Surf History: James Millar surfing WW2 1939
added to the website on Oct 25, 2011
Octogenarian James Millar from Wrafton, North Devon, sadly passed away on October 18th 2011 whilst on holiday in the Scilly Isles. James told the Museum of British Surfing his memories of happy days surfing on his local North Devon beaches Saunton & Croyde with his brother John (in this photo John is holding the board) ……»
Photographs: 1930s Croyde 1939
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
Croyde beach in North Devon in August 1939, just weeks before the start of the Second World War – photo by the Millar family of Braunton. It shows cars parked on the sand and people in the background using their wooden bellyboards to enjoy the surf.
Surf History: On the eve of war 1939
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
This remarkable photograph was taken by the Millar family while on holiday in North Devon in August 1939, just weeks before the outbreak of World War Two. It shows cars parked on the beach at Croyde right up to the waters edge & people in the background surfing on their wooden bellyboards, with a decent ……»
Print: SurFaari film poster 1969
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
SurFaari was a film made in 1969 by Clinton “Fitz” Fitzgerald while working for Clive Barber in South Africa, and showed for some of the first of the new, shorter v-bottom surfboards in use. Edited by Tony Cope the film was screened across North Devon that summer under the banner of Woolacombe-based West Coast Surfboards. ……»
Photographs: Bill Davies 1966
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
Great photo showing Bill Davies shooting the curl on a decent size day at Putsborough in North Devon in 1966. Bill Davies & Bob Groves were responsible for Groves-Davies Surfboards shaped at Lee on Solent on the south coast of England. Starting out around 1964 its through they only made around 30 or so ‘longboards’, ……»
Print: Woolacombe & Morthoe guide 1968
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
This 1968 guide to Woolacombe and Mortehoe uses a photo of a woman wading out into the sea to use her painted wooden bellyboard to promote the area as a holiday destination. This type of advertising showing the health-giving properties of surfing had been in use since the early 1900s.
Print: Braunton guide c1965
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
Wonderful period artwork on this mid 1960s guide to Braunton & District in North Devon, still using the classic image of a woman with her bellyboard on the beach rather than ‘stand-up’ surfing that was beginning to take over at the time.
Photographs: “Fuzz” Pridham 1966
added to the website on Dec 04, 2010
The late “Fuzz” Pridham from Bideford in perfect trim at Putsborough in North Devon in May 1966 – one of the early crew of locals in the early to mid 1960s. Photo by Tony Cope.
News: UK surf museum plans move forward
added to the website on Jul 19, 2010
The Museum of British Surfing is on target to open in North Devon, following the news that its major grant application has been approved and an agreement reached on a building. The funding through Leader 4 will allow the museum to start recruiting staff from October this year, begin work to design new exhibitions, and ……»
Events: 60s Stylemasters @ Saunton Sands
added to the website on Jul 14, 2010
We took our Mobile Museum to the Hotdoggers Longboard Surf Club “60s Stylemasters” contest at Saunton Sands in North Devon on July 17th, 2010. It’s a great contest and always lots of fun, as those taking part have to draw lots to see which 1960s longboard from a pool of ten they’ll get to ride ……»
Events: Braunton School & Community College
added to the website on Jun 02, 2010
Our mobile surf museum took part in its first ever schools event in North Devon on May 28th, 2010 & it was a big success! ‘Ruby’ the lovely splitty trundled down the road to Braunton School & Community College to take the beach to the classroom for a group of 11 to 14 year olds. ……»
Wetsuits: Tiki vest 1979
added to the website on May 26, 2010
Wetsuit vest made by Tiki in Braunton, North Devon around 1979.
Surfboards: Surfboards by Bruce Palmer 1979
added to the website on May 25, 2010
Discovered looking in a sorry state from its original owner in Blackpool, a quick clean and polish revealed this gem of a twin fin fish shaped by Bruce Palmer in Croyde, North Devon around 1979. It’s understood it was bought new, ridden once, then mothballed – it had a tiny ding on the tail, otherwise ……»
Surfboards: Surf Rider 1960
added to the website on May 25, 2010
Based in South Molton, North Devon, the late Dick Pearce (passed away July 10th, 2010) – with others including Roy Wilson – spent more than 50 years making traditional wooden surfboards used for ‘prone’ surfing; also known a surf riding and bodyboarding. Made from plywood, this one is a special extra-wide ‘Surf Rider’ model – ……»