A BOOK of memories that takes a nostalgic look at Pwllheli in the 1950s and 1960s is on sale from today (April 19).

On Bonfires, Butlins and Being Welsh: Growing up in Pwllheli in the ‘50s and 60s by Jos Simon explores the author’s childhood and upbringing in the Llŷn Peninsula town in Gwynedd.

Jos Simon was born and brought up in Pwllheli, and after university in London became a comprehensive school teacher in various parts of England.

Taking early retirement, he embarked on a late-blooming second career as a travel writer.

READ MORE:

Man living on boat at Gwynedd marina fears homelessness after fees rise

Exhibition created for 125 years of Bangor’s Garth Pier

Then, halfway up a steep mountainside in Cyprus, with calves aching and lungs bursting, decided that travel writing was best left to the young and began work on this memoir.

The book paints a vivid picture of life in Pwllheli at the time, and was originally just a series of Facebook posts that the author started writing in 2019.

The posts developed into an idea to create a collection for a book.

Jos Simon’s memories are bookended by memories from other members of the Pwllheli Facebook group, helping to evoke the strong community spirit of the town during the period.

Author Jos Simon said: “Initially I was dubious, but as the posts and comments accumulated, a colourful patchwork of life in 1950s and ‘60s Pwllheli was emerging that was worth preserving.

“They seemed to trigger lovely memories.

“The outpouring of anecdotes and opinions, the banter and jokes, the reconnection of people, who had lost touch perhaps half a century ago, were building up to be a colourful picture and a snapshot of a particular time and particular place.

“The book is a celebration of the people of Pwllheli and the community there.”

From a time when the freedom to roam was the norm, On Bonfires, Butlins and Being Welsh is a wealth of lively and humorous anecdotes that bring the detail of time, place and culture back to life.

Whilst reading through all the information from members of the public, the author noticed a number of prevalent themes emerging.

The chapters are therefore organised chronologically and thematically, including ‘Childhood’, ‘On the cusp of adolescence’, ‘The teenage years’ as well as ‘Wales and the Welsh’ and ‘Then and Now’.

Friend, founder, and chief administrator of the Ysgolion Pwllheli and District Schools Facebook group, Janet Kaiser, says in the Foreword: “On Bonfires, Butlins and Being Welsh is a universal tale of a small-town boy in and of his times, coloured by the kaleidoscope of hindsight.”

On Bonfires, Butlins and Being Welsh by is available now for £9.99 at Y Lolfa.