Nostalgic memories of Torquay's local history
Share your own memories of Torquay and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 20 in total
I worked at the Derwent hotel in 1973 & 1974. I came from Sheffield with a friend to work the season but ended up working 2 seasons. It was then owned by Mr Morel & the manager was Mr Sorrentino. It was a great hotel to work in - I met many friends but no longer in touch. Lived in house with some of the girls I worked with owned by mr Sorrentino. I have some fantastic memories & sad we lost touch ...see more
We holidayed in Torquay in july 1965 we was a group of kids from The Hollies children's home in sidcup Kent..by what I remember the YMCA hotel was called the castle hotel..would this be the same one or was there more then one YMCA hotels in Torquay in those days
Wow I can give loads of memories in the 60s
Going down there with my parents. Ansty cove; Afternoon tea; Charity box on counter; As a black person supporting foreign aid; Put a coin on his hand twist his ear, coin went in.
Also the gong at bottom of stairs was rung when it was meal time.
Carpet bowls on reception, carpet.
Rock walk bottom gate
Cilla Black on at Princess Theatre 1964, no bar
Lovely balcony over ...see more
I learned my English in Torquay at YMCA 1968 . Firs job, first experience of independent life. Miss cotton my Boss. All nice old clients extremely gentle with me . So many beautiful memories.
Sandro Melaranci
sandromelaranci@gmail.com
Hello,
My name was Dominique Andrieu at that time. As a French student, I spent some marvelous holidays at Astwell Hall on summer 1970.
Two of my aunts stayed there before me : Odette et Claude Villemaine.
I usually served tea in the lounge with 2 other German young ladies. The most important is that I fell in love with Giancarlo, a marvelous Italian young man. We went on during two ...see more
I have great memories of ansteys cove in the 50s,and of the hotel Ansteys Manor Hotel, my husband's uncle owned ,we had our honeymoon there,and went back for holiday's with our young daughter,we went down to the cove ,beach, she has just gone on a visit to the cove to capture a moment of a photo we took when she was about 5, so much has changed with the hotel no longer there,house's are there now,does any one remember ...see more
I was an evacuee sent to Torquay in WW2 with our school from Ealing. Not a very happy time I'm afraid. Do remember watching the bombing of Plymouth from the bedroom window. The local children I think, thought we were from another planet. Also watching horses being shod at the blacksmiths in I think it was Tor.
I moved to Torbay in 1962 to work at Gowman Easterbrook, Solicitors in Paignton. During this time I made many friends, including Tony Harper who, with Alan Beeson, myself and others, founded Dunkeswell Kart Club which is still going. Tony posted a memory on this site sometime ago and said he is living in Queensland, Australia and I have tried to make contact without success. If anyone knows of his whereabouts, ...see more
My husband and I ran Lyndale Guest House 1967-1971 and enjoyed meeting many interesting families mostly from Northern England. I wonder if any of them are reading this? Soon after we sold the property it was converted into flats as it would not have met the new stringent council rules. We decided to emigrate to Australia but have been back to the area several times to enjoy the lovely area especially ...see more
I wrote an article entitled 'TORQUAY AT WAR', which is may thousands of words; too big for insertion on this web site. If you are interested in viewing this tome, please Google 'Torquay at War by Philip Linder' It is very graphic and is a potted history of the years of 1939 to 1945. Enjoy!