"AS a long time visitor and fan of your town, memories came flooding back as I surveyed the scene from the top of the wonderful See Monster.

"When I was a lad of seven or eight, my mum and I came to Weston by train from Cheltenham Spa. We were a poor family and we survived by my mum's thriftiness.

"My mum carried one case with clothes in and little me being the man of the family carried the heavy one...heavy as it was loaded with a leg of lamb wrapped in newspaper, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower.

We trudged up to our digs in Locking Road. Mrs Latcham welcomed us and promptly put the food in a kitty with other guests food.

"Mrs Latcham would cook it for herself and us guests during the duration of our stay.

"This system regularly used made holidays possible for folk like us with not much money, it was called rooms and attendance. 

Once settled in, we went off to the beach for a big jug of strong tea.

We enjoyed walks to Kewstoke, Marine Lake, and Anchor Head.

"Despite being hard up I recall happy days.

"Despite travelling Europe and beyond in my lorry, I love Weston through its ups and downs and shall continue to visit forever!"

Douglas F. Vick, Cheltenham Spa.