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Gerald Grant's Tales of Seaside

North Dock and the Beach

Not many people know that in the 1930’s North Dock and the Beach provided most of the entertainment during fine weather at Llanelli. At Sandy Corner there would be bathing for the mothers and children. Whilst the women and children were occupied on the beach, the men hurried to the dunes near the lighthouse, where gambling with crown and anchor boards, and dice was their entertainment for the day. One person would be appointed look-out to watch for the one policeman who was stationed at New Dock Police Station.

Sometimes, if there was no ship alongside, a Seaside man would dive off the top of the coal hoist into the dock, for a wager of five cigarettes or a packet of Wild Woodbines.

Gerald Grant recalls how he was present one Sunday night when a local man dived into the dock for 10 cigarettes, problem was, he had his best Sunday suit on!

One shudders to think how he explained that to his wife.