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March 2008 Archives

Life's a Beach

Posted by Martin Williams on March 27, 2008 1:37 PM

We like to have a good rant here at the Visitor, especially when something annoys us.
But now and again you can't help but be surprised and proud of the world around you.
I'm talking about Rhyl.
And yes, among the dross and litter congregating in this sleepy little seaside town, there are hidden pockets of bliss. Little gems that need polishing and bringing to the fore.
On my lunch break today (Thursday) I weaved around the seagulls, pushchairs and swearing teens (Oh I do love the school holidays) and made my toward the promenade.
I'm born and bred in Rhyl so I know where I am and what to expect, but this afternoon was different.
Once I'd traipsed along High Street, past the pointless Children's Village and the Berlin Wall behind the cinema, I stumbled upon our glorious seafront. I’d not been down there for over a year, like many I’ve just taken it for granted and forgotten it exists.
How gorgeous is that beach on a sunny day? I was mesmerised.
Cynics reading this may feel I'm being over-the-top and a little pathetic. Maybe.
But like many Visitor readers I love this town to death. It has so many flaws but so many great attributes.
If we could only get the green light to demolish the Children’s Village, that wall, the pointless bridge and paper-filled waterfall then we could bring back some shred of dignity to this place.
We don't need all these 'attractions'.
Flatten them.
Level the whole area, leave the aquarium, the cinema, the theatre and the Suncentre. Even the Drift Park.
I want to walk along the promenade and see that golden sand.
Last summer I wrote a story about how Rhyl was no longer a tourist resort and how it must move with the times.
I still believe that, but I also believe people will come here and enjoy a day out by the seaside. If only they could get anywhere near it.

Why Not?

Posted by Andy Davies on March 25, 2008 3:17 PM

Last week two gentlemen came into the office 'representing' the Park View estate. They came in to talk about the situation with Anwyl and the land behind the Ty Elan surgery. As they chatted away to Martin Williams I listened intently to what they wanted for the estate.
Being from the area in question I decided to throw in what I wanted.
"We could do with a pub." I announced.
"No we don't." came the reply.
"Alcohol brings trouble. Nobody wants a pub." was what I was further told. Rubbish.

I remember when people petitioned against a pub several years back and our house refused to sign it. Why? Because it would be an excellent addition and (if managed in the right way) a gold-mine. At the moment if you want a drink you have to travel 20 minutes on foot to the Millbank or travel further if you want to go to the Derwen.
Anti-social behaviour and binge drinking will always be the argument against a pub but look at the situation at the moment. No pub, just a co-op offering a variety of deals on alcohol for sale. A nice dark park for youths to sit and get drunk on a weekend. If these representatives are so keen to bring the estate together, why not provide a venue where resident's can meet for a drink and possibly a bite to eat? Instead 'we' want a 'nice' area for people to walk dogs. An area coincidentally next to a field!
The estate is not like TV's Chatsworth estate. So let's have somewhere we can enjoy a drink and a socialise, not to the extent where there's brawling on the streets nearby by binge drinkers.
Who knows, we may even know how to throw a party!
'Skattar!'

Dog Day Afternoon

Posted by David Rutland on March 25, 2008 12:51 PM


WE’VE just had an old lady come in to the Visitor office.

A shouting, threatening old lady with a big black dog to back her up.

The reason for her visit was an article written by our news editor Martin Williams last week, about dogs being left out on Rhyl High Street.

They bark constantly and disrupt our working day. It’s irritating. Martin wrote the words. I took the pictures.

So here I was this morning, putting together a nib about the George Formby Appreciation Society, when in she walks.

“I want to talk to the editor,” she shouts.
“That’s me,” says Martin. “What’s the problem?”

The old woman, whose name we still do not know, then goes on to shout about how we have no right to take photos of her animal and how he doesn’t bark and is only there for a short period anyway.

Ho-hum.

“Have you ever had your purse stolen?” she asked. “I have even had youths coming up to me in the street and asking me for money.”

“That dog is my protection,” she said. “How dare you ever say that my dog is out there in the cold for hours on end?”

“My dog is better looked after than some of the children in the High Street.”

The woman left and to test out her theory, I ventured onto the High Street. As I opened the door, a family walked past.

“Mummy,” said a little girl. “That big dog was barking at me.”

It was raining as I strolled 20 yards further up High Street. The dog was tied to a drainpipe. The angry woman was nowhere to be seen.


Memories

Posted by Martin Williams on March 21, 2008 1:56 PM


THE demise of the Grange Hotel has touched a nerve, not just with me, but with many Visitor readers.
Like my colleague Andy Davies, I too have so many great memories of the venue.
It was Rhyl’s landmark hotel, the scene of so many great events.
I’ll bet that if you’re aged 18 or above and reading this now, you enjoyed some celebration or other at the East Parade building.
I must have attended a hundred birthdays, christenings, wedding receptions and parties there.
I remember sitting on the wooden bench outside the front entrance, looking out at the calm water and remembering my late grandfather, whose life we celebrated that day. The day of his funeral.
I remember playing cowboys and Indians with my younger brother in the downstairs lounge as our mum worked on reception (which she did for eight years).
And do you remember the reception area? Awash with wood and glass, a room no bigger than a wardrobe, tattooed with paper clips and A4 paper.
We had Christmas dinner there, my school’s ROA (Record of Achievement) presentation was held in the main hall, as was my Nanny and Grandad’s ruby wedding anniversary.
One of my aunties worked there for years. Another held her wedding reception there. So many great times.
I held an auction at the Grange in 2001, in aid of St Kentigern’s Hospice. We raised thousands and it was one of the best nights of my life.
The hotel was a maze of oak, so many little rooms and cubby holes. The Tudor Bar, red carpets, that grandfather clock and beautiful flowers in hanging baskets.
Like many of you reading this, I was angry and upset when they closed it.
To watch it burn, fall to pieces and disappear is an absolute tragedy for Rhyl.
You must have a memory of The Grange Hotel? You may have even captured it on camera?
A party, an event that matters to you, a birthday or even a night within its once-majestic black and white towers. Let’s keep the memory alive.
Send your memories and photographs to Martin Williams, Visitor Newspaper, 84 High Street, Rhyl, LL18 1UB. Alternatively, e-mail them to martin.williams@northwalesnews.co.uk.

Naivety

Posted by David Rutland on March 20, 2008 2:28 PM

IT has recently come to our attention that a significant number of people do not understand what we, as reporters, actually do.

In its simplest form, the job involves writing down what people say and then either spinning a story around their words or adding their words into a different news item.

Not a difficult concept to grasp is it?

It seems that some people, when ringing us with a story, forget what we are and the core of what we do - we write things down.

There have been a number of people calling to complain recently because, while they assumed we were having a friendly chat, I was doing my job.

Needless to say, their candid comments made it into print and they were not happy about it.

One of these was a council officer who made remarks about the “lovely people of Rhyl” stealing public property.

He later said that it may not have been true, he’s now in trouble with his bosses and anyway, he didn’t think I’d actually print it.

Goodness me, a journalist writing a story based on what’s told to him by a council officer - whatever next?

Another incident involved a prominent member of Rhyl’s Labour group, who had met the Prime Minister and was less than impressed with him.

She told me about it, the story ran as a short in The Visitor and she got in trouble with the Party.

For some reason this is my fault. I don’t get it.

Really people, we do want you to call in, we want you to talk to us and tell us your opinions, news and views.

Just don’t be surprised when they appear in print.

Freebies

Posted by David Rutland on March 20, 2008 10:52 AM

IT'S always nice to get something for nothing.

Sceptics say that it's not possible, that there’s always a catch. But that’s not true.
I went to the opera in Llandudno on Tuesday night - press tickets in return for a review. I have written a review reflecting my experience.

Obviously, the theatre is taking a gamble. Had I had a miserable time, perhaps because of a stinking hangover or because I don’t speak Italian, I would have written that I didn’t enjoy it.

See - something for nothing. The theatre can get either something or nothing out of it. I get opera tickets and I’m paid to write anyway.

So really this is an appeal to anybody who wants to give things to us Visitor reporters. We won’t put your logo on this blog and in all likelihood we probably won’t even acknowledge we’ve received it.

If a housing company wants to give us a property, that’s great. We’ll use it. But we won’t start saying nice things about the company and we won't ignore less than complimentary news coming in about them.

If a controversial hotel wants to give us access to their facilities, we may or may not take advantage, but we wouldn’t drop the controversy.

Free keep fit classes? Don’t bother, we’re all far too lazy here.


Right now, we can’t think of anything we want. But if you can think of something we’d like, send it to:

84 High Street,
Rhyl,
LL18 1UB.

But you won’t get anything for your investment.

A Grange Feeling

Posted by Andy Davies on March 19, 2008 11:00 AM

When I had a phone call from a relative on Tuesday night about a fire at the former Grange Hotel, I went down there not expecting to see anything more than a bit of smoke and maybe a couple of flames.
Wrong.
There was a lot of both as I stood and watched as more fire appliances arrived with the incident command unit and the fire service 'cherry-picker' surveyed the scene. I wasn't alone watching the blaze, members of the public (some in dressing gowns and slippers) gathered to watch the firemen tackle the flames.
News of a man rescued and taken to hospital soon filtered through and rumours began to spread of three people trapped inside, something that was neither confirmed or denied by police who had helped cordon off the area.
Looking at the Grange go up in smoke left a strange atmosphere around the 'spectators'. Whilst many speculated about squatters and insurance, I, like an elderly couple near me, was sad.
My nain worked at the Grange for years and to see a building which had held such fond memories for so many people at the hundreds of parties and weddings over the years is a huge shame.
At a time when so many stories we at the Visitor hear about the poor state of Rhyl, its plight can possibly be reflected in a one time shining light for the town left to rot, catch fire, then go up in smoke.

The Incredible Journey

Posted by Martin Williams on March 12, 2008 9:20 AM

I left for work at 8.15 this morning.
Thanks to a series of obstacles and idiots I've only just sat down at my desk.
I now live in Colwyn Bay, and my journey usually takes around 20 minutes.
But not today, or for the coming weeks by the looks of things.
The A55 is closed off at Abergele/Towyn and only one lane is open. So from Llanddulas I crawled along at a snail's pace before finally, in the distance, a legion of orange cones met my befuddled gaze.
I expected to see workmen busying themselves with diggers, but of course, there were none. There were just cones, as spaced-out as the prat who decided to put them there and annoy the thousands of motorists who pass this spot every day.
I decided to turn off at Pensarn and crept past Belgrano at 20mph, rather than the limit of 40, this time because of a trailer carrying a mobile home. Is it me or do you only ever see these things when you're in a rush?
On to Towyn, where there is STILL a set of traffic lights near Jake's nightclub. There seems to be no reason for this, yet it added another 10 minutes onto my nightmare.
You then tootle along through Towyn and Kinmel Bay, again at around 20mph because of the limit over the railway bridge and a speed camera, before arriving in Rhyl.
And then you meet a new set of issues. There is nowhere to park, so after 10 minutes driving around our wonderful one-way system I managed to squeeze my car into a tight space behind an expensive-looking car in Tarleton Street.
That left me a five-minute walk away from the office, which is no problem, but today is one of the windiest we've had this year, or any other.
I was blown into a tree near St Thomas's Church and then sauntered along High Street, cold and frustrated, to be met by a man who had not had his newspaper delivered yet!
To be fair it's not supposed to arrive through your letterbox on a Wednesday morning, it should be there on a Wednesday night or Thursday at the latest. We only put it to bed on a Tuesday afternoon, so be patient - it's worth waiting for :)
If you're one of those readers who is not getting the Visitor I am as frustrated as you are, believe me. There's no point in producing a newspaper if nobody is able to read it, so call the number of our distribution office and give them a tongue-lashing - 0151 3304956.
And so the day begins.....

First Impressions...

Posted by Andy Davies on March 11, 2008 11:29 AM

During my first month or so working on the Visitor it has been very interesting from both a job perspective and also as a resident of Rhyl.
The learning of the whole process of story writing and putting that into print has provided invaluable experience for me.
Covering Abergele and St Asaph is a great opportunity for me to work on my journalistic skills and provide informative as well as entertaining reading material for people.
The feedback I have received has been pleasing and even if I haven’t managed to please everyone, the fact that people are passionate enough to e-mail or phone me is important in trying to understand what members of the community expect from THEIR local paper.
The soap opera that is the Visitor office has provided a great environment to work in, although the countless dogs barking and people asking if we’re the Journal (how dare they!) can be tiresome.
I hope to hear off more people in the next few weeks as I start to become more familiar on the paper. It is my wish that members of the community can come to me with any story, confident that I will produce an honest article on the back of it.

Visitor roolz!

Posted by Martin Williams on March 6, 2008 12:23 PM


IT’S OFFICIAL!
The Visitor is the best paper in Rhyl and the surrounding area, according to voters on a popular website - Rhyl-Today.co.uk.
We received a staggering 93.3% of votes from users in a poll to find which is the number one paper in the town.
The website was created by Ben Sarginson to provide a means for local people to communicate with each other, talk about the town and discuss what’s going on, local events and happenings.
Here are some of the comments posted:
Mandy: I prefer the Visitor - If only we could get it delivered regularly! Much more info, more up to date and covers the area better.
Chico mendez: Visitor without doubt, always first on the big local issues and there is award-winning sports coverage from Dave Jones. The visitor is top dog!
Scraffy: Visitor! As the contract I had with a local company was terminated recently, I have found that the Visitor has a better range of jobs. It also has more of a range of news that covers the whole of the area, and does not just concentrate on one particular area.
Pedro: The Visitor is better by a country mile - better journalists, better pictures, better product. Easy.
Sue: The Visitor. I have just had both delivered today, so seeing the thread had been posted I decided to read both straight away. As mentioned before I think the Visitor covers a much wider area, informing us that Towyn’s only nightclub has closed - which seems to be happening all over. But in general, yes, I think the Visitor.
DaveH: Visitor. Why? Better standard of journalism, better proof reading and less repeated articles.
And The Visitor didn’t use my photos without permission.
Barney-Rebel: The Visitor without a doubt. The alternative is like reading The Beano and the spelling mistakes week in week out are just pathetic.
Ldp: The Visitor has far more news.
Melquiades Estrada: Visitor roolz - Journal droolz. Quite frankly, it just rocks.
Thelilywhites.co.uk: The Visitor by a mile. Dave Jones’ local sports coverage is class, and award winning.

l We appreciate your support and always welcome feedback from our readers. We have made several changes in past months and want to hear from you. If you have any opinions on the Visitor e-mail martin.williams@northwalesnews.co.uk.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to The Day to Day in the March 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.

February 2008 is the previous archive.April 2008 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.