This photo was taken at 6.30 p.m. on a Friday evening early in August 1959.
The Promenade and beach are still alive with people, and in the murky background the new Pavilion is under construction.
Pedestrians are beginning to look less formal, but there is still a long way to go before holiday dress had become the norm. A variety of cars of differing vintages pass by, and the writer’s favourite coach — Bedford EJT792 of Bere Regis and District Coaches — makes its way past, possibly on an evening tour.
A Walls ice cream van is probably heading off to make a delivery to one of the many cafés and kiosks along the seafront. Sadly, that year one of their drivers died after a door closed on him whilst making a delivery.
That same summer, the Alexandra Gardens show starred Bruce Forsyth and attracted 44,000 people. Bernard Delfont booked the act before Forsyth appeared on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, so he was already well known by the time the season began.
