Barry Island: The Place My Heart Always Returns To!
It’s hard to put into words why Barry Island means so much to me - but I’ll try. Because for me, it’s not just a seaside town. It’s memories, people, love, laughter, and heartbreak. It’s a part of my soul. People may wonder why I’m talking about making Barry Island better - especially when I’m from Merthyr Tydfil. And don’t worry, I’ve got plenty to say about my home town too. But I want to start here. I want to write about Barry first. Because this place gave me some of the most treasured moments of my life. It's the backdrop to my earliest memories, the setting of joy and sorrow, and now, the place I get to pass those memories on to my own children. My first memory of Barry Island is etched in my mind like it happened yesterday. I was in the back of our red Datsun Cherry, my dad at the wheel, Madonna’s Holiday playing on the radio. We were heading to Barry Butlins, and as we drove through the gates, the smell of hot dogs hit me like magic. That sweet, salty smell carried the p...