The Plaza Cinema

These two photographs have recently been given to the club. This first one shows a queue of people waiting for admission to see “The Rebel” starring Tony Hancock. The film was released in 1961, which is presumably the year that the photo was taken. It was a British satirical film about the clash between bourgeois and bohemian cultures (culture wars are obviously not just a 21st Century thing!)

The Plaza was designed by S. Colwyn Foulkes and built between 1935-37. Shops now occupy the building. The corner, as seen here, is now the Piazza Restaurant. It stands on the corner of Sussex Street and High Street.

This second image, presumably taken at the same time, shows the side of the building and out towards the High Street. The cars and fashions are redolent of 1961 – the year that the first human entered space (Yuri Gagarin), the construction of the Berlin Wall began and the farthing coin ceased to be legal tender!

Any queries re. the copyright please contact rhylhistoryclub.@gmail.com

League of Young Citizens

Were you a member of the League of Young Citizens?  Do you still have your certificate?  The solemn promises made here are values which will still be taught in our schools today, although this charming certificate dates from c.1960.

 

May Day 1964

Mr Philip Nicholls, originally from Rhyl and now living in Western Australia, has kindly shared with us a May Day programme from fifty years ago.

 

click on images to enlarge.

 

 

 

Philip has also sent a photograph of his sister Jane Nicholls who was a train bearer in the May Day of 1964.  The photograph shows Jane in her May Day outfit taken in the Royal Floral Hall.  Jane died in a tragic accident in August of the same year.  I’m sure all our readers would like to thank Philip for sharing both the programme and the remembrance of his sister with us, and we send him our very best wishes from Rhyl.

 

 

 

 

 

Change.

Here are two views of the top of the High Street leading to the sea.  The first view is from approximately half a century ago, the second is a current view taken from a similar position.  Whichever is your preference, things are constantly changing – nothing stays the same.

 

Here are links to exciting new attractions/events in Rhyl, let’s celebrate its future as well as its history.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/story/2013-10-21/final-north-wales-coast-link-is-openeed/

http://www.marshtracks.co.uk/

http://www.denbighshireleisure.co.uk/rhylharbour.html

http://www.denbighshirecountryside.org.uk/glan-morfa/

http://www.loverhyl.co.uk/love-to-explore/

http://www.welshtriathlon.org/take-part/events/detail/Rhyl-Triathlon-Festival_3641

 

Rhyl Prom in the 60’s

Here are three cards from the 60’s, note the Foryd Bridge in the distance before someone painted it blue.

Click on images to enalrge.

Rhyl Grammar School Magazine 1963

The  “Tarian” or “Shield”, Rhyl Grammar School’s magazine, from 50 years ago is full of news, articles, photographs, reviews, poetry, sports results, advertisements etc etc.

The editorial describes 1963 as a milestone in the world’s history “moving from the brink of disaster in Cuba to a rebirth of understanding which can be seen in a relaxing of passion in the cold war”.  The editorial committee also noted that they had been inundated with articles about “some new Liverpool group”.  Indeed, the sensation that was The Beatles seems to crop up on almost every page.

With remarkable prescience the Headmaster’s message (Mr A. R. Davies) begins with:  “A generation hence those of you now at School will be asked by your own children, “Do you remember President Kennedy being murdered?”  Stop now, and think what you will tell them, what you will remember”.

Clubs and societies included the Camera Club, Christian Union, Music Society, Thirty Four Club, Chess Club, New Society, Theatre Club and Sailing Club.

The Chess Club had “66 regular players”.

The Camera Club: “As always, Mr Worthy is our inspiration.”

The 34 Club noted that “one of the most popular meetings was that in which members of the staff participated.  This took the form of a Juke Box Jury, which included music for both “squares” and “mods”. ”

The New Society lists one of its debates as “This house would welcome a prolongation of  Tory rule.”

Performances by the Theatre Club included “Luther”, “King Lear”, “Troilus and Cressida”, “The Amorous Prawn” and “The School for Scandal”.

Yr Urdd report begins with ” Now that there are no Welsh speakers left in Rhyl Grammar School, as all Welsh speaking people have been drafted to Ysgol Glan Clwyd”…

There was a feature called “Form Notes”, a favourite being from 1H: “our classroom has a happy atmosphere, due mainly to our understanding Form Master Mr. Ben Hughes”

 Sport was obviously not the school’s forte.  Cricket: “Season 1963 for the School proved a very mixed one”, Football: “badly upset by injury problems”, Badminton: “has a small but enthusiastic following”, Tennis: “only two players left from last year’s team”, Netball: “still a new sport in this school”, Girl’s Hockey: “this season has started off badly, but it is to be hoped that individuals will learn to combine as a team”, Boy’s Hockey: “though not exactly defeating all who came, we console ourselves with the fact that we do not lose badly”.  The exceptions were Junior Football: “undefeated after playing 9 games” and Cross Country: “the school team was highly successful, being beaten only once, by H.M.S Conway.”

click on images to enlarge