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One of our members, Ron Clifton, entertained us with slides illustrating how the town of Weymouth has both changed over the years and yet retained elements of the past.
Perhaps the most striking change shown by the comparison of early postcards and pictures is that of the roads and the traffic on them. As can be expected the roads were wider with many cars to be seen in the photos of the period after 1970 taken by Ron and those taken earlier. The changes of the promenade area show the need to cope with increased car traffic resulting in a raised walkway providing pedestrians with a safe environment while giving protection to the road way from the sea which, at times, can sweep across causing chaos. This chaos was well illustrated by a photograph with a bus and cars buried axle deep in sand.
Some features have remained un-moved while the area around has been completely altered. One such is the clock on the esplanade. Two early pictures show that it was built out onto the beach and even when changes were made some time later, the beach still surrounded the structure. Today the esplanade extends well beyond the position of the clock which now stands well clear of the beach and sand. Another is the statue of George III who was an early visitor to the town. Early pictures show it as being clear in the middle of the road. Today's pictures show the edifice surrounded by garden.
The beach itself has changed over the century. Early pictures clearly show the water at high tide as reaching right up to the promenade wall. Now it is well clear and sitting through out the day on the sand no longer requires evacuation as the tide advances.
Missing from modern pictures are the beach huts and bathing huts that are still very evident in the pictures of the early 1900's. One or two huts are still around but the number is far short of that found 100 years ago.
The evening provided many of the members present an opportunity to reminisce as they recalled holidays or day trips.
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