Hockley, Essex

our wedding

My husband Reginald and I were married at St Andrews Minster Ashingdon at 2 pm on saturday 16 September 1972. The service was conducted by The Rector Rev. Norman Cotgrove. I had 7 bridesmaids in blue,green,lilic,& lemon. Our fathers D.Hayes & L Willis were witnesses .When we came out and started to pose for the photos someone noticed that there was smoke coming from the back of the minster .I dont know if it was a fire in the church or a bonfire behind the church. From the back of the church there is a view for many miles across the country side

Rochford sports festival

I did not live in Rochford, I lived in Hawkwell as a child/ teenager, but went to school there, first going to Rochford Primary then King Edmunds. One of my best friends who I often stayed over with at weekends lived at Malting Villas and her garden backed on to the Rec. For many years the Council would hold a sports festival around the district with the finals on the Rec (Rochford Park) and the Bobbin. We would go over the fields and watch the different sports and sideshows. I remember meeting Peggy Mount and Frankie Howard and getting their autographs. It was not till 2007 that I moved to Rochford and it feels like I have come home.

Mill Lane

We lived at number 11 Mill Lane and later moved to number 7. My late father, Joe Clarke was the chemist at the Mill. I remember my early childhood lived in Rochford so very fondly. We were very happy carefree children with a wonderful countryside to play in. My sister, Samantha, narrowly escaped drowning when (at the age of 3) she fell off the wharf into the creek at high tide. She was pulled out by her arm by one of the 'big boys'. I think his name was Peter. We were the 'Clarke Family', two boys and three girls. We left Rochford when I was 11 and when I returned approximately 10 years later (all grown up) when walking through the mill, one of the workmen stopped and looked at me and said "I know you, your Joe Clarke's little 'un". I also recall at the age of about 8 I went to the Church jumble sale, bought 2 eggcups for sixpence and took them to the local antique dealer's shop and sold them for 8 shillings. How's that for enterprise at the age of 8!! I returned (again) two years ago, how sad to see the Cherry Tree so commercialised.