Three Towns Forum

The Local => Times Past => Topic started by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:25:27 am

Title: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:25:27 am
I had an email from Jackie asking where the Red Garages thread had gone, so I've tried to reassemble it here.

An old photo of staff at Red Garages c1950. Recognise anyone?

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Left to right, I think its Jock then ken, I think, as I remember the two guys who also worked the pumps. Ken I think his name is, lives at the back of Asda I think, and Jock definitely passed away if it is him. I was only little when they were about, but I remember Jock would always wave, wink, and put a thumbs up, cheerful couple of chaps.

I used to love seeing what was in the red garages showroom, I have seen Formula One cars, championship rally cars, film cars, and even a Red Arrow plane at one time.
Gerald
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:30:52 am
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Whereabouts was Red Garages? I remember the name but not where they were. My dad always used Jubilee Garage.
Chris

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Where Kwik-Fit is now, the showroom for the cars was on the main corner of the street where finneys is now.
Gerald

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Oh yes! Of course! I do remember now. Thanks.
Chris

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Anyone remember the kiosk next to red garages cant recall the name but it seemed to sell everything the shop was so small you could just about turn around.
Pobo

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I thought Red Garages was across from the BT Exchange/old Social Security Place and next to the Army Training Headquarters?
Craig

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Red garage was on the the front were finneys and the garages down to the drill hall was used by royal red and creams coaches i think
. Pobo

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Red Garages was where Kwik-Fit is and carried on around the corner to where the drill hall was for the T.A s.
They also kept some cars on the land where Finneys is now,but set back a bit off the road.One entrance into the where the cars where parked ,was next to the little kiosk, already mentioned
. Dave Hinton

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What was it called, Dave, so you can put one or two of us out of our misery?
Bri Roberts

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Wasnt it just called the kiosk.
Pobo

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It was just called 'The Kiosk' but my dad always referred to it as "Emrys`s" not sure if it was owned by someone of that name or maybe he worked there
. Gerald

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The name Emrys Owen spings to mind at the Kiosk.
Waffagolf

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the little kiosk next to the post office was emrys jones' kiosk (he was an uncle of mine ) ithink it was always referred to by that name long after it changed hands
Raj
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:35:31 am
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Alongside the Kiosk was the Royal Red booking booth. When the booth was open there were always hand-painted boards standing on the pavement outside, advertising various coach excursions to destinations around North Wales.

Royal red coaches were taken over by creams tours who in turn were taken over by Alpine coaches who were still running some of the old creams coaches for several years after. Alpine also have one of the original guy chieftan buses used by llandudno district council on the great orme scenic tours.

The vintage bus that Alpine operates is a Leyland Tiger Cub. The only Guy's that the UDC ran were Wolf's and Otter's.

Sorry i stand corrected the tiger cub is the one they still use on the tours the guy they keep for special hire and for shows and it may well be a wolf but im sure it has the chieftan head radiator mount on it.

The Red Indian Chieftain's head was the logo of Guy Motors and had their motto 'Feathers in our cap' inscribed across the headband. It was fitted above the grille on their lorries and buses.
Do you remember when 'Creams' used to be parked alongside the Odeon/Astra on the Deganwy Ave side? The booking office was around the corner on the Gloddaeth St side. The Brierley family started the business.

I remember doing a get in for wno at the astra on a very windy day and having to struggle around coaches with huge scenery flats it was the one venue i hated.
?

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Did you have to take the scenery up that huge concrete ramp on the side of the building?
Trojan

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They used to try to get the trucks to the bottom of the ramp and drop the tailgate onto the ramp.
Pobo
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:36:17 am
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HI...YES THE GUY WITH THE GLASSES ON THE FAR LEFT AS YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE IS MY UNCLE( now passed way)....HARRY WILLIAMS..HE LIVED IN DINNAS ROAD.HE WAS THE MECHANIC INCHARGE IF I REMEMBER AND WAS AT THE RED GARAGE IN WEST SHORE. HIS SISTER WAS CALLED BEAUTY..WHO WAS MARRIED TO JIM GAWLEY...WHO OWNED THE OLD LLANDUDNO GLASS COMPANY.. THAT WAS OVER IN DUFFRYN ROAD. HIS BROTHER WAS EMRYS WILLIAMS..WHO WAS A POSTMAN IN THE TOWN..AND WHEN RETIRED WENT AND DID THE BOOK KEEPING FOR OLD MR WAGSTAFF..IN THE SHOP OF THE SAME NAME.
Mike Thomas

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Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 08:48:07 am
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The Red Garages opened in 1907 and was originally called the Llandudno Motor and Garage Company Limited. They started with five charabancs which made up their 'luxury' fleet of tour vehicles. In 1911 Mr Frank Wilkes was hired to manage the business, and he was there until his death in 1958.
Trojan

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Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 09:20:29 am
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Hi trojan, did another 'wilkes' take over from Frank? I worked in Red Garages and then years later when it was Peugot garage, I,m sure I worked with a mr Wilkes, same time as colin mack, you have a better memory than me, thanks Karen
Karen-Derek

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I think it was G A F Wilkes (Known as Geoff) who followed.
Alphaline

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Possibly Frank Wilke's son?
Trojan

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Interesting website all about Royal Red, with lots of photos:
http://www.welsh-transport-heritage.co.uk/royalredllandudno.htm (http://www.welsh-transport-heritage.co.uk/royalredllandudno.htm)
DaveR

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I remember seeing the showrooms full of brand new Hillmans, Humbers and Sunbeams. I saw the brand new Sunbeam Rapier on display in late 1955 - it was Honey Beige and Pearl Grey, and next to it was a new Humber Hawk Estate in Silver Gun metallic. My uncle was a commercial traveller in those days, living in Roumania Crescent, and he had a Humber Hawk saloon.We stopped off to see these new cars. He described the Rapier as 'fussy', but I loved it! Still do!! There are now only five roadworthy examples of this early car known to the Club.

Besides being a Rootes Group enthusiast I have a small collection of Llandudno-related books, one of which is a book of coach tours published by Red Garages for the 1915 season. Named the 'All-Red' route it's a handbook of coach tours with details for visitors. The longest tour was well over 100 miles through Snowdonia...all these on rough roads with solid tyres and a canvas roofed charabanc! They bred 'em tough in those days. If anyone requires any information from this book please contact me
Son of Eirion

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My Uncle drove a Singer Chamois originally from Red Garages in the late 60's. I remember Red's being a Chrysler garage as they took over Rootes ('63 - '76), then it became Talbot.
My favorite Humber was the Super Snipe - a big car by British standards.
I always remember seeing the estate version of the Hillman Imp in the showroom - the Husky.
Trojan

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Hi Mike

I think I may be related to you!! Although I can;t see the picture, the Harry you describe sounds like my grandfather !! One of his sisters was called Beatty ~(also known as Jackie like me) her and Jim's son was Don. My dad was Brian Williams, married to Maureen, also from Dinas Road. I'm trying to get together a family tree so it would be great to hear from you as it's proving a bit difficult to put together pop's history

Take care
Jackie
Jackie
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Michael on September 08, 2010, 10:09:32 pm
Dave, you say that Royal Red was taken over by Creams. Well you are quite correct that both companies ended up as part of Alpine, but I doubt very much if Creams ever took Reds over. If they did, it must have been for only a couple of weeks. Reds had got into such a state that no one would have taken them over, apart from the name which at one time in the distant past was very respected. Mike
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 08, 2010, 10:18:47 pm
Thanks for the info, Mike. How did Reds get in such a state?
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Michael on September 12, 2010, 08:27:01 pm
Now, thats a question which I am pretty sure I could answer----but on a public forum for anyone and everyone to read,--- that might be a bit dodgy. However, I will, in a vague sort of way, say what I THINK, and no doubt others ma
y think differently.  Reds was a very old firm going back to at least the 1920's. Respectable, conservative ( not politically, but you will get the gist) not subject to follow fashions.  Really a bit similar to Rootes which Red was a part of.  Jump forward sixty years, put in a new boss, born into the ruling family, Manchester business school educated, lots of business theories.  Business times were hard, very competitive, times had changed, the old gentlemens business world had long gone, and decisions were made which might, just possibly, been o.k.in theory, but in practice ???  It takes years and years to build up a solid business, but not long to destroy it.  Mike
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 12, 2010, 08:47:06 pm
Thanks, Mike, always a shame when an old established business like that goes down the pan...  :(
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 12, 2010, 08:50:54 pm
Red Garages - Then:
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Red Garages - Now:
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Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on September 17, 2010, 10:17:24 pm
Corner of Conway Road & Vaughan Street - the Royal Red Coaches Booking Office, with a glimpse of the Red Garages Peugeot showroom at far left:

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Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Trojan on September 18, 2010, 01:37:35 am
There's also The Kiosk newsagents, tucked away in the corner in-between the booking office & the Post Office.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: plas penmon on January 28, 2012, 09:50:51 pm
Great picture together with all the gen from Reds. I remember the Kiosk, really small sweet shop and I remember a very jolly man who used to put the petrol in the car in Reds.(I think he was quite 'round'!)
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bri Roberts on January 29, 2012, 10:23:27 am
That sounds before Ken 'pumps' then.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Cambrian on January 29, 2012, 11:42:26 am
Sounds like "Jock" who lived in Jubilee Street and was married to Phyllis Wynne.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: suepp on January 29, 2012, 01:43:54 pm
I remember Jock putting a Tiger in our tank!
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DVT on January 29, 2012, 10:12:24 pm
Just to add a little bit ...

G A F Wilkes was known as Tony (I assume his second name was Anthony)

Colin Mack drove the Red Garages Avengers and later Sunbeams on rallies.  I navigated him in the Avengers in 1974 when he won the Welsh Road Rally Drivers Championship (I was second in the navigators as I missed one event - the Cambrian which I was in charge of!), then in 1975 we became the first-ever winners of the Welsh Stage Rally Championship.  We also won the North-Western Rally Championships.

In 1979 Colin won his class on the RAC Rally, co-driver was Keith Williams who is Sales Manager at Pentraeth Honda now.

Red Garages sponsored the Cambrian Rally through the 1970's when I was clerk-of-the-course for the event.

My sister worked in the showroom during the 1970's.

Title: Red Garages and the late Colin Mack
Post by: Bri Roberts on January 29, 2012, 10:29:11 pm
DVT, can you answer this for me?

I was on holiday in the IOM in the early seventies and I seem to remember taking a B&W photograph of Colin in his Avenger presumably in a rally of sorts over there in Douglas.

Did I imagine it?

If I didn’t then does a registration number starting OCC ... ring a bell?
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DVT on February 01, 2012, 10:20:23 am
Hi Brian ...

... yes, it would have been Colin, with me co-driving.  September 1973 on the Manx International Rally - we finished 32nd overall, 3rd in class in the yellow Avenger reg'n OCC 3M.  I'd be interested to see the photo!

... the following year we had the red/white Avenger, reg'n GCC 11N, and finished 13th overall, 2nd in class (beaten by the "works" Avenger!).

Happy days!!!
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bri Roberts on February 01, 2012, 05:16:37 pm
OMG that is a coincidence.

I remember it was definitely in September but I find it hard to believe that was nearly 40 years ago.

I am afraid finding the photograph now, DVT, would be like looking for a needle in a haystack in our home of 30 years.

Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Dave E on May 01, 2012, 01:04:19 pm
Hi all, i found this forum whilst searching for Red's info, so i joined.
Born and brought up in Llandudno, now living in sunny Cyprus.
I left Mostyn Central school in 1970 aged 15. And started work as an indentured apprentice panel beater at Red Garages when it was a Rootes group dealer, ( I still have my interview acceptance letter! and Indenture papers) You want to try and knock a dent out of a super snipe front wing, solid beasts they were. I stayed there for many years. I fully remember The gang, Jock and Ken on the pumps, Ken (after Colwyn bay depot closed down) and Norman Jukes the two foremen ran the mechanics, Alec the scots electrician, Wally Butler the commercial mechanic and David his son, My body repair mentor was old Cliff Brownson, along with Gordon Roberts (whom previously owned "U Bend em, We Mend em" uptown), there was also Johhny France in the bodyshop.
 It was owned when i started work by G.A.F Wilkes he had a bloody great Jensen Interceptor, and a very bad speech stutter.
I remember Colin Mack's rallied up yellow Avenger Tiger.

Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Gerii on November 15, 2017, 05:08:21 pm
"Our Head Booking Office, Vaughan Street, Llandudno.  Next to General Post Office. Show room and lounge waiting area. telephone 6055." taken late 1920s.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Ian on November 15, 2017, 07:17:55 pm
Excellent picture.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Michael on November 16, 2017, 09:06:42 am
 The end of this great old business was a crying shame. I,m not afraid at all by writing that in my opinion it was terrible management plus a team of workers at the top who considered they could do what they liked and act like tin gods. The young boss trained at Manchester business school. Lot of good this training did for royal reds
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on November 16, 2017, 09:09:04 am
I remember going with the my Dad to look at the used cars for sale behind the showroom part of Red Garages in the early 80s (now  the British Heart Foundation shop is). The showroom was a Talbot dealer, I think?
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Michael on November 16, 2017, 09:20:05 am
It was a rootes dealer. I think talbot part of that group. Of course the decline of rootes didn’t help the Reds one bit. Same with m and k in old colwyn. Unfortunately business times change constantly and it no use for companies to think because they part of a big family for maybe 50 years, it will go on for ever without change
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DaveR on November 16, 2017, 09:43:00 am
It was a rootes dealer. I think talbot part of that group. Of course the decline of rootes didn’t help the Reds one bit. Same with m and k in old colwyn. Unfortunately business times change constantly and it no use for companies to think because they part of a big family for maybe 50 years, it will go on for ever without change
Wasn't M&K also a British Leyland dealer later on? I also remember going with my Dad to get some spares from the Unipart branch that was there.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: DVT on November 16, 2017, 09:49:10 pm
Red Garages was Rootes, which included Hillman, Sunbeam Humber and Singer ... Rootes were taken over by Chrysler and then Talbot, and then Peugeot which is how it ended up.  Taken over by Mochdre Garage which was also Peugeot and remains Peugeot to this day.  The old showroom was where the BHF shop is now, the current Mochdre Garage is where the old red Garages workshops were.  Kwikfit are where Red Garages had their petrol pumps.

M&K in Old Colwyn was always Austin-Morris, British Leyland, Rover as far as I am aware.  My first car was an Austin Mini Countryman bought in 1966 second-hand from Slaters Abergele, but I had the servicing done my M&K.  I donlt think it was ever any other dealership other than the BL Group, but will stand corrected on that.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: SDQ on November 17, 2017, 08:11:08 pm
Following the demise of BL/Rover/MG I think M&K went with a couple of other brands before they closed, Alfa Romeo springs to mind as one of them.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bellringer on November 17, 2017, 09:54:56 pm
I had an Austin Montego and two Rovers from M&K. In its latter days it had a Fiat agency.
Title: Re: Red Garages - Ken Pumps Ken Red
Post by: Lindajones on June 08, 2022, 08:36:09 pm
Hiya,

I don't know if anyone will see this as it's been a while since anyone has posted.

I was wondering if anyone has any photos of my Taid, Ken Jones when he worked at the Red Garages from the 1950's till the 1990's.

He'd love to hear any memories or see any photos that anyone might have.

All the best,
Beth 
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 09, 2022, 01:59:21 am
First left in the back row?



Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: norman08 on June 09, 2022, 08:00:28 am
Nice one Brian I looked on Gwyn Hughes,s soccer page but couldn?t find any,  their are some on the red garage site somewhere.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 09, 2022, 04:58:31 pm
You must have missed it, Norman.

http://www.soccerscrapbook.co.uk/llandudno-amateurs-196566-onwards/

There are quite a few on there of Beths Taid.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Lindajones on June 11, 2022, 11:31:51 am
Thanks so much Brian. We haven't seen a lot of these photos. My Taid will love looking at these pics. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 11, 2022, 03:21:36 pm
You are most welcome, Linda.

Title: Re: Red Garages
Post by: John Willie on November 23, 2022, 02:44:06 pm
Memories of the Red Garages are the two chaps that worked on the pumps, Jock and Ken I think. You could get a tiger's tail from them as part of an Esso promotion and also bullet holes for your car windows 007 style. There was the car showroom that smelled of polish and new cars had trays beneath to catch the leaking oil. And the illuminated signs Humber Hillman Singer Commer Karrier - they have a set on the wall in the tv programme Bangers & Cash maybe the same ones. And a friendly salesman who always said hello. There was a chap called Wilkes who lived in Penrhyn Bay and also Winstanley too. There was an accessory shop on the corner of the Reds and the car sales compound behind the showroom where you could walk through to The Kiosk where Olwen worked. It had a repeating neon sign saying Players Please. Next door at Creams booking office was the contour map of north Wales in a case with snow on top of Snowdon. In the early '60s there was a coach park opposite the Reds by the football ground. There was an ice cream caravan at one entrance with Mrs Jones serving and a chap in a brown coat at the other entrance taking money for the coaches, I think he composed TV themes. There was a toilet block in the car park with brass machines on the doors that took an old penny. I recall Harold Wilson standing on a soap box on the coach park spouting something, also Stanley Matthews played at the football ground once. Contractors came to convert the town to natural gas and they camped out there in double decker buses - Turriff I think the company was called.