The Visitors' Book revisited

Last Updated on Sunday, 19 December 2010 09:40

The Visitors' Book revisited

Entries accumulate and though most of them, to Ted's dismay, still fall into the “Breathtaking views” or “Loverly (sic) sights” category, at least that's right.

Visitors come from all over the world and exclaim at the view, even someone from Katmandu - and one might have thought they had pretty good ones of their own.   We have had “Best regards from the Vikings”, from Denmark of course;  a lady from Peru who had a photo of Rhossili Bay on her calendar and had always wanted to check it out;  and someone from Hawaii who reckoned it “the most perfect day on our visit to Wales”.

“Windy, rainy with fog and sheep. Full of charm and a fabulous welcome after it”, is a comment from a grateful French family.   “One of the best places we visited. Fantastic to see the seals”, says someone from Saudi Arabia.   “An oasis! ” (?) says an enthusiast from Running Springs, California.

Glancing through the pages, there have been people from all over Britain, from Amritsar, Jordan, Sweden, Italy, Poland, Japan. New Zealand, Hawaii … or on one recent single Sunday, messages from Canadians, Americans, Australians, Ghanains and visitors from Puerto Rico.   It really is amazing how they all find their way to the very end of the Gower Peninsula, in Wales.

Random entries include “Red nose day barefoot walk” (local children with very muddy feet on a cold day);  “Looking for Blue Pool and the Silver Dollar Ship”;  “Back to old childhood haunts, there is nowhere like Gower”;  “Writing for a Breton uncle that in 1913 visited here with his Welsh girlfriend”;  “Never mind the rain, keep walking”;  “Blown away!”;  or, more confusingly: “Where is the RSPB hide?”   (I don't think we have one?)

There are occasional visitors from other Coastwatch stations:  “From one station to another” (Nell's Point);. “We have a nice view but not as good as yours!” (Boscastle).

There are references to specific events: “It was hard work, Daddy”, a comment made after father and son had uplifted the anchor of the Samuel from its bed on the Shipway below the Lookout.   It had to be put back in its original position later!

A trend to the literary apppears with a reference to “A Writers' Paradise”.   We have had a visit from David Cledlyn Jones, author of The Enemy we Killed, my Friend and from someone who “visited here after reading Susan Howach's Wheel of Fortune about a house called Oxmoon and the Worm's Head”.

People visit and re-visit – lots came here as children or visit frequently, some both:

“My father came here in 1912 – I have been back every year of my 75 years, apart from the War”;

“Here for reunion visit 30 years after being stuck on Worms Head!”

Memories are recalled:

“During the War I used this hut as a stopping-off point …   [I remember] carrying a bomb here from Rhossili Beach and getting into trouble with the coastguard and my parents ...”

“Pembrey Beach. When it was RAF and not open to the public the beach was full of dead calves and flotsam, pallets etc.   This was nearly 40 years ago.”

“Excellent view of Lundy.   I visited the island in June 1970 on the day that the Great Britain was being towed back from the Falklands. It was a group visit from Barry/Weston/Minehead/Ilfracombe for 10 of us after we completed final exams at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology.”

A couple last week wrote:  “Took v. nice pics of 2 X teddy bears for NZ kids! And Coastwatch people who were v. nice!”   They apparently take photos of the teddies, one for each grandchild, wherever they go (like the photos of the garden gnome who travels the world in Amelie).

But I think my favourite entry is by the girl who said that the last time she was here was when she was canoeing around Wales from the Severn Bridge to the River Dee.   She had camped on Worms Head as they passed.

And lastly, the brief, clever remarks: “Thanks for TCP and TLC.”;  or still the cheekiest:  “Men in uniform. Yum!”