I grew up on Caellepa in Bangor in the 50s and 60s and attended Bangor uni in the early '70s. This summer I spent 4 weeks in Beaumaris and visited Bangor almost daily. What a dump it has become - the High Street is full of what are called 'Dollar Stores' over here - selling cheap crap. Groups of drunken youths roam the streets at all hours.

My 20 year old son was particularly impressed with a piece of graffiti written on Woolworth's window - don't adopt American culture. "Bit late' he sniffed!

Bangor was an active place to grow up until the teenage years - digging bait and fishing from the pier, catch the bus to Halfway Bridge and fish the Ogwen, playing football and cricket on the Mountain. You could walk anywhere, any time, in relative safety. The late teen years were different though.

Nowhere but the pubs to go. If you went to Friars you could get an ID to enter the student's union and the dances, discos and bands. If you didn't you were out of luck. That's when the student/locals trouble started. Every group had its own pubs - the Welsh speakers went to the Globe, Friars boys and County girls went to the Belle Vue, the other locals to the Glanrafon. Each group left the others alone for the most part. Now it's all changed, and not for the better unfortunately. Bangor has been left behind and appears to be sinking into disfunctionality and social chaos. What are the local police doing? Contrast Bangor with a Beaumaris that is still the same 30 years later - safe, pleasant, great pubs and friendly people - especially if you are Welsh speaking.

I had harboured thoughts of coming back for my retirement years, now I'm not so sure.