Llandudno's role in World War II

Llandudno in World War II

Twenty-five Rotarians and friends dined at the Cae Mor Hotel, Llandudno recently, prior to hearing Adrian Hughes, the owner-curator of the town’s Home Front Museum, give a fascinating talk about what Llandudno was like during World War 2.

Eye-witness accounts may be increasingly thin on the ground but Adrian was able to treat Rotarians to a string of anecdotes and slide-show of images that he has been able to capture which, between them, illustrated the flavour of the time.

In truth, Llandudno had a “good war” – prospering from the many people who were billeted in the town on essential war work as varied as keeping the Inland Revenue going (it was relocated from London) through an artillery practice range on “Millionaires Row”, a secret radar station on the Great Orme and then later, hundreds of Americans cooling their heels prior to being sent to the Normandy beaches on D Day.

Hotels and boarding houses used to a season of 12 or 15 weeks, found themselves in business 52 weeks a year and the shops, pubs and places of entertainment had literally thousands of extra year-round residents, all with what is known these days as “disposable income”.

If your organisation would like Adrian to speak on this fascinating topic, give him a ring on 01492 871032.