I spent three memorable years in Morecambe from 1964-67. I was intrigued by the opening sequence of the film when a young man on horseback gallops towards the camera. Can anyone confirm my thoughts that he is called Fred Townsend and the horse is called 'Paddy'?
It would be great if all the historic images you have would be scanned at a decent resolution and uploaded to your website not in a downsized format to share this history better for all to see.
FYI, this lady's father in law was the well known Yorkshire comic and musician Albert Modley, who emceed the BBC's 'Variety Bandbox' after WW2 when radio was king. I have the deepest respect for young women such as Pat. The discipline, concentration and stamina required of a precision dance routine is the most taxing in the hoofing game, and mistakes cannot be concealed. John Tiller virtually invented the style and sent it round the world. British showgirls became the most sought-after, and the films of the Tiller routines on YT show why. Only the Rockettes could compare, and it was seeing the Tiller Girls that made Russell Markert imitate them with his American troupe.
I should have realised before rather grumpily stating the obvious. I do need subtitles unfortunately but it’s surprising that Google can’t do a better job.
What a wonderful post and very well put together. I find it strange how someone else's nostalgia and history can evoke such memories and similarities to other people's when they are in no way connected. My Grandad, Harry Levay, was a fireman in Salford during the war, he and his wife, Daisy (nee Capper) bought a fish and chip shop in Morecambe, Barrow House on Peddar Street, just after the war. Did your parents ever come back to Morecambe? Harry and Daisy's family are still here and have been very happy in Morecambe for all these years.
My Grandparents regularly took Mum to Morecambe for their annual holidays. Mum was born in 1927, so was 7 years older than Alan, and I'm sure they overlapped. Grandad was a Baker and they ran a bakers and confectioners shop in Burnley. Morecambe hotels would have been too grand for them, they stayed in B&Bs (lodgings). Like the Bennetts, my Mum's parents were not well off, but not really poor either. The Midland Hotel, Art Deco Hotel, which is still a Morecambe landmark, was built in 1933, the year before Alan was born. It was a place families like the Bennetts and Singletons went to look at, not to stay in. To further economise, my Grandma would bring the little girl (Mum) on the coach from Burnley, while my Grandad cycled it on a home made bike. The distance, by the most direct route then available, was about 55 miles. Once here, they mainly walked everywhere, with the occasional tram ride. Grandad always walked. Their favourite trip was to Heysham, just along the coast. This is a different world to commercialised Morecambe. It features an 8th century ruined Saxon Chapel (St Patrick's Chapel) with stone cut Saxon graves, and also a quite modern (10th century) late Saxon /early Medieval Church (St Peter's),which is still the main place of worship in the village. I have photo of Mum in her 80s, sheltering in the church grounds from a wind off the Irish Sea. Heysham village hasn't changed much from the 1930's, when Mum was there as a girl. But in those days, entering the Royal Hotel for lunch, would not have been an option. Way too expensive. This was the grandest Pub in the village, and still is. My Grandparents made do with a flask of tea and sandwiches from the lodgings; and maybe a ice cream for Mum, if she behaved.
same sort of family as my mother except they went to Margate and once to the Isle of Wight from where Granny wrote a letter, which I now have, to family in Hastings on the morning of their departure saying to meet them off the train the same day at Bo Peep Station at 4pm ... and I am sure all went to plan ... I hate to think what they would make of today's society
Ooh Alan! You took me right back to the 1950s! My Mum took us to Morecambe several times all the way from Glasgow. Like your parents she thought it more select than Blackpool. Loved our visits to The Lido and musicals at the Winter Gardens.
What the hell has an African dance got to do with Morecambe, or Eric for that matter? Do you think an African village honours one of its sons with Morris dancers? Honestly culturewise we're turkeys begging for christmas
Superb insight into when the town ROCKED and well told 'n' all! Only problem is it was way too short - I could listen to a whole series of Peter's recollections and stories. More please.
Would have been more appropriate to have a choir singing bring me sunshine. I trmember watching the unveiling then rushing back to lancaster to see the Queen at the town Hall. I think Gordon burns was there at some part of the ceremony because i have photos of him from that day
Nothing mysterious about Lancaster Green Ayre -- that was the Lancaster station for east-west trains coming from Yorkshire to Morecambe and Heysham. When that closed in 1966 it dealt a huge blow to Morecambe; the train connections were hugely reduced. British Rail simply didn't seem to consider through traffic as a benefit on lines where there was little local traffic but a useful direct connection; the same mistake led them to close the busy Preston-Southport line. In fact, with the decline of a lot of British towns, you'll see running down of rail links turning up to be a considerable part of it.
“… 1983, my father went to ‘Lucifer’s’ a short lived bar and bistro, then a day at frontierland in the haunted house and a stint in the cyclone ride… later, I often went with Mum, to Gizmo’s pizza for a take-away tea in 1993 then it was off to Lancaster to see Jurassic Park” He missed all this out!
A wonderful bit of irony in Morecambe. Birthplace of Dame Thora Hird is commemorated with a plaque on the side of a Wetherspoons. She was teetotal all her life.
I grew up in Southend so I understand a little bit of the seaside town draw. However, my era was really the 70’s so most of the seaside holidays fad had died by then. I couldn’t imagine staying in a dingy boarding house with razor thin walls. I’m long removed from the UK now and living in Florida, so it really is a world apart. I think for people living in smoke filled, drab cities back then it probably was an adventure to see the ocean.
Thanks. Victoria mentions Oxford Street in her book with photo. A beautiful tree lined Victoria terrace street in sunny Morecambe. Alan loved the place.
Not sure I can we as a family during the 60 70 and 80's had many memorable English beach holidays staying in caravans and B&B's ... abroad is for wimps!
I'm reminded by AB's accent that there was very little difference between Lancastrian and Yorkshire accents back then. Listening to Alan is like listening to older people in Lancashire in the 1960s when I was a kid.
