Morning Coffee At Rapparee

A Memory of Ilfracombe.

Wonderful little beach. As a lad in the late 1940's and early 50's, I was a deckchair boy here, and hundreds of people would walk from town to have a coffee at the cafe at the bottom of Rapparee steps, or spend half the day sitting in a deckchair. I learnt to swim here, jumping from the rocks at the side of the beach. Rowing boats from the harbour would visit, taking people back to the quay for sixpence per person. Some years later...remains of slaves, and gold coins would be found, from the wreck (in 1790) of the sailing ship 'London'. During my years of working on the beach, I never found a penny! My last visit was in 2010...it was virtually unchanged from 60 years previously, although evidence of rock falls. Sadly no crowds of holidaymakers these days, glad I was there when there was! ... Happy memories of Rapparee, and Ilfracombe.