Latest memories page
E mail me with your tales and
reminisences of the old place,
Last Modified and added to on May 4th. 2008
Latest at the top.
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Latest memories page |
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E mail me with your tales and
reminisences of the old place, |
I will keep this up to date and then move stuff to the memory archive after a couple of months | |
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Last Modified and added to on May 4th. 2008 Latest at the top. |
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John Fundock Connecticut US |
Skewjack was my nirvana! After getting a "Greetings from the President of the US" letter and being inducted into the Army in 1972, I knew my surfing passion was going to be running dry while I spent the next two years protecting the Russian border, and nuclear missiles in Germany. My days of surfing big waves in the East Coast hurricane season dryed up! Then I saw your ad in Surf magazine, and I was on a new mission! (I still have that ad!) Within 6 months I boarded a military plane for London, hitched a ride to Cornwall, and a great Brit bought me a pint and a fish /chips dinner and then drove me right to your door step! He said a yank saved his life during WWII, and he never had a chance to say thanks. A real gentleman and fellow soldier. My 8 days camping at the Village were extraordinary: a spiritual reprieve from the military, daily surfing on some small swells, getting lost in the fog on the beach, watching the "Endless Summer" premier with a few pints of scrumpy and with some friendly fellow campers. Thanks for the memories and the great times. You saved my soul. From the other side of the "pond", John Fundock |
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| Ruth (Pascoe) | I visited Skewjack several times between 1975 – 1982. I actually learned to surf, thanks to Harvey’s patience!.I have memories of visiting the Wreckers up top Sennen and The Old Success under Sennen. You could only go in the public bar of the Success if you had a wetsuit on and they wouldn’t serve you easily if you weren’t a local! Luckily my little sister could pull off a mean Cornish accent when needed.In the latter years I came with my little son, Ben, when he was 3 and 4 years old. We were given a luxury chalet just across from the Sunset Bar so I could keep popping back to check on him at night. On one occasion an outing to Penzance was cancelled and a disco hastily arranged in the bar so I could join in. Essex & Cass were around during the day for Ben to play with and the girls were very kind keeping an eye on Ben while I surfed. There were a couple of guys that lived in a pig sty (literally!) up near Gwenver who picked spuds as rent for the sty and surfed as they pleased! Skewjack was the first place I ever saw a skateboard. I think it belonged to Harvey and was used as an aid to learn balance. Anyway, it was a great place. Ruth (Pascoe) |
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George Harris An original resident and probably stayed for free!! |
Hi, Takes me back. I was stationed at RAF Sennen, National service 1954- 56. Loved it, brilliant place, never off the beach
at sennen cove. If you are doing a history of the place, I could search
through my boxes and find a few interesting photo's of some of the guys
that were there, long before you guys. Let me know. |
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| Steve Inglis | Hi Graham. Had Geoff and Anne White over
for tea last night. "In
the summer of 76" it was like stepping back into the 60's and having
fun To you all "teach your children well" I didn't say that. |
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| Barbara Freshwater | Hi Everyone, I am still in touch with quite a few people – Jan Harris is married
with 2 kids & living in Suffolk, Mike Cattran is in Luxembourg, the
other Barbara (Daw) is in Brussels and their daughter Becky is at Uni
in Leeds, Chris & Lelly who were serial punters (in the big white
custom van) and actually lived very close to me in North London, are
still great friends. Other people I remember… Graham & Sylvie (of course) the various lifeguard- Curly, James, Adrian (Spez), Colin, Aussie Dave, Ted, Paul, Kevin the Aussie lifeguard, Jeff Devane & Kath (or Kaff!) Jeremy, Martin (Dr Fun),Valerie, Fran- we shared a cottage in the winter of 1977, Terry & Jimmy, Jan Strick (fact!), Hilary & Ray (Ron Bishop’s sister & brother-in-law, Cliff Hugo, Suzanne & Tony, Helen, Emma, Valerie, Joe Crow, Steve Palmer, Jill, Stuart & Doug who were later versions of Dr Fun, & Ralph the barman who was sacked for nicking stock.(Allegedly!) Oh happy days! |
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| Tim Perks | I went there with my mates in approx 1972 or
1973?. It was my first holiday away from my parents. I don't have any
photos just my memory. I was with approx 6 mates, only one I have contact
with now. We had cabin opposite the entrance. A lot has happened to me since then. I am now a boring 53 year old. Those times were great although I cant remember alot as we were normally a bit ..er...tipsy. As I said before, I have lost contact with all my mates from then except one, and with him I lost contact for 20 years and only recently found him through friends reunited. Well those are my memories from when I was young and just wanted a good laugh. Now I am a middle aged grumpy old bugger always thinking about the good old times. I shouldn't say those things really, as I just got married again and wife is pregnant. In fact I still act like a kid and she tells me to 'grow up'. Well that is all I have to say, sorry if it's a bit boring, although the time at Skewjack was definitely NOT boring. Best Regards Tim Perks |
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| Adrian Dix | Hi Graham I've put some snaps on the attachment for 1978/9 i'm not sure which is was The guy playing the guitar is Norman Woods who made guitars at his home which was on the right hand side of the main road as you go from Sennen to Lands End The others are some girls we met who were from London and one is of the fancy dress night It was funny reading the web site as we were never sure as to what Cliff did ! I'll send some more when i get time |
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Look at the high-tech TV !!! |
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| Elaine Roe | Wow, really amazing. I was just thinking about Cornwall and I just
thought there might be someone out there who remembered Skewjack. I
spent my first ever holiday away from home in at Skewjack in1975. Just
two weeks and I will never forget, discos every night, joss sticks and
people my own age. Thanks for keeping the memory alive. Been
back since but couldn't get near the place. shame about the crap
they've put up in its place. Nice gentle place that it was. still
there we are. I'll visit regularly. I'll see if I have any photos, but I don't think I have. And I use to live near Brighton. Elaine Roe (was Gower) Watchet Somerset |
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| Brian Shaw | I was one of those London Boys. I’m 52 now and living
in Palm Beach Florida, after a varied career diving and other stuff,
that had me take a rest for 15 years in Key West. Skewjack was Key West in Cornwall! I remember a night in St. Just when the power went out in a pub/bar with a big opening sliding door. I drove my 1967 Chevy Camaro into the bar and we listened to The Average White Band and Doobie Brothers all night on an 8-track. Welsh girls too. So much fun! I remember that dirty old swimming pool, an ambulance, Gwenver Sands (sp?) and a guy named Harvey that had a VW that got from Penzance to Skewjack faster than anything. I went back in summer 1985 on a motorcycle and the place was empty and falling down. One guy there remembered me from 18 years prior, but it was sad to see those colours all faded and the sense all was coming to an end. We had both changed. Thanks for the memories! Kindest Regards, Brian Shaw. |
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| Adrian 'Spezz' Wesley | Hi Graham, Just stumbled over your site today. What a great way to remember great Are you still getting into the water ? I understand the pier gets up
to 3ft Adrian "Spezz" Wesley |
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| Steve 'Foxy' Thomas | Hey Graham, Just thought I would type in Skewjack on my pc here in OZ and here you are Well done you Ok ....its Steve Thomas (Foxy) from Western Australia... yes Im still alive Barman... surfer, general hand, photographic model (guy in orange with girl in chalet) Hope you remember me. What hapend to the broucher with (foxy off the lip) was I supercceded by some yummy nubile ceature. Anyway Just had to say Hi there. If you see Tim cattran say Hi from me Regards Steve (Foxy ) Thomas Western Australia PS . Great site |
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| Dave Hunter | Hi, I worked for Chris Tyler at Skewjack in 1972, it was just before university and I clearly remember Duncan, Terri and Chris South who was about to join. Many amazing memories of driving the ambulance and double de-clutching on Sennen hill and buying cases of eggs that were out of date and floating them in bowls of water before serving them to check if they were off! I haven't seen Chris Tyler for about 10 years, last time was surfing at Praa with Colin (wog) Wilson and the last time I heard of him again, he was running the Arts Club in Penzance. I presume his father has long since died? We made boards (Chris shaped/glassed, I sanded and did fins) in the rear garage, for the old Westcountry TV station and the decals were delayed so we made them out of green serviettes! During my summer at Skewjack, I lived with Chris and Vanessa in their cottage at the back of the site, their son - can't quite remember his name - was a small baby. I also have fond memories of an artist - Chris Eaves (or Eades?), a surfer who lived in St Just and was a regular in the bar I live in St Columb Minor, just outside of Newquay ( since 1978). I work in theatre in Cornwall and often find myself at The Acorn Theatre in Penzance or at The Ordinalia Festival in St just and I often think of the old place, so it was a delight to come across your site! Please sign me up for the staff list! I've attached a photo of me kneeboarding (last Mar at Watergate) - it was Duncan who lent me an old kneeboard and got me into it back in '72. |
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| Dave Hunter: Part Two! | Sorry, couldn't resist telling you more! I just looked at the original brochure and I remembered - that's me in the white T shirt with long flowing locks in the bottom right hand corner and above it, in the bar, in a red T shirt! Wow, have you got a copy you could let me have? |
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| Dave Hunter: Part Three | This is pathetic - I feel like a kid again! I've just
taken a closer look at the brochure. The cover shot is "Foxy" Thomas,
a visiting aussie from Perth, who came to live me in the summer of 1977
in Newquay, he's the guy in orange holding his board outside the reception
area, that's Chris in the foreground holding a Martin Geary spacestick,
shaped in Newquay (Martin Geary's, still about - I see him often), the
guy to the left of Foxy was a local from Penzance who's name I can't
remember but his board is a brand new, that day, early freedom twin fin
imported from the Channel isles! The photo underneath is off Chris' wife,
Vanessa, and underneath that the guy in the stars and stripes vest is
Chris tyler. Bottom left of the centre pages is a good close up of Foxy Thomas, can't remember who the girl is? The girl sat with me at the table is Jill Allcock, a PE student on holiday from Manchester - I had a great time with her!! Foxy is also featured on the opposite centre page in the cottage photo. Surf's Up page - the cut out girl was from a photo shoot to publicise Skewjack that we did at Gwenver, Duncan and I actually sat under water holding her and the board steady - the shot was for the Daily Express. The top left photo is Chris Tyler and back to camera with the red single fin is Duncan, the board that Chris is holding - yellow/white single fin - we made at Skewjack during that summer and, yes, that Skewjack decal on its deck was cut out of green serviettes just like the Westcountry TV decals! That's Chris holding the bull horn in the bottom left photo. The opposite cut out shot of the girl is from the Daily Express shoot. Wow! what more can I say, isn't the web amazing? You've made a 52 year old surfer feel 18 all over again! Best wishes DAVE HUNTER |
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| and this is Dave now: |
Watergate Bay March 2006. Not bad for an 'old un!! |
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| Jeremy Braithwaite | Graham Saw the site and it brought back heaps of memories. I worked for Ron Bishop at Scotia in the late 60's and helped him and Chris pull Skewjack together. I've still got some photos of the very early days plus - if I can find it - an even older brochure. Will have a look for you. Are Chris & Ron still around? Assume that Essex is his son ... Chris came from Essex originally. I migrated to Sydney in 1971 and met up with Chris and Strawberry in the late 1970's and haven't been in touch since. Exchanged a couple of mails with Chris South and he said Piggy - who used to make our wetsuits - was the town cryer in Penzance. regards Jeremy Braithwaite |
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Richard Roach April 2nd: Apologies for delay in posting this.. |
Hi My youngest daughter saying she’s going to a surf hostel in Newquay just encouraged me to put in the name Skewjack to see if there’s life after years of enjoyable self abuse. I had a yellow MG Roadster in ’73 or ‘74 that with the roof down brought a dozen passengers back from local pubs after drinking games with vegetable picking students in the area. How the exhaust didn’t fall off during the trips I’ll never know. I remember the greasy pole and pillow fights across the pool, building castles out of Colt 45 cans, two identical twin 21 year old lads in a red Capri that thought they had pulling power until the rowdies from some heavy rock group emerged from a luxury chalet – it had doors.. and to two very amicable Irish girls that were about to become nuns but in desperate need to get certain things out of their system, thank you.. and perhaps a mornings surf instruction that interfered with a brilliant holiday for my 18th year and a friend from school.. and then to some dozen lads from ?Hemel Hempstead? Who thankfully were not as good as me at poker that assisted my funds for the alcohol.. Just an amazing experience – many thanks to you all. Richard Roach |
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John Hall Manchester |
Hi, I have about 20 of the original brochures, if anyone would like
one, Stick my email details on the site, and they can have one free. |
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| Colin Arksey | Hi Gram I just thought I would drop you a short note, having just discovered the Skewjack web site, great to see. Many happy memories of the place and winning the fancy dress competition several times in a row in the late 70's, very early 80's, such as the Scarecrow(first one) the Durex Machine, K9 with Laila and the Cigarette machine to name some of them.One of the team ( I still see several of them, even though we have all nearly reached fifty and the joys of Saga) has got some photos which when christmas is sorted and out of the way, he will be willing to send so they can be posted on the web site, but if you have any or know of any others, it would be great to see them. Regards and Happy Christmas and New Year Colin Arksey |
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| Simon 'Stretch' Carr | Graham, what a fantastic website, not quite sure how I found it. Don't know if you remember me too well, my name is Simon Carr and I worked with you at Sennen in 1982 along with Rob, Spez and Ted. What a summer that was, I rocked up as a 17yr old rookie guard, didn't know much, didn't drink much and had a steady girlfriend. Within a few weeks of the summer I had blown out the missus and was partying hard every night at Skewjack. 10 pints of guiness or holsten everynight at' first and last' and then onto 'skewers'. Highlights for me were the bicycle pub crawls to skewjacks, the massive nights we had there and the great big brekkies we had in the morning. What a great bunch of blokes they all were and what great memories. I now live on the far south coast of N.S.W in Australia and still surf,
fish and have a great life. Hope you are well and if you happen to know
where Rob lives, or have his e-mail, then let me know as I think he is
in aussie too. |
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| Barry 'Slack' White | Just a quickie to say hello and how are you. Hope you remember me.....Barry White, I was lifeguard at Skewjack during the summer of 1980 and spent a few years down that way before moving to the San Diego area and then Sydney. I returned home to live in England 6 years ago and now live on the South coast in Bognor Regis ( stop laughing ). I have an 8 year old daughter (Erika) that lives with me who was born in Mona Vale, Sydney, and luckily her mother ( from Chile ) still lives in Sydney. I still get down to PZ whenever I can ( last time 2 weeks ago ), and usually stay with Harvey ( or TC ). Saw most of the boys when I was down there ( Joe, Harvey, Jan, Bruce. Mike, Jmo ), and it always turns into a big piss up.....nothing changes. I am still in touch with KT ( one of the London boys now living in San Diego ), and Barbara 'duckpond' Freshwater ( although we haven't spoken in a while ). I'm sure KT would have some old photos of the Skewjack times and I know Barbara does. Anyway, hope all is well with you.... |
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Rob Salter |
Hi graham More photos for you and the site, good to see people still finding it. | ||
 Rob
says: This one is my buddy Owen, now living in Japan on the sunny island
of Miyako, a few years ago he made the news when he rescued a local surfer
after a shark attack - what a guy! ( what a meal!) |
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 So thats
what the rafters were for... |
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| John Thresher | Hi.
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| Mark Tucker. | Dear Graham, Sorry but I can't remember you, but I do know some of the other names like, both the Chris's and PT, when I visited in the early 80's, Andy was one of the surf instructor's, Guy taught wind surfing and Dave rock climbing. I will get back to you with more specific dates, after I have rummaged thought old photos. I actually have live footage of Skewjack from my last ever visit, I think it must have almost been the last year it was open. I went down with my girlfriend to see my brother Alan Tucker and girl friend Jane Hart who were running the bistro (kitchen) for that summer. The footage is very boring in some places but great in others, I originally filmed it on an early video camera, which in turn was placed on betamax, my father has now had it put on to DVD for me. All this came to light very unfortunate circumstances, I found my brother dead in his flat on 10th September 2004, 3 days after his 36th birthday, my father found the old betamax video when looking thought old boxes of photo's. The DVD shows a couple of trips to the old GoKart track by the Heli port in Penzance, which also had a big tank with bumper boats in it, the bistro is as it always was, but the main bar and club house had moved to the purpose built building the far side of the pool. My first holiday to Skewjack was about '82 when I was only about 16 my brother would have been 14 and my school mate Spud 16, the only reason we were allowed to go on our own, by coach, was that my father was on holiday in Pendeen while we were at Skewjack. I will never understand why it closed and nobody ever tried to get it going again, OK some of the chalet's were a bit ropey, but the new clubhouse that was seemed well built. If it was open now I would go camping there with my wife and family. Following the season in Skewjack my brother did a year as a comi chef in the Queens hotel, Penzance, and lived in a cottage near Gulval. My bother went back to Pendeen last summer with his two young daughters a couple of months before he died, he told he that he had bumped into PT while he was down the so he is still about. If I can get the DVD copied and you would like to see it in full moving colour, let me have an address to send it to. Regards and best wishes, it is nice to see some people keep fond memories alive. Mark Tucker (39) Coventry. |
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Derek Bradford Didn't "Surf and Cruise" become "The Run to the Sun." See, Skewwjack did it first.....although we called it Custom Car Week |
Hi Graham My names Derek Bradford and I attended virtually very custom car run to Skewjack, My good friend Martin West was the originator of the run and I used to offer my assistance in organizing the event. I remember Skewjack with the fondest thoughts, and they were no doubt the best times I ever had. And your right in saying 18-30s holidays were nothing compared to the activities that used to go on in the Skewjack bar! I was in my late teens, early twenties then, but have now reached a young 46 and living in Burgess Hill The custom car gave way to a sports car which then turned into the dreaded family estate and is now the middle age four wheel drive! Have to say looking at the photos on your website really bought back the memories, I recognized a lot of faces but couldn't put names to them. but will never forget Chris Tyler and Bouncer Big Cliff, Also Big Al Mathews who lived in St Just and was a frequent visitor to the camp during the Surf & Cruise week. I took the wife and kids to Sennen a few years ago, and we visited Skewjack as I wanted to show them where I used to go for my holidays. They were not very impressed when we found it falling down and the entrance blocked with a mountain of rubble. still managed to get in and have a nose around though! I didn't know that it had now been completely demolished and redeveloped, and kind of feel really sad as its the end of an era! It was always comfortable to know that although it had closed it was sought of still there if you know what I mean. But its nice to know that somebody is keeping the spirit alive !!! I will keep in touch as I think I have a album full of photos somewhere. If we could only turn back the clock !!!! Take care.... Del |
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| Colin Archer | On a recent trip to Cornwall, and Mullion I recently visited
the Sennen area in an attempt to show my wife the Skewjack surf village
I visited as a young 17year old back in 83 from London in a vain attempt
to learn to surf, only to find it not where I believed it was in my memory
Despite driving through Sennen and the country lanes that I thought it was in I could not locate the place, which I know now to be because its been replace by the telecoms company, and could not find the little cove that was at the end of the lane past the entrance, only coming across Lamora cove is it ?? O n my return I surfed the net a skill I have managed to master in a vain attempt to locate what was back then our most amazing holiday, forget Ibiza, Shagalluf and all that.........Sennen Cove was always the place for us and that's when I came across your site and just looking through really stirred the memories, I even remember some of the staff from their rogues gallery Great site and thanks for stirring a few memories, even the one of us pretty casual guys dressed like extras from a Wham video, from London walking into the sunrise bar on our arrival to be surrounded by what looked like the local Hells Angel Chaplain, watching ZZ Top on the Old Grey Whistle Test Those were the days.........to see those tough guys dressed as cheerleaders later in the week at the fancy dress party was a real eye-opener !! All the best with whatever you get upto..............and thanks for giving us all the best week of our lives, even thought we never did learn to surf If I manage to find any of our piccys from that time I'll forward them onto you Cheers Colin Archer |
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| Doug Wilson | Hi Like so many other people I have fond memories of the
old place and was pleasantly surprised to se some one else loved it to,
I was a replacement "Dr Fun" in 1981, and can't remember some
of it so it must have been good !,seeing Pete, Chris, Harvey etc brought
out loads of memories and a few old pictures which I will forward to you,
keep up the good work. |
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| Bill Mazey. Wales | Hi, just typed Skewjack into the search engine and I found
you. Great memories of surfing sennen in `75,`76,`78&`79. The brochure brought back some hazy memories, great,great site. I knew someone would do it one day. I can do west Cornwall from south Wales in 3.5hours now back then it was an all day trip, a 6am start with more water than petrol for the morris minor van. Thanks man Bill Mazey |
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John Redmond. Florida Many thanx John, dunno how many will recognise themselves...... |
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| You could be | ...HERE | ||
