No 68: Liverpool Nostalgia

Whilst I left Litherland to live in Llanfrothen in the summer of 1947 my Aunty Ann and Uncle Glyn continued to live in 91 Stanley Park and I would go to stay with them every Christmas holiday and during the summer holiday until they left in 1953. During this period I remained friends with Peter Warren. He came to stay with us a number of times and in 1958 we went on our first holiday in Europe staying in youth hostels. I went to his wedding in 1966 and he then went to work in Rhodesia and we unfortunately lost contact during the next few years.

In the 1940/50s the Mersey Ferries were fully operational and a favourite trip was to New Brighton. I remember being on a ferry with my mother coming back from New Brighton during 1946 and there was a troop ship coming in down the Mersey. Everyone was on the side of the ferry waving and cheering and the deck of the ferry was sloping at what appeared to be about 45 degrees. Everyone was really excited but I was scared that we were going to tip over!

When I went on my holidays to Litherland, and I was older, we would be able to travel by ourselves to New Brighton open air swimming pool. As I grew older the bathing beauty contests there became more interesting! About 6 years ago Margaret and I had gone to the top of the Anglican Cathedral to get an overall view of the city and I was surprised that I couldn't see the New Brighton pier. On asking I was told that it had been pulled down in 1975.

During the Christmas holidays I used to go to all the pantomimes at the magnificent theatres; the Empire, The Royal Court, The Playhouse and the Shakespeare Theatre. I saw some wonderful comedians at these pantos including Vic Oliver, Arthur Askey, Ted Ray, Norman Evans, Jewel and Warris and a young Frankie Howard. These were wonderful experiences and I was lucky to have experienced them.

I used to be taken to the cinemas locally in Litherland but I was then able to go on my own to the city centre and my favourites were the Tattler News Theatre in Church Street and the Liverpool News Theatre in Clayton Square. I think that the Tattler was part of a chain with cinemas in other cities. The programme lasted for about 75 minutes and consisted of short comedy films, cartoons and a news reel. The programmes started at 10.00 am and would be repeated all day. Once you had paid to go in, you could stay as long as you liked. I would quite often see the show through twice and occasionally even three times! In 2008 Liverpool was the City of Culture but to me the culture was the pantomimes and the news theatres!

Three of the theatres named above are still open but the Shakespeare Theatre in Fraser Street has long gone, having been demolished in 1976. Fraser Street was where the north Wales buses used to depart and arrive. There were two regular bus services between Caernarfon and Liverpool. One bus would go along the coast and would stop for a break at Bodelwyddan where there was a café near the Marble Church. The other bus would go along the A5 and then Ruabon and the break stop would be in a café in Corwen. I have memories of going on both routes. I would sometimes stay with my grandparents in Penmachno and join the A5 bus at the "Penmachno Road End" stop. These buses ran daily and were quite full and this was an indication of the strong links that existed between northern Wales and Liverpool.

Gwynedd Family History Society, www.gwynedd.fhs.org.uk
Meetings for the next four weeks are:

Caernarfon, 24 November (In Welsh, last Thursday of each month) 7.00pm at the Library, Lôn Pafiliwn: J Dilwyn Williams: "Teulu Tŷ Newydd, Llanor a Tan y Bryn"

Bangor, 6 December (In English, first Tuesday of each month) 7.00pm at the Quakers Meeting Hall, Dean Street: Neil Fairlamb "The Incorporated Church Building Society & church building in 19th & 20th century Gwynedd"

Conwy, 12 December (In English, second Monday of each month) 7.00pm at Capel Ebenezer, Abergele Road, Old Colwyn: Members Evening

Pwllheli, 20 January (In Welsh, third Friday of each month) 7.00pm at Capel Seion, Lon Dywod: Dr Richard Roberts: "Rhydychaen, Paris a Phwllheli: Golwg ar waith John Gwenogfryn Evans"

Dolgellau, 12 January (In Welsh, second Thursday of each month) 7.00pm at the Royal Ship Hotel: Angharad Williams: "Gwaith Comisiwn Brenhinol o Hanebion Cymru"

Llangefni, 19 January (In English, third Thursday of each month) 7.00pm at Capel Smyrna, Ffordd Glanhwfa: Workshop in the NEW Llangefni Archives

Clwyd Family History Society, www.clwydfhs.org.uk

The meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month (except August) at 2.00 pm at locations that rotate within the former county of Clwyd.

Saturday 3 December: 2.00 pm at The Eirianfa Centre, Denbigh, LL16 3TS
A Social Afternoon: member's contributions