A Monthly Publication

As I observed the many visitors to our town enjoying the beautiful summer’s weather my mind went back to my own first experience of going to the seaside. 

              It was in the early 1950s and at a place called Seaton Carew which is about twenty miles from where I lived.  I can remember the great expanse of the North Sea.  My first remark became part of the family’s folklore as often happens when infants make their first observations in life.  I took one look at the sea and exclaimed “what a big bath” Funny how life pans out.  I now look at the sea and still see a big Wash! 

 I wonder how many happy memories are being formed in the minds of holiday makers as they revel in the numerous things set up for their amusement in Hunstanton.  Memories are funny things we all have them as we experience life with all its twists and turns.  Recently a good friend asked me a thought provoking question.  It is a quote from an author who has only recently passed away, Dame Beryl Bainbridge.  “Where do memories go when they have nowhere to live?”   Is it not true that memories can only live for as long as we live?  Do they die when we die?  First hand memories are very illusive things,  I am collecting more and more as I gather more years under my belt and there are times when recalling specific names or instances does take a little longer.  A common experience for many of my friends!  After doing a little research into the life of Dame Beryl I discovered that she gives the answer to her little riddle in her books. 

 Born in Liverpool and living for much of her life in London she had many experiences in life.  She used her own memories as she wrote her own little library of Books.  One commentator wrote “Bainbridge began writing novels, she said, 'to make sense of my upbringing'”   In a BBC interview the theme of mortality is very much on her mind.  Her novels contained her own memoirs for all to read.  She passed on memories that were very dear to her, childhood, youth, work experience and family.  It may be that she felt the motivation to write as she wanted to have her memories live on when she did die.  The vast majority of us however pass on our life’s memories by telling others about “the time when.”  Photographs are an important means of recording our experiences.  It is good to read the articles in the Hunstanton Newsletter relating to life in Hunstanton in the past.

  As usual I will finish the article with a verse from the Bible.  This month a verse from Psalm 45.  Today Christians believe it is a prophetic statement about how God will have Christ’s legacy remembered  verse 17 “I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;  therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.”  The memory of Jesus written down in the Bible for all to read up to this day.