Redcar Beacon & Promenade

So then, this is my first proper post for the new blog and it might be a little controversial (or as controversial as it gets in Redcar!).  There are a lot of mixed feelings about the new Beacon in Redcar and I've been back and forth on this one myself, too.  I can't help but think that if they'd never referred to it as a vertical pier, there would have been a more positive buzz.  Instead I was surrounded by people either just not caring, or those who seemed stuck in the past and hell bent on shouting about wanting a traditional pier instead.  I really am finding it difficult to think of anyone who ever had anything positive to say about the Beacon while it was being built, myself included.

This Easter weekend has seen it open to the public for the first time, and having blue skies set in for the day and in desperate need of a walk, I decided to grab my camera and stroll off to the promenade for a good look, complete with an open mind and a positive outlook.

At first all I could see were people milling around hunched into their pac-a-macs and cagools (just in case it rains, you can't be too careful!).  I wasn't looking very closely at first, seeing as I was attempting to negotiate the rather heavy traffic without getting my toes crushed.

Looking more carefully I soon realised there were people in costumes, and all seemed to be from Alice in Wonderland.  I have to hold my hands up and say that's all well and good, but a grown person in a huge bunny costume still scares the bejeesus out of me, I don't care how 'cute' the bunny is!

I turned off my mp3 player so I could step back into the world properly, and finally noticed there was a show going on outside the Beacon.  Oooooh fab!  It was no surprise to see it was Alice in Wonderland, and there was a tea party happening.


Alice in Wonderland

It's a long time since I've seen any kind of street theatre in Redcar (and I was actually involved in the last one!) and I was struck by just how enthusiastic and energetic the players were, and all so young.  As I looked around I realised that most of the people huddled into their coats were really rather enjoying themselves.  This should come as no surprise, perhaps, but with such a feeling of apathy around the Beacon before it opened, it pleasantly surprised me.  There were a lot of smiles!


Mad Hatter's Tea Party

 There were a lot of characters still wandering around talking with people, focussing on the kids of course, and they stayed in character and kept people's smiles up with great, colourful eagerness.  A little further along there was even a Punch & Judy stand.  Oh, and TFM had come out to play too, complete with prizes and all dressed up.  Yes, the DJ included!

There was a queue to go up to the top of the Beacon, and today I decided not to go up.  Instead I'll wait until my nieces are here on Monday, when hopefully there'll still be some activities for them.  Having bumped into some family while I was there, I was assured it was a great view, and everyone seemed pleasantly surprised; again more smiles!

So decision made not to go up, I decided instead to walk around by the wall.  I haven't been to the beach when there was such a low tide in a very long time, and it was a gorgeous view.  It's easy at times like that to remember why I love living by the sea.  There were a lot of people out walking, braving that razor sharp wind, but more impressive were the people building a sand sculpture (impressive for standing around in the cold!).  I can't quite believe it took me until I was uploading the photos to realise they were building the Beacon all over again on the beach.  I really do need to open my eyes some more!


Building a sand sculpture

 I didn't stick around for the finished article, or I might still be there at 8 o'clock tonight.  I decided to go for a wander through the town, since part of the promenade is still closed; a shame, really.  I forgot it was market day and I was taken aback by the number of people on the high street, but more than that when I really looked at people I realised just how much happier most people seemed to be today.  Maybe it was a combination of the sun coming out, the snow and sleet stopping, the colourful characters, the little fairground rides, or just because everyone has extra days off work.  Whatever the reason(s), it was fabulous to see.

Having bought too much Baklava from the ever cheerful stallholders and had a right good little joke on with them (you can't help it, they're lovely!), I wandered up the high street and decided to trail back off to the promenade further up, where it's been opened back up for some time.


Promenade heading towards the stray

I love this part of the prom.  It's an immense amount of seating or a playground for the little (and big) kids who can't resist walking along the top of a wall.  I think it's simple and attractive, and makes great use of the pedestrian space.


Sea wall and windmills


I even like the windmills.  I always did.  I never quite understood the uproar from people who thought they 'spoil the view', whether they're out to sea or in the middle of the countryside.  To me they're elegant, and no amount of persuasion will work to make me change my mind.


Redcar beach



Redcar beach - looking towards Marske and Saltburn

Finally I wandered back down the sea front, past the endless, chiming amusement arcades, past the fabulous little rock shop, with a slight detour for lunch in the ever present Pacittos (long may it reign as King of the Lemontop!).  Eventually I found my way back to the Beacon, and realised I'd taken all these other photos but none of the main reason I visited the prom today!  Out came the camera again...



Redcar Beacon in all its glory

 I was sceptical about it the whole time it was being built.  I wondered what was the point of just sitting a giant helter skelter on the sea front when so much more was needed on the high street to bring it back to life.  I see it now, though, in part thanks to a rather insightful person I exchanged a few words with this morning.

It fits.  It's the seaside and fun.  It's smiles and ice cream and fish and chips.  It's amusement arcades and day trips to the beach.  It's Redcar, but it's a Redcar we can be proud of and not one for which we should feel the need to apologise (and yes, most of us do that).

It's a little bit of hope for what the future can bring if we just open our eyes a bit wider and try to see the bigger picture.  We need to find the time and energy to stop looking at our feet as we walk down the road grumbling about the weather and taxes, and instead look up, look out, try to see further, consider what's already out there, consider what could be there in our future, perhaps even consider what we want our children, our nephews and nieces to see and experience in their futures.  We may even be able to make things happen that we wouldn't have previously dreamt of achieving.

Look up.  Go on.  Please.  Look up and open your eyes properly.  It really is brighter than you think.