General Chat

yes Lyn i couldnt agree more, all these stories would make a good book. something to read whilst sitting in a deckchair, on your hols on the beach !

Brian's story reminded me about my Dad who would pack up the tent and ride his push bike to the beach first. He'd put up the tent(on the pebbles/stones) so that by the time the rest of us (6 including Mum) arrived by corporation bus, everything was set up for us to get changed into our baggy elasticated hand-me-down bathers in the comfort of a small tent! What some interesting stories people are posting on here. Lyn

In the 50's when I was around 10, we lived in Romford and spent quite a few sundays on the beach at Shoeburyness, near Southend. Dad had a 1949 Ford Anglia and we piled into that with an old tent which we put up on the sand. Lunch always included a home-made trifle. My brother and I would walk out on the mud-flats and play in the channels. We often had a kite flying from the car, which made it easy to identify when we came back.

very interesting and humerous stories coming out here, please keep it going. Lee

Elaine, if you are thinking of writing your life story you really should include that. I could just imagine the excitement of that day out. Very evocative I grew up in Fareham Hants so the beaches we visited were Lee on Solent, Stokes bay and Hill Head. My Mothers family lived near Southsea so we often used to go there for the day. And as my dad had a car from 1947 we also used to go to Bognor, Bournemouth, Swanage and Hayling Island for the sand, our beaches all being pebbles. One day I remember was not really a fond memory but a strong one. I was about 6/7 so 1947 probably, may be 1948, after the war anyway when access to the beach was available again. In those days there was no speed limit on the liners that crossed the solent from Southampton. One day, Mum and baby sister were up the top of the wide beach sitting in a deckchair on the pebbles. I was paddling in the water on my own (presumably Mum was keeping an eye on me). One of the 'Queen' liners went out very fast (either Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary), sounding her hooter as she went. About 20 minutes later there was the usual wash, but she had been going very fast, and it was a big one and all of a sudden there was panic, deckchairs and handbags floating in the sea and people running from the water. I can remember walking up the beach with the water by now at my waist height. Mum's belongings were Ok as she was high up on the beach but she says I was so calm walking up the beach as if it was an every day occurrance. She couldn't come to me because of my baby sister but had to wait while I made my way up. Looking back it was potentially a very dangerous situation because when the wash ran back the undertow would have been strong but I don't remember being afraid. Although I do remember that I was very wary of washes after that when liners went by. They brought in a speed limit very soon after that. Ann Glos

From the age of about four, we never had holidays. Coming from a non driving family, my highlight was when our local tenants association did the annual coach trip to Margate. We would meet the coach round the corner at 8am (Edmonton) It would usually be Angel Motos who my uncle drove for. Half way there we would stop at Halfway house, a service station which stretched across the road. At this point Edie, who organised the trip, would come round offering everyone a sausage roll from a large biccy tin. We would arrive at Margate around eleven and in my younger days it was straight to the beach, later on, we would run straight to Dreamland, thus bypassing the beach for the fun of the fair. And what a fair it was, in its heyday it was brilliant, with great rides. Lunchtime we would sit on the beach and eat salmon (and sand lol ! ) sarnies. At six o'clock it was the deadline to be back at the coach, there was always a few stragglers running down the road with their last minute nick knacks. Then we would leave, We would then nag for The Top Ten to be put on the radio. We then would stop at a pub and have a drink, us young uns scoffing crisps and coke. After that came all the max bygraves and oldies music ( to our distaste) We then fell asleep on the way home Elaine x

Have always hated sand but often went on to the rockpools to discover what monstrous creatures lay hiding. Enjoyed scrambling over the rocks that had fallen from the cliffs, often had picnics on these rocks rather than the sand. The whole family would be there, my parents, my brother, grandparents on my fathers side and myself, of course.

I have lived within easy reach of the sea for most of my life. I grew up in Hampshire, where stony Southsea and sandy Hayling Island would be our locations for frequent days out. .... My grandmother lived in South Wales, where the beaches were very different, -natural and unspoilt.I remember as a child,setting off with my family and my aunt and cousins.We all carried something and walked across the fields to the spot, where we could safely get down the cliffs onto the beach.At the base of the cliffs were rocks and rock pools then wide stretches of sand down to the sea. After eating our sandy sandwiches and playing a game on the beach, it was time to work. We all helped to gather laverbread, a seaweed growing on the rocks in the pools.We were instructed to pick carefully and not gather too much sand. The laverbread was carefully placed in cloth-lined wicker baskets and carried back home to be boiled, cooled then made into small pats for frying with bacon. As Harry would say.. Happy Days.

fond memories include in the 60s, my mothers and her sisters families about 20 of us altogether, descending on the rocks, at the end of the beach, at low water, to get winkles, and at the end of the day sitting down to a steaming bowl of winkles a pin and slices of bread with real butter. mmmmmmmmmmm

Similar to above, a day with just my father and me, bunker on beach and dad shouting down into it 'Alice Ordnung'..... german and hearing the echos come back. Every year to Cornwall with my ex 'Steve' and my dog 'Pilot', shame we have to hurt and lose loved ones for one reason or another :( RIP Pilot, hope your happy Steve. Suzanne

I live at the seaside so have lots of memories but the one that I always think of fondly is not exciting at all. One afternoon I went for a picnic with my Mum nothing special egg butties and that lemonade you made up with powder from Woolies. We went by the boating lake and there is a sort of watch box. (suppose it was there from the war) all overgrown now. But my Mum told me it was a smugglers cave lol. Always said it was after. I remember we had such a lovely afternoon just me and her. Was a beautiful sunny day. I must have been about 5 at the time. Germaine

In the 50's and 60's, going to the local beach in Weston, Southampton that was full of stones etc, the large ocean liners used to go out along the river and without doubt we always ended up with tar/oil on our elasticated bathers from the rubbish that had washed up on the shore. With 5 kids, my parents couldn't afford to take us anywhere for hols, but a day out at the beach was still considered wonderful to us 5. Now I am lucky enough to live close to the most stunning beaches in Oz, yet still hold lovely memories of my childhood days spent at the beach with the whole family in UK. Lyn

your fondest memories of a day on the beach. Mine... as a child Sandcastles !