Porthcawl memories
Here are memories of Porthcawl and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Porthcawl or a Porthcawl photo.
Great Grandfather The Postman
The gent walking towards the camera on the street is my great-grandfather and local postman William George Gronow. One of the pictures that takes prominence in all my family's homes.
Caravan Holiday Trecco Bay
Caravan Holidays at Trecco Bay in the 1960s & 1970s were wonderful, the ride around the caravans on the old three wheeler tricycles and the wonderful times you had in the arena when there were jazz band competitions and so forth, you knew where the children where and you knew they were safe, alas all gone now but great memories.
Porthcawl
My best memories of Porthcawl are when my gran (Mrs Gwen Ware) was alive, she lived at Elm Cottage, in New Road. I was very young in the early 1970s to the very early 1980s.
Grampy used to take me to the park and Coney Beach, and every Christmas there used to be a Christmas tree in the centre of the New Road roundabout.
Used to go out in their car up along the prom and to Rest Bay.
Gran's friend nearby was Thelma Kelly who lived opposite and at the end of the drive was Jim's fish and chip shop. And there was a hairdressers on the corner run by Kathleen. I also remember a pet shop and an ironmongers, and in John's Street a police station, Lees supermarket and Woolworths.
Pete Seaton@talktalk.net
Porthcawl
My husband and I used to work in the restaurant on the front at Coney Beach, it was a seasonal job. It had a self service, a silver service, and we did functions. Mr Williams and Mr Evans were managers then. We had all meals when we were at work. I think it was owned by Sir Leslie Joseph then who also owned fair rides. We had good times there and were looked after as long as we did our work. One day an American asked me for the rest room - I called the manager as I did not know he wanted the the loo. I told him we did not have one for the public, only for staff, I thought he wanted a lie down!
Club Outing
Our ciu club in Watford came here for a weekend break. It was the Toby Club, as was called, that raised money for the old folks Xmas party. As we were from South Wales, my husband suggested we come down. What agreat time we all had!
Wartime
We were bombed out in Cardiff during the blitz in Cardiff and my father got us a house in Porthcawl. We lived on Mackworth Road. I have many happy memories of those days. I went to New Road School and then to the senior school, now a comprehhensive I think. I left Porthcawl in 1953 but still try and get back to Porthcawl every year for a short break, I wonder if any of the people I schooled with or spent my teenage years with remember me and those great nights dancing at the Grand Pavilion. John Price
Family Visit
I bought a book about Porthcawl in the town, and was delighted to find a photo of myself and my brother standing by the lake, with my mother's family sitting on the bench to the top left of the photo! They had arrived from Northern Ireland for a visit, and we always had to wear Sunday best whilst out, even to the fairground! I sent for a print, and it is now in pride of place in my hallway for everyone to see. Thanks for the memory of life in my home town
Growing Up
How wonderful to find this web site. I am the second generation of my family to be born, brought up and still live in Porthcawl. I consider myself very lucky to live here and fully appreciate both the seaside and the country which is easily and quickly accessible. Porthcawl is a great place to live it retains much of the community spirit I remember from childhood. I can still walk down John Street and meet local people I grew up with.
Carefree Days
It is lovely to see the old photos of Porthcawl. Our family used to go there every summer for a holiday in a rented bungalow, none of your mod cons then. But they were great times spent there, lots of laughter and fun. I’m talking of the early 50's, when building sand castles and a stick of rock were all you wanted. I’ve got some lovely photos of times spent there with my lovely grandmother and my aunts and uncle, special times. I have to smile now as people nowadays wouldn’t accept that old bungalow, it was very basic. And the grass outside was 2 foot high. But nobody cared in those days, it was all about finding your own enjoyment - glorious days.
Seabank Hotel
I worked for 4 years at the Seabank, the memories I have from there are so special. Being snowed in with all the staff, and the New Zealand All Blacks, the parties they held for us that weekend were amazing... Mr. Morris was the manager at the time, while all the staff would party I spent many happy times looking after his daughter Francesca who was like a younger sister to me, I named my first daughter after her. I promised myself to go back to Porthcawl, they were the nicest people I have ever met. Lorraine Swallow (married the head waiter Peppe and am now Simonelli).
Porthcawl
My first job was as a nanny to the Chess children, Oscar, Anna and Paul. Their dad had car sales rooms, one was in Port Talbot. When I got married my husband and I worked in Coney Beach, a big self service cafe on the front with a bar on the corner and a silver service part as well. We worked hard but had some good times and experience.
School Camp
My husband Stan Waite went to this camp when he was in homes in Aberdare - Llucoed. They had entertainment; after breakfast we peeled potatoes to help with dinner, after which the tuck shop opened and we bought an ice-cream, 2-3 pennies. We played on the beach, had a good time.
Memories of Mid Glamorgan
The Rail Line
I remember as kids we used to watch the trains go past Nottage Halt, to look at the old track now it is hard to imagine anything other than a tractor using it. One day we walked through the railway tunnel that used to go under Nottage, it's probably still there, though blocked off at each end.
Push And Pull
In the 1950s the push and pull train would stop at Nottage Halt if you put your handout I went frequently on the train to Pyle to watch the express trains come thundering through, I was only six and travelled on my own for the day. I remember playing on the Josephs farm on Stormy Down, happy days!
Childhood Day Trips
I am now 62 years of age and remember many coach trips to Ogmore-by-Sea from Cardiff with my parents when my brother and I were small, always thinking how cold it must be to live there in winter. Never in a million years did I think that I would actually live here and for a long time I have been trying to find a photo of the former cafe, on which our house now stands. I think I have now found it (Ref 072102) and am elated. I see that the road was called Shore Road in 1951 which has now become Main Road.
Evacuee With Thomas Family
The lovely Thomas family took me in as an evacuee during the war years, they had a daughter, Myra or similar. Sundays were special, we visited grandparents up on a hill. Moria C.M. Sunday School presented me with a Bible which I still have. Night chapel, the children had to go down the front and read a text in Welsh which I managed to get through. Mr Thomas was in the police force. I remember feeling very strange at first but they were such a lovely family I have nothing but fond memories of my stay. I have been living in Australia since 14 years of age, and am now a grand-mother of 7 grandchildren, and have three wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws.
Family in Sea View Terrace
I used to visit my grandparents Ike and Gwladys Morgan at 9 Sea View Terrace nearly every school holiday until I was 13. My sister and I loved to play on the witch's hat on the common - just across the road from our grandparent's house.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 26,164 memories of 5,731 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Bushey, Hertfordshire
- Wimbledon, Greater London
- Dartford, Kent
- Horne, Surrey
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Earby, Lancashire
- Grantham, Lincolnshire
- Croydon, Surrey
- Padgate, Cheshire
- Grasmere, Cumbria
- Bromley, Kent
- Kibblesworth, Tyne and Wear
- Hill Of Beath, Fife
- Slough, Berkshire
- Barking, Essex
- Litherland, Merseyside
- Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
- Frodsham, Cheshire
- Aldbury, Hertfordshire
- Thornley, County Durham
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
