Llandudno extravaganza 2008

Llandudno: Queen of the Welsh Resorts.

Llandudno was purpose built in 1850 for the wealthier element of European society, for seaside relaxation.

Over the years Llandudno has hosted amongst others notable names, Prince Mikhail Dimitrivich Gorchakov, The Crown Prince of Wurtemberg, Deposed French King Napoleon III with Empress Eugenie, Count Otto Von Bismark and Queen Elizabeth of Romania (Pen name Carmen Sylva) after whom Carmen Sylva Road in Llandudno was named.

old postcard of llandudno

Sponsors

Kevin Chin Services: CCTV installation and project management. Website

CymruWebs: webhosting based in wales.

The Merrion Hotel Promenade LL30 2LNwww.merrion-hotel.co.uk

Mostyn Estates Ltd: Mostyn Court, 2 Mostyn St, Llandudno, LL30 2PS

Clothes For Work: Workwear and safety footwear. 2 Trinity Square, Llandudno

Llandudno Hospitality Association Ltd. P.O.Box 14, Llandudno, LL30 2AQ

Clare’s Department Store, 97-99 Mostyn Street, LL30 2PD

The Fat Cats Café Bar, 149 upper Mostyn Street, Llandudno

Gott & Wynne insurance broker: 11 Madoc Street Llandudno. Website

The Albert Hotel, Madoc Street, Llandudno, LL30 2TW

Llandudno Pier: Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 2LP

Venue Cymru, The Promenade, Llandudno. www.venuecymru.co.uk

The town “secret” was out however, and invasions from Merseyside and Cheshire carried by Liverpool steamers, took over the North Shore equipped with buckets and spades; and cheap national railway excursions, allowed visitors from the rest of Britain to enjoy Llandudno’s special qualities.

At the outbreak of 1914-18 war; Llandudno became an army recruiting and training H.Q. for four battalions of Royal Welsh Fusiliers, forming one brigade, which was destined for near annihilation on the Somme.

With the return of peace Llandudno became a well, known conference centre and ‘enjoyed’ speeches from such diverse politicians as Lloyd George, Ramsay MacDonald, Oswald Mosley, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher amongst others!
	While other resorts over the years may have scurried about looking for that “new and improved” trashy recipe; for competing with the ever shrinking post war world of the aeroplane and the out of town shopping centre, Llandudno has held its nerve and consolidated what it knows best – catering for discerning visitors, shoppers and conference delegates seeking an unspoiled Natural environment. It built itself a new national conference centre, a 1’500 seat all-purpose regional theatre, and huge retail complexes within the towns boundaries, while the hoteliers spent a small fortune upgrading their third of the Welsh holiday bed spaces.
Timeless is the word for the seascape of Llandudno, evoking a sense of childlike wonder with the sea rolling in, penned between the Great and the Little Orme, it will always remain; Queen of the Welsh Resorts.	Thus, Llandudno is still the place to enjoy those simple Victorian Pleasures of sea-bathing, Sand castles and Donkey rides in the invigorating environment of the seaside.
Llandudno - Wormhout

So why has Llandudno, a costal town in North Wales, been twinned with Wormhout,a small town in Northern France, some 12 miles from Dunkirk?

In 1940, between 26/28th May, in the outskirts of Wormhout, Soldiers of the Royal Artillery, Warwickshire and Glouster Regiment, and Cheshire Regiment, including many men from Llandudno, fought to prevent the German Army from breaking through the Town, and so stop the Allied evacuation of Troops from the Dunkirk Beaches.

Their stand, over three days was a major factor in the eventual escape of 350'000 men back to Britain. They were how ever to pay a heavy price for their bravery: outnumbered and with no more ammunition they were ordered to surrender. The German Command, angry and frustrated by the delay, shot and killed many Soldiers immediately, but 90 - 100 British prisoners were grouped together and force marched across fields to a cow-shed in the outskirts of Wormhout, and pushed in.

The Senior German officer then ordered grenades to be thrown into the cow-shed, over the men’s heads, with resulting devastating effects. Only eight prisoners survived this outrageous act, and eventually escaped. At the end of the war, these men told their story, individually, to the War Crimes Commission, of what became known as the "Wormhout Massacre".

Ex servicemen from Llandudno involved in the battle, never forgot their comrades, and have made several returns to the massacre site.

Fifteen Years ago the people and Town Councils of Llandudno and Wormhout took the decision to 'Twin' in honour of these gallant men, and each year exchange visits are made between the people of our two Towns. General Wilhelm Monke, responsible for the atrocity lives still and has never been brought to trial. For years, the only way our brave soldiers could commemorate their lost men was by affixing the traditional Poppies to a Tree at the original site. But now, there is a fitting memorial laid out to these heroes where people from all over the world can come and pay their respects.