AMUSING anecdotes about childhood summer holidays to North Wales in the late 1950s and early 1960s are recalled by Doveridge writer Philip Whiteland in the latest issue of our monthly heritage magazine YesterdayToday.

Philip reveals how the two bete noirs of these holiday jaunts to Rhyl were donkeys and getting sand in his shoes.

"At the end of each session on the beach, my mum or dad would painstakingly wipe the sand off my feet and then instruct me not to put my foot down until they had got my shoes and socks on.

"I always did, of course, leading to a great deal of grumbling and grizzling on all sides as the whole process had to be repeated.

"I quite liked donkeys. I liked to watch them ambling across the beach, their bridles and stirrups jingling as they went.

"I liked to pat and stroke them. What I never liked to do was ride them."

Read more of Philip's memories in the September issue of YesterdayToday which is out now, priced just 60p.