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Madam Stockton Presents > by Bernard Stockton
A Trek through old Mumbles Village: part three > by Stuart Batcup
Mumbles viewed from Southend, April 1982
My abiding memories of Mumbles are of some of its larger than life characters. I lived in Swansea between 1972 and 1980 where I met and married West Cross girl Sandra Jenkins, daughter of the inimitable Jack. It was while working at Macpherson Bros I met Bernard Stockton, definitely a larger than life character. Former RADA graduate and Mitchell Minstrel, Bernard forewent 'the roar of the greasepaint and smell of the crowd' to bring up his sons and in the process, became a manager at Macs where he used his incredible talent to charm the shoppers (He should have been the Welsh James Bond!). Bernard never lost his enthusiasm for the theatrical.
A typical week at the Canopic in 1974
The Canopic Restaurant, Southend
The Singing Barmen perform the Sand Dance at The Canopic
He formed ‘The Singing Barmen’ with the legendary Bowden Brothers, Bill and Trevor. I became an honorary member at Christmas when in time-honoured fashion we toured the hostelries of Mumbles with ‘Sharper’ The Horses Head, resplendent in ribbons.
The Mari Lwyd' custom, touring the hosteleries of Mumbles, collecting for charity, with the Horses Head
Local legend had it that bad luck would befall anyone refusing entry to Sharper. The Canopic Restaurant (now a block of flats) told us to go away; the next day there was a fire in the restaurant. Apparently the Canopic was named after ‘SS Canopic’ and fittings from the ship were used as wall panels in the restaurant (later installed in the White Rose).
The Conservative Club, Southend
Bill, Trevor, Bernard and I used to meet on Sunday for a pint and game of snooker at the Conservative Club (the Con Club). None of us were Tories but it had the best snooker table and anyway, Bernard and I were banned from the Oystermouth Social Club following a fight!
Swansea now seems a shadow of its former self. Macpherson’s was sold to Kwik Save, BHS, where I also worked, has gone, along with Lewis Lewis, Lewis’s and the Coop Department Store and many others. The future of Debenhams, where I also worked, may be in doubt. But Mumbles was, and remains, a gem. I live in Scotland now but who knows, I may one day get back for a walk along the pier with either a Joe’s or a Forte's ice cream and remember my happy past in Mumbles and the wonderful characters I knew there.
Forte's Ice Cream Parlour, is at Limeslade Bay and Joe's Ice Cream Parlour is in the village, next to Mumbles Methodist Church.
Madam Stockton Presents > by Bernard Stockton
A Trek through old Mumbles Village: part three > by Stuart Batcup
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