UK's first surf shop marks 50th anniversary in St Ives

Surfing fanatics from Cornwall and around the UK have been marking the opening of the first dedicated surf shop in the country, fifty years ago, in the town of St Ives.

An excellent new article in The Cornishman sheds a bit more light on the origins of surfing in the county, which can be traced all the way back to 1928, when the Australian Charles McAllister gave locals a demonstration of his considerable prize-winning skills in Newquay.

It is often overlooked, however, that Keith Slocombe – former honorary secretary of the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain – set up The Surfer's Store in The Digey area of St Ives in 1963, which was the nation's first shop of its kind and stands as a reflection of the town's status as one of the most important places for surfing in the UK.

Although the store itself is now closed, its legacy lives on and can be appreciated by anyone renting holiday cottages in St Ives when they head down to the beach and see the many visitors and local residents enjoying the tall waves and crystal clear waters that abound.

Image credit: Dave Hamster (flickr.com)