THE WAY WE WERE
BLACK ROCK SANDS, MORFA BYCHAN
We rewind over half a century to enjoy a beach holiday during a time when car radiators were in danger of overheating and the radio was tuned to receive the BBC’s Light Programme
S ome of the cars probably belonged to holidaymakers from the nearby Garreg Goch caravan site or at guest houses in Porthmadog. Others may contain day-trippers from Chester or Liverpool, because Black Rock Sands certainly was worth the journey from north west England.
A white-coated attendant for the beach car park is on hand to remind the owners of the Morris Minor 1000 and the Riley One Point Five of the tide timetable – vital information for anyone visiting Black Rock Sands. A Ford Consul Cortina De Luxe is already heading off the mist-strewn beach, possibly to visit Portmeirion, as seen on the cult TV series later in the Sixties, The Prisoner.
In front of the attendant’s hut is an Austin A40 Farina saloon with a Trojan van beside the awkwardly angled tea stall. As we head towards that Cortina, a duotone Gazelle to its right is being unloaded. The Hillman Imp in front of the Singer looks strangely parked, or perhaps the driver had an overwhelming urge for a 1/6d cornet. Alongside the Rootes Group saloon is a post-1962 Austin A35 Van; note the flashing rear indicators. Then, moving rightwards, we encounter a Standard Eight, the unmistakable tail fins of an F-type Vauxhall Victor and a Minor Traveller.
By the Morris is one of a trio of Karrier 1-Ton ice-cream vans bearing the words ‘Yippee! It’s Mr. Whippy!’ The couple resting on the Austin 1800 are mesmerised by the soft-scoop ice cream on sale. Either that, or they’re revelling in their ownership of ‘Car of the Year 1965’.
To the right of the Landcrab is a Hillman Minx MkVIII, overshadowing a Mini. A Ford Anglia 105E De Luxe and an Austin A30 sandwich a second Mini, and we can glimpse an Anglia or Popular 100E behind the windbreak. The last-named was as essential for a day at the beach as egg and cress sandwiches.
Meanwhile, to the left of the ice cream vans, is a Ford Consul MkII De Luxe and a Hillman Husky behind an Austin A60 Cambridge Countryman. To their right are a second A40 Farina and an Austin A35 Countryman sporting aftermarket ‘Bunny Ear’ indicators. Next, progressing along the row, is a BMC 1½-litre ‘Farina’, an ADO16 and a glimpse of a second 105E. Few 1960s traffic scenes would be complete without these three fine family favourites.
After a gap, there is Mini number three and a Minor Traveller number two. The temptation to explore the vehicles to the Minor’s right is strong, especially the Commer FC ‘Spacevan’ camper, with a stove for that restorative cup of tea. But now, it is time to head to the waterfront to appreciate a Triumph Herald Coupé, while a group disembarks from another Rootes Group ‘Audax’ saloon. Next is a Viva
