Memories of Porthcawl

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.