During World War II, my parents rented a caravan on Pillings site along the coast road not far from Abergele town centre, by the side of the railway line. We lived in Chester at that time and when the German planes were active over the area we used to evacuate to the caravan - sometimes for weeks on end.
Uncle Sam and Aunty Jean, as the Pillings were known to us, were lovely people. I remember being given my first banana in Abergele - I wanted to keep the skin to put the next one in!
On VE night we walked in a lovely park - can anyone remember the name? It was on a hill and the entrance was off the high street.
It had a tarmac drive and rockery all up the left side as you walked up the hill. There was a little stream with lots of little waterfalls and pools.
It was twilight and that's when I saw a fairy - for the first and last time! I really don't care if nobody believes me, because it was a delight and I can still see it at the edge of one of the pools.
I guess it must have been about six inches high, as I was only five, all gossamer and luminous blues, whites and turquoises with flimsy wings and long pale silvery/golden hair.
I stood and gazed for some time and as a result I lagged behind my mum, aunts and cousins who were very jolly because the war in Europe was over.
My mother called me, and I obediently ran up the hill to catch up with them. I said 'Mummy, I've just seen a fairy!' she just patted me on the head and said 'Yes, dear'. But I never forgot the experience at the age of five on VE Night.
Does anyone remember the name of the lovely park - I seem to remember that there was a brick bridge over it, maybe a road and the pool with the fairy was about 50 yards further up on the left.
Whenever I drive along the A55 I try to identify where it was and wonder if the fairies got concreted over and now live in peoples' gardens instead!
your comments
George Davies from Loughton
On VE day I joined a march that started in a field to the west of Abergele - the road that goes from the west end of the town to the sea. The field was almost immediately on the left. The huge parade eventually started and I proudly held my banner next to my cousin who at 9 was 5 years older than me. The bands were playing, the streets lined with people. I was vaguely aware we had beaten the Germans, when suddenly I heard shouting. There on the pavement and waving little flags were my Grandmother, mother and Auntie. I smiled, waved and proudly marched on. I think the march ended in the park by the old railway sidings near Pensarn.
Thu May 28 12:58:32 2009
George Davies from Loughton
I lived in Gwyndre, Castle Place, as a child during the war. I remember playing with a girl called Jean Faragher who lived nearby and John Pye, the dentist's son, Brian Steadman and a boy known as 'Waistcoat Willie' due to his colourful dress. Our house was requisitioned by the Army and we had to take in US servicemen and I remember three called 'Chippy','Joey' and 'Frenchie'. I recall the weekly market and the cattle drive from the High Street to the railway. Down by the railway sidings there was a Park. I cannot remember its name. Does anyone recall any of the people or places I have mentioned?
Thu Apr 30 09:35:58 2009
Dave Morris, Abergele.
The tower above Abergele certainly still exists. There are various theories as to its origin. The earliest suggestion was that it was built by Owain Gwynedd (King of Gwynedd) around 1157. At that time Owain was said to be active in extending the frontiers of Gwynedd in an easterly direction and this was seen as a threat to Chester. This resulted in Henry II invading North Wales to try and deal with Owain Gwynedd. He didn't get very far, but Owain nevertheless had built the tower from which to observe the large coastal plain towards Rhuddlan and the lower Vale of Clwyd.Another theory suggests it was built as a beacon watchtower to look out for coastal pirates in the early C17. It was said to be part of a chain with similar towers at Whitford near Holywell, the church tower at Llandrillo yn Rhos and a beacon at Deganwy.However early C19 maps and documents refer to the hill as Gallt y Felin Wynt, the translation of which is Windmill Hill, thus suggesting the building was originally a windmill.I personally favour the watchtower theory as being the most likely and its situation is known as Tower Hill.I too remember Mrs Speed and, like you George, I was often the recipient of an apple. This was Crown Stores in Market Street - a proper shop of which, sadly, there are so few today.
Thu Oct 30 09:52:48 2008
George Davies from Loughton
I lived in Abergele from 1940-1946 (1-6 years old). I remember Mrs Speed who had the grocery shop on the High Street. She always used to come around from behind the shop counter and give me an apple. I also remember a walk up Tower Hill - on the peak was an old tower with superb views across the sea. Does the tower still exist and does anyone know what it was for?
Wed Oct 29 09:07:46 2008
Delyth, Abergele
You may be thinking of Parc Gele, accessed from St George Road, or from Glanrafon, Abergele.
Wed Jun 20 09:33:52 2007
Judy Gregory
Thanks Sue, but it wasn't Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay - we didn't have a car and it would have been a very long walk from Pillings Caravan Site. But thanks for your interest anyway. Perhaps there's someone out there my age, who lived in Abergele in those days [1945].
Mon Jun 11 16:03:30 2007
Sue, originally from nr. Conwy but live on the Wir
The park I think you are talking about is Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay, it has now changed due to the A55 dual carriageway. If you came up from the beach/promenade, into the park, on the left hand side, on a hill, where various ponds and pools that ran into each other, by means of rockery and waterfalls, a lovely place for damsel flies.
I am going as far back as the mid 50s and 60s. What a magical place. There is also the stream called the Dingle that still runs virtually alongside, but in a lower valley, with a walkway.
I remember the old boating lake before the alterations and its pre-tennis centre build. As an older child I used to walk from Nant-y-Glyn riding stables, with my two sisters, down through the Dingle and along to Rhos-on-Sea along the promenade, where my Nan lived. It would have been a lovely place for fairies to live.
Fri Jun 8 15:41:57 2007
