'Coney Beach has been my life for sixty years...'

For many people Coney Beach in Porthcawl is a second home, but now they are being stripped of that as it closes at the end of this summer after 100 years of providing family fun. Taite Johnson reports

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Steve, who runs American Donuts inside the amusement park, has worked at the stand since 1967 straight after he left school.

Now a sprightly 75-year-old, he chose not to retire as he says his customers “wouldn't let” him as the park would not be the same without him there. Customers have been begging Steve to continue, constantly asking where he will be going next.

Now the park is closing, Steve says he is “gutted” about his “forced retirement” as he had no plans to stop anytime soon. Another fairground favourite at the seaside is Coney’s, where you can buy cockles and mussels along the beachfront.

Dave Jones, 60, has been running the seafood stall at Coney Beach for around 20 years, and ran a second one at Hi-tide on the other side of the beach for 15 years.