Great Yarmouth and Gorleston in the mid fifties. Initial introduction by Percy Trett one of the areas leading historians and a great natural world enthusiast.
My dad (Mr Albert Jeff, 1922-1993), whilst working as a Foreman Electrician for the Great Yarmouth Corporation- designed and installed the colourful illuminations that stretched the whole length of the golden mile from the early 1960s onwards. The waterways were also illuminated at night for the first time, and the children's cartoon and fantasy figures (also illuminated) were inspired by some of my toys and children's books. I am now 59.
Born in great yarmouth 1947 ,spent wonderful years enjoying the town and beach until meeting a lass from Manchester who was a holiday maker so at 18 years old when to manchester to marry my manchester lass 54 years later and still here with my holiday girl
People can call me racist if they want but Yarmouth has attracted immigrants mainly of European descent. Greeks first then Poles and Portuguese the latter whose language I understand. No easy life but hard work needed to earn a living
I live in Gorleston and was born at the northgate hospital in 1984, i grew up on King Street and eventually moved over to Gorleston, id love to go back in time life seemed so simple back then.
I agree that times were simpler, and generally people had more respect for one another, dressed smartly and had better manners etc. However the 1950s, 60s and 70s were very racist. Also if you were gay you had to be very careful - otherwise if there was the slightest question about your sexuality you would be attacked - it was illegal until 1966 - but absolutely untolerated by everyone until the 1980s. The music was very diverse and creative but the food was absolutely basic and dire, as was the awful keg beer. Real ale didn't resurface until the 1980s. Also, if you went into a pub or a restaurant it absolutely reeked of cigarettes. I do remember and it was awful. If you went to the doctor he treated you like a second-class citizen; there were no first-name terms, and you had a much greater chance of death from disease or illness back then. It wasn't all good. The 60s brought ugly modernism - and bomb sites existed until well into the mid 1960s.... Just wiping away the rose pink spectacles a little ok....
@@lewstone1934 innocent people weren’t stabbed or blown up as they commuted to work or walked down the street by our foreign “friends” as they are now.
Omg, this video is a little gem! I lived in Gorleston, now I'm in Yarmouth. So nice to see places I know now... how were in the '50. Wow, wow, wow! Thanks so much.
Ah how well I remember living in Great Yarmouth, Seafield Close to be exact, I was just starting my teenage years. Now at 75, here in Vancouver, living fond memories of those seaside days. I can smell the candy floss now!!
What an excellent film, I work in both Yarmouth and Gorleston and recognised lots of the places mentioned, I know that in recent years the area has gained a bit of a reputation but I cant help but love it, it still retains the magic of a proper seaside town .
I live far away in Australia but it's great to look back on the family holidays in a caravan at Caister on Sea called TORESTIN we went every year by train as dad worked on the railway in Nottingham.My dad was in the Navy during the war and at one time was on the Eastern Princess as it became known we went on it once.Yarmouth was great in the 50s and busy for the full season ,been back but it,s not the same.Thanks for the memories.....
Still great beaches abit run down now,used to enjoy the scooter runs in the 80 s and bank holidays many a day in the long bar and arcades,the roller coaster and crazy golf still great
Delightful film that brought back childhood memories both my parents and grandparents would have holidays in the town and seeing some of the children in the film, guessing it’s around the 1951/2, they would be in their 70s now!
Britain's past, I remember the very late fifties as a young boy and noticed how it progressively changed through the 60s.. Yes nicer, gentler, cleaner times.. Not a country then like the mess we have now..!!!
Very interesting Vlog for me. I was born in Gt Yarmouth in 58, the product of a relationship between a local girl (I'm told Mary Pegg) and I was told an American airman. Unfortunately I was given up for adoption and was raised by my adoptive parents in Rugby (great people). Had a great life with them but I never travelled to Gt Yarmouth and often wondered what Gt Yarmouth was like and if my biological parents ever regretted their decision. There were many times after their deaths that I considered trying to trace them, but I'm guessing it's much too late now. Anyway thanks for sharing this.
You could try Long Lost Family, they have amazing sucess. Even finding family for foundlings, its never too late especially with D N.A.. Glad you enjoyed this, me too many happy days spent in Gt Yarmouth.
@@annasutton8078 Thanks for the suggestion Anna, I'm currently living in China and have been here for over 15 years now. Do you think the program would really have any interest in my story? There's only the TV show, right? There's no organisation that offers this kind of service in the UK?
Great footage here. I remember my annual holidays in a caravan at South Deenes in the 50's. The daily climb up the Brittania column was eagerly looked forward to. And crabbing off the piles at the Yare river. Great memories here Roly. Thank you.
such a beautiful film, days when staycation really meant staycation, package holidays and cheap holidays abroad unfortunately was the demise of the great British seaside escapes, still at least we have memories like these.
Note the Eastern Princess passing in the backround 7:5 onwards. This was moored right outside my first home, a hotel on Hall Quay, the Old Town Cafe 1952-1956.
It seems like thers no addiction in matirial before and now look at the world people not content to life now people want more more before is just a simple life
@@chloeleonor All those happy children playing and interacting with one another and not a single individual wrapped up in imaginary friends on facebook etc.
Can tell you are a local boy; “Gollstun” is a very specific pronunciation to the Yarmouth area. Us outsiders from further into Norfolk (20 miles away) say “Gorlstun” 😁
Omg just discovered this, my mum's family are Norfolk people from Stalham a few miles from Yarmouth, holidays where always spent there in fact still visit there now, there's something about Yarmouth that I still enjoy btw the market is a shadow if it's former self but the pubs are ok
@@WalkWithMeTim im a local, but its just from what ive seen from the past 11 years living here, obviously my view is different from people who have lived here for longer though
I first arrived in Great Yarmouth at South Town station back in October 1958, en route to Hemsby where I was to spend two months at the meteorological office upper air school. Weekends were ours to do with as we wished and I would go by bus into Yarmouth. Cinema on a Saturday evening finished after the last bus back to Hemsby so I used to take the train from Yarmouth Beach station to Hemsby then walk to the Gables Guest House where we stayed. I went home (Westcliff-on-Sea) one weekend and the train, south went from Yarmouth Vauxhall via Norwich. It steamed so hard on the run from Norwich down to Ipswich that it blew something and died at Colchester with steam pouring out of the engine. I liked Yarmouth and it was much better than Southend.
Born n raised in GY in the 1980’s been living in the US for the last 10yrs, it will always have a place in my heart!❤ The commentary by a man called Percy Trett was a family friend who taught me to scuba dive, lovely guy!
@Cory: well, yes and no. Sure, both you and I both, perhaps, would like to return to those times (culturally if not financially), but knowing what we know now. For those living and aware then it must've seemed very much routine.
Cory, I think its a bloody good question. do we have “rose tinted “ spectacles... Or were things actually better? I’m not sure. What were the problems then that we don’t see in the colour film above?
I think it's such a shame we have dropped the ball and dropped our standards so much most of our towns and cities now are dilapidated worn out tired places. Go to Great Yarmouth Town Centre today and most of the shops to find the shut down or on their last legs. There's a really pretty looking Iron Bridge near the railway station in Great Yarmouth that needs a lick of paint and a little bit of investment made to it. It's a pity Great Yarmouth Town Council all the council responsible for Great Yarmouth has not made it more attractive and more appealing place to go to. They should hold their head in our hands and shame in the way they've let Great Yarmouth turn into what I consider a big dump. Great Yarmouth his quite like a lot of towns and cities nowadays. The centres of these cities are rubbish and litter strewn hell holes. Filthy dirty roads and pathways that make all your shoes filthy dirty as well. We used to have standards in this country we use to clean our streets better. Even the gorgeous buildings that are in this film have become dilapidated and worn out. It is a pity to see what was a great town become a ghetto and a slum. With a little pride. Creative thinking and Vision. Back Town Council can reestablish Great Yarmouth in the manner it once was and restore it to the great place it once was as well. I have really lost any iota of a clue what they're doing now. I agree with one comment below the people that there were much much better dressed that looked a lot less lobbying they do now. You look a hell presentable the women were in this film did you look at the slobby messes that modern British women have become. Not a tatty ripped pair of jeans in sight no a filthy dirty pair of trainers either that these horrible messy dressed British women of today dress in. I also agree with the lack of manners of today compared to then. We have dropped the ball and lost a clue with respect of manners as well. I think with our presentation and our manners we have become a right scruffy mess. I agree with another comment below. Let's bring back the old days and make these towns as clean and tidy that they once were. Also let's open up the town centre on bring proper shopping back to these towns as well. Last time I visited Victoria arcade in Great Yarmouth it was half empty I'm the shopping in market Gates shopping centres also today very disappointing. Again let's bring back the Great Yarmouth of old. Then maybe we'll be making some progress and getting somewhere. Thank you very much for uploading this excellent video however. I really did enjoy watching this. Get great sadness of how Yarmouth is turned out today. Pure.
Although things were still tough for us in this post war period we could see better times ahead. Unlike post Covid19 which seems all gloom and doom.... let's hope not😀
@@jasonburns4071 This was back in the days when you could go out and leave your house unlocked. Then your cultural 'diversity' came along. Sorry, has to be said. Reality is a bitch.
This video would be AWESOME if you could DIGITALLY IMPROVE IT a bit using today's technology - e.g. sharpen the resolution, make it less "jumpy", further improve the colour, add sound effects? (I know last one seems to be controversial subject...but IMO IF DONE WELL...greatly improves experience of video)......
You're absolutely right, the quality could be improved but from previous experience you would lose the nostalgic charm that comes with original celluloid.
