Some unfortunate double-take “ghosting” in parts of this one
This footage was taken during 1947 when Ceri was about 3 and a half years old and Marilyn nearly one. It shows Mum enjoying time with her 2 toddlers on Durban South Beach whilst she lounges in a red and blue blow-up canvas chair and helps them build sandcastles. The chair gave the children lots of fun in years to come until it eventually perished. A favourite activity along the beachfront was a train ride on a narrow gauge line, pulled by a steam engine.
That year, the Llanstephan Castle, one of the ships in the fleet of the Union Castle Line, docked in Durban This was her first post-war voyage sailing down the west coast of Africa, having been used during the 2nd World War as a troop ship. On board was a friend of Dad’s who delivered 2 Welsh Corgis for the family (Cymru (Kimmy) and Topsy) as well as belongings for Dad from his late mother (who had died in the March, 1947). Dad, Mum and Ceri bid the grand old ship a fond farewell as she leaves the port of Durban bound for England via the east coast of Africa and the Suez Canal.
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