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Clacton-On-Sea
Clacton-On-Sea photos
Displaying the first of 117 old photos of Clacton-On-Sea. View all Clacton-On-Sea photos
Clacton-On-Sea maps
Historic maps of Clacton-On-Sea and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Clacton-On-Sea maps
Clacton-On-Sea area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Clacton-On-Sea and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Clacton-On-Sea
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Clacton-On-Sea.
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It Was A Boarding School in 1968
I spent a few years there with my sister and the headmaster was Mr Booth, the most lovely man I ever met in my life, it was the happiest memories I have and the best years of my childhood.
St Paul`s Church.
There was a reason for the demise of the old building, but I cannot remember it - the relatively new one is lovely too - my daughter recently got married there and I played the wonderful pipe organ that is in situ. I used to live in Victoria Road and spent many hours practising at the organ in the church. On one very memorable ocassion I was sitting at the console writing out some pedal parts (during the winter, when the evenings draw in) in a dark church (the only light was the console one). The then vicar came in to the building and, not hearing any sound, assumed I had gone home and locked up!! Some time later, when I tried to get out, I found I was locked in!! It was the night of the Organ Society Christmas party and I, as founder member, was to be at the 'top table' and would be required to make a speech. I wondered around the building and sure enough, EVERYWHERE was... Read more
The Royal Hotel.
This was Clacton`s `pride of the fleet` - I worked there as a entertainer on many occasions. I remember Derek Howes at the mighty theatre organ in the lounge/ballroom. The MU (Musicians Union) used to have their annual dances there. In latter days, I entertained the holiday makers and called bingo in my interval with Des. I spent many happy times in the front bar entertaining the `charabang outings` on daily visits from London. Eddy Miller was also in the front bar at this time. He achieved a certain amount of local fame for the number of different disguises he had - he was quite a competant player too, as I remember. I would also play for `dinner/dances' in the middle bar. As `big band/strict tempo' was my forte I got many of these type of functions.
Holland-On-Sea 1993
Holland is a bustling Essex coastal town
`resplendent`-a bride in her wedding day gown,
tree lined avenues, with neat little plots,
well kept gardens and a place for the tots,
a school, four churches, library and hall,
a pet shop, two surgeries and a doctor `on call.`
`Jeremy Oates` is the chemist who certainly knows his pills
(He’ll mix you a `potient` that’ll soon cure all known ills)
and `Kings Drug Store` is where his `empire ` extends,
here in Holland he’s well known and has many friends.
Holland Motors`-in `auto parlance`, these boys are `hot toast`
though Citroen dealers, will fix any make-that’s no boast.
At the `Tavern`, good food, beer and, some nights, a band,
with snooker tables upstairs if you want to try your hand?
Two Post Offices to make sure your letters go far,
keep in touch with your friends if you haven’t a car.
At the Red Cross Hall, regular meetings they hold
and outside, occasionally, second hand `clobber` is sold.
At `regent` (they’re specialists)browse... Read more
School of Despair
Seduced by the professional expertise of our family doctor, my late mother was persuaded to send me away at age 7 to the Ogilvie School which promised a health giving regime for children who were thought to be of "delicate" constitution. Upon arrival I was overwhelmed by institutionalism so far removed from the protected and loving family environment hitherto enjoyed that I might have been whisked to another planet. I never recalled a single member of staff who had any childfriendly inclinations or teachers who were other than time servers. Apart from confinement during Chickenpox and the occupational therapy then enjoyed, every moment spend in this horrendous prison was tearful agony and homesickness. Significant memories? The King died, I discovered gooseberries were quite tasty if eaten uncooked from the extensive kitchen garden, I saw the Brabazon fly overhead and I encountered Slipper Limpets on the shingle beach where we were frequently taken on crocodile walks. I see the actual buildings are still there bearing the logo of another educational establishment,... Read more
STEEL STELLA
I worked on the Steet Stella in 1963. One of my jobs in the morning was to walk round the whole of the track to make sure of the integrity of the woodwork. Also we had to spend two hours a day in the tower at the top to make sure the cars did not get too close together. Also we took turns operating the manual brakes whereby the cars were stopped at the end of the ride. I remember I was so sad when it was pulled down and replaced by the 'Wild Mouse'.
Clacton 1958
Every year until I was a teenager we spent our annual holiday at Clacton. We stayed at the same boarding house every year on St Osyths Road, it was owned by a lovely motherly character called Mrs Theobald, whose husband Percy was the buyer for Thackers green grocers on Pier Avenue. The pleasure boat in the picture is the Nemo II which was owned by "Newt" King. My brother and I used to get free rides, as Mr King was a neighbour of the Theobalds. There was great competition for passengers between the Nemo and the Viking Saga (which is still sailing out of Malden). The structure on the pier was an early roller coaster built out of timber and scaffolding which gloried in the name of the Steel Stella. Under the pier was an ideal place at low tide to go crab hunting. A copy of this picture now hangs on my bedroom wall by courtesy of Friths and brings back many happy memories.
Romford
I was born in Ilford, I lived in Romford then when I was 5 I when to Scotland, then about four and a half years later I went down back to Cranham, then I went to Romford.
