Aveley Secondary School

A Memory of Aveley.

Omg, I remember so many of you. I started at Love Lane in 1965 and left in 1970. I was friends with Susan Harvey, Carol Head, Jackie Kirk, Karen Harman, Barbara Cox, Lesley Davidson, Libby Campbell, June Tyler, Liz Knapp, Christine Havis, Sandra Glendenning; Janet Hobb, Deborah Daly (these are the few names I can remember). I can remember having two fights on the green outside the school with Susan Harvey and another time with Kevin MaGregor. Then another fight was on the way home to the Kennington Estate with Stephen Wood. You will be glad to know that I have since calmed down and have had a career in the Legal world so couldn't really carry on with 'the bundles'. I also remember Micky North who we were all in love with! Do you all remember the 'catwalk' over the school hall! God help anyone that crossed it whilst a class was in progress! I remember both the Merediths, Miss Close (Library/English) Miss Norman - Sports (we all hated showers when she was around); Miss Austin (History); Mr James (Biology); Mr Keable (Maths) - he gave up on me as I was totally useless; Mr Sidebottam (I think he was RE) and the oldest typing teacher who I think they must have brought out of retirement! I remember Mr Rice who, when the class got too much for him, just stuck on a film probably about coffee beans which is the only one I can remember from our geography lessons. I remember going to the fish shop for lunch. I can also remember being useless at Netball and was in the reserve team for the reserve team so it was very rare that I ever played. The reserve team was me, Lesley Davidson and Libby Campbell. (Libby became a nurse at Orsett and looked after my dad before he died).

I lived in Ravel Gardens on the Kenningtons Estate and my mum's friend was Vi & Bill Appleton who lived across the road with their son. They did later buy the Vicarage in Mill Lane but we moved away shortly after I left school as my dad died and we went to be near mum's family in Dagenham. Never heard what happened to Vi & Bill but there are now new builds where the Vicarage was. I had a brother Kevin Brown who went to St. Cedd's but sadly he died 4 years ago. I can remember the McGregors in Ravel Gardens and the Goldings next door. The Clarks the other side - so many happy childhood memories there when we all played out in the street - it was a different time wasn't it. Mum, Maureen, was the doctor's receptionist at Usk Road surgery.

Well after working abroad for a while I came back and ended up working in London in a legal company. Can't believe I never married or had kids but ended up with a career. Been working as a paralegal for the past 15 years but due to retire this coming February. Life has now gone full circle and I am back living in Aveley Village. Had a walk down Love Lane recently it was sad to see the old school gone. Mind you, there were times between 1965-1970 when I hoped it would just disappear! Big Hi to those who remember me.


Added 04 February 2014

#307413

Comments & Feedback

Hi I used to work for Bill Appleton he owned the last house in aveley with the swimming pool he lived there with his wife vi and his son was the caretaker in a school in south ockenden he had a engineering company in west Thurrock called lodge engineering where I worked he had a brother Lenny Appleton who lived in a flat above post office in aveley bill was a good governor a nice man Lenny had lots of stories and was a good character and was always up to something
I remember Christine from school, we were in the same year. I was in the same class as Libby Cambel and Yvonne Chegwidden. My pals were Bill Lewis Keith Ward Terry Prout , Paul Havis and Kev Anness.Worked with Kev up to 2010 and still friends with Keith. Have picked up with Paul again play golf with him if I get a chance and go to football with him a couple of times a year. I bumped into Bill in the late 1980s he was caretaker at the old school and I was running a kids football team that trained in the old gym. It was strange as the place had not changed just got smaller or did I get bigger! We met up with Robin Mumford in the 70s our wives were at mother and baby clubs togeather that was a bit strange. Had great memories of my time there in particular the Meridiths , Harold and of course Paddy Rice. Had a lovely letter from Ron Whitword after I left I still have it after all these years. I have retired now but still live in Thurrock. Mum lives in the Rowens so I’m in Aveley twice a week often bump into my old mates. Would love to know what happened to Lawrence Ash , Steve Wood, Ray Davey Martin Price if anyone knows please let me know. Johnbarford@blueyonder.co.uk

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