Greg Davies and
Nicola Bryan
For more than a century it has entertained generations of families with its mixture of classic rides and nostalgic arcades.
But on Saturday, the sun will finally set on Porthcawl’s much-loved fair, Coney Beach Amusement Park.
When it opened in 1918, George V was monarch and the country was in the final days of World War I.
Since then, it has been a fixture for many in south Wales, some who first visited as children and would go on to return with their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Now, with the summer season ending, the huge metal gates will be closed and padlocked for the last time after a final day of operating, followed by an after-dark firework display over the skies of Porthcawl to mark the end of the amusement park.
It is thought that Coney Beach Amusement Park was built to entertain American troops returning from the war and took its name from New York’s pleasure park on Coney Island.
What helped cement it in the minds and hearts of many was their childhood trips during miners’ fortnight.
This saw the south Wales valleys’ numerous coal mines close for two weeks in the summer, prompting families to head to the coast for their annual holiday.
Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
On a Thursday evening in late summer, Ann and Raymond Crandon from Merthyr Tydfil queued alongside the candy floss and ice cream stalls with their granddaughter, Lily, and shared fond memories of the fair.
They have been visitors at Coney all their lives and, with this being their final time, thoughts inevitably turned to their own childhood memories.
“This is the third year we’ve come here on the run but we used to come years ago, back in the ’50s, my father and my grandfather used to fetch us,” said Raymond.
Ann also visited as a child with her parents: “Oh it was lovely. I loved it, I loved the waltzer.”
Stephen Savigar, from Newport, had also made the trip to visit for a final time before the closure.
“It’s sad, for generations it’s a lost thing,” he said.
“It was old fashioned fun and we’ve transferred that to our kids and then on to the grandkids. There’s nothing better in nice weather, what British holiday-making is all about.”
Tracey Davies even arranged a coach trip from Port Talbot and had just arrived with a party of 50 to say farewell to the fair.
“Because it is coming to an end, we’ve done this trip to say goodbye”, she said.
“It’s sad, it’s been here so many years.”
Miller Hutchins and Joseph Chapman, both 16 and from Brackla in nearby Bridgend, had also come for one last visit.
“I’m a tiny bit gutted its closing,” said Joseph.
“But it was bound to happen at some point, it’s a bit of an old fair.”
But it was not just those living in south Wales who decided to make the trip to the fair in its last season.
Sandy and Ishal and their daughters Onitha and Gayara were visiting from Liverpool and said they were looking forward to going on some rides.
Reece Dangerfield, from Kent, was visiting with his partner Louise Howells, his son Finlay, her children Max and Amelia and the couple’s nine-month-old Milo.
The family were staying at the neighbouring Trecco Bay, a vast caravan park that helps ensure a steady stream of customers for the fair during the summer months.
Each of the children had been given £20 to spend at the fair – they had, however, mostly spent it on Labubu toys.
“We came down here for the first time the other day so we’ve made a point of coming back down here tonight,” he said.
Louise said she was sad to hear the fair was closing but it wouldn’t stop her from holidaying in Porthcawl again.
Finlay said he was also having a great time.
“The best thing about this holiday is probably spending time with my family,” he added.
He said the family’s favourite ride had been the Go-Gator.
When we paid one last visit to the fair in September, with children back at school, Coney Beach felt emptier.
Gone were the long queues and noisy laughter of just weeks before, despite the sun still shining.
Onlookers, mostly locals, were greeted with padlocks and closed shutters.
Some peered through the bars, snapping pictures and taking one last look at a place full of fond memories.
