Fond Memories Of A Time Gone By

A Memory of Grays.

I lived in Sherfield Rd from 1950-1960. I lived a few doors down from the Bridgers, the local haulage contractor, his daughter Beryl use to ride her horse at the head of the carnival procession each year, during the procession. Pigg's Bakery use to throw tiny loaves of bread into the crowd, (no health and safety in those days). I remember Mumfords fish shop, wet and fried, my brother and I would stand and watch the live eels squirming in their metal tray. Every Saturday we would be packed off to the Regal Cinema in New Rd I think it cost sixpence each, the manager would walk up and down the aisles bang a large stick on the side of the seats if the children got too rowdy.
I went to Arthur Street Primary and Junior school. The coke for the school boilers was kept in a large open shed in the play ground, and at playtimes we would play on the coke heap!!!
Congress House was a meeting place for most people - I met my husband outside there, we have been married for 45 years. I had my first alcoholic drink in the Queens Hotel, and bought my first newspaper from the man who stood outside who shouted something but god knows what to sell his newspapers. We were the first to have a television in Sherfield Rd, bought or rented I'm not sure, from Sidney Greys in the High Street - most of the road came in and watched the Coronation.
Swimming at the Exmouth baths was an experience to be endured - a wooden building, with holes in the walls so that at high tide you could see the Thames swishing by. The Boating Lake, I stepped out of a boat there too soon and ended up with soaking wet feet shoes and socks. They were good days the sun seemed to shine forever, no violence, or loud music and you always felt safe, unlike today.