IT was surreal to see a photo of a deserted Weymouth beach during the beautiful weather we've had lately.

The empty golden sands during a blazing hot Easter weekend caused by the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was unlike anything we've ever seen before in the popular resort.

It's fantastic that people are sticking to the guidelines and resisting the temptation to come to Weymouth beach, but while we are missing it, it seems appropriate to cast our minds back to when we could spend all day paddling in the crystal clear water, making sandcastles and of course riding those famous donkeys.

We want to hear and see all your memories of Weymouth beach while it's out of bounds.

To start us off, Margaret Wellspring of Crossways has many happy beach memories from the 1950s and 60s. Margaret's memories were sparked by the articles we've done on Weymouth beach photographers, notably John Ewart Chambers.

Margaret writes: "I remember smartly dressed photographers, in their red blazers, taking snaps of holidaymakers and locals back on the late 1950s and 1960s.

"My personal memories are from 1961 when I was 11 years old.

"This was when I was first allowed to catch the number 33 bus from Osmington to Weymouth without my mother, for the princely sum of 11d, half return.

"The bus stopped at the seaside of the prom, just before the information centre and any young lady who got off the bus was in the sights of those photographers. But that didn’t include me, even though I paraded up and down in front of them. I’m sure they thought a little girl like me couldn’t afford the price.

"My pocket money was burning a hole in my pocket. but I wasn’t brave enough to ask! I used to love looking at the photos of other people displayed at the kiosk to see if there was anyone I knew, secretly hoping that maybe there was one of me – but there never was.

"I was very jealous of my older sisters Ann (now Polley) and the late Mary (Bartlett) as on June 1 1963 they had their picture taken twice! Once on their way to do their shopping, and the other on the way back to the bus stop. From the picture it looks like Mary, with her trending basket full, had spent all her money, and Ann bought a new pair of shoes in Dolcis’ and something from Marks and Spencer."

Margaret also includes a photo taken by a photographer of Ann and Mary on July 18, 1959, which was Mary's 13th birthday, in Westham Coach Park.

Margaret writes: "There are a number of coaches parked up and old railway bridge is in the background. Ann can’t remember who either of the photographers were, and I am not sure either, who the company was operating on the seafront - but, I’m sure someone will know.

"There must be many of your readers who have the same sort of photos and it would be lovely to see them and so nice to look back at happier days, especially now in these troubled times."

Also in our beach memories off for this week, we've got this image of the founding members of Weymouth Sailing Club.

This very old photo was taken in 1913 and in the front row you can see an elderly gent with a white beard. This is a character going back to Weymouth beach's early days. It's John Rule, a professional boatman who ran boats on Weymouth beach with his son Percy.

Our last beach memory of this week goes back to the May Bank Holiday weekend of 1988 - when a record-breaking game of musical chairs was played on Weymouth beach. Some 6,500 deckchairs were set up and cable tied together for safety! The game was filmed by ITV and smashed the record for the largest game of musical chairs.

*Let's look back fondly at our favourite memories of Weymouth beach at this difficult time. Get in touch using the details below.