Please e-mail your letters,
short stories, jokes
and anecdotes along with photographs, pictures or anything you think will
interst others
and it could
be displayed
for the world
to see!.
If you have anything interesting to say that might bring a light of rememberence to our readers, make us laugh or share a thought, just e-mail us at letters@morecambe.co.uk
Don't forget to reply to our friends who submit letters, stories, poems etc, you'll make their day.
Mark, - Leeds UK - e-mail : backing.tracks@libertysurf.co.uk
(Watch out the tides coming in!)Hi there!
I've been coming to Morecambe since I was a nipper with my parents. My fondest memories are of the pleasure park (now Frontier land) as it was known back in those days. I'm now 34 years of age and i'm now bringing my kids to Morecambe for holidays....or rather...was!!
We've been stuck in Morecambe for the last week at the Regent Caravan Park, I say 'stuck' because we were, due to the petrol dispute.
We were planning on using the caravan site as a base and trek off up to the lake district, Blackpool, Carnforth, Arnside etc etc.....but we ended up staying on the site all week as we had no petrol!
We walked upto the sea front a couple of times during the week but we were pi**ed off because everything is shut down and boarded up and up for sale!!
We learned that Morrisons has bought two thirds of the theme park and are going to build a 'Freeport shopping centre on it? If you ask me, that's a total waste of money as most of the shops in Morecambe are boarded up anyway.
We know that Frontierland is owned by Blackpool pleasure beach, and we thought that they would have put a new lease of life into Morecambe by extending the pleasure park and adding new rides etc?
We'll now be concentrating our future holiday efforts into Blackpool as I have 3 kids, one of whom is nearly 12 years of age and when he goes to the seaside he wants to go on the rollercoasters with his dad!
What has Morecambe got to offer us now?....only the same things as we've got here in Leeds!!
I have fond memories of Morecambe in the long hot days of the mid seventies when I was 10 years of age.....I thought it was a brilliant place. Then I got a motorbike in 1984 and used to come to Morecambe with a few friends of mine (all on bikes) and we used to have a whale of a time, but over the last 10/15 years Morecambe has gone right down hill!
I remember when Morecambe was cram packed full of coaches going up and down the sea front.....and the place was always full of Scotch gits too!!
You seem to have your finger on the pulse of Morecambe as to what's going to be cropping up in the future?......any clues you can give us as to what we can look forward to?....maybe a brand new pleasure park maybe?
I'll stay in touch with you and then you can keep us informed.
Mark.
I really do hope that someone steps in and creates more attractions for the kids because if they don't Morecambe will become 'a last resort'. While the statue of Eric Morecambe has quadrupled day trippers to see him, unless there are more attractions to make people return, Morecambe will end up a relaxing place for the elderly with no children in sight (OK to some of you this is a good thing?).
Millions of pounds have been spent on the new promenade and yes there are fun weekends throughout the year with street entertainers etc. in order to attract tourists, but it's not enough! What is going on?
We have to ask ourselves these questions: Is Morecambe a tourist resort or a Freeport shopping village? Do people want a 2 week holiday each year to wind down and have fun or do they want to shop? Should Morecambe be uprooted from the coast and moved inland next to Leeds? .... anyway it's nothing to do with me, it's not my responsibility, I'm going back to bed!!!
Tom Newton, - e-mail : tom@dmcworld.com
Great site, but it's really upset me. I've just been to Morecambe after being in London for 5 years, and I can't believe half the fair has been left to rot. The last time I came to the area, the Noel / Blobby thing had just taken off, and there was a huge investment in the area, and today, I saw one of the north's best roller coaster left to crumble away.
I have looked all through your web site, and whilst you obviously want to portray a positive image of the resort, I'd really like to find out what has happened for the fair to be cut in half.
I suppose it's sad seeing something that once brought so much happiness to so many people left and abandand. That Polo ride must have cost an absolute fortune, and now part of the roof has collapsed leaving nature to step in and ruin it forever.
At the rear of the fair is a huge "coach parking' area, once full of packed coaches, but today it's only purpose is to keep the disused tea cup ride company.
Sorry, but it's really moved me today,
Looking forward to reading about the history of the area,
Tom
Sadly Tom I must agree. There are plans to reduce the size of Frontierland. I personally think the owners should invest loads of money into it and bring it up to date with a few modern attractions more inkeeping eith Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Elizabeth Jolley, - Venice, California USA - e-mail : bjolley2001@aol.com
Hello Peter,
So nice of you to contact me. Did you go to school at the same time as me? I do not have a whole lot of info about when I went to Balmoral.I remember we had a Musical Festival at the Winter Gardens. We did not win But there is an article in the Visitor Paper about it. It was in 1947. I broke my arm doing acrobats in the school yard. Had to have my arm in a cast. The music teacher would not let me appear on stage because of my cast. She said it would mad the choir look bad. We were there for singing not appearances. I still have the sheet music of the piece were going to sing. I remember Mr. Pickles the Head Master and a Miss Holmes. she was the English teacher.
We made up a song about her to the tune of Ashby del a vouch castle abbey, think that was the name. If you want I can send you the words. I do not think I have the song name correct.I was in the Green House. We had to play hockey and I hated it.Was so scared of getting hit. I was real skinny in those days. Had no flesh on my bones. Some of the boys in class called me sparrow legs [little horrors] I remember a girl who used to have epileptic fits. It was always very scary to see her have them.
I heard from a lady I met last year who works in the offive at the Victoria Hospital that the girl is still alive and does not have the fits like she did. I was dissapointed that the school was all locked up.When I was over in 1974 I was able to walk around the school and I took some photos,I am new to computers, really do not know what I am doing at all.How do I manage to look at those Photos you meantioned what button do I have to push.Do you know any of the peaoplw I am trying to trace. I also remember a girl called June Wood.I now live in California it is raining cats and dogs today not at all like sunny California
best wishes Betty Jolley (nee Midgley)
Silly me I just realized that you were replying to the e-mail I sent you about your site. I was thinking it was in reply to a request I have on the missing persons site. I am trying to find old school pals of mine from when I was at the school from Mar 1946 to August 1947. By the way did you ever know a Madam Patti Regina, she was my music teacher, Such a wonderful person...
Two letters from Ian Maddox from Ramsey Forty Foot, England. They both make interesting reading. You might want to send us a letter of your own and keep Ians company!
Dear Publisher
As a born & bred Morecambrian
I just happened to stumble across the Morecambe web pages one evening whilst surfing. As I consider myself being born & bred in Morecambe I was very pleased to see that Morecambe actually had a web page. WELL DONE & KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. As myself just returning from a recent visit to Morecambe to see my parents I happen to have very fond memories of child hood in and around Morecambe ( Eg Williamson park, sandylands paddling pool crabing, the old stone jetty with fishing that has now recently been extended, central & westend piers (now gone with storm & fire), actually performing on stage at the Winter Gardens, Heysham head watching the carting, standing at old Morecambe railway station waiting to catch a train ( now the platform ) ETC ETC
I know the Morecambe site has pages of recent & very old photos of Morecambe but why not more recent old photos of Morecambe & the surrounding areas
Why should we let the good times and child hood memories die of all the people from Morecambe (mainly through marriage & employment) Lets admit things do change and people do move. I know I would visit the Morecambe site more often to see photos of old Morecambe from pros (eg the Visitor news paper & amatures alike. Please for all of us who have moved away lets have some more old photos. ( there must be loads of us with albums full of old Morecambe photos) Come on get them scanned in and sent to this site Pictures@morecambe.co.uk
Even if any of you Morecambrian people have any old photos you can scan or links you can send me at the above email address I would be very much appreciated, as Morecambe is changing rapidly. (although for the best a lot of memories aredieing fast)
All the best Ian Maddox
Another Letter from Ian...
Hello Again you are doing a great job on the site, Just a quick letter to let you know of some of the things I really miss since moving away from morecambe.
All these things below believe it or not you miss if you move away from the Bay, I just wonder how many other people remember the good times. A WORD for all you lucky people who still live there, What ever you do don't take the things I have mentioned for granted but remember & treasure them in your memories for ever.
The things that re kindle my memories:
1) Awaking in my bed to the cry of gulls that had perched themselves ontop of the chimneys pots.
2) The sound of the ferry boat trains clanking by as they make their way to Heysham sometimes with a toot or a whistle as they approach the crossing.
3) The distant shouting and screams of people on the fast rides at the pleasure park as the sun slowly goes down.
4) The sound of the bellowing fog horn in the distance as the fog rolls in off the sea.
5) The sun slowly setting across the bay like a huge fireball
6) The waves gently lapping onto the shore or crashing down like thunder when the storms were coming.
7) Walking down the Prom on a crisp and cold winters day wrapped up in your warmest clothes
8) Walking down the prom & around Happy mount park a gaze at all the illuminations and themed sets
9) Gazing across the bay at night looking at all the twinkling lights & trying to guess all the towns names.
10) The crawling traffic down the prom when the illuminations were switched on.
11) The changing seasons and watching the snow covered peaks of the Lakes, Pennines & Lancashire moors go from icing sugar topped, to multi coloured greens then golden browns.
12) Standing at the end of the central & west end piers looking down at the water through the decking and far out across the bay.
13) The calmness of the water and the wreckage left behind after the storms in the autumn & winter.
14) Standing at old Morecambe railway station on a wet a dreary day waiting for the next train to Lancaster
15) The smell of Fish and chips as you wonder down the prom at night
16) The taste of the fresh salt air that some how takes your breath away the following day
17) The feel of sand between your toes after paddling or playing on the beach ( yes there used to be sand at Morecambe)
18) The horrible wet feeling after being caught in the drizzle & rain that shrouds the bay many times
19) crabbing in sandylands paddling pool.
20) dodging all the holiday makers as you ride down the prom on your pushbike.
21) getting up at the crack of dawn to go fishing off the pipeline with your dad
OH HAPPY DAYS.
Any of you who may have any photos you could scan in of Morecambe and email them to me direct it would be very much appreciated. PLEASE Send to imadie@imadiesplace.freeserve.co.uk. (and of course to pictures@morecambe.co.uk) The photos that would be of greatest interest would be, the old stone jetty & both piers, the winter gardens, the stone paddling pools on the beach, old morecambe bus station on euston rd, (ESPECIALLY old St marys infant / junior school since it is now gone) Our Ladys High School Lancaster. Illuminations on the prom & happy mount park. Any photos over the Bay looking at the snow covered lake district. The old railway station at Morecambe. General photos looking up & down the prom. Mobby Dick docked, the town hall gardens. poulton square and the market.
REGARDS from Ian maddox