set eyes upon the thing, but I had a school friend, with whom I later went on to art college, who drove/operated/supervised this elephant of legend on Frith Beach. It tickled me that an annual task in the job description was to get this heffalump through its MOT. To respect privacy, I'll only reveal he was (and may still be) a sign writer based in Rhyl, with the initials IT. If you know who I mean, track him down. He'll have a fund of stories.
Thu Jun 28 14:48:00 2007
John from Margate
I am now 68. As a kid of about 10 or 11 I used to drive the Mechanical Elephant along the promanade near the Winter Gardens. I was also on it in the Margate carnival as Sabu the elephant boy. The elephant was built by a German engineer and I think it had a diesel engine. It was controlled by 2 levers behind the ears that moved the legs. It carried the driver and either 4 or 6 passengers. I heard somewhere later that it was bought by Peter Sellers and then went to Blackpool.I have some pictures of this elephant in London with Harry Secombe climbing aboard.
Fri Apr 27 08:33:02 2007
Ian, Coventry
Further to David, Birmingham's recollections. I too was at the auction at Leamington. I believe that the elephant at the auction (not sold, if memory serves) was actually from North Wales originally. It was rather magnificently powered by a JAP Motor Cycle engine and controlled, as identified by Trevor Williams from Prestatyn and Larry of Michigan, by access via the ear. Steering was by way of turning the head using the ears. Imagine watching it go out of control, with YOUR kids on its back! :o0 (all this and I was only doing a search for the people who owned the Elephant House :o) )
Tue Apr 10 09:28:52 2007
gareth davies, holywell
Any memories or photos of the Prestatyn to Ffrith miniature railway in 1970s?
Fri Dec 8 08:17:52 2006
Steve W from Staffordshire
Well Rhyl, you have a lot of childhood memories for me and happy day trips...but that was through a child's eye. I had to say something about my latest day trip to you. You're looking rather dated and scruffy at the edges. I can put up with the slot machines and the waft of over cooked burgers as this is a holiday resort for all ages and types. But the condition of the seafront buildings are in a word ROUGH. What are the council doing? Do they not see them or do they choose to ignore the problem. I could see that there is some major work on the prom as I had a look through the brash, green, six foot high fencing panels that run best part of the lower end of your prom. What you must think is that a lot of people pass down your front and first impressions count and are a lasting memory. I hope it's all worth it. And just one more negative point. Did the funfair have planning permission for the wire mesh fencing running down the main road, what an eyesore that is ending in a rusty lady above an old amusement arcade flailing her legs in the air. Not very inviting. Just a point...should the owners of these properties be made to keep them in some kind of reasonable repair? Well Rhyl will see you some time in the future in a better state of repair I hope. On a positive note the clock tower area is very pleasant and of course your golden nuggets The Sun Centre, and beach.
Fri Sep 8 12:01:34 2006
Joan, North Shields
Just wondered if anyone remembers the elephant coming to Whitley Bay? I can remember riding along the promenade on the elephant when I was young.
Wed Jul 5 11:07:15 2006
Lyn from Rhyl
My brother and I used to ride the mechanical elephant at the Ffrith, I don't remember one in Rhyl.
Mon Jun 19 10:18:43 2006
David, Birmingham
There used to be an internal combustion elephant giving rides near Sandy Bay, Exmouth in the 1970s. A few years ago I saw a smaller version up for auction at the very appropriately named Elephant House in Leamington Spa.
More impressive by far was the giant mechanical elephant that visited London a few weeks ago (from France, I believe). There are some pictures of it here: http://www.pennymachines.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=304
Wed May 24 14:03:35 2006
Kevin Hutchins from Norwich
I am 56 and can remember a mechanical elephant being at Butlins in Clacton in 1958, I remember it being very large. The driver sat at the neck and operated the controls. It was quite frightening because it looked very realistic. I'm sure that it had small wheels on each foot so although it looked as if it was walking the wheels were actually dragging the legs along.
Mon May 8 10:41:37 2006
Mal Brown
I remember the elephant, it was working between the marine lake fairground and the ocean beach fairground which was called the walk, it must be about 48 years ago.
Tue Feb 21 13:35:36 2006
Glyn Jones, Bangkok, Thailand
I certainly remember the mechanical elephant on Rhyl promenade. I seem to remember that it operated to the right of the clock (as you look from the High Street). I had a ride on it once and seem to recall that I thought the covering very tatty - probably some sort of painted canvas. Yes, some chap would stand next to its head steering it. Odd the silly things that stick in your mind but I remember a brass fire extinguisher just behind its head. Also, yes there was a dairy at the back of the bus station. The people who ran it were the parents of Iwan Davies. I believe that, orginally, they had a farm in Rhuddlan which is probably where the milk came from.
Fri Oct 7 11:49:57 2005
Stan Smith, Llandudno
Further to the mechanical elephant at Colwyn Bay, my friend who used to drive it reminded me that it was petrol driven and someone realised that he needed a licence for a pedestrian operated vehicle. So for a time there was the unusual sight on the promenade of an elephant bearing 'L' plates and he had to take a driving test. Now there's a novelty!
Mon Aug 15 10:51:22 2005
Stan Smith, Llandudno
There certainly was a mechanical elephant at Colwyn Bay in the mid 1950s - my friend used to drive it! There was also a miniature railway running along the promenade from Colwyn Bay pier. It was owned and operated by a showman named Charlie Mann whose brother, Tommy, operated the boating lake at New Brighton.
Mon Aug 8 09:18:21 2005
Bill Stephenson Whitley Bay
Wilhelmina the mechanical elephant built by Frank Stuart Engineering in the early 50
Mon Apr 25 08:24:53 2005
Peter Clare
I keep a mechanical elephant called Snowdrop. It moves its legs and its head, lifts its trunk, squirts water from its trunk and bellows. Snowdrop can carry about six children and will be on display at the Barbican, London this summer.
Tue Jan 25 09:27:12 2005
Gillian Kalter from Lausanne, Switzerland
I remember the mechanical grey elephant in Colwyn Bay. There was also a miniature railway which ran along the promenade on the other side from the sea and stretched from the pier (I think) until near Eirias park. There was also a superb bigger train track in the fun fair. I have photos of myself with my brother in 1950, taken in one of those trains. No photos of the elephant though.
Fri Jan 21 11:09:23 2005
This discussion has now closed
