www.skewjack.co.uk

WELCOME TO Skewjack .co.uk. This site uses the header of the original English surf camp. It's aim is to keep the name alive.		IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BRITISH SURF HISTORY If there was ever the true, original, definitive surf camp then this was it. Started before 1973, it came to fame during the summers of 75/76 and on. Created, managed & run by an amazing and esoteric bunch. The two Chris's: Tyler and South, Bryan, Gill McNeil who brought Patchouli Oil to Cornwall, Terri in the shop.. The original Bistro Girls,Sarah, Jan & Isobel. Phil 'Piglet' Rowley, the original Dr Fun, Barry the original lifeguard. Michelle & Duncan. Fran (14 and never at skool) Sylvia in reception. Barman Godfrey. It would be safe to say that Skewjack led and every other followed...........
Click to see the original		Off the wall visitors like the London boys, the Welsh Biker Crew, (remember the hearse?) The Custom Car Magazine runs. Local surfers, Harvey, 'Wog', JMO,The Cattrans, JA, Cosmic. Resident Aussies: Curly, Worther, Jeff. Locals like the The Bryants, The Tin Miners, Joe Crowe, Nicky, Jeremy Gilbert, DJ Martin, Rob Smith, Barry, photographer Charlie Roff, ex Lands End owner Charles Neave-Hill, Sara, now at Boardwise and many many more.

WHO AM I TO TALK ? OK a quick bit about me. My name is Graham Shephard, ex Skewjack Surf Instructor & Lifeguard. Now a lecturer in Travel and Tourism at the University of Brighton. I started surfing in 1966, when to meet other surfers was unique. I was the surf instructor and lifeguard at Skewjack Surf Village from 1975-1980. Lived in Cornwall for many years and currently live in Eastbourne. If you should want to know more, click on the 'About Me' link below IT'S HERE THE SKEWJACK BROCHURE

SKEWJACK TODAY Hopefully in the due process of time it will be possible to build a history of Skewjack from the early "anything goes" days, to the last dying moments as the camp closed for the last time and the new owners dumped thirty tons of rock and mud in the gateway to deter unauthorised entry. The photo below is the current site today. It is, I believe, a "Switching Station" for the Transatlantic cables that come in at Porthcurno and is one of four terminals serving a £1 billion "figure of eight" fibre optic link between two terminals in the USA and another in France. On completion, it doubled the total transatlantic telecommunications capacity. It has also won an Architectural Design Award: "This is an unadorned building of the 21st century, set in a very sensitive landscape and the Local Planning Authority (Penwith District Council) deserves credit for its courage in supporting the design." Source: http://www.riba.org/go/RIBA/About/RIBASouthWest_2758.html

VIEW THE ORIGINAL BROCHURE Jeremy Braithwaite has sent a copy of the earliest brochure and original map Click on the button below to view. Check out the price for a week! Many thanks to Jeremy for this one

TIMES ARTICLE FROM AUGUST 4th 1971. Even 'back then' surfing made the headlines. Again many thanks to Jeremy, he says "I did a lot of the early marketing & PR for Ron. This included escorting a Times reporter to Skewjack - which resulted in the attached story which I think was on the back page of the Times. We also got a really good feature in Custom Car magazine which resulted in a steady flow of visitors with interesting machinery and we offered nurses half price - which has the desired effect and filled the place with girls."

SO WHAT IS THIS SITE ALL ABOUT ? Skewjack Surf Centre was a brilliantly simple idea. It could be argued that it was far ahead of its time, both in concept and outlook. Loved by some, loathed by others. It evolved over the years and developed its own following of devotees. Several of the people involved in its conception, management and use still live within thirty miles of the old site whilst others are as far away as Australia. Many many of the 'Punters' or guests still have fond, if hazy memories of the site, its bar and no doubt its infamous chalets. Young surfers will have heard of it but will have no idea of what it really was about. In it's time, it was a focal point and cultural centre for nearly all the far South West's surfers. This site hopefully will allow the presentation of photo's, recollections, anecdotes etc. from all who were involved in the place and thus build up a true history and establish Skewjack's rightful place in the evolution of British Surfing. I know already of one Skewjack discussion board and I know of other allied interests and obtuse links to the site... So if you read this and have anything to add about Skewjack and your experiences, good or bad, E Mail them to me. Please attach photos by all means but format them as JPEG or Gifs and keep them fairly small.Thanks

ANOTHER 'LOCAL' VIEW Surflines: Skewjack Surf Village I first heard about “Skewjack” when I was solely into Hot Rods and Custom Cars (surfing was strictly for blonds way back!). Every summer I would read about the Custom Car magazines Annual ‘Surf + Cruise’pilgrimage to Sennen. It was a kind of auto/surf holiday and car show which somehow re-invented itself as the ‘Run to the Sun’ in Newquay when Skewjack closed in the mid-1980’s! But that was one week in the summer, the rest of the summer Skewjack was Thee place to holiday, party, and surf (apparently the contemporary equivalent the infamous 18-30 holiday) has got nothin’ on what used to go on at Skewjack. Sun, sea and....scrumpy?! I actually thought about writing this article after purchasing a beat up old twin fin at a boot sale for £5, with Skewjack emblazoned upon it! The phone number on the decal say’s Hank-287. Reckon that dates to the early 70’s -Skewjack’s hey day. When I spoke to Essex Tyler about it ( his father, Chris Tyler, ran S.J. from ‘74 to ‘84) he said they also made wax, tees, posters etc. and showed surf films. Sadly Skewjack closed in the early ‘86 and was demolished in 2000, but you can still check it out thanks to the wonders of modern science.. The legend lives on! Lowdog. That is no twin fin.....! Published in the Cornishman Newspaper. With thanx to Robbie Macintosh.

Latest News..... (May 2008)
Cliff Hugo and Martin 'Flash' Lloyd Cliff Martin Sadly it may be news to many an ex Skewjacker that both these guys are actually dead. Cliff died of cancer some years ago and Martin drowned in boating accident the year before last	Skewjack made the Times Online in April 07 Click here Old but amusing pics of the 2004 Watermans Dinner.	Skewjack features in the April issue of Drift Surf Magazine but you will have to subscribe to read it at the moment March 2008 issue , but guys it is SKEWJACK and not SKEWJACKS!
	SKEWJACK SAVES US MILITARY SOUL FROM 70'S NUCLEAR MISSILE !!!!! Check out the latest memories for details Barbara DuckPond and Steve 'Foxy' Thomas. Two of the originals... Barbara has sent some classic photos, Click here for yet more surf hair and Skewjack and Sennen style!!! Still some great photos of Water Tower abuse from John Redmond in Florida. To see them click on the 'Latest Memories' button and then come back and go to: www.candiesLimo.com	Got to say a big thank you to Peter Robinson at the British Surfing Museum for the link to the site. Check this fascinating review of British surfing history at Congratulations to Gabe Davies on becoming the first Partron of the Surf Museum
New 'old photos' from Andy Magin A whole basic page dedicated to his unbelievable Skewjack album. More to come I am sure. 18th Jan 2005. was the last from Andy M. I am chasing him for some more	OLD MEMORIES Great news as yet more and more old time Skewjackers surf the net and find the site. Use the memories button below and check out some of the first responses to the site. Then, if you want more, click Latest Memories for more photos and recent news.	SurfDogs 82.
You may have heard of the huge, March 5th, (2008) storm that we had, coinciding with a big spring tide. Check out the astounding images of Sennen below	Dave 'Curly' Curl was an original Aussie visitor from about 1974/5 check some of his photos on the link below.	LATEST MEMORIES: John Fundock (US) Last changed: May 2008 Have split the memories page so it is now not such a huge read. So there is now a Latest Memories page which will be changed every two months (ish) Amazing the Power of the Web, New eMails from as far afield as Bognor-Regis and NSW Australia

The New Skewjack. A PRECAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER. I have grabbed the URL but only as 'guardian, I claim no ownership or right to the the name Skewjack or to the logo presented here. However the name Skewjack refers to a physical geographical location in West Penwith and thus lies in the public domain.	Cape Cornwall. How big? Check wave size against the house!

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	Last modified:4th May 2008