From the Corona pop man to Will Cwac Cwac, here are a few things that will jog your memory if you’re Welsh and perhaps leave you just a little bit misty-eyed
Once you reach a certain age, many of the things you previously used daily in your youth will have become obsolete, and you might find yourself often looking back on them with a sense of fondness.
Our dependence on technology was rapidly increasing, yet it seemed to progress at a snail’s pace compared to today’s standards. In the absence of iPads, iPhones, Netflix, and Disney+, we were still pioneers in creating our own entertainment, particularly during those long summer holidays.
We were proactive, constructing bike ramps, exploring quarries, and frequenting outdoor swimming pools – some of the best places to socialise with friends. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
Here are some of the things some of you might miss from your childhood…
1. Corona pop.
The arrival of the Corona pop man and his reliable van was always a cause for excitement. Returning your bottles for recycling would earn you 10p per bottle.
It seems that in the valleys, they were ahead of the curve when it came to recycling. The best part?
The pop was produced locally, primarily at the Welsh Hill Works in Porth, now better known as The Pop Factory/The Factory.
2. Limited late-night Channel 4 programmes.
Before the advent of countless TV channels, live pause, and iPlayer, we had just four TV channels. Some of Channel 4’s English-language content was broadcast within S4C’s schedule.
3. Purchasing CDs at Woolworths.
Woolworths’ closure from 2008 marked the end of an era when a day “in town” with mates could mean snagging the latest single from your favourite band, and diving into the legendary Pick ‘n Mix
4. Big phones and dials
The laborious dialing on a corded rotary phone, often accompanied by the hefty phone book or Yellow Pages, seems like ancient history compared to today’s swift touch-tone technology – turning what should have been a quick call into quite the task.
5. The old National Stadium
Music legends like Michael Jackson and REM once performed unforgettable gigs at the National Stadium, paving the way for the now world-renowned Principality Stadium.
6. Wooden school desks
Wooden school desks, sturdy survivors from a century past, were still widely used across British classrooms, standing testament to tradition amidst modern educational tools.
7. The old LC
Swansea Leisure Centre was the place to be in the ’90s, with its notorious bowl slide offering adrenaline-fueled excitement for youngsters travelling from as far as Carmarthen and Bridgend.
8. Huge metal slides
Those old playground slides that seemed to absorb the sun’s heat, sizzling in summer and leaving a trail of scorched thighs behind them.
Summer was the prime time for park visits, and if your local park boasted a massive metal slide, you’d find yourself in a queue, eagerly awaiting your turn. However, that anticipation would quickly morph into dread as you felt the scorching metal against your bare legs.
Despite the discomfort, braving the slide in shorts was a rite of passage that earned you the admiration of your peers. And despite the sting, you’d find yourself back in line, ready to do it all over again – because that’s what summer was about: fun!
9. Cwtsh glo.
The coal was stored in the backyard coal shed, also known as the ‘cwtsh glo’.
10. Penscynor car sticker.
If you’d visited Penscynor Wild Life Park, you’d have this sticker displayed either on your car or bedroom window. And you weren’t alone.
11. Tovali pop.
It’s still a popular choice in Carmarthen.
12. Jeifin Jenkins.
Does a Welsh-language children’s presenter styled after a Teddy Boy need further introduction?
If you were a child in West Wales during the early 90s, Jeifin was your hero. His TV shows included Hafoc, Jeifin and Jeifin yn Bobman (Jeifin Everywhere), and he was occasionally joined by his overweight sidekick, Handel, played by none other than Huw Ceredig, aka Reg Harris from Pobol y Cwm, aka Fatty Lewis from Twin Town.
13. Arfon Haines Davies.
There was a time when this was the face of Welsh news. No offence, Vincent Kane.
14. Wil Cwac Cwac.
The books if you grew up in the 1920s (unlikely for anyone reading this) or the TV series if it was in the 1980s. Either way, one of the best names for a cartoon character ever.
15. Roundabouts.
One of the best rides at your local park was the big metal roundabout that would have the older kids pushing those brave enough to get on – faster and faster until they could take no more. Obviously, the next move would be to stop it as fast and quickly as possible to disorientate the rider and watch them stumble off as they battled against the g-force and motion sickness, with the aim of seeing them fall over giddy.
16. The playground rocking horse.
The rocking horse was another playground ride that would take the strongest of stomachs (and backsides) to get the best out of it, especially if you had the older kids pushing it to see if they would be able to make it go as fast and high as possible. All this without falling off meant one thing – you had skill.
17. Concrete-floored playgrounds.
Reflecting on the playground adventures of yesteryear, it’s hard not to reminisce about a time before soft play areas and safety surfacing. Back in the day, youths took pride in navigating treacherous rides on unforgiving concrete – the triumph was avoiding injuries.
As anyone who grew up then can attest, every scrape taught resilience and fuelled determination to improve and avoid further mishaps!
18. Martyn Geraint.
Martyn Geraint is a beloved children’s entertainer known for his catchy tunes, like “Un bys, dau bys, tri bys yn dawnsio”. Much like Andi Peters presented BBC’s children’s segments from the confines of a broom cupboard, Geraint graced our screens through S4C’s Slot Meithrin.
His quirky sidekick Wcw, donning a leather jacket and sporting a mohican, brought an edgy vibe as he devoured “bara, te a sos coch” with gusto – despite bearing an uncanny resemblance to Ed the Duck, this punk rock cuckoo made a name for himself.
19. Steamed pies.
The South Wales food scene wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the delectable steamed pies of Italian cafés, which served them alongside the frothiest of coffees long before Costa and Starbucks entered the scene. With their rich history, could modern coffee shops truly match the charm of these classic establishments?
The steamed pie endures as a testament to the café culture of times gone by, prepared lovingly with the help of the same machines that brewed countless cups of coffee.