Scarborough South Cliff Gardens audio trail Love Stories tells of seaside romance through the years

Rusty and Ron Jones were born in Scarborough on the very same day, December 20, 1940, and fell in love when they were just 16 years old. But the couple have, they say, “always kept our precious story to ourselves”.
John Blow
By John Blow
Published 25th Jul 2023, 11:45 BST

Now, their tale of romance is one of those featured in a digital audio trail titled Love Stories, inspired by the recently restored South Cliff Gardens - right where the Mrs and Mrs Jones, 82, and so many others, courted.

Scarborough-based community producing company, ARCADE, is inviting audiences to explore the gardens while listening to the stories, which are set to an orchestral score.

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People from twelve years old, to students in their twenties, a couple in their sixties and the Jones’s, in their eighties, are featured.

Rusty and Ron Jones, 82, who are part of the Love Stories project in Scarborough. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.Rusty and Ron Jones, 82, who are part of the Love Stories project in Scarborough. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.
Rusty and Ron Jones, 82, who are part of the Love Stories project in Scarborough. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.

The free audio trail featuring storytelling, poetry and music is available now until September 30, using the Bandcamp app, and audiences can listen from their own devices and headphones, following an accessible route on the meandering paths through the Italian Gardens and beyond.

Hannah Davies, ARCADE executive producer, says: “We had over 100 submissions from people all over Scarborough and we were so moved by all the wonderful stories we gathered.

"We ran a series of workshops with a selection of the storytellers, alongside composer, Jackie Walduck and the orchestral musicians, Whitby Community Choir and associate artist Rebecca Denniff, to create five beautiful audio pieces that document some of the love stories that have bloomed in this magical place where land meets sea.”

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Love Stories also offers a new way of hearing the music of Scarborough Spa Orchestra outside of their usual live setting.

Jessica Vautier and Liam Farricker. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.Jessica Vautier and Liam Farricker. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.
Jessica Vautier and Liam Farricker. Picture: Matthew Storm Cooper.

Kathy Seabrook, a member of the orchestra who was involved in the workshops, says: “Being able to play my flute to help create these melodies and enhance the storyteller’s words has been a real privilege.”

The South Cliff Gardens restoration project, which has just finished, aims to preserve their heritage and improve them in a way that reconnects them with today’s residents and visitors.

It has happened thanks to more than £4.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Parks for People programme, which has been further boosted by contributions from the South Cliff Community Group and Scarborough Borough Council, bringing the total to £7.158m.

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Because connectivity is patchy in the gardens, organisers recommend the option of downloading the five tracks from the Bandcamp for 50p .

A restored South Cliff Gardens, pictured by Matthew Storm Cooper.A restored South Cliff Gardens, pictured by Matthew Storm Cooper.
A restored South Cliff Gardens, pictured by Matthew Storm Cooper.

Other collaborators on the project – commissioned by North Yorkshire Council and supported by Arts Council England funding – include Orchestras Live and Sinfonia Viva.

People who cannot access the gardens can listen to the tracks at: www.hello-arcade.com/love-stories

Related topics:Scarborough