Joyce Smith
"We had the first caravan in Tywyn, on Neptune sands in 1951. It was a little tiny thing. When we came there wasn't a seafront, just the main prom, just a big grassy bank.
We asked Bernard, who owned the field, how much it would cost to leave the caravan there - he didn't know because he hadn't got any others there, so he said would £5 be enough, but we only earned £3 a week!
I'm 82 but I still go swimming and surfing in the sea and ride a bike - it's great here!"
Tywyn has changed - there are a lot more houses and not so much greenery, but it's still very nice. There's a lot to do. I help with the teas and coffees at the church and on market day, and the WI have a games afternoon on a Thursday, over 70s on a Friday, Fellowship on a Wednesday, Guild on a Tuesday - there's enough to do if you want to be into everything.
It's safe to go out to do these things - you couldn't go out in the evenings in some places, but you can here. You can have a full life, accepting all invitations."
Marcia Topp"We've moved here from the Midlands, too. We used to come on holiday in our caravan here. Caravan holidays are lovely in Tywyn, though we were a bit out of town.
I don't think it's altered, especially the main street, since the 1950s. We just used to go down to the beach and go on the railway, it's just a place to come and relax, although we are thinking of moving to Llandudno because we'd like to be nearer some theatres."
Mrs Jeffreys
"I live in the village of Pennal, about ten miles from Tywyn. I've owned a bungalow there for 25 years, but didn't live there full time until about eight years ago.
I lived in the West Midlands and at the time my son was deeply involved in scouting. They were going to go to a camp in Wales, at the back of Pennal - I'd never heard of it, but my husband had a good, strong car, so he'd been asked if he'd take the equipment. We loved it right away.
My husband unfortunately never got to live here because he died aged 47, but I was taken with the area. We bought a caravan at Penmaendyfi, then we ordered a chalet, but he died just before that was ready.
It's really friendly here. It isn't the Welsh that are difficult to get on with, it's incomers who arrive and want to alter things. I wonder why they want to come and live in the area if they don't want to join in. I don't know what they're looking for - if you don't mix, you won't get on.
Pennal has a Tuesday Club once a month and we have very nice companionship from people from all over the area. People will ring you and say 'I'm so and so from the gardening club, we're having an outing and we've got some vacancies - would you like to join us?'
When I go back to Dudley, although it's a nice place, I feel joyful when I get into my car and when I come over the bridge at Machynlleth I say 'nearly there, nearly home'."
More tales on moving to Tywyn...
your comments
Phill jones from llandrindod wells
to elodie Mcguirk from utah, like matt rimmer i too research wartime flying in wales, i have been to the location off your uncles P38(F5), ON PLYNLIMON on a number of occasions, in the late 1970/80s.
Wed Dec 5 11:29:17 2007
Elodie McGuirk from Utah
To Matt Rimmer, you mentioned you had a lot of information on pilot Xenophon Eugenedes killed flying a P38 in Wales. I am his niece. I would surely appreciate any information you could give me on him and the crash.
Tue Nov 27 09:29:24 2007
Eddie Vickers from Sherborne Dorset
We had a caravan at Penllyn from 1954 to 1975 and spent every summer there whilst my father was a volunteer fireman on the Talyllyn Railway. We had a Landrover fitted with ex hospital Dettol tanks on the front which were filled up early on from the only water supply in the farmyard. I have good reason to be grateful to Alun Pugh's cousin, John's daughter, who nursed me when I spent a week in Tywyn Hospital, I think her name was Elizabeth. I well remember Alun, Jane and their father David (Dei)especially a trip up Happy Valley in their old car/van. I still occasionally visit Tywyn a! nd have friends living there. I missed seeing Ann again on a visit to the area when she had to go for further treatment and died not long after.
Wed Oct 31 16:56:01 2007
John Holland from Cheshire
I am the current owner of Morfa Camp, purchasing it from the MoD in 2002. The flying fortress was lost flying from North Africa and managed to spot RAF Towyn at the last moment before heading towards Ireland. The aircraft was put down halfway over the grass field and came to rest on a gun emplacement bordering the mined beach catching fire. The Americans on board jumped out carrying bananas, they did not know where they were! The B17 was a total write-off and scrapped, no crew were injured.
Fri Oct 19 11:32:10 2007
Norman Ford, Kerrville, Texas, USA
Between ages 9-14 (1930-35) I lived in Old Tywyn and attended both the primary and county schools. At age 11, I learned to ride a Raleigh Roadster bike with rod brakes on the Old Prom and was soon cycling all over Meirionydd. For a kid, Tywyn was completely safe and I roamed the mountains on foot, especially Escuan Hill, with a faithful dog as my only companion. Tywyn left its stamp on me forever. I became an avid environmentalist, mountain hiker and touring cyclist and I still cycle regularly at 86. I last visited Tywyn in 1997, cycling in through Cwm Maithlin, and despite the cars and growth, I'd still recommend it as an ideal place to live, raise children or retire.
Fri Jul 20 09:34:52 2007
Gwyn Davies from Tywyn now Manchester
Delyth, I have fond memories of Ann Pugh Penllyn. Miss Pugh was my class teacher at Pen y Bryn in about 1964/5She was absolutely great. I remember her before she became Mrs Evans. I remember her going down Ffordd Dyfrig on her bike to see how the development was growing, I suppose she knew she was buing one of the new houses, and she had a hair up in a bun on the back of her head. A few years later I can remember her sister in law, Rebecca Pugh coming into class to say that Mrs Evans had a baby, Edward John. Very Happy Memories.
Wed Jul 11 11:34:00 2007
ken jones from Coventry
I still would like Matt Rimmers information on that Flying Fortress that crashed in Tywyn all those years ago if that is possible. I think it was heading for an airfield at Llanbedr. Also the Ack Ack Gunners practice is still vivid in my memory, I can still see those explosions of smoke all around the drogue towed behind an aircraft - obviously not live ammunition - usually over the sea a little way out from the sea front.
Tue Apr 10 10:29:29 2007
KenJones,Coventry.
Pleased that Matt Rimmer can confirm the Flying Fortress crash in Tywyn approx 1943. After recalling the memories of so long ago, you do start to wonder if you are imagining these events, similarly some other stories on Tywyn web-site confirms the Commando DUKW practice landings on the sea-front and the Commandos using this area for their training - I wasn't dreaming it after all. Tywyn and Corris played their part towards the D.Day landings, "the beginning of the end of the War in Europe".
Thu Feb 15 09:12:22 2007
The small seaside community of Tywyn draws in many new residents. Members of the Tywyn Over 60s club reveal why they upped sticks and made the town their new home.
