The town of Prestwick is situated on a wide bay, flat and sandy in its central part with dunes to the north and a rockier beach to the south, the view out to the Isle of Arran is perhaps the best in the area as the whole width of the island can be seen, but the writer may be biased. If you get the chance to see the sun set behind the Sleeping Giant on the horizon, you may want to hold the moment.

Our history of Troon started some hundreds of years ago. In Prestwick, we begin with reminiscences of slightly more recent times.......

In its heyday Prestwick, in common with the other towns on the Ayrshire coast, was a favourite holiday location for the people of Glasgow. As the writer remembers, even as late as the 1960's the town bustled during the Glasgow Fair (the annual summer holiday). The weather, as now, was totally unpredictable, one day ,mad dogs and Scotsmen would be out in the midday sun, the next, Woolworth's would give shelter from the torrents. No matter the weather, the folk from Glasgow seemed to know how to enjoy themselves and always tipped the waitresses in the local tea-rooms most generously !

When the sun shone Prestwick's magnificent Bathing Lake gave joy to visitors and locals alike. One hundred yards long and thirty three wide at the deep end, it held 985,000 gallons of sea water. With dressing room accommodation for 1,200 bathers and seating for 4,000 spectators it was witness to many swimming galas, firework displays and mannequin parades. In the writer's time the highlight of the year was the Bathing Beauty Competition. Hopefuls came from all over Britain to compete for the generous prize.
Eventually Prestwick Pool became a burden on the ratepayers and the twin copper domes and the bow fronted facade were demolished. Despite the temperature of the water, which, for many days of the summer, did not rise above 47°F ,local youngsters swam from mid May till mid September and held the place dear.

An old Tourist Book, printed in 1937, states that Prestwick has "plenty of comfortable accommodation at varying charges, is easy of access by rail or road, and is undeniably a good place for a holiday". Nowadays the majority of holiday makers are probably those who have taken up residence elsewhere, home to visit friends and relatives, or all-weather golfers, who come to play the sandy links courses.

In the time that this site has been up, we have received a number of e-mails from locals who have emigrated and have enjoyed the memories which have been stirred by some of the items on the site. So we have decided to open a new section where you can read memories of the good old days. Do you have any recollections to share with others of your era ?

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