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| Iconic Rhyl poster |
Rhyl is a seaside town on the north coast of Wales in what was formerly Denbighshire. I doubt that anybody has devoted a whole blogpost to it before. It has a population of just under 25,000 and was once a favoured holiday destination for industrial workers from Lancashire and the Midlands of England. It boasts a Marine Lake that once had fairground rides and a zoo. Now only the miniature railway survives. The town's most famous buildings were the Pavilion Theatre and the pier - both demolished in the early seventies.
Famous people born in Rhyl include Ruth Ellis - the last woman to be hanged in Britain, serial killer Peter Moore, the international darts player Ted Hankey and Lisa Scott-Lee a former member of a the pop group Steps. Oh, and one shouldn't forget Albert Gubay the founder of the Kwik Save supermarket chain. These are all names to conjure with suggesting that Rhyl could well become Great Britain's next "City of Culture" after that other cultural vortex - Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
We sent our roving reporter James Murdoch to interview local Rhylians to find out what they love about their quaint seaside town. After half an hour James spotted unshaven Mr John Gray from the nearby historical theme park of Trelawnyd. He was being pulled by a motley assortment of mongrels along West Parade. He said, "F*** off! I don't talk to reporters unless they're called Matt Cardle!" Another day visitor, Ms Jenny Aspin from the border town of Wrexham said, "Sorry I've not time to talk. I've got to get home to watch the Formula One qualifiers!"
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| Beach shelter in Rhyl © Copyright Eirian Evans |
I have a photo somewhere of my three year old self building sandcastles on the beach at Rhyl. Sadly, the place has taken a significantly downward turn since then.
ReplyDeleteOh, and hell will freeze over before I rush home to watch Formula 1!!
I have sent a copy of this blog entry to the RHYL JOURNAL, DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL and THE WELSH TOURIST BOARD
ReplyDelete( I am not kidding)
I suspect you may be asked for further comments!
john
btw we live in FLINTSHIRE just over the border!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wakajawaka/3622849012/
ReplyDeleteI remember this place. Is it still there? :)
JENNY A beach holiday in Rhyl? You must have been a very naughty little girl!
ReplyDeleteEARL GRAY I am just praying that none of them offer me a free weekend in Rhyl - to experience its better features. I have stayed there before and it seemed to me as grim as that beach hut.
STEVIE G (OCCUPIED COUNTRY) Don't ask me - ask The Earl. Are you asking because you now want another tattoo to go with your dolphin?
We have a place like that near Sacramento. It's called Lodi. It was made "famous" in the Creedence Clearwater song, Stuck in Lodi Again.
ReplyDelete"Just about a year ago, I set out on the road
Seekin' my fame and fortune, lookin' for a pot of gold
Things got bad, and things got worse,
I guess you know the tune
Oh, Lord, stuck in Lodi again."
There are wineries there though, so if things get too bad you can guzzle yourself into a stupor.
There are Rhyls everywhere. They are good places to go. Through.
ReplyDeleteWe decided to try Llandudno one bright (albeit early) Spring morning a couple of years ago. It was closed. Sort of like Rhyl with the lights off.
ReplyDelete