Downstream

Children rushed down to the
beach, where free ‘buns and
chocolate and unlimited
lemonade’ were set out on
long tables laden with casks
and cardboard boxes of food.
The beach was used for
paddling, swimming, building
sandcastles and sunbathing.
In the coming years there
were toffee-apple sellers,
entertainers and gala days,
and thousands used the spot
for their summer holidays. An