Archiving

[Admin (Matt)]

In an effort to preserve information from being lost in any BBC online cutback I have copied the comments of people who have provided snippets of information and requests for info. Unlike the BBC pages this is searchable as part of this forum and won't be lost in any BCS cutbacks!.

Elfed Jones, Anglesey
Does anybody remember a street or area in Bangor called Park Hill? I have a family snuff box with the name Fox Park Hill Bangor circa 1909.
Wed Aug 5 10:33:35 2009

Patricia Duffy (nee Owen)
Reply to McDerwen: Dickens did stay at the Harp Inn many times when passing through Bangor. The Harp Inn was my home until I married in 1955.The room that Charles Dickens stayed in, with its little window over looking the yard, became my bedroom. I slept in the four poster bed Charles Dickens would have occupied at that tme, until I was nine or 10 years old.There were two Dickens busts and some beautiful leather-bound books. I spent many hours reading all those wonderful stories. I hadn't realised how privileged I was then!I recently visited the Dickens Museum in London, at Doughty Street, where he once lived with his family. Well worth a visit.When my father Robert Owen sold the business some years later he returned all the items mentioned to Ind Coop & Allsopps Brewery.
Mon Jul 20 11:21:22 2009

Marinda, Bangor
Whilst all these reminisences of Bangor are thought-provoking for a bygone age, are any of these people willing to support the development of Bangor and the Hirael Bay area? Bangor is in a very sad place at the moment and needs all the support people can give. It is just a matter of time before Bangor disappears under new developments not suited to Bangor and its residents and even more student accommodation. What about homes for locals? Yes, we want to progress and make Bangor a city residents and visitors can be proud of and enjoy, but it all needs careful planning, not just keep throwing things up in the air and keep building flats for students. Bangor is turning into one huge campus. The new parking on the High Street is a nightmare. I have witnessed large wagons mounting the pavements, almost scraping the shop windows to get by vans and delivery lorries in the new parking areas. God help anyone walking out of a shop into one of these wagons. This will also, in time, destroy all the new footpaths and kerbstones recently laid. If you want to help Bangor return to its former glory and move on to bigger and better things, don't just dwell on the past, have input in the future. Read about the plans for the development of Hirael Bay, join support groups, voice your opinion. Don't let Bangor fade away.
Tue May 5 10:26:35 2009

Lou Kennedy
Does 5 Back Edmund Street, Bangor, still exist? It was the home of my wife's family in 1900-1910.
Mon Mar 23 09:58:47 2009

Ramiro Jauregui from Bolivia
I would like to know more of the celtic missionary Deiniol. Is he related to Columcille and Columbanus?Many thanks
Tue Feb 17 09:25:12 2009

carl pritchard bangor
Does anyone know where Brick or Rock Street were in Bangor please?
Thu Feb 12 09:23:16 2009

arfon griffiths from bangor
in reply to 'where was club street', club st was in hirael,it ran from ambrose st to orme road,at the ambrose st end the mostyn pub,still there, club st demolished now flats for the elderly.
Mon Feb 2 09:52:54 2009

mervyn jones(miron) bangor
in answer about davy cale - yes i remember him very well. i lived around the corner in strand st. it was a magical place to visit and the smell stayed with me forever. heavy canvas and all kinds of ropes. i also bought my first house off mr cale at robert st in hirael. a marvellous character and will always be a big part of hirael.
Mon Dec 22 09:54:56 2008

Yvonne Williams, Crewe.
For Michelle Horrocks. I was born & brought up in Bangor & my first boyfriend's father, Mr Lord, managed the British Hotel for some years around 1946 right into the late 50s. It was privately owned I recall. Mr Lord's son [now 80] lives in Bedfordshire & he knows a great deal about the history of the hotel.
Mon Dec 8 09:40:50 2008

norah malik Birmingham
Can anyone tell me where Club Street was located in Bangor.
Mon Nov 3 10:52:02 2008

Kwesi Hughes, London
For Simon Smith. Thank you very much indeed. I will be in touch as soon as possible. The name 'Mrs Evans' does ring a bell, although my (possibly mis-firing) synapses are insisting on 'Miss' Evans. I already had some of the other details which you give within my recall (:)), and it's amusing to feel an incipient blush beginning to take over my face... and the little chuckle that the misconception that darker people don't blush (we do, but it's just not so easily-visible) gives to me, prompts one final anecdote about Mr. Ellis Jones of blessed memory.

One day at assembly, Mr. Jones asked a group of us to divide between those with Welsh surnames and those with English surnames, to play some game which I don't recall. I hesitated on two counts - I'd always 'hung out' with Malcolm Love, as we were both Londoners, and, well, I knew that I was black. I whispered to Malcolm "Where shall I go?'" and he said "Come with me," but Mr. Ellis said "No - Kwesi; go over there with the others with Welsh names!." There's no other way to say this - I marvelled, really, and it was quite a Eureka moment for a child like me, in terms of recognising the fluidity and criss-crossing of identities which can subvert that which is apparently 'obvious' to all. I could no more forget Mr. Ellis Jones than I could stop breathing. Thanks, BBC, for the opportunity to reminisce and to reflect like this.
Mon Sep 8 09:57:21 2008

Simon Smith, North Wales
For Kwesi Hughes: I well remember your family and particularly you and your brother Kobina at Vaynol. I was also heavily influenced by Ellis Jones and your memory accords with mine of this exceptional man. The elegant teacher you are referring to is probably Mrs Evans (who remarried during my time at Vaynol and became Mrs George)and the Kathleen is almost certainly Kathleen Holton who is now a teacher at a school on Anglesey. If you contact me via North Wales Fire Service HQ I will send you a copy of a Vaynol class photograph (unfortunately you're not on it though)
Fri Aug 15 09:24:52 2008

Naomi Rogers, ACT
To Linda - I attended Hirael School for 6mths in 1977 whilst my father was on sabbatical at Bangor Uni. We came from Australia. I remember the ornothologist club, and Miss Parry my teacher shouting at me in Welsh when I had never heard welsh before. I was only 6, but would love to go back and see if what I remember is at all accurate.
Mon Aug 4 09:30:05 2008

ian gadd formerly llandudno presently aberystwyth
I wonder if anyone recalls davy cale the last sailmaker, certainly in north wales. My sister and I stayed often with uncle davy and aunty blodwen when we were kids. also, does anyone remember lizzie twr who lived in one of the towers of penrhyn castle?
Wed Jul 30 09:17:56 2008

Chris Bailey, Middlesbrough
My great, great, grandfather Thomas Bailey lived in the town between 1839 and 1849 with his family. Thomas, of Irish descent, was a hairdresser and had come down from Liverpool with his wife Anne, who was born in that city. They had 6 children , four of whom were born in Bangor. This site has explained much about the boom years and possibly why Thomas decided to ply his trade there. I must try to visit the town one day.
Thu Jul 24 09:44:55 2008

Gayner Haynes, London
Message to Nikola Lewis, Bangor. Thanks for the information about my great Aunt at Central School. I did not even know she had a bike as I thought she actually drove a car. Does your Mother remeber anything else about her or about her friendship with your great Aunty Kitty?
Mon Jul 14 10:16:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
I well remember all of these Ken. I bought my first car from that very garage! It later became a branch of Kwik Save, at which my mother used to shop. The County Record Shop had been in Dean Street, a few doors down from Pentir-Williams, the radio and TV shop. The shop in the High Street it later occupied had been a gents' outfitters - Muir's.
Tue Jun 24 09:12:02 2008

Ken Owen
Does anyone remmember Jack French barbers at the bottom of the High Street and the Vauxhall garage opp, where the Jobcentre is now. It used to be a hardware store. A bit higher up was the County record shop, next door to the old Strand cafe on the corner of Dean Street opp Perfecta cleaners.
Mon Jun 23 10:02:26 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
During the Second World War, Bangor, too, had its Moorside equivalent. It was that large estate perched above the City upon a rocky promontory off Ffriddoedd Road and always referred to - locally - as Abyssinia. It was widely held that the inhabitants were all heathen and give to such uncivilised habits as not knowing what baths were for and using them to store coal instead so, although the term "Sink Estate" had not been invented yet, that was how the unfortunate resident sof Abyssinia were regarded by their fellow citizens ! By contrast, the vast Maesgeirchen council estate, I recall%2! C always enjoyed rather higher regard and enjoyed some fame due to Tommy Handley always calling it Mice Gherkin in his ITMA broadcasts.
Fri Apr 25 10:32:22 2008

McDerwen,Bangor
It is said that Charles Dickens stayed in the harp inn in Bangor,during his time as a reporter.
Mon Apr 21 11:01:32 2008

Dave ex Bangorian
In reply to John , when I was a lad, the Debenhams site was a large shop called WARTSKIS ......far too pricey for my parents, so, unfortunately I never got to go in !
Mon Mar 3 13:16:45 2008

john bangor
Could anybody tell me what the Debenham shop in the High St was originally. Thanks!
Mon Feb 25 09:37:18 2008

Nikola Lewis, Bangor
Message for Gaynor Haynes, my mother remembers your Great Aunt who taught her at Central School between 1948 and 1952(known then as Deiniol Secondary Modern School). My mother remembers that she always wore a dark coloured beret and rode a 'sit up and beg' bicycle to school. She lived on Garth Road opposite the swimming pool. She was also great friends with my great Aunt Kitty Doherty and continued to write to her when she emigrated to Canada.
Fri Feb 8 11:14:29 2008

Gayner Haynes London
Does anyone remember or know anything about Miss Kathleen Burns who taught at the Central School during the period of World War 2? She was my great aunt. She had two sisters who were also teachers in Bangor. Sadly, there is no longer anyone who can tell me about these members of my family.
Tue Jan 22 14:05:14 2008

Michelle Horrocks from Manchester
Does anybody know when I can get information on the British Hotel, Bangor? I have traced back my family tree and my gran's gran worked there as staff for some royal, trying to trace down who the royal was at this time, it would have been around 1891, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mon Jan 21 09:30:38 2008

Shirley Crowther Wilkinson
I am looking for information & pictures of the Glanadda Inn. I have just found out my G.G.Grandfather was the Inn keeper.
Tue Jan 8 09:09:21 2008

Sidney Whitaker, Bangor
For Carl of Llangaffo: (just spotted your enquiry about Telford. I understand he stayed at the George Hotel, now developed into the "George Site" of Bangor University. It is on the Menai Strait shore, opposite Menai Bridge. From the Strait you may still see traces of the name painted on the wall. The chair he workd from is in the Museum.
Mon Oct 22 10:14:47 2007

C Evans M/B
Re: Kwesi Hughes, Dec 12 2006. Ellis Jones was the Headmaster at Vaynol Primary and there was definitely a twinkle in his eyes. He was my grandfather and the loveliest man. I was very lucky to have gone to Vaynol whilst he was still there, along with my brother, sister and cousins.
Tue Aug 28 09:02:59 2007

Eluned Nauman (nee Jones) San Bernardino, CA, USA
The George Hotel is along the Menai Straits and can be accessed from Holyhead Road. It is now used by the college for students. My grandfather was the inn-keeper and my mom was born in the little house at the top of the road going down to the former George Hotel. Many members of the Royal Family used to stay there in the early 1900s. I did have a photo of the George Hotel but not sure where it is now. If you go to the pier in Menai Bridge you can look directly across the Menai Straits and see the George Hotel.
Thu May 24 09:24:47 2007

carl from llangaffo
I was recently following up the history of the old rail network and read a chapter about Thomas Telford staying at the George Hotel. Can anyone tell me which building this is?
Wed May 23 09:34:02 2007

John Roberts - France
For John Cowell - I'm presuming you're ex-UCNW & kept goal for the 1st ll during the time of Woosnam, Glyn Owen, Nev Pope & Nice Griffiths - if so could you tell me whatever happened to the Combined Normal/UCNW side Peritus - I still have the tie somewhere!I took over writing the Varsity Sports columns from you in 1953/4 for The Chronicle, NW Weekly News and the Daily Post. I also kept goal after you left, whenever Williams was away playing for Wrexham, Man City or elsewhere.
Tue May 8 09:59:08 2007

Gwyneth Brindley - Bangor
For B. Littlewood, Mossley, Lancashire. The Ship & Castle Inn was situated at 127 High Street and the building is now home to a quality clothes shop (Jo Potts). A friend of mine tells me that the surname Parry is on his mother's side of the family and that his g-g-grandmother was the licensee of the pub at one time.
Mon Feb 26 09:53:22 2007

Muhammad Azree from Malaysia
My father studied for his Phd in Bangor and we spent 4 years there from 1991-1994 which was pretty much my childhood. I attended Cae Top School and still remember Mr. McBride. I also studied at Friars Secondary School in Bangor. All in all, it was a wonderful small city with panoramic views. Hope to keep in touch with friends there if they still remember me.
Mon Jan 29 10:43:50 2007

Anne Roberts nee Williams
Re John Glyn: John mentioned Garth School and Mr Williams telling the class stories about pet snails. John goes on to say that Mr Williams should have published them. Well Mr Williams was Mr Ifor Wyn Williams, he was an author as well as a teacher. He later became a headmaster he won the Prose Medal in the National Eisteddfod in Bangor in 1971 with his historic novel about Gruffith ap Cynan called "Gwres or Gorllewin." I was his partner and sole mate and during our time together he wrote his last novel while dying of cancer, this was in parts an autobiography of his early childhood, and he tells stories about the two boys and the snails that John Glyn refers to in this book. The book is in the Welsh language and called "Lon Gweunydd." Ironically he never saw the novel in print, it was published 3 years after his death by myself. I had promised him it would be published and it has sold well. I was thrilled to read John Glyn's comments about the school and the stories about the snails.
Tue Jan 2 09:48:41 2007

Shirley Wilkinson
I grew up on caernarvon road, we lived at 338 opposite the milk factory and then moved just behind to Bryn llwyd outside ferranti's, i can remember when it was Damlers, you would hear the hooter and hundreds of people would rush out with buses waiting to take them to various places, of course everyone has cars now. I remember the old laundry and the river adda behind where we would go tadpoling. How Caernarvon rd has changed, I believe a long time ago there was 3 pubs in glanadda, one was called the farmers arms.
Wed Dec 20 11:10:01 2006

John Leeming from Walthamstow
In reply to David Morris, the original BBC Theatre Organ in St George's Hall was destroyed in 1941. The BBC then acquired Reginald Foort's touring organ, and that was the instrument installed in Bangor. After the war it was re-installed in Hoxton, London, and served as the BBC Theatre Organ until about 1963, when it was sold and shipped to Holland. It has since moved a few more times, but is currently in Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. The BBC later acquired its third theatre organ, installed in Manchester, which lasted from about 1971 to 1990. For more theatre organ information, search for the Cinema Organs UK website.
Fri Jan 2 09:21:29 2009

Chris Duff in Ontario, Canada
A little bit off-topic, but my father Patrick Desmond went to the County Theatre, Bangor, in 1938 after directing plays for two seasons 1937-38 at Colwyn Bay. His friends Ayton Whitaker and his wife were running repertory at Bangor and he took with him Brian Brooke, Alan Bromly and my mother Ruita Dagmar. They all left Bangor in early 1939, I believe, for Crewe.Ayton Whitaker and Alan Bromly went on to have successful careers with the BBC and both were instrumental in producing the early Dr Who programmes.I would love to hear from Ellen Underwood in Sarasota and anyone else who may have knowledge of the County Theatre just prior to the War.
Wed Nov 26 09:24:08 2008

John Poole from Glan Conwy
I remember as a young teenager going to see a performance of Garrison Theatre at the Grand Theatre, Llandudno during the war years. Jack Warner (Mind my bike) was one of the principle artists, making his entrance by cycling through the theatre on his bike, also on the program was Elsie & Doris Waters. I did notice almost the whole audience were made up by the armed forces.
Thu Jun 19 09:33:14 2008

Mr Hilary Young, Bakewell
My parents, Kenway & Young, were among those entertainers based in Bangor. Their regular programme in the early 1940s would have been Howdy Folks, with a cast that included Eric Barker. I have only very slight memories - being about six at the time.I think that what you call the Light Entertainment Department was actually known as the Variety Department - reflecting how the BBC in the 1930s looked towards Variety (Music Hall) for its source of light entertainment. Certainly programmes were accompanied by the BBCVariety Orchestra.It had been in 1938/9 in anticipation of the War that the Government realised how important the BBC would be if conflict broke out. They had planned to move the Variety Department to Bristol, which city became a sort of entertainment capital - I remember being told that you bumped into stars on the street as they hastened from one church hall studio to another. Subsequently the heavy bombing of Bristol resulted in part of thedepartment being moved to Bangor. I assume that was in early 1941. Iguess that some of the programmes would have been recorded in Bangor on Sundays - with many of the entertainers who took part working on the Halls during the week.Is there any archive of that era held locally?
Thu Apr 17 13:21:41 2008

Ellen Underwood from Sarasota FL.
I was in Rep.in the County Theatre Bangor after the BBC left. Leo McKern of Rumpole of the Bailey (TV) fame was with the Co. 1945/46/47? Anne Cullen was an actress who went to London to work for the BBC in London. Ronald Grierson was the Director of the Rep. I live in Florida. Looking for any information, pictures or comments on people or theatre. TA!
Tue Nov 13 10:00:02 2007

Ifan Jones from Caernarfon
My great grandmother, Mrs. Ann Roberts of Talybont, was killed by a German bomb which was dropped on Maesgeirchen whilst the BBC were recording a programme at Bangor (Penrhyn Hall or the County Theatre) on 24 October 1941. She was caring for her daughter, Mrs Catherine Williams (Katie), who had just given birth to a baby daughter: Elizabeth.
Mon Sep 3 10:28:17 2007

Colin Charnley. from Preston Lancs
Is it true that the original BBC Theatre organ was destroyed by enemy action at its location in St Georges hall Portland Place? If so, what organ was in the Grand at Llandudno?
Fri Feb 9 09:07:25 2007

Robert Hartle
The BBC comandeered the Grand Theatre at Llandudno early in the war (I worked there as a projectionist and got the sack!) and the BBC Theatre Organ was installed there for use by Sandy Macpherson. He broadcasted to the troops overseas and called on members of the local area to include a message which they read out on air, my wife spoke to her brother in Egypt during one of his broadcasts. Happidrome and The Kentucky Minstrells were also broadcast from the Grand.
Sat Dec 3 20:27:59 2005

David Morris, Saltash, Cornwall .
Just had to get this to you folks. Our late father Harry Morris was a Studio Manager in Bangor on the ITMA team plus the otheR important shows during those turbulent times. I still have photos of Dad in the Control Room on the "desk". Dad and Mum (who spoke excellent Welsh)lived in Garth Road. Bangor. Dad after the war went on to be Senior Studio Manager at BH .London post war. He was responsible for the sound effects on the Goon Show as well back in the fifties.
Wed Nov 2 11:39:40 2005

Peter Williams from Delaware
Who can forget Tommy Handly and his cast of characters including Sam Fair fechen (which Tommy never could pronounce properly).
Mon Feb 14 22:48:00 2005

Eleri Rowlands from Neath
How lovely to read this piece. My mother, Katie Pugh was a secretary based at Bangor at this time. My father, Nimrod Pugh, who was a studio manager with the BBC was abroad with the army. My mother sat next to Sandy MacPhearson while he played Solemn Melody for Nimrod.
Fri Dec 19 17:19:43 2003

Graham Vine, Woking
Re the photograph at the head of your Broadcasting index. On the right is the great comedian, Tommy Handley, and on the left his principal ITMA support character actor, Jack Train, who created the parts of Colonel Chinstrap, the retired officer, and Funf, the incompetent German spy. I cannot imagine why the studio clock says 3.45 unless this was a studio script run-through, as the show always went out before a live audience in a prime-time evening slot every week. Another of Tommy's support acts was played by Fred Yule, an enormously fat actor who always played the part of Sophie Tuckshop, a little girl who was always eating far too much and feeling sick. His daughter, coincidentally, was a fellow pupil at St Gerard's Convent School. Although so many BBC shows were performed before a live audience at the County Theatre, right throughout the 39-45 War the illusion was kept up that they were actually being broadcast from the Paris Cinema in Lower Regent Street, London. Whether this was done to maintain British morale by pretending the stars hadn't evacuated to a place of comparative safety to avoid the London blitz or simply to deceive the Germans, I have often wondered. One Christmas season the ITMA team put on a pantomime with the title "Tom and the Beanstalk" which I attended with my parents. Dad had treated Mum and me to seats right at the front of the circle at the County Theatre. After the show had been going on for quite a while and I had been as tickled by it as much as everyone else, the audience was surprised when Tommy Handley stopped, advanced to the footlights and asked us all if we were enjoying the show - to which there were shouts of approval. "Well", said Tommy, "there's someone up there who hasn't laughed at all". He then pointed and, to my horror, I found he was pointing at me! Even worse, everyone else was staring at me as well. All my own fault as, at that age, I had a demeanour like a poker player and had sat with a poker-face all along. Tommy obviously knew how to work a live audience and was rather put out that he thought he wasn't getting through to me. This was certainly not true as he was one of my heroes and I thought him to be very funny. Every week I read my copy of a children's comic called "Radio Fun" and the Tommy Handley page was always my first read. I had never before felt so embarrassed as I was then and my face went a very deep red until Tommy resumed playing his part and everyone else stopped staring at me.
Wed Jun 10 15:26:20 2009

Alexander Neisig-Moller from Chesterfield
My parents attended Bangor University during the early 1980s and have managed to maintain contact with the place they called home for a good half a decade. They also resumed communication with their univerity collegues and every year they (all 100 plus people) are reunited in Bangor to socialise. Obviously I didn't go to Bangor University, though there is a certain magical feeling to the place possibly because of my parents' connection. The University and town itself are beautiful in their unique ways and consequently I love Bangor because of it.
Mon Aug 17 10:03:31 2009

B L-W
Great to hear that so many people stil love Bangor. Why not join together with the local councillors who are trying their best to rejuvenate Bangor City. Forget the credit crunch, bangor has never been on the high wages list, but that doesn't mean that the councillors do not need to listen to what you have to say. Maybe it's time for the councillors to make ammends. But it's also time we all moved on because our heart and soul is in Bangor and we owe it to each and every one of us who love Bangor to make it a great city once more.
Tue Apr 14 09:45:19 2009

Ian Palferman, Colwyn Bay
Being born in Bangor in 1942, I have very fond memories of the town, with my grandparents and later my Mum and Dad owning fruit shops at 362 High Street, (opposite Glyn House) and then 220 High Street, (opposite the Market). I went to Glanadda Infants, and later Friars School, leaving in 1960 to join the Police Force. Now retired and living in Colwyn Bay.
Wed Apr 8 09:15:19 2009

Chris Jones
I am a skinner through and through and grew up and lived in Gardd Denman. I have fond memories of walking with my Taid every Sunday to the pier or on Bangor mountain and playing then with my good mate Les Roberts in Afon Gegin or on donkey lane, Coed mawr. The City Cinema was great in my day. I joined the Army at 16, RWF. I am still working away after 34 years and have sttled down in my own house in Llanfairfchan. However when I am home I always visit Bangor as this is where my heart is.
Wed Apr 8 09:13:59 2009

Glyn from Bangor
Yes the demise of Woolworths was when they stopped selling broken biscuits. Its closing has really knocked the town.
Mon Jan 26 09:42:48 2009

B. L-W
Good to read Shirley Williams's comments and mention of her family. Terry and I were good friends, were in school together. My aunty and uncle lived across the road to them in Fountain Street and on Sundays, after church, I would call down to see my family, then out to meet up with Terry, have a chat go for a stroll around Hirael and the beach then back home, me to my auntie's for tea, Terry to his. I have visited Bangor recently, only to see the sad state of it. The "wonder of Woolies" gone, closed its doors for ever. No more sweets mix or foreign stamps to buy, dinky cars or just good old books and never costing much more than a tanner. Met up with Tammy Jones, the singer from Llandygai about four or five months ago, she is living in Oz or N.Z. Hasn't forgotten her Welsh and still talks about Bangor with the fondest memories. Despite what some would say about Bangor, a city of doom and gloom and only fit for students, I for one still think a great deal of Bangor, my birth place and the truly great people who lived there and the ones that still live in Bangor City. It was once great, is great, and will be GREAT once more for all of us, we all belong to Bangor, it's our City.
Mon Jan 19 09:38:15 2009

Ian Williams, Hernando, Fl. USA
To Shirley Williams, My great grandmother Maryanne Edwards lived at 34 Fountain St Hirael. I used to play around there in the 1950s. I hung out with the the Lewis Brothers who also lived in Fountain St. Mrs Jones used to own the chip shop in Fairview. I left for the US in 1961. I have been back from time to time. Still love waking around Hirael and Bangor.
Tue Nov 25 09:32:40 2008

Shirley Williams from Canada
I used to live in Hirael in the early 50s and left in the 60s. I have lots of wonderful memories of Hirael. I used to live Fountain St. Does anyone remember the chippie at the corner of Fair View, I used to get a bag of crimps for about 6 pence.Also, I played at 'Pen-y-Bryn park' the beach, Dickie's Yard, it was safer then, we used to play until the street lights came on.I had two brothers, Bobby and Terry, Bobby passed away three years ago. Thanks for waking up some great memories.
Mon Nov 17 10:46:33 2008

Gabriele Ortiz (nee Clark), Philadelphia, PA USA
I spent a nine-day break from the University of Notre Dame's London Programme relaxing in Bangor. I have very pleasant memories of that time in the Fall of 1991. I enjoyed walking around the town, going to the movies with the B&B owner's daughter and just taking in the beautiful sights. The people were extremely welcoming as well.
Mon Oct 27 10:13:10 2008

Kath Pinion, Bangor
If you want a good pint and a friendly pub go to the Nelson Sportsmans and the Skerries.You will be made welcome.
Mon Oct 20 09:17:05 2008

Cadi Jones, Bangor
I love the hills, trees and Afon Cegin. I have many friends and met my favourite man TimTim after he did the Anglesey Marathon in Sept 08. Bangor rocks. I also love Amser nightclub. King Kong Karaoke is cool too.
Thu Oct 16 09:22:28 2008

Jackson Christine, London
I was born and brought up in Bangor and grew up in Maesgeirchen, went to Our Lady's Catholic School on Caernarfon road. I then attended Central School and left there at 15 for Glynllifon College outside Caernarfon. Later I went to work in Siliwen Baths, then Colwyn Bay Zoo. I try to go back to Bangor as often as I can. It's changed so much since I grew up there and not for the better - lots of areas look run down. I remember playing in the old chocolate factory in Llandegai when I was a kid and making a raft on the river at Bishops Mill.
Tue Sep 30 14:42:06 2008

mervyn jones, hirael
So many great memories of Bangor, especially as a small boy in the 1950s - adventures round every corner.I lived in Strand St by the beach, Parc Bach up the road, Dickies the other side, then Bangor mountain.The most important thing was that it was so safe. Happy days, but unfortunately it seems no one cares any more about the history of Bangor, so many changes, flooded with student accommodation and cheap shops, traffic is chaotic.Surely the council can see what Bangor is turning into, not a pretty sight and it saddens me a great deal.A place of natural beauty with the pier, the straits, wonderful mountains as a backdrop. Why did it end up like this?
Tue Sep 23 12:30:51 2008

Glyn Jones ex Coed Mawr
What a brilliant time as children playing in the woods at coed mawr, walks round perfeddgoed, walking across brewery fields to menai bridge, and sometimes a visit to the the pier. So glad the money was spent to repair it. There are seats there dedicated to Mam and Dad and to Gareth my younger brother. I enjoyed my time living in bangor.
Fri Sep 19 09:40:45 2008

Sue Hyde (nee Roberts)
I was born in Snowdon View Upper Bangor and Went to Cae Top school in 64, then the Girls Grammer for 1 year then Ffriddoedd Lower and Upper Schools and on to Tech. I moved away in 1982 with my then fiance. I have fond memories of Pen Bonc,Roman Camp Ashley Fields Bangor beach and mountains. It all seemed to easy then, no worries, able to come and go be able to walk up Glanrafon Hill without puffing and panting. I don't get back often and the few times I have things have changed so much, everywhere seems so dirty - don't know if it's just childhood memories always better than the real%! 20thing? I love Bangor and North Wales and so miss the scenery. I cannot speak welsh fluently can only remember the odd words but occasionally put S4C on the tv just to hear welsh being spoken!
Thu Aug 21 09:16:47 2008

Silvia Cryan, Buenos Aires
I lived in North Wales from 2001 to 2003 and my daughter Annie was born in Ysbyty Gwynedd so I have loads of memories from a very emotional time, having your first (and only) baby. Although we used to live in Caernarfon, Bangor offered more entertainment. I fell in love with the views of Menai Strait, Y Felinheli, the marina. I used to work as a temp in many construction companies, and I even worked as a extra in a Welsh soap opera called Egstra (Xtra) or something like that! Today I found out the aluminium company I worked for as a pregnant woman was ablaze and it made me sad. Fortunately nobody seems to have been injured. Thanks to all the people that helped me and I never had the chance to thank (specially Sandra from Cefn Cadnant and the two midwives that delivered my baby). Diolch yn fawr!
Fri Jun 13 09:19:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
Looking through these messages brings back floods of memories! Born in 1940 in the old County Hospital (where PC World now stands) I was raised and lived in Bangor until I married in 1963. My early childhood was in Orme Road and schooling at Hirael Infants and Garth. My father Llew was manager of Briggs shoe shop and was an ardent Bangor City supporter. I have the very flag that was taken to the epic match in Naples in 1962(?). From 1950 until 1963 I lived in Toronnen, Coed Mawr, and remember many of the places and people mentioned elsewhere. Went to the "old" Friars School (anyone remember the old "Boss", Ivor Williams?). School friends included David Newing, Tim Jones Griffiths, Mervyn Hughes. A sad memory is the loss of HMS Conway - we ran through Menai Woods from school after hearing it had run aground. At first it didn't look too serious, but within a day or two it was obvious that its back was broken. It would be good to hear from others with similar memories.
Mon Jun 9 09:42:06 2008

Gareth Williams
Eleri, I also remember playing in Coed Mawr and the woods opposite. It was such an adventure back then when we would walk for miles and miles with no fear. I also remember playing in the old railway tunnel on the old Bangor Caernarfon line. It was so scary and spooky deep in that tunnel. And of course the fantastic rope swings in the woods. Great days! I lived in Pen-y-Wern where my Mam still lives. I now live in Lincoln, but still love coming home to see Mam and the family and friends. I will alwys be a Bangor Lad.
Mon Jun 2 09:56:25 2008

Eddie Davies, Coed Mawr
Just read the comments of Glyn.G; they brought back many memories of my childhood in Coed Mawr (1958-1976) before joining the RAF.Afon Adda - netting sticklebacks and falling in the river, Coed Mawr woods - exploring the surrounding country as far as Rhiwlas, playing football in the field below the swings facing Bangor laundry; happy days. As children we explored the woods and countryside without a fear in the world, how lucky we were.My parents still live in Coed Mawr, and so my children have had the fortune to vist Bangor and Gwynedd.
Mon May 19 10:12:51 2008

Graham Howard, Portland, Oregon
I was a student in Bangor from 1973-1976 and stayed on throughout 1977. I totally fell in love with the place and Northwest Wales. Been back to visit several times and each time the place seems to have gotten worse; more and more rundown, and where there were lovely walks around Bangor Mountain there is now a golf course! The bypass along the North coast has destroyed places like Llanfairfechan and Penmanmawr, and seems to have affected Bangor too. I have wonderful memories of Bangor, but if I went back to North Wales to live now I think it would be somewhere other than Bangor itself.
Mon May 12 09:48:19 2008

Hannah, Bangor
Why did she get so freaked out? It was only a picture, and by the way, ghosts or three-headed dogs are just a load of rubbish. Bangor's a fine place and there are no weird things about Wales.
Fri Apr 24 16:28:55 2009

Judy-Jane of Cumbria.
When I lived at St Mary's hall from 2003-2005 I heard heaps of ghost stories, mostly about the now closed Barlows hall. However I did see some spooky stuff in the JCR. Mostly a figure kneeling on the huge pool table. Sort of see through like an "invisible man" in a movie. It felt really dense there. Also, has anyone else seen the man in the grey jumper outside Greek Taverna? Mum and I saw him sitting next to me and thought nothing of it 'till he vanished.
Thu Apr 9 09:10:29 2009

Jack from Bangor
A few years ago, me and a friend were walking through the bible gardens after a night out in 'The Old Glan' when all of a sudden, my friend started running! The Cathedral was in darkness (as you would expect in the early hours of the morning) but we could hear someome playing the organ! Really spooky.
Mon Feb 16 09:37:34 2009

Marian Hughes, Manchester
On Siliwen Road there are two white houses on the left hand side where the turning for the old sea baths is. Rumour has it that the first white house is haunted and that spooky apparitions can be seen late at night.
Tue Jan 13 09:19:34 2009

Karen, Hampshire
I am currently staying in Bangor at the Eryl Mor Hotel. My room looks over the sea and I can just see the end of a house. Every time I look out of the window I see a man standing by the gate looking up at me. I am aware this man is not living and is a spirit or ghost. I would date him round about 1930s due to the clothes he is wearing. I am part of a paranormal group in Hampshire. I have many photos of spirits and UFOs, which is my area of study. I would also be grateful if anyone can enlighten me on the area I am staying in.
Tue Sep 30 16:35:11 2008

Sonja from Lewes
When I was about 7 or 8 I used to live in Orme Road, Bangor, and there was a ghost that used to visit the houses there. He used to come every couple of years and he wore a yellow macintosh and hat and apparently he was a fisherman who died at sea about 80 years ago now. He had a string of girlfiends, hence him coming back every couple of years just to see if they still lived there. My mum couldn't go into my bedroom without the hairs standing on the back of her neck, but it didn't bother me, he often used to come into my room and just stand there at the end of my bed!
Thu Sep 18 14:29:22 2008

Hannah from Liverpool
Isn't there a legend in the house near Tan-y-Bryn (the one with the 3 headed dog?) My mate scared me soft when I was there so I wouldn't walk past in the dark got a taxi! Unfortunately he didn't know the whole story, so if anyone can fill me in I'd be so grateful.
Wed Aug 6 09:44:49 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
my grandfather saw a ghost on allt marchogian in the middle of the road(this would be in the 1940s). Allt Marchogion is on the old a55 between the entrance to Penrhyn Castle and the Tal Y Bont turnoff
Mon Jun 16 10:37:47 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
Also reputed to be haunted was the old dairy on Carnarfon Road (demolished in the late 1960s,the site later become a Kwik Save store.
Mon Jun 16 10:37:25 2008

Iris, Maesgeirchen, Bangor
i was hoping to hear from people who have had strange experiences in their home - unexplained noises, shadows etc, especially in maesg area, or bangor itself. Could the member of the paranormal society please reply, as i would like to share my experiences and those of my family and friends.
Tue Mar 4 10:25:41 2008

Harry Swettenham Bangor
That comment is freaky - i have heard some freaky things about Bangor but nothing like that!
Tue Mar 4 10:18:29 2008

IAN WESTWOOD FROM BANGOR
i am new to this site but was interested in the letter about a figure showing up on a photo.quite a few people have dismissed this so what about my story.a few years ago,at the height of the polaroid camera craze,i bought a black and white polaroid camera.i took it home and put in the film pack and took a picture of the room to see the quality of the pictures.imagine my feelings as i watched the picture develop in front of my eyes and a figure of a woman took shape!i was by myself in the house so how would anyone explain this.unfortunately the picture has been lost during one of my moves,but i can! absolutely swear to the authencity of this story.
Thu Feb 28 09:50:21 2008

iris westwood maesgeirchen
i have been interested in spiritual happenings from a young age,and have had many experiences of the paranormal,i was born in maes g,moved at the age of 17,and returned 5 yrs ago. I have had loads of things happening in my house,dark shadows at the corner of the eye,my dogs staring at something i cannot see,following the invisible thing,done recordings through the night,and have had voices,a little girl calling out mum,and much more,i beleive there are spirits all around us,they do some things,to get our attention, i have dreams that come true.
Wed Feb 27 09:55:08 2008

Matt Down South
My dad worked in the Marine Sciences lab in Menai Bridge (Cae Mair?) in the early 70s. While I used to think it was spooky and said so - much to my parents' and their friends' hilarity - on a few occasions, I never saw or heard anything spectral. I remember a friend of my mum's chuckling and saying: "Ooh yes, the ghost of Cae Mair! - snort - How lovely! - chuckle." As for the Roman Fort in Bangor, I spent many a happy post-pub evening 'carousing' there, but sadly never saw any legionaires. I did get a bad hayfever attack though.
Fri Feb 8 12:42:29 2008

Ernest Alan Gildersleve London
John of Shrewsbury: I had an unexplained happening at Bangor Youth hostel. I am a fire alarm maintenance technician. I was staying at the Bangor YHA and one night I was awakened by the fire bells giving a short sharp ring. No one seemed to notice it so I went walking around to see if there really was a fire somewhere, but all was deserted and I could not find the warden but the buzzer was still buzzing on the control panel, so I reset it. Now this cannot happen because these alarms cannot be stopped without someone pressing the reset button, whereupon the buzzer starts until the fire calling button or smoke detector is found but this one had sounded the alarm, cancelled itself and left the buzzer going! When I pressed the reset button everything went back to normal! There were no further alarms. How can the bells have given one short ring with no fire? Once started they cannot be stopped without visiting the control panel and no one else was awake! The warden had not even heard the bells, so short was the ring!
Tue Jan 8 13:47:45 2008

ernest alan gildersleve
I once created a very convincing ghost photo in a holiday chalet. I under exposed a photo of a boy reading a ghost story book and then without moving anything another boy eith a sheet over his head came and stood in front of the first boy and I took another under exposed photo.It came out as a boy reading a ghost book with a transparent ghost in front of him.
Fri Oct 12 09:17:20 2007

Jill, Bangor
Why should Julie have to prove anything to anyone? They saw what they saw and it freaked them out enough to want to be rid, simple as. What if gohosts are real? We constantly ignore that we're spirit as well as body, the spirit universe may be close enough for occasional overlaps or freaky moments.
Tue Jul 3 09:17:26 2007

London
Doesn't sound like a true story to me, you wouldn't throw the picture away, it would be worth a fortune if proven genuine!With regard to Vic Larman's message concerning the ghost at the Marine Science Labs in Menai Bridge, it was supposed to be an appearance of an old lady poking a fire in one of the old rooms that was converted. I went in there late one night in the dark with my dad (I was about 14 at the time) to see if anything appeared. The biggest fright I got was when he went out and shut the door on me on purpose!Thanks Dad! Oh yes, his name was Vic Larman too. How spooky.
Fri Jun 22 10:55:21 2007

Kate Bowers
I will be staying at Bangor in Sept in the Emrys Evans hall. Does anyone know of anything spooky happening there? I'm quite interested in ghost stories.
Mon Jun 18 09:35:59 2007

Bezza Australia
Many years ago (Mid sixties) when my parents ran the Globe pub in Upper Bangor, I was walking my dog on the old roman encampment site and saw a roman soldier. I wasn't spooked, but my dog was!
Mon Jun 11 10:07:45 2007

dylan fernley
no mention of the waterloo ghost yet? occasionally throws stuff about, inhabits the first alcove allegedly. used to work on deiniol centre myself - definitely a "cold" area.
Mon Jun 4 09:31:23 2007

lisa and craig
is it true that the old st davids hospital is haunted, and do you hear babies crying?
Mon May 14 11:01:44 2007

Kirstin O'Direain, Bangor
Where in the deiniol centre is it supposed to be haunted? Me and my housemate both work in the centre and we haven't experienced anything spooky.
Wed Apr 18 10:01:02 2007

john/shrewsbury
i went to the youth hostel in bangor and it was scarey because there is lots of scary paintings and stuff but at night is the worst - i heard screaming in the hallway and it's weird. i thought it was a classmate trying to scare everyone but no one was there so i slept on the top bunk so nothing could get me.
Mon Jan 8 09:48:07 2007

Ceri williams from Llanberis
People say that there's a ghost sitting on the wall somewhere in Beddgelert and Anti Nerys and Mr Fretwell who works in the school says that they have seen it and the story is that the girl fell off the wall into the hole and she died and she's been sitting there ever since. Spooky!
Thu Dec 28 10:58:49 2006

L.Williams, Old Colwyn
John Sullivan from Llandudno, Union Street was in the Dean Street area of Bangor - it was demolished in the 1930s. I had family living there in the late 19th century and also had trouble trying to find it. Bangor University Archives have an old picture of the street.
Thu Aug 13 13:41:29 2009

Ian Griffiths from Bangor
Recently myself and my brother in law have started a new football club for the youngsters in Bangor, at present aged under 11 & 12, but we are finding it difficult finding sponsors from Bangor. We have had offers but they are all from Anglesey and as the club is in Bangor we feel let down by the Bangor businesses. Any help would be great.
Tue Jul 21 09:35:33 2009

John Sullivan from Llandudno
I am doing a family tree and it shows my great grandfather living at Union Street, Bangor, in the 1911 census. Does this street stil exist and if so whereabouts is it?
Thu Jul 2 10:01:07 2009

Justin Thyme
Does anybody know who owned Belmont House, Euston Road, Bangor in 1920? It is the large house at the top end of Euston Road (it could also be said that it is situated at the end of Belmont Road due to the configuration of the streets.)
Tue Jun 16 09:25:50 2009

Jean Williams from Bangor
To Ann from Stockport, the address was probably Berllan Bach which translates as little orchard and if my memory sreves me it used to behind the Arriva bus office and has been demolished to build what is now the Deiniol Shopping Centre.
Garry Dewhurst, try the Friends Reunited website for Bangor Grammar School for Girls.
Pebbles, the community centre used to be the Women's Institute in OPenrhos.
Wed Jun 10 09:17:22 2009

Ann from Stockport
I have been doing my family history and found my Great grandparents came from Bangor and as I am visiting Wales on holiday this summerI would like to find their home. According to the 1881 Census they lived at 25 Ballen Bach, Bangor. Can anyone tell me if this address, or street still exists.
Mon Jun 1 09:19:14 2009

Paul Jones from Bangor
I've found this a really interesting site. The diversity of Bangor's population over the years never ceases to amaze me.Does anyone out there know any of the history of Bangor Castle (not Penrhyn Castle)? Its site is shown on some old OS maps, in the region of Penrhyn Park, but that's all I know about it.
Wed Apr 1 10:13:55 2009

Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan
There was a war memorial plaque in the Hirael Institute which is now on the harbourmaster's office wall in Porth Penrhyn.
Mon Mar 30 15:55:02 2009

Stan Granton
I know about the Bangor Whistle and its supposed prison connections but is it true?
Mon Mar 9 10:15:02 2009

Max W, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Is there a ten pin bowling alley on or near the university of bangor? What is the bowling scene like in the UK? I'm an avid bowler here in the states and i may be going to Bangor for a few months and would like to keep bowling.
Wed Feb 18 09:17:26 2009

Rod Willis Derby
Looking for information on Caemaes Idan, Bangor - what was it and where was it? we had a relation born there in 1907.
Mon Feb 16 09:36:37 2009

Matt Tapping
In reply to Ken Thomas, York: There's a picture looking down on the camp on beach road on the Civic Society website. The Italian POWs were sent home in 1946. Thirteen years later the site was provided to the people of Bangor as a playground and sports field in memory of King George V.
Web team: You'll find a link to the civic society site on our Bangor web guide.
Fri Jan 16 11:42:00 2009

Rachel, Liverpool
Hi! My Spanish friend is coming to the UK to study at Bangor University, I'm coming to Bangor with her a week on Monday to help her settle in. Trouble is, I don't know anything about Bangor! I plan to spend the Monday with her to help her get a feel for the area, have a nice lunch, hopefully meet some locals, other students. Any ideas?
Web team: You could start with our section on Bangor student life.
Mon Jan 12 09:51:37 2009

Cody Maddox, Houston, TX USA
My fiance and I want to get married in north Wales next year and we were wondering about nice spots to get married and places to stay.
Fri Jan 9 09:46:15 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Blue Sky Cafe: My grandfather Dick Pattison, along with my dad Mathew Pattison and his brother Dick Pattison used to run the Ambassadors in Bangor. I have been privy to many happy memories from my father and uncle and my mum too.
Mon Jan 5 14:33:04 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan, regarding Sailors Institute, Bangor. It was situated at the bottom of Strand Street, Hirael, Bangor, just around the corner from the Nelson pub. You may get some photos from John Cowell's books on Bangor.
Mon Jan 5 14:32:28 2009

Roy Jones, Bethesda
To Caroline Wigley, Blue Sky Café, Bangor. My sister Renee Wyn Stone (Nee Jones) remembers Ambassador Hall. A chap named Glyn Douglas, who played the saxophone, and Charlie Pierce was the pianist and the band was called The Ambassador Band. Both Glyn and Charlie left the band and formed their own, called Glyn Douglas Band. Renee used to sing with this band.
Fri Jan 2 13:44:47 2009

R Roberts Anglesey
Carol from Maine. I have not heard of the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor, but from your posting I do know that what is now called Patricks was, when I lived in Upper Bangor, the Menai Vaults.
Wed Nov 26 09:21:45 2008

Caroline Wigley
We opened Blue Sky Cafe in Bangor in July and would like to hear if anyone knows anything about the history of our building. It is known as Ambassador Hall and is situated just off the High Street, behind Williams the butcher. I have been told that it was a dance hall after the war. The building was originally a Methodist Capel (Capel Arthur Jones) and is 200 years old.
Mon Nov 17 10:57:13 2008

Geraint Wyn Williams, Hirael
The Hirael Institute you refer to was also named the Sailors Institute.It was located at the bottom of Strand Street, it is now part of the Nelson Pub.I do not know where you may find a photograph.
Wed Nov 5 09:54:53 2008

Gary Dewhurst from Bangor
My mum was a pupil at Bangor High School for Girls from 1942 to 1946. She is trying to track down the school photo from 1946. Any ideas where I might be able to trace a copy for her?
Mon Oct 27 10:10:13 2008

Pebbles, Bangor
Does anyone know what was previosly on the site of Penrhosgarnedd Community centre? I've had some strange experiences there!
Mon Oct 20 09:25:05 2008

Pamela Williams-Ogg, Brussels
Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan, Someone who could assist you would be local historian John Cowell, who also has access to a collection of historic photographs of Hirael. Indeed, I believe that the Institute features in the photograph (courtesy of Mr Cowell) on the front cover of the poetry book "Un o Hiral" by Thomas Llewelyn Williams (available in book stores in Bangor).
Mon Oct 6 10:03:19 2008

Cath
Can anyone recall a young German PoW, first name Hans, we think an airman shot down, who would have been in north Wales between 1939 til after the war ended? My father, Alexander Robert Peters, originally of Liverpool, son of Rose Peters, became friendly with Hans. He would now be in his eighties. He gave my dad a ship in a bottle and was very blonde.He worked the farmland with my dad, exact location unknown. Dad worked on farms in Welshpool and later around Garn Dolbenmaen, where Rose Peters finally lived. By the end of the war dad was 18 and went for a drink in a pub in Caernarfon with Hans. Dad passed away in 2005 and we wish we had tried to do this sooner. Any hints on how to do an effective search?
Thu Sep 4 10:07:43 2008

Carol from Maine
Does anyone know where or what the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor were? I have an Owen Jones in my family that has that listed as a place of abode on a Bangor Polling District list from 1879-80. He also owned property at that time on Dean Street. Someone on another messageboard thought that maybe it was a bar called the Vaults (which is now Patrick's). I'm dubious, but I need to research this. Any help at all would be appreciated!
Wed Aug 6 09:44:10 2008

John Griffith, Mold
Graham Vine wrote "Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver?"I do. Not clearly (I was quite small at the time) but it must have been sometime in the early-mid 1940s. Something of a Bangor institution, I imagine, like several of the characters of those times. Another I remember was Noel Evans who owned several of the posh properties in Garth Road.
Tue Jun 24 09:16:10 2008

Holly Davenport
I am searching for anyone who may remember anything of certain boats built at Dickies yard between 1934 and 1956. There were five yawls built to an in-house design, three of whose whereabouts are known (we have one, Sheenan, built 1937) and two of which were dropped from Lloyds register around 1970. How would I go about finding someone who may recall who the designer was, any archive photos of launches, etc. What we would really like to do is trace the missing two sisters, Shulah II and Sereni. They are unusual, beautiful boats, and to have all five together would be unbelievably good fortune. We have two in Falmouth, Sheenan and Jo of Anglesey, who arrived to live at the same harbour by sheer chance - a massive co-incidence. But it is a delight to see them sail alongside. I attach a picture of them both (see above). Anyone out there who can help?
Tue Jun 3 09:50:34 2008

George Emyr Parry, now Pinner Gt London
Is there any record of the soldiers who arrived by train direct from Dunkirk. They arrived late evening 5/6 June? Six were billetted in my house at 2 Friars Terrace,High Street (mother ran a large boarding house there) The soldiers were still in battle dress with rifles and live ammo. I was amazed when they emptied the rifles in the back yard! I am interested from a family history view. Thanks
Fri May 30 09:49:17 2008

Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan
I am looking for information on the Hirael Institute. I think it was for mariners. I would like to know where it was and if anyone has a photograph or can point me in the right direction to find one. Thank you
Tue May 6 09:33:53 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver? He was a regular turn upon Bangor Pier where he had his own high diving board which he would climb up so nimbly, despite his wooden leg and crutch, and then, with much arm- waving and shouting "The One-Legged Diver will now Dive" he would plunge into the sea sometimes doing somersaults, then up he would come and clamber up the steps from water level to the pier deck again, grabbing his collecting box, with which he would stump around the spectators aggressively rattling it under our noses to encourage donations as muddy water streamed off hi! m over his blue-veined skin which was occasionally decorated with strips of algae and seaweed as well as his many tattoos. What a memorable performance that always was, so Gary and I would willingly part with a penny each for the privilege and then re-enact our version of the event back at home on the bed ! Great fun !
Tue Apr 22 10:43:15 2008

Ken Thomas, York
I often wonder if there is any information concerning the Italian POW Camp on Beach Road, Bangor. it was a Sunday afternoon stroll worth taking, during the War Years, as the Prisoners had made beautiful, decorations of the front of their huts, with bits of scrap material, one that stands out was The Leaning Tower of PISA, A working Party would March out most days working Parties, repairing houses ect., and a Lot used to meet at the Popular venu, Joe Valla's, Chip Shop in the High Street, In them days I lived in James Street, and made a lot of friends with them. my age was 8 to 10 Years. I would be very interested in any information relating to their Stay in Bangor, and when where they released, to return to their Homeland Italy
Tue Apr 15 09:23:04 2008

Mrs J Downes, Kelsall, Cheshire
I have been looking up my family history and have come across many old photo postcards along with some letters from & of Vaynol Hall. These are from my dad's aunty, Winifred Roberts (also known as Winnie Roberts) from Coedpoeth, Wrexham. I was wodering if she worked at Vaynol Hall.
Tue Apr 14 09:38:02 2009

Andre Vaynol, Hermanus, South Africa
I have just noticed your web site. I want to know what happened to the Vaynol Family. As a decendant of my father Phillip John Vaynol and the only son - am I the last Vaynol left in the world?
Thu Nov 23 09:12:02 2006

Greg Randall from US
I wonder if anyone could tell me the origin of my surname. Is it Welsh? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you
Mon Apr 10 08:35:51 2006

Martin Chapman, San Francisco
Like many lucky people I used to stay at Vaynol often in the late 1970s. It was a magical world with the house beautifully run by housemaids Dilys and Megan, and Ken the butler and Mrs Roberts the cook. Sir Michael was a wonderful and most generous host. He entertained his guests with an endless series of hilarious stories and running jokes. Many were about Queen Mary, members of the royal family, and society figures of the 1930s who were always remembered with great affection. Michael's great friend Cecil Beaton alludes to Michael's abilities as a host and raconteur in his diaries. Indeed Michael used to maintain that he was co-host of the famous party at Ashcombe in the 1930s, one of the famous gatherings of "the Bright Young Things". Although there was a great sense of fun, with a constant flow of guests at Vaynol, there was however a certain air of sadness about the house, with hints of past glories and shadowy figures. The park was a bit run down, with fallen tree limbs. The lakes in front of the house had been drained and some outbuildings, like the enormous old laundry, were derelict. No one told me that the white Anglo-Saxon cattle (I think they were Chillinghams) in the park could be dangerous until they threatened me one day as I walked through the herd. For rainy days and quiet moments there was a pile of fascinating photo albums kept in the large drawing room. They were his mother, Lady Juliet Duff's, and chronicled her life as a young woman going to great house parties before WW1 and her life as society figure in the 1920s and 1930s. They contained pictures of people from royalty to Cole Porter. I hope they have survived. One of those shadowy figures was Charles Duff, who Michael never referred to in those years. I only heard of him from gossipy guests who speculated about his paternity. I hope poor Charles is able to forgive them and his adoptive parents. The last time I visited Vaynol was shortly after Sir Michael's death. I accompanied the artist Patrick Procktor to collect a bust of a Moorish figure that Michael had left to him. The house had a desolate if not doomed air and the housemaid Megan seemed rather distraught and tearful to see us again. I had some wonderful times at Vaynol and I was fortunate enough to have experienced what now seems like a dream.
Tue Feb 14 23:54:13 2006

Janet Roberts, nee Croft, Denbigh
I was glued to the Vaynol programme. I worked in the kitchen for almost two years in 1963/64 with Edna Hughes. Other staff I remember were her sister Dilys and Megan(married to Andrew, lodge keeper), Dorothy, Mr and Mrs Howes, David and Tony Tierney (footmen), Mouschia (Charlie's nanny), Mr and Mrs Randall, Anne and Ray, Mr Henderson (gardener), Will 'sick and tired', and many more whose faces I can see in my mind's eye but not their names. Oh yes and Fritz the basset hound! It was very hard work, especially when we had house parties and shoots when Edna and I would be on our feet from 6am till 11pm. I earned £2 a week. The walk up the mile- long drive in the dark TERRIFIED me with animal noises etc. I look back on those days full of nostalgia and although I worked hard for a 17 year old, I feel proud when ever I tell people I used to work at Vaynol and cooked for the Queen!Thank you for a wonderful programme Charlie.
Mon Aug 8 10:53:09 2005

Bob Thompson, Connah's Quay
I watched the programme on BBC2 Wales with interest as I currently own the last Jaguar car owned by Sir Michael Duff. I wonder if Mr Charles Duff remembers the car and who rode in it, driven by Mr George Randall.
Tue Aug 2 11:49:41 2005

Jan Tully, Monmouth
My grandfather, Edward Howes, was Sir Michael's butler at Vaynol Park and as I sat and watched the BBC2 Wales programme I caught a glimpse of him holding a car door for the Queen Mum. My Dad lives in Scarborough and has lots of memories of his childhood there - we used to go there for our summer holidays and stay with Nanna and Grandpop, both of whom worked in the "big house".
Tue Aug 2 11:47:24 2005

Hirael Dad
Ian Westwood, are the police at fault or the matra papers or the wardens for the drunk kids by the church do you think? Or is it the parents who don't know where their kids are and what they're up to? Or perhaps don't even care. I know were mine are - 13 years and 14 years - in by half nine on the nights they're allowed out. And if I smelt booze on them they'd be grounded. They don't need to be moved on by police cos they don't get into trouble. Go figure.
Tue Apr 14 10:17:57 2009

Mike, Bangor
Yet another stupid traffic scheme seems to have appeared in Bangor! This time at Ysbyty Gwynedd. They now have access control gates as you enter the hospital, but the queue of traffic waiting to get into the site overflows onto Penrhos Road and the roundabout, causing gridlock and mayhem! Another accident blackspot created. Well done to whoever's responsible for this one.
Wed Apr 8 09:19:06 2009

Andy, Anglesey
I see the Welsh Assembly Government has called in the planned 55-acre development between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge. Quite right, too. A better way to ruin what could really be called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be hard to imagine. As another correspondent has said, why not put such a development on the outskirts of Bangor? Llandygai, with easier access to arterial roads, would be a much better bet.
Mon Apr 6 11:27:12 2009

Mike, Bangor
Can anybody from Gwynedd Council tell me what the hell is happening to the roads here in Bangor? It's a disgrace. Has anybody driven down Ffriddoedd Road? One of the busiest areas of Bangor, the road is falling apart! Potholes - and I mean big, deep, potholes! What's the point building nice new student halls of residence when the access roads are crumbling. Stop wasting money on cycle and fancy footpaths. I pay road tax and council tax and would like to see something back in return.
Mon Mar 9 09:51:02 2009

Lost Cinema goer of Bangor
Can the old Woolies in Bangor be converted into a lovely Cinema? It is central, has all the amenities for easy access, buses, taxis and carparks, there are plenty of eatng houses etc... it would make sense.
Wed Feb 4 09:53:51 2009

University Lecturer, Bangor.
I can only echo the sentiments expressed about the decline and fall of Bangor City. When I first came here, there was a greengrocer on the High Street, an excellent camera shop, a cinema (albeit not very comfortable), a theatre, some decent shopping (Co-op), a bookshop, a cycle shop etc. Now, the only notable feature of the High Street is the chewing gum on the pavements! The rebuilding of Theatr Gwynedd is supposed to take three years, which is unbelievable. Meanwhile, Watkin Jones continues to fill Bangor with its unattractive "developments". University staff are as angry and depressed about the state of Bangor as many of the correspondents here - students DO bring money into the area, but on seeing the state of Bangor, many will stay away, preferring to go elsewhere, further accelerating the decline of Bangor City. The council are either blind to the problems or don't care a fig. Let's vote them out in the next council election.
Tue Jan 13 10:06:35 2009

John, Bangor
I'm glad the Ty Mawr development in LlanfairPG was rejected, Bangor high street is already quickly becoming deserted. If that had been built it would be even worse!I might sound selfish, but any development like that really needs to be in the city. What about on the outskirts by Llandygai - plenty of land there!Also the council needs to put a block on all the student flats being built Yes I like students and Bangor does need them, but Bangor city centre is quickly being overcrowded with them. You go to places like Liverpool and Manchester and all the student accommodation is on the outskirts. On the Beach Road development, we need something similar to the docks in Caernarfon. Too many people are stuck in the past in Bangor. Who needs a boatyard? We could have some really nice cafes,restaurants, bars and a hotel there - really make that waterfront a place to visit!
Wed Jan 7 16:47:41 2009

Jack, Bangor
What IS going on in Bangor? Kids have nothing to do - no cinema, no skate parks - nothing! Look at Caernarfon - a fancy new dock area, their square being refurbished with Welsh slate, sparkly new rubbish bins, state of the art fountains, skate park, cinema in the NEW arts centre (while Bangor's one and only theatre just closed) - need I go on? People in Caernarfon are moaning about the work being done there. Bangor gets nothing. Why do they call it Gwynedd Council? Caernarfon Council more like.

The MFI site on C'fon Road is ideal for a cinema/bowling alley. The old bowling green next to the town hall is ideal for a skate park. What's going on? Bangor deserves some respect. We are a city after all.
Mon Dec 1 09:49:55 2008

Carly, Bangor
I agree with most people on here. The new traffic system next to the train station is awful, I'm extremely surprised there haven't been any major accidents there yet. Why anyone ever thought it would be a good idea, I'll never know...it's ridiculous. Bring back the old way!
Tue Aug 19 09:56:57 2008

Franklin - Bangor
Reading through these messages it is clear a great many people care about Bangor. The problem isn't apathy, it's because people don't know what's going on and feel powerless. To be fair to Gwynedd Council, they aren't biased against Bangor, so much as it is a big wasteful bureaucratic self-serving regional organisation that pretends to be local government. The 10 Gwynedd councillors from Bangor don't work together to develop a plan for the city. Community Councils like Bangor City Council are encouraged to be proactive and develop plans that can involve the community. Every community initiative that happens to improve Bangor is despite, not because of the two councils. It is because of this lack of functioning local democratic government that developers and the university are able to do what suits them. That is why the city centre has become so neglected while big sheds have popped up along the Caernarfon Road. That is why Watkin Jones has been able to turn the area around Farrar Road into a private student accommodation campus. And unless people stand up and be counted, it is why Hirael Bay will be developed in a way is not in the interests of the community or the environment.
Tue May 27 16:52:05 2008

mike,bangor
Anybody coming back to Bangor i would advise them to stay well away! I came back to my regret. This city has lost its way, it's streets and green areas are filthy and the roads are a disgrace!
Tue Apr 15 09:24:35 2008

IAN WESTWOOD
As my comments under Old Grumps were attacked (by my wife actually) I thought I would speak as myself this time. The local free paper Matra News states the efforts of the police and warden are going to stop unruly crowds of drunken kids gathering by the church in maes g. Saturday night we could hear loads of kids in the church grounds and even though the CCTV is now supposed to be watching the church at weekends to stop this, it carries on. A police car drove up past the church but did not even stop. The kids moved around the blind side of the church and continued their rampage. As the bungalows backing onto the church are for old and disabled people this is a frightening experience and we can do nothing about it. I asked if I could photograph the troublemakers after they broke the church window and threw mud at the bungalows. I was told I could be taken in and my camera would be confiscated if I did. What sort of a world are we living in when we can no longer defend ourselves and the police do not want to know?
Mon Apr 7 09:46:42 2008

Giblin, Bangor
I've been reading all these and have done a bit of research into them and i think that Bangor's council should focus on fixing the problems they can instead of saying 'We can't do this and that'. they could clean up some parks for the youths. Also, the University should be revolving around Bangor not the other way round!!
Wed Apr 2 09:50:11 2008

Old grump, Maesgeirchen
the churchyard in Maes-G is disgusting and does not seem to get cleaned up any more.there is ,what looks like ,human faeces by the church perimeter wall that have been there for ages.it is like an obstacle course dodging poo of all kinds.add to that the new wave of depositing black bags full of rubbish outside the llys dylan bungalows and you have got a really nice place to live and work! (joke) and to top it all there is a local shop that does not stock anything you want.sorry but maes.g is on it's way down a steep slope to being a national disgrace.
Wed Feb 27 10:07:16 2008

Ellen, Bangor
Thank you Gareth for your response. We need input like yours. Did you put in a questionnaire with your concerns and any possible ideas? I know exactly what you mean about GCC in Caernarfon being "all for" Caernarfon and I add, all points south. This is why we need to make Bangor Voices heard. We have to make a stand. It isn't right what they have done and plan to do to Bangor. We must fight for what is right for Bangor. There is far too much apathy in Bangor - people turning and looking the other way, then complaining when they see what has been done. We have an opportunity to do something about it.
Wed Feb 20 09:25:41 2008

Gareth from Bangor
I have seen the plans for the 'new ' Hirael Marina and to me they raise as many questions as answers. As a local I have to admit that the site of Hirael Bay at low tide on a grey day is not very appealing, but we have to face up to the fact there may not be enough of a market for two marinas in the eastern part of the Straits and consider the long-standing plans for a Beaumaris Marina also. Secondly, what consideration has been given to the influence of global warming and other issues pertaining to the water table in the vicinity of the Afon Adda? I can still remember when the residents of Strand Street etc, had to sandbag their homes to prevent flooding, are we going to return to those days? Thirdly, only a fool would insist that the developers are interested for purely altruistic reasons. They obviously feel there is an opportunity to turn a profit here. Thich is all very well and good, but where does that leave the people of Hirael and Bangor? As someone who spent a good portion of his childhood playing football on 'Beach' and mucking around on the shore and Penlon Park, I would hate to see the 'Private No Tresspassing' signs appear that prevent local people from enjoying their heritage and 'filltir sgwar.' What precautions have been put in place to prevent the Marina from becoming isolated from the wider community and nothing more than a gated settlement in all but name? Bangor in general needs a boost, but I still have my doubts about the Marina's ability to provide one. More generally, the rest of Bangor outside Hirael resembles a giant building site. For the life of me I cannot understand how the new carpark near Aldi's obtained planning permission and I have great sympathy with the residents of Ashley Road. I suspect that one day the Ombudsman will get to know more about this as the car park is simply not in keeping with the surrounding area. The traffic system continues to generate sound, fury, and debate from admirers and detractors alike. Sometimes I think this is all part of 'A Cofi Plot" to make Bangor as unnattractive as possible. Seriously though, I do believe that things would be better if Bangor could be the headquarters of a new unitary authority stretching from Abergwyngregyn in the east, Felinheli in the west, and Bethesda in the south. This idea of Bangor seceeding from the rest of Gwynedd was mooted a few years ago but died a death because the powers that be would not allow Bangor a plebiscite or a democratic voice on the city's future. Whether we like it or not, many Bangorians feel that Gwynedd County Council is run from Caernarfon for Caernarfon and that, consequently, Bangor's interests will always come a poor second as a result of this.
Mon Feb 18 10:15:05 2008

Ellen - Bangor
I agree with Marinda, we must support the Hirael Bay Development. Otherwise we will be left behind and Bangor deserves a facelift and its residents need something to bring the pride back into Bangor. I agree we need to have somewhere for the youngsters to go, there is enough drunkeness and crime in the UK amongst young people without Bangor adding to it. So let's tell the council what we want. I have sent in my questionnaire and have told family and friends to do the same so let's spread the word.
Thu Feb 14 09:54:42 2008

Marinda Bangor
I want to remind people they can participate by completing a questionnaire to put ideas forward for the Hirael Bay Development. You can collect a questionnaire from Bangor Library or online with Gwynedd County Council. Add what you think about the Hirael Bay Development ideas, please take advantage of this, it is your Bangor and if done properly you will be able to enjoy the final outcome - but have your input now and make a difference to Bangor. How many people attend the Firework Display down on the field in Hirael every year? wouldn't you like this to continue and have even more facilities to enjoy? Have somewhere nice & safe to take your children on a lovely warm summer Sunday afternoon, without breaking the bank. Have indoor facilities in the Winter? I'd love to see an open market every week and buy local produce, hit Tesco where it hurts - in their bank balance. We don't want a rag market, but something similar to the French Fruit & Veg markets. Maybe once a month throughout the summer, an antiques market. This is an ideal opportunity for the people of Bangor to tell the Council what THEY want. Bangor University is closing yet another landmark in Bangor - the Museum and Art Gallery: can we move it into the Hirael Bay Development, like our own version of the Tate Gallery? We must not let them take Bangor to pieces like this. We have to take a stand and tell the Council what we want.
Mon Feb 11 09:48:10 2008

Alan H Gregory Ex Royal Marine
I met Dewi at Eastney Barracks when we were both Marines. We were in the same Barrack Room although I did not follow RU I used to help him clean his Boots on Sunday Mornings after playing for United Services. I remember him as a good, intelligant man with a great sense of humour and very proud of being a Welshman. Sorry to learn you died so young Royal
Wed Jul 8 12:31:20 2009

Graham Griffiths from Maesteg
My abiding memory of Dewi Bebb is his scoring exploits against England, particularly the two tries he scored in 1961. A photo image of one of those tries became an icon of Welsh rugby and BBC Wales Sport for many years; Dewi reaching out in horizontal mode for the try-line, as a despairing tackle proved unable to halt his scoring dive. The ball held in both hands, secure in spite of its greasy condition and a look in his eyes that was the essence of concentration. In the background, the futile figure of Dickie Jeeps, forlornly, far to late and too far away to affect the outcome, attempting to corner-flag. As an image it must have determined many young boys in Wales to want to play in no other position than left wing-threequarter.
Wed Jun 11 16:56:31 2008

Andrea McCulloch, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
Dewi Bebb - what a lovely man he was. I can just remember him playing for Wales. We paid closer attention than most in our house as my sister was a pupil at the school he taught at in Fairwater, Waterhall (later part of Cantonian H.S.) She has memories of Dewi "tanking round the gym," one of the many players back then who held down demanding full-time jobs, yet still managed to train and turn out for their club and country at the weekends. I met him, aged about 9 or 10, when I was at the TV studios in Pontcanna, Cardiff. He took the time to talk to each child out of a group of ten or so children, and was interested in each of us. Wil Bebb, good luck with your rugby career. Although your Tad-cu isn't with us anymore, I'm sure he would be just as proud of you as you are of him.
Mon Feb 25 09:44:32 2008

Wil Bebb
I'm Dewi's grandson and i remember him as tad-cu. I keep hearing stories about how amazing he was at rugby and for this i'm extremely proud 2 be his grandson. in every match i play i hope he watches me. The fact that tad-cu was gareth edwards' favourite player makes me really proud.
Mon Oct 29 10:00:13 2007

Ivor van Heerden
I grew up in South Africa. My mother was a Bebb and Dewi's cousin. I met him as a young kid when he toured South Africa (Durban) in 1966. He was very warm person and friendly. Obviously, he was my hero at the time and the fact that he and I were related was a point of envy for my school friends at the time. Of course rugby was and still is one of my passions and I can still remember the day I met Dewi as a young kid.
Thu May 5 19:17:49 2005

Bryan Jones, Old Colwyn
I remember Dewi very well, being in Friars School Bangor, together. We both played in the form 1 and form 2 soccer teams. He was a fine footballer before taking up rugby. We were also in the same house teams whilst at Friars. Dewi was also a fine athlete, in fact an all round sportsman. Unfortunately after leaving Friars we lost contact. A gentleman,who I am sure is sadly missed by his family and friends.
Mon Dec 13 21:52:18 2004

Peter Glazier from Sao Paulo, Brazil
We played together in the Royal Marines when, strange as it may see, as I was going nowhere, he played left centre and I was his winger. Also with us at the time was Gordon Waddell.
Mon Aug 30 20:03:33 2004

Bob Macfarlane, Wellington, NZ
We lived in the same road. I was too young at the time to appreciate what he was doing for Welsh rugby when he played for Wales but I know my parents were impressed. Great to see him remembered in this way, sorry he died so young. I was a great friend of his brother Ifan.
Wed Aug 18 06:09:54 2004

Harry Parry
Harry Parry

Last updated: 31 March 2009
Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, reminds us of the Big Band era with his comments on the BBC's Harry Parry and the Radio Rhythm sextet.


"Harry Parry was born in 1912 at Caellepa, Bangor. He practiced his sax fiercely whilst holding down a job at the Science department of the university. I was close to the family at that period, Hughie, Harry's brother, being a very good friend and closer to my age.

Harry formed a group and performed in Llandudno, quickly rising as a prominent name in the performing arts and the world of jazz. He was picked up by the BBC and asked to form a group named 'Harry Parry and the Jazz Sextet'. Some of his recordings were available in the BBC's archives some years ago, and were played several times on the BBC show Anything Goes.

Harry travelled with his group, entertaining the troops in WW2. He sadly died in 1956.

Spike Milligan muses a great deal in his writings regarding Harry Parry when he was working with the BBC in London."

We have further discovered that Harry was the oldest of the Parry family, which included Hughie, Vera, Unica and Tommy, who died during the Normandy landings of WWII.

Harry was invited by the BBC to front the band on the Radio Rhythm Show, and thereafter the Sextet was regularly heard by the BBC listeners. The group included George Shearing on piano and, later, Scotsman Joe Temperley, also on sax.

In 1945, the Radio Rhythm Club Sextet appeared in the film What Do We Do Now. Harry went on to record over 100 discs for Parlophone Records, including the 78 rpm disc I've Got You Under My Skin with the Harry Parry Octet, as well as Mood Indigo and Night and Day, with vocalist Dorothee Baronne.

Michael Johnson from Newburgh, Indiana, USA remembers Harry: "I used to live at 19 Caellepa next to the Parry family, and his sister Eunice was my mother's best friend. I remember as a child during the war going to his home and listening to Harry play.

I am now 63 and have lived in the US since 1962. Are there any recordings available of his music, as I would love to hear him again.

The last I heard of Eunice was that she lived in Ruislip nr London with her husband Stan. Her daughter lives in the US just north of Memphis Tennessee."

your comments

Fred Moyes from Aberfeldy. Scotland and now in Ont
I had a dance band in the 1950s playing in Perthshire and occasionally travelling as far afield as Glasgow. Playing trumpet was Norrie Pow from Dundee, who played numerous Dave Wilkins choruses which he had learned, note for note, from the Harry Parry Parlophone recordings. I would very much like to obtain copies of these records, in particular those featuring Dave Wilkins. Can anyone help?
Thu Jul 2 11:54:02 2009

Kenneth M Bryant
I have been asked to write a biographical volume about Harry Parry who inspired me when I was in school during the last war. I have already got a lot of info, but what I really would like is some anecdotes about him. I have got some basic details from Bangor University and had the pleasure of meeting his sister Eunice, before she died a couple of years ago. I can be contacted through my website.
Fri May 8 12:44:12 2009

Nick Parsons , Coventry
I have been tracing my birth family. My great grandmother was Hilda Sophia Taylor nee Tricklebank born circa 1901 Burton on Trent. Her mother was Elizabeth Parry, from Hereford, her aunt was Kitty Parry. Hilda told her daughter, my grandmother, that she was related to Harry Parry, the band leader. Could anyone tell me if this is correct?
Tue Sep 30 09:49:16 2008

Elaine Brown for Kitchener Ontario
Response to I. Miller. I was born in London, England in 1948 and moved to Ontario, Canada in 1967. Always wanted to know more about my mother's father's relatives. George "Happy" Blake and Cyril Blake. This is also my grandfather and great uncle. I have now found two people who were grandchildren of Happy Blake. Found quite a bit about Cyril on the internet, not so much about George Blake. I do remember always sitting in his house and smelling his Cuban cigar which had a gold holder.
Tue Mar 25 09:57:28 2008

l Miller England
My grandfather and great uncle were George and Cyril Blake. I have a copy of a live recording from the Jigs club in London where Harry Parry does the live intro to the recording. I too would like to know more about Harry Parry.
Mon Jan 14 09:29:01 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
I read all your contributors re Harry Parry with great interest because, although I heard an awful lot about him and - not surprisingly - George Shearing as well, my Mum & Dad thought I was too young to be taken to dances where they were both playing. So I was rather surprised, having read for the first time in your feaature that Harry Parry was a student at University College, Bangor, that no-one mentioned that he and his band used to play for dances held in the Powis Hall at the college during World War II. My parents used to attend them, as did many others, for these dances were, perhaps, the peak of Bangor social life in wartime and Mum & Dad both spoke warmly of the quality of the band.Bangor was spoilt for talent of star quality during those war years and I reaped the benefit - as I have written elsewhere on your website - but, sadly, I heard neither Harry Parry nor George Shearing as my parents thought dances were not a suitable environment for an eleven year old.
Tue Aug 28 10:03:45 2007

phughes, nyc
For the economy-minded: for less than the price of "Parry Opus" you can get 4 CDs of early Shearing ["From Battersea to Broadway", Proper Box #40] which contain two HP cuts. [Try CDUniverse for sound samples.] Unfortunately, the set doesn't include the earliest Welsh-titled originals, "Dim Blues"! Incidentally, when I was a schoolboy in Bangor during the 1950s HP was, along with Huw Wheldon, celebrated as a "local boy made good". And he seemed to have a presence on the BBC. So I'd be cautious about defining him as "neglected" at that time. Maybe later. On the general topic of things Cymric in jazz, I guess we're all familiar with Leonard Feather's rip-off "Men of Harlem" [w. Pete Brown et al, c. 1937-8] And I think I hear Slim Gaillard attempting a "iechyd da" somewhere. [If anyone cares, I'll dig up the title.] Bill Challis claimed Welsh ancestry, though I've never known what to make of that. Is anyone aware of other, pre-Dill, obviously, examples?
Mon Nov 6 10:01:35 2006

Pat Rodgers, niece, Bracknell
Harry was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and, if my memory serves me correctly, his ashes were scattered in my Grandmother's garden in 31 Caellepa.
Mon Feb 27 10:07:00 2006

Timothy Sprigge Sussex
About where he was buried - I don't know, though it was surely in Wales. At the time my mother sent me a rather sad cutting from a newspaper saying that very few people went to his funeral, and just one real enthusiast for his music. I suppose that there was not much interest in him at that time. It is good that there is now a CD of his music (Parry Opus) and I have managed to order an earlier CD called Crazy Rhythm.
Fri Feb 24 14:44:55 2006

Bill Ward, Torquay
I am sure there are bits and pieces about Harry in my late father's memorabilia. Harry and his band were regulars at the late-night Jigs Club that he (my father) ran in Wardour Street in the late 30s. The club catered for jazz, boxing and billiards followers, with many US musicians including Satchmo, Ellington and Mills Brothers calling in after their up-market gigs. Anything specific to Harry I can find I shall post shortly.
Fri Dec 30 22:57:12 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Following my mother Eunice's death(Harry's youngest sister)on May 1st 2005 I have relocated back to Nottingham. Ken Bryant who has been working on a book featuring 3 famous sons of Wales (one of them Harry) is now near publication.When it is available I will put full details on this website. I will now have a mountain of family photographs to go through and have already seen a several unpublished photos of Harry, a letter from him to his mother Emily Jane Parry from his Indian tour and the order of service from his funeral at Golders Green. I will try and get these items in time on a website. Mike Tayler
Fri Jul 8 23:27:28 2005

Pat Rodgers, Bracknell, Berkshire
I was prompted to look again at this web site after some considerable time following the sad death of my very special Auntie Eunice, my mother's last remaining sibling. Having lost my own father three years ago now, this was losing the last link of that generation. It has however prompted contact with my second cousin, Brian Williams, in Caernarvon and the usual promises to keep in touch. I do intend to go with my sister to visit Brian and hope to do this later in the year.

To Bill Wardale in New Zealand I would like very much to contact you direct. If I do find a way, I look forward to hearing from you and will try and make the effort to check the website more frequently. We are all getting older and it seems much more important suddenly to keep in contact with family (however distant)and trying to trace the family tree is something that I would like to spend more time doing.
Tue Jun 7 13:57:39 2005

Joan Macrae, Llanfair. P.G.
Eunice Taylor (Harry Parry's sister) recently passed away (May 2005). Eunice was a first cousin to my mother (who has also sadly passed away). I keep in contact with Alison (in America, whom I visited over Christmas) and Mike in Ruislip, who are the son and daughter of Eunice.
Fri Jun 3 16:03:23 2005

John from Bangor, originally
My cousin Glyn Owen ("Glyn Douglas and his band")used to play regularly in all the dances in Bangor during the 40s 50s. One chap in the band went on to be an International saxophone player, Cyril Reuben,he also played for the "Squadronaires".
Thu Jun 2 22:28:34 2005

John Fryer of Chiswick, London
My mother, Sheila Fryer, used to produce Radio Rhythm Club, and gave George Webb and his Dixielanders (incl. Humphrey Lyttleton) their first break on the radio. Sadly she died in 1965.
Wed May 4 11:57:25 2005

Andy Roberts - Jazz Connection - BBC Radio Wales
There's a track by Harry Parry called The Java Joint on a new 4-CD box set called Jazz in Britain 1919-1950. I'll be giving a copy of the box set away on my new series which starts Tuesday 10 May at 7pm.
Mon Apr 18 16:25:18 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Just to let all Harry's fans know that Ken Bryant who lives in SE England and has had several books published is close to publishing a book of famous sons of Wales in which Harry will be featured. Ken has met Eunice, Harry's sister, and has copied various photographs/memorabilia in our possession. I also have acquired some large original BBC discs of Radio Rhythm Club which may be of interest to enthusiasts.
Mon Jan 17 19:40:12 2005

Pat Rodgers
To: Bill Wardale. I have not visited this site for some time, but was prompted by one of my nieces discovering it the other day and being fascinated to find one of her distant relatives on the net. I was very surprised to read your message as I was unawre of your existence (as I am sure you are of mine). I cannot tell you anything about your grandmother except that I remember her name. I am presuming that she was my grandfather's sister; my grandfather being Henry Parry (Harry's father), who died around the same time as Harry. My Auntie Eunice is still alive and I will see if she can recall anything of your grandmother when I speak to her next. For your information, there are now six descendants of my sister and I (2 girls and 4 boys) and Eunice has seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. I live in Berkshire and my sister, Pam, lives in Birmingham. It would be great to hear some information from you as to your family. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mon Dec 6 20:44:15 2004

Clive Fuller, Smethwick
Sunflower Records, Aylesbury, have issued a CD Crazy Rhythm, Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet.
Mon Jul 19 13:03:35 2004

Mike Tayler from Ruislip, Middlesex
I am Harry Parry's nephew and the only son of Eunice Tayler (nee Parry), Harry's youngest sister. Eunice, my mum is still alive and I am looking after her here in Middlesex following an unexpected divorce. Mum is 79 and recently had a heart attack but appears to have come through it well. Mum and Dad gave many items re: Harry to Bangor University archives and most of the original Parlophone records to the National sound archives but we still have some original files on Harry here at Ruislip and I have inherited a few huge demo discs from an enthusiast in Hampshire. By the way Harry's brother Tom did not die in the Normandy landings but was blown up in Italy and his remains are at Monte Cassino. we have the grave number somewhere. We also have Tom's medal and certificate from when he sang at George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey on 12th May 1937. A gentleman has been in touch with my mother trying to write a definitive history of Harry for some 3 years now but is suffering from a shortage of information. Mum has inherited Harry's royalties which are very small these days and largely generated on his signature tune, "Champagne". With the centenary of Harry's birth not that far away it would be lovely to mark the occasion with a small book on this famous "son of Wales.
Tue Jul 6 21:51:05 2004

Bill Wardale from New Zealand
My beloved grandmother was, I believe, Harry's auntie. Her name was Sydney Parry. If anybody can give me any information about her I would be very grateful.
Sat Mar 20 00:53:01 2004

John Milbank from Sussex
I continue with my research and have discovered that Harry's wife Jeanie died in 1951 after catching a mysterious illness whilst on tour with Harry in India. I was delighed to read the message from Harry's niece and to learn that there are people out there who remember Harry and his band.
Fri Jan 23 19:59:11 2004

Michael Johnson
I think it's wonderful that so many folk have responded to the music comments on Harry Parry. A gentleman from South Wales contacted me via the internet and sent a tape of Harry's playing for which I am very thankful. Also to Leslie Roberts - I was wondering if he knew my mother Winnie Williams as she worked at Haynes on the High street. My father worked at Pollecoffs and yes I remember well the times walking up the hill of Caellepa carrying the milk from the little dairy shop across from the Bank and Antoniassi's Ice cream. So long ago. To Pat Rodgers - does Eunice still live in London? When I saw her last, in Cheshire, her home was named "Swn y Gwynt". To Rod Holcombe - my brother Andrew lives in Devon in Herndon, nr Mary Tavey. He is also a musician. I wish to thank this web site for giving great connections to my old stomping grounds. Cymru Am Byth.
Sat Jan 10 19:57:33 2004

Pat Rodgers (nee Roberts)
I am the elder daughter of Vera Parry, Harry's younger sister. Eunice, the younger sister, is still alive, though her husband Stan died a few years ago. My own father, Gwilym, died three years ago. There are still six of us of my generation alive. My sister, Eunice's two children and Hughie's two children are also still alive
Mon Dec 29 14:31:55 2003

Rod Holcombe from Kingsbridge, South Devon
Reply to Michael Johnson. Very interesting to hear your comments of Caellepa in Bangor. I visited the road last year and would imagine it has seen better days. Yes, there is a Harry Parry CD available here on the Empress label entitled Gone with the Wind. I have it on good authority also that there is another CD soon to come out on the Vocalion label. Details awaited. Jazz Journal International has had some letters starting in January 2003 on the subject of Harry Parry and his recordings and show that he is not forgotten, though he has been neglected as far as record issues. My best wishes to other Parry interested folk.
Mon Nov 17 10:08:57 2003

Timothy Sprigge from Edinburgh
During the 1940s (I was born in 1932) one of my greatest pleasure was derived from Parlophone Recordings of Harry Parry and his Radio Sextet. I have quite a lot of them now transferred onto casssettes. I thought that Harry Parry was completely forgotten until it occurred to me one day to check if his name was on the internet. I still delight in his music on the cassette. If his music ever comes again on CD I will be delighted. There was such a delightful jauntiness and harmoniousness about the music of his Radio Sextet, especially his own playing. And I only discovered recently that it must be George Shearing on the piano in some of these recordings.
Wed Nov 5 11:15:35 2003

Rod Holcombe, Kingsbridge, Devon
In reply to John Millbank, Harry was cremated and the ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium. The programme of the funeral service is in the local file at Bangor University and they will do a photocopy of this and other Harry Parry material at nominal cost. I do not know what became of his wife Jean. I applaud your researches and wonder if you knew of the article in Memory Lane last issue and the forthcoming (hopefully) Jazz Journal.
Fri Oct 31 09:38:12 2003

John Milbank from Sussex
I am planning a web site about Harry Parry's career but need a little more personal information. Can anyone tell me where he is buried and anything about his wife Jean (nee Alton)?
Wed Sep 10 19:21:52 2003

Huw Wheldon
Huw Wheldon Arts broadcaster and administrator of the BBC.

Born:
    7 MAY 1916
Place of Birth:
    Prestatyn
School:
    Friars, Bangor

        David Attenborough said "He was called many things - huge Welshman, the founding father of arts television, the last of the great actor-managers, the best director-general the BBC never had. He was a great man." Huw Wheldon

Biography:
    Huw Wheldon was one of the leading figures among BBC television programme makers in the 1960s and a top BBC administrator in the 1970s.

    Huw's father, John Wheldon, was originally from Blaenau, but moved to London to work in Lloyd George's law firm. During World War I he met a London Welsh girl, Megan Edwards. They married and moved back up to Bangor where John took up a post as administrator for the university. Their first son, Huw, was followed by Tomos, Mair and Nans.

    According to Sir Huge, Paul Ferris's biography of Huw Wheldon, he spent a great deal of time hanging round Bangor High Street with his friends. He didn't do too well at school and had to re-sit his matriculation which would enable him to go on to university.

    In 1933 his father became permanent secretary to the Welsh Department of Education and the family moved to Woodville Gardens, Ealing. All the family, including the servants, still spoke Welsh at home in London.

    In a letter to a good friend, Huw Wynne Griffith, a son of a Bangor minister, Huw wrote "I'm gradually sinking into the life of London. It certainly is opening my eyes to some things."

    In 1934 he returned to Bangor, lodged with a clergyman's family and studied Latin and German at University College. But he failed his first year exams, returned to London and enrolled at the London School of Economics to study sociology.

    In 1941 Huw joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and became a senior instructor in the battle schools, training with live bombs. He won the Military Cross for bravery under fire during the D-Day landings in Normandy.
    Huw Wheldon and guests on the arts programme Monitor

    Huw joined the BBC's publicity department in 1952, and soon began to present the children's programme All Your Own.

    He then became editor of the arts programme, Monitor from 1958 to 1964. He both produced the programme and appeared as its principal interviewer and anchor, leading a team which included David Jones, Ken Russell and Melvyn Bragg.

    The second part of Wheldon's career was as a manager and administrator. He became head of documentary programs in 1962, a post that was enlarged the following year to head of music and documentary programmes. He became controller of the BBC in 1965 and in 1968, became director of BBC television. Age debarred him from succeeding Charles Curran as director general of the BBC.

    Sir Ian Trethowan, who succeeded Huw Wheldon as managing director of television, described Wheldon's style of leadership as "tending towards the flamboyant and inspirational."

    He became the Arts Council Director for Wales, and was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the Festival of Britain.

    Huw Wheldon died on March 14 1986 from cancer. His ashes are in Kew Gardens and his grave in Nant Peris in the church of St Peris, alongside his father, mother, brother and forbears. Members of the Royal family and representatives from the arts and media attended his memorial at Westminster Abbey.


your comments

Mark Shere from Guildford
I always enjoyed watching Huw Wheldon on TV. His informative style was very endearing, and like all great broadcasters he made you feel he was talking to you and you alone. he gave the impression that he was no different once the cameras were switched off. His documentary "Destination D-Day" is a masterclass in how to convey a complicated story in an exciting yet calm way. The fact that he never talked about his MC in the programme speaks volumes for his unassuming nature
Wed Jun 6 10:46:25 2007

Len Billingham Brixworth Northampton
Sir Huw Wheldon arrived in Normandy on D-Day as a captain, as we all did, with the 6th Airborne Division, later becoming a Major in charge of a company. He was awarded the Military Cross for activities on 7th June 1944, the day after D-Day.
Wed Jan 31 09:34:53 2007

Glyn Roberts, Macclesfield Cheshire (formerly of P
When I was aged 14 (1965) I suffered a burst appendix which developed into life-threatening peritonitis, resulting in a couple of emergency operations in the Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. I was in critical condition for quite a few days before 'turning the corner'. I was seriously unwell and the outcome was uncertain for six or seven days. It was during this time that the Wheldons came to visit me, although my parents and I did not really know them. Apparently they had links with Rhehoboth Chapel in Prestatyn that we attended. They had apparently heard about the circumstances and wanted to show their concern. Both lord and Lady Wheldon (as I think they were by that time) projected real sympathy. While I was not really able to converse sensibly they spoke to Mum and Dad at the bedside and made an impression on me as charming and sophisticated people. Rhyl and Prestatyn did not have many residents (or visitors) with that kind of style in the 1960s!
Wed Jan 17 11:46:20 2007

Wynn Wheldon, London
Some responses and answers. My father, if anything, never took enough credit for the work he did on Monitor for others, as will be testified by those who worked on the programme. There was never any question that it was made by a team; equally there was never any question who its leader was. And Mr Abbott is quite right. The Wheldon family plot is at Nant Peris, but my father's ashes - and my mother's - were laid around a sapling, Liquid Amber in Kew Gardens, an institution of which he was immensely fond. Finally, it is very heartening to read Tom Bausch's words. Dad absolutely adored going to the Aspen Institute, and he loved the USA. I refer him to the obituary by Norman Podhoretz read into the Congressional Record by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, which expresses similar sentiments.
Mon Jan 30 03:03:28 2006

Tony Ferney from London
I remember after a particularly pretentious "Monitor", (the programme hosted by Wheldon) Private Eye asking "how one brain could contain so much knowledge. The simple answer is it can't and Wheldon knew it. Perhaps, therefore, some credit accrues to his anonymous staff members whom he somehow always forgot to mention.
Sat Sep 10 23:17:48 2005

Tom Bauch, San Francisco
Sir Huw Wheldon, whom I knew slightly from the Aspen Institute, was a man of enormous charm and grace. He was very funny himself bu thad the rare gift of making his guests see themselves as equally amusing, charming and graceful.
Thu Jul 21 19:29:18 2005

Colin Abbott
This will probably sound very naive, but tell me, how can Huw Wheldon's ashes be in Kew Gardens and his grave be in Nant Peris?
Sun Mar 6 13:07:40 2005

Wynn Wheldon, London
My grandfather's name was (Sir) Wynn, not John. He too was decorated for bravery, in the First World War.
Thu Sep 16 21:11:53 2004

George Guest
George Guest: by permission of the Master and Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge. One of Britain's finest choral conductors.

Born:
    9 FEB 1924
Died:
    20 NOV 2002
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Friars School, Bangor
Famous For:
    Leading organist and choirmaster
Trivia:
    He was a passionate Chester City fan, keeping a written record of every game.
Biography:
    George Howell Guest CBE was responsible for taking the choir at St John's College, Cambridge, from the verge of extinction to an international reputation.

    His father was a grocer and amateur organist and George began his choral career at Bangor Cathedral, moving on to Chester Cathedral when he was 11.

    After wartime RAF service he was awarded an organ scholarship at St John's, Cambridge, becoming the organist and choirmaster in 1951 until his retirement in 1991.

    Under his leadership the college choir school was saved from closure and then developed to become popular radio performers on radio and recording artists.

    George Guest is widely credited with raising the standard of English choral music to new heights and he held numerous posts in church music organisations.

    He also made regular appearances with Welsh choirs and adjudicated eisteddfod competitions, being made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1977.

    He chose the collected works of Welsh nationalist writer Saunders Lewis as his book when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.

    He and his wife Nancy had two children. His autobiography, A Guest at Cambridge, was published in 1994.

    Thanks to James Griffiths from Glasinfryn, Bangor, for suggesting this entry.


your comments

Patricia Oliver from Hampton-on-Thames
In the early 60s I had a boyfriend who was a choral scholar at St John's and well remember the name George Guest. Said boyfriend lived in Bangor where I was studying at UCNW. Happy memories!
Thu Oct 25 11:34:05 2007

Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock The talented jazz musician has been commissioned to compose and perform a piano concerto at The Proms.

Born:
    24 FEB 1981
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Chetham's School of Music, Manchester
Famous For:
    Jazz composer and musician
Biography:
    Gwilym Simcock is an award-winning pianist and has his own jazz trio, quintet and big band.

    Still in his 20s, he has received numerous accolades and been nominated for two of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, including Best Album for Perception.

    He told us: "I was taught at home by mum until I was nine, and my dad, a great church organist, taught me music. I got into jazz in my mid-teens while I was at Chetham's in Manchester, then I went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to do a jazz degree.

    My parents live in Amlwch now and it's always lovely to come home as the peace and quiet, along with the beautiful landscape, is always very inspiring and gives me lots of ideas.

    I have performed all over Wales and I look forward to playing with my trio at this year's Brecon Jazz Festival.

    Playing at the Albert Hall in this year's Proms is a welcome opportunity to fulfill one of my ambitions, but generally, to make good music and gain the respect of my fellow musicians is always important to me."

Tony Gray
Tony Gray Tony Gray was a Wales rugby international before becoming the national team coach and taking Wales to third place in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

Born:
    14 JUN 1942
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Ysgol y Garth, Ysgol Friars
Trivia:
    Tony was named European coach of the year in 1988.
Biography:

    I was brought up in Bangor and started playing my rugby at school as a centre. I played for Bangor Rugby Club, when it was based at a ground in Beaumaris!

    Tony Gray, Captain of the London Welsh rugby team Then I went to college in Cardiff and moved to play in the back row. College rugby was a bit different to the level I'd been playing at during my schooldays, as was moving on to the London Welsh team. I was there at a really exciting period in Welsh rugby; from 1964 to 1976, and became captain in 1971. I was on the same team as players like JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, John Dawes and Mervyn Davies, all Welsh internationals. I particularly loved the fixtures against the Welsh teams over Christmas and Easter. It's a tradition they don't follow anymore.

    I played for Wales in 1968 against England, Scotland and Argentina. Playing England at Twickenham is such a huge game and it was definitely a really proud moment for me.

    I stayed in rugby after retiring from playing, and became Wales coach in 1985 at a really exciting period in the game. We had a group of really talented young players like Jonathan Davies, Robert Jones and Dai Young. It took a bit of time to settle down, but we were heading in the right direction.

    We went to the first Rugby World Cup hosted by new Zealand and Australia in 1987, just off the back of winning the triple crown. We had no idea how big a tournament it would become; we had the Five Nations, but nothing like that. We lost heavily to the eventual winners, New Zealand, in the semi finals but did beat Australia in the game for third place.

    I finished as Wales coach in 1988, just a year before lots of those great young players went north to play Rugby League. I became a lecturer in the Sports Science department of Bangor University before retiring.

    I'm now President of the North Wales Rugby Union. Rugby in north Wales is progressing well - great strides have been made over the last few years. The game is now professional, so the biggest obstacle will be finance, but I am really excited to see the North Wales Regional team get together. The Welsh Rugby Union have realised that there's talent in North Wales and are now doing far more to develop it. This is shown in the increasing amount of players we have involved in the Wales junior teams.

Angus McDermid at the BBC
Bangor-born Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, talks about schoolfriend Angus McDermid's long and varied career as foreign correspondent with BBC news.

Angus McDermid


"Angus McDermid was a school friend, but we parted ways when WW2 came about (as with so many associates). He was a cub reporter with the then North Wales Chronicle, whose offices and printing presses were located on the site now occupied by Boots the Chemist.

He joined the BBC at some point and, being a shortwave radio listener, I picked up his broadcasts from South Africa when he was the correspondent there.

During his tour of duty in Africa he covered a military coup and, as with other prisoners, was allowed one telephone call home. He spoke to his wife (in Welsh) and was able to transmit a scoop undetected. He also escorted the Queen on her tour of Africa at some point.

He was then posted to Washington DC for eight or nine years, and covered the Nixon Watergate era.

Nearing retirement age, the BBC brought him closer to home - that is, to Brussels, Belgium.

He was awarded the OBE or MBE, and he retired to a village near the foot of Snowdon, whilst maintaining a base in London to do some occasional work for Bush House and Portland Place."

your comments

Rob Lewis, London
Arnold Lewis was my father. By a strange turn of fate I now live in Bromley, about a mile from Whitecroft Way where Angus lived in the early 1960s.
Wed Sep 17 10:16:51 2008

Kate Dickens, Spalding
A correction to Ifor Roberts' comment: Angus was effectively an only child - although he did have a younger brother, Alfie, who died of diptheria before my father was born. You are thinking of my father's cousin, Glyn McDermid, whom I remember well and was indeed employed by the Penrhyn Estates. I also remmber Arnold Lewis well - he taught at a comprehensive school in London during the 1960s and visited our family often in those days.
Thu Feb 7 10:48:40 2008

Gayner Haynes London
To Leslie Roberts - I am interested to know if you knew my father, Paddy Burns. He went to school with and was a friend of Angus McDermid. He also knew Harry Parry. My father went to Friars school with Angus Mcdermid. My mother Vivienne Burns (nee Hughes) sang with some of the dance and jazz bands of North Wales during the late 1940s.My Aunt, Enid McNamarra (nee Hughes) worked at the North Wales Chronicle from the early 1950s and also knew Angus McDermid. So do you know anything of my father, his family or my mother?
Wed Jan 30 15:13:22 2008

Ifor Roberts, now Scotland
My mother's family knew Angus McDermid very well and I remember him visiting my nain, Gracie Roberts in Friars Avenue when I was quite young. My mother is Enyd Roberts who now lives near my sister just outside Biggleswade. Her cousin was Arnold Lewis who lived in Maes y Dref. He was the accompanist with Cor Penrhyn for many years and moved to Cardiff to work with the BBC until his retirement. Sadly he died some 3 years ago.I actually worked with Angus's brother, Mr Mac as we knew him, for a short while at the Penrhyn estate office just after I left school in 1973.
Fri Oct 5 16:02:11 2007

Emrys Edwards , Stoke-on-Trent
I was also a class-mate (Friars School) 1932-40 and remember John Barlow Jones. There were 13 'Jones' in our form ! The Headmaster was Ifor Williams ('Lucius') and I still have his inscribed French Prize ("Awst 1942, gyda dymyniadau goreu")
Mon Aug 6 10:29:18 2007

Alexandre Burmester from Oporto, Portugal
I remember very well Angus McDermid's excellent reporting on the BBC World Service and particularly his time in Washington. On August 8, 1974, I listened to President Nixon's resignation speech, introduced to BBC listeners by Mr McDermid.
Thu Jun 14 09:45:29 2007

Kate Dickens, Lincolnshire
A sad addition to this page, I'm afraid. My mother, Myfanwy McDermid, widow of Angus McDermid, died on July 13 after a short illness.
Fri Sep 16 21:40:06 2005

Elinor Millard, Harpenden, Herts
I was born in Bangor and lived in Penrhos Road until I left home to go to Law School. My late Father, Gwilym Roberts, wrote a daily column in the Liverpool Daily Post - "Day to Day in Wales". As a child I remember Angus well. He was a friend and colleague of my father and a frequent visitor to our home. My parents were guests at Angus and Myfanwy's wedding. I think the family home was at Lon y Bryn. My father was also a great friend of Angus's father. Happy Days!
Fri Aug 26 19:18:55 2005

Kate Dickens (nee McDermid0 now living in Spalding
Well, with pride, I can add that Angus was my father and very much missed, he still is, particularly as he has three grandsons who would have loved him so much.

I worked in Bangor too, on the North Wales Chronicle (from 1975-77), the fourth generation of the family to do so. It provided excellent training and I went on to a 20 year career in journalism. But now I've retrained as an English teacher.

My mother Myfanwy (Nan) now lives 60 miles from me in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, completely different from North Wales,of course, but not without its attrractions. I'll pass on any interesting information from the site to her.

I recently met an old Friars school friend of my father's, John Barlow Jones, who lived in Orme Road, Bangor,before joining the Navy. He later became a bank manager. We met up via his daughter, Sally Jones, a journalist and former television reporter, through a mutual friend. Small world!

Just a comment on leslie Roberts; contribution above. Angus joined the BBC in 1957 having freelanced for the corporation from Bangor while still chief reporter on the Chronicle. And it was the OBE he received, in the early '80s. The village he retired to was Fachwen, on the slopes of Llyn Padarn. This was where he died, suddenly, in October 1988, just a week before his first grandson's first birthday. As for the C&A motor club, we still have various tankards awarded as prizes in the club's rallies!
Fri Jun 3 20:32:47 2005

Ig Nwangwu, Lagos, Nigeria
As a very young and avid shortwave listener during the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967-1970), I listened a lot to Angus Mcdermid on BBC radio as he covered the war. As I watched the recent wars (Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq) and saw the likes of Peter Arnet, Nik Robertson, Christiane Amanpor all of CNN television, I wondered if Angus McDermid's experience in Nigeria was the same as those of these reporters I saw on the tv screen. I, therefore, decided to look the name up on the BBC website, least expecting to get any information on the man Angus McDermid.
Fri Sep 3 08:46:42 2004

David Cooke from Newcastle, Staffs
I remember Angus & Myfanwy well from my days in the Caernarfon & Anglesey Motor Club. He was a very keen member in his VW Beetle. At that time he was based in Bangor. Happy Days...
Thu Sep 18 13:05:59 2003

Joey Jones
Joey Jones Great Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales footballer.

Born:
    4 MAR 1955
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Stella Maris primary school, Mostyn secondary.
Biography:
    Joey Jones helped Liverpool win two European Cups, two League Championships and reach the FA Cup final, and took part in a memorable Wales defeat of England.

    Joey Jones was brought up in Llandudno and was always a football fanatic. He played for Llandudno Estates, later the Llandudno Swifts, a team which, despite having both Joey and Neville Southall in defence was, as he admits, awful! He also played for John Bright School football team, which won the area cup in 1968.

    He was taken for trials to Chester and Wrexham by local scout Evan Williams of Craig-y-Don. He and Mickey Thomas were taken on by Wrexham in 1971 as ground staff. In exchange for the opportunity to train with the team, they were paid £8 a week (£5 of which went on board and lodgings) and expected to clean the boots, tidy the terraces and prepare the pitch - by hand, with a pitchfork.

    At 17, Joey made his Racecourse debut as a first team player in a Welsh Cup match against local rivals Chester City. He was part of the Wrexham team which reached the quarter-finals of the FA cup in 1974, starting the club's giant-killing reputation by beating Crystal Palace, Middlesborough and Southampton.

    In 1975 Joey was made an offer a life-long fan couldn't refuse - a move to Liverpool, on a Wrexham record transfer fee of £110,000. Playing alongside Kevin Keagan and Tommy Smith, he helped the club win European Cups in 1977 and 1978, two League Championships and reach an FA Cup Final.

    During his time at Liverpool, Joey also made his first of 72 appearances for Wales, naming Wales's 1-0 victory over England as one of the highlights of his career.

    In 1978 he returned to Wrexham for the record fee of £210,000 before moving on to Chelsea, where he joined his old friend Mickey Thomas in securing the second division title for the London club. Following a short stay at Huddersfield, Joey returned to Wrexham as a player and, following his retirement in 1992, as a coach. He had scored 29 goals as a professional player - and, as he concedes, a few more own goals, being a defender! Following heart surgery in 2002, Joey now acts in an ambassadorial role for the North West club.


your comments

P Downey, Wirral
See Joey made the list of top 50 all time Liverpool greats. So satisfying that someone is rewarded for their passion to the cause despite limited ability. Memories are priceless just like Joey's salute. You can have all your superstars but there's only one Joey Jones.
Wed Mar 11 15:02:38 2009

Dave Boylen, from Grimsby
Again Joey Jones has turned up trumps for me, came on October 27th which was a bleak evening to support a Charity night in aid of a lad who is suffering with heart problems. Once again a first class evening, Joey you have got the freedom of Grimsby that I can assure you, spoke to all the pundits could you imagine the present set of players doing thatn in this day and age.
Mon Nov 24 10:25:05 2008

DAVID BOYLEN GRIMSBY
I was fortunate to play against Joey Jones when he was starting of with Wrexham,and I was playing for Grimsby Town he went to Liverpool and I stayed at Grimsby what a good player followed his progress with great interest, deserved all his glory.Only last week did a after dinner talk in Grimsby for me brought the house down with his stories, thanks Joey for a really entertaining night Dave Boylen Grimsby Town 1966/1977
Mon Apr 14 10:09:31 2008

rich thorne, wrexham
Being from Nottingham my girlfriend has told me the stories of the famous clenched fist salute. Joey was and still is her hero. She attended her first Wrexham match in 1969 at the age of 3. When Joey lived on first ave Gwersyllt it was a great thrill to knock on his door and ask would he come out for a kick about. Joey you are a true gent who has never forgotten his roots!
Mon Feb 26 09:52:37 2007

Nick Jones from Leeds formally of Wrexham
Oh Joey, Joey! You are such a legend for both Wrexham & Liverpool, I named my son after you! I also used to knock around with your Richard when I was a teenager and once, you helped push my little MG Metro to bump start it down Ffordd Ystrad!
Wed Jan 17 11:50:22 2007

Peter, Llandudno
I have many stories about Joe, all good. But 1 I would like recall is not long after Alan Kennedy joined Liverpool, I was in the car park outside the MAin entrAnce to THE CLUB, when Joe called me and we went into the players lounge to talk. He was not playing that day and was very down. He thought his brother Frank was a better footballer than he was, and he was really depressed. I had to try and buiLd his confidence, by saying that no team could continually carry a player, and he was a member of a very good team that had won the league, unluckily lost the F.A.cup final to 2 fluky goals and won the European Cup all in 1 season 1976-77, and he is still a very good player and could continue to do a good job for Liverpool. We spent some time talking about self confidence, and the ability to play with other great players, and cover any mistakes made by other players, which he had to on a few occasions. Ray Kennedy always said that he knew where Joe was as he was always talking to him and giving him positional advice during the game. A great compliment. I later came to know his Mum and Dad very well. His Dad was a lovely man, and I enjoyed his Mum's company. Thanks for the pleasure of watching you Joe and all the memories
Mon Jan 15 09:35:24 2007

Derrick Goodman, Deganwy, now living in Notts
I played in the same team as Joey at John Bright's. He stood out head and shoulders above everyone on and off the pitch, great player, proud to know him. I remember him showing off his liver bird tattoo at school. That's why he always wore a long sleeved shirt at Chelsea.
Sun Apr 2 15:22:08 2006

Chris Porter from Huddersfield
Still got the last shirt that Joey played in, in his last match for Huddersfield Town. Joey was a great guy, a true ambassador for the game - fond memories of Joey at Leeds Road.
Sat Feb 25 00:28:03 2006

Phil, Llandudno
I remember well playing with and against Joey on the Maesdu Rd pitch, Llandudno. We were both about age 9 or 10 and he was a fanatic even then. We all knew he would make it, he just had what it takes.
Thu Apr 28 01:44:49 2005

Glyn Hughes, Portsmouth
My claim to fame is,Joey was in the same class as my sister,I was a couple of years behind them. Anyway i had gone out at lunchtime from school and bought myself an L.F.C sticker for sixpence! Walking into the playground showing off my sticker Joey pinged it, came over and sort of persuaded me to give it him (he was a big lad). Anyway I'm not bitter...
Fri Oct 1 21:19:07 2004

Dean Street and beyond
Kitty Baxter Members of the Glanadda Pensioners' Club recall life down Dean Street and beyond in years gone by.

Trying to sneak into County Hall, getting rapped over the knuckles at school and narrowly missing a wartime bomb - Bangor life was hectic for Kitty Baxter

"Bangor was a very happy place when I was young. I lived in Dean Street until I was ten and there were lots of shops down there at that time - a butchers, a chippie, a sweet shop (I loved sherbet with liquorice).

These big superstores have taken over now, but before you had small, family businesses on the High Street, passed down from father to son. You knew everyone, chatted with everyone and you got personal service.

There was Lipton's, Maypole, Williams', Turner's, Benefit, Lotus... all little groceries, bakers or clothes shops.

I went to St Mary's primary school, down at the bottom of Dean Street - it's flats now. There were 30 children in the class, a complete mix of ages and abilities. Then I went to the Central School, which is now a science building on Deiniol Road. I really enjoyed school.

I only remember one teacher, Miss Burns, she used to hit us across our knuckles with a ruler. My mother would say; 'What have you got on your hands?' 'Blood' I'd say. And she'd answer; 'Well, you probably deserved it'. You wouldn't get that now - they'd sue the school!

On Saturday nights we used to walk up and down the high street looking for boyfriends. We couldn't go in the pubs because we were too young, but we made our own entertainment. The County Theatre was on Dean Street - it's the Octagon now, of course. They used to have concerts and talent shows on and, because the back door was opposite our house, we'd try to sneak in and watch. We'd get chucked out if we were caught because we were too young!.

After school I worked at a lot of jobs - never stayed in one job long. They were going to teach me how to make hats at Thomas Henderson's, which was at the top of Dean Street, but I only lasted a year.

Then I moved on to Polikoff's, a big shop on the High Street. It's where Peacocks is now. I worked on the baby clothes counter and I loved it. Although there wasn't really fashion then - we couldn't afford fashionable clothes and weren't really interested, you just wore what you had.

Then when I was 18 I worked behind the bar at the King's Arms - I think it's an Irish pub now.

In 1937 we got moved out of the slums of Dean Street and up to Maesgeirchen. Others went up to Maes Tryfan or Glyn Road. It was great - we had an indoor bathroom and hot water for the first time. We didn't have to go to the toilet outside and take a bucket of water with us to flush it.

I lived in MaesG for 36 years. I saw a lot of changes - the neighbours just weren't the same after a while. But there is now a great community there - only a few give it a bad name, but I think it's coming back into its own again.

I lived there during the war. The night the bombs dropped on MaesG I was babysitting in the Drill Hall for Major Flower and his wife, and he said he'd send one of the soldiers with me to walk me home because it was along way. The soldier took me as far as the Pen Lôn slate works, then said I'd be alright from there, it wasn't far.

So I went under the bridge and along the main road home - and a bomb dropped on top of the hill. I'd just turned the corner, but I went back, up Pen Bryn and ran all the way home. I just got home as the second one dropped - it was really scary.

But apart from that we managed all right during the war. My father used to fish and grow his own veg, so we always had a meal.

My mother had one evacuee, a girl called Annie from Liverpool. She was a bit cheeky in the beginning, but she soon got used to us. She was with us for two years, and she would have stayed longer I think but her mother made her go home. We had a lot more freedom than she would have had in the city. We used to take her down to the beach and have a go on the boats my father worked on. He used to row posh people over to their yachts on the Menai Strait - well, they were posh to us!"

Old Bangor and the Plaza

Last updated: 28 December 2007

Don Talbot and Violet Bell

Don Talbot is another former resident of Dean Street.

"I used to live in Dean Street in the 1930s and I remember getting flooded there twice - the river overflowed I think. They've put drains there now.

They also used to keep cattle at the bottom of Dean Street - it's a football field for kids now, but they used to have a slaughterhouse down there at one time.

We lived in a big lodging house, a converted tavern. It's a car park now. Lots of people used to come in and out, travellers, fellers looking for work.

I used to work in Robert Roberts' café - it's where a clothes shop is now, opposite the Abbey National. It was the biggest café on the High street and I used to deliver things from the big bakery down the street to Roberts'."

Violet Bell remembers Bangor's cinema in its heyday.

"Bangor was a lovely place years ago. I used to live in Well Street, which is near Dean Street. We stayed there when other people were moved out to Maesgeirchen.

I worked in the Plaza cinema for 24 years. It's gone terrible now, even though they've done it up into two cinemas, it's not like it used to be. I was an usherette, cashier, everything - back in the days when we sold ice cream in the intermission.

I've seen all the films, although not a whole film at once because we were so busy! I've seen them all, but Tom Cruise is my favourite.

I worked there until I was 70. I started when I was young and then left to have the children but then went back. I loved it there."

Back to the start.

More Bangor memories from John Arthur Owen...

your comments

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken. Can you tell me how Bill Davies was related to you as it is the same person, that was my uncle, who was a tailor in Dean Street, Bangor.
Mon Apr 20 09:23:29 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi David Davies, Just thought I'd let you know that Bill Davies was my uncle he married my father's (George Flinn) sister Freda and I think the shop you are thinking of was Ashley's.
Mon Apr 20 09:22:57 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken Hughes. Bill Davies was my uncle and he ran a tailor shop in Dean Street next to Eunice's sweep shop.
Tue Apr 14 09:42:34 2009

Josie Tilyard born in Bangor now living in London
The comments on this page have brought back some very happy memories to me - my mother was Welsh and we lived in Blodwyn Villa, Beach Road, Bangor. My mother's maiden name was Owen and she had a brother named George who lived in Seriol Road. For some time now I have been trying to trace my cousins, whom I would play with as a child. I also remember playing at the tennis courts in Hirael Road. My mother worked in Polikoff's before marrying my father and her best friend was Louisa Moses. I can remember walking from Blodwyn Villa over the Menai Bridge and spending the day in Beaumaris then we would catch the ferry back to Bangor. Would love to hear whether Blodwyn Villa is still standing - it was a most beautiful house and the views were magnificient.
Fri Nov 7 09:21:27 2008

Sue Hughes-Jones, Y Felinheli
Has anyone information regarding my grandmother's laundry at Glanadda? Her maiden name was Charlotte Fanny Smith and she also ran a laundry in Deanfield, but I don't know where that was. I have photographs of all the laundry maids of the model laundry. Sadly only three are named, a Katie Munro, Auntie Jane who lived in a cottage in Penrhos near Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the supervisor Angie Williams. My grandmother said she first came to work in The Vaynol Laundry with Mr. & Mrs Arthur Atherton.
Wed Oct 1 09:22:08 2008

Marian Owen, Maesgeirchen
Found this website with my daughter - how wonderful! Reading about places and people I remember so well. I lived in Maesgeirchen, had a brother John, lived in Greenwood Avenue next door to the post office owned by Mr and Mrs Robbyns. We used to play for hours in the woods making dens and swings. Highlight of our lives was going to the youth club, every night until 10pm, great times. Did anyone remember the Hop where I met my husband of fifty years John Owen from Llandegai.
Mon Aug 18 09:59:48 2008

Ken Hughes _ Derby
Hi David Davies, nice to see you still on line and still interested in the old place, good to hear you and Diane are keeping ok. It's a few years now since we used to go up the coast to Rhyl on a Sunday night, remember Brian Pumfreys old Dodge, Arfon bach on the old guitar, you were quite a good swimmer at scool always winning the diving for plates challenge at old Siliwen baths, a few of the lads are still around, Kenny Edwards, Ello (beans) Owen Stan O'mara Im sure you remember them. I used to enjoy Friday nights with your dad at the Union Hotel Buff Lodge in Garth he was a great bloke.

If I remember Will Davies the taylor used to run the A.C.F in Glynne Road - he gave me my first stripe. The shop at the top of Dean St is now a Radio and TV shop owned by Ioris Griffiths ex Bangor footballer
Thu Mar 27 10:03:11 2008

Ron Williams Worcs
David Davies, Christchurch: The shop you mention was Pentir Williams. I too used to look longingly at the Dinkies, especially the larger ones which we never could afford to buy. By the way, is Cotter's, the electrical firm, still in business in High Street, Christchurch? I used to work for them for a while in about 1970.
Thu Mar 6 09:48:34 2008

David Davies christchurch newzealand
When we were kids going to the County theaterin dean st,on saturdays.I would always go up to the shop at the top of the st andlook in awe at the new Dinky toys in the window. can anybody name the shop Ihad an uncle [Will Davies] how had a tailors shop in dean st. Then there was Mrs Hopes, shop where we would buy half a Turf cigarette for the moves.

Wendy davies[Owen]nice to know you and familly are ok, love to Carol and john from my self and Diane we are ok here. I loved your mam and dad. Alway when ever i could,i would go fishing with Norman
Fri Feb 29 11:17:12 2008

Carol Morgan-Lane, Maine, USA
I've recently discovered I am related to the Jones's that lived at 17 Dean Street for a good part of the 19th century. I'm so curious about it now. Are those dwellings still standing? Where might I find more information about that part of Bangor and what life was like then?
Thu Feb 7 10:46:38 2008

barbara smith ,re jones.reading berks
just to say hi to anyone who new jim and jo {skerries.}jones.both saddley passed on .jim was born in dean st to fenna jones. i have many tales he used to tell me .i just wounder if there are any of the old locals that used the skerries when jim was there. also he ran the soical club for some years, what a place. everyone new everone. percy roberts, steven lock, big jim. i lived in the skerries until i got married in 1974 and always came back 2or3times year until my mum diedin 1995. i always found it funny when we came on the road from bathessda. the sign WELCOME TO BANGOR and the fist thing you see is the cemetary.it still makes me chuckle. bangor has great memorys for me.
Thu Dec 20 09:49:58 2007

Enid Law Llangollen
Lovely Bangor memories. I was Enid Thomas I lived in Maesgeirchen. I went to St.Mary's School in the 1940s the teachers were Misses Harris (lived on Garth Rd Miss Williams Headmistress in the Infants. Miss Jones Mrs. Walford Miss Parry Miss Roberts and Mr. Parry the Head was Ald.Ithel Williams another Mayor.

My father worked in Crosville and was known as Will Tom. My mother was a teacher and ran the Sunday School in the old Y.W.C.A. in Maes G we called it the Cwt.Iremember the Sunday School trips to Rhyl 8 or 9 busloads of us
Thu Sep 20 16:22:07 2007

Glynne Williams, London
I was born in 1936 in a part of Bangor known as Abysinia aka Ffriddoedd. After the war, my dad worked in the railway sheds. I went to see him there a couple of times and remember it as awful, but now as a retiree and amateur artist I am desperatly trying to get photographs of the sheds. Can anyone help?
Thu Aug 30 12:34:34 2007

Sylvia Humphreys
My sister in law from Coed Mawr and my husband from Maesgeirchen are trying to find out information about the old workhouse on Caernarfon road which later became Snowdon building and cheese factory. They would be very grateful if any info is available.
Tue Aug 28 09:43:31 2007

Roger Jones of Bangor
Does anyone still remember Elfed from Water Street? He lived alone and was a bit of a hermit. He used old sacks for curtains. Banned from all the Bangor pubs so we were told! He was a real character.Also there was Noel Evans who lived opposite the (now) Fire Station. He wore an army greatcoat year in year out. He would ask you to get him some fresh fish when the mongers were around and he would throw the money to you - you stayed on the pavement - and it was usually half a crown. He'd tell you to keep some change for going.There was also a chap we called Evan Stump and he slept in run-down outbuildings near Kyffin Square. To my mind harmless old Bangor characters.
Wed May 2 09:25:57 2007

Maldwyn Hughes, Minffordd, Bangor
I have just found this site and so glad that I did. I was born and brought up in Bethesda but have lived here since 1954. I was an apprentice with Bethesda Council and started my technical education at the Central School under Mr.Graber, Mondays, 6 to 9pm. Sixpence return on the train from Bethesda. There were two quarrymen travelling with me, learning English under Mr. Walford [I think].Afterwards we used to go for a beer to the City at 6d a pint. I remember going to the County with my father about 1928 and sitting on the top balcony. I could not see the screen until my father pointed it out to me far below. About 1933 I went to the Arcadia Cinema where the Plaza was afterwards. It was a long wooden hut and it was moved to the bottom of Glanafon Hill where it became the British Restaurant serving cheap dinners during the war. Afterwards it became The Caernarfonshire Technical College where I continued my technical education in Electrical Engineering after it was interrupted by the war, before going to Wrexham and Birkenhead Tech. Today there are so many opportunities to gain qualifications but many young people don't take advantage of them. I have been retired since 1983, having worked with Manweb and the CEGB. I knew George Joynson, he was a radio Ham and I have spent many enjoyable hours on the air talking with him and Eric Lynn, Coed Mawr, also Albert Gaskell in Penrhos and his brother Walter in Caernarfon Rd. There was also Albert Hewitt, Foxlands. I used to speak with them on short wave from upstate New York. They have all gone now. I knew Albert Hewitt since 1951. He worked at the old Electrical Lab in Dean St. Both of us built TVs using ex-Government Radar parts with a green picture on a 6inch tube. We couldn't afford a proper tv. Happy times. My Best Wishes to all the Old Uns and all from Bethesda and Bangor. Hwyl Fawr - Maldwyn.
Mon Jan 29 12:37:18 2007

Jean Forsyth (nee Foulkes) from Bangor
I was born in Ffordd y Castell Maes G. and my father was Len Foulkes the window cleaner. He cleaned Woolworths windows every morning for years, along with other shop windows in the town. Just stumbled upon this site and found it fascinating as I recognise so many of the people mentioned. Don Talbot: do you remember Richie 'Robert Roberts'? Emrys Edwards (the owner of Robert Roberts Cafe) was Mayor of Bangor in 1962. I can still remember the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and Richie boning a side of bacon before putting it in the bacon machine. As a child I also used to enjoy watching the change drop down the shute in the cashier's booth at the bottom of the stairs. Brian Roberts: I was in County School with your mum. I'll always remember the little song she used to sing: "I love to play my little banjo and rest it on my knee, but when the strings are broken down it's no more use to me." You mention Gail Slee, well she lives next door to me. Antoinette Jones: You mentione Miss Broadbridge. I saw her last Saturday at a Xmas tea - still very smart and distinctively dressed - a real lady! There is a new web site for Bangor Civic Society which you will find interesting as there are several features that will bring back nostalgia to to you all.
Web team: You'll find it in our Bangor web guide.
Fri Dec 15 09:57:53 2006

Mark Goddard, Bangor
Mark Slee, You must be Gail's brother. I was born in Dean St in 1960. It was my Dad's antique shop at the time, next door t the COunty Theatre, at the bottom of the street up to the fire Station. I was brought home without any clothes many times by Wlater Williams, one of the firemaen there.
Fri Oct 13 09:39:45 2006

Roz Ainsworth Aberdeen
I am really pleased to have found this site. My father was born in William Street, Bangor, No 15 to be exact, son of Phoebe (nee Davies) and Emerson Roberts. My Nain used to work in Wartskis Bangor. the last time I was in Bangor it was Debenhams. My Taid was a gardener at Lime Grove which is now an old peoples home I think. Oh the hiraeth I have to be back there. I have an Aunt who lives in Port Penrhyn she used to work in the Doctors surgery when it was Glanfa. The family lived in Llandegai and my nain was organist there for a while as was my father Meirion Roberts but Barry Wynne was the recognised organist. he was far superior to my Dad at the organ. he could read music. my Father played from Tonic sol-fa! I worked in various places in Bangor - The Nelson hotel on Beach road, the British hotel, I was manageress of Freezrite on Caernarvon Road and also manageress of Contessa on Bangor High street. that was 21 years ago and for the last 20 years I have lived in Scotland the last 6 years on my own way out in the wilds of Scotland, very beautiful, but there's no place like home.
Tue Aug 29 12:13:38 2006

Mark Slee
Brought up in Dean St. just behind 'auntie' Eunie's sweet shop. My Mum told me there used to be stables at the back of the chemist shop on the High St. and I do vaguely remember nearly getting kicked to death by a horse! Maybe 15 years in Maes.G. - at the time a great place for a kid to grow up. At one time you could get all the way over Bangor mountain from the High St. to Maes.G. without touching the ground using walls, trees etc, an impossibe feat now I wager. Any body remember Mr. & .Mrs. Walford 10, Well St.(sorry: Ffordd-y-Ffynnon), my grandparents? Great site. Thanks.
Wed Jul 12 10:41:07 2006

Ronnie Morris from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
I was born in Glanadda (1941)but moved to Llandudno Junction when I was only 5. I doubt that anyone would remember me, but you might know my family. My Dad Alec Morris grew up on Lombobdu and worked as a fishmonger on the High Street, and during the war he worked for Daimlers. After the war he got a job at Hotpoint and that's when we moved to the Junction. My mother, Lily Lucas, was born in Glanadda just across the road from where Asda's is now. The house was demolished in the 1950's to widen caernarfon Road. We lost my Dad in 1993 and Mam just passed away last ! February at the age of 93.

We have lived in Canada now for 50 years, but I still love to visit North Wales, especially Bangor and Llandudno Junction. I'm planning another trip for this September. Kitty, my grandfather also worked at Polikoff's but it would have been before your time. In the 1920's I think. Just discovered this page and I enjoyed reading it
Fri Jun 30 09:44:49 2006

Carol Burns (nee Thomas) Blackpool
Hi Kitty I can't remember what I put in about my family but here is a bit more (If I repeat anything I apologize) My Taid was Hughie Gordon Thomas and he was known as Hugh Guard on the railways. He loved to play snooker and dominoes at the pub. My Nain was Mary Elma Thomas nee Williams. They lived in Coed Mawr in the 60's and 70's and then moved to Dean Street (45) after that. They lived there till my Taid died in 1990 and Nain in 1995. My Auntie lived next door. I remember the chippy half way up Dean Street (on a corner) and loved the chips from there. My Dad is Ken Thomas though we moved to York in the middle of the 60s with his work.
Mon May 8 13:11:08 2006

Bryan Jones - Old Colwyn
I was born at Caerdeon, Glanadda, Bangor. I remember shows by the BBC during the war years. My father was transport officer for the old Caernarfonshire Fire Brigade with the workshop in the old Chapel behind the County Theatre. George Joynson, if he wanted to borrow any tools to undertake jobs in the Theatre, would always ask my father if he could borrow. He would always return them. I did rather well due to this liaison. I remember I would be given complimentary tickets for the pictures or the wrestling matches that were held at the County Theatre. George Joynson and his wife lived in Ainon Road.
Wed Apr 19 09:16:28 2006

Mervyn, Miron Jones, Hirael Bangor
My fondest memories of the 60s was being able to play almost anywhere in safety. Everybody knew who you were or who your parents were. Our children have missed out on some magical places - Parc Bach, along the beach,and of course the High St. Many a cup final in the streets, no stupid signs in them days! The other highlight of the year was the Bangor rag. Great days great memories. Bangor will always be in my heart.
Mon Nov 21 19:21:52 2005

Lynne
Can anyone recall Silliams the bakers somewhere in the High St? Am trying to locate where it stood, have only recently found out I had an uncle Hywel Williams, son of Henry Williams the baker.
Mon Nov 21 01:11:56 2005

Antoinette Jones (nee Roberts)
Yes I remember County Theatre as a child in the 1950s and a lovely lady called Mrs. Williams who my brothers and I used to call "Aunty". She used to babysit me and my brothers occasionally but worked at the County for many years.

My father still runs Roberts Newsagents in the High street opposite Valla Chip shop with the help of two of my brothers, he has been there since 1953!. As kids we used to live above the shop and knew all the business people in the High Street. I remember well the fire station which is now a car park, Elias Garage which is now a restaurant, and Eirwyn Owen's the Chemist(who was the Mayor of Bangor at one time) he used to have a big basket weighing scale where new mums used to come along to weigh their babies.

As children we spent many happy hours down in Hirael playing tennis on the courts behind the Crosville Bus Depot and hanging around the beach behind Dickies Yard. Bangor was a wonderful place to be a child and even though I have lived away for over 30 years, as soon as I go "home" its like I've never been away.

Anyone out there remember Garth School and its teachers in the late 50s, Mr Haydn Jones, Miss Nora Jones, Miss Broadbridge and Miss Ellis and of course Mr Jones (Music). What a lovely school, we were all made to feel very special by those great teachers. I have very fond memories of going there after coming from Hirael School where the lovely Mrs Carrigal taught the infants and Miss Roberts toughened us up before we went up to Garth School. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows me or grew up in Bangor at that time.
Thu Nov 17 14:25:08 2005

Roger Jones of Glanadda, Bangor
Regarding the County Theatre, I seem to remember a manager in the 50s who was called Tom Gaffney - does anybody else remember him? George Joynson was the manager in the 60s and was a great bloke - full of laughs. He would drive from the County Theatre to do the banking near the town clock and when he came out, could not remember where he had parked his car! Me and a friend once found a dead cat and, knowing George's route home after work, we propped the poor cat up in the middle of the road and good old George seemed to run it over - it went flying through the air! His wife Myra once told me that the staff found a man dead in the upper balcony after a matinee and that the theatre was haunted by him. Good old days.
Sat Oct 22 20:33:29 2005

Cochwillan Old Hall
Marilyn Monteith with Japanese student Kayo Konno

Last updated: 30 November 2006
Marilyn Monteith answered an ad in a newspaper to land her dream historic home, which is now a far cry from its days as a farm building, as she explains here.

Cochwillan Old Hall was built in 1465 by William ap Gruffydd and was part of the Cochwillan/Penrhyn families estate, connected to the Vaynol estate in old days. It was a powerful place when first built as the Sherriff of Caernarfon lived there, issuing out his judgements.

It was then owned by John Williams, Archbishop of York during the time of King Charles. He joined it to Penrhyn and another estate in Bethesda and they're still together now, though Penrhyn became more powerful because of the slate industry. Cochwillan went into decline, even being used as a farm building.

Lord Penrhyn and the forerunner to CADW decided to renovate it in 1970 and now it's a beautiful house, has been on TV several times and has hundreds of visitors every year.

Cochwillan Hall I came to live here from Lancashire after reading an article in the Sunday Telegraph in 2002 about old houses which needed someone to care for them. I'm originally from Porthmadog, so I decided it was time to come home.

I fell in love with the house, although it's cold and draughty and not very modern. The plumbing and the electrics are ancient, but it's full of life and energy.

I first came alone, but then my two sisters fell in love with it too and eventually joined me.

It's been so hectic with fundraising and tourist visits (by appointment only), and I've had students from Bangor University's Japanese Institute living with us.

The main hall is massive so we use it for fundraising events for Marie Curie Cancer Care. It's 37 feet by 25 feet and three storeys high.

The actual building maintenance is done by the Penrhyn Estate, but keeping it clean and tidy is our responsibility and it's quite a job. We have a dusting pole that's 15 to 20 feet long. The screens made of oak and wattle and daub have to be treated with orange oil.

You've got to be tough and not mind the cold either because central heating would damage the building. So I'm sitting here in November wearing three layers on top, trousers, leggings and thick socks.

None of the windows fits very well and the building's in a very exposed position, although it would have been surrounded by woods originally. But you get used to it and I've no regrets.

By Marilyn Monteith

your comments

Brian R
I remember going to a UCNW history party at Cochwillan in 1980 when my history lecturer lived there. The party was great but we had to scrape the drink off the hall floor with credit cards the folowing morningto restore it!
Mon Sep 10 09:49:45 2007

Kenneth S. Williams from Brentwood, TN (USA)
I am a direct descendant of William ap Gruffydd (along with a lot of other people)so I especially found this article interesting. If I am in North Wales this or next year I will certainly come by.
Fri Apr 13 10:00:35 2007

At war in Bangor

Last updated: 05 February 2007
Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire, got in touch to share his mixed feelings about life for an English boy in Bangor during World War II.

Thanks to Herr Adolf Hitler I was compelled to live in Bangor to be near my father's workplace in Beaumaris until World War II was over and we were all allowed to return to our Isle of Wight homes.

What started as a bit of a nightmare for a seven-year-old English boy surrounded by fervent Welsh Nationalists, ended in a state of awful confusion when I had to leave the place I came to love, full of so many friends, to return to a home that had also grown away from me whilst I was away.

All the Saunders-Roe workforce and their families arrived one dark night after an all-day journey that began before dawn - it was supposed to be hush-hush stuff. We were ushered through a gateway in a high wall to be confronted with a spell-binding view, the Menai Strait and the entire coastline as far as the Great Orme, bathed in moonlight.

We were told this was to be our new home, the Bishop's Palace at Glyn Garth, and we all lived there communally until, one by one, each family found its own accommodation round about.

I celebrated my seventh birthday and my first Welsh Christmas there before we moved to lodgings at Burn Bank in Margaret Street, Beaumaris. I had a very unhappy time at Menai Bridge County Primary School, where I was frequently set-upon for no better reason than I was English and my form teacher was a fervent Welsh Nationalist who did more to encourage the bullying than to stop it.

My parents dug deep into their pockets to send me to a private boarding school, which could hardly have been more different - St Gerard's Convent School in Bangor.

The cost of fees forced my mother to go out to work, so we moved from Beaumaris to lodgings in Craig-y-Don Road, Upper Bangor, right next door to the bowling green, and my association with Bangor began.

By now the war effort was demanding everyone's attention. Both my parents were working long hours - father servicing Catalina flying boats at Friars and mother working at the office where the Royal Army Service Corps coastal patrol boats were administered. So I was unable to live at home and remained as a boarder with the nuns.

That was until I was lucky enough to get through the Common Entrance Exam and the ensuing scholarship exam and was given a place at Friars Grammar School to start my secondary education.

After the safety of St Gerard's, this meant exposure, once more, to the nasty side of nationalism, the aspect that we see far too much of to this day, the side which believes the cause justifies almost any cruelty.

I was very lucky that I built up my own special relationships with a few elderly Welsh ladies who made sure my incessant queries were properly answered so that I learned why our wretched Government had been the cause of Welsh disaffection.

I would like to thank them by name as they surely deserve a place in heaven: Mrs Jones of 14 College Road and Mrs Reece of 14 Menai View Terrace, both successive landladies of ours, and especially, Mary Silwyn Roberts, who was Cavan O'Connor's landlady at his wartime theatrical digs, a few doors further along College Road.

Bangor in the war years was a hotbed of culture and politics, stimulated by the university college, where even for someone as young as I was, there was so much to be learned.

The entire BBC variety department was housed in the town for the duration of the war. For a time we even shared lodgings with Children's Hour's Aunty Nan, to whom I looked up with great respect befitting a person involved with that Monday to Friday, prime-time slot. Our landlady there was Mrs Jones and after the war her younger son, Meurig, became an announcer and disc jockey for BBC Wales.

In Bangor we also made friends with the ap Rhys family who lived in Garth Road, backing onto the sea. Prof Thomas ap Rhys was not only on the staff at the university, he was blind and was one of the early pioneers who assessed various breeds of dog for their suitability as guide dogs. These were the foundation years of the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. I well remember playing with his dogs as he kept so many of the 'failures' as family pets.

I joined the 3rd City of Bangor Sea Scout troop, who met in an old warehouse at Port Penrhyn, where I also made the acquaintance of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. I later joined the Menai Bridge Silver Band, playing tenor horn.

But I was cruelly torn away from my new friends at their practice room on Menai Bridge pier, by the inconsiderate termination of the war and my rapid repatriation to the Isle of Wight.

Graham Vine

your comments

Patricia Duffy (Nee Owen)
Gina (Pugh) USA, I was at St Gerards Convent at the same time as you and your sisters.I lived at the Harp Inn, High Street, Bangor. Many times, the sisters would knock the door so that I could walk the short distance to church with you.I have been trying to contact anyone that might have attended the convent around the same time I did. After many years of travelling with my late husband, both in the UK and abroad, I sadly lost photos in transit, along with my treasured school photos taken 1952/1953 and I think 1954. I wrote to Sister Mary Emmanuel many years ago and she told me that there were no records of the photographs, nor any copies at the convent. If you can help or know someone who you think could, it would make me very happy.
Mon Jul 20 11:26:31 2009

Marie Caponi (nee Smith)
I remember the Pugh girls (above). I was at St Gerard's from 1947-1950. I was friends with Sheila Steven Jones from Africa, living in Aber. I also remember Georgina Dorton (can't rememeber the spelling) whose family owned a hotel in Betws y Coed.
Tue Apr 14 10:22:15 2009

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Yes, the school crocodile wending its way down the lane and through the town early each evening for Benediction at Bangor's Catholic Church is also a vivid memory as, for a weekly boarder, like myself, I would often see people I knew and could wave to them as we all filed past! No doubt that crocodile would be well known to many Bangor citizens as it was a daily routine, almost as dependable as the Irish Mail. It was one of those childhood privileges to be on the platform at Bangor as the Irish Mail shrieked and thundered through.

I had a very mixed religious life in Bangor which was - with hindsight - of enormous benefit to me for I was a virtual Roman Catholic all the weekdays at St Gerard's and, at weekends, I would either be attending the C of E Church or the newly formed Quaker Meeting and, whenever I was especially lucky, I would accompany Mrs Jones to the Baptist Chapel where the service was always in Welsh - of which I understood very little but was soon singing hymns as well as any native and earning much approval from my Welsh hosts. So I had found a way to convince them that not ALL English were bad news ! I suppose I must have been quite good at singing because, at St Gerard's, I was always asked to sing at the nuns' birthday parties.
Tue Apr 22 10:38:26 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
It's been some time since I looked at my entry in the history pages so it was quite a surprise to find the added comments. Starting with Jim Menlove. Jim and I must have often passed one another if we didn't actually talk as I was often on the Menai Strait shore, especialy between the old sea-bathing pool and the youth hostel, where my mates and I beachcombed or I walked dogs for my old ladies, if on my own.

I too have seen Bangor City play, accompanying my Dad on his Saturdays off and have wandered over Bangor Mountain many times, sometimes on my own, with friends or, occasionally when 3rd City of Bangor were engaged in BP's Wide Games as he called them. But, likely as not, we would be on the Roman Camp which was much nearer home. Besides Cavan O'Connor's son, Gary, being a playmate of mine another playmate was John King, whom I discovered, much later in life, was the father of the very well-known BBC wildlife presenter, Simon King. Living in the top flat at 14 Menai View Terrace one did get a grandstand view of the Strait and all the flying boat movements on it and, of course, HMS Conway, swinging at her moorings as the tide changed. One holiday time when all the cadets had gone home, my friends and I were given a tour of the old warship because one of us boys, Alastair Woods, had a father who was one of the officers on board. It was a shattering experience leaving Bangor Pier in Conway's launch with a creww made up of many of her domestic staff, who were - would you believe - all "retired" Chinese pirates captured by the Royal Navy and serving their sentences as Cadet ship domestic staff. There was little doubt of their background as all of them were hideously mutilated from much cutlass fighting, with divers missing bits - ears were commonly missing as were nose tips cut back to the bone and, of course fingers galore, AWOL. After that mere scars seemed quite trivial! Yes,Gina, I do remember Sister Mary Aquinas, Sister Theresa, Sister Mary of Mercy - the intrepid footballer - and Sister Mary Agnes, a very old nun who was the boy's "mother", who made sure we were all kept clean!
Mon Apr 21 10:54:22 2008

Chris Penney, Exeter
My mother comes from Bangor and she vividly remembers the RAF Coastal Command Catalina flying boats alighting on the Menai Straits for repair at the Beaumaris overhaul facility opposite. A recently published book Wings Across the Border details this aviation history of the area and having asked for it for Christmas she was then engrossed in it for the rest of festive season!
Wed Apr 16 09:39:50 2008

John Davies, Boston Lincs
our family moved to bangor in 1940, my father worked for the liverpool victoria approved soc who rented treborth hall for the duration of the war. we lived at gwenalt and the garden ran to the railway enbankment. steam engines numbers was our hobby. it was a very busy station and yards.

i remember the yanks marching up the road from the station and i said 'any gum chum' and a guy said no but i have some candy.

the horses used to come from the station in strings of about 10 on way to the horse fair at menai bridge, the ferry used to go from the end of the pi! er when the tide was low so we had to walk a long way to board it. the flying boats were moored in the straits and the conway training ship was also there but was destroyed by fire.

my sister was 4 years older than me and took me to sat pictures and trips to bangor mountain, which often was on fire due to children setting the gorse alight.

we returned to croydon after the war but sadly my nephew and i will in a couple of weeks make the final journey to menai bridge to scatter my sister's ashes where she and i spent many happy time togther during the war.
Wed Apr 9 12:13:42 2008

Gina (Pugh) Hequembourg Dawsonville Ga USA
Graham - my family was at St Gerards Convent during the war. We lived in Liverpool and were evacuated to Wales for safety. My sisters Sheila, Pamela and myself attended St Gerards convent as boarders for our entire school lives. I have lots of memories of the nuns and the dormitories and walking into town to go to church down the lane. The fields we would play in. Do you remember Sister Mary Aquinus?
Wed Jan 23 08:52:25 2008

Jim Menlove
I spent many months in Bangor between 1940 and 1944 living with my mother and sister in the home of my grandparents Seth and Bertha Randall. I did not experience any of the prejudice which plagued Graham but that was no doubt because,even though very English, everyone knew my Welsh family, the Randalls. I was Ada's son and I assume now that is why I had better experiences. My father Bert Menlove had come from England in 1929 to play football for Bangor City and had met my mother then. I was born in 1930 in a tiny stone house with dirt floors on 22 Waterloo St.

I remember the nois! e of the Catalinas taking off from the straits on their way for ocean patrols and the MTBs stationed nearby. Once my sister and I were given a short ride in one, no doubt totally against regulations.

I spent many hours on "the mountain" to which we climbed up a narrow path between the houses. Other times were by the sea shore gathering winkles to take home for tea.
Thu Mar 15 10:04:23 2007

Theatre memories
Theatr Gwynedd

Last updated: 25 November 2008
The curtain fell on the stage at Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor, for the final time in October 2008. Theatre director Dafydd Thomas shares his memories - and we'd like to hear yours.

My first job here was as head of house in 1977, then deputy manager and finally theatre director, so I've been here for years. I was actually here during the first ever performance on January 1, 1975, Pwyll Gwyllt, and I hope to be here for the last ever show on October 18.

We'll be finishing with a production by Showzone, a company who give children from Objective One areas the chance to perform. They've made great use of our facilities, as have local school pupils, and I think they'll greatly miss us when we're closed.

The school halls round here just aren't the same; there's nothing to beat having the experience of performing on a real theatre stage, but absolutely no provision has been made for this and so groups like Showzone will be back to practising in their chapel vestry.

The people of Bangor will definitely suffer until the new arts centre is built, but that won't be for another four years at the very least.

The best of the Welsh acting establishment have performed at Theatr Gwynedd - John Ogwen, Jo Roberts, Maureen Rhys and Dewi Humphreys. David Jason also came here early in his career to appear in a play called Charlie's Aunt.

Our own production company, Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd, was created in 1986 and I recall their first production, O Law i Law, which went down to great reviews. They also did a stage version of the TV show C'mon Midffild which was brilliant - it's always great to see a theatre full of people laughing.

Theatr Gwynedd audience Unfortunately, they decided to separate the theatre from the production company in 2003, which put an end to Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd.

A number of comedians have been here over the years - Jack Dee, Jeremy Hardy - and we've had singers like Rick Wakeman and Ralph McTell.

The university have made good use of us too, putting on musicals like Joseph, Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof.

Theatr Gwynedd isn't a very big place. There were plans to build a second stage and practice rooms, but the funding ran out. So our backstage area is so small the technicians have often had to bring sets in from a van in the car park because there just isn't the space to store them. But our backstage staff do have a reputation of being the most professional and versatile in Wales.

Many actors have told me how much they love performing at Theatr Gwynedd because you're that much closer to the audience of 350. The acoustics are good and the actors are on a great eyeline with those watching.

Not everything has gone smoothly though. We once had a leak in the roof - I'm sure the audience had no idea there were lots of buckets backstage to catch the water!

And many performers have been late because of the trains and had to run on stage at the last minute. But we've only cancelled shows once, during the strikes of the 1970s when we didn't have any electricity to go on.

It's been fun working here. The fact that so many of the core staff have been here for years speaks volumes. It will be very sad when we close for the last time, especially as there's nothing to replace us. Dafydd Thomas

View some photos of past productions.

your comments

Kevin Myers, Cardiff
As a member of the University-based amdram group SODA I was lucky enough to perform in a professional theatre for the first time in Theatr Gwynedd, and what a thrill it was. I went on to appear on that stage many more times, and even went on to direct two shows there. Wonderful memories, making the demise of Theatr Gwynedd a sad day indeed for me and for countless others.
Wed Oct 15 11:33:12 2008

Melfyn, Llandudno Junction
When I was a student I worked at Theatr Gwynedd for a year as an usher/interval ice cream seller and therefore got to see lots of productions and films for free. My personal highlight was a summer production of Educating Rita with Robert "High Hopes" Blythe and Jacquetta May, despite having to sit through it many times. I also enjoyed Hwyl a Fflag's "Newid Aelwyd", but please don't make me sit through Robert De Niro's film "The Mission" ever again!
Thu Oct 2 16:13:11 2008

Sam Roberts from Wales
Don't close the theatre down as it been there since the 70s and it's the only good thing about Bangor. Many people's careers have started there.
Fri Sep 26 15:33:08 2008

Robert Roberts
Theatr Gwynedd is a significant performance space at the heart of Bangor University life. Why close it down?
Fri Sep 26 15:32:06 2008

Evaviv, Tywyn
Great article, but what a pity it has to close!My daughter, who is a professional actress, singer and dancer, was sorry to hear this, having performed there in the early 90s in Little Shop of Horrors and would love to attend a Gala Night if they have planned to have one. Best wishes to all at Theatre Gwynedd.
Fri Sep 26 09:02:42 2008

Kath, BBC web team
Memorable performances at Theatr Gwynedd for me have included George Melly, Ted Hughes, Rich Hall, and Mid Wales Opera who got me interested in opera for the first time.
Wed Sep 24 14:41:10 2008

Bangor Bus Station
 Garth Road c1965
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

 For a young bus enthusiast in the 1960s, the bus station on Garth Road was the gateway to Anglesey and many of the country routes behind Bangor. Such exciting places as Gerlan, Bethesda, Tregarth and Rhiwlas could be reached for modest fares using bus services provided by the 'buckingham green' Crosville buses. They also ran along the coast roads to Llandudno and Caernarfon; also on to Anglesey with destinations such as Holyhead, Beaumaris, Llangefni and Llanfairpwll. Their large, rear entrance double deckers of Bristol manufacture ran on the main roads with smaller single deckers in the country districts. There was a prevalent type of single decker with about 35 seats which the company called SSG's which were apparently very economical to run, but were VERY noisy and seemed to almost 'run out of puff' when aimed up anything steeper than an anthill. On any Saturday afternoon when heading up the narrow lanes with a full load of returning shoppers, families etc, their speed was 'walking pace' - but they

My grandfather was a Crosville driver in the 1960s, his name was Bob Jones, married to Margaret, does anyone remember him?

Hi, my name is Collene, I live in New Zealand, I have been try to get some information about my grandfather, James William Lewis, born in Bangor in Wales. He came to NZ and married Elizabeth Shaw who was from NZ, his dad was Henry (his mother was Susan Henry), he was a fisherman, that's all I have got to go on. Can anyone help? Collene

I remember doing my nurse training in this hospital 1967-70, it was a beautiful old building, now I believe it is a supermarket, oh dear!!! I wonder is there anyone out there who did training at the same hospital,I am so surprised to see no one has left a memory of Bangor.

I was a child in the pre-fabs at the top end of Maesg and wonder if anybody else remembers them?

 A memory of Maesgeirchen, shared by Michael Richardson.
Maesgeirchen Prefab's

 I was born in the prefabs in Maesgierchen. I was Brenda Freeman, my father was Charles Freeman, he was born in Bethlan Bach in Bangor - his father, also Charles Freeman, was born in Bangor. My grandmother, Elizabeth Freeman had a market stall in the old Bangor market. Would be most interested if anyone remembered any of my family.

Looking for info. Hugh OWEN, born Bangor CAE, Wales about 1813,
Certificate Of Competency44930, Master issued 1851, KEW Ref
124/7

Looking for info. Hugh OWEN, born Bangor CAE, Wales about 1813,
Certificate Of Competency44930, Master issued 1851, KEW Ref
124/7

Iona Willis
 
I am looking for anyone who knew the Jones family who lived in
Bangor, my mother Catherine (kitty) and her children Maldwyn
born 1935 Well Street, Trevor born 1938 Well Street and Iona
born 1946 Caernavon Road and attended Glanadda School 1951 to
1955 then the family left Bangor. Catherines Mother Jane and
Father John lived at both addresses We are also trying to trace
any of the Deacon famly of Bangor living there during the 1940's

carol munson
i am looking for my grandmothers family she was margaret davies
of anion road glannadda bangor  

rod willis
searching for any information of John Young a master mariner who
lived at 5 Fron deg street bangor  

rod willis
looking for information on William John Hughes a baker who
Married Pheobe Anne Young in 1911 at The New Tabernacle Church
Bangor  

Carolyn Casperson
Looking for information about FRANCIS EDWARDS born about 1705 in
Wales. Married ANN LEACH in Wales 1726. Emigrated to Ireland
about 1728 from Bangor, North Wales.  

Peter Hughes
I'm searching for info on my GGGF Joseph Hughes (born Bangor
around 1834) and his parents Owen Hughes

Graham Pritchard
I am trying to trace details relating to my grandfather - John
Thomas Pritchard, born 1870-1890 who worked in the Slate Quarry
in Bangor and lived in Bethesda before moving to England. Can
you assist please  

Marianne Morgan Golden
I am searching my family history and have found some relatives
who lived at Chauntry House and Borthwen, Glyn Garth in the
early 1900's. John Samuel Pritchard and his wife, lived in
Beaumaris, where their 5 children were born. After John died,
Jane married William Thornton-Jones and 4 more children. William
and 2 of his sons were baristers in Bangor. Can you tell me
where to find additional information on my family.Thank
you,Marianne Morgan Golden  

Gwyn Roberts
I have hit a brick wall concerning my Great-Great Grandfather
GRIFFITH EVANS. He appears with his wife, Jane in each Census
from 1851 to 1891 and the age difference fluctuates between 3
Years and 9 Years.Similarly the Place of Birth in the case of
Jane varies between Dolgelley Caernarfon and Llanwnda. Griffith
EVANS was a Railway Platelayer and died at Bangor Gwynedd on
17th November 1900 at the age of 83 years suggesting he was born
in 1817.Jane EVANS nee WILLIAMS died at Bangor on 9th May 1906
aged 79 years suggesting that she was born about 1826 an age
difference of 9 years.It is interesting to note that in the 1881
Census a Lodger appears to reside with the couple he being one
JOHN EVANS 57 yrs a Miner born at Dolgellau and 2 years older
than GRIFFITH. Was he an older brother. I have consistently been
unsuccessful in determining the parentage and address of
Griffith EVANS in Dolgellau and similarly failed to ascertain
the roots of Jane EVANS nee Williams -at whatever location she
was born.The answers have eluded me for over 25 years. Can
anyone assist  

Gwyn Roberts
Seeking information regarding GRIFFITH EVANS, b. Dolgellau
c.1817-1825: died Bangor 17.11.1900 He wed a  

John Stanton
I am trying to find the birth place of ny great uncle, who was
born in Bangor back in the 1844, His mother was Mary Ann
Eldridge or Eldred, father William Stanton  

Neil Roberts
Looking for David Roberts born 1783 in Tan-y-foel Cerryig y
Dridon died 1849 in Bangor. Perhaps there is an Obituary on him.
thank you  

Harley Stanton
I'm seeking any information on John Owens who was reported to
have been born in Bangor in 1790. He later was a famed
shipbuilder in Saint John, New Brunswick. Do you have any
information on this name? Kind regards  

Pat Smit (nee Kayley)
Researching my father, John Kayley and his mother, my
grandmother, Ethel Kayley. They went to Bangor during WWI to
join a sister, Deborah Walmsley who was a 'Wueen's Nurse'. My
grandmother was also a nurse at the hospital. My father attended
Friars School. He later stayed on at the school until 1925/26. I
believe he lived with the Thomas family, whose son, Glyn Thomas
also attended the shcool and eventually became the Post Master
in Bangor, probably retiring in the late 1970's. Any advice on
what records for the Hospital staff during WWI and/or Post
Office records after WWII are available appreciated.

Alana Auliff
My ggrandfather Robert Ellis b abt 1836, Bangor, married to
Elizabeth. Lived at 42 Kyffin Sq, then 16 Robert St. Had
children Alex James and Elizabeth.I would appreciate any info on
Robert.I have cert for Robert d Llanddeinislen bought in error
for anyone who wants it.  

barbara
I am trying to find William Hughes born about 1879/80 he married
Barbara Ann Humphrey in 1903 in Bangor N Wales he had a sister
Sarah.Glad of any help.  

Gerard Gilligan
Hello,I'm researching the Gilligan family who are recorded
living in Chapel Street Bangor in 1919. Francis and Mary
Gilligan,and their Son Claud Snr.Claude S Gilligan Jun. was born
in Bangor the same year, 1919.Can anyone give me any leads or if
any of the family died in Bangor?  

Hywel Thomas
Looking for information on the Bangor National School Circa 1850
located in Dean Street. In particular any information on the
school master in 1851 David Thomas  

Mike Osborne
I am trying to find out who was running the Ship Launch, Garth
Road, Bangor from 1950 to 1960 as they are probably relatives of
mine. My mother moved to Bristol in 1947 having been born and
brought up in Benllech, Anglesey but I do remember visiting this
pub every year when we visited the area on holiday to see
family. Can anyone help. I would be very grateful  

Jo Dillon
I am researching my great grandparents and would welcome any
help .JOHN HUGHES (b 1846) ,Llanidan and JANE PRICHARD (b.1855),
Church House , Port Dinorwic. I believe they married in 1874 in
Chicago. I think JOHNs parents might have been ROBERT HUGHES (
b1813 Llangeinwen ) and ANN (b 1817 Llanidan), but have not
confirmed this.They had three children - William Griffith
(b.1875), Pearce M (b.1880) , and Jane Ellen ( b. 1882) .
Between 1880 and c 1910 they appear to have lived in Liverpool.
They returned to Anglesey and were owner /occupiers of Pant y
Saer Uchaf between c.1910 -1920. I cannot find them on the 1911
census however. Their daughter JANE ELLEN HOWDLE (nee HUGHES)
was a stewardess on the Lusitania and died when it was torpedoed
in 1915. Her name appears on the Bangor and Benllech memorials -
does anyone have photos of these. I think her parents must have
raised her three children - Raymond , Ronnie and Benjamin
Donald. JOHN died in 1924 and is buried in Tynygongl and JANE
died in 1936 and is buried in Llanrug so its possible there
might memorial inscriptions.

Trevor Dunkerley
Following on from my previous message, readers may like to
comment upon the following anomaly. Page 54 of the records of
the burials register for the parish of Llandysilio in the year
1856 shows No 425 Edward Evans Pen Nebo Sept 13th 28 years Revd
Jones Williams Rector. On FreeBMD death records there are no
recorded deaths registered under Edward Evans in Bangor for
1856. There is one recorded death for Edward Evans in March
1857. Buried on Sept 13th 1856 and the only registered death in
March 1857. Is this usual or unusual. Can anyone shed any light
upon this. Kind regards Trevor  

rodney willis
trying to trace information on Catherine Jones b 1912 Menai
lived in Bangor with sons Maldwyn b1935 and Trevor b 1938 in
Well Street Bangor and daughter Iona b 1946 Caernarvon Road also
living at this address was Catherines parents John And Jane
Catherine Jones any information much appreciated  

R.D.Linden
My Gt.Grandmother Elizabeth Thomas was born c.1840 in Llanfair
PG. She died in 1920 In Pool Street Llanfair PG Her parents were
John Thomas (c.1802 Bodedern-1883 Llanfair PG) and Mary
Griffiths (1816 Bangor-1903 Llanfair PG) John was a Railway
Policeman (signalman) when Elizabeth was born. Her siblings were
Mary (1836-1908); Methusalem(1838-1854); John (d.1843); Mary b.
1844; Jane (1850-1928); and William (1853-1919). William married
Frances late in life.I believe that he had a step daughter
Margaret Percival ( 1885-1952) She was in the nursing
profession.  

Ewan
I am looking for any information about a William Henry Cox who
was at the death of his son Lionel Harry Cox in 1883 at Bryn y
Don Garth Bangor. As far as I know the whole family may not have
been in Bangor, mum and older daughter may have still be in
Devon, as they all were for the 1881 census. I am especially
interested to know how long William Henry Cox was in Bangor. In
1891 he was in Sussex with the rest of the family.Thank you for
any help.Ewan  

beryl bryant
looking for details of my grandparents family who lived in
glasinfryn,bangor.they were hugh henry griffiths,born1877,also
jane ann griffiths,born1882,nee roberts.  

Gwyndaf Williams
I submit this plea on behalf of Gloria Joyce GRAY of Ontario,
CANADA. It should have appeared in our Journal No 56 but was
inadvertantly omitted. It will appear in full in the 'Can you
Help' pages of journal 57.The plea is-I am the gran-daughter of
Edward G OWEN b. 1876 at Bangor,North Wales died 1956 in Canada
and Eleanor MALLETT b 1871, died 1944 in Canada.They had three
sons-Richard OWEN, Stanley Willard OWEN (my father) and James
Mallett OWEN- all now deceased. A Nance BALL who lived in Garth
Road, Bangor wrote regurarly to my mother, the last being in
1954 She had a daughter called Menai. I have reason to believe
that she was my father's cousin.Are there any descendants now
living in Bangor or elsewhere I wonder. Can anyone help please-
my e-mail is [e-mail]  

Linda
Looking for info on Owen Owen(s), (B Llanerchymedd about 1806)
and Margaret Hughes (B Carnarvon about 1807). They married
around 1845, and in 1851 were listed near Bangor as farmers,
with 3 children, Mary Anna (4), Catherine (2) and John (3 wks).
I don't quite know how to find out about his parents, or
siblings or early life. I just got back from visiting Any
suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.  

Alice MacDonald Long
My grandfather, Henry Richard Evans was born in 1863 in Bangor,
Wales. His siblings were Ann,Catherine Jane,Thomas Henry,Owen
Thomas,Richard William. I'm involved in the DNA project through
National Geographic. They are doing a five year study to
discover how we migrated around the world. I would be willing to
pay for the DNA sample for a descendant of one of my
grandfather's brothers. The project is now in the fourth year of
the five year project. Thanks for this wonderful service. Alice  

Elizabeth Lane
Hi - I'm trying to find my G/Grandfather before 1861. Owen Owens
born 1843 in Bethseda. I'm not sure if this is near Bangor or a
small village at the junction of A499 and A487. 3 census returns
are listed as Bethseda but the 1901 states Bethnalla - which I
cannot find. When married he lived a while in Beddgelert and
then for the next 40 yrs was at Ffestiniog as a Quarry Miner.
Hoping to visit in the area to go thro records but not sure
where to start. Thanks for any help.  

 
Linda Laitine
Great-grandfather ROBERT THOMAS, b. October 17, 1848 in
Caellwyngrydd (now Rachub), Carnarvonshire (Gwynedd). Emigrated
about 1873 to USA where he was a dry goods merchant. SIBLINGS:
Mary - b. about 1843 and William - b. about 1845 - both born in
Carnarvon, Llanllechid. PARENTS: William Thomas (quarry laborer)
b. about 1813-1815 in Llanidan, Anglesey. Died between 1881 and
1891; Ellizabeth Jones - b. Gwalchmai, Anglesey - baptized June,
1813 in Glan y Gors-oiddu Bach. Died between 1871 and 1881. Her
parents were William Jones (laborer) and Mary Roberts. William
and Elizabeth married, possibly in Bangor or Angelesy, between
1838 and 1841. Have info from census records of 1841, 1851,
1861, 1871, and 1881 when the Thomas family lived in
Llanllechid, Carnarvonshire. SEEKING: Birth record of Robert
Thomas. Birth, marriage, death records and burial locations for
his parents, William and Elizabeth Thomas. Employment info for
William Thomas and his son, William - both quarry laborers -
perhaps worked in Penrhyn quarry or other, such as Bryn Hafod-
y-Wern quarry. Emigration info for Robert Thomas: date and port
of departure to USA in 1873 (from Carnarvon or Liverpool or
other port), ship name, and destination in USA. Thank you.  

Marjorie Ashford [e-mail]
Please can anyone tell me the name of the pub that was at 346
High Street Bangor, it is now FADS. Evan Evans was the landlord
in 1871 by 1881 it was the Crown Peoples Cafe. I have tryed the
civic society web page without success.

Ann Chapman
My great-grandfather, Richard Penrose Crews, moved to North
Wales and married again. He married Laura Jones on Sept 1872 in
the Register Office at Bangor. Their eldest child, Charles
Penrose J. Crews, was born in Sept 1873. The family lived in
Llanllyfni and Richard was a joiner by trade. I have seen
Charles' grave in the Llanllyfni Cemetry. He died May 10th,
1952. Can anyone please tell me anymore about him as he was
half-brother to my grandfather, Arthur Crews of Devon. I doubt
whether they knew of each others existence. Any information
about Richard's place of work or burial place would be very
interesting for me too. Thanks, Ann Chapman (nee Crews).  
 
Gwyn Roberts
For several years I have endeavoured to trace my Great-Great
Grandfather who was GRIFFITH EVANS, b. 1826 and hailed from
DOLGELLAU. He was wed to one JANE who is variously shown as
having been born in Llanwnda, Caernarvon - Dolgellau and
Llanwrin in Census records. She was born in 1831. They are wed
in 1851 Census and residing in Britannia Cottage, Treborth,
Bangor.I am facing a brick wall with regard to tracing their
marriage - this being the information needed to complete my
Family Tree.  

Heather
I'm researching Captain James Jones - born Aberystwyth c1792. He
married secondly to my great great grandmother Elizabeth Davies
(nee Roberts) in Bangor Aug 23, 1847. He died in Bangor Dec 2,
1870. Captain Jones is mentioned in the book Bangor Port of
Beaumaris by M. Elis-Williams. I would like to learn more about
his life and sea-faring career if possible.Any help much
appreciated.  

Llinos Edgeley
Chwilio am aelodau o deulu Mary Grace Dew a briododd Richard
Morris Griffith (Bancer ym Mangor) tua 1839.Looking for
descendants/relatives of Mary Grace Dew, married Richard Morris
Griffith (Banker in Bangor) 1839.

Bryan Smart
I am researching my ancestors, the Buckland family from Bangor
area.  

Debi Condie
searching for Daniel Jones b.1824 bangor, convict 941 sent to
australia vessel minden 1851,does anyone know of his family in
bangor Wales?  

Jayne Merrington
I am researching Capt.Hugh Pugh, I have a marriage certificate
for Llanbeblig December 1818, he married Jane Ann Jones daughter
of Robert Jones. They both lived in Caernarfon and had a son
Edward Pugh born in 1926. Edward became a saddler in Bangor. I
have not found Hugh or Jane since. I have found only Capt. Hugh
Pugh on the census living in Llanidan with a wife called
Catherine. Hugh may also have been known as Fflat Huw Puw.Did
Jane die? or is this another relative, records in the national
library are incomplete for Llanbeblig can anyone help, or
provide ideas of where I can find more info on Fflat Huw Puw?  

Pat Lindsay
I've seen a useful CD of directories of all the North Wales
counties at the Eisteddfod. I daren't buy it until I know it
includes Bangor information. Has anyone used it & does it cover
Bangor? Do we have it at the Aelwyd?

Christine Harding
I am searching for my GG Grandfather who was born 1825-30 in
either Beau Maris, Anglesey or Bangor also his parents. His
Father was Hugh Hughes born probably in Nefyn, Gwynedd around
1779 both were Joiners.  
 
Rita Tyrrell
Am researching my Hughes & Evans family from Bangor. John Hughes
b C1794 married Mary........... I would be so grateful for any
help. Rita  

marjorie ashford
I would like any information on Griffith Evans my gt
grandfather. He was a builder and contractor befor ww1 in Bangor
the story is he built Bangor Normal and the Catholic church, his
daughters my granny Annie Rowlands, her sisters were Katie &
Nellie Evans I do not know if they married. Lived in bangor
until the late fifties. There was two brothers Thomas Rogers
died in ww1 & William Evans a customs officer in Liverpool.  

John Maelor Evans
I was born in Bangor and lived in Caernarfon for 18 years. My
family came from Caernarfon and I am searching for my family
records.  

fiona edwards
i'm looking for a william mc leod (the spelling may differ)
father of james mc leod, james was born aug 7TH 1844,and resided
at tyn y gate bangor. william was married to a ellen-eleanor
jones. thank you  

Roger Jones
searching my Welch roots. Great grandfather born William Bangor
Jones,Caernarvon, 1855 (?)  

George Parry
I was born at 2 Friars Terrace,High Street, Bangor. This is a
large house opposite Friars Rd. Has anyone information of the
present occupants.  


Marjorie Ashford
Would like any information please about 346 High St Bangor. Gt
gt grandparents Evan & Mary Evans ran it as an inn, Evan shown
as brewer& joiner & publiican in census return from 1851 -1871
by 1881 census it has become the Crown Peoples cafe. Any
information about family and pub please

Berwyn Lloyd Williams
Looking to find anyone with links to the LLoyd family that moved
down the Conway valley from Yspyty Ifan, early 19th C, to
Llanrwst (John Lloyd)and then to Glanadda Bangor (Owen Lloyd)
around 1900.
 
MICHAEL WATSON
My Mother was Eileen Margaret Gill who lived at Orme Road,
Bangor. I am researching her Grandmothers family who were
Roberts. Margaret Roberts born abt 1864 whose father was Samuel
Roberts and mother may have been Bridget.  

Judy Geddes
I am searching David Creighton Williams and Irene Reynolds. They
were married in Bangor, Anglesey in 1878.  

jane buch
I've just had a "EUREEKA!". Found my Jane Jones married to John
Jones (and of courses her father's name was John Jones as well!)
out of ALL of Wales because my sister and I had an auditory
memory of a word that sounded like "Abercassik"...well I found
the river "Aber Caseg"....then a farm name in the '51, '61', '71
and '81 censuses for Bangor...Llanlechid. Now need help with '41
census check and also two references to titles in Welsh refering
to Abercaseg in Unv. Bangor library. How could I pay someone to
help me? Thanks, Jane  

Nan Krull
U.S. "EVANS" and "BOWEN" cousin Richard Krull rec'd a 1967
letter from "...your Bangor cousin", Dora Evans. The family
would like to reconnect with "...our Bangor cousins".  

Hefin
Researching for Henry Jones of Bryn Glas, Pentir, Bangor b.c1833
at Llandrygan. His wife Hannah b.c1840 at Tregaian. They had
three daughters,all born at Pentir, Mary b.c.1866, ellen
b.c1868, and Elizabeth b.c.1869. Any help in identifying them
would be much appreciated, Diolch. Hefin.  

Pauline Watchorn
Interesting & informative sight. Have been researching family
from Bangor - glan du terrace. Names of Roberts, Owen and
Chestnutt.  

Gwyn Griffiths
I understand my pat grandparents are buried "in a Bangor
graveyard, on Caernarfon Road, just beyond the railway bridge".
Can anyone identify the graveyard; is it still in use; are there
registers/MIs? Thanks for any poss help Gwyn  

Eileen Pye
VINCENT Sir William Henry Hoare b. 1866 d. 1941, looking for
descendants of his two daughters, probably born in India, or
contact with anyone researching this Vincent family from
Treborth Uchaf Bangor. His brothers were Hugh Corbet and James
Edmund Vincent. Thanks.  

geraint
hi i'm looking for info about anyone with sennar as a
surname,got back to george sennar died 1841 pentir bangor any
help much appreciated  

Bob Williams
Trying to find my grandfather Hugh Williams, born Bangor,
Caerns, circa 1882 father Hugh Williams, farmer, no details of
mother, but must have had one, at least. All replies seem to
arrive at CLWYD list, anyone with access to 1891 census who
could explain how I could find my way onto it from WA would earn
my undying gratitude!  

james dutton
find information on robert evans born 1890 in anglsey or bangor
.  

Bob Williams
My father Hugh Williams born in Sankey, Wigan, Lancashire on 9
September 1911. Father Hugh Williams,born in or near
Bangor,Caernarfonshire. circa 1882, Mother Elizabeth nee Pugh on
19 September 1881 near Nevin (Registrar's spelling) They had met
on the New Brighton ferry and Taid Williams heard them speaking
Welsh and butted in! Anyway, I have lost all relatives from
Dad's family and would really like to trace the family tree.
Taid Williams died 12 Feb 1929 aged 47. I do not have my Dad's
birth certificate or his marriage lines. Any help of any kind,
advice etc., would be deeply appreciated  

pauline roberts
I would like to know where my great grandmother hannah jones(nee
Rowlands)was born. She married William Francis Jones in 1886. He
was born in Conwy,but I think she came from near Bangor. I
actually met her just after WW2 I think in Bethesda so maybe she
came from somewhere near there. Hoping someone can help me with
this.  

Robert Evans
I have an address from a birth certificate,issued in Bangor &
dated 1921, of, OFF WELL STREET, MENAI BRIDGE, UD. So far I
can't find it on any street maps(only Well St.)Can anyone help
with directions? Or has it been renamed or demolished?

Nats
I am looking for information on (Reverend)Owen Alban Thomas, his
parents and his family. Owen Alban Thomas possibly grew up in
Bagillt, Flintshire. Mother unknown as yet and the father is one
of three brothers - William, Owen or Richard all born in the
Pentir area near Bangor, Gwynedd. Owen's siblings were
(Reverend) David John Thomas, (Canon)Robert/Richard Alban
Thomas, Eleanor Louisa Thomas and another sister name unknown.
Owen Alban Thomas was a Reverend and married Florrie. They had
six children - Owen, R.Trevor, Cecil, Irene, Dora and Vannie.
Owen Alban Thomas died in the summer of 1938.  
 
John Maddocks
My Great Grandparents where Richard Tope and Jane Edmunds
married at Bangor Register Office April 18th 1863 wish to
confirm father of Jane Edmund  

Nelly Riley
looking for Grandparents linage. Grandmother Laura Jones from
Bangor Wales, Grandfather George Riley Liverpool England they
married and migrated to Montreal Canada, they had five sons
Arthor, Bert, Fred Walter, Gilbert my father Frederick travelled
to Papua New Guinea and married my mother, I now live in
Australia.  

betty j. mcmahon
Would like to find dwcendents of Ebenezer hughes and annie
hughes hughes of llangristiouls anglesey county i know of one
Rhiannon Rowlands of bangor have tried on several occasion to
conyact her by letter but no response she found me through st
david society from which ihave gotten no help she claims to be
relative of my late grandfather William e Hughes  

hallesy
any info on hallesy name in bangor my grandparents lived in
beaumaris house my granny was known as the queen of carnarvon  
Alun Morgan
I am still trying to locate the birth of an Elizabeth Ann Owen
[s] born to a Morris Owen [slate quarryman]. Elizabeth Ann born
about 1883 information taken from her marriage certificate 1903
.Married from a place called Penbraich married in Bangor
Register Office. Any help very much appreciated.Thankyou Alun.  

Kenneth Moxon
I am searching for a george and catharine Moxon in the 1851
census. their son ,also george Moxon married an Amlwch Girl and
setteled in bangor and Amlwch. Any information would be
graefully received. pob hwyl Ken.  

jrwilliams
trying to locate my grandmother`s birth certificate.ann jane
pierce born june 1861 in bangor  

R.J.Rowlands
I am researching the family of my great Aunt Ellen lloyd
Rowlands who married Robert Jones Griffith about 1859 in Bangor
(1861 census). Any relatives still in Wales?  

aNDREW eVANS
Dear Tom and Others, I still need help with the death event
details of Catherine Evans _mn. Williams. Details so far: Bd.
1815,Merioneth, Wales m. 1828, Bangor, Wales Husband)William
Evans dd. ? The residential address for Williamand Catherine was
- 2 Tan Y Rhiw, Llandegai. A son, Griffith, was born to them in
1839 at Llandegai. No mention of Catherine in the 1841 Census.
About 1844, William Evans remarries. Hope you can help, as
usual. Regards, Andrew Evans  

R.J.Rowlands
My great grandfather Richard William Rowlands was born in Bangor
in 1843 in Frondeg street (which seems to be pulled down today)
His parents were William Rowlands and Mary Jane Williams. I
would love to get in touch with anyone connected with this
family.

aNDREW eVANS
Can anyone help me in my quest to unravel mysteries about Welsh
ancestores./ I am still trying to locate details about a
Catherine Evans( nee Williams ) She was married to my great-
great-grandfather, William Thomas Evans. They lived at 2 Tan y
Rhiw, Llandygai. They had one son, Griffith,born at Llandygai in
1839. It is suspected that Thomas and Catherine married at hthe
Ebenezer Chapel, Bangor . No idea when that occurred. On 1841
Census there is no mention of a Catherine Evans, as the wife of
a Thomas Evans. It would be great to ger some help@ Thanks,
Andrew Evans 24a Albert St, Traralgon, Vic., 3844, Australia.  

andrew jones
seeking any info about my great grandfathers family.he was
called william henry jones-b.menai bridge 1876,d.bethesda
1937.he took part in the great strike at penrhyn quarry 1900-
1903.he had several brothers and sisters,i belive the we have
relations in the bangor area.His father -robert-was from
llangefni,his mother-anne-was from menai bridge.William in later
years was branch chairman of the north wales quarrymans union at
penrhyn and also conductor ofthe penrhyn choir.any info
greatfully accepted.diolch.  

Lydia Mallison-Jones
My father is Walter Christopher Roberts born 30th November 1939
to Helen Roberts (Fathers name not known) he had two sisters
(Anne, Anita) & a brother. Would anyone know of this family?
Originally from Bangor though moved to Kent when Walter was very
young.  

Richard John Rowlands
My great grandfather Richard William Rowlands was born in Bangor
in 1843 and his parents were William Rowlands and Mary Jane
Williams. Richard William left Wales in about 1859 and became a
coffee planter in Ceylon/Sri Lanka. He had five sisters, Ellen
Lloyd who married Robert Jones Griffith about 1859, Mary
Elizabeth b 1841,Caroline b 1842,Jane b 1848 and Elizabeth b
1851, they were all born in Bangor in Frondeg Street Bangor, I
understand that there are only a few houses left. I would love
to get in touch with any of these ancestor's descendants.  

Linda Ramsden
My late mother and her family come from Bangor. I have got back
to my g, g grandfather Evan Hughes born 1814, married a Jane
both from Llanllechid, they had at least 3 childre, John, b1840,
Evan, b1853 who married Elizabeth williams from Bangor and
Catherine, b 1845. Anybody know of anymore children or any
brothers/sisters for Evan B1814.  

Roberts
I think I have traced my g.g.grandmother Ann Roberts to
Llanfihangel Tre'r Beirdd in 1852/53 (father John) but am having
trouble getting to grips with registration districts as most of
my ancestors seem to have been registered in Bangor despite
being born on Anglesey. Would Llanfihangel T.B. be registered
under Anglesey or Bangor? Also her birthplace is sometimes given
as Maenaddfwyn. What is the connection (if any) between the two
places?  

R.Rowlands
My great grandfather Richard William Rowlands was born in Bangor
in 1843, could someone tell me what school he might have
attended during his boyhood? He left Wales in about 1859 and
landed up in Sri Lanka and invested his savings in coffee and
tea. His parents were William Rowlands and Mary Jane Williams,
they were wine merchants (1851 census)  

Jacqueline B Humphrey
My g.g.grandfather John ABRAHAM (Abram) Shoemaker was born in
Bangor, Wales about 1817,as were his two brothers William and
Richard - all christened at Ebenezer Independent, Bangor,
Caernararvon. Their father William ABRAHAM (Abram) married Jane
(surname not known). This information I have found out from both
the Censuses and the IGI on familysearch.org.uk. I am very keen
to discover more information re William ABRAHAM (Abram) and
Jane's marriage. Any help would be much appreciated. Just signed
up to become a Member - great site.  

Parch John Philips
On my family tree there is a "Parch John Philips" born 1810 who
apparently had some connectio with the Bangor Normal College
"prif sylfaenydd ar llywydd cyntaf Coleg Normal Bangor"
according to my notes compiled by a now deceased distant
relative. Any suggestions as to how I could find out more about
him and his connection with the college?  

Susan Morris
Still looking for anyone connected to Anne Williams from
Anglesey, who married Thomas Morris from Llanbadarn Fawr,
probably around 1860. Two children at least born in
Bangor.Louise Morris 1860 and Latimer Stephen Morris 1862.  

-----------------------------------------------------

The Anglican Chaplaincy in Bangor
http://chaplaincy.bangor.ac.uk/history.htm
 

Shortly after the foundation of the University College in 1884, the Church of England (as it was then) decided that it needed a stake in the new educational venture at Bangor. The northern Welsh dioceses of St Asaph and Bangor joined together to fund a house and clergyman to work alongside the College.

A private house called Craig Menai was bought in 1886 and came to be known as Church Hostel. The project was heavily influenced by H.T. Edwards, Dean of Bangor, and represented an outgrowth of the Bangor Clerical Educational Society with which Edwards was closely involved. The initial function of the Hostel and its Warden was thus largely geared to developing potential clergy during their time at University before they went to theological college.

The building expanded in line with the growth of the University College and the numbers of young men seeking ordination. The present chapel, and rooms 1 to 10 were built under the Wardenship of Glyn Simon in 1933, with a free-standing library added five years later. A study of Herbert North the local Arts and Crafts architect who oversaw this work has recently been published by Adam Voelcker and is available from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Another large extension in 1953-54 created rooms 11 to 21. The library was converted at the turn of the millennium into a flexible multi-media space available for public hire. A major refurbishment in early 2009 renovated all our washrooms and created an additional three bedrooms, rooms 26 to 28.

Even from its inception, Church Hostel was intended to exercise a wider function as a physical base for Anglican activity within the University College, a role recognised today as one of Chaplaincy to all students and staff. The Chaplain / Warden's tasks have sometimes been facilitated by contributing to the lecturing life of the School of Theology and Religious Studies. The aim of the Chaplaincy remains the combination of these various tasks and opportunities so that the love of Christ for individuals and society can be demonstrated: 'Christian worship and service by and for members of the University.'

----------------------------------------------------------  

19th Century Bangor

In the Nineteenth Century, Bangor on the South Side of the Menai Straits linked North Wales by rail and road to Anglesey with its two famous bridges.

The region's railway engineering headquarters was in Bangor on the London to Holyhead rail route. It had two major hospitals catering for a wide area, it was also North Wales' only university city and boasted training and theological colleges.

The City is dominated by the wealthy slate quarry owning Pennant family. They lived in splendour at Penrhyn Castle and Port Penrhyn was an outlet for their slates.
 A train also ran from Penrhyn quarry to Port Penrhyn with the slates going to the four corners of the world. 60,000 tons of slates were transported per annum on seven slate boats.

Bangor was also an important college centre boasting the Normal Teacher Training College, Theological Colleges and above all the University College situated on land donated by the Penrhyn family. A new stage in its development came with the foundation of a new prestigious site for the University in 1911 opened by George the V. He brought the Prince of Wales with himl. However, the academic ideal was shattered when the First World War broke out. Many young students followed other Bangor young men to war. Bangor was an important recruiting centre as well as an important medical centre, its hospitals soon filled up with injured soldiers. The First World war had a devastating effect with 220 Bangor men killed.

Following the war the slate industry revived and the port was again busy for a short period. Moored off the beautiful Victorian pier was the Clio a school for hundreds of orphaned children. The port was also enhanced by the arrival of the famous Dickies' Boat yard in the Twenties. One of its workers at the time remembers the launching of the Genetta Boat. Dickies built beautiful boats for a rich clientele but in the Thirties Bangor was badly hit by the depression. It was lessened by public works schemes like re-routing the A5 and the building of one of Wales' largest council estates like Maesgeirchen.

 Another major employer in the thirties were Bangor's hospital, especially St David's County Hospital and the Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Infirmary. However the major employer even during the depression was the railway station.

 There were many sources of entertainment to escape the depression including the establishment of the new cinema, the Plaza. But Bangor was most well known for its pioneering role in the development of welsh radio when the BBC established their station under Sam Jones.

 Many young Bangor men went off to war again. But Bangor had an active role on the home front as well. Bangor's port and the Menai Straits had important work in producing military boats. Yards like Dickies made Motor Torpedo Boats which often raced up and down the Menai Straits.

 There were also other major works as well like Saunders Rowe and women worked on the home front in the Aircraft Parts Factory, Daimlers. Many believed that the only major bombing incident in Bangor during the war was aimed at the aircraft factory works. But it fell on the Maesgeirchen housing estate instead, killing three people, as one man who was there remembers.

 There were happy times for the citizens of Bangor and many enjoyed meeting the American soldiers. Another source of delight to the citizens of Bangor was the relocation of the BBC Light Entertainment Department from London to Bangor. Famous stars like Tommy Handley and many others lived and worked in Bangor during the war and the ITMA programme was transmitted throughout Britain.

 Bangor also became a refuge for evacuees and even had a prisoner of war camp on Beach Road with Italian prisoners. Many wounded prisoners who returned to Bangor hospitals found themselves sharing their ward with the enemy. The end of the war brought great relief to the people of Bangor. Despite the fact that Bangor had lost 95 of its young men the general relief expressed itself in street parties galore.

 The post war period saw an effort to rebuild Bangor's economy. Many new employers came to Bangor especially in the public services. However one of the biggest developments in Bangor during this period was the extension of the hospital service. Following the establishment of the NHS in 1948, the 50's and the 60's saw the C and A developing into a major medical centre.

 Another major effect of post war Labour government policies was the nationalisation of the railway. It was a great time as one railwayman remembers. There were also new industries especially at the Llandegai Industrial Estate. Some of the wartime factories had also been converted for peace time purposes. Daimlers was turned into Ferranti's Electrical Meter Works catering for the post war housing boom. Bangor prospered and a symbol of the new found confidence was the building of the new Wellfield shopping centre.

 However one of the most important changes in Bangor town was the expansion of the University. Bangor was becoming increasingly cosmopolitan as students from across the world came there to study and indeed it was to the Normal College that the Beatles came to visit.

 There was more excitement for Bangor people in the Sixties as Bangor City FC swept all in its path under the management of Tommy Jones. The highlight of the period was Bangor's game against Napoli in the European Cup in 1961 when they beat the Italians.
 However, all the optimism in Bangor was marred as the Beeching Axe affected Bangor station with the closure of many branch lines. A further loss was that of Bangor's powerful city council. Symbolic in many ways of this loss was the burning of the Britannia bridge in 1970 which further affected the station. By the 80's privatisation of many services including the railway saw Bangor suffer under the Thatcher years with increased unemployment. Once again Bangor's main employer the railway was affected with a decline in service.

Despite the recession Bangor still had some important employers. In 1984 Ysbyty Gwynedd, the new hospital was opened. It employed thousands and managed to take the edge off the unemployment of the period, as one doctor's son notes.

 In the 90's Bangor also saw an even further expansion of college education. By now higher education is centred on the university which has a student total of 6,000. It has been beneficial to Bangor but, at a cost some believe to the character of Bangor.

 Many see the university as an essential part of Bangor's future prosperity. Linking with the new Parc Menai technological park and the University's technology expertise might bring future prosperity. The present mayor also believes that technology is the future for Bangor - Parc Menai bred a new entrepreneur, the Secure Trading Company which specialises in securing access on the internet.

City Cinema, High Street
The building of this venue was commenced in 1914 but it did not open until 1919, perhaps building work was suspended because of World War I. Seating was provided for 900. Owned by Mr. J.R. Saronie, who was also to own the Arcadia Cinema and later the Plaza Cinema in Bangor, it opened with prices ranging from 6d to 1/–. An R.C.A. Photophone sound system was installed to take the venue into the sound era. In 1952 Guy Bakers Paramount Film Theatres Ltd. had taken control and Cinemascope was installed in 1956 when seating fell to 569 patrons. A snack bar was opened in the cinema in the early 1960’s. Childrens Saturday morning picture shows were introduced in 1970, at which time the snack bar was open all day. With Guy Bakers death in 1983 the City Cinema closed, and when it re-opened in 1984 after being sold, it was as a snooker hall, later with the addition of an amusement arcade at the front. It remains in this use today. Worth mentioning that the shop next door (Options) was the City Cinema cafe, which I’m sure was open right up to the cinema’s closure. I only visited the City once, to see the film “Judith” starring Sophia Loren & Peter Finch,a story set in the months leading up to the Israeli nationhood. Also went up to the projection room, they had American Equipment Super Simplex projectors & RCA sound system.

[Andrea Merry nee French]

"Ken Owen
Does anyone remmember Jack French barbers at the bottom of the High Street and the Vauxhall garage opp, where the Jobcentre is now. It used to be a hardware store. A bit higher up was the County record shop, next door to the old Strand cafe on the corner of Dean Street opp Perfecta cleaners.
Mon Jun 23 10:02:26 2008"


To Ken Owen
Jack French was my great grandfather. I am happy to be carrying on his profession as a barber (though in Hitchin Herts)
My grandmother (Jack's daughter in law) lives in Penlon Gardens and many of  her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in Bangor.


Elfed Jones, Anglesey
Does anybody remember a street or area in Bangor called Park Hill? I have a family snuff box with the name Fox Park Hill Bangor circa 1909.
Wed Aug 5 10:33:35 2009

Patricia Duffy (nee Owen)
Reply to McDerwen: Dickens did stay at the Harp Inn many times when passing through Bangor. The Harp Inn was my home until I married in 1955.The room that Charles Dickens stayed in, with its little window over looking the yard, became my bedroom. I slept in the four poster bed Charles Dickens would have occupied at that tme, until I was nine or 10 years old.There were two Dickens busts and some beautiful leather-bound books. I spent many hours reading all those wonderful stories. I hadn't realised how privileged I was then!I recently visited the Dickens Museum in London, at Doughty Street, where he once lived with his family. Well worth a visit.When my father Robert Owen sold the business some years later he returned all the items mentioned to Ind Coop & Allsopps Brewery.
Mon Jul 20 11:21:22 2009

Marinda, Bangor
Whilst all these reminisences of Bangor are thought-provoking for a bygone age, are any of these people willing to support the development of Bangor and the Hirael Bay area? Bangor is in a very sad place at the moment and needs all the support people can give. It is just a matter of time before Bangor disappears under new developments not suited to Bangor and its residents and even more student accommodation. What about homes for locals? Yes, we want to progress and make Bangor a city residents and visitors can be proud of and enjoy, but it all needs careful planning, not just keep throwing things up in the air and keep building flats for students. Bangor is turning into one huge campus. The new parking on the High Street is a nightmare. I have witnessed large wagons mounting the pavements, almost scraping the shop windows to get by vans and delivery lorries in the new parking areas. God help anyone walking out of a shop into one of these wagons. This will also, in time, destroy all the new footpaths and kerbstones recently laid. If you want to help Bangor return to its former glory and move on to bigger and better things, don't just dwell on the past, have input in the future. Read about the plans for the development of Hirael Bay, join support groups, voice your opinion. Don't let Bangor fade away.
Tue May 5 10:26:35 2009

Lou Kennedy
Does 5 Back Edmund Street, Bangor, still exist? It was the home of my wife's family in 1900-1910.
Mon Mar 23 09:58:47 2009

Ramiro Jauregui from Bolivia
I would like to know more of the celtic missionary Deiniol. Is he related to Columcille and Columbanus?Many thanks
Tue Feb 17 09:25:12 2009

carl pritchard bangor
Does anyone know where Brick or Rock Street were in Bangor please?
Thu Feb 12 09:23:16 2009

arfon griffiths from bangor
in reply to 'where was club street', club st was in hirael,it ran from ambrose st to orme road,at the ambrose st end the mostyn pub,still there, club st demolished now flats for the elderly.
Mon Feb 2 09:52:54 2009

mervyn jones(miron) bangor
in answer about davy cale - yes i remember him very well. i lived around the corner in strand st. it was a magical place to visit and the smell stayed with me forever. heavy canvas and all kinds of ropes. i also bought my first house off mr cale at robert st in hirael. a marvellous character and will always be a big part of hirael.
Mon Dec 22 09:54:56 2008

Yvonne Williams, Crewe.
For Michelle Horrocks. I was born & brought up in Bangor & my first boyfriend's father, Mr Lord, managed the British Hotel for some years around 1946 right into the late 50s. It was privately owned I recall. Mr Lord's son [now 80] lives in Bedfordshire & he knows a great deal about the history of the hotel.
Mon Dec 8 09:40:50 2008

norah malik Birmingham
Can anyone tell me where Club Street was located in Bangor.
Mon Nov 3 10:52:02 2008

Kwesi Hughes, London
For Simon Smith. Thank you very much indeed. I will be in touch as soon as possible. The name 'Mrs Evans' does ring a bell, although my (possibly mis-firing) synapses are insisting on 'Miss' Evans. I already had some of the other details which you give within my recall (:)), and it's amusing to feel an incipient blush beginning to take over my face... and the little chuckle that the misconception that darker people don't blush (we do, but it's just not so easily-visible) gives to me, prompts one final anecdote about Mr. Ellis Jones of blessed memory.

One day at assembly, Mr. Jones asked a group of us to divide between those with Welsh surnames and those with English surnames, to play some game which I don't recall. I hesitated on two counts - I'd always 'hung out' with Malcolm Love, as we were both Londoners, and, well, I knew that I was black. I whispered to Malcolm "Where shall I go?'" and he said "Come with me," but Mr. Ellis said "No - Kwesi; go over there with the others with Welsh names!." There's no other way to say this - I marvelled, really, and it was quite a Eureka moment for a child like me, in terms of recognising the fluidity and criss-crossing of identities which can subvert that which is apparently 'obvious' to all. I could no more forget Mr. Ellis Jones than I could stop breathing. Thanks, BBC, for the opportunity to reminisce and to reflect like this.
Mon Sep 8 09:57:21 2008

Simon Smith, North Wales
For Kwesi Hughes: I well remember your family and particularly you and your brother Kobina at Vaynol. I was also heavily influenced by Ellis Jones and your memory accords with mine of this exceptional man. The elegant teacher you are referring to is probably Mrs Evans (who remarried during my time at Vaynol and became Mrs George)and the Kathleen is almost certainly Kathleen Holton who is now a teacher at a school on Anglesey. If you contact me via North Wales Fire Service HQ I will send you a copy of a Vaynol class photograph (unfortunately you're not on it though)
Fri Aug 15 09:24:52 2008

Naomi Rogers, ACT
To Linda - I attended Hirael School for 6mths in 1977 whilst my father was on sabbatical at Bangor Uni. We came from Australia. I remember the ornothologist club, and Miss Parry my teacher shouting at me in Welsh when I had never heard welsh before. I was only 6, but would love to go back and see if what I remember is at all accurate.
Mon Aug 4 09:30:05 2008

ian gadd formerly llandudno presently aberystwyth
I wonder if anyone recalls davy cale the last sailmaker, certainly in north wales. My sister and I stayed often with uncle davy and aunty blodwen when we were kids. also, does anyone remember lizzie twr who lived in one of the towers of penrhyn castle?
Wed Jul 30 09:17:56 2008

Chris Bailey, Middlesbrough
My great, great, grandfather Thomas Bailey lived in the town between 1839 and 1849 with his family. Thomas, of Irish descent, was a hairdresser and had come down from Liverpool with his wife Anne, who was born in that city. They had 6 children , four of whom were born in Bangor. This site has explained much about the boom years and possibly why Thomas decided to ply his trade there. I must try to visit the town one day.
Thu Jul 24 09:44:55 2008

Gayner Haynes, London
Message to Nikola Lewis, Bangor. Thanks for the information about my great Aunt at Central School. I did not even know she had a bike as I thought she actually drove a car. Does your Mother remeber anything else about her or about her friendship with your great Aunty Kitty?
Mon Jul 14 10:16:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
I well remember all of these Ken. I bought my first car from that very garage! It later became a branch of Kwik Save, at which my mother used to shop. The County Record Shop had been in Dean Street, a few doors down from Pentir-Williams, the radio and TV shop. The shop in the High Street it later occupied had been a gents' outfitters - Muir's.
Tue Jun 24 09:12:02 2008

Ken Owen
Does anyone remmember Jack French barbers at the bottom of the High Street and the Vauxhall garage opp, where the Jobcentre is now. It used to be a hardware store. A bit higher up was the County record shop, next door to the old Strand cafe on the corner of Dean Street opp Perfecta cleaners.
Mon Jun 23 10:02:26 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
During the Second World War, Bangor, too, had its Moorside equivalent. It was that large estate perched above the City upon a rocky promontory off Ffriddoedd Road and always referred to - locally - as Abyssinia. It was widely held that the inhabitants were all heathen and give to such uncivilised habits as not knowing what baths were for and using them to store coal instead so, although the term "Sink Estate" had not been invented yet, that was how the unfortunate resident sof Abyssinia were regarded by their fellow citizens ! By contrast, the vast Maesgeirchen council estate, I recall%2! C always enjoyed rather higher regard and enjoyed some fame due to Tommy Handley always calling it Mice Gherkin in his ITMA broadcasts.
Fri Apr 25 10:32:22 2008

McDerwen,Bangor
It is said that Charles Dickens stayed in the harp inn in Bangor,during his time as a reporter.
Mon Apr 21 11:01:32 2008

Dave ex Bangorian
In reply to John , when I was a lad, the Debenhams site was a large shop called WARTSKIS ......far too pricey for my parents, so, unfortunately I never got to go in !
Mon Mar 3 13:16:45 2008

john bangor
Could anybody tell me what the Debenham shop in the High St was originally. Thanks!
Mon Feb 25 09:37:18 2008

Nikola Lewis, Bangor
Message for Gaynor Haynes, my mother remembers your Great Aunt who taught her at Central School between 1948 and 1952(known then as Deiniol Secondary Modern School). My mother remembers that she always wore a dark coloured beret and rode a 'sit up and beg' bicycle to school. She lived on Garth Road opposite the swimming pool. She was also great friends with my great Aunt Kitty Doherty and continued to write to her when she emigrated to Canada.
Fri Feb 8 11:14:29 2008

Gayner Haynes London
Does anyone remember or know anything about Miss Kathleen Burns who taught at the Central School during the period of World War 2? She was my great aunt. She had two sisters who were also teachers in Bangor. Sadly, there is no longer anyone who can tell me about these members of my family.
Tue Jan 22 14:05:14 2008

Michelle Horrocks from Manchester
Does anybody know when I can get information on the British Hotel, Bangor? I have traced back my family tree and my gran's gran worked there as staff for some royal, trying to trace down who the royal was at this time, it would have been around 1891, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mon Jan 21 09:30:38 2008

Shirley Crowther Wilkinson
I am looking for information & pictures of the Glanadda Inn. I have just found out my G.G.Grandfather was the Inn keeper.
Tue Jan 8 09:09:21 2008

Sidney Whitaker, Bangor
For Carl of Llangaffo: (just spotted your enquiry about Telford. I understand he stayed at the George Hotel, now developed into the "George Site" of Bangor University. It is on the Menai Strait shore, opposite Menai Bridge. From the Strait you may still see traces of the name painted on the wall. The chair he workd from is in the Museum.
Mon Oct 22 10:14:47 2007

C Evans M/B
Re: Kwesi Hughes, Dec 12 2006. Ellis Jones was the Headmaster at Vaynol Primary and there was definitely a twinkle in his eyes. He was my grandfather and the loveliest man. I was very lucky to have gone to Vaynol whilst he was still there, along with my brother, sister and cousins.
Tue Aug 28 09:02:59 2007

Eluned Nauman (nee Jones) San Bernardino, CA, USA
The George Hotel is along the Menai Straits and can be accessed from Holyhead Road. It is now used by the college for students. My grandfather was the inn-keeper and my mom was born in the little house at the top of the road going down to the former George Hotel. Many members of the Royal Family used to stay there in the early 1900s. I did have a photo of the George Hotel but not sure where it is now. If you go to the pier in Menai Bridge you can look directly across the Menai Straits and see the George Hotel.
Thu May 24 09:24:47 2007

carl from llangaffo
I was recently following up the history of the old rail network and read a chapter about Thomas Telford staying at the George Hotel. Can anyone tell me which building this is?
Wed May 23 09:34:02 2007

John Roberts - France
For John Cowell - I'm presuming you're ex-UCNW & kept goal for the 1st ll during the time of Woosnam, Glyn Owen, Nev Pope & Nice Griffiths - if so could you tell me whatever happened to the Combined Normal/UCNW side Peritus - I still have the tie somewhere!I took over writing the Varsity Sports columns from you in 1953/4 for The Chronicle, NW Weekly News and the Daily Post. I also kept goal after you left, whenever Williams was away playing for Wrexham, Man City or elsewhere.
Tue May 8 09:59:08 2007

Gwyneth Brindley - Bangor
For B. Littlewood, Mossley, Lancashire. The Ship & Castle Inn was situated at 127 High Street and the building is now home to a quality clothes shop (Jo Potts). A friend of mine tells me that the surname Parry is on his mother's side of the family and that his g-g-grandmother was the licensee of the pub at one time.
Mon Feb 26 09:53:22 2007

Muhammad Azree from Malaysia
My father studied for his Phd in Bangor and we spent 4 years there from 1991-1994 which was pretty much my childhood. I attended Cae Top School and still remember Mr. McBride. I also studied at Friars Secondary School in Bangor. All in all, it was a wonderful small city with panoramic views. Hope to keep in touch with friends there if they still remember me.
Mon Jan 29 10:43:50 2007

Anne Roberts nee Williams
Re John Glyn: John mentioned Garth School and Mr Williams telling the class stories about pet snails. John goes on to say that Mr Williams should have published them. Well Mr Williams was Mr Ifor Wyn Williams, he was an author as well as a teacher. He later became a headmaster he won the Prose Medal in the National Eisteddfod in Bangor in 1971 with his historic novel about Gruffith ap Cynan called "Gwres or Gorllewin." I was his partner and sole mate and during our time together he wrote his last novel while dying of cancer, this was in parts an autobiography of his early childhood, and he tells stories about the two boys and the snails that John Glyn refers to in this book. The book is in the Welsh language and called "Lon Gweunydd." Ironically he never saw the novel in print, it was published 3 years after his death by myself. I had promised him it would be published and it has sold well. I was thrilled to read John Glyn's comments about the school and the stories about the snails.
Tue Jan 2 09:48:41 2007

Shirley Wilkinson
I grew up on caernarvon road, we lived at 338 opposite the milk factory and then moved just behind to Bryn llwyd outside ferranti's, i can remember when it was Damlers, you would hear the hooter and hundreds of people would rush out with buses waiting to take them to various places, of course everyone has cars now. I remember the old laundry and the river adda behind where we would go tadpoling. How Caernarvon rd has changed, I believe a long time ago there was 3 pubs in glanadda, one was called the farmers arms.
Wed Dec 20 11:10:01 2006

John Leeming from Walthamstow
In reply to David Morris, the original BBC Theatre Organ in St George's Hall was destroyed in 1941. The BBC then acquired Reginald Foort's touring organ, and that was the instrument installed in Bangor. After the war it was re-installed in Hoxton, London, and served as the BBC Theatre Organ until about 1963, when it was sold and shipped to Holland. It has since moved a few more times, but is currently in Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. The BBC later acquired its third theatre organ, installed in Manchester, which lasted from about 1971 to 1990. For more theatre organ information, search for the Cinema Organs UK website.
Fri Jan 2 09:21:29 2009

Chris Duff in Ontario, Canada
A little bit off-topic, but my father Patrick Desmond went to the County Theatre, Bangor, in 1938 after directing plays for two seasons 1937-38 at Colwyn Bay. His friends Ayton Whitaker and his wife were running repertory at Bangor and he took with him Brian Brooke, Alan Bromly and my mother Ruita Dagmar. They all left Bangor in early 1939, I believe, for Crewe.Ayton Whitaker and Alan Bromly went on to have successful careers with the BBC and both were instrumental in producing the early Dr Who programmes.I would love to hear from Ellen Underwood in Sarasota and anyone else who may have knowledge of the County Theatre just prior to the War.
Wed Nov 26 09:24:08 2008

John Poole from Glan Conwy
I remember as a young teenager going to see a performance of Garrison Theatre at the Grand Theatre, Llandudno during the war years. Jack Warner (Mind my bike) was one of the principle artists, making his entrance by cycling through the theatre on his bike, also on the program was Elsie & Doris Waters. I did notice almost the whole audience were made up by the armed forces.
Thu Jun 19 09:33:14 2008

Mr Hilary Young, Bakewell
My parents, Kenway & Young, were among those entertainers based in Bangor. Their regular programme in the early 1940s would have been Howdy Folks, with a cast that included Eric Barker. I have only very slight memories - being about six at the time.I think that what you call the Light Entertainment Department was actually known as the Variety Department - reflecting how the BBC in the 1930s looked towards Variety (Music Hall) for its source of light entertainment. Certainly programmes were accompanied by the BBCVariety Orchestra.It had been in 1938/9 in anticipation of the War that the Government realised how important the BBC would be if conflict broke out. They had planned to move the Variety Department to Bristol, which city became a sort of entertainment capital - I remember being told that you bumped into stars on the street as they hastened from one church hall studio to another. Subsequently the heavy bombing of Bristol resulted in part of thedepartment being moved to Bangor. I assume that was in early 1941. Iguess that some of the programmes would have been recorded in Bangor on Sundays - with many of the entertainers who took part working on the Halls during the week.Is there any archive of that era held locally?
Thu Apr 17 13:21:41 2008

Ellen Underwood from Sarasota FL.
I was in Rep.in the County Theatre Bangor after the BBC left. Leo McKern of Rumpole of the Bailey (TV) fame was with the Co. 1945/46/47? Anne Cullen was an actress who went to London to work for the BBC in London. Ronald Grierson was the Director of the Rep. I live in Florida. Looking for any information, pictures or comments on people or theatre. TA!
Tue Nov 13 10:00:02 2007

Ifan Jones from Caernarfon
My great grandmother, Mrs. Ann Roberts of Talybont, was killed by a German bomb which was dropped on Maesgeirchen whilst the BBC were recording a programme at Bangor (Penrhyn Hall or the County Theatre) on 24 October 1941. She was caring for her daughter, Mrs Catherine Williams (Katie), who had just given birth to a baby daughter: Elizabeth.
Mon Sep 3 10:28:17 2007

Colin Charnley. from Preston Lancs
Is it true that the original BBC Theatre organ was destroyed by enemy action at its location in St Georges hall Portland Place? If so, what organ was in the Grand at Llandudno?
Fri Feb 9 09:07:25 2007

Robert Hartle
The BBC comandeered the Grand Theatre at Llandudno early in the war (I worked there as a projectionist and got the sack!) and the BBC Theatre Organ was installed there for use by Sandy Macpherson. He broadcasted to the troops overseas and called on members of the local area to include a message which they read out on air, my wife spoke to her brother in Egypt during one of his broadcasts. Happidrome and The Kentucky Minstrells were also broadcast from the Grand.
Sat Dec 3 20:27:59 2005

David Morris, Saltash, Cornwall .
Just had to get this to you folks. Our late father Harry Morris was a Studio Manager in Bangor on the ITMA team plus the otheR important shows during those turbulent times. I still have photos of Dad in the Control Room on the "desk". Dad and Mum (who spoke excellent Welsh)lived in Garth Road. Bangor. Dad after the war went on to be Senior Studio Manager at BH .London post war. He was responsible for the sound effects on the Goon Show as well back in the fifties.
Wed Nov 2 11:39:40 2005

Peter Williams from Delaware
Who can forget Tommy Handly and his cast of characters including Sam Fair fechen (which Tommy never could pronounce properly).
Mon Feb 14 22:48:00 2005

Eleri Rowlands from Neath
How lovely to read this piece. My mother, Katie Pugh was a secretary based at Bangor at this time. My father, Nimrod Pugh, who was a studio manager with the BBC was abroad with the army. My mother sat next to Sandy MacPhearson while he played Solemn Melody for Nimrod.
Fri Dec 19 17:19:43 2003

Graham Vine, Woking
Re the photograph at the head of your Broadcasting index. On the right is the great comedian, Tommy Handley, and on the left his principal ITMA support character actor, Jack Train, who created the parts of Colonel Chinstrap, the retired officer, and Funf, the incompetent German spy. I cannot imagine why the studio clock says 3.45 unless this was a studio script run-through, as the show always went out before a live audience in a prime-time evening slot every week. Another of Tommy's support acts was played by Fred Yule, an enormously fat actor who always played the part of Sophie Tuckshop, a little girl who was always eating far too much and feeling sick. His daughter, coincidentally, was a fellow pupil at St Gerard's Convent School. Although so many BBC shows were performed before a live audience at the County Theatre, right throughout the 39-45 War the illusion was kept up that they were actually being broadcast from the Paris Cinema in Lower Regent Street, London. Whether this was done to maintain British morale by pretending the stars hadn't evacuated to a place of comparative safety to avoid the London blitz or simply to deceive the Germans, I have often wondered. One Christmas season the ITMA team put on a pantomime with the title "Tom and the Beanstalk" which I attended with my parents. Dad had treated Mum and me to seats right at the front of the circle at the County Theatre. After the show had been going on for quite a while and I had been as tickled by it as much as everyone else, the audience was surprised when Tommy Handley stopped, advanced to the footlights and asked us all if we were enjoying the show - to which there were shouts of approval. "Well", said Tommy, "there's someone up there who hasn't laughed at all". He then pointed and, to my horror, I found he was pointing at me! Even worse, everyone else was staring at me as well. All my own fault as, at that age, I had a demeanour like a poker player and had sat with a poker-face all along. Tommy obviously knew how to work a live audience and was rather put out that he thought he wasn't getting through to me. This was certainly not true as he was one of my heroes and I thought him to be very funny. Every week I read my copy of a children's comic called "Radio Fun" and the Tommy Handley page was always my first read. I had never before felt so embarrassed as I was then and my face went a very deep red until Tommy resumed playing his part and everyone else stopped staring at me.
Wed Jun 10 15:26:20 2009

Alexander Neisig-Moller from Chesterfield
My parents attended Bangor University during the early 1980s and have managed to maintain contact with the place they called home for a good half a decade. They also resumed communication with their univerity collegues and every year they (all 100 plus people) are reunited in Bangor to socialise. Obviously I didn't go to Bangor University, though there is a certain magical feeling to the place possibly because of my parents' connection. The University and town itself are beautiful in their unique ways and consequently I love Bangor because of it.
Mon Aug 17 10:03:31 2009

B L-W
Great to hear that so many people stil love Bangor. Why not join together with the local councillors who are trying their best to rejuvenate Bangor City. Forget the credit crunch, bangor has never been on the high wages list, but that doesn't mean that the councillors do not need to listen to what you have to say. Maybe it's time for the councillors to make ammends. But it's also time we all moved on because our heart and soul is in Bangor and we owe it to each and every one of us who love Bangor to make it a great city once more.
Tue Apr 14 09:45:19 2009

Ian Palferman, Colwyn Bay
Being born in Bangor in 1942, I have very fond memories of the town, with my grandparents and later my Mum and Dad owning fruit shops at 362 High Street, (opposite Glyn House) and then 220 High Street, (opposite the Market). I went to Glanadda Infants, and later Friars School, leaving in 1960 to join the Police Force. Now retired and living in Colwyn Bay.
Wed Apr 8 09:15:19 2009

Chris Jones
I am a skinner through and through and grew up and lived in Gardd Denman. I have fond memories of walking with my Taid every Sunday to the pier or on Bangor mountain and playing then with my good mate Les Roberts in Afon Gegin or on donkey lane, Coed mawr. The City Cinema was great in my day. I joined the Army at 16, RWF. I am still working away after 34 years and have sttled down in my own house in Llanfairfchan. However when I am home I always visit Bangor as this is where my heart is.
Wed Apr 8 09:13:59 2009

Glyn from Bangor
Yes the demise of Woolworths was when they stopped selling broken biscuits. Its closing has really knocked the town.
Mon Jan 26 09:42:48 2009

B. L-W
Good to read Shirley Williams's comments and mention of her family. Terry and I were good friends, were in school together. My aunty and uncle lived across the road to them in Fountain Street and on Sundays, after church, I would call down to see my family, then out to meet up with Terry, have a chat go for a stroll around Hirael and the beach then back home, me to my auntie's for tea, Terry to his. I have visited Bangor recently, only to see the sad state of it. The "wonder of Woolies" gone, closed its doors for ever. No more sweets mix or foreign stamps to buy, dinky cars or just good old books and never costing much more than a tanner. Met up with Tammy Jones, the singer from Llandygai about four or five months ago, she is living in Oz or N.Z. Hasn't forgotten her Welsh and still talks about Bangor with the fondest memories. Despite what some would say about Bangor, a city of doom and gloom and only fit for students, I for one still think a great deal of Bangor, my birth place and the truly great people who lived there and the ones that still live in Bangor City. It was once great, is great, and will be GREAT once more for all of us, we all belong to Bangor, it's our City.
Mon Jan 19 09:38:15 2009

Ian Williams, Hernando, Fl. USA
To Shirley Williams, My great grandmother Maryanne Edwards lived at 34 Fountain St Hirael. I used to play around there in the 1950s. I hung out with the the Lewis Brothers who also lived in Fountain St. Mrs Jones used to own the chip shop in Fairview. I left for the US in 1961. I have been back from time to time. Still love waking around Hirael and Bangor.
Tue Nov 25 09:32:40 2008

Shirley Williams from Canada
I used to live in Hirael in the early 50s and left in the 60s. I have lots of wonderful memories of Hirael. I used to live Fountain St. Does anyone remember the chippie at the corner of Fair View, I used to get a bag of crimps for about 6 pence.Also, I played at 'Pen-y-Bryn park' the beach, Dickie's Yard, it was safer then, we used to play until the street lights came on.I had two brothers, Bobby and Terry, Bobby passed away three years ago. Thanks for waking up some great memories.
Mon Nov 17 10:46:33 2008

Gabriele Ortiz (nee Clark), Philadelphia, PA USA
I spent a nine-day break from the University of Notre Dame's London Programme relaxing in Bangor. I have very pleasant memories of that time in the Fall of 1991. I enjoyed walking around the town, going to the movies with the B&B owner's daughter and just taking in the beautiful sights. The people were extremely welcoming as well.
Mon Oct 27 10:13:10 2008

Kath Pinion, Bangor
If you want a good pint and a friendly pub go to the Nelson Sportsmans and the Skerries.You will be made welcome.
Mon Oct 20 09:17:05 2008

Cadi Jones, Bangor
I love the hills, trees and Afon Cegin. I have many friends and met my favourite man TimTim after he did the Anglesey Marathon in Sept 08. Bangor rocks. I also love Amser nightclub. King Kong Karaoke is cool too.
Thu Oct 16 09:22:28 2008

Jackson Christine, London
I was born and brought up in Bangor and grew up in Maesgeirchen, went to Our Lady's Catholic School on Caernarfon road. I then attended Central School and left there at 15 for Glynllifon College outside Caernarfon. Later I went to work in Siliwen Baths, then Colwyn Bay Zoo. I try to go back to Bangor as often as I can. It's changed so much since I grew up there and not for the better - lots of areas look run down. I remember playing in the old chocolate factory in Llandegai when I was a kid and making a raft on the river at Bishops Mill.
Tue Sep 30 14:42:06 2008

mervyn jones, hirael
So many great memories of Bangor, especially as a small boy in the 1950s - adventures round every corner.I lived in Strand St by the beach, Parc Bach up the road, Dickies the other side, then Bangor mountain.The most important thing was that it was so safe. Happy days, but unfortunately it seems no one cares any more about the history of Bangor, so many changes, flooded with student accommodation and cheap shops, traffic is chaotic.Surely the council can see what Bangor is turning into, not a pretty sight and it saddens me a great deal.A place of natural beauty with the pier, the straits, wonderful mountains as a backdrop. Why did it end up like this?
Tue Sep 23 12:30:51 2008

Glyn Jones ex Coed Mawr
What a brilliant time as children playing in the woods at coed mawr, walks round perfeddgoed, walking across brewery fields to menai bridge, and sometimes a visit to the the pier. So glad the money was spent to repair it. There are seats there dedicated to Mam and Dad and to Gareth my younger brother. I enjoyed my time living in bangor.
Fri Sep 19 09:40:45 2008

Sue Hyde (nee Roberts)
I was born in Snowdon View Upper Bangor and Went to Cae Top school in 64, then the Girls Grammer for 1 year then Ffriddoedd Lower and Upper Schools and on to Tech. I moved away in 1982 with my then fiance. I have fond memories of Pen Bonc,Roman Camp Ashley Fields Bangor beach and mountains. It all seemed to easy then, no worries, able to come and go be able to walk up Glanrafon Hill without puffing and panting. I don't get back often and the few times I have things have changed so much, everywhere seems so dirty - don't know if it's just childhood memories always better than the real%! 20thing? I love Bangor and North Wales and so miss the scenery. I cannot speak welsh fluently can only remember the odd words but occasionally put S4C on the tv just to hear welsh being spoken!
Thu Aug 21 09:16:47 2008

Silvia Cryan, Buenos Aires
I lived in North Wales from 2001 to 2003 and my daughter Annie was born in Ysbyty Gwynedd so I have loads of memories from a very emotional time, having your first (and only) baby. Although we used to live in Caernarfon, Bangor offered more entertainment. I fell in love with the views of Menai Strait, Y Felinheli, the marina. I used to work as a temp in many construction companies, and I even worked as a extra in a Welsh soap opera called Egstra (Xtra) or something like that! Today I found out the aluminium company I worked for as a pregnant woman was ablaze and it made me sad. Fortunately nobody seems to have been injured. Thanks to all the people that helped me and I never had the chance to thank (specially Sandra from Cefn Cadnant and the two midwives that delivered my baby). Diolch yn fawr!
Fri Jun 13 09:19:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
Looking through these messages brings back floods of memories! Born in 1940 in the old County Hospital (where PC World now stands) I was raised and lived in Bangor until I married in 1963. My early childhood was in Orme Road and schooling at Hirael Infants and Garth. My father Llew was manager of Briggs shoe shop and was an ardent Bangor City supporter. I have the very flag that was taken to the epic match in Naples in 1962(?). From 1950 until 1963 I lived in Toronnen, Coed Mawr, and remember many of the places and people mentioned elsewhere. Went to the "old" Friars School (anyone remember the old "Boss", Ivor Williams?). School friends included David Newing, Tim Jones Griffiths, Mervyn Hughes. A sad memory is the loss of HMS Conway - we ran through Menai Woods from school after hearing it had run aground. At first it didn't look too serious, but within a day or two it was obvious that its back was broken. It would be good to hear from others with similar memories.
Mon Jun 9 09:42:06 2008

Gareth Williams
Eleri, I also remember playing in Coed Mawr and the woods opposite. It was such an adventure back then when we would walk for miles and miles with no fear. I also remember playing in the old railway tunnel on the old Bangor Caernarfon line. It was so scary and spooky deep in that tunnel. And of course the fantastic rope swings in the woods. Great days! I lived in Pen-y-Wern where my Mam still lives. I now live in Lincoln, but still love coming home to see Mam and the family and friends. I will alwys be a Bangor Lad.
Mon Jun 2 09:56:25 2008

Eddie Davies, Coed Mawr
Just read the comments of Glyn.G; they brought back many memories of my childhood in Coed Mawr (1958-1976) before joining the RAF.Afon Adda - netting sticklebacks and falling in the river, Coed Mawr woods - exploring the surrounding country as far as Rhiwlas, playing football in the field below the swings facing Bangor laundry; happy days. As children we explored the woods and countryside without a fear in the world, how lucky we were.My parents still live in Coed Mawr, and so my children have had the fortune to vist Bangor and Gwynedd.
Mon May 19 10:12:51 2008

Graham Howard, Portland, Oregon
I was a student in Bangor from 1973-1976 and stayed on throughout 1977. I totally fell in love with the place and Northwest Wales. Been back to visit several times and each time the place seems to have gotten worse; more and more rundown, and where there were lovely walks around Bangor Mountain there is now a golf course! The bypass along the North coast has destroyed places like Llanfairfechan and Penmanmawr, and seems to have affected Bangor too. I have wonderful memories of Bangor, but if I went back to North Wales to live now I think it would be somewhere other than Bangor itself.
Mon May 12 09:48:19 2008

Hannah, Bangor
Why did she get so freaked out? It was only a picture, and by the way, ghosts or three-headed dogs are just a load of rubbish. Bangor's a fine place and there are no weird things about Wales.
Fri Apr 24 16:28:55 2009

Judy-Jane of Cumbria.
When I lived at St Mary's hall from 2003-2005 I heard heaps of ghost stories, mostly about the now closed Barlows hall. However I did see some spooky stuff in the JCR. Mostly a figure kneeling on the huge pool table. Sort of see through like an "invisible man" in a movie. It felt really dense there. Also, has anyone else seen the man in the grey jumper outside Greek Taverna? Mum and I saw him sitting next to me and thought nothing of it 'till he vanished.
Thu Apr 9 09:10:29 2009

Jack from Bangor
A few years ago, me and a friend were walking through the bible gardens after a night out in 'The Old Glan' when all of a sudden, my friend started running! The Cathedral was in darkness (as you would expect in the early hours of the morning) but we could hear someome playing the organ! Really spooky.
Mon Feb 16 09:37:34 2009

Marian Hughes, Manchester
On Siliwen Road there are two white houses on the left hand side where the turning for the old sea baths is. Rumour has it that the first white house is haunted and that spooky apparitions can be seen late at night.
Tue Jan 13 09:19:34 2009

Karen, Hampshire
I am currently staying in Bangor at the Eryl Mor Hotel. My room looks over the sea and I can just see the end of a house. Every time I look out of the window I see a man standing by the gate looking up at me. I am aware this man is not living and is a spirit or ghost. I would date him round about 1930s due to the clothes he is wearing. I am part of a paranormal group in Hampshire. I have many photos of spirits and UFOs, which is my area of study. I would also be grateful if anyone can enlighten me on the area I am staying in.
Tue Sep 30 16:35:11 2008

Sonja from Lewes
When I was about 7 or 8 I used to live in Orme Road, Bangor, and there was a ghost that used to visit the houses there. He used to come every couple of years and he wore a yellow macintosh and hat and apparently he was a fisherman who died at sea about 80 years ago now. He had a string of girlfiends, hence him coming back every couple of years just to see if they still lived there. My mum couldn't go into my bedroom without the hairs standing on the back of her neck, but it didn't bother me, he often used to come into my room and just stand there at the end of my bed!
Thu Sep 18 14:29:22 2008

Hannah from Liverpool
Isn't there a legend in the house near Tan-y-Bryn (the one with the 3 headed dog?) My mate scared me soft when I was there so I wouldn't walk past in the dark got a taxi! Unfortunately he didn't know the whole story, so if anyone can fill me in I'd be so grateful.
Wed Aug 6 09:44:49 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
my grandfather saw a ghost on allt marchogian in the middle of the road(this would be in the 1940s). Allt Marchogion is on the old a55 between the entrance to Penrhyn Castle and the Tal Y Bont turnoff
Mon Jun 16 10:37:47 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
Also reputed to be haunted was the old dairy on Carnarfon Road (demolished in the late 1960s,the site later become a Kwik Save store.
Mon Jun 16 10:37:25 2008

Iris, Maesgeirchen, Bangor
i was hoping to hear from people who have had strange experiences in their home - unexplained noises, shadows etc, especially in maesg area, or bangor itself. Could the member of the paranormal society please reply, as i would like to share my experiences and those of my family and friends.
Tue Mar 4 10:25:41 2008

Harry Swettenham Bangor
That comment is freaky - i have heard some freaky things about Bangor but nothing like that!
Tue Mar 4 10:18:29 2008

IAN WESTWOOD FROM BANGOR
i am new to this site but was interested in the letter about a figure showing up on a photo.quite a few people have dismissed this so what about my story.a few years ago,at the height of the polaroid camera craze,i bought a black and white polaroid camera.i took it home and put in the film pack and took a picture of the room to see the quality of the pictures.imagine my feelings as i watched the picture develop in front of my eyes and a figure of a woman took shape!i was by myself in the house so how would anyone explain this.unfortunately the picture has been lost during one of my moves,but i can! absolutely swear to the authencity of this story.
Thu Feb 28 09:50:21 2008

iris westwood maesgeirchen
i have been interested in spiritual happenings from a young age,and have had many experiences of the paranormal,i was born in maes g,moved at the age of 17,and returned 5 yrs ago. I have had loads of things happening in my house,dark shadows at the corner of the eye,my dogs staring at something i cannot see,following the invisible thing,done recordings through the night,and have had voices,a little girl calling out mum,and much more,i beleive there are spirits all around us,they do some things,to get our attention, i have dreams that come true.
Wed Feb 27 09:55:08 2008

Matt Down South
My dad worked in the Marine Sciences lab in Menai Bridge (Cae Mair?) in the early 70s. While I used to think it was spooky and said so - much to my parents' and their friends' hilarity - on a few occasions, I never saw or heard anything spectral. I remember a friend of my mum's chuckling and saying: "Ooh yes, the ghost of Cae Mair! - snort - How lovely! - chuckle." As for the Roman Fort in Bangor, I spent many a happy post-pub evening 'carousing' there, but sadly never saw any legionaires. I did get a bad hayfever attack though.
Fri Feb 8 12:42:29 2008

Ernest Alan Gildersleve London
John of Shrewsbury: I had an unexplained happening at Bangor Youth hostel. I am a fire alarm maintenance technician. I was staying at the Bangor YHA and one night I was awakened by the fire bells giving a short sharp ring. No one seemed to notice it so I went walking around to see if there really was a fire somewhere, but all was deserted and I could not find the warden but the buzzer was still buzzing on the control panel, so I reset it. Now this cannot happen because these alarms cannot be stopped without someone pressing the reset button, whereupon the buzzer starts until the fire calling button or smoke detector is found but this one had sounded the alarm, cancelled itself and left the buzzer going! When I pressed the reset button everything went back to normal! There were no further alarms. How can the bells have given one short ring with no fire? Once started they cannot be stopped without visiting the control panel and no one else was awake! The warden had not even heard the bells, so short was the ring!
Tue Jan 8 13:47:45 2008

ernest alan gildersleve
I once created a very convincing ghost photo in a holiday chalet. I under exposed a photo of a boy reading a ghost story book and then without moving anything another boy eith a sheet over his head came and stood in front of the first boy and I took another under exposed photo.It came out as a boy reading a ghost book with a transparent ghost in front of him.
Fri Oct 12 09:17:20 2007

Jill, Bangor
Why should Julie have to prove anything to anyone? They saw what they saw and it freaked them out enough to want to be rid, simple as. What if gohosts are real? We constantly ignore that we're spirit as well as body, the spirit universe may be close enough for occasional overlaps or freaky moments.
Tue Jul 3 09:17:26 2007

London
Doesn't sound like a true story to me, you wouldn't throw the picture away, it would be worth a fortune if proven genuine!With regard to Vic Larman's message concerning the ghost at the Marine Science Labs in Menai Bridge, it was supposed to be an appearance of an old lady poking a fire in one of the old rooms that was converted. I went in there late one night in the dark with my dad (I was about 14 at the time) to see if anything appeared. The biggest fright I got was when he went out and shut the door on me on purpose!Thanks Dad! Oh yes, his name was Vic Larman too. How spooky.
Fri Jun 22 10:55:21 2007

Kate Bowers
I will be staying at Bangor in Sept in the Emrys Evans hall. Does anyone know of anything spooky happening there? I'm quite interested in ghost stories.
Mon Jun 18 09:35:59 2007

Bezza Australia
Many years ago (Mid sixties) when my parents ran the Globe pub in Upper Bangor, I was walking my dog on the old roman encampment site and saw a roman soldier. I wasn't spooked, but my dog was!
Mon Jun 11 10:07:45 2007

dylan fernley
no mention of the waterloo ghost yet? occasionally throws stuff about, inhabits the first alcove allegedly. used to work on deiniol centre myself - definitely a "cold" area.
Mon Jun 4 09:31:23 2007

lisa and craig
is it true that the old st davids hospital is haunted, and do you hear babies crying?
Mon May 14 11:01:44 2007

Kirstin O'Direain, Bangor
Where in the deiniol centre is it supposed to be haunted? Me and my housemate both work in the centre and we haven't experienced anything spooky.
Wed Apr 18 10:01:02 2007

john/shrewsbury
i went to the youth hostel in bangor and it was scarey because there is lots of scary paintings and stuff but at night is the worst - i heard screaming in the hallway and it's weird. i thought it was a classmate trying to scare everyone but no one was there so i slept on the top bunk so nothing could get me.
Mon Jan 8 09:48:07 2007

Ceri williams from Llanberis
People say that there's a ghost sitting on the wall somewhere in Beddgelert and Anti Nerys and Mr Fretwell who works in the school says that they have seen it and the story is that the girl fell off the wall into the hole and she died and she's been sitting there ever since. Spooky!
Thu Dec 28 10:58:49 2006

L.Williams, Old Colwyn
John Sullivan from Llandudno, Union Street was in the Dean Street area of Bangor - it was demolished in the 1930s. I had family living there in the late 19th century and also had trouble trying to find it. Bangor University Archives have an old picture of the street.
Thu Aug 13 13:41:29 2009

Ian Griffiths from Bangor
Recently myself and my brother in law have started a new football club for the youngsters in Bangor, at present aged under 11 & 12, but we are finding it difficult finding sponsors from Bangor. We have had offers but they are all from Anglesey and as the club is in Bangor we feel let down by the Bangor businesses. Any help would be great.
Tue Jul 21 09:35:33 2009

John Sullivan from Llandudno
I am doing a family tree and it shows my great grandfather living at Union Street, Bangor, in the 1911 census. Does this street stil exist and if so whereabouts is it?
Thu Jul 2 10:01:07 2009

Justin Thyme
Does anybody know who owned Belmont House, Euston Road, Bangor in 1920? It is the large house at the top end of Euston Road (it could also be said that it is situated at the end of Belmont Road due to the configuration of the streets.)
Tue Jun 16 09:25:50 2009

Jean Williams from Bangor
To Ann from Stockport, the address was probably Berllan Bach which translates as little orchard and if my memory sreves me it used to behind the Arriva bus office and has been demolished to build what is now the Deiniol Shopping Centre.
Garry Dewhurst, try the Friends Reunited website for Bangor Grammar School for Girls.
Pebbles, the community centre used to be the Women's Institute in OPenrhos.
Wed Jun 10 09:17:22 2009

Ann from Stockport
I have been doing my family history and found my Great grandparents came from Bangor and as I am visiting Wales on holiday this summerI would like to find their home. According to the 1881 Census they lived at 25 Ballen Bach, Bangor. Can anyone tell me if this address, or street still exists.
Mon Jun 1 09:19:14 2009

Paul Jones from Bangor
I've found this a really interesting site. The diversity of Bangor's population over the years never ceases to amaze me.Does anyone out there know any of the history of Bangor Castle (not Penrhyn Castle)? Its site is shown on some old OS maps, in the region of Penrhyn Park, but that's all I know about it.
Wed Apr 1 10:13:55 2009

Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan
There was a war memorial plaque in the Hirael Institute which is now on the harbourmaster's office wall in Porth Penrhyn.
Mon Mar 30 15:55:02 2009

Stan Granton
I know about the Bangor Whistle and its supposed prison connections but is it true?
Mon Mar 9 10:15:02 2009

Max W, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Is there a ten pin bowling alley on or near the university of bangor? What is the bowling scene like in the UK? I'm an avid bowler here in the states and i may be going to Bangor for a few months and would like to keep bowling.
Wed Feb 18 09:17:26 2009

Rod Willis Derby
Looking for information on Caemaes Idan, Bangor - what was it and where was it? we had a relation born there in 1907.
Mon Feb 16 09:36:37 2009

Matt Tapping
In reply to Ken Thomas, York: There's a picture looking down on the camp on beach road on the Civic Society website. The Italian POWs were sent home in 1946. Thirteen years later the site was provided to the people of Bangor as a playground and sports field in memory of King George V.
Web team: You'll find a link to the civic society site on our Bangor web guide.
Fri Jan 16 11:42:00 2009

Rachel, Liverpool
Hi! My Spanish friend is coming to the UK to study at Bangor University, I'm coming to Bangor with her a week on Monday to help her settle in. Trouble is, I don't know anything about Bangor! I plan to spend the Monday with her to help her get a feel for the area, have a nice lunch, hopefully meet some locals, other students. Any ideas?
Web team: You could start with our section on Bangor student life.
Mon Jan 12 09:51:37 2009

Cody Maddox, Houston, TX USA
My fiance and I want to get married in north Wales next year and we were wondering about nice spots to get married and places to stay.
Fri Jan 9 09:46:15 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Blue Sky Cafe: My grandfather Dick Pattison, along with my dad Mathew Pattison and his brother Dick Pattison used to run the Ambassadors in Bangor. I have been privy to many happy memories from my father and uncle and my mum too.
Mon Jan 5 14:33:04 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan, regarding Sailors Institute, Bangor. It was situated at the bottom of Strand Street, Hirael, Bangor, just around the corner from the Nelson pub. You may get some photos from John Cowell's books on Bangor.
Mon Jan 5 14:32:28 2009

Roy Jones, Bethesda
To Caroline Wigley, Blue Sky Café, Bangor. My sister Renee Wyn Stone (Nee Jones) remembers Ambassador Hall. A chap named Glyn Douglas, who played the saxophone, and Charlie Pierce was the pianist and the band was called The Ambassador Band. Both Glyn and Charlie left the band and formed their own, called Glyn Douglas Band. Renee used to sing with this band.
Fri Jan 2 13:44:47 2009

R Roberts Anglesey
Carol from Maine. I have not heard of the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor, but from your posting I do know that what is now called Patricks was, when I lived in Upper Bangor, the Menai Vaults.
Wed Nov 26 09:21:45 2008

Caroline Wigley
We opened Blue Sky Cafe in Bangor in July and would like to hear if anyone knows anything about the history of our building. It is known as Ambassador Hall and is situated just off the High Street, behind Williams the butcher. I have been told that it was a dance hall after the war. The building was originally a Methodist Capel (Capel Arthur Jones) and is 200 years old.
Mon Nov 17 10:57:13 2008

Geraint Wyn Williams, Hirael
The Hirael Institute you refer to was also named the Sailors Institute.It was located at the bottom of Strand Street, it is now part of the Nelson Pub.I do not know where you may find a photograph.
Wed Nov 5 09:54:53 2008

Gary Dewhurst from Bangor
My mum was a pupil at Bangor High School for Girls from 1942 to 1946. She is trying to track down the school photo from 1946. Any ideas where I might be able to trace a copy for her?
Mon Oct 27 10:10:13 2008

Pebbles, Bangor
Does anyone know what was previosly on the site of Penrhosgarnedd Community centre? I've had some strange experiences there!
Mon Oct 20 09:25:05 2008

Pamela Williams-Ogg, Brussels
Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan, Someone who could assist you would be local historian John Cowell, who also has access to a collection of historic photographs of Hirael. Indeed, I believe that the Institute features in the photograph (courtesy of Mr Cowell) on the front cover of the poetry book "Un o Hiral" by Thomas Llewelyn Williams (available in book stores in Bangor).
Mon Oct 6 10:03:19 2008

Cath
Can anyone recall a young German PoW, first name Hans, we think an airman shot down, who would have been in north Wales between 1939 til after the war ended? My father, Alexander Robert Peters, originally of Liverpool, son of Rose Peters, became friendly with Hans. He would now be in his eighties. He gave my dad a ship in a bottle and was very blonde.He worked the farmland with my dad, exact location unknown. Dad worked on farms in Welshpool and later around Garn Dolbenmaen, where Rose Peters finally lived. By the end of the war dad was 18 and went for a drink in a pub in Caernarfon with Hans. Dad passed away in 2005 and we wish we had tried to do this sooner. Any hints on how to do an effective search?
Thu Sep 4 10:07:43 2008

Carol from Maine
Does anyone know where or what the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor were? I have an Owen Jones in my family that has that listed as a place of abode on a Bangor Polling District list from 1879-80. He also owned property at that time on Dean Street. Someone on another messageboard thought that maybe it was a bar called the Vaults (which is now Patrick's). I'm dubious, but I need to research this. Any help at all would be appreciated!
Wed Aug 6 09:44:10 2008

John Griffith, Mold
Graham Vine wrote "Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver?"I do. Not clearly (I was quite small at the time) but it must have been sometime in the early-mid 1940s. Something of a Bangor institution, I imagine, like several of the characters of those times. Another I remember was Noel Evans who owned several of the posh properties in Garth Road.
Tue Jun 24 09:16:10 2008

Holly Davenport
I am searching for anyone who may remember anything of certain boats built at Dickies yard between 1934 and 1956. There were five yawls built to an in-house design, three of whose whereabouts are known (we have one, Sheenan, built 1937) and two of which were dropped from Lloyds register around 1970. How would I go about finding someone who may recall who the designer was, any archive photos of launches, etc. What we would really like to do is trace the missing two sisters, Shulah II and Sereni. They are unusual, beautiful boats, and to have all five together would be unbelievably good fortune. We have two in Falmouth, Sheenan and Jo of Anglesey, who arrived to live at the same harbour by sheer chance - a massive co-incidence. But it is a delight to see them sail alongside. I attach a picture of them both (see above). Anyone out there who can help?
Tue Jun 3 09:50:34 2008

George Emyr Parry, now Pinner Gt London
Is there any record of the soldiers who arrived by train direct from Dunkirk. They arrived late evening 5/6 June? Six were billetted in my house at 2 Friars Terrace,High Street (mother ran a large boarding house there) The soldiers were still in battle dress with rifles and live ammo. I was amazed when they emptied the rifles in the back yard! I am interested from a family history view. Thanks
Fri May 30 09:49:17 2008

Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan
I am looking for information on the Hirael Institute. I think it was for mariners. I would like to know where it was and if anyone has a photograph or can point me in the right direction to find one. Thank you
Tue May 6 09:33:53 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver? He was a regular turn upon Bangor Pier where he had his own high diving board which he would climb up so nimbly, despite his wooden leg and crutch, and then, with much arm- waving and shouting "The One-Legged Diver will now Dive" he would plunge into the sea sometimes doing somersaults, then up he would come and clamber up the steps from water level to the pier deck again, grabbing his collecting box, with which he would stump around the spectators aggressively rattling it under our noses to encourage donations as muddy water streamed off hi! m over his blue-veined skin which was occasionally decorated with strips of algae and seaweed as well as his many tattoos. What a memorable performance that always was, so Gary and I would willingly part with a penny each for the privilege and then re-enact our version of the event back at home on the bed ! Great fun !
Tue Apr 22 10:43:15 2008

Ken Thomas, York
I often wonder if there is any information concerning the Italian POW Camp on Beach Road, Bangor. it was a Sunday afternoon stroll worth taking, during the War Years, as the Prisoners had made beautiful, decorations of the front of their huts, with bits of scrap material, one that stands out was The Leaning Tower of PISA, A working Party would March out most days working Parties, repairing houses ect., and a Lot used to meet at the Popular venu, Joe Valla's, Chip Shop in the High Street, In them days I lived in James Street, and made a lot of friends with them. my age was 8 to 10 Years. I would be very interested in any information relating to their Stay in Bangor, and when where they released, to return to their Homeland Italy
Tue Apr 15 09:23:04 2008

Mrs J Downes, Kelsall, Cheshire
I have been looking up my family history and have come across many old photo postcards along with some letters from & of Vaynol Hall. These are from my dad's aunty, Winifred Roberts (also known as Winnie Roberts) from Coedpoeth, Wrexham. I was wodering if she worked at Vaynol Hall.
Tue Apr 14 09:38:02 2009

Andre Vaynol, Hermanus, South Africa
I have just noticed your web site. I want to know what happened to the Vaynol Family. As a decendant of my father Phillip John Vaynol and the only son - am I the last Vaynol left in the world?
Thu Nov 23 09:12:02 2006

Greg Randall from US
I wonder if anyone could tell me the origin of my surname. Is it Welsh? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you
Mon Apr 10 08:35:51 2006

Martin Chapman, San Francisco
Like many lucky people I used to stay at Vaynol often in the late 1970s. It was a magical world with the house beautifully run by housemaids Dilys and Megan, and Ken the butler and Mrs Roberts the cook. Sir Michael was a wonderful and most generous host. He entertained his guests with an endless series of hilarious stories and running jokes. Many were about Queen Mary, members of the royal family, and society figures of the 1930s who were always remembered with great affection. Michael's great friend Cecil Beaton alludes to Michael's abilities as a host and raconteur in his diaries. Indeed Michael used to maintain that he was co-host of the famous party at Ashcombe in the 1930s, one of the famous gatherings of "the Bright Young Things". Although there was a great sense of fun, with a constant flow of guests at Vaynol, there was however a certain air of sadness about the house, with hints of past glories and shadowy figures. The park was a bit run down, with fallen tree limbs. The lakes in front of the house had been drained and some outbuildings, like the enormous old laundry, were derelict. No one told me that the white Anglo-Saxon cattle (I think they were Chillinghams) in the park could be dangerous until they threatened me one day as I walked through the herd. For rainy days and quiet moments there was a pile of fascinating photo albums kept in the large drawing room. They were his mother, Lady Juliet Duff's, and chronicled her life as a young woman going to great house parties before WW1 and her life as society figure in the 1920s and 1930s. They contained pictures of people from royalty to Cole Porter. I hope they have survived. One of those shadowy figures was Charles Duff, who Michael never referred to in those years. I only heard of him from gossipy guests who speculated about his paternity. I hope poor Charles is able to forgive them and his adoptive parents. The last time I visited Vaynol was shortly after Sir Michael's death. I accompanied the artist Patrick Procktor to collect a bust of a Moorish figure that Michael had left to him. The house had a desolate if not doomed air and the housemaid Megan seemed rather distraught and tearful to see us again. I had some wonderful times at Vaynol and I was fortunate enough to have experienced what now seems like a dream.
Tue Feb 14 23:54:13 2006

Janet Roberts, nee Croft, Denbigh
I was glued to the Vaynol programme. I worked in the kitchen for almost two years in 1963/64 with Edna Hughes. Other staff I remember were her sister Dilys and Megan(married to Andrew, lodge keeper), Dorothy, Mr and Mrs Howes, David and Tony Tierney (footmen), Mouschia (Charlie's nanny), Mr and Mrs Randall, Anne and Ray, Mr Henderson (gardener), Will 'sick and tired', and many more whose faces I can see in my mind's eye but not their names. Oh yes and Fritz the basset hound! It was very hard work, especially when we had house parties and shoots when Edna and I would be on our feet from 6am till 11pm. I earned £2 a week. The walk up the mile- long drive in the dark TERRIFIED me with animal noises etc. I look back on those days full of nostalgia and although I worked hard for a 17 year old, I feel proud when ever I tell people I used to work at Vaynol and cooked for the Queen!Thank you for a wonderful programme Charlie.
Mon Aug 8 10:53:09 2005

Bob Thompson, Connah's Quay
I watched the programme on BBC2 Wales with interest as I currently own the last Jaguar car owned by Sir Michael Duff. I wonder if Mr Charles Duff remembers the car and who rode in it, driven by Mr George Randall.
Tue Aug 2 11:49:41 2005

Jan Tully, Monmouth
My grandfather, Edward Howes, was Sir Michael's butler at Vaynol Park and as I sat and watched the BBC2 Wales programme I caught a glimpse of him holding a car door for the Queen Mum. My Dad lives in Scarborough and has lots of memories of his childhood there - we used to go there for our summer holidays and stay with Nanna and Grandpop, both of whom worked in the "big house".
Tue Aug 2 11:47:24 2005

Hirael Dad
Ian Westwood, are the police at fault or the matra papers or the wardens for the drunk kids by the church do you think? Or is it the parents who don't know where their kids are and what they're up to? Or perhaps don't even care. I know were mine are - 13 years and 14 years - in by half nine on the nights they're allowed out. And if I smelt booze on them they'd be grounded. They don't need to be moved on by police cos they don't get into trouble. Go figure.
Tue Apr 14 10:17:57 2009

Mike, Bangor
Yet another stupid traffic scheme seems to have appeared in Bangor! This time at Ysbyty Gwynedd. They now have access control gates as you enter the hospital, but the queue of traffic waiting to get into the site overflows onto Penrhos Road and the roundabout, causing gridlock and mayhem! Another accident blackspot created. Well done to whoever's responsible for this one.
Wed Apr 8 09:19:06 2009

Andy, Anglesey
I see the Welsh Assembly Government has called in the planned 55-acre development between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge. Quite right, too. A better way to ruin what could really be called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be hard to imagine. As another correspondent has said, why not put such a development on the outskirts of Bangor? Llandygai, with easier access to arterial roads, would be a much better bet.
Mon Apr 6 11:27:12 2009

Mike, Bangor
Can anybody from Gwynedd Council tell me what the hell is happening to the roads here in Bangor? It's a disgrace. Has anybody driven down Ffriddoedd Road? One of the busiest areas of Bangor, the road is falling apart! Potholes - and I mean big, deep, potholes! What's the point building nice new student halls of residence when the access roads are crumbling. Stop wasting money on cycle and fancy footpaths. I pay road tax and council tax and would like to see something back in return.
Mon Mar 9 09:51:02 2009

Lost Cinema goer of Bangor
Can the old Woolies in Bangor be converted into a lovely Cinema? It is central, has all the amenities for easy access, buses, taxis and carparks, there are plenty of eatng houses etc... it would make sense.
Wed Feb 4 09:53:51 2009

University Lecturer, Bangor.
I can only echo the sentiments expressed about the decline and fall of Bangor City. When I first came here, there was a greengrocer on the High Street, an excellent camera shop, a cinema (albeit not very comfortable), a theatre, some decent shopping (Co-op), a bookshop, a cycle shop etc. Now, the only notable feature of the High Street is the chewing gum on the pavements! The rebuilding of Theatr Gwynedd is supposed to take three years, which is unbelievable. Meanwhile, Watkin Jones continues to fill Bangor with its unattractive "developments". University staff are as angry and depressed about the state of Bangor as many of the correspondents here - students DO bring money into the area, but on seeing the state of Bangor, many will stay away, preferring to go elsewhere, further accelerating the decline of Bangor City. The council are either blind to the problems or don't care a fig. Let's vote them out in the next council election.
Tue Jan 13 10:06:35 2009

John, Bangor
I'm glad the Ty Mawr development in LlanfairPG was rejected, Bangor high street is already quickly becoming deserted. If that had been built it would be even worse!I might sound selfish, but any development like that really needs to be in the city. What about on the outskirts by Llandygai - plenty of land there!Also the council needs to put a block on all the student flats being built Yes I like students and Bangor does need them, but Bangor city centre is quickly being overcrowded with them. You go to places like Liverpool and Manchester and all the student accommodation is on the outskirts. On the Beach Road development, we need something similar to the docks in Caernarfon. Too many people are stuck in the past in Bangor. Who needs a boatyard? We could have some really nice cafes,restaurants, bars and a hotel there - really make that waterfront a place to visit!
Wed Jan 7 16:47:41 2009

Jack, Bangor
What IS going on in Bangor? Kids have nothing to do - no cinema, no skate parks - nothing! Look at Caernarfon - a fancy new dock area, their square being refurbished with Welsh slate, sparkly new rubbish bins, state of the art fountains, skate park, cinema in the NEW arts centre (while Bangor's one and only theatre just closed) - need I go on? People in Caernarfon are moaning about the work being done there. Bangor gets nothing. Why do they call it Gwynedd Council? Caernarfon Council more like.

The MFI site on C'fon Road is ideal for a cinema/bowling alley. The old bowling green next to the town hall is ideal for a skate park. What's going on? Bangor deserves some respect. We are a city after all.
Mon Dec 1 09:49:55 2008

Carly, Bangor
I agree with most people on here. The new traffic system next to the train station is awful, I'm extremely surprised there haven't been any major accidents there yet. Why anyone ever thought it would be a good idea, I'll never know...it's ridiculous. Bring back the old way!
Tue Aug 19 09:56:57 2008

Franklin - Bangor
Reading through these messages it is clear a great many people care about Bangor. The problem isn't apathy, it's because people don't know what's going on and feel powerless. To be fair to Gwynedd Council, they aren't biased against Bangor, so much as it is a big wasteful bureaucratic self-serving regional organisation that pretends to be local government. The 10 Gwynedd councillors from Bangor don't work together to develop a plan for the city. Community Councils like Bangor City Council are encouraged to be proactive and develop plans that can involve the community. Every community initiative that happens to improve Bangor is despite, not because of the two councils. It is because of this lack of functioning local democratic government that developers and the university are able to do what suits them. That is why the city centre has become so neglected while big sheds have popped up along the Caernarfon Road. That is why Watkin Jones has been able to turn the area around Farrar Road into a private student accommodation campus. And unless people stand up and be counted, it is why Hirael Bay will be developed in a way is not in the interests of the community or the environment.
Tue May 27 16:52:05 2008

mike,bangor
Anybody coming back to Bangor i would advise them to stay well away! I came back to my regret. This city has lost its way, it's streets and green areas are filthy and the roads are a disgrace!
Tue Apr 15 09:24:35 2008

IAN WESTWOOD
As my comments under Old Grumps were attacked (by my wife actually) I thought I would speak as myself this time. The local free paper Matra News states the efforts of the police and warden are going to stop unruly crowds of drunken kids gathering by the church in maes g. Saturday night we could hear loads of kids in the church grounds and even though the CCTV is now supposed to be watching the church at weekends to stop this, it carries on. A police car drove up past the church but did not even stop. The kids moved around the blind side of the church and continued their rampage. As the bungalows backing onto the church are for old and disabled people this is a frightening experience and we can do nothing about it. I asked if I could photograph the troublemakers after they broke the church window and threw mud at the bungalows. I was told I could be taken in and my camera would be confiscated if I did. What sort of a world are we living in when we can no longer defend ourselves and the police do not want to know?
Mon Apr 7 09:46:42 2008

Giblin, Bangor
I've been reading all these and have done a bit of research into them and i think that Bangor's council should focus on fixing the problems they can instead of saying 'We can't do this and that'. they could clean up some parks for the youths. Also, the University should be revolving around Bangor not the other way round!!
Wed Apr 2 09:50:11 2008

Old grump, Maesgeirchen
the churchyard in Maes-G is disgusting and does not seem to get cleaned up any more.there is ,what looks like ,human faeces by the church perimeter wall that have been there for ages.it is like an obstacle course dodging poo of all kinds.add to that the new wave of depositing black bags full of rubbish outside the llys dylan bungalows and you have got a really nice place to live and work! (joke) and to top it all there is a local shop that does not stock anything you want.sorry but maes.g is on it's way down a steep slope to being a national disgrace.
Wed Feb 27 10:07:16 2008

Ellen, Bangor
Thank you Gareth for your response. We need input like yours. Did you put in a questionnaire with your concerns and any possible ideas? I know exactly what you mean about GCC in Caernarfon being "all for" Caernarfon and I add, all points south. This is why we need to make Bangor Voices heard. We have to make a stand. It isn't right what they have done and plan to do to Bangor. We must fight for what is right for Bangor. There is far too much apathy in Bangor - people turning and looking the other way, then complaining when they see what has been done. We have an opportunity to do something about it.
Wed Feb 20 09:25:41 2008

Gareth from Bangor
I have seen the plans for the 'new ' Hirael Marina and to me they raise as many questions as answers. As a local I have to admit that the site of Hirael Bay at low tide on a grey day is not very appealing, but we have to face up to the fact there may not be enough of a market for two marinas in the eastern part of the Straits and consider the long-standing plans for a Beaumaris Marina also. Secondly, what consideration has been given to the influence of global warming and other issues pertaining to the water table in the vicinity of the Afon Adda? I can still remember when the residents of Strand Street etc, had to sandbag their homes to prevent flooding, are we going to return to those days? Thirdly, only a fool would insist that the developers are interested for purely altruistic reasons. They obviously feel there is an opportunity to turn a profit here. Thich is all very well and good, but where does that leave the people of Hirael and Bangor? As someone who spent a good portion of his childhood playing football on 'Beach' and mucking around on the shore and Penlon Park, I would hate to see the 'Private No Tresspassing' signs appear that prevent local people from enjoying their heritage and 'filltir sgwar.' What precautions have been put in place to prevent the Marina from becoming isolated from the wider community and nothing more than a gated settlement in all but name? Bangor in general needs a boost, but I still have my doubts about the Marina's ability to provide one. More generally, the rest of Bangor outside Hirael resembles a giant building site. For the life of me I cannot understand how the new carpark near Aldi's obtained planning permission and I have great sympathy with the residents of Ashley Road. I suspect that one day the Ombudsman will get to know more about this as the car park is simply not in keeping with the surrounding area. The traffic system continues to generate sound, fury, and debate from admirers and detractors alike. Sometimes I think this is all part of 'A Cofi Plot" to make Bangor as unnattractive as possible. Seriously though, I do believe that things would be better if Bangor could be the headquarters of a new unitary authority stretching from Abergwyngregyn in the east, Felinheli in the west, and Bethesda in the south. This idea of Bangor seceeding from the rest of Gwynedd was mooted a few years ago but died a death because the powers that be would not allow Bangor a plebiscite or a democratic voice on the city's future. Whether we like it or not, many Bangorians feel that Gwynedd County Council is run from Caernarfon for Caernarfon and that, consequently, Bangor's interests will always come a poor second as a result of this.
Mon Feb 18 10:15:05 2008

Ellen - Bangor
I agree with Marinda, we must support the Hirael Bay Development. Otherwise we will be left behind and Bangor deserves a facelift and its residents need something to bring the pride back into Bangor. I agree we need to have somewhere for the youngsters to go, there is enough drunkeness and crime in the UK amongst young people without Bangor adding to it. So let's tell the council what we want. I have sent in my questionnaire and have told family and friends to do the same so let's spread the word.
Thu Feb 14 09:54:42 2008

Marinda Bangor
I want to remind people they can participate by completing a questionnaire to put ideas forward for the Hirael Bay Development. You can collect a questionnaire from Bangor Library or online with Gwynedd County Council. Add what you think about the Hirael Bay Development ideas, please take advantage of this, it is your Bangor and if done properly you will be able to enjoy the final outcome - but have your input now and make a difference to Bangor. How many people attend the Firework Display down on the field in Hirael every year? wouldn't you like this to continue and have even more facilities to enjoy? Have somewhere nice & safe to take your children on a lovely warm summer Sunday afternoon, without breaking the bank. Have indoor facilities in the Winter? I'd love to see an open market every week and buy local produce, hit Tesco where it hurts - in their bank balance. We don't want a rag market, but something similar to the French Fruit & Veg markets. Maybe once a month throughout the summer, an antiques market. This is an ideal opportunity for the people of Bangor to tell the Council what THEY want. Bangor University is closing yet another landmark in Bangor - the Museum and Art Gallery: can we move it into the Hirael Bay Development, like our own version of the Tate Gallery? We must not let them take Bangor to pieces like this. We have to take a stand and tell the Council what we want.
Mon Feb 11 09:48:10 2008

Alan H Gregory Ex Royal Marine
I met Dewi at Eastney Barracks when we were both Marines. We were in the same Barrack Room although I did not follow RU I used to help him clean his Boots on Sunday Mornings after playing for United Services. I remember him as a good, intelligant man with a great sense of humour and very proud of being a Welshman. Sorry to learn you died so young Royal
Wed Jul 8 12:31:20 2009

Graham Griffiths from Maesteg
My abiding memory of Dewi Bebb is his scoring exploits against England, particularly the two tries he scored in 1961. A photo image of one of those tries became an icon of Welsh rugby and BBC Wales Sport for many years; Dewi reaching out in horizontal mode for the try-line, as a despairing tackle proved unable to halt his scoring dive. The ball held in both hands, secure in spite of its greasy condition and a look in his eyes that was the essence of concentration. In the background, the futile figure of Dickie Jeeps, forlornly, far to late and too far away to affect the outcome, attempting to corner-flag. As an image it must have determined many young boys in Wales to want to play in no other position than left wing-threequarter.
Wed Jun 11 16:56:31 2008

Andrea McCulloch, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
Dewi Bebb - what a lovely man he was. I can just remember him playing for Wales. We paid closer attention than most in our house as my sister was a pupil at the school he taught at in Fairwater, Waterhall (later part of Cantonian H.S.) She has memories of Dewi "tanking round the gym," one of the many players back then who held down demanding full-time jobs, yet still managed to train and turn out for their club and country at the weekends. I met him, aged about 9 or 10, when I was at the TV studios in Pontcanna, Cardiff. He took the time to talk to each child out of a group of ten or so children, and was interested in each of us. Wil Bebb, good luck with your rugby career. Although your Tad-cu isn't with us anymore, I'm sure he would be just as proud of you as you are of him.
Mon Feb 25 09:44:32 2008

Wil Bebb
I'm Dewi's grandson and i remember him as tad-cu. I keep hearing stories about how amazing he was at rugby and for this i'm extremely proud 2 be his grandson. in every match i play i hope he watches me. The fact that tad-cu was gareth edwards' favourite player makes me really proud.
Mon Oct 29 10:00:13 2007

Ivor van Heerden
I grew up in South Africa. My mother was a Bebb and Dewi's cousin. I met him as a young kid when he toured South Africa (Durban) in 1966. He was very warm person and friendly. Obviously, he was my hero at the time and the fact that he and I were related was a point of envy for my school friends at the time. Of course rugby was and still is one of my passions and I can still remember the day I met Dewi as a young kid.
Thu May 5 19:17:49 2005

Bryan Jones, Old Colwyn
I remember Dewi very well, being in Friars School Bangor, together. We both played in the form 1 and form 2 soccer teams. He was a fine footballer before taking up rugby. We were also in the same house teams whilst at Friars. Dewi was also a fine athlete, in fact an all round sportsman. Unfortunately after leaving Friars we lost contact. A gentleman,who I am sure is sadly missed by his family and friends.
Mon Dec 13 21:52:18 2004

Peter Glazier from Sao Paulo, Brazil
We played together in the Royal Marines when, strange as it may see, as I was going nowhere, he played left centre and I was his winger. Also with us at the time was Gordon Waddell.
Mon Aug 30 20:03:33 2004

Bob Macfarlane, Wellington, NZ
We lived in the same road. I was too young at the time to appreciate what he was doing for Welsh rugby when he played for Wales but I know my parents were impressed. Great to see him remembered in this way, sorry he died so young. I was a great friend of his brother Ifan.
Wed Aug 18 06:09:54 2004

Harry Parry
Harry Parry

Last updated: 31 March 2009
Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, reminds us of the Big Band era with his comments on the BBC's Harry Parry and the Radio Rhythm sextet.


"Harry Parry was born in 1912 at Caellepa, Bangor. He practiced his sax fiercely whilst holding down a job at the Science department of the university. I was close to the family at that period, Hughie, Harry's brother, being a very good friend and closer to my age.

Harry formed a group and performed in Llandudno, quickly rising as a prominent name in the performing arts and the world of jazz. He was picked up by the BBC and asked to form a group named 'Harry Parry and the Jazz Sextet'. Some of his recordings were available in the BBC's archives some years ago, and were played several times on the BBC show Anything Goes.

Harry travelled with his group, entertaining the troops in WW2. He sadly died in 1956.

Spike Milligan muses a great deal in his writings regarding Harry Parry when he was working with the BBC in London."

We have further discovered that Harry was the oldest of the Parry family, which included Hughie, Vera, Unica and Tommy, who died during the Normandy landings of WWII.

Harry was invited by the BBC to front the band on the Radio Rhythm Show, and thereafter the Sextet was regularly heard by the BBC listeners. The group included George Shearing on piano and, later, Scotsman Joe Temperley, also on sax.

In 1945, the Radio Rhythm Club Sextet appeared in the film What Do We Do Now. Harry went on to record over 100 discs for Parlophone Records, including the 78 rpm disc I've Got You Under My Skin with the Harry Parry Octet, as well as Mood Indigo and Night and Day, with vocalist Dorothee Baronne.

Michael Johnson from Newburgh, Indiana, USA remembers Harry: "I used to live at 19 Caellepa next to the Parry family, and his sister Eunice was my mother's best friend. I remember as a child during the war going to his home and listening to Harry play.

I am now 63 and have lived in the US since 1962. Are there any recordings available of his music, as I would love to hear him again.

The last I heard of Eunice was that she lived in Ruislip nr London with her husband Stan. Her daughter lives in the US just north of Memphis Tennessee."

your comments

Fred Moyes from Aberfeldy. Scotland and now in Ont
I had a dance band in the 1950s playing in Perthshire and occasionally travelling as far afield as Glasgow. Playing trumpet was Norrie Pow from Dundee, who played numerous Dave Wilkins choruses which he had learned, note for note, from the Harry Parry Parlophone recordings. I would very much like to obtain copies of these records, in particular those featuring Dave Wilkins. Can anyone help?
Thu Jul 2 11:54:02 2009

Kenneth M Bryant
I have been asked to write a biographical volume about Harry Parry who inspired me when I was in school during the last war. I have already got a lot of info, but what I really would like is some anecdotes about him. I have got some basic details from Bangor University and had the pleasure of meeting his sister Eunice, before she died a couple of years ago. I can be contacted through my website.
Fri May 8 12:44:12 2009

Nick Parsons , Coventry
I have been tracing my birth family. My great grandmother was Hilda Sophia Taylor nee Tricklebank born circa 1901 Burton on Trent. Her mother was Elizabeth Parry, from Hereford, her aunt was Kitty Parry. Hilda told her daughter, my grandmother, that she was related to Harry Parry, the band leader. Could anyone tell me if this is correct?
Tue Sep 30 09:49:16 2008

Elaine Brown for Kitchener Ontario
Response to I. Miller. I was born in London, England in 1948 and moved to Ontario, Canada in 1967. Always wanted to know more about my mother's father's relatives. George "Happy" Blake and Cyril Blake. This is also my grandfather and great uncle. I have now found two people who were grandchildren of Happy Blake. Found quite a bit about Cyril on the internet, not so much about George Blake. I do remember always sitting in his house and smelling his Cuban cigar which had a gold holder.
Tue Mar 25 09:57:28 2008

l Miller England
My grandfather and great uncle were George and Cyril Blake. I have a copy of a live recording from the Jigs club in London where Harry Parry does the live intro to the recording. I too would like to know more about Harry Parry.
Mon Jan 14 09:29:01 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
I read all your contributors re Harry Parry with great interest because, although I heard an awful lot about him and - not surprisingly - George Shearing as well, my Mum & Dad thought I was too young to be taken to dances where they were both playing. So I was rather surprised, having read for the first time in your feaature that Harry Parry was a student at University College, Bangor, that no-one mentioned that he and his band used to play for dances held in the Powis Hall at the college during World War II. My parents used to attend them, as did many others, for these dances were, perhaps, the peak of Bangor social life in wartime and Mum & Dad both spoke warmly of the quality of the band.Bangor was spoilt for talent of star quality during those war years and I reaped the benefit - as I have written elsewhere on your website - but, sadly, I heard neither Harry Parry nor George Shearing as my parents thought dances were not a suitable environment for an eleven year old.
Tue Aug 28 10:03:45 2007

phughes, nyc
For the economy-minded: for less than the price of "Parry Opus" you can get 4 CDs of early Shearing ["From Battersea to Broadway", Proper Box #40] which contain two HP cuts. [Try CDUniverse for sound samples.] Unfortunately, the set doesn't include the earliest Welsh-titled originals, "Dim Blues"! Incidentally, when I was a schoolboy in Bangor during the 1950s HP was, along with Huw Wheldon, celebrated as a "local boy made good". And he seemed to have a presence on the BBC. So I'd be cautious about defining him as "neglected" at that time. Maybe later. On the general topic of things Cymric in jazz, I guess we're all familiar with Leonard Feather's rip-off "Men of Harlem" [w. Pete Brown et al, c. 1937-8] And I think I hear Slim Gaillard attempting a "iechyd da" somewhere. [If anyone cares, I'll dig up the title.] Bill Challis claimed Welsh ancestry, though I've never known what to make of that. Is anyone aware of other, pre-Dill, obviously, examples?
Mon Nov 6 10:01:35 2006

Pat Rodgers, niece, Bracknell
Harry was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and, if my memory serves me correctly, his ashes were scattered in my Grandmother's garden in 31 Caellepa.
Mon Feb 27 10:07:00 2006

Timothy Sprigge Sussex
About where he was buried - I don't know, though it was surely in Wales. At the time my mother sent me a rather sad cutting from a newspaper saying that very few people went to his funeral, and just one real enthusiast for his music. I suppose that there was not much interest in him at that time. It is good that there is now a CD of his music (Parry Opus) and I have managed to order an earlier CD called Crazy Rhythm.
Fri Feb 24 14:44:55 2006

Bill Ward, Torquay
I am sure there are bits and pieces about Harry in my late father's memorabilia. Harry and his band were regulars at the late-night Jigs Club that he (my father) ran in Wardour Street in the late 30s. The club catered for jazz, boxing and billiards followers, with many US musicians including Satchmo, Ellington and Mills Brothers calling in after their up-market gigs. Anything specific to Harry I can find I shall post shortly.
Fri Dec 30 22:57:12 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Following my mother Eunice's death(Harry's youngest sister)on May 1st 2005 I have relocated back to Nottingham. Ken Bryant who has been working on a book featuring 3 famous sons of Wales (one of them Harry) is now near publication.When it is available I will put full details on this website. I will now have a mountain of family photographs to go through and have already seen a several unpublished photos of Harry, a letter from him to his mother Emily Jane Parry from his Indian tour and the order of service from his funeral at Golders Green. I will try and get these items in time on a website. Mike Tayler
Fri Jul 8 23:27:28 2005

Pat Rodgers, Bracknell, Berkshire
I was prompted to look again at this web site after some considerable time following the sad death of my very special Auntie Eunice, my mother's last remaining sibling. Having lost my own father three years ago now, this was losing the last link of that generation. It has however prompted contact with my second cousin, Brian Williams, in Caernarvon and the usual promises to keep in touch. I do intend to go with my sister to visit Brian and hope to do this later in the year.

To Bill Wardale in New Zealand I would like very much to contact you direct. If I do find a way, I look forward to hearing from you and will try and make the effort to check the website more frequently. We are all getting older and it seems much more important suddenly to keep in contact with family (however distant)and trying to trace the family tree is something that I would like to spend more time doing.
Tue Jun 7 13:57:39 2005

Joan Macrae, Llanfair. P.G.
Eunice Taylor (Harry Parry's sister) recently passed away (May 2005). Eunice was a first cousin to my mother (who has also sadly passed away). I keep in contact with Alison (in America, whom I visited over Christmas) and Mike in Ruislip, who are the son and daughter of Eunice.
Fri Jun 3 16:03:23 2005

John from Bangor, originally
My cousin Glyn Owen ("Glyn Douglas and his band")used to play regularly in all the dances in Bangor during the 40s 50s. One chap in the band went on to be an International saxophone player, Cyril Reuben,he also played for the "Squadronaires".
Thu Jun 2 22:28:34 2005

John Fryer of Chiswick, London
My mother, Sheila Fryer, used to produce Radio Rhythm Club, and gave George Webb and his Dixielanders (incl. Humphrey Lyttleton) their first break on the radio. Sadly she died in 1965.
Wed May 4 11:57:25 2005

Andy Roberts - Jazz Connection - BBC Radio Wales
There's a track by Harry Parry called The Java Joint on a new 4-CD box set called Jazz in Britain 1919-1950. I'll be giving a copy of the box set away on my new series which starts Tuesday 10 May at 7pm.
Mon Apr 18 16:25:18 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Just to let all Harry's fans know that Ken Bryant who lives in SE England and has had several books published is close to publishing a book of famous sons of Wales in which Harry will be featured. Ken has met Eunice, Harry's sister, and has copied various photographs/memorabilia in our possession. I also have acquired some large original BBC discs of Radio Rhythm Club which may be of interest to enthusiasts.
Mon Jan 17 19:40:12 2005

Pat Rodgers
To: Bill Wardale. I have not visited this site for some time, but was prompted by one of my nieces discovering it the other day and being fascinated to find one of her distant relatives on the net. I was very surprised to read your message as I was unawre of your existence (as I am sure you are of mine). I cannot tell you anything about your grandmother except that I remember her name. I am presuming that she was my grandfather's sister; my grandfather being Henry Parry (Harry's father), who died around the same time as Harry. My Auntie Eunice is still alive and I will see if she can recall anything of your grandmother when I speak to her next. For your information, there are now six descendants of my sister and I (2 girls and 4 boys) and Eunice has seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. I live in Berkshire and my sister, Pam, lives in Birmingham. It would be great to hear some information from you as to your family. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mon Dec 6 20:44:15 2004

Clive Fuller, Smethwick
Sunflower Records, Aylesbury, have issued a CD Crazy Rhythm, Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet.
Mon Jul 19 13:03:35 2004

Mike Tayler from Ruislip, Middlesex
I am Harry Parry's nephew and the only son of Eunice Tayler (nee Parry), Harry's youngest sister. Eunice, my mum is still alive and I am looking after her here in Middlesex following an unexpected divorce. Mum is 79 and recently had a heart attack but appears to have come through it well. Mum and Dad gave many items re: Harry to Bangor University archives and most of the original Parlophone records to the National sound archives but we still have some original files on Harry here at Ruislip and I have inherited a few huge demo discs from an enthusiast in Hampshire. By the way Harry's brother Tom did not die in the Normandy landings but was blown up in Italy and his remains are at Monte Cassino. we have the grave number somewhere. We also have Tom's medal and certificate from when he sang at George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey on 12th May 1937. A gentleman has been in touch with my mother trying to write a definitive history of Harry for some 3 years now but is suffering from a shortage of information. Mum has inherited Harry's royalties which are very small these days and largely generated on his signature tune, "Champagne". With the centenary of Harry's birth not that far away it would be lovely to mark the occasion with a small book on this famous "son of Wales.
Tue Jul 6 21:51:05 2004

Bill Wardale from New Zealand
My beloved grandmother was, I believe, Harry's auntie. Her name was Sydney Parry. If anybody can give me any information about her I would be very grateful.
Sat Mar 20 00:53:01 2004

John Milbank from Sussex
I continue with my research and have discovered that Harry's wife Jeanie died in 1951 after catching a mysterious illness whilst on tour with Harry in India. I was delighed to read the message from Harry's niece and to learn that there are people out there who remember Harry and his band.
Fri Jan 23 19:59:11 2004

Michael Johnson
I think it's wonderful that so many folk have responded to the music comments on Harry Parry. A gentleman from South Wales contacted me via the internet and sent a tape of Harry's playing for which I am very thankful. Also to Leslie Roberts - I was wondering if he knew my mother Winnie Williams as she worked at Haynes on the High street. My father worked at Pollecoffs and yes I remember well the times walking up the hill of Caellepa carrying the milk from the little dairy shop across from the Bank and Antoniassi's Ice cream. So long ago. To Pat Rodgers - does Eunice still live in London? When I saw her last, in Cheshire, her home was named "Swn y Gwynt". To Rod Holcombe - my brother Andrew lives in Devon in Herndon, nr Mary Tavey. He is also a musician. I wish to thank this web site for giving great connections to my old stomping grounds. Cymru Am Byth.
Sat Jan 10 19:57:33 2004

Pat Rodgers (nee Roberts)
I am the elder daughter of Vera Parry, Harry's younger sister. Eunice, the younger sister, is still alive, though her husband Stan died a few years ago. My own father, Gwilym, died three years ago. There are still six of us of my generation alive. My sister, Eunice's two children and Hughie's two children are also still alive
Mon Dec 29 14:31:55 2003

Rod Holcombe from Kingsbridge, South Devon
Reply to Michael Johnson. Very interesting to hear your comments of Caellepa in Bangor. I visited the road last year and would imagine it has seen better days. Yes, there is a Harry Parry CD available here on the Empress label entitled Gone with the Wind. I have it on good authority also that there is another CD soon to come out on the Vocalion label. Details awaited. Jazz Journal International has had some letters starting in January 2003 on the subject of Harry Parry and his recordings and show that he is not forgotten, though he has been neglected as far as record issues. My best wishes to other Parry interested folk.
Mon Nov 17 10:08:57 2003

Timothy Sprigge from Edinburgh
During the 1940s (I was born in 1932) one of my greatest pleasure was derived from Parlophone Recordings of Harry Parry and his Radio Sextet. I have quite a lot of them now transferred onto casssettes. I thought that Harry Parry was completely forgotten until it occurred to me one day to check if his name was on the internet. I still delight in his music on the cassette. If his music ever comes again on CD I will be delighted. There was such a delightful jauntiness and harmoniousness about the music of his Radio Sextet, especially his own playing. And I only discovered recently that it must be George Shearing on the piano in some of these recordings.
Wed Nov 5 11:15:35 2003

Rod Holcombe, Kingsbridge, Devon
In reply to John Millbank, Harry was cremated and the ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium. The programme of the funeral service is in the local file at Bangor University and they will do a photocopy of this and other Harry Parry material at nominal cost. I do not know what became of his wife Jean. I applaud your researches and wonder if you knew of the article in Memory Lane last issue and the forthcoming (hopefully) Jazz Journal.
Fri Oct 31 09:38:12 2003

John Milbank from Sussex
I am planning a web site about Harry Parry's career but need a little more personal information. Can anyone tell me where he is buried and anything about his wife Jean (nee Alton)?
Wed Sep 10 19:21:52 2003

Huw Wheldon
Huw Wheldon Arts broadcaster and administrator of the BBC.

Born:
    7 MAY 1916
Place of Birth:
    Prestatyn
School:
    Friars, Bangor

        David Attenborough said "He was called many things - huge Welshman, the founding father of arts television, the last of the great actor-managers, the best director-general the BBC never had. He was a great man." Huw Wheldon

Biography:
    Huw Wheldon was one of the leading figures among BBC television programme makers in the 1960s and a top BBC administrator in the 1970s.

    Huw's father, John Wheldon, was originally from Blaenau, but moved to London to work in Lloyd George's law firm. During World War I he met a London Welsh girl, Megan Edwards. They married and moved back up to Bangor where John took up a post as administrator for the university. Their first son, Huw, was followed by Tomos, Mair and Nans.

    According to Sir Huge, Paul Ferris's biography of Huw Wheldon, he spent a great deal of time hanging round Bangor High Street with his friends. He didn't do too well at school and had to re-sit his matriculation which would enable him to go on to university.

    In 1933 his father became permanent secretary to the Welsh Department of Education and the family moved to Woodville Gardens, Ealing. All the family, including the servants, still spoke Welsh at home in London.

    In a letter to a good friend, Huw Wynne Griffith, a son of a Bangor minister, Huw wrote "I'm gradually sinking into the life of London. It certainly is opening my eyes to some things."

    In 1934 he returned to Bangor, lodged with a clergyman's family and studied Latin and German at University College. But he failed his first year exams, returned to London and enrolled at the London School of Economics to study sociology.

    In 1941 Huw joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and became a senior instructor in the battle schools, training with live bombs. He won the Military Cross for bravery under fire during the D-Day landings in Normandy.
    Huw Wheldon and guests on the arts programme Monitor

    Huw joined the BBC's publicity department in 1952, and soon began to present the children's programme All Your Own.

    He then became editor of the arts programme, Monitor from 1958 to 1964. He both produced the programme and appeared as its principal interviewer and anchor, leading a team which included David Jones, Ken Russell and Melvyn Bragg.

    The second part of Wheldon's career was as a manager and administrator. He became head of documentary programs in 1962, a post that was enlarged the following year to head of music and documentary programmes. He became controller of the BBC in 1965 and in 1968, became director of BBC television. Age debarred him from succeeding Charles Curran as director general of the BBC.

    Sir Ian Trethowan, who succeeded Huw Wheldon as managing director of television, described Wheldon's style of leadership as "tending towards the flamboyant and inspirational."

    He became the Arts Council Director for Wales, and was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the Festival of Britain.

    Huw Wheldon died on March 14 1986 from cancer. His ashes are in Kew Gardens and his grave in Nant Peris in the church of St Peris, alongside his father, mother, brother and forbears. Members of the Royal family and representatives from the arts and media attended his memorial at Westminster Abbey.


your comments

Mark Shere from Guildford
I always enjoyed watching Huw Wheldon on TV. His informative style was very endearing, and like all great broadcasters he made you feel he was talking to you and you alone. he gave the impression that he was no different once the cameras were switched off. His documentary "Destination D-Day" is a masterclass in how to convey a complicated story in an exciting yet calm way. The fact that he never talked about his MC in the programme speaks volumes for his unassuming nature
Wed Jun 6 10:46:25 2007

Len Billingham Brixworth Northampton
Sir Huw Wheldon arrived in Normandy on D-Day as a captain, as we all did, with the 6th Airborne Division, later becoming a Major in charge of a company. He was awarded the Military Cross for activities on 7th June 1944, the day after D-Day.
Wed Jan 31 09:34:53 2007

Glyn Roberts, Macclesfield Cheshire (formerly of P
When I was aged 14 (1965) I suffered a burst appendix which developed into life-threatening peritonitis, resulting in a couple of emergency operations in the Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. I was in critical condition for quite a few days before 'turning the corner'. I was seriously unwell and the outcome was uncertain for six or seven days. It was during this time that the Wheldons came to visit me, although my parents and I did not really know them. Apparently they had links with Rhehoboth Chapel in Prestatyn that we attended. They had apparently heard about the circumstances and wanted to show their concern. Both lord and Lady Wheldon (as I think they were by that time) projected real sympathy. While I was not really able to converse sensibly they spoke to Mum and Dad at the bedside and made an impression on me as charming and sophisticated people. Rhyl and Prestatyn did not have many residents (or visitors) with that kind of style in the 1960s!
Wed Jan 17 11:46:20 2007

Wynn Wheldon, London
Some responses and answers. My father, if anything, never took enough credit for the work he did on Monitor for others, as will be testified by those who worked on the programme. There was never any question that it was made by a team; equally there was never any question who its leader was. And Mr Abbott is quite right. The Wheldon family plot is at Nant Peris, but my father's ashes - and my mother's - were laid around a sapling, Liquid Amber in Kew Gardens, an institution of which he was immensely fond. Finally, it is very heartening to read Tom Bausch's words. Dad absolutely adored going to the Aspen Institute, and he loved the USA. I refer him to the obituary by Norman Podhoretz read into the Congressional Record by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, which expresses similar sentiments.
Mon Jan 30 03:03:28 2006

Tony Ferney from London
I remember after a particularly pretentious "Monitor", (the programme hosted by Wheldon) Private Eye asking "how one brain could contain so much knowledge. The simple answer is it can't and Wheldon knew it. Perhaps, therefore, some credit accrues to his anonymous staff members whom he somehow always forgot to mention.
Sat Sep 10 23:17:48 2005

Tom Bauch, San Francisco
Sir Huw Wheldon, whom I knew slightly from the Aspen Institute, was a man of enormous charm and grace. He was very funny himself bu thad the rare gift of making his guests see themselves as equally amusing, charming and graceful.
Thu Jul 21 19:29:18 2005

Colin Abbott
This will probably sound very naive, but tell me, how can Huw Wheldon's ashes be in Kew Gardens and his grave be in Nant Peris?
Sun Mar 6 13:07:40 2005

Wynn Wheldon, London
My grandfather's name was (Sir) Wynn, not John. He too was decorated for bravery, in the First World War.
Thu Sep 16 21:11:53 2004

George Guest
George Guest: by permission of the Master and Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge. One of Britain's finest choral conductors.

Born:
    9 FEB 1924
Died:
    20 NOV 2002
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Friars School, Bangor
Famous For:
    Leading organist and choirmaster
Trivia:
    He was a passionate Chester City fan, keeping a written record of every game.
Biography:
    George Howell Guest CBE was responsible for taking the choir at St John's College, Cambridge, from the verge of extinction to an international reputation.

    His father was a grocer and amateur organist and George began his choral career at Bangor Cathedral, moving on to Chester Cathedral when he was 11.

    After wartime RAF service he was awarded an organ scholarship at St John's, Cambridge, becoming the organist and choirmaster in 1951 until his retirement in 1991.

    Under his leadership the college choir school was saved from closure and then developed to become popular radio performers on radio and recording artists.

    George Guest is widely credited with raising the standard of English choral music to new heights and he held numerous posts in church music organisations.

    He also made regular appearances with Welsh choirs and adjudicated eisteddfod competitions, being made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1977.

    He chose the collected works of Welsh nationalist writer Saunders Lewis as his book when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.

    He and his wife Nancy had two children. His autobiography, A Guest at Cambridge, was published in 1994.

    Thanks to James Griffiths from Glasinfryn, Bangor, for suggesting this entry.


your comments

Patricia Oliver from Hampton-on-Thames
In the early 60s I had a boyfriend who was a choral scholar at St John's and well remember the name George Guest. Said boyfriend lived in Bangor where I was studying at UCNW. Happy memories!
Thu Oct 25 11:34:05 2007

Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock The talented jazz musician has been commissioned to compose and perform a piano concerto at The Proms.

Born:
    24 FEB 1981
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Chetham's School of Music, Manchester
Famous For:
    Jazz composer and musician
Biography:
    Gwilym Simcock is an award-winning pianist and has his own jazz trio, quintet and big band.

    Still in his 20s, he has received numerous accolades and been nominated for two of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, including Best Album for Perception.

    He told us: "I was taught at home by mum until I was nine, and my dad, a great church organist, taught me music. I got into jazz in my mid-teens while I was at Chetham's in Manchester, then I went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to do a jazz degree.

    My parents live in Amlwch now and it's always lovely to come home as the peace and quiet, along with the beautiful landscape, is always very inspiring and gives me lots of ideas.

    I have performed all over Wales and I look forward to playing with my trio at this year's Brecon Jazz Festival.

    Playing at the Albert Hall in this year's Proms is a welcome opportunity to fulfill one of my ambitions, but generally, to make good music and gain the respect of my fellow musicians is always important to me."

Tony Gray
Tony Gray Tony Gray was a Wales rugby international before becoming the national team coach and taking Wales to third place in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

Born:
    14 JUN 1942
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Ysgol y Garth, Ysgol Friars
Trivia:
    Tony was named European coach of the year in 1988.
Biography:

    I was brought up in Bangor and started playing my rugby at school as a centre. I played for Bangor Rugby Club, when it was based at a ground in Beaumaris!

    Tony Gray, Captain of the London Welsh rugby team Then I went to college in Cardiff and moved to play in the back row. College rugby was a bit different to the level I'd been playing at during my schooldays, as was moving on to the London Welsh team. I was there at a really exciting period in Welsh rugby; from 1964 to 1976, and became captain in 1971. I was on the same team as players like JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, John Dawes and Mervyn Davies, all Welsh internationals. I particularly loved the fixtures against the Welsh teams over Christmas and Easter. It's a tradition they don't follow anymore.

    I played for Wales in 1968 against England, Scotland and Argentina. Playing England at Twickenham is such a huge game and it was definitely a really proud moment for me.

    I stayed in rugby after retiring from playing, and became Wales coach in 1985 at a really exciting period in the game. We had a group of really talented young players like Jonathan Davies, Robert Jones and Dai Young. It took a bit of time to settle down, but we were heading in the right direction.

    We went to the first Rugby World Cup hosted by new Zealand and Australia in 1987, just off the back of winning the triple crown. We had no idea how big a tournament it would become; we had the Five Nations, but nothing like that. We lost heavily to the eventual winners, New Zealand, in the semi finals but did beat Australia in the game for third place.

    I finished as Wales coach in 1988, just a year before lots of those great young players went north to play Rugby League. I became a lecturer in the Sports Science department of Bangor University before retiring.

    I'm now President of the North Wales Rugby Union. Rugby in north Wales is progressing well - great strides have been made over the last few years. The game is now professional, so the biggest obstacle will be finance, but I am really excited to see the North Wales Regional team get together. The Welsh Rugby Union have realised that there's talent in North Wales and are now doing far more to develop it. This is shown in the increasing amount of players we have involved in the Wales junior teams.

Angus McDermid at the BBC
Bangor-born Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, talks about schoolfriend Angus McDermid's long and varied career as foreign correspondent with BBC news.

Angus McDermid


"Angus McDermid was a school friend, but we parted ways when WW2 came about (as with so many associates). He was a cub reporter with the then North Wales Chronicle, whose offices and printing presses were located on the site now occupied by Boots the Chemist.

He joined the BBC at some point and, being a shortwave radio listener, I picked up his broadcasts from South Africa when he was the correspondent there.

During his tour of duty in Africa he covered a military coup and, as with other prisoners, was allowed one telephone call home. He spoke to his wife (in Welsh) and was able to transmit a scoop undetected. He also escorted the Queen on her tour of Africa at some point.

He was then posted to Washington DC for eight or nine years, and covered the Nixon Watergate era.

Nearing retirement age, the BBC brought him closer to home - that is, to Brussels, Belgium.

He was awarded the OBE or MBE, and he retired to a village near the foot of Snowdon, whilst maintaining a base in London to do some occasional work for Bush House and Portland Place."

your comments

Rob Lewis, London
Arnold Lewis was my father. By a strange turn of fate I now live in Bromley, about a mile from Whitecroft Way where Angus lived in the early 1960s.
Wed Sep 17 10:16:51 2008

Kate Dickens, Spalding
A correction to Ifor Roberts' comment: Angus was effectively an only child - although he did have a younger brother, Alfie, who died of diptheria before my father was born. You are thinking of my father's cousin, Glyn McDermid, whom I remember well and was indeed employed by the Penrhyn Estates. I also remmber Arnold Lewis well - he taught at a comprehensive school in London during the 1960s and visited our family often in those days.
Thu Feb 7 10:48:40 2008

Gayner Haynes London
To Leslie Roberts - I am interested to know if you knew my father, Paddy Burns. He went to school with and was a friend of Angus McDermid. He also knew Harry Parry. My father went to Friars school with Angus Mcdermid. My mother Vivienne Burns (nee Hughes) sang with some of the dance and jazz bands of North Wales during the late 1940s.My Aunt, Enid McNamarra (nee Hughes) worked at the North Wales Chronicle from the early 1950s and also knew Angus McDermid. So do you know anything of my father, his family or my mother?
Wed Jan 30 15:13:22 2008

Ifor Roberts, now Scotland
My mother's family knew Angus McDermid very well and I remember him visiting my nain, Gracie Roberts in Friars Avenue when I was quite young. My mother is Enyd Roberts who now lives near my sister just outside Biggleswade. Her cousin was Arnold Lewis who lived in Maes y Dref. He was the accompanist with Cor Penrhyn for many years and moved to Cardiff to work with the BBC until his retirement. Sadly he died some 3 years ago.I actually worked with Angus's brother, Mr Mac as we knew him, for a short while at the Penrhyn estate office just after I left school in 1973.
Fri Oct 5 16:02:11 2007

Emrys Edwards , Stoke-on-Trent
I was also a class-mate (Friars School) 1932-40 and remember John Barlow Jones. There were 13 'Jones' in our form ! The Headmaster was Ifor Williams ('Lucius') and I still have his inscribed French Prize ("Awst 1942, gyda dymyniadau goreu")
Mon Aug 6 10:29:18 2007

Alexandre Burmester from Oporto, Portugal
I remember very well Angus McDermid's excellent reporting on the BBC World Service and particularly his time in Washington. On August 8, 1974, I listened to President Nixon's resignation speech, introduced to BBC listeners by Mr McDermid.
Thu Jun 14 09:45:29 2007

Kate Dickens, Lincolnshire
A sad addition to this page, I'm afraid. My mother, Myfanwy McDermid, widow of Angus McDermid, died on July 13 after a short illness.
Fri Sep 16 21:40:06 2005

Elinor Millard, Harpenden, Herts
I was born in Bangor and lived in Penrhos Road until I left home to go to Law School. My late Father, Gwilym Roberts, wrote a daily column in the Liverpool Daily Post - "Day to Day in Wales". As a child I remember Angus well. He was a friend and colleague of my father and a frequent visitor to our home. My parents were guests at Angus and Myfanwy's wedding. I think the family home was at Lon y Bryn. My father was also a great friend of Angus's father. Happy Days!
Fri Aug 26 19:18:55 2005

Kate Dickens (nee McDermid0 now living in Spalding
Well, with pride, I can add that Angus was my father and very much missed, he still is, particularly as he has three grandsons who would have loved him so much.

I worked in Bangor too, on the North Wales Chronicle (from 1975-77), the fourth generation of the family to do so. It provided excellent training and I went on to a 20 year career in journalism. But now I've retrained as an English teacher.

My mother Myfanwy (Nan) now lives 60 miles from me in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, completely different from North Wales,of course, but not without its attrractions. I'll pass on any interesting information from the site to her.

I recently met an old Friars school friend of my father's, John Barlow Jones, who lived in Orme Road, Bangor,before joining the Navy. He later became a bank manager. We met up via his daughter, Sally Jones, a journalist and former television reporter, through a mutual friend. Small world!

Just a comment on leslie Roberts; contribution above. Angus joined the BBC in 1957 having freelanced for the corporation from Bangor while still chief reporter on the Chronicle. And it was the OBE he received, in the early '80s. The village he retired to was Fachwen, on the slopes of Llyn Padarn. This was where he died, suddenly, in October 1988, just a week before his first grandson's first birthday. As for the C&A motor club, we still have various tankards awarded as prizes in the club's rallies!
Fri Jun 3 20:32:47 2005

Ig Nwangwu, Lagos, Nigeria
As a very young and avid shortwave listener during the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967-1970), I listened a lot to Angus Mcdermid on BBC radio as he covered the war. As I watched the recent wars (Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq) and saw the likes of Peter Arnet, Nik Robertson, Christiane Amanpor all of CNN television, I wondered if Angus McDermid's experience in Nigeria was the same as those of these reporters I saw on the tv screen. I, therefore, decided to look the name up on the BBC website, least expecting to get any information on the man Angus McDermid.
Fri Sep 3 08:46:42 2004

David Cooke from Newcastle, Staffs
I remember Angus & Myfanwy well from my days in the Caernarfon & Anglesey Motor Club. He was a very keen member in his VW Beetle. At that time he was based in Bangor. Happy Days...
Thu Sep 18 13:05:59 2003

Joey Jones
Joey Jones Great Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales footballer.

Born:
    4 MAR 1955
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Stella Maris primary school, Mostyn secondary.
Biography:
    Joey Jones helped Liverpool win two European Cups, two League Championships and reach the FA Cup final, and took part in a memorable Wales defeat of England.

    Joey Jones was brought up in Llandudno and was always a football fanatic. He played for Llandudno Estates, later the Llandudno Swifts, a team which, despite having both Joey and Neville Southall in defence was, as he admits, awful! He also played for John Bright School football team, which won the area cup in 1968.

    He was taken for trials to Chester and Wrexham by local scout Evan Williams of Craig-y-Don. He and Mickey Thomas were taken on by Wrexham in 1971 as ground staff. In exchange for the opportunity to train with the team, they were paid £8 a week (£5 of which went on board and lodgings) and expected to clean the boots, tidy the terraces and prepare the pitch - by hand, with a pitchfork.

    At 17, Joey made his Racecourse debut as a first team player in a Welsh Cup match against local rivals Chester City. He was part of the Wrexham team which reached the quarter-finals of the FA cup in 1974, starting the club's giant-killing reputation by beating Crystal Palace, Middlesborough and Southampton.

    In 1975 Joey was made an offer a life-long fan couldn't refuse - a move to Liverpool, on a Wrexham record transfer fee of £110,000. Playing alongside Kevin Keagan and Tommy Smith, he helped the club win European Cups in 1977 and 1978, two League Championships and reach an FA Cup Final.

    During his time at Liverpool, Joey also made his first of 72 appearances for Wales, naming Wales's 1-0 victory over England as one of the highlights of his career.

    In 1978 he returned to Wrexham for the record fee of £210,000 before moving on to Chelsea, where he joined his old friend Mickey Thomas in securing the second division title for the London club. Following a short stay at Huddersfield, Joey returned to Wrexham as a player and, following his retirement in 1992, as a coach. He had scored 29 goals as a professional player - and, as he concedes, a few more own goals, being a defender! Following heart surgery in 2002, Joey now acts in an ambassadorial role for the North West club.


your comments

P Downey, Wirral
See Joey made the list of top 50 all time Liverpool greats. So satisfying that someone is rewarded for their passion to the cause despite limited ability. Memories are priceless just like Joey's salute. You can have all your superstars but there's only one Joey Jones.
Wed Mar 11 15:02:38 2009

Dave Boylen, from Grimsby
Again Joey Jones has turned up trumps for me, came on October 27th which was a bleak evening to support a Charity night in aid of a lad who is suffering with heart problems. Once again a first class evening, Joey you have got the freedom of Grimsby that I can assure you, spoke to all the pundits could you imagine the present set of players doing thatn in this day and age.
Mon Nov 24 10:25:05 2008

DAVID BOYLEN GRIMSBY
I was fortunate to play against Joey Jones when he was starting of with Wrexham,and I was playing for Grimsby Town he went to Liverpool and I stayed at Grimsby what a good player followed his progress with great interest, deserved all his glory.Only last week did a after dinner talk in Grimsby for me brought the house down with his stories, thanks Joey for a really entertaining night Dave Boylen Grimsby Town 1966/1977
Mon Apr 14 10:09:31 2008

rich thorne, wrexham
Being from Nottingham my girlfriend has told me the stories of the famous clenched fist salute. Joey was and still is her hero. She attended her first Wrexham match in 1969 at the age of 3. When Joey lived on first ave Gwersyllt it was a great thrill to knock on his door and ask would he come out for a kick about. Joey you are a true gent who has never forgotten his roots!
Mon Feb 26 09:52:37 2007

Nick Jones from Leeds formally of Wrexham
Oh Joey, Joey! You are such a legend for both Wrexham & Liverpool, I named my son after you! I also used to knock around with your Richard when I was a teenager and once, you helped push my little MG Metro to bump start it down Ffordd Ystrad!
Wed Jan 17 11:50:22 2007

Peter, Llandudno
I have many stories about Joe, all good. But 1 I would like recall is not long after Alan Kennedy joined Liverpool, I was in the car park outside the MAin entrAnce to THE CLUB, when Joe called me and we went into the players lounge to talk. He was not playing that day and was very down. He thought his brother Frank was a better footballer than he was, and he was really depressed. I had to try and buiLd his confidence, by saying that no team could continually carry a player, and he was a member of a very good team that had won the league, unluckily lost the F.A.cup final to 2 fluky goals and won the European Cup all in 1 season 1976-77, and he is still a very good player and could continue to do a good job for Liverpool. We spent some time talking about self confidence, and the ability to play with other great players, and cover any mistakes made by other players, which he had to on a few occasions. Ray Kennedy always said that he knew where Joe was as he was always talking to him and giving him positional advice during the game. A great compliment. I later came to know his Mum and Dad very well. His Dad was a lovely man, and I enjoyed his Mum's company. Thanks for the pleasure of watching you Joe and all the memories
Mon Jan 15 09:35:24 2007

Derrick Goodman, Deganwy, now living in Notts
I played in the same team as Joey at John Bright's. He stood out head and shoulders above everyone on and off the pitch, great player, proud to know him. I remember him showing off his liver bird tattoo at school. That's why he always wore a long sleeved shirt at Chelsea.
Sun Apr 2 15:22:08 2006

Chris Porter from Huddersfield
Still got the last shirt that Joey played in, in his last match for Huddersfield Town. Joey was a great guy, a true ambassador for the game - fond memories of Joey at Leeds Road.
Sat Feb 25 00:28:03 2006

Phil, Llandudno
I remember well playing with and against Joey on the Maesdu Rd pitch, Llandudno. We were both about age 9 or 10 and he was a fanatic even then. We all knew he would make it, he just had what it takes.
Thu Apr 28 01:44:49 2005

Glyn Hughes, Portsmouth
My claim to fame is,Joey was in the same class as my sister,I was a couple of years behind them. Anyway i had gone out at lunchtime from school and bought myself an L.F.C sticker for sixpence! Walking into the playground showing off my sticker Joey pinged it, came over and sort of persuaded me to give it him (he was a big lad). Anyway I'm not bitter...
Fri Oct 1 21:19:07 2004

Dean Street and beyond
Kitty Baxter Members of the Glanadda Pensioners' Club recall life down Dean Street and beyond in years gone by.

Trying to sneak into County Hall, getting rapped over the knuckles at school and narrowly missing a wartime bomb - Bangor life was hectic for Kitty Baxter

"Bangor was a very happy place when I was young. I lived in Dean Street until I was ten and there were lots of shops down there at that time - a butchers, a chippie, a sweet shop (I loved sherbet with liquorice).

These big superstores have taken over now, but before you had small, family businesses on the High Street, passed down from father to son. You knew everyone, chatted with everyone and you got personal service.

There was Lipton's, Maypole, Williams', Turner's, Benefit, Lotus... all little groceries, bakers or clothes shops.

I went to St Mary's primary school, down at the bottom of Dean Street - it's flats now. There were 30 children in the class, a complete mix of ages and abilities. Then I went to the Central School, which is now a science building on Deiniol Road. I really enjoyed school.

I only remember one teacher, Miss Burns, she used to hit us across our knuckles with a ruler. My mother would say; 'What have you got on your hands?' 'Blood' I'd say. And she'd answer; 'Well, you probably deserved it'. You wouldn't get that now - they'd sue the school!

On Saturday nights we used to walk up and down the high street looking for boyfriends. We couldn't go in the pubs because we were too young, but we made our own entertainment. The County Theatre was on Dean Street - it's the Octagon now, of course. They used to have concerts and talent shows on and, because the back door was opposite our house, we'd try to sneak in and watch. We'd get chucked out if we were caught because we were too young!.

After school I worked at a lot of jobs - never stayed in one job long. They were going to teach me how to make hats at Thomas Henderson's, which was at the top of Dean Street, but I only lasted a year.

Then I moved on to Polikoff's, a big shop on the High Street. It's where Peacocks is now. I worked on the baby clothes counter and I loved it. Although there wasn't really fashion then - we couldn't afford fashionable clothes and weren't really interested, you just wore what you had.

Then when I was 18 I worked behind the bar at the King's Arms - I think it's an Irish pub now.

In 1937 we got moved out of the slums of Dean Street and up to Maesgeirchen. Others went up to Maes Tryfan or Glyn Road. It was great - we had an indoor bathroom and hot water for the first time. We didn't have to go to the toilet outside and take a bucket of water with us to flush it.

I lived in MaesG for 36 years. I saw a lot of changes - the neighbours just weren't the same after a while. But there is now a great community there - only a few give it a bad name, but I think it's coming back into its own again.

I lived there during the war. The night the bombs dropped on MaesG I was babysitting in the Drill Hall for Major Flower and his wife, and he said he'd send one of the soldiers with me to walk me home because it was along way. The soldier took me as far as the Pen Lôn slate works, then said I'd be alright from there, it wasn't far.

So I went under the bridge and along the main road home - and a bomb dropped on top of the hill. I'd just turned the corner, but I went back, up Pen Bryn and ran all the way home. I just got home as the second one dropped - it was really scary.

But apart from that we managed all right during the war. My father used to fish and grow his own veg, so we always had a meal.

My mother had one evacuee, a girl called Annie from Liverpool. She was a bit cheeky in the beginning, but she soon got used to us. She was with us for two years, and she would have stayed longer I think but her mother made her go home. We had a lot more freedom than she would have had in the city. We used to take her down to the beach and have a go on the boats my father worked on. He used to row posh people over to their yachts on the Menai Strait - well, they were posh to us!"

Old Bangor and the Plaza

Last updated: 28 December 2007

Don Talbot and Violet Bell

Don Talbot is another former resident of Dean Street.

"I used to live in Dean Street in the 1930s and I remember getting flooded there twice - the river overflowed I think. They've put drains there now.

They also used to keep cattle at the bottom of Dean Street - it's a football field for kids now, but they used to have a slaughterhouse down there at one time.

We lived in a big lodging house, a converted tavern. It's a car park now. Lots of people used to come in and out, travellers, fellers looking for work.

I used to work in Robert Roberts' café - it's where a clothes shop is now, opposite the Abbey National. It was the biggest café on the High street and I used to deliver things from the big bakery down the street to Roberts'."

Violet Bell remembers Bangor's cinema in its heyday.

"Bangor was a lovely place years ago. I used to live in Well Street, which is near Dean Street. We stayed there when other people were moved out to Maesgeirchen.

I worked in the Plaza cinema for 24 years. It's gone terrible now, even though they've done it up into two cinemas, it's not like it used to be. I was an usherette, cashier, everything - back in the days when we sold ice cream in the intermission.

I've seen all the films, although not a whole film at once because we were so busy! I've seen them all, but Tom Cruise is my favourite.

I worked there until I was 70. I started when I was young and then left to have the children but then went back. I loved it there."

Back to the start.

More Bangor memories from John Arthur Owen...

your comments

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken. Can you tell me how Bill Davies was related to you as it is the same person, that was my uncle, who was a tailor in Dean Street, Bangor.
Mon Apr 20 09:23:29 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi David Davies, Just thought I'd let you know that Bill Davies was my uncle he married my father's (George Flinn) sister Freda and I think the shop you are thinking of was Ashley's.
Mon Apr 20 09:22:57 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken Hughes. Bill Davies was my uncle and he ran a tailor shop in Dean Street next to Eunice's sweep shop.
Tue Apr 14 09:42:34 2009

Josie Tilyard born in Bangor now living in London
The comments on this page have brought back some very happy memories to me - my mother was Welsh and we lived in Blodwyn Villa, Beach Road, Bangor. My mother's maiden name was Owen and she had a brother named George who lived in Seriol Road. For some time now I have been trying to trace my cousins, whom I would play with as a child. I also remember playing at the tennis courts in Hirael Road. My mother worked in Polikoff's before marrying my father and her best friend was Louisa Moses. I can remember walking from Blodwyn Villa over the Menai Bridge and spending the day in Beaumaris then we would catch the ferry back to Bangor. Would love to hear whether Blodwyn Villa is still standing - it was a most beautiful house and the views were magnificient.
Fri Nov 7 09:21:27 2008

Sue Hughes-Jones, Y Felinheli
Has anyone information regarding my grandmother's laundry at Glanadda? Her maiden name was Charlotte Fanny Smith and she also ran a laundry in Deanfield, but I don't know where that was. I have photographs of all the laundry maids of the model laundry. Sadly only three are named, a Katie Munro, Auntie Jane who lived in a cottage in Penrhos near Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the supervisor Angie Williams. My grandmother said she first came to work in The Vaynol Laundry with Mr. & Mrs Arthur Atherton.
Wed Oct 1 09:22:08 2008

Marian Owen, Maesgeirchen
Found this website with my daughter - how wonderful! Reading about places and people I remember so well. I lived in Maesgeirchen, had a brother John, lived in Greenwood Avenue next door to the post office owned by Mr and Mrs Robbyns. We used to play for hours in the woods making dens and swings. Highlight of our lives was going to the youth club, every night until 10pm, great times. Did anyone remember the Hop where I met my husband of fifty years John Owen from Llandegai.
Mon Aug 18 09:59:48 2008

Ken Hughes _ Derby
Hi David Davies, nice to see you still on line and still interested in the old place, good to hear you and Diane are keeping ok. It's a few years now since we used to go up the coast to Rhyl on a Sunday night, remember Brian Pumfreys old Dodge, Arfon bach on the old guitar, you were quite a good swimmer at scool always winning the diving for plates challenge at old Siliwen baths, a few of the lads are still around, Kenny Edwards, Ello (beans) Owen Stan O'mara Im sure you remember them. I used to enjoy Friday nights with your dad at the Union Hotel Buff Lodge in Garth he was a great bloke.

If I remember Will Davies the taylor used to run the A.C.F in Glynne Road - he gave me my first stripe. The shop at the top of Dean St is now a Radio and TV shop owned by Ioris Griffiths ex Bangor footballer
Thu Mar 27 10:03:11 2008

Ron Williams Worcs
David Davies, Christchurch: The shop you mention was Pentir Williams. I too used to look longingly at the Dinkies, especially the larger ones which we never could afford to buy. By the way, is Cotter's, the electrical firm, still in business in High Street, Christchurch? I used to work for them for a while in about 1970.
Thu Mar 6 09:48:34 2008

David Davies christchurch newzealand
When we were kids going to the County theaterin dean st,on saturdays.I would always go up to the shop at the top of the st andlook in awe at the new Dinky toys in the window. can anybody name the shop Ihad an uncle [Will Davies] how had a tailors shop in dean st. Then there was Mrs Hopes, shop where we would buy half a Turf cigarette for the moves.

Wendy davies[Owen]nice to know you and familly are ok, love to Carol and john from my self and Diane we are ok here. I loved your mam and dad. Alway when ever i could,i would go fishing with Norman
Fri Feb 29 11:17:12 2008

Carol Morgan-Lane, Maine, USA
I've recently discovered I am related to the Jones's that lived at 17 Dean Street for a good part of the 19th century. I'm so curious about it now. Are those dwellings still standing? Where might I find more information about that part of Bangor and what life was like then?
Thu Feb 7 10:46:38 2008

barbara smith ,re jones.reading berks
just to say hi to anyone who new jim and jo {skerries.}jones.both saddley passed on .jim was born in dean st to fenna jones. i have many tales he used to tell me .i just wounder if there are any of the old locals that used the skerries when jim was there. also he ran the soical club for some years, what a place. everyone new everone. percy roberts, steven lock, big jim. i lived in the skerries until i got married in 1974 and always came back 2or3times year until my mum diedin 1995. i always found it funny when we came on the road from bathessda. the sign WELCOME TO BANGOR and the fist thing you see is the cemetary.it still makes me chuckle. bangor has great memorys for me.
Thu Dec 20 09:49:58 2007

Enid Law Llangollen
Lovely Bangor memories. I was Enid Thomas I lived in Maesgeirchen. I went to St.Mary's School in the 1940s the teachers were Misses Harris (lived on Garth Rd Miss Williams Headmistress in the Infants. Miss Jones Mrs. Walford Miss Parry Miss Roberts and Mr. Parry the Head was Ald.Ithel Williams another Mayor.

My father worked in Crosville and was known as Will Tom. My mother was a teacher and ran the Sunday School in the old Y.W.C.A. in Maes G we called it the Cwt.Iremember the Sunday School trips to Rhyl 8 or 9 busloads of us
Thu Sep 20 16:22:07 2007

Glynne Williams, London
I was born in 1936 in a part of Bangor known as Abysinia aka Ffriddoedd. After the war, my dad worked in the railway sheds. I went to see him there a couple of times and remember it as awful, but now as a retiree and amateur artist I am desperatly trying to get photographs of the sheds. Can anyone help?
Thu Aug 30 12:34:34 2007

Sylvia Humphreys
My sister in law from Coed Mawr and my husband from Maesgeirchen are trying to find out information about the old workhouse on Caernarfon road which later became Snowdon building and cheese factory. They would be very grateful if any info is available.
Tue Aug 28 09:43:31 2007

Roger Jones of Bangor
Does anyone still remember Elfed from Water Street? He lived alone and was a bit of a hermit. He used old sacks for curtains. Banned from all the Bangor pubs so we were told! He was a real character.Also there was Noel Evans who lived opposite the (now) Fire Station. He wore an army greatcoat year in year out. He would ask you to get him some fresh fish when the mongers were around and he would throw the money to you - you stayed on the pavement - and it was usually half a crown. He'd tell you to keep some change for going.There was also a chap we called Evan Stump and he slept in run-down outbuildings near Kyffin Square. To my mind harmless old Bangor characters.
Wed May 2 09:25:57 2007

Maldwyn Hughes, Minffordd, Bangor
I have just found this site and so glad that I did. I was born and brought up in Bethesda but have lived here since 1954. I was an apprentice with Bethesda Council and started my technical education at the Central School under Mr.Graber, Mondays, 6 to 9pm. Sixpence return on the train from Bethesda. There were two quarrymen travelling with me, learning English under Mr. Walford [I think].Afterwards we used to go for a beer to the City at 6d a pint. I remember going to the County with my father about 1928 and sitting on the top balcony. I could not see the screen until my father pointed it out to me far below. About 1933 I went to the Arcadia Cinema where the Plaza was afterwards. It was a long wooden hut and it was moved to the bottom of Glanafon Hill where it became the British Restaurant serving cheap dinners during the war. Afterwards it became The Caernarfonshire Technical College where I continued my technical education in Electrical Engineering after it was interrupted by the war, before going to Wrexham and Birkenhead Tech. Today there are so many opportunities to gain qualifications but many young people don't take advantage of them. I have been retired since 1983, having worked with Manweb and the CEGB. I knew George Joynson, he was a radio Ham and I have spent many enjoyable hours on the air talking with him and Eric Lynn, Coed Mawr, also Albert Gaskell in Penrhos and his brother Walter in Caernarfon Rd. There was also Albert Hewitt, Foxlands. I used to speak with them on short wave from upstate New York. They have all gone now. I knew Albert Hewitt since 1951. He worked at the old Electrical Lab in Dean St. Both of us built TVs using ex-Government Radar parts with a green picture on a 6inch tube. We couldn't afford a proper tv. Happy times. My Best Wishes to all the Old Uns and all from Bethesda and Bangor. Hwyl Fawr - Maldwyn.
Mon Jan 29 12:37:18 2007

Jean Forsyth (nee Foulkes) from Bangor
I was born in Ffordd y Castell Maes G. and my father was Len Foulkes the window cleaner. He cleaned Woolworths windows every morning for years, along with other shop windows in the town. Just stumbled upon this site and found it fascinating as I recognise so many of the people mentioned. Don Talbot: do you remember Richie 'Robert Roberts'? Emrys Edwards (the owner of Robert Roberts Cafe) was Mayor of Bangor in 1962. I can still remember the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and Richie boning a side of bacon before putting it in the bacon machine. As a child I also used to enjoy watching the change drop down the shute in the cashier's booth at the bottom of the stairs. Brian Roberts: I was in County School with your mum. I'll always remember the little song she used to sing: "I love to play my little banjo and rest it on my knee, but when the strings are broken down it's no more use to me." You mention Gail Slee, well she lives next door to me. Antoinette Jones: You mentione Miss Broadbridge. I saw her last Saturday at a Xmas tea - still very smart and distinctively dressed - a real lady! There is a new web site for Bangor Civic Society which you will find interesting as there are several features that will bring back nostalgia to to you all.
Web team: You'll find it in our Bangor web guide.
Fri Dec 15 09:57:53 2006

Mark Goddard, Bangor
Mark Slee, You must be Gail's brother. I was born in Dean St in 1960. It was my Dad's antique shop at the time, next door t the COunty Theatre, at the bottom of the street up to the fire Station. I was brought home without any clothes many times by Wlater Williams, one of the firemaen there.
Fri Oct 13 09:39:45 2006

Roz Ainsworth Aberdeen
I am really pleased to have found this site. My father was born in William Street, Bangor, No 15 to be exact, son of Phoebe (nee Davies) and Emerson Roberts. My Nain used to work in Wartskis Bangor. the last time I was in Bangor it was Debenhams. My Taid was a gardener at Lime Grove which is now an old peoples home I think. Oh the hiraeth I have to be back there. I have an Aunt who lives in Port Penrhyn she used to work in the Doctors surgery when it was Glanfa. The family lived in Llandegai and my nain was organist there for a while as was my father Meirion Roberts but Barry Wynne was the recognised organist. he was far superior to my Dad at the organ. he could read music. my Father played from Tonic sol-fa! I worked in various places in Bangor - The Nelson hotel on Beach road, the British hotel, I was manageress of Freezrite on Caernarvon Road and also manageress of Contessa on Bangor High street. that was 21 years ago and for the last 20 years I have lived in Scotland the last 6 years on my own way out in the wilds of Scotland, very beautiful, but there's no place like home.
Tue Aug 29 12:13:38 2006

Mark Slee
Brought up in Dean St. just behind 'auntie' Eunie's sweet shop. My Mum told me there used to be stables at the back of the chemist shop on the High St. and I do vaguely remember nearly getting kicked to death by a horse! Maybe 15 years in Maes.G. - at the time a great place for a kid to grow up. At one time you could get all the way over Bangor mountain from the High St. to Maes.G. without touching the ground using walls, trees etc, an impossibe feat now I wager. Any body remember Mr. & .Mrs. Walford 10, Well St.(sorry: Ffordd-y-Ffynnon), my grandparents? Great site. Thanks.
Wed Jul 12 10:41:07 2006

Ronnie Morris from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
I was born in Glanadda (1941)but moved to Llandudno Junction when I was only 5. I doubt that anyone would remember me, but you might know my family. My Dad Alec Morris grew up on Lombobdu and worked as a fishmonger on the High Street, and during the war he worked for Daimlers. After the war he got a job at Hotpoint and that's when we moved to the Junction. My mother, Lily Lucas, was born in Glanadda just across the road from where Asda's is now. The house was demolished in the 1950's to widen caernarfon Road. We lost my Dad in 1993 and Mam just passed away last ! February at the age of 93.

We have lived in Canada now for 50 years, but I still love to visit North Wales, especially Bangor and Llandudno Junction. I'm planning another trip for this September. Kitty, my grandfather also worked at Polikoff's but it would have been before your time. In the 1920's I think. Just discovered this page and I enjoyed reading it
Fri Jun 30 09:44:49 2006

Carol Burns (nee Thomas) Blackpool
Hi Kitty I can't remember what I put in about my family but here is a bit more (If I repeat anything I apologize) My Taid was Hughie Gordon Thomas and he was known as Hugh Guard on the railways. He loved to play snooker and dominoes at the pub. My Nain was Mary Elma Thomas nee Williams. They lived in Coed Mawr in the 60's and 70's and then moved to Dean Street (45) after that. They lived there till my Taid died in 1990 and Nain in 1995. My Auntie lived next door. I remember the chippy half way up Dean Street (on a corner) and loved the chips from there. My Dad is Ken Thomas though we moved to York in the middle of the 60s with his work.
Mon May 8 13:11:08 2006

Bryan Jones - Old Colwyn
I was born at Caerdeon, Glanadda, Bangor. I remember shows by the BBC during the war years. My father was transport officer for the old Caernarfonshire Fire Brigade with the workshop in the old Chapel behind the County Theatre. George Joynson, if he wanted to borrow any tools to undertake jobs in the Theatre, would always ask my father if he could borrow. He would always return them. I did rather well due to this liaison. I remember I would be given complimentary tickets for the pictures or the wrestling matches that were held at the County Theatre. George Joynson and his wife lived in Ainon Road.
Wed Apr 19 09:16:28 2006

Mervyn, Miron Jones, Hirael Bangor
My fondest memories of the 60s was being able to play almost anywhere in safety. Everybody knew who you were or who your parents were. Our children have missed out on some magical places - Parc Bach, along the beach,and of course the High St. Many a cup final in the streets, no stupid signs in them days! The other highlight of the year was the Bangor rag. Great days great memories. Bangor will always be in my heart.
Mon Nov 21 19:21:52 2005

Lynne
Can anyone recall Silliams the bakers somewhere in the High St? Am trying to locate where it stood, have only recently found out I had an uncle Hywel Williams, son of Henry Williams the baker.
Mon Nov 21 01:11:56 2005

Antoinette Jones (nee Roberts)
Yes I remember County Theatre as a child in the 1950s and a lovely lady called Mrs. Williams who my brothers and I used to call "Aunty". She used to babysit me and my brothers occasionally but worked at the County for many years.

My father still runs Roberts Newsagents in the High street opposite Valla Chip shop with the help of two of my brothers, he has been there since 1953!. As kids we used to live above the shop and knew all the business people in the High Street. I remember well the fire station which is now a car park, Elias Garage which is now a restaurant, and Eirwyn Owen's the Chemist(who was the Mayor of Bangor at one time) he used to have a big basket weighing scale where new mums used to come along to weigh their babies.

As children we spent many happy hours down in Hirael playing tennis on the courts behind the Crosville Bus Depot and hanging around the beach behind Dickies Yard. Bangor was a wonderful place to be a child and even though I have lived away for over 30 years, as soon as I go "home" its like I've never been away.

Anyone out there remember Garth School and its teachers in the late 50s, Mr Haydn Jones, Miss Nora Jones, Miss Broadbridge and Miss Ellis and of course Mr Jones (Music). What a lovely school, we were all made to feel very special by those great teachers. I have very fond memories of going there after coming from Hirael School where the lovely Mrs Carrigal taught the infants and Miss Roberts toughened us up before we went up to Garth School. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows me or grew up in Bangor at that time.
Thu Nov 17 14:25:08 2005

Roger Jones of Glanadda, Bangor
Regarding the County Theatre, I seem to remember a manager in the 50s who was called Tom Gaffney - does anybody else remember him? George Joynson was the manager in the 60s and was a great bloke - full of laughs. He would drive from the County Theatre to do the banking near the town clock and when he came out, could not remember where he had parked his car! Me and a friend once found a dead cat and, knowing George's route home after work, we propped the poor cat up in the middle of the road and good old George seemed to run it over - it went flying through the air! His wife Myra once told me that the staff found a man dead in the upper balcony after a matinee and that the theatre was haunted by him. Good old days.
Sat Oct 22 20:33:29 2005

Cochwillan Old Hall
Marilyn Monteith with Japanese student Kayo Konno

Last updated: 30 November 2006
Marilyn Monteith answered an ad in a newspaper to land her dream historic home, which is now a far cry from its days as a farm building, as she explains here.

Cochwillan Old Hall was built in 1465 by William ap Gruffydd and was part of the Cochwillan/Penrhyn families estate, connected to the Vaynol estate in old days. It was a powerful place when first built as the Sherriff of Caernarfon lived there, issuing out his judgements.

It was then owned by John Williams, Archbishop of York during the time of King Charles. He joined it to Penrhyn and another estate in Bethesda and they're still together now, though Penrhyn became more powerful because of the slate industry. Cochwillan went into decline, even being used as a farm building.

Lord Penrhyn and the forerunner to CADW decided to renovate it in 1970 and now it's a beautiful house, has been on TV several times and has hundreds of visitors every year.

Cochwillan Hall I came to live here from Lancashire after reading an article in the Sunday Telegraph in 2002 about old houses which needed someone to care for them. I'm originally from Porthmadog, so I decided it was time to come home.

I fell in love with the house, although it's cold and draughty and not very modern. The plumbing and the electrics are ancient, but it's full of life and energy.

I first came alone, but then my two sisters fell in love with it too and eventually joined me.

It's been so hectic with fundraising and tourist visits (by appointment only), and I've had students from Bangor University's Japanese Institute living with us.

The main hall is massive so we use it for fundraising events for Marie Curie Cancer Care. It's 37 feet by 25 feet and three storeys high.

The actual building maintenance is done by the Penrhyn Estate, but keeping it clean and tidy is our responsibility and it's quite a job. We have a dusting pole that's 15 to 20 feet long. The screens made of oak and wattle and daub have to be treated with orange oil.

You've got to be tough and not mind the cold either because central heating would damage the building. So I'm sitting here in November wearing three layers on top, trousers, leggings and thick socks.

None of the windows fits very well and the building's in a very exposed position, although it would have been surrounded by woods originally. But you get used to it and I've no regrets.

By Marilyn Monteith

your comments

Brian R
I remember going to a UCNW history party at Cochwillan in 1980 when my history lecturer lived there. The party was great but we had to scrape the drink off the hall floor with credit cards the folowing morningto restore it!
Mon Sep 10 09:49:45 2007

Kenneth S. Williams from Brentwood, TN (USA)
I am a direct descendant of William ap Gruffydd (along with a lot of other people)so I especially found this article interesting. If I am in North Wales this or next year I will certainly come by.
Fri Apr 13 10:00:35 2007

At war in Bangor

Last updated: 05 February 2007
Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire, got in touch to share his mixed feelings about life for an English boy in Bangor during World War II.

Thanks to Herr Adolf Hitler I was compelled to live in Bangor to be near my father's workplace in Beaumaris until World War II was over and we were all allowed to return to our Isle of Wight homes.

What started as a bit of a nightmare for a seven-year-old English boy surrounded by fervent Welsh Nationalists, ended in a state of awful confusion when I had to leave the place I came to love, full of so many friends, to return to a home that had also grown away from me whilst I was away.

All the Saunders-Roe workforce and their families arrived one dark night after an all-day journey that began before dawn - it was supposed to be hush-hush stuff. We were ushered through a gateway in a high wall to be confronted with a spell-binding view, the Menai Strait and the entire coastline as far as the Great Orme, bathed in moonlight.

We were told this was to be our new home, the Bishop's Palace at Glyn Garth, and we all lived there communally until, one by one, each family found its own accommodation round about.

I celebrated my seventh birthday and my first Welsh Christmas there before we moved to lodgings at Burn Bank in Margaret Street, Beaumaris. I had a very unhappy time at Menai Bridge County Primary School, where I was frequently set-upon for no better reason than I was English and my form teacher was a fervent Welsh Nationalist who did more to encourage the bullying than to stop it.

My parents dug deep into their pockets to send me to a private boarding school, which could hardly have been more different - St Gerard's Convent School in Bangor.

The cost of fees forced my mother to go out to work, so we moved from Beaumaris to lodgings in Craig-y-Don Road, Upper Bangor, right next door to the bowling green, and my association with Bangor began.

By now the war effort was demanding everyone's attention. Both my parents were working long hours - father servicing Catalina flying boats at Friars and mother working at the office where the Royal Army Service Corps coastal patrol boats were administered. So I was unable to live at home and remained as a boarder with the nuns.

That was until I was lucky enough to get through the Common Entrance Exam and the ensuing scholarship exam and was given a place at Friars Grammar School to start my secondary education.

After the safety of St Gerard's, this meant exposure, once more, to the nasty side of nationalism, the aspect that we see far too much of to this day, the side which believes the cause justifies almost any cruelty.

I was very lucky that I built up my own special relationships with a few elderly Welsh ladies who made sure my incessant queries were properly answered so that I learned why our wretched Government had been the cause of Welsh disaffection.

I would like to thank them by name as they surely deserve a place in heaven: Mrs Jones of 14 College Road and Mrs Reece of 14 Menai View Terrace, both successive landladies of ours, and especially, Mary Silwyn Roberts, who was Cavan O'Connor's landlady at his wartime theatrical digs, a few doors further along College Road.

Bangor in the war years was a hotbed of culture and politics, stimulated by the university college, where even for someone as young as I was, there was so much to be learned.

The entire BBC variety department was housed in the town for the duration of the war. For a time we even shared lodgings with Children's Hour's Aunty Nan, to whom I looked up with great respect befitting a person involved with that Monday to Friday, prime-time slot. Our landlady there was Mrs Jones and after the war her younger son, Meurig, became an announcer and disc jockey for BBC Wales.

In Bangor we also made friends with the ap Rhys family who lived in Garth Road, backing onto the sea. Prof Thomas ap Rhys was not only on the staff at the university, he was blind and was one of the early pioneers who assessed various breeds of dog for their suitability as guide dogs. These were the foundation years of the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. I well remember playing with his dogs as he kept so many of the 'failures' as family pets.

I joined the 3rd City of Bangor Sea Scout troop, who met in an old warehouse at Port Penrhyn, where I also made the acquaintance of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. I later joined the Menai Bridge Silver Band, playing tenor horn.

But I was cruelly torn away from my new friends at their practice room on Menai Bridge pier, by the inconsiderate termination of the war and my rapid repatriation to the Isle of Wight.

Graham Vine

your comments

Patricia Duffy (Nee Owen)
Gina (Pugh) USA, I was at St Gerards Convent at the same time as you and your sisters.I lived at the Harp Inn, High Street, Bangor. Many times, the sisters would knock the door so that I could walk the short distance to church with you.I have been trying to contact anyone that might have attended the convent around the same time I did. After many years of travelling with my late husband, both in the UK and abroad, I sadly lost photos in transit, along with my treasured school photos taken 1952/1953 and I think 1954. I wrote to Sister Mary Emmanuel many years ago and she told me that there were no records of the photographs, nor any copies at the convent. If you can help or know someone who you think could, it would make me very happy.
Mon Jul 20 11:26:31 2009

Marie Caponi (nee Smith)
I remember the Pugh girls (above). I was at St Gerard's from 1947-1950. I was friends with Sheila Steven Jones from Africa, living in Aber. I also remember Georgina Dorton (can't rememeber the spelling) whose family owned a hotel in Betws y Coed.
Tue Apr 14 10:22:15 2009

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Yes, the school crocodile wending its way down the lane and through the town early each evening for Benediction at Bangor's Catholic Church is also a vivid memory as, for a weekly boarder, like myself, I would often see people I knew and could wave to them as we all filed past! No doubt that crocodile would be well known to many Bangor citizens as it was a daily routine, almost as dependable as the Irish Mail. It was one of those childhood privileges to be on the platform at Bangor as the Irish Mail shrieked and thundered through.

I had a very mixed religious life in Bangor which was - with hindsight - of enormous benefit to me for I was a virtual Roman Catholic all the weekdays at St Gerard's and, at weekends, I would either be attending the C of E Church or the newly formed Quaker Meeting and, whenever I was especially lucky, I would accompany Mrs Jones to the Baptist Chapel where the service was always in Welsh - of which I understood very little but was soon singing hymns as well as any native and earning much approval from my Welsh hosts. So I had found a way to convince them that not ALL English were bad news ! I suppose I must have been quite good at singing because, at St Gerard's, I was always asked to sing at the nuns' birthday parties.
Tue Apr 22 10:38:26 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
It's been some time since I looked at my entry in the history pages so it was quite a surprise to find the added comments. Starting with Jim Menlove. Jim and I must have often passed one another if we didn't actually talk as I was often on the Menai Strait shore, especialy between the old sea-bathing pool and the youth hostel, where my mates and I beachcombed or I walked dogs for my old ladies, if on my own.

I too have seen Bangor City play, accompanying my Dad on his Saturdays off and have wandered over Bangor Mountain many times, sometimes on my own, with friends or, occasionally when 3rd City of Bangor were engaged in BP's Wide Games as he called them. But, likely as not, we would be on the Roman Camp which was much nearer home. Besides Cavan O'Connor's son, Gary, being a playmate of mine another playmate was John King, whom I discovered, much later in life, was the father of the very well-known BBC wildlife presenter, Simon King. Living in the top flat at 14 Menai View Terrace one did get a grandstand view of the Strait and all the flying boat movements on it and, of course, HMS Conway, swinging at her moorings as the tide changed. One holiday time when all the cadets had gone home, my friends and I were given a tour of the old warship because one of us boys, Alastair Woods, had a father who was one of the officers on board. It was a shattering experience leaving Bangor Pier in Conway's launch with a creww made up of many of her domestic staff, who were - would you believe - all "retired" Chinese pirates captured by the Royal Navy and serving their sentences as Cadet ship domestic staff. There was little doubt of their background as all of them were hideously mutilated from much cutlass fighting, with divers missing bits - ears were commonly missing as were nose tips cut back to the bone and, of course fingers galore, AWOL. After that mere scars seemed quite trivial! Yes,Gina, I do remember Sister Mary Aquinas, Sister Theresa, Sister Mary of Mercy - the intrepid footballer - and Sister Mary Agnes, a very old nun who was the boy's "mother", who made sure we were all kept clean!
Mon Apr 21 10:54:22 2008

Chris Penney, Exeter
My mother comes from Bangor and she vividly remembers the RAF Coastal Command Catalina flying boats alighting on the Menai Straits for repair at the Beaumaris overhaul facility opposite. A recently published book Wings Across the Border details this aviation history of the area and having asked for it for Christmas she was then engrossed in it for the rest of festive season!
Wed Apr 16 09:39:50 2008

John Davies, Boston Lincs
our family moved to bangor in 1940, my father worked for the liverpool victoria approved soc who rented treborth hall for the duration of the war. we lived at gwenalt and the garden ran to the railway enbankment. steam engines numbers was our hobby. it was a very busy station and yards.

i remember the yanks marching up the road from the station and i said 'any gum chum' and a guy said no but i have some candy.

the horses used to come from the station in strings of about 10 on way to the horse fair at menai bridge, the ferry used to go from the end of the pi! er when the tide was low so we had to walk a long way to board it. the flying boats were moored in the straits and the conway training ship was also there but was destroyed by fire.

my sister was 4 years older than me and took me to sat pictures and trips to bangor mountain, which often was on fire due to children setting the gorse alight.

we returned to croydon after the war but sadly my nephew and i will in a couple of weeks make the final journey to menai bridge to scatter my sister's ashes where she and i spent many happy time togther during the war.
Wed Apr 9 12:13:42 2008

Gina (Pugh) Hequembourg Dawsonville Ga USA
Graham - my family was at St Gerards Convent during the war. We lived in Liverpool and were evacuated to Wales for safety. My sisters Sheila, Pamela and myself attended St Gerards convent as boarders for our entire school lives. I have lots of memories of the nuns and the dormitories and walking into town to go to church down the lane. The fields we would play in. Do you remember Sister Mary Aquinus?
Wed Jan 23 08:52:25 2008

Jim Menlove
I spent many months in Bangor between 1940 and 1944 living with my mother and sister in the home of my grandparents Seth and Bertha Randall. I did not experience any of the prejudice which plagued Graham but that was no doubt because,even though very English, everyone knew my Welsh family, the Randalls. I was Ada's son and I assume now that is why I had better experiences. My father Bert Menlove had come from England in 1929 to play football for Bangor City and had met my mother then. I was born in 1930 in a tiny stone house with dirt floors on 22 Waterloo St.

I remember the nois! e of the Catalinas taking off from the straits on their way for ocean patrols and the MTBs stationed nearby. Once my sister and I were given a short ride in one, no doubt totally against regulations.

I spent many hours on "the mountain" to which we climbed up a narrow path between the houses. Other times were by the sea shore gathering winkles to take home for tea.
Thu Mar 15 10:04:23 2007

Theatre memories
Theatr Gwynedd

Last updated: 25 November 2008
The curtain fell on the stage at Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor, for the final time in October 2008. Theatre director Dafydd Thomas shares his memories - and we'd like to hear yours.

My first job here was as head of house in 1977, then deputy manager and finally theatre director, so I've been here for years. I was actually here during the first ever performance on January 1, 1975, Pwyll Gwyllt, and I hope to be here for the last ever show on October 18.

We'll be finishing with a production by Showzone, a company who give children from Objective One areas the chance to perform. They've made great use of our facilities, as have local school pupils, and I think they'll greatly miss us when we're closed.

The school halls round here just aren't the same; there's nothing to beat having the experience of performing on a real theatre stage, but absolutely no provision has been made for this and so groups like Showzone will be back to practising in their chapel vestry.

The people of Bangor will definitely suffer until the new arts centre is built, but that won't be for another four years at the very least.

The best of the Welsh acting establishment have performed at Theatr Gwynedd - John Ogwen, Jo Roberts, Maureen Rhys and Dewi Humphreys. David Jason also came here early in his career to appear in a play called Charlie's Aunt.

Our own production company, Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd, was created in 1986 and I recall their first production, O Law i Law, which went down to great reviews. They also did a stage version of the TV show C'mon Midffild which was brilliant - it's always great to see a theatre full of people laughing.

Theatr Gwynedd audience Unfortunately, they decided to separate the theatre from the production company in 2003, which put an end to Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd.

A number of comedians have been here over the years - Jack Dee, Jeremy Hardy - and we've had singers like Rick Wakeman and Ralph McTell.

The university have made good use of us too, putting on musicals like Joseph, Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof.

Theatr Gwynedd isn't a very big place. There were plans to build a second stage and practice rooms, but the funding ran out. So our backstage area is so small the technicians have often had to bring sets in from a van in the car park because there just isn't the space to store them. But our backstage staff do have a reputation of being the most professional and versatile in Wales.

Many actors have told me how much they love performing at Theatr Gwynedd because you're that much closer to the audience of 350. The acoustics are good and the actors are on a great eyeline with those watching.

Not everything has gone smoothly though. We once had a leak in the roof - I'm sure the audience had no idea there were lots of buckets backstage to catch the water!

And many performers have been late because of the trains and had to run on stage at the last minute. But we've only cancelled shows once, during the strikes of the 1970s when we didn't have any electricity to go on.

It's been fun working here. The fact that so many of the core staff have been here for years speaks volumes. It will be very sad when we close for the last time, especially as there's nothing to replace us. Dafydd Thomas

View some photos of past productions.

your comments

Kevin Myers, Cardiff
As a member of the University-based amdram group SODA I was lucky enough to perform in a professional theatre for the first time in Theatr Gwynedd, and what a thrill it was. I went on to appear on that stage many more times, and even went on to direct two shows there. Wonderful memories, making the demise of Theatr Gwynedd a sad day indeed for me and for countless others.
Wed Oct 15 11:33:12 2008

Melfyn, Llandudno Junction
When I was a student I worked at Theatr Gwynedd for a year as an usher/interval ice cream seller and therefore got to see lots of productions and films for free. My personal highlight was a summer production of Educating Rita with Robert "High Hopes" Blythe and Jacquetta May, despite having to sit through it many times. I also enjoyed Hwyl a Fflag's "Newid Aelwyd", but please don't make me sit through Robert De Niro's film "The Mission" ever again!
Thu Oct 2 16:13:11 2008

Sam Roberts from Wales
Don't close the theatre down as it been there since the 70s and it's the only good thing about Bangor. Many people's careers have started there.
Fri Sep 26 15:33:08 2008

Robert Roberts
Theatr Gwynedd is a significant performance space at the heart of Bangor University life. Why close it down?
Fri Sep 26 15:32:06 2008

Evaviv, Tywyn
Great article, but what a pity it has to close!My daughter, who is a professional actress, singer and dancer, was sorry to hear this, having performed there in the early 90s in Little Shop of Horrors and would love to attend a Gala Night if they have planned to have one. Best wishes to all at Theatre Gwynedd.
Fri Sep 26 09:02:42 2008

Kath, BBC web team
Memorable performances at Theatr Gwynedd for me have included George Melly, Ted Hughes, Rich Hall, and Mid Wales Opera who got me interested in opera for the first time.
Wed Sep 24 14:41:10 2008

[Andrea Merry nee French]

"Ken Owen
Does anyone remmember Jack French barbers at the bottom of the High Street and the Vauxhall garage opp, where the Jobcentre is now. It used to be a hardware store. A bit higher up was the County record shop, next door to the old Strand cafe on the corner of Dean Street opp Perfecta cleaners.
Mon Jun 23 10:02:26 2008"


To Ken Owen
Jack French was my great grandfather. I am happy to be carrying on his profession as a barber (though in Hitchin Herts)
My grandmother (Jack's daughter in law) lives in Penlon Gardens and many of  her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in Bangor.


Elfed Jones, Anglesey
Does anybody remember a street or area in Bangor called Park Hill? I have a family snuff box with the name Fox Park Hill Bangor circa 1909.
Wed Aug 5 10:33:35 2009

Patricia Duffy (nee Owen)
Reply to McDerwen: Dickens did stay at the Harp Inn many times when passing through Bangor. The Harp Inn was my home until I married in 1955.The room that Charles Dickens stayed in, with its little window over looking the yard, became my bedroom. I slept in the four poster bed Charles Dickens would have occupied at that tme, until I was nine or 10 years old.There were two Dickens busts and some beautiful leather-bound books. I spent many hours reading all those wonderful stories. I hadn't realised how privileged I was then!I recently visited the Dickens Museum in London, at Doughty Street, where he once lived with his family. Well worth a visit.When my father Robert Owen sold the business some years later he returned all the items mentioned to Ind Coop & Allsopps Brewery.
Mon Jul 20 11:21:22 2009

Marinda, Bangor
Whilst all these reminisences of Bangor are thought-provoking for a bygone age, are any of these people willing to support the development of Bangor and the Hirael Bay area? Bangor is in a very sad place at the moment and needs all the support people can give. It is just a matter of time before Bangor disappears under new developments not suited to Bangor and its residents and even more student accommodation. What about homes for locals? Yes, we want to progress and make Bangor a city residents and visitors can be proud of and enjoy, but it all needs careful planning, not just keep throwing things up in the air and keep building flats for students. Bangor is turning into one huge campus. The new parking on the High Street is a nightmare. I have witnessed large wagons mounting the pavements, almost scraping the shop windows to get by vans and delivery lorries in the new parking areas. God help anyone walking out of a shop into one of these wagons. This will also, in time, destroy all the new footpaths and kerbstones recently laid. If you want to help Bangor return to its former glory and move on to bigger and better things, don't just dwell on the past, have input in the future. Read about the plans for the development of Hirael Bay, join support groups, voice your opinion. Don't let Bangor fade away.
Tue May 5 10:26:35 2009

Lou Kennedy
Does 5 Back Edmund Street, Bangor, still exist? It was the home of my wife's family in 1900-1910.
Mon Mar 23 09:58:47 2009

Ramiro Jauregui from Bolivia
I would like to know more of the celtic missionary Deiniol. Is he related to Columcille and Columbanus?Many thanks
Tue Feb 17 09:25:12 2009

carl pritchard bangor
Does anyone know where Brick or Rock Street were in Bangor please?
Thu Feb 12 09:23:16 2009

arfon griffiths from bangor
in reply to 'where was club street', club st was in hirael,it ran from ambrose st to orme road,at the ambrose st end the mostyn pub,still there, club st demolished now flats for the elderly.
Mon Feb 2 09:52:54 2009

mervyn jones(miron) bangor
in answer about davy cale - yes i remember him very well. i lived around the corner in strand st. it was a magical place to visit and the smell stayed with me forever. heavy canvas and all kinds of ropes. i also bought my first house off mr cale at robert st in hirael. a marvellous character and will always be a big part of hirael.
Mon Dec 22 09:54:56 2008

Yvonne Williams, Crewe.
For Michelle Horrocks. I was born & brought up in Bangor & my first boyfriend's father, Mr Lord, managed the British Hotel for some years around 1946 right into the late 50s. It was privately owned I recall. Mr Lord's son [now 80] lives in Bedfordshire & he knows a great deal about the history of the hotel.
Mon Dec 8 09:40:50 2008

norah malik Birmingham
Can anyone tell me where Club Street was located in Bangor.
Mon Nov 3 10:52:02 2008

Kwesi Hughes, London
For Simon Smith. Thank you very much indeed. I will be in touch as soon as possible. The name 'Mrs Evans' does ring a bell, although my (possibly mis-firing) synapses are insisting on 'Miss' Evans. I already had some of the other details which you give within my recall (:)), and it's amusing to feel an incipient blush beginning to take over my face... and the little chuckle that the misconception that darker people don't blush (we do, but it's just not so easily-visible) gives to me, prompts one final anecdote about Mr. Ellis Jones of blessed memory.

One day at assembly, Mr. Jones asked a group of us to divide between those with Welsh surnames and those with English surnames, to play some game which I don't recall. I hesitated on two counts - I'd always 'hung out' with Malcolm Love, as we were both Londoners, and, well, I knew that I was black. I whispered to Malcolm "Where shall I go?'" and he said "Come with me," but Mr. Ellis said "No - Kwesi; go over there with the others with Welsh names!." There's no other way to say this - I marvelled, really, and it was quite a Eureka moment for a child like me, in terms of recognising the fluidity and criss-crossing of identities which can subvert that which is apparently 'obvious' to all. I could no more forget Mr. Ellis Jones than I could stop breathing. Thanks, BBC, for the opportunity to reminisce and to reflect like this.
Mon Sep 8 09:57:21 2008

Simon Smith, North Wales
For Kwesi Hughes: I well remember your family and particularly you and your brother Kobina at Vaynol. I was also heavily influenced by Ellis Jones and your memory accords with mine of this exceptional man. The elegant teacher you are referring to is probably Mrs Evans (who remarried during my time at Vaynol and became Mrs George)and the Kathleen is almost certainly Kathleen Holton who is now a teacher at a school on Anglesey. If you contact me via North Wales Fire Service HQ I will send you a copy of a Vaynol class photograph (unfortunately you're not on it though)
Fri Aug 15 09:24:52 2008

Naomi Rogers, ACT
To Linda - I attended Hirael School for 6mths in 1977 whilst my father was on sabbatical at Bangor Uni. We came from Australia. I remember the ornothologist club, and Miss Parry my teacher shouting at me in Welsh when I had never heard welsh before. I was only 6, but would love to go back and see if what I remember is at all accurate.
Mon Aug 4 09:30:05 2008

ian gadd formerly llandudno presently aberystwyth
I wonder if anyone recalls davy cale the last sailmaker, certainly in north wales. My sister and I stayed often with uncle davy and aunty blodwen when we were kids. also, does anyone remember lizzie twr who lived in one of the towers of penrhyn castle?
Wed Jul 30 09:17:56 2008

Chris Bailey, Middlesbrough
My great, great, grandfather Thomas Bailey lived in the town between 1839 and 1849 with his family. Thomas, of Irish descent, was a hairdresser and had come down from Liverpool with his wife Anne, who was born in that city. They had 6 children , four of whom were born in Bangor. This site has explained much about the boom years and possibly why Thomas decided to ply his trade there. I must try to visit the town one day.
Thu Jul 24 09:44:55 2008

Gayner Haynes, London
Message to Nikola Lewis, Bangor. Thanks for the information about my great Aunt at Central School. I did not even know she had a bike as I thought she actually drove a car. Does your Mother remeber anything else about her or about her friendship with your great Aunty Kitty?
Mon Jul 14 10:16:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
I well remember all of these Ken. I bought my first car from that very garage! It later became a branch of Kwik Save, at which my mother used to shop. The County Record Shop had been in Dean Street, a few doors down from Pentir-Williams, the radio and TV shop. The shop in the High Street it later occupied had been a gents' outfitters - Muir's.
Tue Jun 24 09:12:02 2008

Ken Owen
Does anyone remmember Jack French barbers at the bottom of the High Street and the Vauxhall garage opp, where the Jobcentre is now. It used to be a hardware store. A bit higher up was the County record shop, next door to the old Strand cafe on the corner of Dean Street opp Perfecta cleaners.
Mon Jun 23 10:02:26 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
During the Second World War, Bangor, too, had its Moorside equivalent. It was that large estate perched above the City upon a rocky promontory off Ffriddoedd Road and always referred to - locally - as Abyssinia. It was widely held that the inhabitants were all heathen and give to such uncivilised habits as not knowing what baths were for and using them to store coal instead so, although the term "Sink Estate" had not been invented yet, that was how the unfortunate resident sof Abyssinia were regarded by their fellow citizens ! By contrast, the vast Maesgeirchen council estate, I recall%2! C always enjoyed rather higher regard and enjoyed some fame due to Tommy Handley always calling it Mice Gherkin in his ITMA broadcasts.
Fri Apr 25 10:32:22 2008

McDerwen,Bangor
It is said that Charles Dickens stayed in the harp inn in Bangor,during his time as a reporter.
Mon Apr 21 11:01:32 2008

Dave ex Bangorian
In reply to John , when I was a lad, the Debenhams site was a large shop called WARTSKIS ......far too pricey for my parents, so, unfortunately I never got to go in !
Mon Mar 3 13:16:45 2008

john bangor
Could anybody tell me what the Debenham shop in the High St was originally. Thanks!
Mon Feb 25 09:37:18 2008

Nikola Lewis, Bangor
Message for Gaynor Haynes, my mother remembers your Great Aunt who taught her at Central School between 1948 and 1952(known then as Deiniol Secondary Modern School). My mother remembers that she always wore a dark coloured beret and rode a 'sit up and beg' bicycle to school. She lived on Garth Road opposite the swimming pool. She was also great friends with my great Aunt Kitty Doherty and continued to write to her when she emigrated to Canada.
Fri Feb 8 11:14:29 2008

Gayner Haynes London
Does anyone remember or know anything about Miss Kathleen Burns who taught at the Central School during the period of World War 2? She was my great aunt. She had two sisters who were also teachers in Bangor. Sadly, there is no longer anyone who can tell me about these members of my family.
Tue Jan 22 14:05:14 2008

Michelle Horrocks from Manchester
Does anybody know when I can get information on the British Hotel, Bangor? I have traced back my family tree and my gran's gran worked there as staff for some royal, trying to trace down who the royal was at this time, it would have been around 1891, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mon Jan 21 09:30:38 2008

Shirley Crowther Wilkinson
I am looking for information & pictures of the Glanadda Inn. I have just found out my G.G.Grandfather was the Inn keeper.
Tue Jan 8 09:09:21 2008

Sidney Whitaker, Bangor
For Carl of Llangaffo: (just spotted your enquiry about Telford. I understand he stayed at the George Hotel, now developed into the "George Site" of Bangor University. It is on the Menai Strait shore, opposite Menai Bridge. From the Strait you may still see traces of the name painted on the wall. The chair he workd from is in the Museum.
Mon Oct 22 10:14:47 2007

C Evans M/B
Re: Kwesi Hughes, Dec 12 2006. Ellis Jones was the Headmaster at Vaynol Primary and there was definitely a twinkle in his eyes. He was my grandfather and the loveliest man. I was very lucky to have gone to Vaynol whilst he was still there, along with my brother, sister and cousins.
Tue Aug 28 09:02:59 2007

Eluned Nauman (nee Jones) San Bernardino, CA, USA
The George Hotel is along the Menai Straits and can be accessed from Holyhead Road. It is now used by the college for students. My grandfather was the inn-keeper and my mom was born in the little house at the top of the road going down to the former George Hotel. Many members of the Royal Family used to stay there in the early 1900s. I did have a photo of the George Hotel but not sure where it is now. If you go to the pier in Menai Bridge you can look directly across the Menai Straits and see the George Hotel.
Thu May 24 09:24:47 2007

carl from llangaffo
I was recently following up the history of the old rail network and read a chapter about Thomas Telford staying at the George Hotel. Can anyone tell me which building this is?
Wed May 23 09:34:02 2007

John Roberts - France
For John Cowell - I'm presuming you're ex-UCNW & kept goal for the 1st ll during the time of Woosnam, Glyn Owen, Nev Pope & Nice Griffiths - if so could you tell me whatever happened to the Combined Normal/UCNW side Peritus - I still have the tie somewhere!I took over writing the Varsity Sports columns from you in 1953/4 for The Chronicle, NW Weekly News and the Daily Post. I also kept goal after you left, whenever Williams was away playing for Wrexham, Man City or elsewhere.
Tue May 8 09:59:08 2007

Gwyneth Brindley - Bangor
For B. Littlewood, Mossley, Lancashire. The Ship & Castle Inn was situated at 127 High Street and the building is now home to a quality clothes shop (Jo Potts). A friend of mine tells me that the surname Parry is on his mother's side of the family and that his g-g-grandmother was the licensee of the pub at one time.
Mon Feb 26 09:53:22 2007

Muhammad Azree from Malaysia
My father studied for his Phd in Bangor and we spent 4 years there from 1991-1994 which was pretty much my childhood. I attended Cae Top School and still remember Mr. McBride. I also studied at Friars Secondary School in Bangor. All in all, it was a wonderful small city with panoramic views. Hope to keep in touch with friends there if they still remember me.
Mon Jan 29 10:43:50 2007

Anne Roberts nee Williams
Re John Glyn: John mentioned Garth School and Mr Williams telling the class stories about pet snails. John goes on to say that Mr Williams should have published them. Well Mr Williams was Mr Ifor Wyn Williams, he was an author as well as a teacher. He later became a headmaster he won the Prose Medal in the National Eisteddfod in Bangor in 1971 with his historic novel about Gruffith ap Cynan called "Gwres or Gorllewin." I was his partner and sole mate and during our time together he wrote his last novel while dying of cancer, this was in parts an autobiography of his early childhood, and he tells stories about the two boys and the snails that John Glyn refers to in this book. The book is in the Welsh language and called "Lon Gweunydd." Ironically he never saw the novel in print, it was published 3 years after his death by myself. I had promised him it would be published and it has sold well. I was thrilled to read John Glyn's comments about the school and the stories about the snails.
Tue Jan 2 09:48:41 2007

Shirley Wilkinson
I grew up on caernarvon road, we lived at 338 opposite the milk factory and then moved just behind to Bryn llwyd outside ferranti's, i can remember when it was Damlers, you would hear the hooter and hundreds of people would rush out with buses waiting to take them to various places, of course everyone has cars now. I remember the old laundry and the river adda behind where we would go tadpoling. How Caernarvon rd has changed, I believe a long time ago there was 3 pubs in glanadda, one was called the farmers arms.
Wed Dec 20 11:10:01 2006

John Leeming from Walthamstow
In reply to David Morris, the original BBC Theatre Organ in St George's Hall was destroyed in 1941. The BBC then acquired Reginald Foort's touring organ, and that was the instrument installed in Bangor. After the war it was re-installed in Hoxton, London, and served as the BBC Theatre Organ until about 1963, when it was sold and shipped to Holland. It has since moved a few more times, but is currently in Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. The BBC later acquired its third theatre organ, installed in Manchester, which lasted from about 1971 to 1990. For more theatre organ information, search for the Cinema Organs UK website.
Fri Jan 2 09:21:29 2009

Chris Duff in Ontario, Canada
A little bit off-topic, but my father Patrick Desmond went to the County Theatre, Bangor, in 1938 after directing plays for two seasons 1937-38 at Colwyn Bay. His friends Ayton Whitaker and his wife were running repertory at Bangor and he took with him Brian Brooke, Alan Bromly and my mother Ruita Dagmar. They all left Bangor in early 1939, I believe, for Crewe.Ayton Whitaker and Alan Bromly went on to have successful careers with the BBC and both were instrumental in producing the early Dr Who programmes.I would love to hear from Ellen Underwood in Sarasota and anyone else who may have knowledge of the County Theatre just prior to the War.
Wed Nov 26 09:24:08 2008

John Poole from Glan Conwy
I remember as a young teenager going to see a performance of Garrison Theatre at the Grand Theatre, Llandudno during the war years. Jack Warner (Mind my bike) was one of the principle artists, making his entrance by cycling through the theatre on his bike, also on the program was Elsie & Doris Waters. I did notice almost the whole audience were made up by the armed forces.
Thu Jun 19 09:33:14 2008

Mr Hilary Young, Bakewell
My parents, Kenway & Young, were among those entertainers based in Bangor. Their regular programme in the early 1940s would have been Howdy Folks, with a cast that included Eric Barker. I have only very slight memories - being about six at the time.I think that what you call the Light Entertainment Department was actually known as the Variety Department - reflecting how the BBC in the 1930s looked towards Variety (Music Hall) for its source of light entertainment. Certainly programmes were accompanied by the BBCVariety Orchestra.It had been in 1938/9 in anticipation of the War that the Government realised how important the BBC would be if conflict broke out. They had planned to move the Variety Department to Bristol, which city became a sort of entertainment capital - I remember being told that you bumped into stars on the street as they hastened from one church hall studio to another. Subsequently the heavy bombing of Bristol resulted in part of thedepartment being moved to Bangor. I assume that was in early 1941. Iguess that some of the programmes would have been recorded in Bangor on Sundays - with many of the entertainers who took part working on the Halls during the week.Is there any archive of that era held locally?
Thu Apr 17 13:21:41 2008

Ellen Underwood from Sarasota FL.
I was in Rep.in the County Theatre Bangor after the BBC left. Leo McKern of Rumpole of the Bailey (TV) fame was with the Co. 1945/46/47? Anne Cullen was an actress who went to London to work for the BBC in London. Ronald Grierson was the Director of the Rep. I live in Florida. Looking for any information, pictures or comments on people or theatre. TA!
Tue Nov 13 10:00:02 2007

Ifan Jones from Caernarfon
My great grandmother, Mrs. Ann Roberts of Talybont, was killed by a German bomb which was dropped on Maesgeirchen whilst the BBC were recording a programme at Bangor (Penrhyn Hall or the County Theatre) on 24 October 1941. She was caring for her daughter, Mrs Catherine Williams (Katie), who had just given birth to a baby daughter: Elizabeth.
Mon Sep 3 10:28:17 2007

Colin Charnley. from Preston Lancs
Is it true that the original BBC Theatre organ was destroyed by enemy action at its location in St Georges hall Portland Place? If so, what organ was in the Grand at Llandudno?
Fri Feb 9 09:07:25 2007

Robert Hartle
The BBC comandeered the Grand Theatre at Llandudno early in the war (I worked there as a projectionist and got the sack!) and the BBC Theatre Organ was installed there for use by Sandy Macpherson. He broadcasted to the troops overseas and called on members of the local area to include a message which they read out on air, my wife spoke to her brother in Egypt during one of his broadcasts. Happidrome and The Kentucky Minstrells were also broadcast from the Grand.
Sat Dec 3 20:27:59 2005

David Morris, Saltash, Cornwall .
Just had to get this to you folks. Our late father Harry Morris was a Studio Manager in Bangor on the ITMA team plus the otheR important shows during those turbulent times. I still have photos of Dad in the Control Room on the "desk". Dad and Mum (who spoke excellent Welsh)lived in Garth Road. Bangor. Dad after the war went on to be Senior Studio Manager at BH .London post war. He was responsible for the sound effects on the Goon Show as well back in the fifties.
Wed Nov 2 11:39:40 2005

Peter Williams from Delaware
Who can forget Tommy Handly and his cast of characters including Sam Fair fechen (which Tommy never could pronounce properly).
Mon Feb 14 22:48:00 2005

Eleri Rowlands from Neath
How lovely to read this piece. My mother, Katie Pugh was a secretary based at Bangor at this time. My father, Nimrod Pugh, who was a studio manager with the BBC was abroad with the army. My mother sat next to Sandy MacPhearson while he played Solemn Melody for Nimrod.
Fri Dec 19 17:19:43 2003

Graham Vine, Woking
Re the photograph at the head of your Broadcasting index. On the right is the great comedian, Tommy Handley, and on the left his principal ITMA support character actor, Jack Train, who created the parts of Colonel Chinstrap, the retired officer, and Funf, the incompetent German spy. I cannot imagine why the studio clock says 3.45 unless this was a studio script run-through, as the show always went out before a live audience in a prime-time evening slot every week. Another of Tommy's support acts was played by Fred Yule, an enormously fat actor who always played the part of Sophie Tuckshop, a little girl who was always eating far too much and feeling sick. His daughter, coincidentally, was a fellow pupil at St Gerard's Convent School. Although so many BBC shows were performed before a live audience at the County Theatre, right throughout the 39-45 War the illusion was kept up that they were actually being broadcast from the Paris Cinema in Lower Regent Street, London. Whether this was done to maintain British morale by pretending the stars hadn't evacuated to a place of comparative safety to avoid the London blitz or simply to deceive the Germans, I have often wondered. One Christmas season the ITMA team put on a pantomime with the title "Tom and the Beanstalk" which I attended with my parents. Dad had treated Mum and me to seats right at the front of the circle at the County Theatre. After the show had been going on for quite a while and I had been as tickled by it as much as everyone else, the audience was surprised when Tommy Handley stopped, advanced to the footlights and asked us all if we were enjoying the show - to which there were shouts of approval. "Well", said Tommy, "there's someone up there who hasn't laughed at all". He then pointed and, to my horror, I found he was pointing at me! Even worse, everyone else was staring at me as well. All my own fault as, at that age, I had a demeanour like a poker player and had sat with a poker-face all along. Tommy obviously knew how to work a live audience and was rather put out that he thought he wasn't getting through to me. This was certainly not true as he was one of my heroes and I thought him to be very funny. Every week I read my copy of a children's comic called "Radio Fun" and the Tommy Handley page was always my first read. I had never before felt so embarrassed as I was then and my face went a very deep red until Tommy resumed playing his part and everyone else stopped staring at me.
Wed Jun 10 15:26:20 2009

Alexander Neisig-Moller from Chesterfield
My parents attended Bangor University during the early 1980s and have managed to maintain contact with the place they called home for a good half a decade. They also resumed communication with their univerity collegues and every year they (all 100 plus people) are reunited in Bangor to socialise. Obviously I didn't go to Bangor University, though there is a certain magical feeling to the place possibly because of my parents' connection. The University and town itself are beautiful in their unique ways and consequently I love Bangor because of it.
Mon Aug 17 10:03:31 2009

B L-W
Great to hear that so many people stil love Bangor. Why not join together with the local councillors who are trying their best to rejuvenate Bangor City. Forget the credit crunch, bangor has never been on the high wages list, but that doesn't mean that the councillors do not need to listen to what you have to say. Maybe it's time for the councillors to make ammends. But it's also time we all moved on because our heart and soul is in Bangor and we owe it to each and every one of us who love Bangor to make it a great city once more.
Tue Apr 14 09:45:19 2009

Ian Palferman, Colwyn Bay
Being born in Bangor in 1942, I have very fond memories of the town, with my grandparents and later my Mum and Dad owning fruit shops at 362 High Street, (opposite Glyn House) and then 220 High Street, (opposite the Market). I went to Glanadda Infants, and later Friars School, leaving in 1960 to join the Police Force. Now retired and living in Colwyn Bay.
Wed Apr 8 09:15:19 2009

Chris Jones
I am a skinner through and through and grew up and lived in Gardd Denman. I have fond memories of walking with my Taid every Sunday to the pier or on Bangor mountain and playing then with my good mate Les Roberts in Afon Gegin or on donkey lane, Coed mawr. The City Cinema was great in my day. I joined the Army at 16, RWF. I am still working away after 34 years and have sttled down in my own house in Llanfairfchan. However when I am home I always visit Bangor as this is where my heart is.
Wed Apr 8 09:13:59 2009

Glyn from Bangor
Yes the demise of Woolworths was when they stopped selling broken biscuits. Its closing has really knocked the town.
Mon Jan 26 09:42:48 2009

B. L-W
Good to read Shirley Williams's comments and mention of her family. Terry and I were good friends, were in school together. My aunty and uncle lived across the road to them in Fountain Street and on Sundays, after church, I would call down to see my family, then out to meet up with Terry, have a chat go for a stroll around Hirael and the beach then back home, me to my auntie's for tea, Terry to his. I have visited Bangor recently, only to see the sad state of it. The "wonder of Woolies" gone, closed its doors for ever. No more sweets mix or foreign stamps to buy, dinky cars or just good old books and never costing much more than a tanner. Met up with Tammy Jones, the singer from Llandygai about four or five months ago, she is living in Oz or N.Z. Hasn't forgotten her Welsh and still talks about Bangor with the fondest memories. Despite what some would say about Bangor, a city of doom and gloom and only fit for students, I for one still think a great deal of Bangor, my birth place and the truly great people who lived there and the ones that still live in Bangor City. It was once great, is great, and will be GREAT once more for all of us, we all belong to Bangor, it's our City.
Mon Jan 19 09:38:15 2009

Ian Williams, Hernando, Fl. USA
To Shirley Williams, My great grandmother Maryanne Edwards lived at 34 Fountain St Hirael. I used to play around there in the 1950s. I hung out with the the Lewis Brothers who also lived in Fountain St. Mrs Jones used to own the chip shop in Fairview. I left for the US in 1961. I have been back from time to time. Still love waking around Hirael and Bangor.
Tue Nov 25 09:32:40 2008

Shirley Williams from Canada
I used to live in Hirael in the early 50s and left in the 60s. I have lots of wonderful memories of Hirael. I used to live Fountain St. Does anyone remember the chippie at the corner of Fair View, I used to get a bag of crimps for about 6 pence.Also, I played at 'Pen-y-Bryn park' the beach, Dickie's Yard, it was safer then, we used to play until the street lights came on.I had two brothers, Bobby and Terry, Bobby passed away three years ago. Thanks for waking up some great memories.
Mon Nov 17 10:46:33 2008

Gabriele Ortiz (nee Clark), Philadelphia, PA USA
I spent a nine-day break from the University of Notre Dame's London Programme relaxing in Bangor. I have very pleasant memories of that time in the Fall of 1991. I enjoyed walking around the town, going to the movies with the B&B owner's daughter and just taking in the beautiful sights. The people were extremely welcoming as well.
Mon Oct 27 10:13:10 2008

Kath Pinion, Bangor
If you want a good pint and a friendly pub go to the Nelson Sportsmans and the Skerries.You will be made welcome.
Mon Oct 20 09:17:05 2008

Cadi Jones, Bangor
I love the hills, trees and Afon Cegin. I have many friends and met my favourite man TimTim after he did the Anglesey Marathon in Sept 08. Bangor rocks. I also love Amser nightclub. King Kong Karaoke is cool too.
Thu Oct 16 09:22:28 2008

Jackson Christine, London
I was born and brought up in Bangor and grew up in Maesgeirchen, went to Our Lady's Catholic School on Caernarfon road. I then attended Central School and left there at 15 for Glynllifon College outside Caernarfon. Later I went to work in Siliwen Baths, then Colwyn Bay Zoo. I try to go back to Bangor as often as I can. It's changed so much since I grew up there and not for the better - lots of areas look run down. I remember playing in the old chocolate factory in Llandegai when I was a kid and making a raft on the river at Bishops Mill.
Tue Sep 30 14:42:06 2008

mervyn jones, hirael
So many great memories of Bangor, especially as a small boy in the 1950s - adventures round every corner.I lived in Strand St by the beach, Parc Bach up the road, Dickies the other side, then Bangor mountain.The most important thing was that it was so safe. Happy days, but unfortunately it seems no one cares any more about the history of Bangor, so many changes, flooded with student accommodation and cheap shops, traffic is chaotic.Surely the council can see what Bangor is turning into, not a pretty sight and it saddens me a great deal.A place of natural beauty with the pier, the straits, wonderful mountains as a backdrop. Why did it end up like this?
Tue Sep 23 12:30:51 2008

Glyn Jones ex Coed Mawr
What a brilliant time as children playing in the woods at coed mawr, walks round perfeddgoed, walking across brewery fields to menai bridge, and sometimes a visit to the the pier. So glad the money was spent to repair it. There are seats there dedicated to Mam and Dad and to Gareth my younger brother. I enjoyed my time living in bangor.
Fri Sep 19 09:40:45 2008

Sue Hyde (nee Roberts)
I was born in Snowdon View Upper Bangor and Went to Cae Top school in 64, then the Girls Grammer for 1 year then Ffriddoedd Lower and Upper Schools and on to Tech. I moved away in 1982 with my then fiance. I have fond memories of Pen Bonc,Roman Camp Ashley Fields Bangor beach and mountains. It all seemed to easy then, no worries, able to come and go be able to walk up Glanrafon Hill without puffing and panting. I don't get back often and the few times I have things have changed so much, everywhere seems so dirty - don't know if it's just childhood memories always better than the real%! 20thing? I love Bangor and North Wales and so miss the scenery. I cannot speak welsh fluently can only remember the odd words but occasionally put S4C on the tv just to hear welsh being spoken!
Thu Aug 21 09:16:47 2008

Silvia Cryan, Buenos Aires
I lived in North Wales from 2001 to 2003 and my daughter Annie was born in Ysbyty Gwynedd so I have loads of memories from a very emotional time, having your first (and only) baby. Although we used to live in Caernarfon, Bangor offered more entertainment. I fell in love with the views of Menai Strait, Y Felinheli, the marina. I used to work as a temp in many construction companies, and I even worked as a extra in a Welsh soap opera called Egstra (Xtra) or something like that! Today I found out the aluminium company I worked for as a pregnant woman was ablaze and it made me sad. Fortunately nobody seems to have been injured. Thanks to all the people that helped me and I never had the chance to thank (specially Sandra from Cefn Cadnant and the two midwives that delivered my baby). Diolch yn fawr!
Fri Jun 13 09:19:34 2008

John Griffith from Mold
Looking through these messages brings back floods of memories! Born in 1940 in the old County Hospital (where PC World now stands) I was raised and lived in Bangor until I married in 1963. My early childhood was in Orme Road and schooling at Hirael Infants and Garth. My father Llew was manager of Briggs shoe shop and was an ardent Bangor City supporter. I have the very flag that was taken to the epic match in Naples in 1962(?). From 1950 until 1963 I lived in Toronnen, Coed Mawr, and remember many of the places and people mentioned elsewhere. Went to the "old" Friars School (anyone remember the old "Boss", Ivor Williams?). School friends included David Newing, Tim Jones Griffiths, Mervyn Hughes. A sad memory is the loss of HMS Conway - we ran through Menai Woods from school after hearing it had run aground. At first it didn't look too serious, but within a day or two it was obvious that its back was broken. It would be good to hear from others with similar memories.
Mon Jun 9 09:42:06 2008

Gareth Williams
Eleri, I also remember playing in Coed Mawr and the woods opposite. It was such an adventure back then when we would walk for miles and miles with no fear. I also remember playing in the old railway tunnel on the old Bangor Caernarfon line. It was so scary and spooky deep in that tunnel. And of course the fantastic rope swings in the woods. Great days! I lived in Pen-y-Wern where my Mam still lives. I now live in Lincoln, but still love coming home to see Mam and the family and friends. I will alwys be a Bangor Lad.
Mon Jun 2 09:56:25 2008

Eddie Davies, Coed Mawr
Just read the comments of Glyn.G; they brought back many memories of my childhood in Coed Mawr (1958-1976) before joining the RAF.Afon Adda - netting sticklebacks and falling in the river, Coed Mawr woods - exploring the surrounding country as far as Rhiwlas, playing football in the field below the swings facing Bangor laundry; happy days. As children we explored the woods and countryside without a fear in the world, how lucky we were.My parents still live in Coed Mawr, and so my children have had the fortune to vist Bangor and Gwynedd.
Mon May 19 10:12:51 2008

Graham Howard, Portland, Oregon
I was a student in Bangor from 1973-1976 and stayed on throughout 1977. I totally fell in love with the place and Northwest Wales. Been back to visit several times and each time the place seems to have gotten worse; more and more rundown, and where there were lovely walks around Bangor Mountain there is now a golf course! The bypass along the North coast has destroyed places like Llanfairfechan and Penmanmawr, and seems to have affected Bangor too. I have wonderful memories of Bangor, but if I went back to North Wales to live now I think it would be somewhere other than Bangor itself.
Mon May 12 09:48:19 2008

Hannah, Bangor
Why did she get so freaked out? It was only a picture, and by the way, ghosts or three-headed dogs are just a load of rubbish. Bangor's a fine place and there are no weird things about Wales.
Fri Apr 24 16:28:55 2009

Judy-Jane of Cumbria.
When I lived at St Mary's hall from 2003-2005 I heard heaps of ghost stories, mostly about the now closed Barlows hall. However I did see some spooky stuff in the JCR. Mostly a figure kneeling on the huge pool table. Sort of see through like an "invisible man" in a movie. It felt really dense there. Also, has anyone else seen the man in the grey jumper outside Greek Taverna? Mum and I saw him sitting next to me and thought nothing of it 'till he vanished.
Thu Apr 9 09:10:29 2009

Jack from Bangor
A few years ago, me and a friend were walking through the bible gardens after a night out in 'The Old Glan' when all of a sudden, my friend started running! The Cathedral was in darkness (as you would expect in the early hours of the morning) but we could hear someome playing the organ! Really spooky.
Mon Feb 16 09:37:34 2009

Marian Hughes, Manchester
On Siliwen Road there are two white houses on the left hand side where the turning for the old sea baths is. Rumour has it that the first white house is haunted and that spooky apparitions can be seen late at night.
Tue Jan 13 09:19:34 2009

Karen, Hampshire
I am currently staying in Bangor at the Eryl Mor Hotel. My room looks over the sea and I can just see the end of a house. Every time I look out of the window I see a man standing by the gate looking up at me. I am aware this man is not living and is a spirit or ghost. I would date him round about 1930s due to the clothes he is wearing. I am part of a paranormal group in Hampshire. I have many photos of spirits and UFOs, which is my area of study. I would also be grateful if anyone can enlighten me on the area I am staying in.
Tue Sep 30 16:35:11 2008

Sonja from Lewes
When I was about 7 or 8 I used to live in Orme Road, Bangor, and there was a ghost that used to visit the houses there. He used to come every couple of years and he wore a yellow macintosh and hat and apparently he was a fisherman who died at sea about 80 years ago now. He had a string of girlfiends, hence him coming back every couple of years just to see if they still lived there. My mum couldn't go into my bedroom without the hairs standing on the back of her neck, but it didn't bother me, he often used to come into my room and just stand there at the end of my bed!
Thu Sep 18 14:29:22 2008

Hannah from Liverpool
Isn't there a legend in the house near Tan-y-Bryn (the one with the 3 headed dog?) My mate scared me soft when I was there so I wouldn't walk past in the dark got a taxi! Unfortunately he didn't know the whole story, so if anyone can fill me in I'd be so grateful.
Wed Aug 6 09:44:49 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
my grandfather saw a ghost on allt marchogian in the middle of the road(this would be in the 1940s). Allt Marchogion is on the old a55 between the entrance to Penrhyn Castle and the Tal Y Bont turnoff
Mon Jun 16 10:37:47 2008

gwyn hughes,bangor
Also reputed to be haunted was the old dairy on Carnarfon Road (demolished in the late 1960s,the site later become a Kwik Save store.
Mon Jun 16 10:37:25 2008

Iris, Maesgeirchen, Bangor
i was hoping to hear from people who have had strange experiences in their home - unexplained noises, shadows etc, especially in maesg area, or bangor itself. Could the member of the paranormal society please reply, as i would like to share my experiences and those of my family and friends.
Tue Mar 4 10:25:41 2008

Harry Swettenham Bangor
That comment is freaky - i have heard some freaky things about Bangor but nothing like that!
Tue Mar 4 10:18:29 2008

IAN WESTWOOD FROM BANGOR
i am new to this site but was interested in the letter about a figure showing up on a photo.quite a few people have dismissed this so what about my story.a few years ago,at the height of the polaroid camera craze,i bought a black and white polaroid camera.i took it home and put in the film pack and took a picture of the room to see the quality of the pictures.imagine my feelings as i watched the picture develop in front of my eyes and a figure of a woman took shape!i was by myself in the house so how would anyone explain this.unfortunately the picture has been lost during one of my moves,but i can! absolutely swear to the authencity of this story.
Thu Feb 28 09:50:21 2008

iris westwood maesgeirchen
i have been interested in spiritual happenings from a young age,and have had many experiences of the paranormal,i was born in maes g,moved at the age of 17,and returned 5 yrs ago. I have had loads of things happening in my house,dark shadows at the corner of the eye,my dogs staring at something i cannot see,following the invisible thing,done recordings through the night,and have had voices,a little girl calling out mum,and much more,i beleive there are spirits all around us,they do some things,to get our attention, i have dreams that come true.
Wed Feb 27 09:55:08 2008

Matt Down South
My dad worked in the Marine Sciences lab in Menai Bridge (Cae Mair?) in the early 70s. While I used to think it was spooky and said so - much to my parents' and their friends' hilarity - on a few occasions, I never saw or heard anything spectral. I remember a friend of my mum's chuckling and saying: "Ooh yes, the ghost of Cae Mair! - snort - How lovely! - chuckle." As for the Roman Fort in Bangor, I spent many a happy post-pub evening 'carousing' there, but sadly never saw any legionaires. I did get a bad hayfever attack though.
Fri Feb 8 12:42:29 2008

Ernest Alan Gildersleve London
John of Shrewsbury: I had an unexplained happening at Bangor Youth hostel. I am a fire alarm maintenance technician. I was staying at the Bangor YHA and one night I was awakened by the fire bells giving a short sharp ring. No one seemed to notice it so I went walking around to see if there really was a fire somewhere, but all was deserted and I could not find the warden but the buzzer was still buzzing on the control panel, so I reset it. Now this cannot happen because these alarms cannot be stopped without someone pressing the reset button, whereupon the buzzer starts until the fire calling button or smoke detector is found but this one had sounded the alarm, cancelled itself and left the buzzer going! When I pressed the reset button everything went back to normal! There were no further alarms. How can the bells have given one short ring with no fire? Once started they cannot be stopped without visiting the control panel and no one else was awake! The warden had not even heard the bells, so short was the ring!
Tue Jan 8 13:47:45 2008

ernest alan gildersleve
I once created a very convincing ghost photo in a holiday chalet. I under exposed a photo of a boy reading a ghost story book and then without moving anything another boy eith a sheet over his head came and stood in front of the first boy and I took another under exposed photo.It came out as a boy reading a ghost book with a transparent ghost in front of him.
Fri Oct 12 09:17:20 2007

Jill, Bangor
Why should Julie have to prove anything to anyone? They saw what they saw and it freaked them out enough to want to be rid, simple as. What if gohosts are real? We constantly ignore that we're spirit as well as body, the spirit universe may be close enough for occasional overlaps or freaky moments.
Tue Jul 3 09:17:26 2007

London
Doesn't sound like a true story to me, you wouldn't throw the picture away, it would be worth a fortune if proven genuine!With regard to Vic Larman's message concerning the ghost at the Marine Science Labs in Menai Bridge, it was supposed to be an appearance of an old lady poking a fire in one of the old rooms that was converted. I went in there late one night in the dark with my dad (I was about 14 at the time) to see if anything appeared. The biggest fright I got was when he went out and shut the door on me on purpose!Thanks Dad! Oh yes, his name was Vic Larman too. How spooky.
Fri Jun 22 10:55:21 2007

Kate Bowers
I will be staying at Bangor in Sept in the Emrys Evans hall. Does anyone know of anything spooky happening there? I'm quite interested in ghost stories.
Mon Jun 18 09:35:59 2007

Bezza Australia
Many years ago (Mid sixties) when my parents ran the Globe pub in Upper Bangor, I was walking my dog on the old roman encampment site and saw a roman soldier. I wasn't spooked, but my dog was!
Mon Jun 11 10:07:45 2007

dylan fernley
no mention of the waterloo ghost yet? occasionally throws stuff about, inhabits the first alcove allegedly. used to work on deiniol centre myself - definitely a "cold" area.
Mon Jun 4 09:31:23 2007

lisa and craig
is it true that the old st davids hospital is haunted, and do you hear babies crying?
Mon May 14 11:01:44 2007

Kirstin O'Direain, Bangor
Where in the deiniol centre is it supposed to be haunted? Me and my housemate both work in the centre and we haven't experienced anything spooky.
Wed Apr 18 10:01:02 2007

john/shrewsbury
i went to the youth hostel in bangor and it was scarey because there is lots of scary paintings and stuff but at night is the worst - i heard screaming in the hallway and it's weird. i thought it was a classmate trying to scare everyone but no one was there so i slept on the top bunk so nothing could get me.
Mon Jan 8 09:48:07 2007

Ceri williams from Llanberis
People say that there's a ghost sitting on the wall somewhere in Beddgelert and Anti Nerys and Mr Fretwell who works in the school says that they have seen it and the story is that the girl fell off the wall into the hole and she died and she's been sitting there ever since. Spooky!
Thu Dec 28 10:58:49 2006

L.Williams, Old Colwyn
John Sullivan from Llandudno, Union Street was in the Dean Street area of Bangor - it was demolished in the 1930s. I had family living there in the late 19th century and also had trouble trying to find it. Bangor University Archives have an old picture of the street.
Thu Aug 13 13:41:29 2009

Ian Griffiths from Bangor
Recently myself and my brother in law have started a new football club for the youngsters in Bangor, at present aged under 11 & 12, but we are finding it difficult finding sponsors from Bangor. We have had offers but they are all from Anglesey and as the club is in Bangor we feel let down by the Bangor businesses. Any help would be great.
Tue Jul 21 09:35:33 2009

John Sullivan from Llandudno
I am doing a family tree and it shows my great grandfather living at Union Street, Bangor, in the 1911 census. Does this street stil exist and if so whereabouts is it?
Thu Jul 2 10:01:07 2009

Justin Thyme
Does anybody know who owned Belmont House, Euston Road, Bangor in 1920? It is the large house at the top end of Euston Road (it could also be said that it is situated at the end of Belmont Road due to the configuration of the streets.)
Tue Jun 16 09:25:50 2009

Jean Williams from Bangor
To Ann from Stockport, the address was probably Berllan Bach which translates as little orchard and if my memory sreves me it used to behind the Arriva bus office and has been demolished to build what is now the Deiniol Shopping Centre.
Garry Dewhurst, try the Friends Reunited website for Bangor Grammar School for Girls.
Pebbles, the community centre used to be the Women's Institute in OPenrhos.
Wed Jun 10 09:17:22 2009

Ann from Stockport
I have been doing my family history and found my Great grandparents came from Bangor and as I am visiting Wales on holiday this summerI would like to find their home. According to the 1881 Census they lived at 25 Ballen Bach, Bangor. Can anyone tell me if this address, or street still exists.
Mon Jun 1 09:19:14 2009

Paul Jones from Bangor
I've found this a really interesting site. The diversity of Bangor's population over the years never ceases to amaze me.Does anyone out there know any of the history of Bangor Castle (not Penrhyn Castle)? Its site is shown on some old OS maps, in the region of Penrhyn Park, but that's all I know about it.
Wed Apr 1 10:13:55 2009

Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan
There was a war memorial plaque in the Hirael Institute which is now on the harbourmaster's office wall in Porth Penrhyn.
Mon Mar 30 15:55:02 2009

Stan Granton
I know about the Bangor Whistle and its supposed prison connections but is it true?
Mon Mar 9 10:15:02 2009

Max W, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Is there a ten pin bowling alley on or near the university of bangor? What is the bowling scene like in the UK? I'm an avid bowler here in the states and i may be going to Bangor for a few months and would like to keep bowling.
Wed Feb 18 09:17:26 2009

Rod Willis Derby
Looking for information on Caemaes Idan, Bangor - what was it and where was it? we had a relation born there in 1907.
Mon Feb 16 09:36:37 2009

Matt Tapping
In reply to Ken Thomas, York: There's a picture looking down on the camp on beach road on the Civic Society website. The Italian POWs were sent home in 1946. Thirteen years later the site was provided to the people of Bangor as a playground and sports field in memory of King George V.
Web team: You'll find a link to the civic society site on our Bangor web guide.
Fri Jan 16 11:42:00 2009

Rachel, Liverpool
Hi! My Spanish friend is coming to the UK to study at Bangor University, I'm coming to Bangor with her a week on Monday to help her settle in. Trouble is, I don't know anything about Bangor! I plan to spend the Monday with her to help her get a feel for the area, have a nice lunch, hopefully meet some locals, other students. Any ideas?
Web team: You could start with our section on Bangor student life.
Mon Jan 12 09:51:37 2009

Cody Maddox, Houston, TX USA
My fiance and I want to get married in north Wales next year and we were wondering about nice spots to get married and places to stay.
Fri Jan 9 09:46:15 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Blue Sky Cafe: My grandfather Dick Pattison, along with my dad Mathew Pattison and his brother Dick Pattison used to run the Ambassadors in Bangor. I have been privy to many happy memories from my father and uncle and my mum too.
Mon Jan 5 14:33:04 2009

Elaine Pattison-Jones
Reply to Naomi Hughes, Rhuddlan, regarding Sailors Institute, Bangor. It was situated at the bottom of Strand Street, Hirael, Bangor, just around the corner from the Nelson pub. You may get some photos from John Cowell's books on Bangor.
Mon Jan 5 14:32:28 2009

Roy Jones, Bethesda
To Caroline Wigley, Blue Sky Café, Bangor. My sister Renee Wyn Stone (Nee Jones) remembers Ambassador Hall. A chap named Glyn Douglas, who played the saxophone, and Charlie Pierce was the pianist and the band was called The Ambassador Band. Both Glyn and Charlie left the band and formed their own, called Glyn Douglas Band. Renee used to sing with this band.
Fri Jan 2 13:44:47 2009

R Roberts Anglesey
Carol from Maine. I have not heard of the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor, but from your posting I do know that what is now called Patricks was, when I lived in Upper Bangor, the Menai Vaults.
Wed Nov 26 09:21:45 2008

Caroline Wigley
We opened Blue Sky Cafe in Bangor in July and would like to hear if anyone knows anything about the history of our building. It is known as Ambassador Hall and is situated just off the High Street, behind Williams the butcher. I have been told that it was a dance hall after the war. The building was originally a Methodist Capel (Capel Arthur Jones) and is 200 years old.
Mon Nov 17 10:57:13 2008

Geraint Wyn Williams, Hirael
The Hirael Institute you refer to was also named the Sailors Institute.It was located at the bottom of Strand Street, it is now part of the Nelson Pub.I do not know where you may find a photograph.
Wed Nov 5 09:54:53 2008

Gary Dewhurst from Bangor
My mum was a pupil at Bangor High School for Girls from 1942 to 1946. She is trying to track down the school photo from 1946. Any ideas where I might be able to trace a copy for her?
Mon Oct 27 10:10:13 2008

Pebbles, Bangor
Does anyone know what was previosly on the site of Penrhosgarnedd Community centre? I've had some strange experiences there!
Mon Oct 20 09:25:05 2008

Pamela Williams-Ogg, Brussels
Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan, Someone who could assist you would be local historian John Cowell, who also has access to a collection of historic photographs of Hirael. Indeed, I believe that the Institute features in the photograph (courtesy of Mr Cowell) on the front cover of the poetry book "Un o Hiral" by Thomas Llewelyn Williams (available in book stores in Bangor).
Mon Oct 6 10:03:19 2008

Cath
Can anyone recall a young German PoW, first name Hans, we think an airman shot down, who would have been in north Wales between 1939 til after the war ended? My father, Alexander Robert Peters, originally of Liverpool, son of Rose Peters, became friendly with Hans. He would now be in his eighties. He gave my dad a ship in a bottle and was very blonde.He worked the farmland with my dad, exact location unknown. Dad worked on farms in Welshpool and later around Garn Dolbenmaen, where Rose Peters finally lived. By the end of the war dad was 18 and went for a drink in a pub in Caernarfon with Hans. Dad passed away in 2005 and we wish we had tried to do this sooner. Any hints on how to do an effective search?
Thu Sep 4 10:07:43 2008

Carol from Maine
Does anyone know where or what the Brunswick Vaults in Upper Bangor were? I have an Owen Jones in my family that has that listed as a place of abode on a Bangor Polling District list from 1879-80. He also owned property at that time on Dean Street. Someone on another messageboard thought that maybe it was a bar called the Vaults (which is now Patrick's). I'm dubious, but I need to research this. Any help at all would be appreciated!
Wed Aug 6 09:44:10 2008

John Griffith, Mold
Graham Vine wrote "Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver?"I do. Not clearly (I was quite small at the time) but it must have been sometime in the early-mid 1940s. Something of a Bangor institution, I imagine, like several of the characters of those times. Another I remember was Noel Evans who owned several of the posh properties in Garth Road.
Tue Jun 24 09:16:10 2008

Holly Davenport
I am searching for anyone who may remember anything of certain boats built at Dickies yard between 1934 and 1956. There were five yawls built to an in-house design, three of whose whereabouts are known (we have one, Sheenan, built 1937) and two of which were dropped from Lloyds register around 1970. How would I go about finding someone who may recall who the designer was, any archive photos of launches, etc. What we would really like to do is trace the missing two sisters, Shulah II and Sereni. They are unusual, beautiful boats, and to have all five together would be unbelievably good fortune. We have two in Falmouth, Sheenan and Jo of Anglesey, who arrived to live at the same harbour by sheer chance - a massive co-incidence. But it is a delight to see them sail alongside. I attach a picture of them both (see above). Anyone out there who can help?
Tue Jun 3 09:50:34 2008

George Emyr Parry, now Pinner Gt London
Is there any record of the soldiers who arrived by train direct from Dunkirk. They arrived late evening 5/6 June? Six were billetted in my house at 2 Friars Terrace,High Street (mother ran a large boarding house there) The soldiers were still in battle dress with rifles and live ammo. I was amazed when they emptied the rifles in the back yard! I am interested from a family history view. Thanks
Fri May 30 09:49:17 2008

Naomi Hughes Rhuddlan
I am looking for information on the Hirael Institute. I think it was for mariners. I would like to know where it was and if anyone has a photograph or can point me in the right direction to find one. Thank you
Tue May 6 09:33:53 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Does anyone remember The One-Legged Diver? He was a regular turn upon Bangor Pier where he had his own high diving board which he would climb up so nimbly, despite his wooden leg and crutch, and then, with much arm- waving and shouting "The One-Legged Diver will now Dive" he would plunge into the sea sometimes doing somersaults, then up he would come and clamber up the steps from water level to the pier deck again, grabbing his collecting box, with which he would stump around the spectators aggressively rattling it under our noses to encourage donations as muddy water streamed off hi! m over his blue-veined skin which was occasionally decorated with strips of algae and seaweed as well as his many tattoos. What a memorable performance that always was, so Gary and I would willingly part with a penny each for the privilege and then re-enact our version of the event back at home on the bed ! Great fun !
Tue Apr 22 10:43:15 2008

Ken Thomas, York
I often wonder if there is any information concerning the Italian POW Camp on Beach Road, Bangor. it was a Sunday afternoon stroll worth taking, during the War Years, as the Prisoners had made beautiful, decorations of the front of their huts, with bits of scrap material, one that stands out was The Leaning Tower of PISA, A working Party would March out most days working Parties, repairing houses ect., and a Lot used to meet at the Popular venu, Joe Valla's, Chip Shop in the High Street, In them days I lived in James Street, and made a lot of friends with them. my age was 8 to 10 Years. I would be very interested in any information relating to their Stay in Bangor, and when where they released, to return to their Homeland Italy
Tue Apr 15 09:23:04 2008

Mrs J Downes, Kelsall, Cheshire
I have been looking up my family history and have come across many old photo postcards along with some letters from & of Vaynol Hall. These are from my dad's aunty, Winifred Roberts (also known as Winnie Roberts) from Coedpoeth, Wrexham. I was wodering if she worked at Vaynol Hall.
Tue Apr 14 09:38:02 2009

Andre Vaynol, Hermanus, South Africa
I have just noticed your web site. I want to know what happened to the Vaynol Family. As a decendant of my father Phillip John Vaynol and the only son - am I the last Vaynol left in the world?
Thu Nov 23 09:12:02 2006

Greg Randall from US
I wonder if anyone could tell me the origin of my surname. Is it Welsh? Any information would be appreciated. Thank you
Mon Apr 10 08:35:51 2006

Martin Chapman, San Francisco
Like many lucky people I used to stay at Vaynol often in the late 1970s. It was a magical world with the house beautifully run by housemaids Dilys and Megan, and Ken the butler and Mrs Roberts the cook. Sir Michael was a wonderful and most generous host. He entertained his guests with an endless series of hilarious stories and running jokes. Many were about Queen Mary, members of the royal family, and society figures of the 1930s who were always remembered with great affection. Michael's great friend Cecil Beaton alludes to Michael's abilities as a host and raconteur in his diaries. Indeed Michael used to maintain that he was co-host of the famous party at Ashcombe in the 1930s, one of the famous gatherings of "the Bright Young Things". Although there was a great sense of fun, with a constant flow of guests at Vaynol, there was however a certain air of sadness about the house, with hints of past glories and shadowy figures. The park was a bit run down, with fallen tree limbs. The lakes in front of the house had been drained and some outbuildings, like the enormous old laundry, were derelict. No one told me that the white Anglo-Saxon cattle (I think they were Chillinghams) in the park could be dangerous until they threatened me one day as I walked through the herd. For rainy days and quiet moments there was a pile of fascinating photo albums kept in the large drawing room. They were his mother, Lady Juliet Duff's, and chronicled her life as a young woman going to great house parties before WW1 and her life as society figure in the 1920s and 1930s. They contained pictures of people from royalty to Cole Porter. I hope they have survived. One of those shadowy figures was Charles Duff, who Michael never referred to in those years. I only heard of him from gossipy guests who speculated about his paternity. I hope poor Charles is able to forgive them and his adoptive parents. The last time I visited Vaynol was shortly after Sir Michael's death. I accompanied the artist Patrick Procktor to collect a bust of a Moorish figure that Michael had left to him. The house had a desolate if not doomed air and the housemaid Megan seemed rather distraught and tearful to see us again. I had some wonderful times at Vaynol and I was fortunate enough to have experienced what now seems like a dream.
Tue Feb 14 23:54:13 2006

Janet Roberts, nee Croft, Denbigh
I was glued to the Vaynol programme. I worked in the kitchen for almost two years in 1963/64 with Edna Hughes. Other staff I remember were her sister Dilys and Megan(married to Andrew, lodge keeper), Dorothy, Mr and Mrs Howes, David and Tony Tierney (footmen), Mouschia (Charlie's nanny), Mr and Mrs Randall, Anne and Ray, Mr Henderson (gardener), Will 'sick and tired', and many more whose faces I can see in my mind's eye but not their names. Oh yes and Fritz the basset hound! It was very hard work, especially when we had house parties and shoots when Edna and I would be on our feet from 6am till 11pm. I earned £2 a week. The walk up the mile- long drive in the dark TERRIFIED me with animal noises etc. I look back on those days full of nostalgia and although I worked hard for a 17 year old, I feel proud when ever I tell people I used to work at Vaynol and cooked for the Queen!Thank you for a wonderful programme Charlie.
Mon Aug 8 10:53:09 2005

Bob Thompson, Connah's Quay
I watched the programme on BBC2 Wales with interest as I currently own the last Jaguar car owned by Sir Michael Duff. I wonder if Mr Charles Duff remembers the car and who rode in it, driven by Mr George Randall.
Tue Aug 2 11:49:41 2005

Jan Tully, Monmouth
My grandfather, Edward Howes, was Sir Michael's butler at Vaynol Park and as I sat and watched the BBC2 Wales programme I caught a glimpse of him holding a car door for the Queen Mum. My Dad lives in Scarborough and has lots of memories of his childhood there - we used to go there for our summer holidays and stay with Nanna and Grandpop, both of whom worked in the "big house".
Tue Aug 2 11:47:24 2005

Hirael Dad
Ian Westwood, are the police at fault or the matra papers or the wardens for the drunk kids by the church do you think? Or is it the parents who don't know where their kids are and what they're up to? Or perhaps don't even care. I know were mine are - 13 years and 14 years - in by half nine on the nights they're allowed out. And if I smelt booze on them they'd be grounded. They don't need to be moved on by police cos they don't get into trouble. Go figure.
Tue Apr 14 10:17:57 2009

Mike, Bangor
Yet another stupid traffic scheme seems to have appeared in Bangor! This time at Ysbyty Gwynedd. They now have access control gates as you enter the hospital, but the queue of traffic waiting to get into the site overflows onto Penrhos Road and the roundabout, causing gridlock and mayhem! Another accident blackspot created. Well done to whoever's responsible for this one.
Wed Apr 8 09:19:06 2009

Andy, Anglesey
I see the Welsh Assembly Government has called in the planned 55-acre development between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge. Quite right, too. A better way to ruin what could really be called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be hard to imagine. As another correspondent has said, why not put such a development on the outskirts of Bangor? Llandygai, with easier access to arterial roads, would be a much better bet.
Mon Apr 6 11:27:12 2009

Mike, Bangor
Can anybody from Gwynedd Council tell me what the hell is happening to the roads here in Bangor? It's a disgrace. Has anybody driven down Ffriddoedd Road? One of the busiest areas of Bangor, the road is falling apart! Potholes - and I mean big, deep, potholes! What's the point building nice new student halls of residence when the access roads are crumbling. Stop wasting money on cycle and fancy footpaths. I pay road tax and council tax and would like to see something back in return.
Mon Mar 9 09:51:02 2009

Lost Cinema goer of Bangor
Can the old Woolies in Bangor be converted into a lovely Cinema? It is central, has all the amenities for easy access, buses, taxis and carparks, there are plenty of eatng houses etc... it would make sense.
Wed Feb 4 09:53:51 2009

University Lecturer, Bangor.
I can only echo the sentiments expressed about the decline and fall of Bangor City. When I first came here, there was a greengrocer on the High Street, an excellent camera shop, a cinema (albeit not very comfortable), a theatre, some decent shopping (Co-op), a bookshop, a cycle shop etc. Now, the only notable feature of the High Street is the chewing gum on the pavements! The rebuilding of Theatr Gwynedd is supposed to take three years, which is unbelievable. Meanwhile, Watkin Jones continues to fill Bangor with its unattractive "developments". University staff are as angry and depressed about the state of Bangor as many of the correspondents here - students DO bring money into the area, but on seeing the state of Bangor, many will stay away, preferring to go elsewhere, further accelerating the decline of Bangor City. The council are either blind to the problems or don't care a fig. Let's vote them out in the next council election.
Tue Jan 13 10:06:35 2009

John, Bangor
I'm glad the Ty Mawr development in LlanfairPG was rejected, Bangor high street is already quickly becoming deserted. If that had been built it would be even worse!I might sound selfish, but any development like that really needs to be in the city. What about on the outskirts by Llandygai - plenty of land there!Also the council needs to put a block on all the student flats being built Yes I like students and Bangor does need them, but Bangor city centre is quickly being overcrowded with them. You go to places like Liverpool and Manchester and all the student accommodation is on the outskirts. On the Beach Road development, we need something similar to the docks in Caernarfon. Too many people are stuck in the past in Bangor. Who needs a boatyard? We could have some really nice cafes,restaurants, bars and a hotel there - really make that waterfront a place to visit!
Wed Jan 7 16:47:41 2009

Jack, Bangor
What IS going on in Bangor? Kids have nothing to do - no cinema, no skate parks - nothing! Look at Caernarfon - a fancy new dock area, their square being refurbished with Welsh slate, sparkly new rubbish bins, state of the art fountains, skate park, cinema in the NEW arts centre (while Bangor's one and only theatre just closed) - need I go on? People in Caernarfon are moaning about the work being done there. Bangor gets nothing. Why do they call it Gwynedd Council? Caernarfon Council more like.

The MFI site on C'fon Road is ideal for a cinema/bowling alley. The old bowling green next to the town hall is ideal for a skate park. What's going on? Bangor deserves some respect. We are a city after all.
Mon Dec 1 09:49:55 2008

Carly, Bangor
I agree with most people on here. The new traffic system next to the train station is awful, I'm extremely surprised there haven't been any major accidents there yet. Why anyone ever thought it would be a good idea, I'll never know...it's ridiculous. Bring back the old way!
Tue Aug 19 09:56:57 2008

Franklin - Bangor
Reading through these messages it is clear a great many people care about Bangor. The problem isn't apathy, it's because people don't know what's going on and feel powerless. To be fair to Gwynedd Council, they aren't biased against Bangor, so much as it is a big wasteful bureaucratic self-serving regional organisation that pretends to be local government. The 10 Gwynedd councillors from Bangor don't work together to develop a plan for the city. Community Councils like Bangor City Council are encouraged to be proactive and develop plans that can involve the community. Every community initiative that happens to improve Bangor is despite, not because of the two councils. It is because of this lack of functioning local democratic government that developers and the university are able to do what suits them. That is why the city centre has become so neglected while big sheds have popped up along the Caernarfon Road. That is why Watkin Jones has been able to turn the area around Farrar Road into a private student accommodation campus. And unless people stand up and be counted, it is why Hirael Bay will be developed in a way is not in the interests of the community or the environment.
Tue May 27 16:52:05 2008

mike,bangor
Anybody coming back to Bangor i would advise them to stay well away! I came back to my regret. This city has lost its way, it's streets and green areas are filthy and the roads are a disgrace!
Tue Apr 15 09:24:35 2008

IAN WESTWOOD
As my comments under Old Grumps were attacked (by my wife actually) I thought I would speak as myself this time. The local free paper Matra News states the efforts of the police and warden are going to stop unruly crowds of drunken kids gathering by the church in maes g. Saturday night we could hear loads of kids in the church grounds and even though the CCTV is now supposed to be watching the church at weekends to stop this, it carries on. A police car drove up past the church but did not even stop. The kids moved around the blind side of the church and continued their rampage. As the bungalows backing onto the church are for old and disabled people this is a frightening experience and we can do nothing about it. I asked if I could photograph the troublemakers after they broke the church window and threw mud at the bungalows. I was told I could be taken in and my camera would be confiscated if I did. What sort of a world are we living in when we can no longer defend ourselves and the police do not want to know?
Mon Apr 7 09:46:42 2008

Giblin, Bangor
I've been reading all these and have done a bit of research into them and i think that Bangor's council should focus on fixing the problems they can instead of saying 'We can't do this and that'. they could clean up some parks for the youths. Also, the University should be revolving around Bangor not the other way round!!
Wed Apr 2 09:50:11 2008

Old grump, Maesgeirchen
the churchyard in Maes-G is disgusting and does not seem to get cleaned up any more.there is ,what looks like ,human faeces by the church perimeter wall that have been there for ages.it is like an obstacle course dodging poo of all kinds.add to that the new wave of depositing black bags full of rubbish outside the llys dylan bungalows and you have got a really nice place to live and work! (joke) and to top it all there is a local shop that does not stock anything you want.sorry but maes.g is on it's way down a steep slope to being a national disgrace.
Wed Feb 27 10:07:16 2008

Ellen, Bangor
Thank you Gareth for your response. We need input like yours. Did you put in a questionnaire with your concerns and any possible ideas? I know exactly what you mean about GCC in Caernarfon being "all for" Caernarfon and I add, all points south. This is why we need to make Bangor Voices heard. We have to make a stand. It isn't right what they have done and plan to do to Bangor. We must fight for what is right for Bangor. There is far too much apathy in Bangor - people turning and looking the other way, then complaining when they see what has been done. We have an opportunity to do something about it.
Wed Feb 20 09:25:41 2008

Gareth from Bangor
I have seen the plans for the 'new ' Hirael Marina and to me they raise as many questions as answers. As a local I have to admit that the site of Hirael Bay at low tide on a grey day is not very appealing, but we have to face up to the fact there may not be enough of a market for two marinas in the eastern part of the Straits and consider the long-standing plans for a Beaumaris Marina also. Secondly, what consideration has been given to the influence of global warming and other issues pertaining to the water table in the vicinity of the Afon Adda? I can still remember when the residents of Strand Street etc, had to sandbag their homes to prevent flooding, are we going to return to those days? Thirdly, only a fool would insist that the developers are interested for purely altruistic reasons. They obviously feel there is an opportunity to turn a profit here. Thich is all very well and good, but where does that leave the people of Hirael and Bangor? As someone who spent a good portion of his childhood playing football on 'Beach' and mucking around on the shore and Penlon Park, I would hate to see the 'Private No Tresspassing' signs appear that prevent local people from enjoying their heritage and 'filltir sgwar.' What precautions have been put in place to prevent the Marina from becoming isolated from the wider community and nothing more than a gated settlement in all but name? Bangor in general needs a boost, but I still have my doubts about the Marina's ability to provide one. More generally, the rest of Bangor outside Hirael resembles a giant building site. For the life of me I cannot understand how the new carpark near Aldi's obtained planning permission and I have great sympathy with the residents of Ashley Road. I suspect that one day the Ombudsman will get to know more about this as the car park is simply not in keeping with the surrounding area. The traffic system continues to generate sound, fury, and debate from admirers and detractors alike. Sometimes I think this is all part of 'A Cofi Plot" to make Bangor as unnattractive as possible. Seriously though, I do believe that things would be better if Bangor could be the headquarters of a new unitary authority stretching from Abergwyngregyn in the east, Felinheli in the west, and Bethesda in the south. This idea of Bangor seceeding from the rest of Gwynedd was mooted a few years ago but died a death because the powers that be would not allow Bangor a plebiscite or a democratic voice on the city's future. Whether we like it or not, many Bangorians feel that Gwynedd County Council is run from Caernarfon for Caernarfon and that, consequently, Bangor's interests will always come a poor second as a result of this.
Mon Feb 18 10:15:05 2008

Ellen - Bangor
I agree with Marinda, we must support the Hirael Bay Development. Otherwise we will be left behind and Bangor deserves a facelift and its residents need something to bring the pride back into Bangor. I agree we need to have somewhere for the youngsters to go, there is enough drunkeness and crime in the UK amongst young people without Bangor adding to it. So let's tell the council what we want. I have sent in my questionnaire and have told family and friends to do the same so let's spread the word.
Thu Feb 14 09:54:42 2008

Marinda Bangor
I want to remind people they can participate by completing a questionnaire to put ideas forward for the Hirael Bay Development. You can collect a questionnaire from Bangor Library or online with Gwynedd County Council. Add what you think about the Hirael Bay Development ideas, please take advantage of this, it is your Bangor and if done properly you will be able to enjoy the final outcome - but have your input now and make a difference to Bangor. How many people attend the Firework Display down on the field in Hirael every year? wouldn't you like this to continue and have even more facilities to enjoy? Have somewhere nice & safe to take your children on a lovely warm summer Sunday afternoon, without breaking the bank. Have indoor facilities in the Winter? I'd love to see an open market every week and buy local produce, hit Tesco where it hurts - in their bank balance. We don't want a rag market, but something similar to the French Fruit & Veg markets. Maybe once a month throughout the summer, an antiques market. This is an ideal opportunity for the people of Bangor to tell the Council what THEY want. Bangor University is closing yet another landmark in Bangor - the Museum and Art Gallery: can we move it into the Hirael Bay Development, like our own version of the Tate Gallery? We must not let them take Bangor to pieces like this. We have to take a stand and tell the Council what we want.
Mon Feb 11 09:48:10 2008

Alan H Gregory Ex Royal Marine
I met Dewi at Eastney Barracks when we were both Marines. We were in the same Barrack Room although I did not follow RU I used to help him clean his Boots on Sunday Mornings after playing for United Services. I remember him as a good, intelligant man with a great sense of humour and very proud of being a Welshman. Sorry to learn you died so young Royal
Wed Jul 8 12:31:20 2009

Graham Griffiths from Maesteg
My abiding memory of Dewi Bebb is his scoring exploits against England, particularly the two tries he scored in 1961. A photo image of one of those tries became an icon of Welsh rugby and BBC Wales Sport for many years; Dewi reaching out in horizontal mode for the try-line, as a despairing tackle proved unable to halt his scoring dive. The ball held in both hands, secure in spite of its greasy condition and a look in his eyes that was the essence of concentration. In the background, the futile figure of Dickie Jeeps, forlornly, far to late and too far away to affect the outcome, attempting to corner-flag. As an image it must have determined many young boys in Wales to want to play in no other position than left wing-threequarter.
Wed Jun 11 16:56:31 2008

Andrea McCulloch, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
Dewi Bebb - what a lovely man he was. I can just remember him playing for Wales. We paid closer attention than most in our house as my sister was a pupil at the school he taught at in Fairwater, Waterhall (later part of Cantonian H.S.) She has memories of Dewi "tanking round the gym," one of the many players back then who held down demanding full-time jobs, yet still managed to train and turn out for their club and country at the weekends. I met him, aged about 9 or 10, when I was at the TV studios in Pontcanna, Cardiff. He took the time to talk to each child out of a group of ten or so children, and was interested in each of us. Wil Bebb, good luck with your rugby career. Although your Tad-cu isn't with us anymore, I'm sure he would be just as proud of you as you are of him.
Mon Feb 25 09:44:32 2008

Wil Bebb
I'm Dewi's grandson and i remember him as tad-cu. I keep hearing stories about how amazing he was at rugby and for this i'm extremely proud 2 be his grandson. in every match i play i hope he watches me. The fact that tad-cu was gareth edwards' favourite player makes me really proud.
Mon Oct 29 10:00:13 2007

Ivor van Heerden
I grew up in South Africa. My mother was a Bebb and Dewi's cousin. I met him as a young kid when he toured South Africa (Durban) in 1966. He was very warm person and friendly. Obviously, he was my hero at the time and the fact that he and I were related was a point of envy for my school friends at the time. Of course rugby was and still is one of my passions and I can still remember the day I met Dewi as a young kid.
Thu May 5 19:17:49 2005

Bryan Jones, Old Colwyn
I remember Dewi very well, being in Friars School Bangor, together. We both played in the form 1 and form 2 soccer teams. He was a fine footballer before taking up rugby. We were also in the same house teams whilst at Friars. Dewi was also a fine athlete, in fact an all round sportsman. Unfortunately after leaving Friars we lost contact. A gentleman,who I am sure is sadly missed by his family and friends.
Mon Dec 13 21:52:18 2004

Peter Glazier from Sao Paulo, Brazil
We played together in the Royal Marines when, strange as it may see, as I was going nowhere, he played left centre and I was his winger. Also with us at the time was Gordon Waddell.
Mon Aug 30 20:03:33 2004

Bob Macfarlane, Wellington, NZ
We lived in the same road. I was too young at the time to appreciate what he was doing for Welsh rugby when he played for Wales but I know my parents were impressed. Great to see him remembered in this way, sorry he died so young. I was a great friend of his brother Ifan.
Wed Aug 18 06:09:54 2004

Harry Parry
Harry Parry

Last updated: 31 March 2009
Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, reminds us of the Big Band era with his comments on the BBC's Harry Parry and the Radio Rhythm sextet.


"Harry Parry was born in 1912 at Caellepa, Bangor. He practiced his sax fiercely whilst holding down a job at the Science department of the university. I was close to the family at that period, Hughie, Harry's brother, being a very good friend and closer to my age.

Harry formed a group and performed in Llandudno, quickly rising as a prominent name in the performing arts and the world of jazz. He was picked up by the BBC and asked to form a group named 'Harry Parry and the Jazz Sextet'. Some of his recordings were available in the BBC's archives some years ago, and were played several times on the BBC show Anything Goes.

Harry travelled with his group, entertaining the troops in WW2. He sadly died in 1956.

Spike Milligan muses a great deal in his writings regarding Harry Parry when he was working with the BBC in London."

We have further discovered that Harry was the oldest of the Parry family, which included Hughie, Vera, Unica and Tommy, who died during the Normandy landings of WWII.

Harry was invited by the BBC to front the band on the Radio Rhythm Show, and thereafter the Sextet was regularly heard by the BBC listeners. The group included George Shearing on piano and, later, Scotsman Joe Temperley, also on sax.

In 1945, the Radio Rhythm Club Sextet appeared in the film What Do We Do Now. Harry went on to record over 100 discs for Parlophone Records, including the 78 rpm disc I've Got You Under My Skin with the Harry Parry Octet, as well as Mood Indigo and Night and Day, with vocalist Dorothee Baronne.

Michael Johnson from Newburgh, Indiana, USA remembers Harry: "I used to live at 19 Caellepa next to the Parry family, and his sister Eunice was my mother's best friend. I remember as a child during the war going to his home and listening to Harry play.

I am now 63 and have lived in the US since 1962. Are there any recordings available of his music, as I would love to hear him again.

The last I heard of Eunice was that she lived in Ruislip nr London with her husband Stan. Her daughter lives in the US just north of Memphis Tennessee."

your comments

Fred Moyes from Aberfeldy. Scotland and now in Ont
I had a dance band in the 1950s playing in Perthshire and occasionally travelling as far afield as Glasgow. Playing trumpet was Norrie Pow from Dundee, who played numerous Dave Wilkins choruses which he had learned, note for note, from the Harry Parry Parlophone recordings. I would very much like to obtain copies of these records, in particular those featuring Dave Wilkins. Can anyone help?
Thu Jul 2 11:54:02 2009

Kenneth M Bryant
I have been asked to write a biographical volume about Harry Parry who inspired me when I was in school during the last war. I have already got a lot of info, but what I really would like is some anecdotes about him. I have got some basic details from Bangor University and had the pleasure of meeting his sister Eunice, before she died a couple of years ago. I can be contacted through my website.
Fri May 8 12:44:12 2009

Nick Parsons , Coventry
I have been tracing my birth family. My great grandmother was Hilda Sophia Taylor nee Tricklebank born circa 1901 Burton on Trent. Her mother was Elizabeth Parry, from Hereford, her aunt was Kitty Parry. Hilda told her daughter, my grandmother, that she was related to Harry Parry, the band leader. Could anyone tell me if this is correct?
Tue Sep 30 09:49:16 2008

Elaine Brown for Kitchener Ontario
Response to I. Miller. I was born in London, England in 1948 and moved to Ontario, Canada in 1967. Always wanted to know more about my mother's father's relatives. George "Happy" Blake and Cyril Blake. This is also my grandfather and great uncle. I have now found two people who were grandchildren of Happy Blake. Found quite a bit about Cyril on the internet, not so much about George Blake. I do remember always sitting in his house and smelling his Cuban cigar which had a gold holder.
Tue Mar 25 09:57:28 2008

l Miller England
My grandfather and great uncle were George and Cyril Blake. I have a copy of a live recording from the Jigs club in London where Harry Parry does the live intro to the recording. I too would like to know more about Harry Parry.
Mon Jan 14 09:29:01 2008

Graham Vine, Bordon, Hampshire
I read all your contributors re Harry Parry with great interest because, although I heard an awful lot about him and - not surprisingly - George Shearing as well, my Mum & Dad thought I was too young to be taken to dances where they were both playing. So I was rather surprised, having read for the first time in your feaature that Harry Parry was a student at University College, Bangor, that no-one mentioned that he and his band used to play for dances held in the Powis Hall at the college during World War II. My parents used to attend them, as did many others, for these dances were, perhaps, the peak of Bangor social life in wartime and Mum & Dad both spoke warmly of the quality of the band.Bangor was spoilt for talent of star quality during those war years and I reaped the benefit - as I have written elsewhere on your website - but, sadly, I heard neither Harry Parry nor George Shearing as my parents thought dances were not a suitable environment for an eleven year old.
Tue Aug 28 10:03:45 2007

phughes, nyc
For the economy-minded: for less than the price of "Parry Opus" you can get 4 CDs of early Shearing ["From Battersea to Broadway", Proper Box #40] which contain two HP cuts. [Try CDUniverse for sound samples.] Unfortunately, the set doesn't include the earliest Welsh-titled originals, "Dim Blues"! Incidentally, when I was a schoolboy in Bangor during the 1950s HP was, along with Huw Wheldon, celebrated as a "local boy made good". And he seemed to have a presence on the BBC. So I'd be cautious about defining him as "neglected" at that time. Maybe later. On the general topic of things Cymric in jazz, I guess we're all familiar with Leonard Feather's rip-off "Men of Harlem" [w. Pete Brown et al, c. 1937-8] And I think I hear Slim Gaillard attempting a "iechyd da" somewhere. [If anyone cares, I'll dig up the title.] Bill Challis claimed Welsh ancestry, though I've never known what to make of that. Is anyone aware of other, pre-Dill, obviously, examples?
Mon Nov 6 10:01:35 2006

Pat Rodgers, niece, Bracknell
Harry was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and, if my memory serves me correctly, his ashes were scattered in my Grandmother's garden in 31 Caellepa.
Mon Feb 27 10:07:00 2006

Timothy Sprigge Sussex
About where he was buried - I don't know, though it was surely in Wales. At the time my mother sent me a rather sad cutting from a newspaper saying that very few people went to his funeral, and just one real enthusiast for his music. I suppose that there was not much interest in him at that time. It is good that there is now a CD of his music (Parry Opus) and I have managed to order an earlier CD called Crazy Rhythm.
Fri Feb 24 14:44:55 2006

Bill Ward, Torquay
I am sure there are bits and pieces about Harry in my late father's memorabilia. Harry and his band were regulars at the late-night Jigs Club that he (my father) ran in Wardour Street in the late 30s. The club catered for jazz, boxing and billiards followers, with many US musicians including Satchmo, Ellington and Mills Brothers calling in after their up-market gigs. Anything specific to Harry I can find I shall post shortly.
Fri Dec 30 22:57:12 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Following my mother Eunice's death(Harry's youngest sister)on May 1st 2005 I have relocated back to Nottingham. Ken Bryant who has been working on a book featuring 3 famous sons of Wales (one of them Harry) is now near publication.When it is available I will put full details on this website. I will now have a mountain of family photographs to go through and have already seen a several unpublished photos of Harry, a letter from him to his mother Emily Jane Parry from his Indian tour and the order of service from his funeral at Golders Green. I will try and get these items in time on a website. Mike Tayler
Fri Jul 8 23:27:28 2005

Pat Rodgers, Bracknell, Berkshire
I was prompted to look again at this web site after some considerable time following the sad death of my very special Auntie Eunice, my mother's last remaining sibling. Having lost my own father three years ago now, this was losing the last link of that generation. It has however prompted contact with my second cousin, Brian Williams, in Caernarvon and the usual promises to keep in touch. I do intend to go with my sister to visit Brian and hope to do this later in the year.

To Bill Wardale in New Zealand I would like very much to contact you direct. If I do find a way, I look forward to hearing from you and will try and make the effort to check the website more frequently. We are all getting older and it seems much more important suddenly to keep in contact with family (however distant)and trying to trace the family tree is something that I would like to spend more time doing.
Tue Jun 7 13:57:39 2005

Joan Macrae, Llanfair. P.G.
Eunice Taylor (Harry Parry's sister) recently passed away (May 2005). Eunice was a first cousin to my mother (who has also sadly passed away). I keep in contact with Alison (in America, whom I visited over Christmas) and Mike in Ruislip, who are the son and daughter of Eunice.
Fri Jun 3 16:03:23 2005

John from Bangor, originally
My cousin Glyn Owen ("Glyn Douglas and his band")used to play regularly in all the dances in Bangor during the 40s 50s. One chap in the band went on to be an International saxophone player, Cyril Reuben,he also played for the "Squadronaires".
Thu Jun 2 22:28:34 2005

John Fryer of Chiswick, London
My mother, Sheila Fryer, used to produce Radio Rhythm Club, and gave George Webb and his Dixielanders (incl. Humphrey Lyttleton) their first break on the radio. Sadly she died in 1965.
Wed May 4 11:57:25 2005

Andy Roberts - Jazz Connection - BBC Radio Wales
There's a track by Harry Parry called The Java Joint on a new 4-CD box set called Jazz in Britain 1919-1950. I'll be giving a copy of the box set away on my new series which starts Tuesday 10 May at 7pm.
Mon Apr 18 16:25:18 2005

Mike Tayler (Harry's nephew)
Just to let all Harry's fans know that Ken Bryant who lives in SE England and has had several books published is close to publishing a book of famous sons of Wales in which Harry will be featured. Ken has met Eunice, Harry's sister, and has copied various photographs/memorabilia in our possession. I also have acquired some large original BBC discs of Radio Rhythm Club which may be of interest to enthusiasts.
Mon Jan 17 19:40:12 2005

Pat Rodgers
To: Bill Wardale. I have not visited this site for some time, but was prompted by one of my nieces discovering it the other day and being fascinated to find one of her distant relatives on the net. I was very surprised to read your message as I was unawre of your existence (as I am sure you are of mine). I cannot tell you anything about your grandmother except that I remember her name. I am presuming that she was my grandfather's sister; my grandfather being Henry Parry (Harry's father), who died around the same time as Harry. My Auntie Eunice is still alive and I will see if she can recall anything of your grandmother when I speak to her next. For your information, there are now six descendants of my sister and I (2 girls and 4 boys) and Eunice has seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. I live in Berkshire and my sister, Pam, lives in Birmingham. It would be great to hear some information from you as to your family. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mon Dec 6 20:44:15 2004

Clive Fuller, Smethwick
Sunflower Records, Aylesbury, have issued a CD Crazy Rhythm, Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet.
Mon Jul 19 13:03:35 2004

Mike Tayler from Ruislip, Middlesex
I am Harry Parry's nephew and the only son of Eunice Tayler (nee Parry), Harry's youngest sister. Eunice, my mum is still alive and I am looking after her here in Middlesex following an unexpected divorce. Mum is 79 and recently had a heart attack but appears to have come through it well. Mum and Dad gave many items re: Harry to Bangor University archives and most of the original Parlophone records to the National sound archives but we still have some original files on Harry here at Ruislip and I have inherited a few huge demo discs from an enthusiast in Hampshire. By the way Harry's brother Tom did not die in the Normandy landings but was blown up in Italy and his remains are at Monte Cassino. we have the grave number somewhere. We also have Tom's medal and certificate from when he sang at George VI's coronation at Westminster Abbey on 12th May 1937. A gentleman has been in touch with my mother trying to write a definitive history of Harry for some 3 years now but is suffering from a shortage of information. Mum has inherited Harry's royalties which are very small these days and largely generated on his signature tune, "Champagne". With the centenary of Harry's birth not that far away it would be lovely to mark the occasion with a small book on this famous "son of Wales.
Tue Jul 6 21:51:05 2004

Bill Wardale from New Zealand
My beloved grandmother was, I believe, Harry's auntie. Her name was Sydney Parry. If anybody can give me any information about her I would be very grateful.
Sat Mar 20 00:53:01 2004

John Milbank from Sussex
I continue with my research and have discovered that Harry's wife Jeanie died in 1951 after catching a mysterious illness whilst on tour with Harry in India. I was delighed to read the message from Harry's niece and to learn that there are people out there who remember Harry and his band.
Fri Jan 23 19:59:11 2004

Michael Johnson
I think it's wonderful that so many folk have responded to the music comments on Harry Parry. A gentleman from South Wales contacted me via the internet and sent a tape of Harry's playing for which I am very thankful. Also to Leslie Roberts - I was wondering if he knew my mother Winnie Williams as she worked at Haynes on the High street. My father worked at Pollecoffs and yes I remember well the times walking up the hill of Caellepa carrying the milk from the little dairy shop across from the Bank and Antoniassi's Ice cream. So long ago. To Pat Rodgers - does Eunice still live in London? When I saw her last, in Cheshire, her home was named "Swn y Gwynt". To Rod Holcombe - my brother Andrew lives in Devon in Herndon, nr Mary Tavey. He is also a musician. I wish to thank this web site for giving great connections to my old stomping grounds. Cymru Am Byth.
Sat Jan 10 19:57:33 2004

Pat Rodgers (nee Roberts)
I am the elder daughter of Vera Parry, Harry's younger sister. Eunice, the younger sister, is still alive, though her husband Stan died a few years ago. My own father, Gwilym, died three years ago. There are still six of us of my generation alive. My sister, Eunice's two children and Hughie's two children are also still alive
Mon Dec 29 14:31:55 2003

Rod Holcombe from Kingsbridge, South Devon
Reply to Michael Johnson. Very interesting to hear your comments of Caellepa in Bangor. I visited the road last year and would imagine it has seen better days. Yes, there is a Harry Parry CD available here on the Empress label entitled Gone with the Wind. I have it on good authority also that there is another CD soon to come out on the Vocalion label. Details awaited. Jazz Journal International has had some letters starting in January 2003 on the subject of Harry Parry and his recordings and show that he is not forgotten, though he has been neglected as far as record issues. My best wishes to other Parry interested folk.
Mon Nov 17 10:08:57 2003

Timothy Sprigge from Edinburgh
During the 1940s (I was born in 1932) one of my greatest pleasure was derived from Parlophone Recordings of Harry Parry and his Radio Sextet. I have quite a lot of them now transferred onto casssettes. I thought that Harry Parry was completely forgotten until it occurred to me one day to check if his name was on the internet. I still delight in his music on the cassette. If his music ever comes again on CD I will be delighted. There was such a delightful jauntiness and harmoniousness about the music of his Radio Sextet, especially his own playing. And I only discovered recently that it must be George Shearing on the piano in some of these recordings.
Wed Nov 5 11:15:35 2003

Rod Holcombe, Kingsbridge, Devon
In reply to John Millbank, Harry was cremated and the ashes were scattered at Golders Green Crematorium. The programme of the funeral service is in the local file at Bangor University and they will do a photocopy of this and other Harry Parry material at nominal cost. I do not know what became of his wife Jean. I applaud your researches and wonder if you knew of the article in Memory Lane last issue and the forthcoming (hopefully) Jazz Journal.
Fri Oct 31 09:38:12 2003

John Milbank from Sussex
I am planning a web site about Harry Parry's career but need a little more personal information. Can anyone tell me where he is buried and anything about his wife Jean (nee Alton)?
Wed Sep 10 19:21:52 2003

Huw Wheldon
Huw Wheldon Arts broadcaster and administrator of the BBC.

Born:
    7 MAY 1916
Place of Birth:
    Prestatyn
School:
    Friars, Bangor

        David Attenborough said "He was called many things - huge Welshman, the founding father of arts television, the last of the great actor-managers, the best director-general the BBC never had. He was a great man." Huw Wheldon

Biography:
    Huw Wheldon was one of the leading figures among BBC television programme makers in the 1960s and a top BBC administrator in the 1970s.

    Huw's father, John Wheldon, was originally from Blaenau, but moved to London to work in Lloyd George's law firm. During World War I he met a London Welsh girl, Megan Edwards. They married and moved back up to Bangor where John took up a post as administrator for the university. Their first son, Huw, was followed by Tomos, Mair and Nans.

    According to Sir Huge, Paul Ferris's biography of Huw Wheldon, he spent a great deal of time hanging round Bangor High Street with his friends. He didn't do too well at school and had to re-sit his matriculation which would enable him to go on to university.

    In 1933 his father became permanent secretary to the Welsh Department of Education and the family moved to Woodville Gardens, Ealing. All the family, including the servants, still spoke Welsh at home in London.

    In a letter to a good friend, Huw Wynne Griffith, a son of a Bangor minister, Huw wrote "I'm gradually sinking into the life of London. It certainly is opening my eyes to some things."

    In 1934 he returned to Bangor, lodged with a clergyman's family and studied Latin and German at University College. But he failed his first year exams, returned to London and enrolled at the London School of Economics to study sociology.

    In 1941 Huw joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and became a senior instructor in the battle schools, training with live bombs. He won the Military Cross for bravery under fire during the D-Day landings in Normandy.
    Huw Wheldon and guests on the arts programme Monitor

    Huw joined the BBC's publicity department in 1952, and soon began to present the children's programme All Your Own.

    He then became editor of the arts programme, Monitor from 1958 to 1964. He both produced the programme and appeared as its principal interviewer and anchor, leading a team which included David Jones, Ken Russell and Melvyn Bragg.

    The second part of Wheldon's career was as a manager and administrator. He became head of documentary programs in 1962, a post that was enlarged the following year to head of music and documentary programmes. He became controller of the BBC in 1965 and in 1968, became director of BBC television. Age debarred him from succeeding Charles Curran as director general of the BBC.

    Sir Ian Trethowan, who succeeded Huw Wheldon as managing director of television, described Wheldon's style of leadership as "tending towards the flamboyant and inspirational."

    He became the Arts Council Director for Wales, and was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the Festival of Britain.

    Huw Wheldon died on March 14 1986 from cancer. His ashes are in Kew Gardens and his grave in Nant Peris in the church of St Peris, alongside his father, mother, brother and forbears. Members of the Royal family and representatives from the arts and media attended his memorial at Westminster Abbey.


your comments

Mark Shere from Guildford
I always enjoyed watching Huw Wheldon on TV. His informative style was very endearing, and like all great broadcasters he made you feel he was talking to you and you alone. he gave the impression that he was no different once the cameras were switched off. His documentary "Destination D-Day" is a masterclass in how to convey a complicated story in an exciting yet calm way. The fact that he never talked about his MC in the programme speaks volumes for his unassuming nature
Wed Jun 6 10:46:25 2007

Len Billingham Brixworth Northampton
Sir Huw Wheldon arrived in Normandy on D-Day as a captain, as we all did, with the 6th Airborne Division, later becoming a Major in charge of a company. He was awarded the Military Cross for activities on 7th June 1944, the day after D-Day.
Wed Jan 31 09:34:53 2007

Glyn Roberts, Macclesfield Cheshire (formerly of P
When I was aged 14 (1965) I suffered a burst appendix which developed into life-threatening peritonitis, resulting in a couple of emergency operations in the Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. I was in critical condition for quite a few days before 'turning the corner'. I was seriously unwell and the outcome was uncertain for six or seven days. It was during this time that the Wheldons came to visit me, although my parents and I did not really know them. Apparently they had links with Rhehoboth Chapel in Prestatyn that we attended. They had apparently heard about the circumstances and wanted to show their concern. Both lord and Lady Wheldon (as I think they were by that time) projected real sympathy. While I was not really able to converse sensibly they spoke to Mum and Dad at the bedside and made an impression on me as charming and sophisticated people. Rhyl and Prestatyn did not have many residents (or visitors) with that kind of style in the 1960s!
Wed Jan 17 11:46:20 2007

Wynn Wheldon, London
Some responses and answers. My father, if anything, never took enough credit for the work he did on Monitor for others, as will be testified by those who worked on the programme. There was never any question that it was made by a team; equally there was never any question who its leader was. And Mr Abbott is quite right. The Wheldon family plot is at Nant Peris, but my father's ashes - and my mother's - were laid around a sapling, Liquid Amber in Kew Gardens, an institution of which he was immensely fond. Finally, it is very heartening to read Tom Bausch's words. Dad absolutely adored going to the Aspen Institute, and he loved the USA. I refer him to the obituary by Norman Podhoretz read into the Congressional Record by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, which expresses similar sentiments.
Mon Jan 30 03:03:28 2006

Tony Ferney from London
I remember after a particularly pretentious "Monitor", (the programme hosted by Wheldon) Private Eye asking "how one brain could contain so much knowledge. The simple answer is it can't and Wheldon knew it. Perhaps, therefore, some credit accrues to his anonymous staff members whom he somehow always forgot to mention.
Sat Sep 10 23:17:48 2005

Tom Bauch, San Francisco
Sir Huw Wheldon, whom I knew slightly from the Aspen Institute, was a man of enormous charm and grace. He was very funny himself bu thad the rare gift of making his guests see themselves as equally amusing, charming and graceful.
Thu Jul 21 19:29:18 2005

Colin Abbott
This will probably sound very naive, but tell me, how can Huw Wheldon's ashes be in Kew Gardens and his grave be in Nant Peris?
Sun Mar 6 13:07:40 2005

Wynn Wheldon, London
My grandfather's name was (Sir) Wynn, not John. He too was decorated for bravery, in the First World War.
Thu Sep 16 21:11:53 2004

George Guest
George Guest: by permission of the Master and Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge. One of Britain's finest choral conductors.

Born:
    9 FEB 1924
Died:
    20 NOV 2002
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Friars School, Bangor
Famous For:
    Leading organist and choirmaster
Trivia:
    He was a passionate Chester City fan, keeping a written record of every game.
Biography:
    George Howell Guest CBE was responsible for taking the choir at St John's College, Cambridge, from the verge of extinction to an international reputation.

    His father was a grocer and amateur organist and George began his choral career at Bangor Cathedral, moving on to Chester Cathedral when he was 11.

    After wartime RAF service he was awarded an organ scholarship at St John's, Cambridge, becoming the organist and choirmaster in 1951 until his retirement in 1991.

    Under his leadership the college choir school was saved from closure and then developed to become popular radio performers on radio and recording artists.

    George Guest is widely credited with raising the standard of English choral music to new heights and he held numerous posts in church music organisations.

    He also made regular appearances with Welsh choirs and adjudicated eisteddfod competitions, being made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards in 1977.

    He chose the collected works of Welsh nationalist writer Saunders Lewis as his book when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.

    He and his wife Nancy had two children. His autobiography, A Guest at Cambridge, was published in 1994.

    Thanks to James Griffiths from Glasinfryn, Bangor, for suggesting this entry.


your comments

Patricia Oliver from Hampton-on-Thames
In the early 60s I had a boyfriend who was a choral scholar at St John's and well remember the name George Guest. Said boyfriend lived in Bangor where I was studying at UCNW. Happy memories!
Thu Oct 25 11:34:05 2007

Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock The talented jazz musician has been commissioned to compose and perform a piano concerto at The Proms.

Born:
    24 FEB 1981
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Chetham's School of Music, Manchester
Famous For:
    Jazz composer and musician
Biography:
    Gwilym Simcock is an award-winning pianist and has his own jazz trio, quintet and big band.

    Still in his 20s, he has received numerous accolades and been nominated for two of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, including Best Album for Perception.

    He told us: "I was taught at home by mum until I was nine, and my dad, a great church organist, taught me music. I got into jazz in my mid-teens while I was at Chetham's in Manchester, then I went to the Royal Academy of Music in London to do a jazz degree.

    My parents live in Amlwch now and it's always lovely to come home as the peace and quiet, along with the beautiful landscape, is always very inspiring and gives me lots of ideas.

    I have performed all over Wales and I look forward to playing with my trio at this year's Brecon Jazz Festival.

    Playing at the Albert Hall in this year's Proms is a welcome opportunity to fulfill one of my ambitions, but generally, to make good music and gain the respect of my fellow musicians is always important to me."

Tony Gray
Tony Gray Tony Gray was a Wales rugby international before becoming the national team coach and taking Wales to third place in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

Born:
    14 JUN 1942
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Ysgol y Garth, Ysgol Friars
Trivia:
    Tony was named European coach of the year in 1988.
Biography:

    I was brought up in Bangor and started playing my rugby at school as a centre. I played for Bangor Rugby Club, when it was based at a ground in Beaumaris!

    Tony Gray, Captain of the London Welsh rugby team Then I went to college in Cardiff and moved to play in the back row. College rugby was a bit different to the level I'd been playing at during my schooldays, as was moving on to the London Welsh team. I was there at a really exciting period in Welsh rugby; from 1964 to 1976, and became captain in 1971. I was on the same team as players like JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, John Dawes and Mervyn Davies, all Welsh internationals. I particularly loved the fixtures against the Welsh teams over Christmas and Easter. It's a tradition they don't follow anymore.

    I played for Wales in 1968 against England, Scotland and Argentina. Playing England at Twickenham is such a huge game and it was definitely a really proud moment for me.

    I stayed in rugby after retiring from playing, and became Wales coach in 1985 at a really exciting period in the game. We had a group of really talented young players like Jonathan Davies, Robert Jones and Dai Young. It took a bit of time to settle down, but we were heading in the right direction.

    We went to the first Rugby World Cup hosted by new Zealand and Australia in 1987, just off the back of winning the triple crown. We had no idea how big a tournament it would become; we had the Five Nations, but nothing like that. We lost heavily to the eventual winners, New Zealand, in the semi finals but did beat Australia in the game for third place.

    I finished as Wales coach in 1988, just a year before lots of those great young players went north to play Rugby League. I became a lecturer in the Sports Science department of Bangor University before retiring.

    I'm now President of the North Wales Rugby Union. Rugby in north Wales is progressing well - great strides have been made over the last few years. The game is now professional, so the biggest obstacle will be finance, but I am really excited to see the North Wales Regional team get together. The Welsh Rugby Union have realised that there's talent in North Wales and are now doing far more to develop it. This is shown in the increasing amount of players we have involved in the Wales junior teams.

Angus McDermid at the BBC
Bangor-born Leslie Roberts, now of Silver Springs, Florida, talks about schoolfriend Angus McDermid's long and varied career as foreign correspondent with BBC news.

Angus McDermid


"Angus McDermid was a school friend, but we parted ways when WW2 came about (as with so many associates). He was a cub reporter with the then North Wales Chronicle, whose offices and printing presses were located on the site now occupied by Boots the Chemist.

He joined the BBC at some point and, being a shortwave radio listener, I picked up his broadcasts from South Africa when he was the correspondent there.

During his tour of duty in Africa he covered a military coup and, as with other prisoners, was allowed one telephone call home. He spoke to his wife (in Welsh) and was able to transmit a scoop undetected. He also escorted the Queen on her tour of Africa at some point.

He was then posted to Washington DC for eight or nine years, and covered the Nixon Watergate era.

Nearing retirement age, the BBC brought him closer to home - that is, to Brussels, Belgium.

He was awarded the OBE or MBE, and he retired to a village near the foot of Snowdon, whilst maintaining a base in London to do some occasional work for Bush House and Portland Place."

your comments

Rob Lewis, London
Arnold Lewis was my father. By a strange turn of fate I now live in Bromley, about a mile from Whitecroft Way where Angus lived in the early 1960s.
Wed Sep 17 10:16:51 2008

Kate Dickens, Spalding
A correction to Ifor Roberts' comment: Angus was effectively an only child - although he did have a younger brother, Alfie, who died of diptheria before my father was born. You are thinking of my father's cousin, Glyn McDermid, whom I remember well and was indeed employed by the Penrhyn Estates. I also remmber Arnold Lewis well - he taught at a comprehensive school in London during the 1960s and visited our family often in those days.
Thu Feb 7 10:48:40 2008

Gayner Haynes London
To Leslie Roberts - I am interested to know if you knew my father, Paddy Burns. He went to school with and was a friend of Angus McDermid. He also knew Harry Parry. My father went to Friars school with Angus Mcdermid. My mother Vivienne Burns (nee Hughes) sang with some of the dance and jazz bands of North Wales during the late 1940s.My Aunt, Enid McNamarra (nee Hughes) worked at the North Wales Chronicle from the early 1950s and also knew Angus McDermid. So do you know anything of my father, his family or my mother?
Wed Jan 30 15:13:22 2008

Ifor Roberts, now Scotland
My mother's family knew Angus McDermid very well and I remember him visiting my nain, Gracie Roberts in Friars Avenue when I was quite young. My mother is Enyd Roberts who now lives near my sister just outside Biggleswade. Her cousin was Arnold Lewis who lived in Maes y Dref. He was the accompanist with Cor Penrhyn for many years and moved to Cardiff to work with the BBC until his retirement. Sadly he died some 3 years ago.I actually worked with Angus's brother, Mr Mac as we knew him, for a short while at the Penrhyn estate office just after I left school in 1973.
Fri Oct 5 16:02:11 2007

Emrys Edwards , Stoke-on-Trent
I was also a class-mate (Friars School) 1932-40 and remember John Barlow Jones. There were 13 'Jones' in our form ! The Headmaster was Ifor Williams ('Lucius') and I still have his inscribed French Prize ("Awst 1942, gyda dymyniadau goreu")
Mon Aug 6 10:29:18 2007

Alexandre Burmester from Oporto, Portugal
I remember very well Angus McDermid's excellent reporting on the BBC World Service and particularly his time in Washington. On August 8, 1974, I listened to President Nixon's resignation speech, introduced to BBC listeners by Mr McDermid.
Thu Jun 14 09:45:29 2007

Kate Dickens, Lincolnshire
A sad addition to this page, I'm afraid. My mother, Myfanwy McDermid, widow of Angus McDermid, died on July 13 after a short illness.
Fri Sep 16 21:40:06 2005

Elinor Millard, Harpenden, Herts
I was born in Bangor and lived in Penrhos Road until I left home to go to Law School. My late Father, Gwilym Roberts, wrote a daily column in the Liverpool Daily Post - "Day to Day in Wales". As a child I remember Angus well. He was a friend and colleague of my father and a frequent visitor to our home. My parents were guests at Angus and Myfanwy's wedding. I think the family home was at Lon y Bryn. My father was also a great friend of Angus's father. Happy Days!
Fri Aug 26 19:18:55 2005

Kate Dickens (nee McDermid0 now living in Spalding
Well, with pride, I can add that Angus was my father and very much missed, he still is, particularly as he has three grandsons who would have loved him so much.

I worked in Bangor too, on the North Wales Chronicle (from 1975-77), the fourth generation of the family to do so. It provided excellent training and I went on to a 20 year career in journalism. But now I've retrained as an English teacher.

My mother Myfanwy (Nan) now lives 60 miles from me in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, completely different from North Wales,of course, but not without its attrractions. I'll pass on any interesting information from the site to her.

I recently met an old Friars school friend of my father's, John Barlow Jones, who lived in Orme Road, Bangor,before joining the Navy. He later became a bank manager. We met up via his daughter, Sally Jones, a journalist and former television reporter, through a mutual friend. Small world!

Just a comment on leslie Roberts; contribution above. Angus joined the BBC in 1957 having freelanced for the corporation from Bangor while still chief reporter on the Chronicle. And it was the OBE he received, in the early '80s. The village he retired to was Fachwen, on the slopes of Llyn Padarn. This was where he died, suddenly, in October 1988, just a week before his first grandson's first birthday. As for the C&A motor club, we still have various tankards awarded as prizes in the club's rallies!
Fri Jun 3 20:32:47 2005

Ig Nwangwu, Lagos, Nigeria
As a very young and avid shortwave listener during the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967-1970), I listened a lot to Angus Mcdermid on BBC radio as he covered the war. As I watched the recent wars (Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq) and saw the likes of Peter Arnet, Nik Robertson, Christiane Amanpor all of CNN television, I wondered if Angus McDermid's experience in Nigeria was the same as those of these reporters I saw on the tv screen. I, therefore, decided to look the name up on the BBC website, least expecting to get any information on the man Angus McDermid.
Fri Sep 3 08:46:42 2004

David Cooke from Newcastle, Staffs
I remember Angus & Myfanwy well from my days in the Caernarfon & Anglesey Motor Club. He was a very keen member in his VW Beetle. At that time he was based in Bangor. Happy Days...
Thu Sep 18 13:05:59 2003

Joey Jones
Joey Jones Great Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales footballer.

Born:
    4 MAR 1955
Place of Birth:
    Bangor
School:
    Stella Maris primary school, Mostyn secondary.
Biography:
    Joey Jones helped Liverpool win two European Cups, two League Championships and reach the FA Cup final, and took part in a memorable Wales defeat of England.

    Joey Jones was brought up in Llandudno and was always a football fanatic. He played for Llandudno Estates, later the Llandudno Swifts, a team which, despite having both Joey and Neville Southall in defence was, as he admits, awful! He also played for John Bright School football team, which won the area cup in 1968.

    He was taken for trials to Chester and Wrexham by local scout Evan Williams of Craig-y-Don. He and Mickey Thomas were taken on by Wrexham in 1971 as ground staff. In exchange for the opportunity to train with the team, they were paid £8 a week (£5 of which went on board and lodgings) and expected to clean the boots, tidy the terraces and prepare the pitch - by hand, with a pitchfork.

    At 17, Joey made his Racecourse debut as a first team player in a Welsh Cup match against local rivals Chester City. He was part of the Wrexham team which reached the quarter-finals of the FA cup in 1974, starting the club's giant-killing reputation by beating Crystal Palace, Middlesborough and Southampton.

    In 1975 Joey was made an offer a life-long fan couldn't refuse - a move to Liverpool, on a Wrexham record transfer fee of £110,000. Playing alongside Kevin Keagan and Tommy Smith, he helped the club win European Cups in 1977 and 1978, two League Championships and reach an FA Cup Final.

    During his time at Liverpool, Joey also made his first of 72 appearances for Wales, naming Wales's 1-0 victory over England as one of the highlights of his career.

    In 1978 he returned to Wrexham for the record fee of £210,000 before moving on to Chelsea, where he joined his old friend Mickey Thomas in securing the second division title for the London club. Following a short stay at Huddersfield, Joey returned to Wrexham as a player and, following his retirement in 1992, as a coach. He had scored 29 goals as a professional player - and, as he concedes, a few more own goals, being a defender! Following heart surgery in 2002, Joey now acts in an ambassadorial role for the North West club.


your comments

P Downey, Wirral
See Joey made the list of top 50 all time Liverpool greats. So satisfying that someone is rewarded for their passion to the cause despite limited ability. Memories are priceless just like Joey's salute. You can have all your superstars but there's only one Joey Jones.
Wed Mar 11 15:02:38 2009

Dave Boylen, from Grimsby
Again Joey Jones has turned up trumps for me, came on October 27th which was a bleak evening to support a Charity night in aid of a lad who is suffering with heart problems. Once again a first class evening, Joey you have got the freedom of Grimsby that I can assure you, spoke to all the pundits could you imagine the present set of players doing thatn in this day and age.
Mon Nov 24 10:25:05 2008

DAVID BOYLEN GRIMSBY
I was fortunate to play against Joey Jones when he was starting of with Wrexham,and I was playing for Grimsby Town he went to Liverpool and I stayed at Grimsby what a good player followed his progress with great interest, deserved all his glory.Only last week did a after dinner talk in Grimsby for me brought the house down with his stories, thanks Joey for a really entertaining night Dave Boylen Grimsby Town 1966/1977
Mon Apr 14 10:09:31 2008

rich thorne, wrexham
Being from Nottingham my girlfriend has told me the stories of the famous clenched fist salute. Joey was and still is her hero. She attended her first Wrexham match in 1969 at the age of 3. When Joey lived on first ave Gwersyllt it was a great thrill to knock on his door and ask would he come out for a kick about. Joey you are a true gent who has never forgotten his roots!
Mon Feb 26 09:52:37 2007

Nick Jones from Leeds formally of Wrexham
Oh Joey, Joey! You are such a legend for both Wrexham & Liverpool, I named my son after you! I also used to knock around with your Richard when I was a teenager and once, you helped push my little MG Metro to bump start it down Ffordd Ystrad!
Wed Jan 17 11:50:22 2007

Peter, Llandudno
I have many stories about Joe, all good. But 1 I would like recall is not long after Alan Kennedy joined Liverpool, I was in the car park outside the MAin entrAnce to THE CLUB, when Joe called me and we went into the players lounge to talk. He was not playing that day and was very down. He thought his brother Frank was a better footballer than he was, and he was really depressed. I had to try and buiLd his confidence, by saying that no team could continually carry a player, and he was a member of a very good team that had won the league, unluckily lost the F.A.cup final to 2 fluky goals and won the European Cup all in 1 season 1976-77, and he is still a very good player and could continue to do a good job for Liverpool. We spent some time talking about self confidence, and the ability to play with other great players, and cover any mistakes made by other players, which he had to on a few occasions. Ray Kennedy always said that he knew where Joe was as he was always talking to him and giving him positional advice during the game. A great compliment. I later came to know his Mum and Dad very well. His Dad was a lovely man, and I enjoyed his Mum's company. Thanks for the pleasure of watching you Joe and all the memories
Mon Jan 15 09:35:24 2007

Derrick Goodman, Deganwy, now living in Notts
I played in the same team as Joey at John Bright's. He stood out head and shoulders above everyone on and off the pitch, great player, proud to know him. I remember him showing off his liver bird tattoo at school. That's why he always wore a long sleeved shirt at Chelsea.
Sun Apr 2 15:22:08 2006

Chris Porter from Huddersfield
Still got the last shirt that Joey played in, in his last match for Huddersfield Town. Joey was a great guy, a true ambassador for the game - fond memories of Joey at Leeds Road.
Sat Feb 25 00:28:03 2006

Phil, Llandudno
I remember well playing with and against Joey on the Maesdu Rd pitch, Llandudno. We were both about age 9 or 10 and he was a fanatic even then. We all knew he would make it, he just had what it takes.
Thu Apr 28 01:44:49 2005

Glyn Hughes, Portsmouth
My claim to fame is,Joey was in the same class as my sister,I was a couple of years behind them. Anyway i had gone out at lunchtime from school and bought myself an L.F.C sticker for sixpence! Walking into the playground showing off my sticker Joey pinged it, came over and sort of persuaded me to give it him (he was a big lad). Anyway I'm not bitter...
Fri Oct 1 21:19:07 2004

Dean Street and beyond
Kitty Baxter Members of the Glanadda Pensioners' Club recall life down Dean Street and beyond in years gone by.

Trying to sneak into County Hall, getting rapped over the knuckles at school and narrowly missing a wartime bomb - Bangor life was hectic for Kitty Baxter

"Bangor was a very happy place when I was young. I lived in Dean Street until I was ten and there were lots of shops down there at that time - a butchers, a chippie, a sweet shop (I loved sherbet with liquorice).

These big superstores have taken over now, but before you had small, family businesses on the High Street, passed down from father to son. You knew everyone, chatted with everyone and you got personal service.

There was Lipton's, Maypole, Williams', Turner's, Benefit, Lotus... all little groceries, bakers or clothes shops.

I went to St Mary's primary school, down at the bottom of Dean Street - it's flats now. There were 30 children in the class, a complete mix of ages and abilities. Then I went to the Central School, which is now a science building on Deiniol Road. I really enjoyed school.

I only remember one teacher, Miss Burns, she used to hit us across our knuckles with a ruler. My mother would say; 'What have you got on your hands?' 'Blood' I'd say. And she'd answer; 'Well, you probably deserved it'. You wouldn't get that now - they'd sue the school!

On Saturday nights we used to walk up and down the high street looking for boyfriends. We couldn't go in the pubs because we were too young, but we made our own entertainment. The County Theatre was on Dean Street - it's the Octagon now, of course. They used to have concerts and talent shows on and, because the back door was opposite our house, we'd try to sneak in and watch. We'd get chucked out if we were caught because we were too young!.

After school I worked at a lot of jobs - never stayed in one job long. They were going to teach me how to make hats at Thomas Henderson's, which was at the top of Dean Street, but I only lasted a year.

Then I moved on to Polikoff's, a big shop on the High Street. It's where Peacocks is now. I worked on the baby clothes counter and I loved it. Although there wasn't really fashion then - we couldn't afford fashionable clothes and weren't really interested, you just wore what you had.

Then when I was 18 I worked behind the bar at the King's Arms - I think it's an Irish pub now.

In 1937 we got moved out of the slums of Dean Street and up to Maesgeirchen. Others went up to Maes Tryfan or Glyn Road. It was great - we had an indoor bathroom and hot water for the first time. We didn't have to go to the toilet outside and take a bucket of water with us to flush it.

I lived in MaesG for 36 years. I saw a lot of changes - the neighbours just weren't the same after a while. But there is now a great community there - only a few give it a bad name, but I think it's coming back into its own again.

I lived there during the war. The night the bombs dropped on MaesG I was babysitting in the Drill Hall for Major Flower and his wife, and he said he'd send one of the soldiers with me to walk me home because it was along way. The soldier took me as far as the Pen Lôn slate works, then said I'd be alright from there, it wasn't far.

So I went under the bridge and along the main road home - and a bomb dropped on top of the hill. I'd just turned the corner, but I went back, up Pen Bryn and ran all the way home. I just got home as the second one dropped - it was really scary.

But apart from that we managed all right during the war. My father used to fish and grow his own veg, so we always had a meal.

My mother had one evacuee, a girl called Annie from Liverpool. She was a bit cheeky in the beginning, but she soon got used to us. She was with us for two years, and she would have stayed longer I think but her mother made her go home. We had a lot more freedom than she would have had in the city. We used to take her down to the beach and have a go on the boats my father worked on. He used to row posh people over to their yachts on the Menai Strait - well, they were posh to us!"

Old Bangor and the Plaza

Last updated: 28 December 2007

Don Talbot and Violet Bell

Don Talbot is another former resident of Dean Street.

"I used to live in Dean Street in the 1930s and I remember getting flooded there twice - the river overflowed I think. They've put drains there now.

They also used to keep cattle at the bottom of Dean Street - it's a football field for kids now, but they used to have a slaughterhouse down there at one time.

We lived in a big lodging house, a converted tavern. It's a car park now. Lots of people used to come in and out, travellers, fellers looking for work.

I used to work in Robert Roberts' café - it's where a clothes shop is now, opposite the Abbey National. It was the biggest café on the High street and I used to deliver things from the big bakery down the street to Roberts'."

Violet Bell remembers Bangor's cinema in its heyday.

"Bangor was a lovely place years ago. I used to live in Well Street, which is near Dean Street. We stayed there when other people were moved out to Maesgeirchen.

I worked in the Plaza cinema for 24 years. It's gone terrible now, even though they've done it up into two cinemas, it's not like it used to be. I was an usherette, cashier, everything - back in the days when we sold ice cream in the intermission.

I've seen all the films, although not a whole film at once because we were so busy! I've seen them all, but Tom Cruise is my favourite.

I worked there until I was 70. I started when I was young and then left to have the children but then went back. I loved it there."

Back to the start.

More Bangor memories from John Arthur Owen...

your comments

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken. Can you tell me how Bill Davies was related to you as it is the same person, that was my uncle, who was a tailor in Dean Street, Bangor.
Mon Apr 20 09:23:29 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi David Davies, Just thought I'd let you know that Bill Davies was my uncle he married my father's (George Flinn) sister Freda and I think the shop you are thinking of was Ashley's.
Mon Apr 20 09:22:57 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken Hughes. Bill Davies was my uncle and he ran a tailor shop in Dean Street next to Eunice's sweep shop.
Tue Apr 14 09:42:34 2009

Josie Tilyard born in Bangor now living in London
The comments on this page have brought back some very happy memories to me - my mother was Welsh and we lived in Blodwyn Villa, Beach Road, Bangor. My mother's maiden name was Owen and she had a brother named George who lived in Seriol Road. For some time now I have been trying to trace my cousins, whom I would play with as a child. I also remember playing at the tennis courts in Hirael Road. My mother worked in Polikoff's before marrying my father and her best friend was Louisa Moses. I can remember walking from Blodwyn Villa over the Menai Bridge and spending the day in Beaumaris then we would catch the ferry back to Bangor. Would love to hear whether Blodwyn Villa is still standing - it was a most beautiful house and the views were magnificient.
Fri Nov 7 09:21:27 2008

Sue Hughes-Jones, Y Felinheli
Has anyone information regarding my grandmother's laundry at Glanadda? Her maiden name was Charlotte Fanny Smith and she also ran a laundry in Deanfield, but I don't know where that was. I have photographs of all the laundry maids of the model laundry. Sadly only three are named, a Katie Munro, Auntie Jane who lived in a cottage in Penrhos near Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the supervisor Angie Williams. My grandmother said she first came to work in The Vaynol Laundry with Mr. & Mrs Arthur Atherton.
Wed Oct 1 09:22:08 2008

Marian Owen, Maesgeirchen
Found this website with my daughter - how wonderful! Reading about places and people I remember so well. I lived in Maesgeirchen, had a brother John, lived in Greenwood Avenue next door to the post office owned by Mr and Mrs Robbyns. We used to play for hours in the woods making dens and swings. Highlight of our lives was going to the youth club, every night until 10pm, great times. Did anyone remember the Hop where I met my husband of fifty years John Owen from Llandegai.
Mon Aug 18 09:59:48 2008

Ken Hughes _ Derby
Hi David Davies, nice to see you still on line and still interested in the old place, good to hear you and Diane are keeping ok. It's a few years now since we used to go up the coast to Rhyl on a Sunday night, remember Brian Pumfreys old Dodge, Arfon bach on the old guitar, you were quite a good swimmer at scool always winning the diving for plates challenge at old Siliwen baths, a few of the lads are still around, Kenny Edwards, Ello (beans) Owen Stan O'mara Im sure you remember them. I used to enjoy Friday nights with your dad at the Union Hotel Buff Lodge in Garth he was a great bloke.

If I remember Will Davies the taylor used to run the A.C.F in Glynne Road - he gave me my first stripe. The shop at the top of Dean St is now a Radio and TV shop owned by Ioris Griffiths ex Bangor footballer
Thu Mar 27 10:03:11 2008

Ron Williams Worcs
David Davies, Christchurch: The shop you mention was Pentir Williams. I too used to look longingly at the Dinkies, especially the larger ones which we never could afford to buy. By the way, is Cotter's, the electrical firm, still in business in High Street, Christchurch? I used to work for them for a while in about 1970.
Thu Mar 6 09:48:34 2008

David Davies christchurch newzealand
When we were kids going to the County theaterin dean st,on saturdays.I would always go up to the shop at the top of the st andlook in awe at the new Dinky toys in the window. can anybody name the shop Ihad an uncle [Will Davies] how had a tailors shop in dean st. Then there was Mrs Hopes, shop where we would buy half a Turf cigarette for the moves.

Wendy davies[Owen]nice to know you and familly are ok, love to Carol and john from my self and Diane we are ok here. I loved your mam and dad. Alway when ever i could,i would go fishing with Norman
Fri Feb 29 11:17:12 2008

Carol Morgan-Lane, Maine, USA
I've recently discovered I am related to the Jones's that lived at 17 Dean Street for a good part of the 19th century. I'm so curious about it now. Are those dwellings still standing? Where might I find more information about that part of Bangor and what life was like then?
Thu Feb 7 10:46:38 2008

barbara smith ,re jones.reading berks
just to say hi to anyone who new jim and jo {skerries.}jones.both saddley passed on .jim was born in dean st to fenna jones. i have many tales he used to tell me .i just wounder if there are any of the old locals that used the skerries when jim was there. also he ran the soical club for some years, what a place. everyone new everone. percy roberts, steven lock, big jim. i lived in the skerries until i got married in 1974 and always came back 2or3times year until my mum diedin 1995. i always found it funny when we came on the road from bathessda. the sign WELCOME TO BANGOR and the fist thing you see is the cemetary.it still makes me chuckle. bangor has great memorys for me.
Thu Dec 20 09:49:58 2007

Enid Law Llangollen
Lovely Bangor memories. I was Enid Thomas I lived in Maesgeirchen. I went to St.Mary's School in the 1940s the teachers were Misses Harris (lived on Garth Rd Miss Williams Headmistress in the Infants. Miss Jones Mrs. Walford Miss Parry Miss Roberts and Mr. Parry the Head was Ald.Ithel Williams another Mayor.

My father worked in Crosville and was known as Will Tom. My mother was a teacher and ran the Sunday School in the old Y.W.C.A. in Maes G we called it the Cwt.Iremember the Sunday School trips to Rhyl 8 or 9 busloads of us
Thu Sep 20 16:22:07 2007

Glynne Williams, London
I was born in 1936 in a part of Bangor known as Abysinia aka Ffriddoedd. After the war, my dad worked in the railway sheds. I went to see him there a couple of times and remember it as awful, but now as a retiree and amateur artist I am desperatly trying to get photographs of the sheds. Can anyone help?
Thu Aug 30 12:34:34 2007

Sylvia Humphreys
My sister in law from Coed Mawr and my husband from Maesgeirchen are trying to find out information about the old workhouse on Caernarfon road which later became Snowdon building and cheese factory. They would be very grateful if any info is available.
Tue Aug 28 09:43:31 2007

Roger Jones of Bangor
Does anyone still remember Elfed from Water Street? He lived alone and was a bit of a hermit. He used old sacks for curtains. Banned from all the Bangor pubs so we were told! He was a real character.Also there was Noel Evans who lived opposite the (now) Fire Station. He wore an army greatcoat year in year out. He would ask you to get him some fresh fish when the mongers were around and he would throw the money to you - you stayed on the pavement - and it was usually half a crown. He'd tell you to keep some change for going.There was also a chap we called Evan Stump and he slept in run-down outbuildings near Kyffin Square. To my mind harmless old Bangor characters.
Wed May 2 09:25:57 2007

Maldwyn Hughes, Minffordd, Bangor
I have just found this site and so glad that I did. I was born and brought up in Bethesda but have lived here since 1954. I was an apprentice with Bethesda Council and started my technical education at the Central School under Mr.Graber, Mondays, 6 to 9pm. Sixpence return on the train from Bethesda. There were two quarrymen travelling with me, learning English under Mr. Walford [I think].Afterwards we used to go for a beer to the City at 6d a pint. I remember going to the County with my father about 1928 and sitting on the top balcony. I could not see the screen until my father pointed it out to me far below. About 1933 I went to the Arcadia Cinema where the Plaza was afterwards. It was a long wooden hut and it was moved to the bottom of Glanafon Hill where it became the British Restaurant serving cheap dinners during the war. Afterwards it became The Caernarfonshire Technical College where I continued my technical education in Electrical Engineering after it was interrupted by the war, before going to Wrexham and Birkenhead Tech. Today there are so many opportunities to gain qualifications but many young people don't take advantage of them. I have been retired since 1983, having worked with Manweb and the CEGB. I knew George Joynson, he was a radio Ham and I have spent many enjoyable hours on the air talking with him and Eric Lynn, Coed Mawr, also Albert Gaskell in Penrhos and his brother Walter in Caernarfon Rd. There was also Albert Hewitt, Foxlands. I used to speak with them on short wave from upstate New York. They have all gone now. I knew Albert Hewitt since 1951. He worked at the old Electrical Lab in Dean St. Both of us built TVs using ex-Government Radar parts with a green picture on a 6inch tube. We couldn't afford a proper tv. Happy times. My Best Wishes to all the Old Uns and all from Bethesda and Bangor. Hwyl Fawr - Maldwyn.
Mon Jan 29 12:37:18 2007

Jean Forsyth (nee Foulkes) from Bangor
I was born in Ffordd y Castell Maes G. and my father was Len Foulkes the window cleaner. He cleaned Woolworths windows every morning for years, along with other shop windows in the town. Just stumbled upon this site and found it fascinating as I recognise so many of the people mentioned. Don Talbot: do you remember Richie 'Robert Roberts'? Emrys Edwards (the owner of Robert Roberts Cafe) was Mayor of Bangor in 1962. I can still remember the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and Richie boning a side of bacon before putting it in the bacon machine. As a child I also used to enjoy watching the change drop down the shute in the cashier's booth at the bottom of the stairs. Brian Roberts: I was in County School with your mum. I'll always remember the little song she used to sing: "I love to play my little banjo and rest it on my knee, but when the strings are broken down it's no more use to me." You mention Gail Slee, well she lives next door to me. Antoinette Jones: You mentione Miss Broadbridge. I saw her last Saturday at a Xmas tea - still very smart and distinctively dressed - a real lady! There is a new web site for Bangor Civic Society which you will find interesting as there are several features that will bring back nostalgia to to you all.
Web team: You'll find it in our Bangor web guide.
Fri Dec 15 09:57:53 2006

Mark Goddard, Bangor
Mark Slee, You must be Gail's brother. I was born in Dean St in 1960. It was my Dad's antique shop at the time, next door t the COunty Theatre, at the bottom of the street up to the fire Station. I was brought home without any clothes many times by Wlater Williams, one of the firemaen there.
Fri Oct 13 09:39:45 2006

Roz Ainsworth Aberdeen
I am really pleased to have found this site. My father was born in William Street, Bangor, No 15 to be exact, son of Phoebe (nee Davies) and Emerson Roberts. My Nain used to work in Wartskis Bangor. the last time I was in Bangor it was Debenhams. My Taid was a gardener at Lime Grove which is now an old peoples home I think. Oh the hiraeth I have to be back there. I have an Aunt who lives in Port Penrhyn she used to work in the Doctors surgery when it was Glanfa. The family lived in Llandegai and my nain was organist there for a while as was my father Meirion Roberts but Barry Wynne was the recognised organist. he was far superior to my Dad at the organ. he could read music. my Father played from Tonic sol-fa! I worked in various places in Bangor - The Nelson hotel on Beach road, the British hotel, I was manageress of Freezrite on Caernarvon Road and also manageress of Contessa on Bangor High street. that was 21 years ago and for the last 20 years I have lived in Scotland the last 6 years on my own way out in the wilds of Scotland, very beautiful, but there's no place like home.
Tue Aug 29 12:13:38 2006

Mark Slee
Brought up in Dean St. just behind 'auntie' Eunie's sweet shop. My Mum told me there used to be stables at the back of the chemist shop on the High St. and I do vaguely remember nearly getting kicked to death by a horse! Maybe 15 years in Maes.G. - at the time a great place for a kid to grow up. At one time you could get all the way over Bangor mountain from the High St. to Maes.G. without touching the ground using walls, trees etc, an impossibe feat now I wager. Any body remember Mr. & .Mrs. Walford 10, Well St.(sorry: Ffordd-y-Ffynnon), my grandparents? Great site. Thanks.
Wed Jul 12 10:41:07 2006

Ronnie Morris from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
I was born in Glanadda (1941)but moved to Llandudno Junction when I was only 5. I doubt that anyone would remember me, but you might know my family. My Dad Alec Morris grew up on Lombobdu and worked as a fishmonger on the High Street, and during the war he worked for Daimlers. After the war he got a job at Hotpoint and that's when we moved to the Junction. My mother, Lily Lucas, was born in Glanadda just across the road from where Asda's is now. The house was demolished in the 1950's to widen caernarfon Road. We lost my Dad in 1993 and Mam just passed away last ! February at the age of 93.

We have lived in Canada now for 50 years, but I still love to visit North Wales, especially Bangor and Llandudno Junction. I'm planning another trip for this September. Kitty, my grandfather also worked at Polikoff's but it would have been before your time. In the 1920's I think. Just discovered this page and I enjoyed reading it
Fri Jun 30 09:44:49 2006

Carol Burns (nee Thomas) Blackpool
Hi Kitty I can't remember what I put in about my family but here is a bit more (If I repeat anything I apologize) My Taid was Hughie Gordon Thomas and he was known as Hugh Guard on the railways. He loved to play snooker and dominoes at the pub. My Nain was Mary Elma Thomas nee Williams. They lived in Coed Mawr in the 60's and 70's and then moved to Dean Street (45) after that. They lived there till my Taid died in 1990 and Nain in 1995. My Auntie lived next door. I remember the chippy half way up Dean Street (on a corner) and loved the chips from there. My Dad is Ken Thomas though we moved to York in the middle of the 60s with his work.
Mon May 8 13:11:08 2006

Bryan Jones - Old Colwyn
I was born at Caerdeon, Glanadda, Bangor. I remember shows by the BBC during the war years. My father was transport officer for the old Caernarfonshire Fire Brigade with the workshop in the old Chapel behind the County Theatre. George Joynson, if he wanted to borrow any tools to undertake jobs in the Theatre, would always ask my father if he could borrow. He would always return them. I did rather well due to this liaison. I remember I would be given complimentary tickets for the pictures or the wrestling matches that were held at the County Theatre. George Joynson and his wife lived in Ainon Road.
Wed Apr 19 09:16:28 2006

Mervyn, Miron Jones, Hirael Bangor
My fondest memories of the 60s was being able to play almost anywhere in safety. Everybody knew who you were or who your parents were. Our children have missed out on some magical places - Parc Bach, along the beach,and of course the High St. Many a cup final in the streets, no stupid signs in them days! The other highlight of the year was the Bangor rag. Great days great memories. Bangor will always be in my heart.
Mon Nov 21 19:21:52 2005

Lynne
Can anyone recall Silliams the bakers somewhere in the High St? Am trying to locate where it stood, have only recently found out I had an uncle Hywel Williams, son of Henry Williams the baker.
Mon Nov 21 01:11:56 2005

Antoinette Jones (nee Roberts)
Yes I remember County Theatre as a child in the 1950s and a lovely lady called Mrs. Williams who my brothers and I used to call "Aunty". She used to babysit me and my brothers occasionally but worked at the County for many years.

My father still runs Roberts Newsagents in the High street opposite Valla Chip shop with the help of two of my brothers, he has been there since 1953!. As kids we used to live above the shop and knew all the business people in the High Street. I remember well the fire station which is now a car park, Elias Garage which is now a restaurant, and Eirwyn Owen's the Chemist(who was the Mayor of Bangor at one time) he used to have a big basket weighing scale where new mums used to come along to weigh their babies.

As children we spent many happy hours down in Hirael playing tennis on the courts behind the Crosville Bus Depot and hanging around the beach behind Dickies Yard. Bangor was a wonderful place to be a child and even though I have lived away for over 30 years, as soon as I go "home" its like I've never been away.

Anyone out there remember Garth School and its teachers in the late 50s, Mr Haydn Jones, Miss Nora Jones, Miss Broadbridge and Miss Ellis and of course Mr Jones (Music). What a lovely school, we were all made to feel very special by those great teachers. I have very fond memories of going there after coming from Hirael School where the lovely Mrs Carrigal taught the infants and Miss Roberts toughened us up before we went up to Garth School. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows me or grew up in Bangor at that time.
Thu Nov 17 14:25:08 2005

Roger Jones of Glanadda, Bangor
Regarding the County Theatre, I seem to remember a manager in the 50s who was called Tom Gaffney - does anybody else remember him? George Joynson was the manager in the 60s and was a great bloke - full of laughs. He would drive from the County Theatre to do the banking near the town clock and when he came out, could not remember where he had parked his car! Me and a friend once found a dead cat and, knowing George's route home after work, we propped the poor cat up in the middle of the road and good old George seemed to run it over - it went flying through the air! His wife Myra once told me that the staff found a man dead in the upper balcony after a matinee and that the theatre was haunted by him. Good old days.
Sat Oct 22 20:33:29 2005

Cochwillan Old Hall
Marilyn Monteith with Japanese student Kayo Konno

Last updated: 30 November 2006
Marilyn Monteith answered an ad in a newspaper to land her dream historic home, which is now a far cry from its days as a farm building, as she explains here.

Cochwillan Old Hall was built in 1465 by William ap Gruffydd and was part of the Cochwillan/Penrhyn families estate, connected to the Vaynol estate in old days. It was a powerful place when first built as the Sherriff of Caernarfon lived there, issuing out his judgements.

It was then owned by John Williams, Archbishop of York during the time of King Charles. He joined it to Penrhyn and another estate in Bethesda and they're still together now, though Penrhyn became more powerful because of the slate industry. Cochwillan went into decline, even being used as a farm building.

Lord Penrhyn and the forerunner to CADW decided to renovate it in 1970 and now it's a beautiful house, has been on TV several times and has hundreds of visitors every year.

Cochwillan Hall I came to live here from Lancashire after reading an article in the Sunday Telegraph in 2002 about old houses which needed someone to care for them. I'm originally from Porthmadog, so I decided it was time to come home.

I fell in love with the house, although it's cold and draughty and not very modern. The plumbing and the electrics are ancient, but it's full of life and energy.

I first came alone, but then my two sisters fell in love with it too and eventually joined me.

It's been so hectic with fundraising and tourist visits (by appointment only), and I've had students from Bangor University's Japanese Institute living with us.

The main hall is massive so we use it for fundraising events for Marie Curie Cancer Care. It's 37 feet by 25 feet and three storeys high.

The actual building maintenance is done by the Penrhyn Estate, but keeping it clean and tidy is our responsibility and it's quite a job. We have a dusting pole that's 15 to 20 feet long. The screens made of oak and wattle and daub have to be treated with orange oil.

You've got to be tough and not mind the cold either because central heating would damage the building. So I'm sitting here in November wearing three layers on top, trousers, leggings and thick socks.

None of the windows fits very well and the building's in a very exposed position, although it would have been surrounded by woods originally. But you get used to it and I've no regrets.

By Marilyn Monteith

your comments

Brian R
I remember going to a UCNW history party at Cochwillan in 1980 when my history lecturer lived there. The party was great but we had to scrape the drink off the hall floor with credit cards the folowing morningto restore it!
Mon Sep 10 09:49:45 2007

Kenneth S. Williams from Brentwood, TN (USA)
I am a direct descendant of William ap Gruffydd (along with a lot of other people)so I especially found this article interesting. If I am in North Wales this or next year I will certainly come by.
Fri Apr 13 10:00:35 2007

At war in Bangor

Last updated: 05 February 2007
Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire, got in touch to share his mixed feelings about life for an English boy in Bangor during World War II.

Thanks to Herr Adolf Hitler I was compelled to live in Bangor to be near my father's workplace in Beaumaris until World War II was over and we were all allowed to return to our Isle of Wight homes.

What started as a bit of a nightmare for a seven-year-old English boy surrounded by fervent Welsh Nationalists, ended in a state of awful confusion when I had to leave the place I came to love, full of so many friends, to return to a home that had also grown away from me whilst I was away.

All the Saunders-Roe workforce and their families arrived one dark night after an all-day journey that began before dawn - it was supposed to be hush-hush stuff. We were ushered through a gateway in a high wall to be confronted with a spell-binding view, the Menai Strait and the entire coastline as far as the Great Orme, bathed in moonlight.

We were told this was to be our new home, the Bishop's Palace at Glyn Garth, and we all lived there communally until, one by one, each family found its own accommodation round about.

I celebrated my seventh birthday and my first Welsh Christmas there before we moved to lodgings at Burn Bank in Margaret Street, Beaumaris. I had a very unhappy time at Menai Bridge County Primary School, where I was frequently set-upon for no better reason than I was English and my form teacher was a fervent Welsh Nationalist who did more to encourage the bullying than to stop it.

My parents dug deep into their pockets to send me to a private boarding school, which could hardly have been more different - St Gerard's Convent School in Bangor.

The cost of fees forced my mother to go out to work, so we moved from Beaumaris to lodgings in Craig-y-Don Road, Upper Bangor, right next door to the bowling green, and my association with Bangor began.

By now the war effort was demanding everyone's attention. Both my parents were working long hours - father servicing Catalina flying boats at Friars and mother working at the office where the Royal Army Service Corps coastal patrol boats were administered. So I was unable to live at home and remained as a boarder with the nuns.

That was until I was lucky enough to get through the Common Entrance Exam and the ensuing scholarship exam and was given a place at Friars Grammar School to start my secondary education.

After the safety of St Gerard's, this meant exposure, once more, to the nasty side of nationalism, the aspect that we see far too much of to this day, the side which believes the cause justifies almost any cruelty.

I was very lucky that I built up my own special relationships with a few elderly Welsh ladies who made sure my incessant queries were properly answered so that I learned why our wretched Government had been the cause of Welsh disaffection.

I would like to thank them by name as they surely deserve a place in heaven: Mrs Jones of 14 College Road and Mrs Reece of 14 Menai View Terrace, both successive landladies of ours, and especially, Mary Silwyn Roberts, who was Cavan O'Connor's landlady at his wartime theatrical digs, a few doors further along College Road.

Bangor in the war years was a hotbed of culture and politics, stimulated by the university college, where even for someone as young as I was, there was so much to be learned.

The entire BBC variety department was housed in the town for the duration of the war. For a time we even shared lodgings with Children's Hour's Aunty Nan, to whom I looked up with great respect befitting a person involved with that Monday to Friday, prime-time slot. Our landlady there was Mrs Jones and after the war her younger son, Meurig, became an announcer and disc jockey for BBC Wales.

In Bangor we also made friends with the ap Rhys family who lived in Garth Road, backing onto the sea. Prof Thomas ap Rhys was not only on the staff at the university, he was blind and was one of the early pioneers who assessed various breeds of dog for their suitability as guide dogs. These were the foundation years of the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. I well remember playing with his dogs as he kept so many of the 'failures' as family pets.

I joined the 3rd City of Bangor Sea Scout troop, who met in an old warehouse at Port Penrhyn, where I also made the acquaintance of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. I later joined the Menai Bridge Silver Band, playing tenor horn.

But I was cruelly torn away from my new friends at their practice room on Menai Bridge pier, by the inconsiderate termination of the war and my rapid repatriation to the Isle of Wight.

Graham Vine

your comments

Patricia Duffy (Nee Owen)
Gina (Pugh) USA, I was at St Gerards Convent at the same time as you and your sisters.I lived at the Harp Inn, High Street, Bangor. Many times, the sisters would knock the door so that I could walk the short distance to church with you.I have been trying to contact anyone that might have attended the convent around the same time I did. After many years of travelling with my late husband, both in the UK and abroad, I sadly lost photos in transit, along with my treasured school photos taken 1952/1953 and I think 1954. I wrote to Sister Mary Emmanuel many years ago and she told me that there were no records of the photographs, nor any copies at the convent. If you can help or know someone who you think could, it would make me very happy.
Mon Jul 20 11:26:31 2009

Marie Caponi (nee Smith)
I remember the Pugh girls (above). I was at St Gerard's from 1947-1950. I was friends with Sheila Steven Jones from Africa, living in Aber. I also remember Georgina Dorton (can't rememeber the spelling) whose family owned a hotel in Betws y Coed.
Tue Apr 14 10:22:15 2009

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
Yes, the school crocodile wending its way down the lane and through the town early each evening for Benediction at Bangor's Catholic Church is also a vivid memory as, for a weekly boarder, like myself, I would often see people I knew and could wave to them as we all filed past! No doubt that crocodile would be well known to many Bangor citizens as it was a daily routine, almost as dependable as the Irish Mail. It was one of those childhood privileges to be on the platform at Bangor as the Irish Mail shrieked and thundered through.

I had a very mixed religious life in Bangor which was - with hindsight - of enormous benefit to me for I was a virtual Roman Catholic all the weekdays at St Gerard's and, at weekends, I would either be attending the C of E Church or the newly formed Quaker Meeting and, whenever I was especially lucky, I would accompany Mrs Jones to the Baptist Chapel where the service was always in Welsh - of which I understood very little but was soon singing hymns as well as any native and earning much approval from my Welsh hosts. So I had found a way to convince them that not ALL English were bad news ! I suppose I must have been quite good at singing because, at St Gerard's, I was always asked to sing at the nuns' birthday parties.
Tue Apr 22 10:38:26 2008

Graham Vine from Bordon, Hampshire
It's been some time since I looked at my entry in the history pages so it was quite a surprise to find the added comments. Starting with Jim Menlove. Jim and I must have often passed one another if we didn't actually talk as I was often on the Menai Strait shore, especialy between the old sea-bathing pool and the youth hostel, where my mates and I beachcombed or I walked dogs for my old ladies, if on my own.

I too have seen Bangor City play, accompanying my Dad on his Saturdays off and have wandered over Bangor Mountain many times, sometimes on my own, with friends or, occasionally when 3rd City of Bangor were engaged in BP's Wide Games as he called them. But, likely as not, we would be on the Roman Camp which was much nearer home. Besides Cavan O'Connor's son, Gary, being a playmate of mine another playmate was John King, whom I discovered, much later in life, was the father of the very well-known BBC wildlife presenter, Simon King. Living in the top flat at 14 Menai View Terrace one did get a grandstand view of the Strait and all the flying boat movements on it and, of course, HMS Conway, swinging at her moorings as the tide changed. One holiday time when all the cadets had gone home, my friends and I were given a tour of the old warship because one of us boys, Alastair Woods, had a father who was one of the officers on board. It was a shattering experience leaving Bangor Pier in Conway's launch with a creww made up of many of her domestic staff, who were - would you believe - all "retired" Chinese pirates captured by the Royal Navy and serving their sentences as Cadet ship domestic staff. There was little doubt of their background as all of them were hideously mutilated from much cutlass fighting, with divers missing bits - ears were commonly missing as were nose tips cut back to the bone and, of course fingers galore, AWOL. After that mere scars seemed quite trivial! Yes,Gina, I do remember Sister Mary Aquinas, Sister Theresa, Sister Mary of Mercy - the intrepid footballer - and Sister Mary Agnes, a very old nun who was the boy's "mother", who made sure we were all kept clean!
Mon Apr 21 10:54:22 2008

Chris Penney, Exeter
My mother comes from Bangor and she vividly remembers the RAF Coastal Command Catalina flying boats alighting on the Menai Straits for repair at the Beaumaris overhaul facility opposite. A recently published book Wings Across the Border details this aviation history of the area and having asked for it for Christmas she was then engrossed in it for the rest of festive season!
Wed Apr 16 09:39:50 2008

John Davies, Boston Lincs
our family moved to bangor in 1940, my father worked for the liverpool victoria approved soc who rented treborth hall for the duration of the war. we lived at gwenalt and the garden ran to the railway enbankment. steam engines numbers was our hobby. it was a very busy station and yards.

i remember the yanks marching up the road from the station and i said 'any gum chum' and a guy said no but i have some candy.

the horses used to come from the station in strings of about 10 on way to the horse fair at menai bridge, the ferry used to go from the end of the pi! er when the tide was low so we had to walk a long way to board it. the flying boats were moored in the straits and the conway training ship was also there but was destroyed by fire.

my sister was 4 years older than me and took me to sat pictures and trips to bangor mountain, which often was on fire due to children setting the gorse alight.

we returned to croydon after the war but sadly my nephew and i will in a couple of weeks make the final journey to menai bridge to scatter my sister's ashes where she and i spent many happy time togther during the war.
Wed Apr 9 12:13:42 2008

Gina (Pugh) Hequembourg Dawsonville Ga USA
Graham - my family was at St Gerards Convent during the war. We lived in Liverpool and were evacuated to Wales for safety. My sisters Sheila, Pamela and myself attended St Gerards convent as boarders for our entire school lives. I have lots of memories of the nuns and the dormitories and walking into town to go to church down the lane. The fields we would play in. Do you remember Sister Mary Aquinus?
Wed Jan 23 08:52:25 2008

Jim Menlove
I spent many months in Bangor between 1940 and 1944 living with my mother and sister in the home of my grandparents Seth and Bertha Randall. I did not experience any of the prejudice which plagued Graham but that was no doubt because,even though very English, everyone knew my Welsh family, the Randalls. I was Ada's son and I assume now that is why I had better experiences. My father Bert Menlove had come from England in 1929 to play football for Bangor City and had met my mother then. I was born in 1930 in a tiny stone house with dirt floors on 22 Waterloo St.

I remember the nois! e of the Catalinas taking off from the straits on their way for ocean patrols and the MTBs stationed nearby. Once my sister and I were given a short ride in one, no doubt totally against regulations.

I spent many hours on "the mountain" to which we climbed up a narrow path between the houses. Other times were by the sea shore gathering winkles to take home for tea.
Thu Mar 15 10:04:23 2007

Theatre memories
Theatr Gwynedd

Last updated: 25 November 2008
The curtain fell on the stage at Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor, for the final time in October 2008. Theatre director Dafydd Thomas shares his memories - and we'd like to hear yours.

My first job here was as head of house in 1977, then deputy manager and finally theatre director, so I've been here for years. I was actually here during the first ever performance on January 1, 1975, Pwyll Gwyllt, and I hope to be here for the last ever show on October 18.

We'll be finishing with a production by Showzone, a company who give children from Objective One areas the chance to perform. They've made great use of our facilities, as have local school pupils, and I think they'll greatly miss us when we're closed.

The school halls round here just aren't the same; there's nothing to beat having the experience of performing on a real theatre stage, but absolutely no provision has been made for this and so groups like Showzone will be back to practising in their chapel vestry.

The people of Bangor will definitely suffer until the new arts centre is built, but that won't be for another four years at the very least.

The best of the Welsh acting establishment have performed at Theatr Gwynedd - John Ogwen, Jo Roberts, Maureen Rhys and Dewi Humphreys. David Jason also came here early in his career to appear in a play called Charlie's Aunt.

Our own production company, Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd, was created in 1986 and I recall their first production, O Law i Law, which went down to great reviews. They also did a stage version of the TV show C'mon Midffild which was brilliant - it's always great to see a theatre full of people laughing.

Theatr Gwynedd audience Unfortunately, they decided to separate the theatre from the production company in 2003, which put an end to Cwmni Theatr Gwynedd.

A number of comedians have been here over the years - Jack Dee, Jeremy Hardy - and we've had singers like Rick Wakeman and Ralph McTell.

The university have made good use of us too, putting on musicals like Joseph, Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof.

Theatr Gwynedd isn't a very big place. There were plans to build a second stage and practice rooms, but the funding ran out. So our backstage area is so small the technicians have often had to bring sets in from a van in the car park because there just isn't the space to store them. But our backstage staff do have a reputation of being the most professional and versatile in Wales.

Many actors have told me how much they love performing at Theatr Gwynedd because you're that much closer to the audience of 350. The acoustics are good and the actors are on a great eyeline with those watching.

Not everything has gone smoothly though. We once had a leak in the roof - I'm sure the audience had no idea there were lots of buckets backstage to catch the water!

And many performers have been late because of the trains and had to run on stage at the last minute. But we've only cancelled shows once, during the strikes of the 1970s when we didn't have any electricity to go on.

It's been fun working here. The fact that so many of the core staff have been here for years speaks volumes. It will be very sad when we close for the last time, especially as there's nothing to replace us. Dafydd Thomas

View some photos of past productions.

your comments

Kevin Myers, Cardiff
As a member of the University-based amdram group SODA I was lucky enough to perform in a professional theatre for the first time in Theatr Gwynedd, and what a thrill it was. I went on to appear on that stage many more times, and even went on to direct two shows there. Wonderful memories, making the demise of Theatr Gwynedd a sad day indeed for me and for countless others.
Wed Oct 15 11:33:12 2008

Melfyn, Llandudno Junction
When I was a student I worked at Theatr Gwynedd for a year as an usher/interval ice cream seller and therefore got to see lots of productions and films for free. My personal highlight was a summer production of Educating Rita with Robert "High Hopes" Blythe and Jacquetta May, despite having to sit through it many times. I also enjoyed Hwyl a Fflag's "Newid Aelwyd", but please don't make me sit through Robert De Niro's film "The Mission" ever again!
Thu Oct 2 16:13:11 2008

Sam Roberts from Wales
Don't close the theatre down as it been there since the 70s and it's the only good thing about Bangor. Many people's careers have started there.
Fri Sep 26 15:33:08 2008

Robert Roberts
Theatr Gwynedd is a significant performance space at the heart of Bangor University life. Why close it down?
Fri Sep 26 15:32:06 2008

Evaviv, Tywyn
Great article, but what a pity it has to close!My daughter, who is a professional actress, singer and dancer, was sorry to hear this, having performed there in the early 90s in Little Shop of Horrors and would love to attend a Gala Night if they have planned to have one. Best wishes to all at Theatre Gwynedd.
Fri Sep 26 09:02:42 2008

Kath, BBC web team
Memorable performances at Theatr Gwynedd for me have included George Melly, Ted Hughes, Rich Hall, and Mid Wales Opera who got me interested in opera for the first time.
Wed Sep 24 14:41:10 2008

[Admin (Matt)]

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken. Can you tell me how Bill Davies was related to you as it is the same person, that was my uncle, who was a tailor in Dean Street, Bangor.
Mon Apr 20 09:23:29 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi David Davies, Just thought I'd let you know that Bill Davies was my uncle he married my father's (George Flinn) sister Freda and I think the shop you are thinking of was Ashley's.
Mon Apr 20 09:22:57 2009

Margaret Flinn
Hi Ken Hughes. Bill Davies was my uncle and he ran a tailor shop in Dean Street next to Eunice's sweep shop.
Tue Apr 14 09:42:34 2009

Josie Tilyard born in Bangor now living in London
The comments on this page have brought back some very happy memories to me - my mother was Welsh and we lived in Blodwyn Villa, Beach Road, Bangor. My mother's maiden name was Owen and she had a brother named George who lived in Seriol Road. For some time now I have been trying to trace my cousins, whom I would play with as a child. I also remember playing at the tennis courts in Hirael Road. My mother worked in Polikoff's before marrying my father and her best friend was Louisa Moses. I can remember walking from Blodwyn Villa over the Menai Bridge and spending the day in Beaumaris then we would catch the ferry back to Bangor. Would love to hear whether Blodwyn Villa is still standing - it was a most beautiful house and the views were magnificient.
Fri Nov 7 09:21:27 2008

Sue Hughes-Jones, Y Felinheli
Has anyone information regarding my grandmother's laundry at Glanadda? Her maiden name was Charlotte Fanny Smith and she also ran a laundry in Deanfield, but I don't know where that was. I have photographs of all the laundry maids of the model laundry. Sadly only three are named, a Katie Munro, Auntie Jane who lived in a cottage in Penrhos near Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the supervisor Angie Williams. My grandmother said she first came to work in The Vaynol Laundry with Mr. & Mrs Arthur Atherton.
Wed Oct 1 09:22:08 2008

Marian Owen, Maesgeirchen
Found this website with my daughter - how wonderful! Reading about places and people I remember so well. I lived in Maesgeirchen, had a brother John, lived in Greenwood Avenue next door to the post office owned by Mr and Mrs Robbyns. We used to play for hours in the woods making dens and swings. Highlight of our lives was going to the youth club, every night until 10pm, great times. Did anyone remember the Hop where I met my husband of fifty years John Owen from Llandegai.
Mon Aug 18 09:59:48 2008

Ken Hughes _ Derby
Hi David Davies, nice to see you still on line and still interested in the old place, good to hear you and Diane are keeping ok. It's a few years now since we used to go up the coast to Rhyl on a Sunday night, remember Brian Pumfreys old Dodge, Arfon bach on the old guitar, you were quite a good swimmer at scool always winning the diving for plates challenge at old Siliwen baths, a few of the lads are still around, Kenny Edwards, Ello (beans) Owen Stan O'mara Im sure you remember them. I used to enjoy Friday nights with your dad at the Union Hotel Buff Lodge in Garth he was a great bloke.

If I remember Will Davies the taylor used to run the A.C.F in Glynne Road - he gave me my first stripe. The shop at the top of Dean St is now a Radio and TV shop owned by Ioris Griffiths ex Bangor footballer
Thu Mar 27 10:03:11 2008

Ron Williams Worcs
David Davies, Christchurch: The shop you mention was Pentir Williams. I too used to look longingly at the Dinkies, especially the larger ones which we never could afford to buy. By the way, is Cotter's, the electrical firm, still in business in High Street, Christchurch? I used to work for them for a while in about 1970.
Thu Mar 6 09:48:34 2008

David Davies christchurch newzealand
When we were kids going to the County theaterin dean st,on saturdays.I would always go up to the shop at the top of the st andlook in awe at the new Dinky toys in the window. can anybody name the shop Ihad an uncle [Will Davies] how had a tailors shop in dean st. Then there was Mrs Hopes, shop where we would buy half a Turf cigarette for the moves.

Wendy davies[Owen]nice to know you and familly are ok, love to Carol and john from my self and Diane we are ok here. I loved your mam and dad. Alway when ever i could,i would go fishing with Norman
Fri Feb 29 11:17:12 2008

Carol Morgan-Lane, Maine, USA
I've recently discovered I am related to the Jones's that lived at 17 Dean Street for a good part of the 19th century. I'm so curious about it now. Are those dwellings still standing? Where might I find more information about that part of Bangor and what life was like then?
Thu Feb 7 10:46:38 2008

barbara smith ,re jones.reading berks
just to say hi to anyone who new jim and jo {skerries.}jones.both saddley passed on .jim was born in dean st to fenna jones. i have many tales he used to tell me .i just wounder if there are any of the old locals that used the skerries when jim was there. also he ran the soical club for some years, what a place. everyone new everone. percy roberts, steven lock, big jim. i lived in the skerries until i got married in 1974 and always came back 2or3times year until my mum diedin 1995. i always found it funny when we came on the road from bathessda. the sign WELCOME TO BANGOR and the fist thing you see is the cemetary.it still makes me chuckle. bangor has great memorys for me.
Thu Dec 20 09:49:58 2007

Enid Law Llangollen
Lovely Bangor memories. I was Enid Thomas I lived in Maesgeirchen. I went to St.Mary's School in the 1940s the teachers were Misses Harris (lived on Garth Rd Miss Williams Headmistress in the Infants. Miss Jones Mrs. Walford Miss Parry Miss Roberts and Mr. Parry the Head was Ald.Ithel Williams another Mayor.

My father worked in Crosville and was known as Will Tom. My mother was a teacher and ran the Sunday School in the old Y.W.C.A. in Maes G we called it the Cwt.Iremember the Sunday School trips to Rhyl 8 or 9 busloads of us
Thu Sep 20 16:22:07 2007

Glynne Williams, London
I was born in 1936 in a part of Bangor known as Abysinia aka Ffriddoedd. After the war, my dad worked in the railway sheds. I went to see him there a couple of times and remember it as awful, but now as a retiree and amateur artist I am desperatly trying to get photographs of the sheds. Can anyone help?
Thu Aug 30 12:34:34 2007

Sylvia Humphreys
My sister in law from Coed Mawr and my husband from Maesgeirchen are trying to find out information about the old workhouse on Caernarfon road which later became Snowdon building and cheese factory. They would be very grateful if any info is available.
Tue Aug 28 09:43:31 2007

Roger Jones of Bangor
Does anyone still remember Elfed from Water Street? He lived alone and was a bit of a hermit. He used old sacks for curtains. Banned from all the Bangor pubs so we were told! He was a real character.Also there was Noel Evans who lived opposite the (now) Fire Station. He wore an army greatcoat year in year out. He would ask you to get him some fresh fish when the mongers were around and he would throw the money to you - you stayed on the pavement - and it was usually half a crown. He'd tell you to keep some change for going.There was also a chap we called Evan Stump and he slept in run-down outbuildings near Kyffin Square. To my mind harmless old Bangor characters.
Wed May 2 09:25:57 2007

Maldwyn Hughes, Minffordd, Bangor
I have just found this site and so glad that I did. I was born and brought up in Bethesda but have lived here since 1954. I was an apprentice with Bethesda Council and started my technical education at the Central School under Mr.Graber, Mondays, 6 to 9pm. Sixpence return on the train from Bethesda. There were two quarrymen travelling with me, learning English under Mr. Walford [I think].Afterwards we used to go for a beer to the City at 6d a pint. I remember going to the County with my father about 1928 and sitting on the top balcony. I could not see the screen until my father pointed it out to me far below. About 1933 I went to the Arcadia Cinema where the Plaza was afterwards. It was a long wooden hut and it was moved to the bottom of Glanafon Hill where it became the British Restaurant serving cheap dinners during the war. Afterwards it became The Caernarfonshire Technical College where I continued my technical education in Electrical Engineering after it was interrupted by the war, before going to Wrexham and Birkenhead Tech. Today there are so many opportunities to gain qualifications but many young people don't take advantage of them. I have been retired since 1983, having worked with Manweb and the CEGB. I knew George Joynson, he was a radio Ham and I have spent many enjoyable hours on the air talking with him and Eric Lynn, Coed Mawr, also Albert Gaskell in Penrhos and his brother Walter in Caernarfon Rd. There was also Albert Hewitt, Foxlands. I used to speak with them on short wave from upstate New York. They have all gone now. I knew Albert Hewitt since 1951. He worked at the old Electrical Lab in Dean St. Both of us built TVs using ex-Government Radar parts with a green picture on a 6inch tube. We couldn't afford a proper tv. Happy times. My Best Wishes to all the Old Uns and all from Bethesda and Bangor. Hwyl Fawr - Maldwyn.
Mon Jan 29 12:37:18 2007

Jean Forsyth (nee Foulkes) from Bangor
I was born in Ffordd y Castell Maes G. and my father was Len Foulkes the window cleaner. He cleaned Woolworths windows every morning for years, along with other shop windows in the town. Just stumbled upon this site and found it fascinating as I recognise so many of the people mentioned. Don Talbot: do you remember Richie 'Robert Roberts'? Emrys Edwards (the owner of Robert Roberts Cafe) was Mayor of Bangor in 1962. I can still remember the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and Richie boning a side of bacon before putting it in the bacon machine. As a child I also used to enjoy watching the change drop down the shute in the cashier's booth at the bottom of the stairs. Brian Roberts: I was in County School with your mum. I'll always remember the little song she used to sing: "I love to play my little banjo and rest it on my knee, but when the strings are broken down it's no more use to me." You mention Gail Slee, well she lives next door to me. Antoinette Jones: You mentione Miss Broadbridge. I saw her last Saturday at a Xmas tea - still very smart and distinctively dressed - a real lady! There is a new web site for Bangor Civic Society which you will find interesting as there are several features that will bring back nostalgia to to you all.
Web team: You'll find it in our Bangor web guide.
Fri Dec 15 09:57:53 2006

Mark Goddard, Bangor
Mark Slee, You must be Gail's brother. I was born in Dean St in 1960. It was my Dad's antique shop at the time, next door t the COunty Theatre, at the bottom of the street up to the fire Station. I was brought home without any clothes many times by Wlater Williams, one of the firemaen there.
Fri Oct 13 09:39:45 2006

Roz Ainsworth Aberdeen
I am really pleased to have found this site. My father was born in William Street, Bangor, No 15 to be exact, son of Phoebe (nee Davies) and Emerson Roberts. My Nain used to work in Wartskis Bangor. the last time I was in Bangor it was Debenhams. My Taid was a gardener at Lime Grove which is now an old peoples home I think. Oh the hiraeth I have to be back there. I have an Aunt who lives in Port Penrhyn she used to work in the Doctors surgery when it was Glanfa. The family lived in Llandegai and my nain was organist there for a while as was my father Meirion Roberts but Barry Wynne was the recognised organist. he was far superior to my Dad at the organ. he could read music. my Father played from Tonic sol-fa! I worked in various places in Bangor - The Nelson hotel on Beach road, the British hotel, I was manageress of Freezrite on Caernarvon Road and also manageress of Contessa on Bangor High street. that was 21 years ago and for the last 20 years I have lived in Scotland the last 6 years on my own way out in the wilds of Scotland, very beautiful, but there's no place like home.
Tue Aug 29 12:13:38 2006

Mark Slee
Brought up in Dean St. just behind 'auntie' Eunie's sweet shop. My Mum told me there used to be stables at the back of the chemist shop on the High St. and I do vaguely remember nearly getting kicked to death by a horse! Maybe 15 years in Maes.G. - at the time a great place for a kid to grow up. At one time you could get all the way over Bangor mountain from the High St. to Maes.G. without touching the ground using walls, trees etc, an impossibe feat now I wager. Any body remember Mr. & .Mrs. Walford 10, Well St.(sorry: Ffordd-y-Ffynnon), my grandparents? Great site. Thanks.
Wed Jul 12 10:41:07 2006

Ronnie Morris from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
I was born in Glanadda (1941)but moved to Llandudno Junction when I was only 5. I doubt that anyone would remember me, but you might know my family. My Dad Alec Morris grew up on Lombobdu and worked as a fishmonger on the High Street, and during the war he worked for Daimlers. After the war he got a job at Hotpoint and that's when we moved to the Junction. My mother, Lily Lucas, was born in Glanadda just across the road from where Asda's is now. The house was demolished in the 1950's to widen caernarfon Road. We lost my Dad in 1993 and Mam just passed away last ! February at the age of 93.

We have lived in Canada now for 50 years, but I still love to visit North Wales, especially Bangor and Llandudno Junction. I'm planning another trip for this September. Kitty, my grandfather also worked at Polikoff's but it would have been before your time. In the 1920's I think. Just discovered this page and I enjoyed reading it
Fri Jun 30 09:44:49 2006

Carol Burns (nee Thomas) Blackpool
Hi Kitty I can't remember what I put in about my family but here is a bit more (If I repeat anything I apologize) My Taid was Hughie Gordon Thomas and he was known as Hugh Guard on the railways. He loved to play snooker and dominoes at the pub. My Nain was Mary Elma Thomas nee Williams. They lived in Coed Mawr in the 60's and 70's and then moved to Dean Street (45) after that. They lived there till my Taid died in 1990 and Nain in 1995. My Auntie lived next door. I remember the chippy half way up Dean Street (on a corner) and loved the chips from there. My Dad is Ken Thomas though we moved to York in the middle of the 60s with his work.
Mon May 8 13:11:08 2006

Bryan Jones - Old Colwyn
I was born at Caerdeon, Glanadda, Bangor. I remember shows by the BBC during the war years. My father was transport officer for the old Caernarfonshire Fire Brigade with the workshop in the old Chapel behind the County Theatre. George Joynson, if he wanted to borrow any tools to undertake jobs in the Theatre, would always ask my father if he could borrow. He would always return them. I did rather well due to this liaison. I remember I would be given complimentary tickets for the pictures or the wrestling matches that were held at the County Theatre. George Joynson and his wife lived in Ainon Road.
Wed Apr 19 09:16:28 2006

Mervyn, Miron Jones, Hirael Bangor
My fondest memories of the 60s was being able to play almost anywhere in safety. Everybody knew who you were or who your parents were. Our children have missed out on some magical places - Parc Bach, along the beach,and of course the High St. Many a cup final in the streets, no stupid signs in them days! The other highlight of the year was the Bangor rag. Great days great memories. Bangor will always be in my heart.
Mon Nov 21 19:21:52 2005

Lynne
Can anyone recall Silliams the bakers somewhere in the High St? Am trying to locate where it stood, have only recently found out I had an uncle Hywel Williams, son of Henry Williams the baker.
Mon Nov 21 01:11:56 2005

Antoinette Jones (nee Roberts)
Yes I remember County Theatre as a child in the 1950s and a lovely lady called Mrs. Williams who my brothers and I used to call "Aunty". She used to babysit me and my brothers occasionally but worked at the County for many years.

 My father still runs Roberts Newsagents in the High street opposite Valla Chip shop with the help of two of my brothers, he has been there since 1953!. As kids we used to live above the shop and knew all the business people in the High Street. I remember well the fire station which is now a car park, Elias Garage which is now a restaurant, and Eirwyn Owen's the Chemist(who was the Mayor of Bangor at one time) he used to have a big basket weighing scale where new mums used to come along to weigh their babies.

 As children we spent many happy hours down in Hirael playing tennis on the courts behind the Crosville Bus Depot and hanging around the beach behind Dickies Yard. Bangor was a wonderful place to be a child and even though I have lived away for over 30 years, as soon as I go "home" its like I've never been away.

 Anyone out there remember Garth School and its teachers in the late 50s, Mr Haydn Jones, Miss Nora Jones, Miss Broadbridge and Miss Ellis and of course Mr Jones (Music). What a lovely school, we were all made to feel very special by those great teachers. I have very fond memories of going there after coming from Hirael School where the lovely Mrs Carrigal taught the infants and Miss Roberts toughened us up before we went up to Garth School. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows me or grew up in Bangor at that time.
Thu Nov 17 14:25:08 2005

Roger Jones of Glanadda, Bangor
Regarding the County Theatre, I seem to remember a manager in the 50s who was called Tom Gaffney - does anybody else remember him? George Joynson was the manager in the 60s and was a great bloke - full of laughs. He would drive from the County Theatre to do the banking near the town clock and when he came out, could not remember where he had parked his car! Me and a friend once found a dead cat and, knowing George's route home after work, we propped the poor cat up in the middle of the road and good old George seemed to run it over - it went flying through the air! His wife Myra once told me that the staff found a man dead in the upper balcony after a matinee and that the theatre was haunted by him. Good old days.
Sat Oct 22 20:33:29 2005

[matt2]

University Alumni
Alumni_MB.pdf

[matt2]

University - Obituaries 2000/2001

David Glyn Jones (1936-2000) He came to the History Department at Bangor as a mature student and graduated in 1996. He was a good friend to his contemporaries.

BL Davies (1914-2000) Un o Gwm Gwendraeth oedd 'BL' fel yr adwaenid ef yn annwyl iawn gan fyfyrwyr a ffrindiau. Daeth yn ddarlithydd mewn Daearyddiaeth i'r Coleg Normal yn 1946. Ym Medi 1960 fe'i penodwyd yn Ddarlithydd yn yr Ysgol Addysg y Brifysgol ym Mangor ac yno bu tan ei ymddeoliad yn 1981.

Clifford (Charlie) Davies  who died in June 2000 was a student at the College from 1942-43 and from 1946-1949. He was a History graduate but it was in English that he lectured at the Hugh Baird College of Further Education, Liverpool. His wife Eirian (Thomas) also graduated in Bangor.

Jack SK Fairhead After graduating with honours in History, he became an Administrative Assistant in the College Registry. He was eventually promoted as an Assistant Registrar and became responsible for the College Admissions. He had a keen interest in cricket and amateur dramatics.

Eric (Spike) Hughes (1924-2000) Eric came to Bangor in 1948. After graduating in Electrical Engineering in 1953, and then gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics, he joined the Hirst Research Centre of GEC, at Wembley. He was a brilliant jazz pianist and a great wit; his pieces for Forecast a'r Dyfodol under the pseudonym 'Bwilph' still raise a smile. He composed serious musical works, had his own jazz group, sang in various choirs, including the BBC Symphony Chorus, accompanied and conducted choirs.

Thomas John Griffiths Yr oedd ym Mangor yn y tridegau, a bu'n Llywydd Cyngor y Myfyrwyr. Ar l graddio yma aeth ymlaen i golegau ei enwad yn Aberystwyth a'r Bala. Bu'n genhadwr yn India, yna'n wenidog yng Nghymru ac wedi hynny yn Tasmania, lle bu'n llywydd yr Eglwys Bresbyteraidd.

Roger Handley (1931-2001) A native of Surrey, he became Professor in the Department of Social Administration in the University of Lancaster in 1974. When he retired from his post in 1996 he became an Honorary Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Bangor. He was also involved with the Centre for Social Policy Research and Development.

Eric Hughes (1923-2000) Entered the college in 1947 and graduated in Philosophy (1951) and Mathematics (1952.) From 1953 to 1956 he was Assistant Registrar in the University of the Gold Coast (as it was then called) and returned to Bangor as Assistant Registrar. He was Academic Registrar and Warden of Emrys Evans before his appointment as Registrar (1974-1983.) Modest and of great probity, he was widely respected and gave of his best to the College during the most unsettled period in its history. Gwasanaethodd y gwr unplyg a diymhongar hwn ei Goleg yn ddiflino o 1956 hyd at ei ymddeoliad yn 1983. Bu farw ar 7 Mai, 2000.

Edward Rees (1905-2000) un o Borthmadog oedd Edward Rees, a chafodd yrfa ddisglair ym myd addysg. Graddiodd mewn Mathamateg ym Mangor. Bu'n dysgu yn Y Bala ac Abertawe cyn ei benodi yn Gyfarwyddwr Addysg Sir Ddinbych. Dychwelodd i Fangor yn 1958 a bu'n Brifathro'r Coleg Normal tan ei ymddeoliad yn 1969. Gawasanaethodd ar Lys a Chyngor Coleg y Brifysol.

Joan Ayliffe (Evans) (1926-2000) She died tragically as the result of a car accident . Graduated in English at Bangor and taught the subject in the West Indies and Cheshire. She was lay reader in the Chester Diocese and was highly regarded in her community.

Robert Roberts Jones Yr oedd yn fyfyriwr yn y Coleg yn y dauddegau cynnar, a graddiodd mewn Cymraeg ac Athroniaeth. Aeth ymalen wedyn i golegau enwad Aberystwyth a'r Bala a bu'n wenidog gydag Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru hyd ei ymddeoliad yn 1969.

Dewi Morris (1917-2000) He came to Bangor in 1935 and graduated with First Class honours in Physics in 1938. Appointed lecturer in that Department in 1945, he became Senior Lecturer, and remained in the Physics Department until his retirement in 1979.

Professor John Owen Williams (JO) 1942-2000. As an undergraduate at the University College of North Wales (UCNW), Bangor in the early 1960s, "J.O." - he was known by his initials to an enormous circle of friends worldwide - was an amateur soccer international, an accomplished golfer (with a handicap of six), competent at cricket and squash, a church organist and the possessor of an electrifying personality. Before he left Portmadog Grammar School where, like countless other pupils in the secondaiy schools of North Wales, he was admirably taught, largely by earlier products of UCNW, he had played for Wales in Youth Internationals and was on the books of Everton F.C. But it was obvious to his lecturers at Bangor that, in addition to the excitement of sporting activity, he was greatly attracted by the romance of scholarship and the joys and challenges of experimental science. He relished undertaking the problems regularly set in thermodynamics and electrochemistry and he completed his laboratory projects with exemplary celerity and thoroughness, hallmarks of his subsequent career as a scientist. After graduating with flying colours, he joined my small team of researchers devoted to the study of chemical consequences of structural imperfections (principally dislocations) in molecular crystals and minerals.

Although J.O. continued throughout his life as an active sportsman, playing for Bangor City, Aberystwyth Town (and, at the age of forty, the village team at Penrhyn Coch, Cardiganshire) and becoming proficient at sailing and skiing, and although he participated fully in Welsh community and British public life - he sang in male voice choirs, was a member of the BBC Council for Wales and served as Chairman of the BBC Wales Education Broadcasting Council and the Maes Garmon School Governors - it was to solid-state chemistry and higher education that he contributed most.

On completing his Ph.D., which contained a wealth of new information that rationalised both the thermal and photochemical reactivity as well as the electronic, excitonic and luminescent behaviour of organic solids such as anthracene and its derivatives in terms of line defects, stacking faults and small-angle grain boundaries, he pursued post-doctoral work (1967-68) at the Department of Biophysics in Michigan State University. There, in the group of Barnet Rosenberg (the discoverer of the anticancer drug cisplatin), he worked on the chemo-electronics of olfaction. After a brief period in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Bangor he moved with me and his Caernarvonshire classmate, E.L. Evans, to the University Chemical Laboratories at Aberystwyth. From that time until he was appointed (in 1984) Professor of Chemistry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, he was to achieve an extraordinary range of important scientific accomplishments.

There are some scientists who design elegant experiments because they have a tendency towards intellectual laziness and hence set about seeking ways to circumvent the boredom of data analysis. For example, the great American physicist who discovered magnetic resonance, Rabi, would eschew tedium because "I wanted my answer by the end of the day". Though J.O. was quite prepared to embark on major experimental projects - like developing fundamentally new methods of crystal growth, intricate crystal purification procedures and low-temperature electron microscopy - he was always eager to achieve, if he could, an elegant result before the end of the afternoon because of exigent sporting and cultural attractions. During his laboratory and library work, he exuded a compelling, almost evangelical zeal, which inspired his colleagues and students. He lived life to the full, from dawn to dusk and he enjoyed it all. He had an uncomplicated directness, which impressed one as much by its honesty as by its winning charm. Sir William Bragg once remarked that a good research student was like "a fire that only needs to be lit". J.O. was such; and he induced others to be like him.

At Aberystwyth in 1971 we initiated, with Science and Engineering Council support, a Master's Degree course in Solid State Chemistry, to the success of which, as an eloquent lecturer and persuasive project supervisor, J.O. contributed richly. It is noteworthy that one of the students who passed through the Department at that time is now a Professor of Crystal Growth in Australia, another a Reader in Solid State Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, another became Scientific Attach at the British Embassy in Washington, another is in charge of Environmental and Soil Science at NEWI and yet another, following a short stint at Plessey Research, set up a semiconductor company specialising inter alia in epitaxial growth in South Wales (IQE plc). It is now the largest plc in the Principality. J.O. profoundly influenced the lives and aspirations of these and many other individuals.

Shortly after obtaining his D.Sc. for 'Studies in Solid State Chemistry' in 1977 he was promoted Reader by the Federal University of Wales, a post he held until 1984 when he became Professor, then Head of Department, of Chemistry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. At UMIST he devised ingenious techniques for the preparation of thin inorganic semiconductor materials and for monitoring elementary reactions during the process of chemical vapour deposition. He was the first in Europe to prepare and characterise the so-called III-V alloy composed of gallium, indium, arsenic and phosphorus, which is of great importance in optoelectronics. This involved the direct, in situ monitoring of gas phase reactions using a simultaneous combination of mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a methodology now adopted worldwide. At UMIST he also introduced a novel growth method for the preparation of semiconductor superlattices. He founded the scientific journal Chemtronics, and served as its editor-in-chief; he also chaired the Applied Solid State Chemistry Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry; and after moving to the North East Wales Institute (NEWI), Wrexham as its Executive Principal in 1991 he served as a member of the Welsh Committee of the University Funding Council, the Molecular Electronics Committee of SERC, of the Courts of Governors of the University of Wales and UMIST and a Director of Newtech (Clwyd) Ltd.

At NEWI one of his first administrative acts was to dissociate the Further Education component (to other campuses) so that Higher Education alone could be pursued at the Wrexham Campus. Just before he retired - three months ago, owing to illness - the message from the Funding Council was to re-unite the Further and Higher education components: plus ca change

His health deteriorated in the last few months, when he was nursed by his devoted wife Lowri and his children Gwion and Ffion, whom he adored. He died of leukaemia. As the congregation in Bethesda Chapel, Yr Wyddgrug (Mold) sang the final words of Cwm Rhondda on 26 June:
"0! am aros
 Yn ei gariad ddyddiau f'oes"

it could picture J.O. singing to his heart's content Vivaldi's Gloriana. They had witnessed the passing of a wonderful, life-enhancing human being.
John Owen Williams, born Portmadog 16 February 1942.

 Ph.D. (Wales) at UCNW Bangor 1967; Research Associate, Department of Biophysics, Michigan State University 1967-68; Senior Research Associate 1969- 78 then Reader, Department of Chemistry, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; Summer Visiting Scientist, National Research Council, Ottawa 1972; Short-term Visiting Professor, Science Center, University ofAlexandria, Egypt 1976; Professor (1984-90) and Head (1990-91) Department of Chemistry, UMIST;Executive Principal, North East Wales Institute, Wrexham 1991-2000. Died, Mold 21 June 2000.

Mari Wyn Meredydd (1912-2001). Daeth i'r Coleg ar y Bryn i astudio. Dysgodd yn Ysgol Gymraeg Lluest yn Aberystwyth cyn ei phenodi'n brifathrawes gyntaf Ysgol Gymraeg Llandudno; yn ddiweddarach bu'n bennaeth Ysgol Gymraeg St.Paul's ym Mangor. Oddi yno aeth yn drefnydd ac arolygydd ysgolion ym Mn gyda chyfirfoldeb arbennig am y Gymraeg. Bu am gyfnod hir yn cynrichioli Cymdeithas y Cynfyfyrwyr ar Lys a Chyngor y Coleg. Gweithiodd yn ddiflino dros yr iaith gydol ei hoes.

W Humphrey Jones Graddiodd gydag anrhydedd mewn Bioleg yn Aberystwyth, ac yna bu am gyfnod yn athro ysgol. Fe'i penodwyd yn ddarlithydd yn y Coleg Normal a bu'n hynod o boblogaidd a llwyddiannus yno. Yna ymunodd ag Adran Addysg Allanol y Brifysgol a bu'n Diwtor effeithiol i amrhyw ddosbarthiadau yng nogledd Cymru.

Geoff Ratcliff He gained a Sate Bursary to study Electrical Engineering at Bangor in 1942 and graduated in 1945. Geoff then became a graduate apprentice with the Marconi Company. From here, he went to Swansea as a Lecturer, and returned to Bangor as Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering in 1957. At Bangor he was a very active member of the Senior Common Room, and became president for a period. He contributed greatly to the Industrial Development Unit in Dean Street. His last post was Research Manager for the Electricity Council at Capenhurst.

Rhiannon Lloyd Williams Daeth i'r Coleg yn gynnar yn y pumdegau a graddio mewn Cymraeg ac Astudiaethau Crefyddol. Bu'n gweithio am gyfnod i fudiad Cristnogol y Myfyrwyr, yn dysgu yn Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni ac yna yng ngholeg y Santes Fair. Bu'n aelod o nifer fyrddau a phwyllgorau'r Eglwys yng Nghymru.

Philip Nevin Jones (1937-2000) Philip came to Bangor in 1955 from Grove Park School, Wrexham, to graduate in English/Philosophy in 1958. He left to teach English at Penistone Grammar School and remained there for his working life, looking after the Library for much of the time.