The Beach:
Capturing Coxside on camera, on radio and on the web
Over a period of several weeks in early 2006, residents in Coxside, Plymouth, told their stories of life in the area.
Working with BBC Radio Devon and Theatre Royal Plymouth (TR2), 12 residents have spoken, written and recorded their tales in storytelling and radio workshops. The stories include boat rescues, bus disasters and beautiful vistas.
You can see and hear some of the stories, using the video and audio links on this page.
Toni and Grant listen to Jill's story
This project is a partnership between Coxside residents, the East End Renewal Area, Groundwork Trust, Theatre Royal Plymouth and BBC South West. The stories will be used to inform the regeneration of Coxside Beach.
Cousins Grant and Toni Lang, both 14, are among those taking part: "For the past four weeks we have all been meeting at the Little Acorns in Coxside discussing how we would like Coxside beach to be.
"We have all come up with our own stories to share with the other people in the group and also to be recorded and filmed by the BBC.
"The BBC asked us to be reporters, and these are just two of the stories we collected. One is by Jill Lang (Toni's mum), about her childhood memories, and the other by Joyce Baugh, about living in Coxside. "
Jill's story:
"It was in the summer of 1961. I went to Coxside beach with my family and friends. We would go down there and swim all day.
Jill (right) as a youngster on the beach
"I was five at the time and we had lots of fun. In between we had more and more fun, but as I got older we all used to be able to go down to the beach by ourselves. Around about lunchtime our mums would bring us down a packed lunch and we didn't even mind if we had sand in them!
"We used to have rubber rings and we all used to swim over to the Barbican because there was no footbridge to cross in those days. We used jump off the pier into the water, play volleyball and skim stones.
"What fun we had splashing around. These are memories I have to share with my children but what a shame that they can't have as much fun as I had down at the beach.
"When we got bored we would collect pebbles and shells and pretend that we had our own shop. We would also go winkle picking or crabbing but as we called it then 'crabying.'
"We even used to make our own nets out of an old wheel with a sack and go and look for shrimps. Sadly our children cannot do any of this now.
"I would like the children to have the fun and laughter like I did when I was growing up. I am still proud to say that I still live in Coxside after so many years. "
Joyce Baugh tells of her memories
Joyce's story:
"I was born in Coxside, at Parr Street. I was one of 10. My childhood was in a working class family.
"The Americans were stationed at Teats Hill and surrounding places (Chapters Field). The beach in front of Artillery Place was where several families would spend time, have a laugh, and also teach their children to swim. It was not dirty like today.
"Down the beach in front of the aquarium was a bathing hut with one side for girls and the other for boys. It was a pleasure to walk down to the pier, where a row of cottages were.
"On a sunny day, a lady called Mrs Dawe used to sit outside with a smile for everyone. The women used to go down there fishing, prawning and swimming. This was all before the lock gates went in where the new fish quay is now.
"There used to be two coal yards and many a time people used to sneak a small bag of coal midweek, hard-up time. Where the new apartments are situated, there were so many allotments and pigeon lofts.
"The men and women would dig, then stop to have a chat and a 'cuppa' up until the 80s. There were work places around - Ladybirds, Unigate, Drake sweets, the gas works, scrap yards, Westcott coal and many more.
"In the past we have had fun days, carnivals, parties, all day races ending with dances until midnight, children's day trips, pantomimes and Christmas parties. It's my pleasure to have been brought up in Coxside and still to be in Coxside!".
