Abergwyngregyn, Valley 1896

A wet weekend in Wales!

I used to work and study in Manchester for several years in the 1960's and frequently travelled back to my home town of Hatch End to see my girlfriend, Angela Chapuis. Sometimes she would come up north to see me. One wet weekend in April 1967 Angela and I set off from Manchester to visit North Wales in my old car.  We stayed in youth hostels and hoped to climb Snowdon as both of us enjoyed outdoor adventures with the scouts and guides over the years. We were beaten back by appalling weather so she took me to nearby Llanfairfechan to see her grandparents instead. The warm cottage was a most welcome respite. I have not seen Llanfairfechan since 1967 and expect it is now much changed! I still have the postcards that Angela and I sent to my parents on that trip.

Morris Dancing

I am Jean Jackson (now Jean Gwynne), I lived in Llafaes Estate from 1947, and I also remember David Mills and Mary Quinn, I moved to 19 Bryn Teg when I was 6 and became a member of the Morris Dancing Team, other people I remember from that time are Betty Evans, Joyce Painter and Linda Jones, who I have never seen since those days.
When I returned to Beaumaris a few years ago on holiday, I took Alan my husband to see my junior school and where I lived, we also met that day Rosemary Evans, Becky Evans, Rita Davies and many others who I had not seen for 40 years.
When we visited the church I was very surprised and pleased to see Mrs Stanley who with her husband Stan used to have the butchers shop on the corner of Castle Street and Church Street.

Beaumaris Boating Pool

I believe this was a classed as a boating pool. I used to bring my father's 1930's model steamboat here and run it to the amazement of onlookers. There weren't many model steamboats around in the 1950s although they have since become more popular. The old steamboat is still with me and still gets an occasional run. Toy yachts were the usual sight on the pool. I once made a very small electric boat using a home-made varnished paper hull with a tiny electric motor and a battery. I'm pleased to say the pool is still there and in use - well done, Beaumaris Council. The Blue Peter Lifeboat Station now stands between the pool and the sea. The Pier was also altered many years ago. It was shortened and had the fine old pavilion replaced with a sort of timber 'bus shelter'. At least Beaumaris still has its very popular pier.
Now, where did I put my steamboat?

Chris and Mike sail their blue yachts

Myself and older brother are the two boys on the right of the picture. That day we had been treated to a new blue yacht. We had returned to live on Anglesey as our father was working overseas.

That yacht held such memories that I bought one for my own son twenty-five years later and still have it to this day.

I bought this post card some years ago but the picture was cropped just to the right of the boy in the foreground.

Llanfaes Estate

David Mills lived at #3, I lived at #11. Mansell Grifthiths, Dianna Lucas, Jean Jackson, Mary Quin all lived on the same street. I ended up in Vancouver. What happened to everyone?