Nostalgic memories of Porthcawl's local history
Share your own memories of Porthcawl and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 27 in total
This train belonged to my dad in the 80's, his name was Jack Whittaker and his work partner was Dougie Smith. They also ran the kiosk next to the train which sold sweets, candyfloss etc. Sadly my dad passed away in 2006, but would love to know who remembers him. Wonderful childhood memories..
I was born in Bridgend Hospital and lived in Porthcawl until I left for the bright lights of London in 1965. My godfather was Sir Leslie Joseph and until he moved up to Dan-y-Craig he lived a few doors from my grandad in New Road. I have such happy memories of the pavilion where we all used to spend our Saturday nights. My dad was on the local council and was in charge of entertainments so I got in for free. I still ...see more
My bungalow was built in 1911. Can anyone tell me if it is anything to do with Oletha 1901? It is strange it has the same unusual name 'Oletha'.
My father Jim Blayney, worked for Sir Lesley Joseph and was general manger of Trecco Bay and also Works Manager of Coney Beach. My brother and I had a very happy childhood playing around the fairground, it was in those days a very safe place to be. We lived in a company house on Rhych Point, our neighbours were the Palmers, Nelly and Noah and their sons and their wives, Basil and Margaret and Noah and ...see more
In 1958/59 my mother-in-law Elsie Pugh has been cleaning the toilets for several years in Trecco Bay together with her husband Albert. My husband Roy Griffiths also worked on the site. We got married in 1960 and went to live in Trecco Bay in 1961. Leslie Joseph owned it and Major Kelly and Tom Evans were the bosses and Ernie Tanner was the tractor driver. His wife was Beryl. The rest of Roy's family worked on the ...see more
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. ...see more
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 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.
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 ...see more
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 ...see more