On Fontygary Beach 1937, Rhoose
On Fontygary Beach 1937, Rhoose Ref: 87960x
Memories of On Fontygary Beach 1937, Rhoose
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Rhoose & local memories
Read and share memories of Rhoose and South Glamorgan inspired by Frith photos.
Resident
I lived at the camp with my family around 1958. I was then put into a children's homes in Swansea. My mother moved to London and divorced my father. I had virtually no contact with her after this until approx year 2000. She told me that the "Captain" at the camp was not very nice and used to pick at her - so she moved us all out. Any more info available about this place at that time would be appreciated. I was about 3 years old. My mother's name was Cristabel. There were about 5 or 6 of us staying there. I myself have no bad memories of this camp, I could read before I went to primary school.
Fontigary Caravan Site.
I remember visiting Fontigary Bay Caravan Site with my family during the late 50s and early 60s. The caravans used to cost about £3 a week to hire. They didn't have toilets, of course, and we had to use the site's communal shower/toilet block. I can remember my dad lighting the gas mantles each evening. The beach was reached via steps - quite a few steps, if my memory serves me correctly - and the bottom steps were always slippery with green slime. I used to be a bit scared of the cliffs, because I thought they might fall at any moment. My brother once found a fossil of a sea urchin in a pebble. They used to serve delicious milkshakes in the restaurant. There was also a fish and chip shop near the entrance to the site, by the railway bridge. Wonderful memories.
Rhoose Camp
Does anyone remember the camp where women and children stayed when they lost their home or were abused by husbands? Mr Hughes was the man in charge, he wasn't very nice. It was a great place for little ones who didn't know what was going on. I went to the girls' school in Barry. We were taunted on the bus as if we were trash, it wasn't the kids' fault they were there, or my mother's as it happens. We moved to a caravan in Llanmaes for a few years then moved back to the Rhondda. They have better places for these poor unfortunates now.
CARPENTERS ARMS RHOOSE
The following is a transcription of a newspaper article written about my grandparents Annie & Arthur Hopgood. May 1952.
They took over the Carpenters Arms Rhoose in 1941. (now called the Highwayman)
‘Leader of the Band’
Many friends and customers called at the Carpenters Arms to celebrate the Golden Wedding of “Mine Hosts” Mr & Mrs A J Hopgood on Friday. As recorded in our last issue Mr & Mrs Hopgood are well known over a wide area. Mr Hopgood has an interesting record as a band musician. He started with the Royal Horse Guards as a band boy. He was then transferred to the Royal Engineers and after some years returned to Barry where he formed the Barry Dockers Band. During the 1914-1918 War he was Bandmaster of the 12th Welsh and at Kimmell. On his return he started the Barry Band which became the Red Cross Band, which won a number of trophies. Mr Hopgood became the principal trumpeter... Read more
Royal Observer Corps
My Great-grandfather, Edward Stanley Carpenter, was in the ROC during WW2. He did not fight as he had emphysemia and pneomoconiosis from the mines, but he used to lecture his colleagues on plane-spotting to inform the relevant people of all aircraft movement in their area. After the War, he joined the RNVR and eventually became a Lieutenant Commander, a rank he took with him to the Sea Scouts at TS Cossack in Barry.
Sincerely,
Caroline Scott.
