your comments
Ben, Rhyl
I'm 27 and have lived in Rhyl and a few other local towns all my life on and off. I never really new its history until I had to research it for a university assignment. Seeing all these incredible pictures of its past glory and hearing all these sad accounts of the good memories it evokes and the good place it used to be actually saddens me. I have never known this Rhyl I see in the pictures or hear spoken of, I have known only the crime, unemployment and horrible bleak dilapidated atmosphere that hangs over it now and has since my birth in 1981 at which point I gather the decline was well underway. It looks so grand and happy in those Victorian pictures, and those cherished memories that were once so real... I wish I could be in that Rhyl and not the one I have struggled in. Sadly that has all gone, all that is left are faint echoes of it shrouded by modern efforts at progress and change that have fallen flat long before they were ever realised. Sadly one day too al! l these memories I read here shall die away with those that cherish them, and these pictures will be the only window into its grand past. While experience and memories of a quiet different Rhyl will remain, the Rhyl I know, the memories I will pass on - it's a reflection of the world today, what once was great lost in time replaced by drugs, crime, unemployment and immorality. It's sad what's happened to our country, to Rhyl...
Tue Nov 11 08:24:29 2008
Peggy Porter (nee Meadows) , Cotswolds
Hiya Mike Davies, I remember well the Army/tank Depot in Cefendy Road. My dad, George Meadows, was a tank driver until he was demobbed after the war (2nd). He trained soldiers from Kimmel Camp. My grandparents lived in the Yacht Farm Cefendy Road and after school often I would see dad on a tank going up or down Cefendy Road, and wave like the dickens to him. I once had a scary ride on one up to the yacht from Vale Road, but felt safe cuddled in dad's arms.
Sun Sep 28 10:44:38 2008
Pete Mac, Soul DJ
Hi Ken (Toronto), I bet you didn't eat as many shrimps off Harry Griffiths than I did, as I used to sell them for him around Gwynfryn Ave for 10 pence a pint. Mikey, I also used to DJ at the Bridge Club from 1976 onwards. Did you also work in Chix (Kestral) in Rhyl?
Mon Sep 15 08:09:16 2008
Nina, Mold
Hi Angela, just wondering whether you are some distant relation, my nanna (now Megan France) was previously a Lloyd, her mother was called Hannah Jones and married a Lloyd, her sister married his brother. Does that make any sense? Anyway, my late grandad, Jack, aka Badger, does anyone remember him? He spent a lot of time shrimping, memories I'll never forget as a child.
Mon Jun 23 09:14:37 2008
Ken McGuinness - Toronto
Hi Martin, I can recall the drummer outside Woolies and rumour has had it that he travelled in by train from Chester daily and had tons of money. I'm not sure if it's true but obviously it's typical of the stuff and legends that Rhyl is famous for; such as the "Bodfor Street Ghost". Talking about Rhyl characters, can you recall Harry Griffiths going through the local pubs on Saturday evenings selling shrimps? It took forever to shell them but I've never had any that have tasted better since. A great place back in the '60s. Let's hope there's more on the horizon. PS. Hi Nick... congrats on your team's double.
Wed May 28 08:35:03 2008
David Bleae, Dunstable
Margaret I know your father well. He was also a friend of my parents. I did work sometimes in the stores with him when I was a trainee chef.
Thu May 22 07:52:20 2008
Mike Davies
Does anyone remember, or better still have any photos of the army depot on Vale/Cefndy Road? It was used as a driving school, and storage of light tanks. Also the site on Glan Aber, which was a training ground for Anti Aircraft gunners?
Mon Apr 28 09:26:22 2008
Peter from Rhyl
To David Blease, Dunstable, thanks for info / picture. I am still looking photos 1964-1965. You're looking for old photos of Alex and War Memorial hospital. There is a CD of old photos of Rhyl by the Rhyl History Club which has some photos.
Tue Apr 15 08:39:28 2008
Margaret Davies Shipley, Wiltshire
Hi David Blease, if you worked in the Alex 64-69 you must have known my dad, Les Davies from Warren Road, he worked in the stores.
Tue Apr 1 10:07:28 2008
David Hughes, Nottingham
Hi Hilary. Hope your Christmas visit went well and your children enjoyed you gushing about your home town! I remember being shown around the animal cages at the side of the Pavilion - the stench of lion dung was really strong. Spent an inordinate amount of time "courting" in the shelters on the sea side of the Pavilion. Luckily the lions had moved on by that date. Were you forced to watch the May Day Parade going up High Street in the sixties? My only interest was the fire engine and any army vehicles that came down from Kinmel Camp but I was forced to put up with endless dislays of Morris Troupes whacking their legs red with tambourines and pom poms - sorry girls, sure it was very skillful.
Tue Mar 25 10:32:18 2008
David Blease, Dunstable
I was born in Rhyl. In regards to Peter's question about pictures of Glyndwr 1964/65. I left Glyndwr in 1964 I was looking on Friends Reunited and there are some school photos of Glyndwr around 64/65 on that site. Is there any old photos of the Alexandra and War Memorial hospital on this site as I worked in both hospitals in the catering from 1964-69?
Tue Dec 11 08:30:26 2007
Mikey Roberts from Rhyl
My mother is Nin Gizzi. She used to clean the Plaza Cinema. I remember Mr Dean he was the manager of the Plaza. I was the DJ in the Bridge Club which was situated opposite the Little Theatre and I worked on the donkeys for Alice Lloyd. Happy days.
Mon Oct 29 08:55:14 2007
Hilary Venecek, Toronto, Canada
Hi David Hughes, Mary Clubley, Edwin Hughes, Gerald Hughes, etc. are some of my relatives. Paul John Richard Hughes, my brother, went to Ysgol Mair (I hope I got the spelling correct) and Philip Andrew Hughes was also my brother. Give me a call sometime and see if we have other things in common. Yes the circus came to town and so did the Royal Welsh Show and my parents used to do B & B for many interesting people. I rememer the circus coming to the pavilion and the animals, elephants etc. walking around the promenade. That was fun. We shall be back in Rhyl for Christmas for my 60th birthday. It will be great introducing my daughters, 25 and 23, to my heritage.
Mon Oct 15 08:45:27 2007
David Hughes
Hi Hilary, Well, we certainly share Chatsworth House as our place of origin! I know of several long standing Hughes families in Rhyl so it might well be that we are related if you go back a few generations. My dad was Jack and he had siblings Margaret, Olwen, Charlotte and Will and lived originally where Marks and Spencer's was built and then they moved to Kings Avenue. It does not help in Wales having a name like Jones or Hughes, which is why I ended up writing The Reso under the name of Ambrose Conway! Betty Thomas, it might be worth looking on Friends Reunited for other people who were at school with you. Incidentally, does anyone remember Billy Smart's Circus coming to town and pitching up on the field opposite the Crown Bard pub on Rhuddlan Road?
Thu Sep 13 08:43:16 2007
Hilary Venecek (nee Hughes) Toronto, Canada.
I would be interested in knowing if David Hughes is related to myself? My father was Robert Hughes, brother of Dick, Edwin, Tom and Bert Hughes from Handsworth Crescent in Rhyl. By the way - I was born Hilary Hughes in Chatsworth House, December 1947.
Mon Sep 10 09:20:53 2007
Betty Thomas from Rhyl
Anyone got school photographs of Christ Church, Rhyl 1937to 1941 also Emanual School, Rhyl 1941 to 1946?
Mon Jul 23 13:01:22 2007
Nick Oldham, Cheshire
PIC 3...you're both wrong. It was based at the end of the Coronation Gardens opposite Rhyl High School and adjacent to Rhyl FC Ground. You hired the 3 wheelers and at the end of the day took them back to a shed that was like an old air raid shelter. Inside were loads of the 3 wheelers. You'd always hope to get one of "The Best" bikes. Afterwards you could climb on top of the shed which was draped in huge trees and hidden in the foliage you could throw stones at passing buses...and we think scallies are bad these days!
Thu Jun 14 08:31:47 2007
Ken Trehearn, Rhyl
Great picture of cycle track (3), went on it many times but your caption is wrong, its location was where the mess called The Children's Village is now situated.
Thu May 31 08:26:44 2007
Paul Woodhouse, Manchester
We used to stay at Pines caravan site in the late 70s till mid 80s. Over that period of time we had quite a few caravans. But I still had the same mates, Paul and John Doyle, Paul Webster, Ray Curran, Tommy Smith. All from Liverpool, and a lad called Keith from Birkenhead. Had great times, and I often wondered what happened to them. I remember we all used to go and sneak into Rhyl football club. Then there was botanical gardens, near Parry's corner,and when we went to the baths. Rather than walk the long way round, we used to cut over the farmers fields and often got chased over them from the farmer and his dogs. When we went in the summer holidays it used to great, football and cricket all day. And then your mam and dad would leave you in the little club while they went into the big club, and every so often you would get a drink and a bag of crisps to keep you quiet. I can't ever remember it raining there but I'm sure it did. Oh, for the good old days. Where did all them years go?
Mon May 14 08:59:19 2007
Val Hines nee Hughes
Hi Dave Williams, thanks for leaving your message. My dad did work for Crosville before he became a caretaker. Unfortunately, dad died in 1988 but the name Ginger rings a bell. Did you go to the Xmas parties at Crosville? They were great. Is your dad still alive? We lived next to the garage's on Crescent Road where I was born.
Tue Apr 10 09:16:58 2007
Angela Lancaster, Worcester/nee Lloyd, Rhyl
I remember the bike track very well as my mother and uncle worked on it for years. My mother was Annie lloyd and my uncle Ray Williams. The bike track and the shop were owned by Tommy Cook if my memory serves me right, he also had a big involvement with Rhyl football team and crowned my sister Susan May Queen at the royal flora hall.
Mon Feb 19 16:21:17 2007
Dave Williams, Llanllyfni.
Picture of cycling track and cafe. Val Hines nee Hughes' dad worked. He also worked on the Crosville buses with my father Bill Ginger. Bill Williams.
Mon Feb 19 13:06:48 2007
Peter from Rhyl
Looking for old photo of all pupils from Glyndwr School, Ernest St, Rhyl. It was taken 1964/65. Hope someone can help.
Mon Feb 5 08:29:24 2007
John Roberts of Holywell
Hi! Shelley. Like you I remember the Punch & Judy shows, the donkey rides, open air swimming baths, closed in swimming baths in Market Street, the Pier and all the other things that made Rhyl a great place to live in, not so today!
Fri Jan 26 16:52:32 2007
Wendy Shan
I remember the paper having Lobby Ludd on the prom. If you found him I think you got a shilling.
Fri Jan 19 08:06:57 2007
Martin Gane, Rhyl
re: Arthur Jones Questions, I can remember Harry "papers" Jones and his bike outside the Plaza Cinema, and he quite often left the bike unattended, leaving a few pence on the papers and people were more often than not honest enough to leave their money or take change. Outside Woolworths next to the other paper stall, there was always a gentleman that used to play Drums, Organs, etc, and if my memory serves me an elderly lady used to play an accordian outside Marks and Spencers.
Fri Nov 17 08:18:13 2006
Shelley Poole from Rhyl
Can anyone remember the lights along the front in summer? They were Disney characters, dad used to take us to see them on Sunday evenings in the car and the famous Punch & Judy shows in front of the big clock at the top of High Street. Rhyl was then at its best...and the sixpenny bit donkey rides who can remember that?
Tue Nov 14 12:40:32 2006
Arthur Jones from North Wales
Can anyone remember the Rhyl street newspaper vendors of the 1950s, their names and nick names, pitches, and their calls? I remember 'The Brown Bommer', stood outside Hepworths in the High Street; Charlie 'Cockles' Jones, outside Evans's cafe and the top of High Street, whose cry was 'Full of murders and divorces!'; Harry 'Papers' Jones, outside Plaza cinema, Rhyl bus station in High Street, and Woolworths; Mr Price, Bus station; and Bobby 'Stunch'.
Mon Nov 13 15:42:01 2006
Val Hines nee Hughes, Nottingham
This is a great picture of the cycling track. I used to play on there free as my father worked in the cafe next to it in the 50s and early 60s and knew the man running it. My dad's name was Pen. He used to be a caretaker at Ysgol Llewellyn and in the summer sold tea on trays to have on the beach. I loved growing up in Rhyl.
Fri Oct 6 07:52:54 2006
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