A CAREGIVER who prioritises his mental health by walking along the beachfront has shared photos he has captured of Rhyl's regeneration.
Adrian Evans, who looks after his 84-year-old father, often takes photos during his weekly strolls of developments and their progress in Rhyl.
His aim is to show Rhyl is a "more positive light."
Adrian, who pursued photography whilst living in Thailand more than a decade ago, said: "Circumstances led me to return to Rhyl about nine years ago when my mother fell ill. Sadly, she passed away a year later, leaving me to care for my father, John, a former coal miner who is now 84 and grapples with mobility and memory challenges.
"My parents relocated to Rhyl from Somerset over 23 years ago, primarily for better value. We used to visit here for day trips when I was younger. Our home is a sizable one, near the beautiful beach, so my photographic subjects now mainly revolve around capturing scenes of the seafront and its surroundings."
Adrian, who has an 11-year-old daughter who lives in Denmark with her mother and stepfather, said: "I find solace and purpose in sharing these snapshots with the local Facebook community [on Rhyl Today].
"Many individuals in the group are unable to venture out due to age, health issues, prior commitments, or distance, and they seem to derive joy from these glimpses.
"It's a means for me to combat the monotony of my daily routine and the isolation that accompanies being an only child."
Adrian's relationship with photography dates to the 1980s.
He said: "When I sold my pub in Somerset, I relocated to Thailand where I found the time to reignite this passion.
"Being fond of old photographs of Rhyl, I embarked on documenting the evolving landscape for future generations to appreciate. Despite the setbacks brought by Covid and the ongoing seafront development, which is undoubtedly essential for the long-term well-being of Rhyl, the short-term disruptions have adversely affected tourism and local businesses. Regrettably, attractions such as SeaQuarium Rhyl have closed, and businesses along the promenade have closed.
RELATED STORIES
"While I'm not well-versed in the specifics of the Queen's Market, I believe upgrades to Rhyl are beneficial. However, it's disheartening to witness these improvements go underutilised due to the lack of businesses occupying them.
"I believe the focus should be also on revitalising the high street shops which are dwindling, possibly due to the emergence of larger businesses at the harbour.
"My faith in politicians is limited, but any positive developments are welcome, especially in light of the recent disparaging review of Rhyl by Guy Adams in the Daily Mail, a topic that has stirred much discussion within the Rhyl Facebook group."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here