Subject to both natural and man-made dangers, of the ninety-one pleasure piers that once decorated the British coastline, just fifty-five remain. For over a century, the Grand Pier at Weston has stood as a prominent symbol of this British seaside tradition. For over sixty years, the Grand Pier was owned and run by successive generations of one family, the Brenners. This book is also the story of how they constantly updated and improved the pier, ensuring its popularity with tourists continued into the twenty-first century. But the Grand Pier has also seen its fair share of disaster. The pier rose from the ashes of a devastating fire in 1930 to enjoy a period of great success between the wars. A second fire destroyed the famous pavilion in 2008, and whether the pier can return once again to its former glory remains to be seen. This book illustrates the history of this outstanding example of seaside piers, with memories and anecdotes from the people who owned it, worked on it or simply loved it.

There is still some romance attached to the idea of sea travel; cruising the world's oceans in luxury and comfort; sailing to far-flung destinations as the first explorers did hundreds of years ago. Some cities are seen at their best by an arrival by water, gradually revealing themselves as the ship sails ever closer-Malta, Sydney and San Francisco to name a few. The Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. and, today P&O Cruises, have been taking passengers all over the world since 1837. Join the author on a world cruise in P&O Cruises' 180th celebration year. Find out how world travel has changed, and, in some cases, has not. Using extracts from old diaries, guide books and accounts, the writer compares cruising today with yesteryear. Get a captain's view of this special voyage; discover what goes into making it a unique experience; how they prepare over 7,500 meals every day. The author was commissioned to assist in planning the itinerary and special excursions, visiting ports that were instrumental in the growth of P&O and still welcome their ships today. Discover amazing countries, cultures, and sights on a journey that circumnavigates the world. A blend of travelogue and history.

When Royal Princess was named in Southampton by HRH The Princess of Wales in November 1984, she was the most advanced purpose-built luxury cruise ship ever conceived and constructed. Built at the beginning of the modern commercial age of cruising, she was the trend-setter of the cruise ship world and continues to hold a number of records, among them, the first contemporary cruise ship to have all outside cabins, and in 2010 as Artemis, the first British passenger ship to be commanded by a female captain, Sarah Breton. In the following years of service, she has taken passengers all over the globe in luxury and style, and it is hoped she has many more years of cruising ahead of her. At 45,000 gross tons she is small in comparison with the super-liners of today, but when launched she was one of the largest cruise ships afloat. Her traditional ambiance and service standards have attracted a loyal following, not only among passengers, but also among her crew. This book, written by Andrew Sassoli-Walker and Sharon Poole, celebrates the innovation in cruise ship design that Royal Princess / Artemis represented, and highlights her career with both Princess and P&O Cruises in the words of both passengers and crew. Fully illustrated throughout with many never-before-seen colour images, it is a tribute to a unique and much-loved vessel.

Buddy, Bill Landry's dog, may be the best known dog in the Smoky Mountains. This is a story for everyone. Buddy demonstrates life's lessons children of all ages can enjoy and appreciate. It's the story of . . . well, a dog's life of being a dog.

The nineteenth century saw Weston-super-Mare grow from a tiny village of about 100 inhabitants to a thriving Victorian seaside resort of nearly 20,000 people. A further hundred years later it has a population of almost 70,000. Despite changing fortunes during the twentiteth century, as a traditional English week at the seaside was replaced by holidays overseas and short breaks in the UK, Weston has managed to adapt - and still flourishes. Sharon Poole's new book uncovers many of the changes that Weston has seen over the years, comparing old photographs with the scene today. Dramatic developments are complemented by suprising survivals - remnants of the past tat unchanged in the modern town. The illustrations are accompanied by Sharon's in-depth and knowledgable text, which will be of interest to residents and visitors alike.

During the period between the beginning of the 1950s and the end of the 1970s Weston-Super-Mare experienced many changes as both a seaside town and a popular holiday resort. These changes are recorded here, for the first time, using many unique and previously unpublished archive photographs and postcards. The history of Weston's development into the famous Somerset resort that it is widely recognised as today is captured in the images of residents and tourists alike enjoying the delights of the south-west coast. Alongside the recreational images of couples strolling along the promenade hand in hand, children taking donkey rides on the sands and families reclining on deckchairs, are the images of a busy seaside town rich in local trade and industry. The daily business of Weston-Super-Mare is preserved in this volume with enlightening detail and provides us with the opportunity to look behind the popular seaside images. What we are shown is a remarkable insight into the changing face of the town during this highly productive era in the history of Weston-Super-Mare.

Part of the Tempus History & Guide series, this book offers an in-depth look at the seaside resort town of Weston-Super-Mare, in southwest England.