your comments
Norman Rendle, Cardiff
As an ex Victoria Park-ite one of the things I remember as a lad was dodging the "Parkie". He didn't like us using a hard ball for our cricket matches on the grass stretch adjoining Vic Park Rd West. It was matter of one eye on the ball, and the other looking out for "Parkie". Needless to say, our "pitch" was VERY near the gate! One of the contributors below (Robert Baird) I know well, having been in the same Church choir (St Luke's) as him.
Jeff Gibbs, Ely
The drinking fountain is still in the park. It is now at the Cowbridge Road end - I was part of the gang of gardeners that erected it in its new home in the mid 80s. I was born & bred in Ethel Street, a stones throw from the park & spent most of my childhood there & in Ely woods. I remember the parkie in my time was called Joe & was from Ely - great days.
Mike Bulpin Ontario Canada
I met my very first girlfriend at Victoria Park. Was less than 12 years old. I took her to a movie in Canton and visited every day for at least a month, and my parents never did know. Would it happen now? Not a chance.
Bob Baird, Markham, Ontario, Canada
I was brought up over the newsagents shop on Cowbridge Rd at the Victoria Park trolleybus stop. I was also a choir boy and server at St Lukes when Father Read was Vicar, and a member of 9th Cardiff Scouts.
Ross, London
Billy the Seal, the Clarks Pies shop and stories of my Grandfather courting my Grandmother by taking her for strolls through Victoria Park and shimmying up the old style gas lamp-posts in the evenings to light her cigarettes. Thats Vicky P for me!
Judith Smart
I was brought up in a house right opposite the park, next to St Luke's church hall (born 1940). As well as the paddling pool I remember how lovely the water tasted from the water fountain under the wrought iron 'canopy'. Also summer afternoons spent playing tennis at the tennis courts at the top of the park during my teenage years. Then the gorgeous ice-creams from the Trico or fruit from a shop which was known as Muriel's on the corner opposite
The Vic pub.
Lucas Howell from Cardiff
I remember real summers at the Park, running over to the pool in our swimming trunks, from my mates house opposite the park. Ok it was only the late 70s early 80s, but it was so the place to be for the summer holidays!
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