Sunday 31 July 2016

QUIZ QUESTION # 149


Above is a stone or plaster carving in Rhyl depicting a medieval-looking building such as a castle or church.
The question: Where would you find it?

Below is a classical design bearing the inscription Rhyl Urban District Council 1900.
The question: Where would you find it?


You need both answers correct to score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 6th August 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk


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QUIZ ANSWER # 148


In last Sunday's quiz I said that the man shown above was well known around here in 1970s and 1980s. The question: What is his name?
The answer: Sir Anthony Meyer.
He was Member of Parliament for local constituencies from 1970-1992 taking over from Nigel Birch. He was a pro-Europe Conservative. He did not get on well with Margaret Thatcher PM, stood against her in contest for party leader, and switched to Liberal Democrats late in life. You can read about Sir Anthony Meyer in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Anthony_Meyer,_3rd_Baronet

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Also I said that the woman below was known around here even earlier until even later. The question: What is her name?


The answer Beata Brookes.
She was a politician/social worker/farmer who served on Rhyl Urban District Council, Clwyd Health Authority and as a Member of European Parliament for North Wales. In 1970 she failed narrowly to beat Sir Anthony Meyer in being selected as Tory candidate and never did manage to become an MP. She turned UKIP late in life. You can read about Ms Brookes in Wikipedia:

I like this 1950s/'60s photo of her on the campaign trail:


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Scoring 1 win for the 2 correct answers:
Roger Jones, Moira Evans, Jane Shuttle, Shirley Quinn, The Great Gareth, Sue Handley.

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Wednesday 27 July 2016

BLENCATHRA AT MORANEDD


The name of Blencathra School has cropped up several times in this blog. It was a private school for girls in Russell Road. But before that it was in a house named Moranedd in East Parade, most often remembered as the Grange Hotel (recently demolished - all gone).
Here is a school prospectus from Moranedd days:

 
Click on any image to see a bigger version.


 

 

 

This rare document was sent by Angie Bhatia. It belonged to a family friend the late Daisy Murcott (who may or may not have been a Blencathra girl). Daisy followed her father Alfred Murcott into an international trading business and she was very committed to animal welfare.

If it had not been for Daisy holding on to the prospectus for many years, and Angie taking the trouble to send it here to Rhyl Life, the document may have been consigned to oblivion. The two ladies have done Rhyl history a favour.

My thanks and best wishes to Angie and her husband in Birmingham.

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The following references are added here for indexing purposes:
Alexander principal, Hiley head, Haselden violin, Bartholemew piano, Hutchings painting, Coulter elocution, Broom dancing, Byrne gymnastics sports, Bishop of St Asaph, Archdeacon Lloyd Rhyl, Wycliffe Goodwin, Anson Alexandra Hospital, Moreton Pritchard, Madocks Denbigh, Fair St Asaph, Eyton St Asaph, Kelly Rhyl, F J Gamlin.

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Sunday 24 July 2016

QUIZ QUESTION # 148


The man shown above was well known around here in 1970s and 1980s. 
The question: What is his name?

The woman below was known around here even earlier until even later.
The question: What is her name?
  

You need both answers correct to score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 30th July 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk


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QUIZ ANSWER # 147


Last Sunday I posted the above photograph taken this year in Rhyl. The question: By what name is the green patch usually known? You were looking for four words.

The answer: Tynewydd Road Playing Field(s).
Photographed by Fred Burns who was standing in Ffordd Anwyl. The green patch is earmarked for a scheme that would incorporate a Rhyl Rugby Club pitch to replace the one in Waen near St. Asaph. You can read the story in Daily Post:

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Also I posted a picture of a plate on which words were hidden by rows of black dots. The question: What are the three missing words?
The answer: English Methodist Church.
Unofficially known as the Bath Street Methodist Church, the building still exists. Last I heard it was being used by a spiritualist church group. Here is an undoctored picture of the plate:


Scoring 1 win for Tynewydd and/or 1 win for English Methodist Church:
Sue Handley 2, Dilys Bagnall 1, The Great Gareth 2 [Gareth has reached 100 wins], Jane Shuttle 2 [not far behind].

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Wednesday 20 July 2016

GOLDEN DAYS


Frequent contributor Dave Williams has turned out to be son of Albert Williams the tenor sax player who ran a music shop named Box & Co. (formerly Box & Stansfield) at 14 Water Street, Rhyl - a forerunner of Price Evans Music Shop.


Dave has supplied the following rarity, a copy of a 1951 programme of entertainment at Golden Sands holiday camp in Kinmel Bay. His father Albert is bottom left in the green picture: 



Click on the image to see small print.


Also mentioned in the programme are Joe Holroyd of Manchester Rep & Little Theatre, and Angela Day who was the subject of a recent quiz question. Interestingly, Angela is listed as a BBC artiste - thereby must hang a tale as yet untold.

The following references are added here for indexing purposes: 
James Clark bandleader, Gordon Jones (later known as Gordon Jay), Madame Jones, Uncle Jack childrens entertainer, Punch and Judy, Jimmy the talking doll, Raymond Thornley.

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Here is another tasty item from Dave Williams, a photo taken circa 1970 at Golden Sands: 

Golden Sands Holiday Camp, Kinmel Bay

Left to right: Billy or Bill Roberts (trumpet), Albert Williams again (tenor sax, bandleader), 'Uncle Vic' Dodd (double bass), George Bazeley pronounced Bazley (clarinet), Benny Humphries (drums), and Rod Williams at the piano.

Bill Roberts taught Vic Dodd to play bass. Vic was son-in-law of Arthur Jones who owned Golden Sands and the Robin Hood camp in Rhyl. Vic ended up as General Manager of the camps.

The musicians in the photo had day jobs; they were semi-pro musicians but were players of very high calibre according to my contact, Morgan Borthwick ex-Secretary of the local Musicians' Union branch.

In agreement is Brian Pendleton who was Entertainments Manager at Golden Sands in the 1950s and then Robin Hood until 1975. Brian lives in St. Asaph; I hope to go and visit him soon and run barefoot through his treasure trove of memories.

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TUE 26th JUL 2016 UPDATE: Re: day jobs, the trumpeter Bill Roberts was a gas fitter / pianist Rod Williams had a grocer's shop in Mostyn / George Bazeley was manager of the abattoir in Ffordd Las, Rhyl / Benny Humphries lived in Rhyl and was a rep for Callard & Bowser confectionery.
This info comes from Brian Pendleton. Thanks, Brian.

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TUE 20th SEP 2016 UPDATE: To add flavour here is an old  postcard of Golden Sands camp:

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Sunday 17 July 2016

QUIZ QUESTION # 147


The above photograph was taken this year in Rhyl.
The question: By what name is the green patch usually known?
You are looking for four words.
The correct answer would score 1 win.

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Below is a plate on which words are hidden by rows of black dots:


The question: What are the three missing words?

The correct answer would score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 23rd July 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk


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QUIZ ANSWER # 146


Last Sunday I posted this: an unusual sight above a shop in Rhyl town centre. The question: What is the name of the shop?
The answer: Kavick's Bazaar.
The shop sells discounted household goods at 15 Wellington Road, photographed this year on a dull day by Yours Truly:

Kavick's Bazaar, YMCA, William Hill

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Also I posted the following photo taken this year of a house in Rhyl. The question: What is currently the name of the house?


The answer: Canterbury House.
Residential care home and nursing home at 77 Dyserth Road, photographed by Fred Burns who was standing in Cae Gruffydd to confuse you.

Scoring 1 win for Kavick's Bazaar and/or 1 win for Canterbury House:
The Great Gareth 1, Dilys Bagnall 1, Jane Shuttle 1 and Sue Handley 1.

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The following references are added here for indexing purposes: YMCA Rhyl, William Hill Wellington Road.

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PRINCES STREET


No good for a quiz picture, got to be Princes Street. The item is a postcard dated 1913 from E. Davies who had recently taken up residence at No. 26 (marked with an X) advising Mr. H. Harris of Wolverhampton of the new address. I would love to see one of these cards in good condition – it’s a Rae Pickard photograph!

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MON 11th JUN 2018 UPDATE: On the subject of Canterbury House, this week it is the subject of bad publicity. See Daily Post:

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Saturday 16 July 2016

WALES IN MOTION

Plaid Cymru

This is Carmarthen where today a Plaid Cymru Special Conference voted in favour of a motion that reiterates the party's commitment to securing independence for Wales in Europe:

Special Conference Motion
On June 23rd the people of Wales voted by a narrow margin in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.  Plaid Cymru campaigned for a different outcome but respects the result as the expression of the democratic will of the Welsh people.  We also recognise that the people of Scotland voted in favour of remaining in the European Union and support the right of the Scottish people to chart their own future, including, if necessary, through a new independence referendum.
It is essential now that the national movement seeks to defend the interests of all people in Wales, regardless of how they voted, in this changing political landscape. 

11.       Protecting Wales’s Interests
1.1. The immediate task is to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully considered in the long and complicated process of leaving the EU.
1.2. Plaid Cymru believes that the Article 50 TEU process should be triggered only when a clear strategy has been developed for exit, including the identification of which parts of EU law we wish to retain in Wales.
1.3. Plaid Cymru will:
 1.3.1.        Demand that the Welsh Government is fully involved in the UK negotiations at every stage.  We call on the government in Wales to establish a team of expert negotiators.
 1.3.2.        Call on the Welsh Government to establish a team of advisors who can give specialist information to the newly established Assembly Committee on External Affairs and Additional Negotiations and to the negotiators.
 1.3.3.        Call on the UK to adopt a new and expanded regional policy with a needs-based formula to compensate in full for the loss of EU funding.
 1.3.4.        Insist that any powers repatriated to the UK are devolved to Wales.
 1.3.5.        Explore with EFTA the potential for Wales benefitting from the European Economic Area’s version of the Structural Funds (EEA Grants).
 1.3.6.        Call on the Welsh and UK Governments to agree a comprehensive plan of emergency economic assistance, a Marshall Plan for the Welsh Economy.
 1.3.7.        Demand new powers over taxation for the Welsh Government, including corporation tax, Value Added Tax, Air Passenger Duty, R&D Tax Credits, Capital Allowances, Patent Box etc.
 1.3.8.        Call for the expansion of Borrowing Powers for Wales to support a new programme of Government funded and Government sponsored investment, including through the new Development Bank and National Infrastructure Commission.
 1.3.9.        Call for the UK’s role in the European Investment Bank to be maintained.  If this is not successful then a new Investment Bank of the Isles should be established to cover the four UK constituent nations and the Republic of Ireland.  The Welsh Government should bid for this new Bank to be headquartered in Cardiff.
 1.3.10.    Insist that if negotiations for Brexit involve a Norway-type solution, which includes provisions for both single market access and full, or qualified, free movement of people, it must be explicitly endorsed either by another referendum or by a substantive motion approved by both Westminster and the National Assembly of Wales.

22.       Protecting Citizens’ Rights
 2.1. The decision to leave the EU has the potential to impact negatively on the rights and life chances of the citizens of our country.  We will:
 2.1.1.        Insist that the residency rights of all citizens of Wales are respected, including those of EU Nationals, who are welcome in our country and make a hugely valuable contribution to our society, our economy and the diversity of our cultural life.
 2.1.2.        Existing protections at work, including the rights of women, disabled people and the LGBT community, must be maintained. Many of these have been accumulated over decades and are now enshrined in EU law and used every day by thousands of Welsh workers – including access to paid annual holidays, improved health and safety protection and equal treatment rights for part-time workers. EU law has also extended rights to equal pay and strengthened protection from sex discrimination. The EU promotes the active inclusion and full participation of disabled people in society. We must fight to retain the gains made.

33.       Agriculture and Environment
 3.1. Much of the legislation to protect the environment in Wales emanates from European directives and agreements. Membership of the EU has given farmers access to a huge single market; the ability to protect the origin of Welsh food and direct support payments for farmers and funds for rural communities. We will:
  3.1.1.        Insist that current environmental law is retained unless legislated for differently by the National Assembly.
  3.1.2.        Demand full devolution of energy policy, including across the Irish Sea, and continue European co-operation and co-ordination on climate change targets and objectives.
  3.1.3.        Urge a swift review of the rural development programme to ensure its relevance to the new economic circumstances.
  3.1.4.        Advocate the maintenance of the current funding envelope for rural communities and farmers and the development of a distinct agriculture and fisheries policy for Wales.
  3.1.5.        Prioritise a trade deal to ensure continued access to EU markets for agricultural and fishing produce.

44.       Race
4.1. Plaid Cymru notes with dismay the negative impact the EU referendum has had on ethnic minorities in Wales.
4.2. This conference condemns the divisive tone of the Leave Campaign and the racial hatred it has incited. It is frightening to see the reported rise in racist incidents in our communities since the referendum. 
4.3. Plaid Cymru reaffirms its position as an inclusive party that extends a welcome to all nationalities in Wales.  Migrants have contributed immensely to our country and this conference reassures foreign nationals residing here that they remain valued members of our society.
4.4. The EU upholds principles of cooperation and unity and, at every opportunity, we will maintain and strengthen Wales’s national identity as an inclusive, progressive bond for the common good. 

55.       Youth
5.1. This conference notes that leaving the European Union will result in a series of lost opportunities for young people in Wales. 
5.2. Having access to schemes such as Erasmus+ and the right to study in the European Union broadens horizons and opens doors for thousands.
5.3. The Horizon 2020 research funding enables Welsh universities to compete on a world stage and provide world class education.
5.4. EEA countries have access to the Horizon 2020 and Erasmus programmes which underlines the attraction of that option.
5.5. Plaid Cymru further notes how 18-24 year olds voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.
5.6. Plaid Cymru will insist that the UK government makes every effort to cushion the impact leaving the EU has on the prospects of young people in Wales.
5.7. To further engage young people in politics and ensure their voice is heard, Plaid Cymru will continue to call for votes to be given to 16 and 17 year olds.
5.8. We also reaffirm our commitment to providing political education to young people in Wales to enrich democracy.

66.       The future of Wales in Europe
6.1. Plaid Cymru reiterates its commitment to independence in Europe as our vision of Wales’s future.  We accept the mandate that the referendum represents for the UK leaving the EU. The focus now turns to the future relationship with the EU for which there are a range of options.   We will:
 6.1.1.        Push for constitutional and legal arrangements to be put in place to enable a speedy independence referendum for Wales should Scotland vote in favour of independence from the United Kingdom. Ensuring the arrangements are in place is necessary to be able to benefit from the new constitutional situation including, (but not limited to) giving an independent Scotland “successor” or “continuator state” status within the European Union.
 6.1.2.        Demand a future relationship with the EU which includes direct access to the single market given the vital importance of securing Wales’s export markets, especially in manufacturing.  We will resist any effort to negotiate enhanced access for financial services to the detriment or exclusion of our manufacturing sector.
 6.1.3.        Explore all available options to secure this objective, but our interim conclusion is that membership of the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area is likely to be the best available option for Wales.
 6.1.4.        Press the Welsh Government, should the UK Government choose an exit path which excludes Wales from the single market, to explore all available options to achieve an autonomous solution for Wales.  This may include negotiating a special trading status for Wales directly with the European Union, as currently being explored by other devolved legislatures, as well as associate membership of EFTA (as currently being pursued by the Faroe Islands).  The Welsh Government should reserve the right to use any veto power it possesses to seek the best deal for Wales and call a Wales-only referendum on the terms of any special deal negotiated for Wales in order to establish its democratic legitimacy.
 6.1.5.        We endeavour to maintain the exciting relationship between the people of Wales and small European nations while working to secure the rights of minority language speakers and promote the use of Welsh.
 
77.       The future of Wales in these islands
7.1. We believe in a new relationship among the nations of these islands based on equality and partnership not the supremacy of the Westminster Parliament.
7.2. We believe in an evolutionary path to self-government but recognise that the United Kingdom may cease to exist in less than two years’ time if the people Scotland decide to support independence in a forthcoming referendum, and/or the people of northern Ireland opt for Irish unity in a subsequent vote.  It is important that contingency plans are drawn up for the future of our country in this rapidly changing context.  
7.3. Under these historically unprecedented conditions we call on the Welsh Government to establish a National Convention on Wales’s Future:
   7.3.1.        To decide on the best future relationship with Europe for Wales with the UK outside the EU.
   7.3.2.        To develop proposals for a new constitutional settlement across the UK.
   7.3.3.        To develop contingency plans on the constitutional options for Wales in the event of the United Kingdom ceasing to exist following a YES vote in a Scottish second referendum.
7.4. In the context of the Convention Plaid Cymru will propose:
   7.4.1.        A radical confederal rewriting of the current UK constitution, including the abolition of the House of Lords in its present form and the establishment of fully sovereign parliaments in each constituent nation which freely choose where to pool their sovereignty in areas of common interest.
   7.4.2.        A multi-option referendum on Wales’s constitutional future in the event of the UK ceasing to exist, in which all options, including independence in Europe, will be presented for consideration by the Welsh people.  

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Wednesday 13 July 2016

PHOTOSHOOT AT THE BRICKIE



The large pond and nature reserve on the former Brickworks site in Rhyl South West is a popular destination for walks and a pleasant place to while away a summer afternoon.

According to Denbighshire Countryside Services who look after the site, the name is Pwll y Brickfield or Brickfield Pond (the singular form) although people tend to say Brickfields (plural).

To fuel the confusion, both the singular form and plural are used on signs at the site. Oh, what’s in a name? Let’s settle for The Brickie.

Last month my pal Fred Burns the photographer popped over to there on my behalf and took a set of pictures which I have edited for my YouTube channel RhylTime.

To see shots from The Brickie in a slideshow please click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmE5IQdm-Fg

YouTube is a bit of a jumble. Only the videos marked RhylTime are mine.

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Sunday 10 July 2016

QUIZ QUESTION # 146


Above is an unusual sight above a shop in Rhyl town centre.
The question: What is the name of the shop?
The correct answer would score one win.

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Below is a photograph taken this year of a house in Rhyl:


The question: What is currently the name of the house?
The correct answer would score 1 win.

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You have until the end of Saturday 16th July 2016 to send your entry. The result will appear on this blog next day around noon.

Colin Jones / email: rhyl.colin.jones@live.co.uk


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QUIZ ANSWER # 145


Last Sunday I posted this picture of the old Pavilion. The question: What is the nearest date - 1913, 1923, 1933 or 1943?
The answer 1933.
If you clicked on the image to see a bigger version you might have noticed the name Syd Seymour over the main entrance:


Mr. Seymour and his Mad Hatters Band played a number of seaside resorts in that year and Rhyl was one of them. The show was broadcast on BBC Radio; the following is from BBC Archives:

broadcast

Funny to think there was a comedian named Lenny Henry long ago! The Ten Hazel Hastings Girls were a resident act at the Pavilion, not part of the touring show.

If you are wondering what the crazy Mad Hatters Band was like, you could see them on YouTube:

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Also I posted the following 1970s photos of Rhyl buses. The buses are NOT in Rhyl and NOT in the same other place. Question: Where are they?


The answer: St. Asaph (upper photo) and Denbigh.
Many times I stood at that bus stop in Lenten Pool after visiting my parents who used to live in Denbigh, Bryn Garth at first and then Bryn Seion.

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Scoring 1 win for 1933 and/or 1 win for the two buses: Richard & Ceri Swinney 2, Sue Handley 1, The Great Gareth 2, Jane Shuttle 1.

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The following references are added here for indexing purposes:
Leonard Henry, Jaqueline piano, Billy Rawson, Alfred Grant singer, Leslie Glenroy, Norah Savage, Ten Hazel Hastings Girls, Ed W Jones producer.

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Saturday 9 July 2016

EURO-OLOGY # 4

A55 at Pantasaph

The future relationship between the UK and the European Union remains in a fog – and so do the possible alternatives.

There are countries, including Switzerland and Iceland, trading freely with the European Union without having to accept EU laws, but they DO have to accept free movement of people.

[I don’t know why the UK fails to understand that labour is a moveable commodity. Great Britain had no difficulty in grasping the principle when buying captive African people and selling them as slaves.]

Now the proposed message from the UK to prospective new partners overseas sounds like, “We intend to make big profits selling goods and services to you, but your people can’t come and live and work here.”

Hmmmm.

Anti-EU activist Mr. Farage has resigned from his political party UKIP and slipped away into the fog before Leave voters realise he sold them a pup.

Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, has envisaged a redesigned UK with Wales, England, Ireland, and Scotland as independent entities. Sounds good to me.

Meanwhile the rush to become less British is on.

A friend has a Liverpool-French wife who is trying to get French nationality for the whole family so the two sons could keep their EU passports. The Irish Embassy is rushed off its feet with applications for Irish citizenship (the Republic is not leaving the EU no matter what the UK does).

One or two Welsh businesses are rumoured to be considering Ireland a possible place for relocation. Some businesses in the North of England, with an eye on the future, are said to be wondering whether to move to Scotland.

Nobody knows what to do for the best. The fog has descended.

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Illustration: Fog on the A55 at Pantasaph (Daily Post, 2015).

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