Morecambe Pier
In January, we published a feature on Morecambe's Central Pier which brought back memories for many of you. None more so than Doug Taylor whose father used to manage the attraction in its heyday, writes LOUISE BRYNING
IMAGINE having a seaside pier as your playground.
As the only son of Central Pier manager, James W Taylor, Doug had the perfect place from which to enjoy the best of Morecambe's
halcyon days.
"It was great as a child on the pier," said Doug who suddenly became very popular at Lancaster Royal Grammar School when the sixth formers realised he could get them free passes.
"Our rival was the Floral Hall and dad used to send me there to see how many people they were getting in and the quality of the acts."
James Taylor, who was born in Ullswater Road, Lancaster, and also attended LRGS, went from a rather mundane life as an accountant for Waters and Atkinson in Lancaster and then the treasurer's department at Lancaster Corporation to
managing one of the resort's most exciting attractions from 1936-54.
The old pier had burned down in 1931 and its replacement wasn't even finished when Mr Taylor first joined the New Morecambe Central Pier Company as secretary.
Not surprisingly, Mr Taylor's greatest fear was that the brand new pier would meet the same fate as its predecessor so the pier had its own fireman and along the sides were hosepipes and buckets of sand and water. The decking also had half inch gaps to allow cigarette ends to fall through.
Ironically, one of the pier's
characters, resident joiner Ossy Manson was never seen without a Woodbine in his mouth as he
mended deckchairs, dropping ash everywhere.
Durng this era, there were many attractions on the pier.
The concert hall was very
popular and once boasted the longest running end of the pier show in Britain – The Starlights – produced by Eddie Morrell who later replaced Mr Taylor as
manager. The pier also had the longest running resident dance band, courtesy of Alvin Atkins.
It boasted a ballroom, bars, a lounge and cafe too.
"Dad was always immaculately dressed and used to stand in the corner of the ballroom, looking towards the band," Doug
remembered. "He was very
conscientious and most days he would be there from 9am and sometimes not finish until 1am."
If we wanted to go on holiday, we couldn't go in the season and when we did go away it would be to Blackpool or to see the shows in London where we also visited Tin Pan Alley (Denmark Street) for band music."
One of the most popular nights at the Pier was New Year's Eve where you had to make sure you booked your ticket in advance. "There were big gates at the end of the pier which were closed once it was full so no-one else could get in," said Doug. Another popular – but shortlived – attraction were the boats which used to sail from the pier to Llandudno and New Brighton from 1937-8. Depending on the tides, these journeys could take 12 hours.
But wartime was one of the most memorable periods of the pier's history for Doug when the RAF requisitioned the ballroom.
"During the day they used it as a gym and parade ground and on Sundays they had church services.
The cafe used to be a Polish
officers mess and there was an American officers mess too. I used to go in there and look at all their glossy magazines."
Although the pier continued to be open to the public during the war, the ballroom was blacked out and Doug remembers standing at the end of the pier watching bombs being dropped over Barrow.
His mum managed the
downstairs cafe but due to rationing could only offer customers
slabcake.
Doug remembers many happy times spent on the pier and among the stars he met was Terry Thomas, taking a break from his show at the Winter Gardens. He also remembers the time a trawler was lost in fog in the bay and the strains of Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey were played over the loud hailers in a bid to guide in the boat.
As pier manager, Mr Taylor was heavily involved in Morecambe's social life. He was chairman of Morecambe Hospital Men's Committee who used to stage a Rainbow Ball starring Victor Sylvester at the pier; and he was also president of Morecambe Music Society. However, the long hours and hard work required to manager the pier, took its toll on Mr Taylor's health and he retired in 1954.
He went on to buy Stonewell Post Office in Lancaster which he ran with Doug. Mr Taylor died in 1963, just a day before his 58th birthday.
Doug went on to become a teacher and among the schools he worked at were Dolphinholme Primary, Skerton Secondary School and Dallam School.
"It really does sadden me there's no pier there now," said Doug. "Looking back, I think the best era was the Forties and Fifties. They were very happy days."
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Weather for Lancaster
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
