Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl

[poisondwarf]

It was actually quite a nice place to be a teenager I thought, much better than where I had come from. I learned to drink and socialise with people in that there Porthcawl and have fond memories of it...now that is!

 

[editor]

I've just posted a new little feature celebrating Coney Beach's 90th birthday, with bigger versions of the photos:
http://www.urban75.org/blog/coney-beach-amusement-park-south-wales-90-years-old/

 

[Flagwaver]

One for all you Crusties!

 

[TaffUptheSmoke]

I spent a season working one of the rides at Coney Beach back in the 70's - it was a great job for a 14 year old, shit pay but the rides were free.

It was the year there was a terrible accident on the ride next to mine. I can't remember its name, but I used to go on it a lot - it had two large baskets which revolved around each other while ascending to almost vertical. Someone eased themselves upwards so far that their head extended over the top, hitting the control booth on the way back round. Horrific.

I also remember the Enterprise ride which I took my then partner's two kids on. That feeling of hanging upside down, the ground far below, no centrifugal force to stick you to your seat, was truly terrifying. It was a case of never ever again for all of us.

wonder if we know each other i was working on a ride next to that one that day - think it was called the scat or something - worked for pat evans £1.25 a day !!! don't remember there being another girl only guys - i was 14 as well, but local. Remember them just mopping up the blood after they took him away and throwing the cloths under the ride and sure they started it up again couple hours later!! prob too late to reply now as think you posted few years ago.

 

[Ras Malai Bait]

I used to go there every christmas in the 80's as a kid to watch Stan Stennett doing Pantomime.........i bluddy loved it

 

[bendeus]

Excellent pictures ! Looks like its brother park in Brooklyn - very sad really that its not getting the investment - thoguh we can but hope.


Havent been for well over 30 years but it used to be a highlight of a day out for an hour in the fair.! (that and the miniature railway that used to run at right angles to the fair - along the promenade.

Porthcawl always was a town of 2 divides - the posh end at Rest Bay and the largest caravan site in Europe at Trecco Bay.

Ex-colleague/friend of mine from Mountain Ash was determined to buy a static down Trecco Bay if she ever won the Lottery. The plan was that she'd move there with her Yorkshire terrier and ditch the husband. I did ask whether or not she wanted anything grander given the millions at her disposal, but no, she just wanted the static down Trecco for her and her pooch

 

[davesgcr]

They used to do firework displays in season at Porthcawl - always a good evening out (by hired coach) - there was a sort of concrete amphitheatre where you sat on concrete benches in the freezing cold.!.

 

[editor]

I'm having a rather unpleasant email conversation with the new marketing department for Coney Beach Porthcawl.

They wrote to me demanding I 'rename' my photos and seem to think that I'm merely here to be an extension of their pushy PR activities.

I offered to redress the balance and come up and retake photos in a month of their choice (they'd just have to cover the train fare), but that only got me an aggressive email back, saying that my photos have been "mis-representing " them for years.

"And you think that is fair or legal?," he bizarrely added.

He then launched into a tirade about my "ill informed views" and "an overwhelming lack of understanding about the things you are shooting," which ended with a lecture that I "don't have the relevant experience" to take pictures for them. Not sure what experience you need there, but he's entitled to his opinion, I guess.

"A tough pill to swallow no doubt, but ultimately an undeniable fact," he added. The email ended with what looked like some sort of veiled threat.

Way to go, Coney Beach! A perfect lesson in self destructing PR and how to alienate someone who had always thought rather fondly of the place.

 

[Belushi]

lol

 

[Belushi]

So have they done it up or are they just shouting at anyone who points out that it's always been a bit of a shithole?

 

[editor]

So have they done it up or are they just shouting at anyone who points out that it's always been a bit of a shithole?

I've no idea. He was too busy SHOUTING at me. They've got a new website though, with a video showing a rather underpopulated funfair.



The thing, is I honestly wish the place the best and hope that it does well, and I would have been happy to come up and photograph it in a more flattering light.

He's obviously entitled to turn down my offer, but the ensuing lecture about my supposed lack of ability was just weird, and rather nasty.

 

[editor]

No, he's not finished with me yet. No, sir.

He's still banging on about my "sins as a photo journo web guy" (i.e. not taking photos that help promote his personal business interests), and finishes off with a bizarre comparison about him coming to London and "taking pictures of used contraceptives in the back alleys."

Boy, am I going off Coney Beach. I was going to visit over the summer too.

 

[Belushi]

Hang on, Bonathan hasn't gone into PR has he?

 

[Chilli.s]

No, he's not finished with me yet. No, sir.

He's still banging on about my "sins as a photo journo web guy" (i.e. not taking photos that help promote his personal business interests), and finishes off with a bizarre comparison about him coming to London and "taking pictures of used contraceptives in the back alleys."

Boy, am I going off Coney Beach. I was going to visit over the summer too.

Point out to him that his website has the Ty Hafan Rainbow Run photo up twice, where it should be and as Donkey Rides. Possibly he should test the website before launch, like a real PR firm.

 

[editor]

Point out to him that his website has the Ty Hafan Rainbow Run photo up twice, where it should be and as Donkey Rides. Possibly he should test the website before launch, like a real PR firm.

The caption of "undefined" isn't too informative either. Mind you, it has. "ice cream to sink a battleship."

 

[Chilli.s]

I suppose a battleship could be sunk with a dollop of ice cream.

 

[editor]

I suppose a battleship could be sunk with a dollop of ice cream.

That would be a more interesting seaside attraction, for sure.

 

[Tankus]

And no fun


oldskool faggots and mushy


tesco hamburgers awaiting their fate (allegedly)


totally treco

 

[Tankus]

Porthcawl in the distance


waiting for the big one



treco in the distance , from Ogmore

 

[Tankus]

....was at Barry Island this morning ....flaming June and its a ghost town (going to get rid of my new polaroid filter ...the variations too harsh ) utterly closed











end of the line

 

[Tankus]

could almost be greece ....

 

[editor]

I never did hear back from Coney Beach's charismatic and welcoming PR people.

 

[Belushi]

I do like the Porthcawl thread :thumbs :

 

[1927]

http://www.walesoncraic.com/barry-island-to-sue-banksy-for-dismaland-idea/

 

[William of Walworth]

We were at the Elvis fest a few years back -- festivaldeb's a massive fan of fifties rock n roll. Some of those images are familiar from then .....

(I always thought Chuck Berry was far superior to Elvis myself, but there you go! )

 

[Tankus]

Just realised that my photo of Roberts mushy peas and faggots is the same one as in eds .(bobs)..just with a lick of paint ....