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Bournemouth, the Pier 1908
Bournemouth, the Pier 1908 Ref: 61180
Memories of Bournemouth, the Pier
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Speculation
My brother and I think this maybe a photo of our Grandfather and our Great Uncle followed by our Grandmother and our Great Aunts (the two gentlemen with dark jackets and light trousers, one carrying a stick or brolly). Last edited: 05/06/2007 10:03 by Raymond Garfield |
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My Family
The photo is similar to one in my personal collection. The two gentlemen in the forefront of the picture are my Grandfather & my Great Uncle, two of the ladies behind them are my Great Aunts, the other became my Grandmother. Last edited: 30/09/2006 02:22 by Raymond Garfield |
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Bournemouth & local memories
Read and share memories of Bournemouth and Dorset inspired by Frith photos
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Year: 1930s
The House Beautiful
Does anybody remember the big house on the corner of Derby Road, it was at the junction of a main road, the name of which I cannot remember now. We used to call it 'The House Beautiful' whether that was the proper name for it I never knew. This house was where children used to go to for a holiday, my holiday there was arranged by our church at that time (we lived in London), my parents could not afford holidays in those days so mine was arranged by our church. It was a big place large beautiful gardens and all the children were looked after by nurses. At meal times we all went to the big dining room and I remember the Matron there always used to have a parrot sitting alongside her table on a perch, when Matron wanted to keep the children quiet the parrot used to schreech out "QUIET" and everybody became silent to listen to what Matron had to say. When it was time to go to the beach we all had to line up in twos and walk across the main road and down through a walkway to the top of the cliffs and then down a winding path to the beach. When it was time to go home we were given gifts, on my last visit just before WW2 broke out I was given a pull along railway engine which I could sit in, I had that engine for years afterwards, it was dark green in colour. I hope somebody can remember 'The House Beautiful" and whatever happened to it, more than likely it became a hotel I suppose, but I shall always remember it as a marvelous place to be. Posted: 30/07/2008 13:31 by Ted George |
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Year: 1949
Family Holidays
My dad always ensured that we had a "fortnight's" family holiday each year. A fortnight was 2 weeks - ie fourteen nights. These holidays started in 1949, when I was seven and continued to up to 1958 when I was 16. In 1949 and 1950 we went to Bournemouth. We stayed at the same guest house for each of the two years. It was in Portland Road, Bournemouth. The detached house was of 1930's design. The guest house was run by a Mr & Mrs Fox. Mrs Fox scared me. She was a stout woman in her fifties and had grey hair pulled back into a bun. Up close you could see hairs growing out of some large warts on her face which always wore a severe, unsmiling expression. Inside, I remember only the dining room. It had dark furniture; and I recall a sideboard which Mrs Fox always kept locked. Remember, it was 1949 and 1950 when we stayed there and food rationing was still in existence. Dad had to give her the relevant coupons from our Ration Books when we arrived so that she could supply us with butter and eggs and meat during our stay. Portland Road was quite a way inland from the sea. This meant having to take a bus each day. There were two ways of getting to the seafront, by motor-bus from a stop in nearby Pine Road which took you to The Lansdowne, or by trolleybus from Charminster Road which took you to The Square. I always preferred the motor-bus but Mum and Dad liked the trolleybus, as The Square was much more conveniently situated for the shops and the beach. So the trolleybus generally prevailed. The Bournemouth beaches were, and still are, beautifully sandy, like a beach is supposed to be. As well as the main beach, it also boasts excellent beaches at the 3 nearby "chines"; Durley Chine, Alum Chine and Branksome Chine. We mostly went to Durley Chine as it was the nearest and could be walked to. Alum Chine was my favourite but we rarely went there. Branksome Chine was furthest and required a bus trip. I usually opted for this as my second favourite. The bus was a green Hants and Dorset one which operated out of Bournemouth Bus Station which was a tremendous place, now sadly no more as it was destroyed in a fire in the 1970s. The real treat, however, was a trip to Shell Bay. Now this was a really great outing. Again the trip was by Hants and Dorset bus from the Bus Station, only the Shell Bay buses were special. They were single decker Bristol KG5's but because they had to use the ferry from Sandbanks in order to reach Shell Bay they had a very recognisable back end. In order not to scrape the ferry ramps when loading or unloading, the bodywork at the rear was "chamfered" at an acute angle. This made them instantly recognisable on the road. Bournemouth holidays were always special because we regularly ate at the Forte's Restuarant. These resturants only opened after the war so were really new. They were chrome and formica affairs that sold not only fish and chips, egg and chips etc. but was also featured an ice cream parlour which sold milkshakes! I tasted my first ever milkshake in the Bournemouth Forte's. We used to go there for lunch and Dad would treat me to something with chips and a milkshake. An added attraction was the fact that Forte's was adjacent to the Bus Station. This meant that while the others were finishing their meals, I could nip next door to the Bus Station. It was a two-tier affair. Local buses used the road level area whilst long-distance coach services used the basement. It was from here that classic Royal Blue coaches destined for London used to depart. Oh, the joy of witnessing one of those Royal Blue beauties roaring up out of the basement, with its distinctive cream decals and double rear window was indescribable! The throaty sound of its Bristol diesel engine, sheer bliss. One of my regrets is that I never got to ride on one these coaches but only have the memories of seeing them in action at Bournemeouth. Better that than nothing at all. Thank you Dad - and thank you Bournemouth for such lovely memories! Last edited: 09/06/2008 10:35 by Roy Beiley |
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Year: 1964
Summer Of 64
In June 1964 a group of us Belfast grammar school boys crossed the sea to Liverpool and took the long coach journey south to spend the school summer vacation working in the Bournemouth beach cafes. Three of us shared a bedroom at Pat and Alvin's, a short bus ride from the town centre. Our "digs" cost just £1.10s a week each, out of a wage of £5 at the beach cafes. The cafe provided lunch and in the evening we dined at the Golden Griddle in the Square. We all smoked in those days and were able to buy clothes out of our pay packets:the fashions that summer were bell-bottom jeans, pink shirts and grey crewnecks. We grew our school regulation short-back-and sides down to our shoulders. In the two months we stayed in Bournemouth it rained one afternoon, that was all. Of course we were incarcerated in the dark steamy wash-ups of the cafe during the blazing daytime hours. But the evenings were mellow and divine; we seemed to float in the softness, between the pier and the gardens. Bournemouth had a continental feeling about it. We sang Irish folk songs, sitting on the grass, as the light slowly failed. We would visit the bowling alley and eat chips before getting back to bed by about half-past-ten. Later there was llght-hearted flirtation and romance with a group of local girls. Whatever became of little blonde Carol, I wonder? It was one of those summers of youth to last forever as a glow of enchantment in the memory. I was 16 then and will be 60 next year. When we got home to Belfast our long hair and pink shirts caused heads to turn along Royal Avenue. We came back feeling like a pop group. Posted: 21/09/2007 10:24 by John Mcmillan |
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 Bournemouth, the Pier 1908 (ref: 61180) |
Speculation
My brother and I think this maybe a photo of our Grandfather and our Great Uncle followed by our Grandmother and our Great Aunts (the two gentlemen with dark jackets and light trousers, one carrying a stick or brolly). Last edited: 05/06/2007 10:03 by Raymond Garfield |
|
Add your Memory
Add a comment Add to your Album
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Bournemouth, the Pier 1908 (ref: 61180) |
My Family
The photo is similar to one in my personal collection. The two gentlemen in the forefront of the picture are my Grandfather & my Great Uncle, two of the ladies behind them are my Great Aunts, the other became my Grandmother. Last edited: 30/09/2006 02:22 by Raymond Garfield |
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Add your Memory
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