Post-war Mumbles - 1945 to 1955
by Audrey Vincent
I was ten years old in 1945 when my family moved to Mumbles. My father, David Price had been promoted to Police Sergeant of the Village and became known as ‘Dai Price.’ In those days the police were held in high esteem and in order to keep a young troublemaker in check, it was not unknown for Dai to give the offender a clip around the ear. He was a moblile policeman and rode around the locality on a large motor-bike, the seat of which often caught fire when travelling uphill! There was a black and white police box situated next to the tennis courts near the Tivoli Cinema and, as a child, wanting a couple of pence pocket money, I would often find him there writing reports.
Sergeant Price
Along the sea front at Limeslade, but on the opposite side to the beach, was Mr. Pollard’s little shop. Outside on the grass were a number of life-size cut-out plywood figures of different seaside characters with their faces cut out. The shopkeeper would come outside with a large black box and tripod stand and take your photograph standing behind them with your face sticking through the hole in the heads.
The War was coming to an end but sweets were still on ration and Dai would go round on his bike to Mr. Pollard’s for the weekly ration. He would always allow him a few extra as a ‘back hander’ for being the local sergeant and keeping an eye on his shop. I can remember week after week, they would be the same ones—Quality Street, if my memory serves me correctly.
Audrey with brother, Len
One week, my brother would share them out and I would pick the half I wanted and then the next week, it would be my turn to share and he would choose. I can remember one day seeing a queue outside Meeson’s Chocolate shop, which was near the Tivoli and being curious, I joined it. The absolute joy of buying my first bar of chocolate off ration, no coupons and only one small bar per customer, is still embedded in my mind.
Although I can recall little about my time in Oystermouth School, I can distinctly remember my encounter with the first real banana I had ever seen. Someone had dropped it in the school playground on their way into school. Once my eyes had settled on it, there was no going back and I hurriedly picked it up and gobbled it quickly, before anyone could see me.
Sergeant Price
We walked to school from Norton along Castle Road and on the right hand side, near the school, were the Mumbles Limekilns. In the winter, if it had been raining, we would pick clumps of wet lime from the puddles to hold in our hands to warm them. It did actually work, but it did not do our gloves much good, soon burning holes in them.
There was an orchard situated in a lane off Norton Road near Norton House, where a lady Miss Hinds, who kept horses lived. One day, I sneaked into the orchard to pinch some apples and the dreaded Miss Hinds caught me. I started running up Norton Road as fast as I could, the apples dropping everywhere, when I tripped on the newly tarred road. I still bear the scars on my knee today! I do not recall what explanation I gave my father.
As I grew up and as a young teenager, the biggest thrill of the week was to stroll to Forte’s Café on a Sunday afternoon to eye up the local male talent. (The café was demolished many years ago to make way for the bus station) Anyone who was anyone would be there. I hated the taste of the coffee, but in order to keep up the image, I cultivated a taste for it after a while.
John and Audrey (third & fourth from left) enjoy the Saturday night dance at the Pier
The highlight of the early 50s was the Saturday night dance run by Mr. Bartlett, at the Pier Hotel. The two bouncers, as they would be called today, were Charlie, who was in charge, and Tom. Ladies went in first with Charlie and the boys would only get past him if he saw fit, no one without a collar and tie being allowed in. He was in charge and he was going to decide their fate! Afterwards, we would walk home from the Pier to Norton in the early hours of the morning, without a care in the world. It seemed a safe place in which to live in those days, maybe because Dai Price might be waiting around the corner ready to give you a clip around the ear!