your comments
Christine Aldington, Macclesfield
I've really gone back in time reading all this. We went a few times to My Auntie Erica's caravan. It was in the 60s and great fun. I remember the swiming pool, Auntie Erica's Mum, my brothers and I called her Gran even though she wasn't our Gran, started teaching me to swim in that pool. I wonder what happened to Uncle Jack's Neptune club? Happy days.
Fri Jun 19 08:20:29 2009
Roy Richardson, Exmouth,Devon
Prestatyn Holiday Camp - what can I say, other than I cried when it closed down for it was part of my childhood, you could say it was my second home. I fought Wainhomes when they wanted to turn it into a housing estate and tried to block their planning application. I even got in touch with famous celebrities who went to the camp in their younger days. Unfortunately all my efforts came to an end and eventually I lost my fight. Thank goodness I not only have fond memories of the camp over the years, but also a lot of family photographs and sound 8mm cine film which includes a ramble up into the hillside and returning clanging dustbin lids till we arrived back at the camp a few hours later. Further to this is cine film of the Rochdale Crazy Gang at the Clipper swimming pool. I tried to gain a rebuilding programme of the camp in the name and memory of Lady Diana. Every time I hold an old brass threepenny piece in my hand, I remember this being the coinage for to gain entrance into the white tower. I also remember David Niven and Richard Hern (Mr Pastry) attending the camp. I have a televised advertisement of the camp and, in later years, a copy of a television sci-fi film entitled 'THE LAST TRAIN' that was filmed on the campsite just before it was demolished. Good times for all never to be forgotten. Can anyone out there build me a time machine? Happiness always from your Tower Beach Mate Roy Richardson. Oh yes and Godbless to the Uncle and Aunt of the camp George and Anne, who I believe actually starred at the London Palladium.
Wed Jun 3 08:56:43 2009
Horace Johnson, Prestatyn
I am calling on ex staff or holiday makers from the Prestatyn Holiday Camp (Tower Beach) who can assist with regard to badges, brochures, postcards or history from the camp. I was a member of the entertainment staff at Prestatyn Tower Beach Holiday Camp during the early sixties. We were a great team and always had lots of fun. I am now trying to put some of these memories into forming a small history of the camp 1939 to the 1970s by using brochures, badges, postcards etc. If there are any ex staff members or holidaymakers out there who can help, I am willing to contibute for anything useful. I would appreciate you contacting me via this site.
Tue Feb 17 13:35:21 2009
Peter Shilton - Rugby
It was great to read these letters that mirrored my times at the Camp as a young boy of 9 through to a 16 yrs old. We would very often go with my parents friends from Bedworth the Hitchmans who had two boys around my age, Len and Lindsay, and a younger daughter Angela. After many good holidays there they actually moved to Prestatyn in 1972. We always had the Coventry 'fortnight' there and I remember setting off at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning in my dads Standard 8 and arriving there at around lunchtime with great excitement. I remember, as a youngster, Uncle George and Auntie Anne who met us at the Cabin Club. Also, the sports days and the flag awards to Port or Starboard at the evening meal in that massive dining room. We must have gone there 5/6 times in the '60s and I always remember them as very happy times.
Tue Feb 10 13:38:16 2009
Cecilia Hatton (now Nicholson) from Bolton
I was a waitress at Prestatyn holiday camp 1965-1966. I read the blog from Andrew Gomez - sorry to hear his father has died - his mum and dad were catering managers when I was there. Events to remember: every Friday a waitress was thrown into the pool by the waiters. One day we all together dropped our metal trays on the floor at 1'o'clock - the resulting noise was shocking! On Friday nights we would escape on the bus to the first discotheque we had ever seen, at the Hotel Marina in Rhyl. It never rained, and we sunbathed in the sandhills. The staff food was awful. People to remember: my special friend - Laurie - who washed plates, waiter Derek who could read minds! waitress with the tattoo down her back, head waiter Neil who gave a good rendition of "Georgia"! As we dried our crockery and cutlery for our stations, we all sang "We gotta get out of this place, if it's the last thing we ever do" or Sloop John B, containing the words "I gotta go home". We were all students and thought it was gruelling hard work, couldn't wait to escape - in truth we have never forgotten it and in some cases forged life-long friendships.
Wed Feb 4 10:00:29 2009
Hesselwood (nee Rigby), Shipley
My family had a caravan on Prestatyn Holiday Camp from 1963 until it closed. We spent every weekend and all holidays there in the summer months. It was a wonderful! The freezing cold swimming pool; dancing in the ballroom, competing in the competitions; helping Uncle Jack, the children's entertainer. We rode around the site on bikes, sailed and went canoeing in the sea. It was such a carefree existence for me, my twin brothers and our friends. It was sad to see it in disrepair for so many years, but I still enjoy walking along the promenade and recalling the happy hours, days and years spent there.
Tue Jan 27 10:39:17 2009
Erica Rigby nee Chesworth from Stockport
I have really enjoyed reading all these memories of Prestatyn Holiday Camp. My mum, brother Don & I had a caravan on the camp from 1952 until it closed, spending all the summer holidays there. My mum gave a swimming exhibition there every Sunday afternoon when the Rochdale Crazy performed. She was a swimming teacher for Manchester Education & taught hundreds of children to swim at Withington & Moss Side swimming baths until she had to retire at 70 yrs of age.
Mon Jan 26 09:03:15 2009
Paul Greenhalgh, Canada
I notice a few postings from veterans about the Camp. My father trained there with the Signals and I have some treasured pictures of him and his mates. Dad was tall for that time. I wonder if anyone reading this remembers Jim Greenhalgh from Golbourne?
Mon Jan 12 09:06:59 2009
Di Tulloch, Suffolk
Found this site by accident and what wonderful memories it evoked. As a child in the 50/60s I holidayed annually at the holiday camp. I remember the ship, the cycle hire and fancy dress hire vividly! I remember the huge dining room with letters and numbers hanging from the ceiling but my favourite memory is that of being taught ballroom dancing by being waltzed round the ballroom by my father as I stood on his toes! I seem to recollect some sort of children's club in a hut with Auntie Anne and Uncle someone (maybe Arthur). I also remember getting a badge each year which my mother attached to a ribbon, the ribbon got replaced as we returned each year and had another badge to add!
Mon Jan 5 09:48:09 2009
Lilian Murphy from Merseyside
I was a waitress at Prestatyn Holiday Camp 1949 and 1950, was known as 'Penny'. Most waitresses and chalet maids were from Liverpool (the men, waiters and bar staff, were Merchant Navy men between ships). 1950 my second year the type of staff changed dramatically and students were employed - it was never as good.
Mon Dec 29 10:33:31 2008
Tony Gayle in Cheshire
Remember going over the grounds of Tower Beach in the late '70s with metal detectors with a Pontins photographer named Ken. We both worked at nearby Prestatyn Sands (I played piano in the lounge there). I also remember an acquaintance called Jack Stone from the early '70s who had been bandleader at The Tower Beach site when it was Thomas Cook. It had quite a magnificent dance floor much loved by the ballroom and sequence enthusiasts. Did we find much with the detectors? Just lots of 6d pieces and cola bottle tops!
Mon Dec 8 08:32:07 2008
Dawn Howard
My mum, Gill Allen, and dad, John Howard, met at this park and I know my mum has mentioned the holiday show that was filmed there. I was hoping someone would know of somewhere to get a copy or a brochure etc from there.
Mon Dec 1 08:43:03 2008
Rose Brooke, Babell, Holywell
Hi, I worked in Tower Beach Holiday camp in 1952/3 taking pony rides on the beach. Corbett Lloyd Ellis owned the ponies. As a rider myself it was a lot of fun. I think I earned about 30 shillings a week working from 8 'til late everyday! My boss was a lady from Gronant and I think her name was Ena Lewis. I am still riding at the age of 71!
Wed Oct 22 10:18:14 2008
Marie Peck (nee Tarrant), Norfolk
I was working at Prestatyn in 1963 as a barmaid, and later in the shop. I met my husband, Mike Peck, there who was a section waiter, and we got married in the October that same year. Mike died in 2001 after 37 years of marriage. Great to see pictures of the camp which brought back happy memories. One memory is when all the waiting staff went on strike for a day. Anyone else remember this?
Mon Oct 20 08:15:44 2008
Joan Barnes nee Naylor from Bolton
I used to go to Prestatyn every year in the Sixties with my family. We used to stay at the Beach House on Beach Road which was self catering. It was demolished, I believe, when the Pontins Camp was built. There was a white house next to it which was known as the golf house. It was surrounded by sand dunes and right on the edge of the sea. It was always hot and sunny every day!
Tue Sep 2 09:11:52 2008
Susie Graham
I was a bluecoat (dancer) in 1967 I think it was. I had just turned 18 and my name was Harper then. I married (now divorced) Pete Graham the swimming instructor who I met there.
Fri Jun 6 07:57:47 2008
Diane Lovatt, now from Canada
Went to Prestatyn holiday camp in early '50s. Don't have a lot of memories, except that I was chosen as Miss Prestatyn Holiday camp! Have photos of myself and Master Prestatyn Holiday camp, kissing me as I was too shy! We are standing on a platform outside the Wheelhouse.
Mon May 19 08:47:19 2008
Silwni from the Valleys
I am afraid I don't have such good memories. A group from Gingerbread (single parents and their kids) went there around 1976. It might have been nice, but being told to be quiet or we would be thrown out when there was just a little group of us singing and talking in one of the chalets at midnight was very nasty. We were quite sober and our older children were with us and we were having a great time till then. Many of us and our kids had been through difficult times and this was really uncalled for. If anyone needed a relaxing break it was us! We all swore we would never go there again!
Mon Apr 7 09:42:45 2008
Jo Bradshaw
Just happened to stumble onto this site, and it has brought back many good memories of when my brother, mum, dad, grandma, grandad and me used to go for a week's holiday each year in the 1950s! My mum and dad would save up all year for this one week and we (my brother and I) would climb onto the fire engine, steer the ship and dance across the ballroom, wearing our 'sailor' hats, which I'm sure we kept safely at home ready for the next holiday, and the holiday camp badge. The one person who sticks in my mind was a very fit, I suppose in his 30s camp employee called 'Skipper'. Can anyone else remember these wonderful things?
Fri Apr 4 09:14:43 2008
Andrew Gomez - London
Many fond memories of Tower Beach (Prestatyn Holiday Camp). My late dad was a Manager at the Camp, starting out in 1960 as Head Chef and left there in 1971 as Catering Manager. I spent many a happy hour at the Camp over those eleven years: The Rochdale Crazy Gang on a Sunday doing their display at the pool, I must have seen that show a 100 times, and the opening introduction from the top diving board "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, we are gathered here today, mainly because we have nowhere else to go". 40 years ago and I still remember, I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, ha ha! Some facts regarding the back of house side of things: my dad would arrange the feeding of up to 5,000 people every day when the camp was in peak season, that's 15,000 meals each and every day, and that didn't include the other smaller outlets for snacks and ice cream etc, a huge undertaking. The Sunday shows in the main Ballroom we also a "Tour De Force" and do any of you remember "Auntie Anne & Uncle George"? They were orginally a song and dance act and had also played in Dance Bands in the 40s and 50s, they changed their act and added a Children's Comedy routine, hence the Auntie and Uncle soubriquet, this was in the 60s. So many fantastic and wonderful memories of meeting people and enjoying my childhood in such a great place. I returned to Prestatyn and I visited the Camp just prior to it being knocked down, it was a rainy autumn Sunday. I walked around the Camp, and all I could hear and see was laughter and people having a good time, sadly this was only in my memory, the reality was something different, the one thing that sticks with me from that vist is the Crown Green Bowling pitches, instead of the pristine surface and neatly painted pickett fence and the ladies and men in immaculate white bowling wear, was a ramshackle of broken fences and the weeds two feet high, very sad! For me it was more than a Holiday Camp, it was a place to see my dad, sit in his office and try to get half a crown for the four wheel bikes, make new friends and run free all day and every day. Yes fond memories.
Tue Feb 5 09:12:31 2008
Bluecoat
I was a bluecoat, I worked under Paul Coates in entertainments back in the sixties. I had a wonderful time arranging whist drives, ballroom dancing, plus lots of shows. I enjoyed all the campers' young families and the older folk. That was a great place to work which made hoildays back then fab.
Fri Jan 4 09:40:07 2008
Chris - Prestatyn
A note to Paul Bridge and Liz Faye, I believe the camp was built in the 1930s as a joint venture between Thomas Cook and LMS Railways in 1939. During the war years I believe that soldiers were based here during training. There is a small amount of information on the net. I remember the last few years of the camp open, then as a typical teenager, exploring the mess that the camp became. I wish some of the buildings were allowed to remain, ie: the Towers!
Mon Dec 24 09:48:24 2007
David Ellison
I have a friend now living in Australia who was a Bluecoat at Pontin's in Prestatyn in 1980. She is trying to find out about a couple of her ex colleagues, Ricky & Molly Williams who both were entertainers at the camp. She later worked with them at Presthaven Sands, up the road. If anyone can provide any information about them it would be greatly appreciated.
Fri Nov 23 10:17:53 2007
David Slater
I have a photo of the staff of Prestatyn Holiday Tower Beach Camp around 1958 when I had a holiday there. Live now in Perth, Western Australia.
Wed Nov 21 13:51:16 2007
Paul Newman from Manchester
I have a photo of me sat on the steps next to the pool back in 1965 and remember the photo being taken, I was 4. I remember so much about the ship around the pool, squeezing through the barrier to go up the tower, it felt like the top of the world. My brother split his head open on the bottom of the pool when he went down the water slide that was in the shallow end head first, health & safety wasn't quite so high on the agenda in those days. We were passing a couple of years ago on our way to catch a ferry in Anglesey & thought we would take a small detour to reminisce. We wish we hadn't, the fond memories we had were ruined by the reality of what it has become.
Mon Oct 1 14:33:26 2007
Paul Bridge from Salford Manchester
Hi, I read your website and it brought back a few memories for me. Back in the late 1960s me my Mum and Dad used to go to Ffrith Beach every weekend. We would set off from Stockport, Manchester, on Friday evening and return on Sunday evening. My Dad used to have a converted VW camper, reg No 70 EYU. He bought it as a minibus and converted it into a camper. I remember that we would stop off at Queensferry for a brew, as it took ages, then continue on our way. There was no A55 in those days, as now I can be in Anglesey in under two hours from Manchester. As I remember we used to park up at Ffrith Beach near the seafront (no pay and display in those days). I used to love going on the Santa Fay train (I think the spelling is incorrect) that used to be at Ffrith Beach, near the sand dunes. The weather back then would always be perfect. I used to love having a paddle in the sea and after a serious day of building sand castles and enjoying myself we would go back to my Dad's camper and cook our tea. I have a question, does anybody know if the holiday camp at Prestatyn used to be an airforce base, as I have heard rumours that it could have been once?
Mon Jul 2 08:19:40 2007
Liz.Fay - London
Can anybody tell me who the owners of the tower Beach Holiday camp were?
Tue Jun 5 11:03:41 2007
Andrew from North Wales
I am calling on ex staff or holiday makers from the Prestatyn Tower Beach Holiday Camp who can assist with regard to brochures, badges or postcards from the camp. Please tel 01745852977
Wed May 2 10:29:38 2007
Andrew Johnson, Rhyl
I was a member of the entertainment staff at Prestatyn Tower Beach Holiday Camp for a short time during the early Sixties. We were a great team and always had lots of fun. I am now trying to put some of these memories into forming a small history of the camp by using brochures, postcards and tin badges etc. If there are any ex staff members or holidaymakers out there who can help, I would appreciate you contacting me.
Tue Apr 24 10:56:03 2007
CHRIS WILDING
Just a quick note to say how sad I am to see that the penny Ffrith has now gone and to see it looking the way that it does now with that building they put in place of it all sitting empty. As a child in the 1970s I used to love my holidays there. There really was something for everyone on the Ffrith and returning after all these years now with children of my own thinking it was still here and excited to show my own kids and all gone very upsetting, but maybe it shut becouse of the old holiday camp closing down some years ago. Sadly missed if only someone could turn it back the way it was I'm sure everyone would come back for many more holidays.
Wed Apr 11 08:02:43 2007
Peter Cummings, Canada
As a once long time resident of Prestatyn my love affair with north Wales started in the fifties working at Butlins Pwllheli in the kitchens, also at the then new camp in Minehead. I also worked at the Derbyshire Miners in Rhyl and then in Prestatyn camp in 1963 for one season, as staff we found the regime there pretty strict with male and female staff separated and use of the facilities restricted. After I was married we spent our holidays at Edwards caravan camp, Towyn, where my in laws had a caravan with only calor gas and no running water. We bought our first home in Glan y Gors, Prestatyn, in 1972 and emigrated in 1980. Hope to retire to north Wales if finances allow after many good years here.
Tue Mar 13 12:30:47 2007
Ken Brown, from Brighton
I spent nearly six months here in 1942/43 learning to be a wireless operator in the Royal Corps of Signals when the Camp was the 2nd Signals Training Centre. Some of us were quartered in the Chalets, the rest in Nissen Huts. It wasn't quite a holiday!
Tue Mar 6 14:21:08 2007
Mrs J Hayward
Went to Prestatyn holiday camp in 1960 aged 'sweet sixteen' with two girl-friends and parents. Have never forgotten that holiday. Met some lads from Manchester we all had a great time, playing the fool, and larking about with the innocence of youth on our side. Had my first kiss, and cried when it was time to say goodbye to everybody. Cried all the way home on the train, vowed that one day I would return, I am now fulfilling my dream, will be going to retire hopefully in May to Prestatyn, a five minute walk away from the Ffrith beach, with my Welsh husband who was born in Rhyl.
Mon Mar 5 07:47:31 2007
Sara Mortimer, Droitwich
I spent many happy holidays at holiday camps in the late 1960s-70s. They are such an interesting and relevant part of our recent social history and it is a great pity that virtually all that is left are pictures. Even the camps that have survived have changed almost beyond recognition. It is a pity that something hasn't been preserved. I was fascinated by the derelict Tower Beach site. Getting a glimpse through the security gates was like travelling back in time. It's such a shame that somebody didn't have the initiative to preserve some of it.
Thu Aug 17 09:32:38 2006
Tom Parker from Holywell
Nice article Wilf, Brought back lots of good memories!
Agree with your comments Mike! I used to spend all my summer school holidays at the camp from the early sixties to the mid seventies. Six weeks of sheer bliss. A new girlfriend every week or fortnight depending on how long they were there! Fantastic sports facilities, super swimming pool with high diving board (quite scary!), snooker, table tennis, horse and donkey rides, disco, Dancing, one armed bandits. Sports competitions with prizes. A young teenage boy had no problem keeping out of trouble in those days as there was so much to do. I used to love watching my dad play the part of Neptune in the weekly 'Crossing the Line' ceremony. It was always a laugh and he always ended up wet. There used to be a high diving board act called the crazy gang who I think came from Rochdale and were fantastic entertainment. In those days we lived in Eccles near Manchester but about 15 years ago I moved with my family to Pentre Halkyn near Holywell and during that time I have seen the camp go from a sad derelict site to an even sadder new housing estate. It is very strange to not see the tower on the skyline anymore as it was always a landmark. Please add your thoughts and memories.
Mon Jul 3 09:54:18 2006
Mike Demack Rhuddlan
Happy sunny days. Relatives used to visit each year - all the way from the Wirral, New Brighton - and revelled in the facilities. Sports, fun, swimming, competitions , bingo and plenty of time to relax. We used to go in as guests - I tasted my first coca cola on the clipper - it was "warm". Used to go to the regular shows and really enjopyed the fun and antics on stage - of course there was no TV then, we could have been at the Palladium. I don't recall reports of any problems then in spite of the numbers there - perhaps we could all learn a lesson on how to enoy ourselves without the! need for violence !
Fri Jun 30 07:52:15 2006
We're no longer accepting comments on this page but we still want your stories and memories so get in touch.
I would date this photo by Bax Photo Services as about 1949, and it shows the innocent delights that post war Britain called holidays. It appears there is a gymnastics exhibition going on, something I remember happening weekly until I was about 10 (1958).
The picture is taken from the Sandhills or that area (marked as out of bounds on the camp plan).
The left foreground shows the clipper, a mock up of a ship on which you could sunbathe (weather permitting). The paddling pool was to the left of this strucure as you look at the picture.
The building with the ladder on the roof is the clipper bar which fronted the swimming pool, not visible. Underneath were the men's and women's changing rooms.
The famous tower is to the right, it used to cost 3d to go up, but as a child I could squeeze through the barrier and go up free! The sun lounge was attached to this where they made a fantastic knickerbocker glory. As a kid it seemed absolutely huge. Bingo was played in here with the traditional two fat ladies 88 and all the other sayings no longer PC!
On Wynne Avenue there was a small cabin that was used as a church, visible between the gate and the tower.
The main gate to Wynne Avenue is in the background next to the luggage and fancy dress hire and the cycle hire shops on the left and the Police post and hospital/first aid building are on the right.
The largish building to the left is the Dining Room and Britannia bar complex, which led to the Ballroom. 
