Fun at Rhyl

Cinema advertisement for Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, a popular destination for crowds set on a day's fun on free rides.

What times were had on the free funfair rides at Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, destination of many a Sunday School and chapel outing across the decades. David E Sutcliffe, a BBC stringer based in Anglesey, was commissioned to make this film advertising summer fun during the winter months. The lack of crowds and appropriate weather account for its brevity!

Rhyl's Marine Lake was opened on Queen Victoria's birthday in 1895 – May 24th. It was bought by the Rhyl Amusement Company in 1910 and fairground rides were built along part of its shore. In 1954, the company expanded onto nearby land it also owned, creating a larger funfair – Ocean Beach - in addition to the lake rides. Ocean Beach operated until 2007. The lake continues to support sailing and other water sports.