We had a toy/sweet shop on Regent Road 1980's. Main Toy Shop was "Playfair" in Gorleston-on-sea. Biggest toy shop in the county. We had all the performing stars come to us! Most lovely were Michael Barrymore, Russ Abbott, Bruce Forcythe & Cannon & Ball! Happy memories!
What a lovely film. Had my teenage years ( mid 1950’s to 1960’s) in Great Yarmouth. Great place, I can smell the candy floss still. I now live in Vancouver, but I still remember your family , Nick, living across the road from us, happy days. Thank you, and the crew for great memories.
Nick, Joyce are my "family" and this made me cry happy tears. The Pownall family literally took me in as their own- What Nick does not talk about is all the animals he and his son Andy rescued and released... owls, hawks so many. I can honestly say you will never meet a better family... they make you laugh, take anyone in as family and are always happy to see you. Best part of my life growing up in Great Yarmouth - Nick, Joyce, Nikki, Kyla and Andy . best family ever
Hi Deborah, thanks so much for the reply and we are so pleased you like the film. We can see there are so many layers to the family and it's great to be able to celebrate people that help others as you describe!
I remember buying a bone handle 6” sheath knife in Pownall’s, must have been 11 or 12. Days when we instinctively knew knives were for whittling not sticking in people. How things have changed.
From a very early age I remember Holidaying in Great Yarmouth from about 1975 and I remember all the shops on Regent Road.... It was like Aladins cave to a 8 year old,we would go into Pownalls to get Crab lines and bait and later on Lug worm and Beach fishing gear,bought a old Crossman pump air pistol when I was about 15 ( my Dad was with me ) and the remember chatting with the people who sold everything to us. The Shops were very different then...lots of nik nak shops where you could buy anything and everything, the market was bigger and amazing. Great Yarmouth was a lot friendlier then and cleaner and not just on the Beach. I would like to see it get back a bit of its sparkle.
Thank you very much Sir, very nostalgic journey of a lovely English Seaside town. Memories of a much better time albeit War years along the way. I’ve visited your shop on a visit about two years ago ! What a great shop , something for everyone
Spent many happy times as a child on holiday in Great Yarmouth, and have lost count how many times I walked down Regent Road and visited the shops with my parents.
God bless that sweet man. I enjoyed a staycation in Great Yarmouth and strolled along Regent Road during the summer. It's a great place to visit, sounds like it would have been even better back in the day. 👍
HAD SOME GOOD TIMES AT GREAT YARMOUTH WE STAYED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM BRITANNIA PIER USED TO SIT IN THE BAR AT NIGHT AND SEE RUSS CONWAY COMING FROM THE PIER AFTER HIS SHOW FINISHED
I was born in Norwich but moved to Caister-on-Sea in 1961. Lived there until 1980. Many happy times in GY, including seeing many television stars on the seafront piers (Ken Dodd, Val Doonican, Morecambe and Wise, Dickie Henderson), skating in Wellington Pier, admiring the impossibly expensive cuckoo clocks high up on the wall of a fancy goods shop in Regent Rd. The more expensive - the higher it was up the wall! The Regent cinema - a listed building and apparently one of the finest regency theatres outside of London - the ABC cinema and the ABC Minors on a Saturday morning. Later into my teens, the thrill of Cleopatra's discotheque and Tiffany's nightclub one floor above - just below the tower. Great disco music from the 1970s; music you could sing along to whilst dancing. My first experience of Punk Rock. Seeing AC/DC and The Darts at there in 1978. Great times....
Nick and Joyce were good friends of my parents, Lionel and Jean Hampden, also of GT. Yarmouth. Our families holidayed together on Mull with all the children. Marius, Cilla, Nikki, Kyla, and Andy. Nick and Lionel diving in the sea loch for scallops. GT. Yarmouth has changed. It truly was a place of great joy for so many. Nick ever the true gentleman and the charming Joyce. Happy days.
What an eloquent gentleman, I've always loved his shop, and that float always lets you know where you are! When I was little I used to think it was a funny looking ice cream 🍦😄
One of my favorite places in the world! Been some changes over the years. Loved the old snooker hall and cinema which have now sadly gone. Loved walking around and buying the tat. Remember the original Powalls, and some still there like Martin's Walk around, the camera shop, some cafes and off course Clobbers (think thats right) and buying a belt buckle. Miss seeing the blonde lady at the Wax works and Laurel and Hardy! But still love going there. Happy Days!!
what a great video i have lived here 35 years wouldnt move allways have used pownells since i fished for the last 30 years good to see you looking so good and looking well great watch thanks for making the video
I loved this, I spent a lot of my childhood memories in great Yarmouth, and regent road was a highlight, buy old tut, fishing tackle etc... I loved it, playing bowling with the family, going into the house of wax for laughs.... all in the 1980s and 1990s, I remember watching Jurassic park in 1993 there too! like it was yesterday! I remember there was some sort of dungeons across the road from the picture house that was on the corner of regent road opp the pier, cant for the life of me remember the name of it, I have searched for photos on google...
London Predator Angler - I believe it used to be a wax works - you had the house of wax halfway down regent road - but I think this was also a wax works -
When we holidayed in Great Yarmouth during the early 1980s, I remember a department store about halfway up the road on the left hand side as you go up, before it was pedestrianised. They had a counter selling jokes and tricks - we'd see what they'd got during the week, then buy a load of stuff the day before we went home, ready to prank everyone back home! 😂
I visited Great Yarmouth, a few years ago ignoring the old adage "never go back" I was disappointed in the evening when I visited the Market Square to get some chips and Nicholls, the best of the lot, was missing as it had from Regent Road. Also the shop that sold bloaters and kippers in Regent Road had disappeared. I was also surprised to see that both Wellington and Britannia piers no longer extended over the water and the jetty had disappeared. Then, the Pleasure Beach closed at around 9 o'clock. I remember boat trips out to Scroby sands to see the shipwrecks on both the Eastern Princess and the Brit (or Britannia). only to find they have covered it in wind turbines. I can only think I saw Great Yarmouth at it's best
Really enjoyed your video,,,my father ernie webster used to supply lotx of the shops and tea stalls on regent rd with footballs and cuddly toys im sure he knew mr powndall i would Spend every weekend down there delivering,,,,,,,very happy memories many tbanks, David Webster
Thanks Vera - I'm pleased you enjoyed the film - and that it sparked memories of your and your father's time there. So many great stories to tell I am sure! Gary Standley, Producer, BBC Voices
Hi this is to BBC introducing i dont know if youd be interested in My fathers story of his WW2 service in Burma in the far east Campainem,,,,,,Ernest Alexander Webstet ,,,,leading coder British Royal Navy serving on HMS Dauntless ,,i have in my possesion a recording of my dad being interviewed on a radio Station in Fremantle western Australia,,,,,he is telljng his story of how he and 50 or 60 others escaped from from Tijilijap ln a borrowed 100ton ship and sailed to FREMANTLE with some Aus navel lads and Aus nurses ,,,,,,,my dad was born in GreatYarmouth and mentions this in the intervview I could sent you a copy if you like? Kindest regards Davidwebster davidwebster2961@gmail.co
In the 1960's I was a student working as a bus conductor on the buses in the summer holidays. Almost everyday I would walk under the Fishing Float on Regent Rd, and look in the window, as I was a keen fisherman when I was a teenager. I can't stomach how they have 'modernized' Gt Yarmouth now.
I wonder if he knew my grandfather who owned Wickens, a toy shop that must have been almost opposite Pownalls? His name was Kenneth Easey. Nice film BTW ;-)
We had a toy/sweet shop on Regent Road 1980's. Main Toy Shop was "Playfair" in Gorleston-on-sea. Biggest toy shop in the county. We had all the performing stars come to us! Most lovely were Michael Barrymore, Russ Abbott, Bruce Forcythe & Cannon & Ball! Happy memories!
What a lovely film. Had my teenage years ( mid 1950’s to 1960’s) in Great Yarmouth. Great place, I can smell the candy floss still. I now live in Vancouver, but I still remember your family , Nick, living across the road from us, happy days. Thank you, and the crew for great memories.
Delightful recall of local history.
Nick, Joyce are my "family" and this made me cry happy tears. The Pownall family literally took me in as their own- What Nick does not talk about is all the animals he and his son Andy rescued and released... owls, hawks so many. I can honestly say you will never meet a better family... they make you laugh, take anyone in as family and are always happy to see you. Best part of my life growing up in Great Yarmouth - Nick, Joyce, Nikki, Kyla and Andy . best family ever
Hi Deborah, thanks so much for the reply and we are so pleased you like the film. We can see there are so many layers to the family and it's great to be able to celebrate people that help others as you describe!
I remember buying a bone handle 6” sheath knife in Pownall’s, must have been 11 or 12. Days when we instinctively knew knives were for whittling not sticking in people. How things have changed.
he reminds me so much of my grandad, always so well presented, gental, knowledgeable ..
What a gent, thanks for your memories.Happy they are on here for future generations to see. Happy days my childhood visits yo Gt Yarmouth.
From a very early age I remember Holidaying in Great Yarmouth from about 1975 and I remember all the shops on Regent Road.... It was like Aladins cave to a 8 year old,we would go into Pownalls to get Crab lines and bait and later on Lug worm and Beach fishing gear,bought a old Crossman pump air pistol when I was about 15 ( my Dad was with me ) and the remember chatting with the people who sold everything to us. The Shops were very different then...lots of nik nak shops where you could buy anything and everything, the market was bigger and amazing. Great Yarmouth was a lot friendlier then and cleaner and not just on the Beach. I would like to see it get back a bit of its sparkle.
Thank you very much Sir, very nostalgic journey of a lovely English Seaside town. Memories of a much better time albeit War years along the way. I’ve visited your shop on a visit about two years ago ! What a great shop , something for everyone
You can tell he's from another time. He's an absolute gent.I salute him.
Spent many happy times as a child on holiday in Great Yarmouth, and have lost count how many times I walked down Regent Road and visited the shops with my parents.
Could happily sit and listen to him for hours. Lovely video, thanks.
God bless that sweet man. I enjoyed a staycation in Great Yarmouth and strolled along Regent Road during the summer. It's a great place to visit, sounds like it would have been even better back in the day. 👍
Nice of him to share his memories, often bought bait from there.
HAD SOME GOOD TIMES AT GREAT YARMOUTH WE STAYED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM BRITANNIA PIER USED TO SIT IN THE BAR AT NIGHT AND SEE RUSS CONWAY COMING FROM THE PIER AFTER HIS SHOW FINISHED
I was born in Norwich but moved to Caister-on-Sea in 1961. Lived there until 1980. Many happy times in GY, including seeing many television stars on the seafront piers (Ken Dodd, Val Doonican, Morecambe and Wise, Dickie Henderson), skating in Wellington Pier, admiring the impossibly expensive cuckoo clocks high up on the wall of a fancy goods shop in Regent Rd. The more expensive - the higher it was up the wall! The Regent cinema - a listed building and apparently one of the finest regency theatres outside of London - the ABC cinema and the ABC Minors on a Saturday morning. Later into my teens, the thrill of Cleopatra's discotheque and Tiffany's nightclub one floor above - just below the tower. Great disco music from the 1970s; music you could sing along to whilst dancing. My first experience of Punk Rock. Seeing AC/DC and The Darts at there in 1978. Great times....
Tiffany's was a fantastic night out! Bloody cold walk back to the bus😂
I lived opposite Mr Pownall when I was a child a lovely man
Lovely film. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful stories and lovely man thank you for uploading
Lovely memories, what a lovely gentleman too!
What a lovely film.
Great nostalgia, enjoyed watching.
Nick and Joyce were good friends of my parents, Lionel and Jean Hampden, also of GT. Yarmouth. Our families holidayed together on Mull with all the children. Marius, Cilla, Nikki, Kyla, and Andy. Nick and Lionel diving in the sea loch for scallops. GT. Yarmouth has changed. It truly was a place of great joy for so many. Nick ever the true gentleman and the charming Joyce. Happy days.
What an eloquent gentleman, I've always loved his shop, and that float always lets you know where you are! When I was little I used to think it was a funny looking ice cream 🍦😄
Me too!😂 We had a toy/ sweet shop a few doors up. I remember thinking as a kid " Where's the 99?" 😂
A very interesting film, thanks!
Me and my kids just spend the weekend in Yarmouth, the weekend just gone, and we went to the Fairground freights at Pleasure Beach
Strange that having never met Mr Pownall, but can just tell that he is a very genuine, nice and very pleasant man. Lovely video.
Agreed, I was thinking he seems like a very nice man while I was watching this.
love this!
Great man great shop and fantastic people who work there. Always time for the customer. A rare thing today. 👍
One of my favorite places in the world! Been some changes over the years. Loved the old snooker hall and cinema which have now sadly gone. Loved walking around and buying the tat. Remember the original Powalls, and some still there like Martin's Walk around, the camera shop, some cafes and off course Clobbers (think thats right) and buying a belt buckle. Miss seeing the blonde lady at the Wax works and Laurel and Hardy! But still love going there. Happy Days!!
you mean the old jube snooker hall went downstairs to it
I used to buy my air gun pellets there when I was a young lad. Great shop and what a lovely man.
What a handsome young couple they were 😊
what a great video i have lived here 35 years wouldnt move allways have used pownells since i fished for the last 30 years good to see you looking so good and looking well great watch thanks for making the video
Thanks - appreciate the comments and glad you feel the love for the area and for Nick too!
Agree wholeheartedly sir, the town has changed so much, great video.
Thanks for the video Sir God bless
I loved this, I spent a lot of my childhood memories in great Yarmouth, and regent road was a highlight, buy old tut, fishing tackle etc... I loved it, playing bowling with the family, going into the house of wax for laughs.... all in the 1980s and 1990s, I remember watching Jurassic park in 1993 there too! like it was yesterday! I remember there was some sort of dungeons across the road from the picture house that was on the corner of regent road opp the pier, cant for the life of me remember the name of it, I have searched for photos on google...
London Predator Angler - I believe it used to be a wax works - you had the house of wax halfway down regent road - but I think this was also a wax works -
Yes it was a small waxworks
When we holidayed in Great Yarmouth during the early 1980s, I remember a department store about halfway up the road on the left hand side as you go up, before it was pedestrianised. They had a counter selling jokes and tricks - we'd see what they'd got during the week, then buy a load of stuff the day before we went home, ready to prank everyone back home! 😂
I visited Great Yarmouth, a few years ago ignoring the old adage "never go back" I was disappointed in the evening when I visited the Market Square to get some chips and Nicholls, the best of the lot, was missing as it had from Regent Road. Also the shop that sold bloaters and kippers in Regent Road had disappeared. I was also surprised to see that both Wellington and Britannia piers no longer extended over the water and the jetty had disappeared. Then, the Pleasure Beach closed at around 9 o'clock. I remember boat trips out to Scroby sands to see the shipwrecks on both the Eastern Princess and the Brit (or Britannia). only to find they have covered it in wind turbines. I can only think I saw Great Yarmouth at it's best
it's an utter hole. i rotted there for 20 years and it seems you're the only sane person here. well done.
Really enjoyed that Nick thank you. I've lived in Gorleston all my life but many memories of Regent Road too.
Lovely film....enjoyed watching that. GY still great !!
great post from a great gent
Very nice.
I went to school in gorleston
Really enjoyed your video,,,my father ernie webster used to supply lotx of the shops and tea stalls on regent rd with footballs and cuddly toys im sure he knew mr powndall i would
Spend every weekend down there delivering,,,,,,,very happy memories many tbanks, David Webster
Thanks Vera - I'm pleased you enjoyed the film - and that it sparked memories of your and your father's time there. So many great stories to tell I am sure! Gary Standley, Producer, BBC Voices
Hi this is to BBC introducing i dont know if youd be interested in
My fathers story of his WW2 service in Burma in the far east
Campainem,,,,,,Ernest Alexander Webstet ,,,,leading coder
British Royal Navy serving on HMS Dauntless ,,i have in my possesion a recording of my dad being interviewed on a radio
Station in Fremantle western Australia,,,,,he is telljng his story
of how he and 50 or 60 others escaped from from Tijilijap ln a borrowed 100ton ship and sailed to FREMANTLE with some
Aus navel lads and Aus nurses ,,,,,,,my dad was born in GreatYarmouth and mentions this in the intervview
I could sent you a copy if you like?
Kindest regards Davidwebster
davidwebster2961@gmail.co
Remember so many of the old shop Spalls for one its so sad to see Regent rd full of here today gone tomorrow shops selling rubbish.
The float outside Pownall's fascinated me as a kid
remember it from the mid fifties , bought a cricket bat from the sports shop on that street and still have it a Gradige Colin Coudry
Doughty's on the corner? A huge family sports shop business that took up a block of the street I think..
Most interesting!!!
In the 1960's I was a student working as a bus conductor on the buses in the summer holidays. Almost everyday I would walk under the Fishing Float on Regent Rd, and look in the window, as I was a keen fisherman when I was a teenager. I can't stomach how they have 'modernized' Gt Yarmouth now.
I wonder if he knew my grandfather who owned Wickens, a toy shop that must have been almost opposite Pownalls? His name was Kenneth Easey. Nice film BTW ;-)
Thanks for the interest! I'll check and see what he says! Thanks for the nice comment too - Gary Standley, BBC Voices, Norfolk on Film
How it's changed
An handsome man in his day
Lovely man , feel sorry for him as he looks up the street and wonders what the fuck happened ? now it just full of cheap tacky rubbish.