Holland-On-Sea memories
Here are memories of Holland-On-Sea and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Holland-On-Sea or a Holland-On-Sea photo.
OMG Such Memories!
I have just read an amusing story about the Walls ices girls and how pretty they were - I was one of those girls - I can't quite believe someone has written about us! What fun we had. We all worked in the school holidays in the beach cafes, hard work sometimes but such good times.The beaches were packed and we sold lots of Walls ices! The cliffs on this photograph were the source of much competition as we all tried to climb the concrete face from the bottom to the top. More fun, however, in the winter when there was ice on it....so daring!! Yes the cafe in the picture was washed away and a new one was built but it never had the same atmosphere as the original.
Holland-On-Sea.............1969 to The Present (2011)
I first remember Holland-on-Sea when I worked my first 'season' as solo organist at Valley Farm Camping Ground (as it was then called) way back in 1969. I used to regularly have lunch with a work colleague at the little 'Peter Pan restaurant' at the top end of Sladbury's lane where it joins onto Holland Road. The two ladies that ran it were extremley pleasant and years later, I was having a conversation with a dear lady friend of mine and she told me that she was one of those ladies - Miss Beatrice Navesy. What a lovely, gentle human being she was - in subsequent conversations she told me all about her years as a dancer - it was magical just to listen to her. I have forgotten the name of her partner, but she was also a spinster. I remember that the shop which I now live over was a shoe retailer and evidence of the peg board used in the shop was still about when, much later, I had the... Read more
The Naze Laundry
I am Duncan Burrett, a twin whoes brother was Paul. We had a little sister Barbara. My dad bought the Naze Park Laundry when we were 4 years of age. There are many memories of the time we spent at the laundry but I think the one that sticks in my mind is when my sister fell down a deep well in the garden. Or should I say was pushed down, probably by my brother because she wouldn't let him ride her bike. Dr Johnson was quick on the scene after my Uncle Andy rescued her from the bottom of the well which was filthy and full of rubbish, bricks and glass. She was OK. My mother and father divorced while we were there. She eventuall married Bernard Christmas and Dad ran away with Brenda Bond, one of the laundry workers. On one occation Paul and me went to the Regal cinama and fell asleep. When we woke up the place was dark and locked up. No one had seen... Read more
Brook Farm Caravan Site
As a young boy, I spent many happy summer holidays at Brook Farm Caravan Site (Nansen Road? Holland-on sea) where my parents owned a caravan. This site was very quiet and superbly unspoilt with nothing but a small shop and a toilet block on-site. The site consisted of just two fields with caravans placed around the outer perimeters only, leaving the centre of the fields completely empty. A far cry from today's more cramped sites. Alongside the fields, ran the "Holland Brook", a small river where we would fish for hours and I remember "eels" could be caught quite easily. Usually returning home on a Sunday, we would stop off at "The Roaring Donkey" for Sunday lunch on the way. Unfortunately, the caravan site (Brook Farm) closed to become a riding school, if my memory is correct. Does anyone else remember this site?
Such Great Holidays!
I remember as a child the great holidays in the 60s on the beaches at Holland. We hired a beach hut for 7/6 a week near the deck chair and paddle float hire. Who can forget the pretty girls who pushed the ice cream trolleys up and down the prom calling out "Walls Ices!" I remember one of the cafes on the beach, think the one in the photo got washed away
We used to try and climb the concrete wall going back up to the road near the first aid hut as a dare. Perhaps that's why it was put there!
We stayed at Valley Farm where in the evenings we were entertained by Ronnie Mills and his band. Highlight of the evenings were doing the "march of the mods" on the dance floor and the talent competition. Such great times they were.
The Start of Good Times.
My first holiday with my future wife and her family. We sat on the sands by the cafe as we didn't know how to hire a beach hut. That was the start of an association with Holland-on-Sea for me that is still going strong. I can't get down as much as I used to, but my daughter has a caravan on Valley Farm now so when my health lets me I do go down with her.
Can we Get Married?
After a day down the front we sat just around the corner of the Donkey just past where the cars are. It was a great summer evening and we were just finishing the day with a drink. I thought it was the right time to ask her dad if we could become engaged and he and my future mother-in-law agreed. Another milestone in my life happening in Holland-on-Sea.
Memories of Essex
The Royal
The Royal Hotel was built in about 1872 and was still a hotel right up to about 1994 when the building became disused and went into a bad and poor building!!! But in 2007 the building has now been started work on to restore it to how it used to be back in the 1960s and 70s and is going to cost around the £10,000,000 mark.
The Geisha Hotel
The Marine Parade East is where the Geisha Hotel is on the corner of Orwell Road. This photo is of the road in about 1955 and the hotel can just been seen along the road on the left.
A Waitress at The Royal
My mother was a waitress at the Royal Hotel from c1945-1952
Does anyone remember her?
Her name was Rachel Jacobs k/a Ray
Blissful Days on The Amusements!
This picture takes me back!
It was around 1962 and I was 11 years old. We travelled down to Clacton from South Harrow on a Valiant Cronshaw coach which we caught outside a pub in Northolt - The Plough, I think it was. A great journey to Clacton, and we stayed at 92 Rosemary Road. Gwen Hawkes and her mum ran the B&B - does anyone remember her? We met some nice people there, Mr O'Keefe was one.
Apart from a massive thunderstorm, the amusements and beach were the main attractions and memories for me. On the way to the pier there were many arcades. I recall having to throw wooden balls up a "bowling" alley with netting on each side. You were aiming for the middle hole, like a target, and if the ball went in there it was the highest score - registered by a black and white counter on top. If you got outer holes then you scored less points. The balls were noisily returned down... Read more
Bedfont Hotel
My husband and I have great memories of Clacton when we worked at the Bedfont Hotel for disabled. We worked as house parents for about 3 years and had a wonderful time looking after many adults and children, it was a very humbling job and very worth it. We returned to Scotland but will never forget our time there. We returned recently but sadly the Bedfont is no longer there, but it was a very nolstalgic visit and rather sad.
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