Back In The 50s

A Memory of Southend Airport.

In the late 50's I moved to Rochford Road, just a few hundred yards from the airport. My dad, had learned to fly in Canada during the war and was now back working as a booking clerk for British Rail at Prittlewell. As a youth, there was nothing to do but explore 'the prarie' or wander over the 'greasy spoon' cafe at the airport. Most of us lads would take up plane spotting out of boredom. In those days the visitors were DC3, Arganaughts, Hermese, Ambassador, Bristol 130, Ansons plus the usual Tiger Moths, Chipmunks, Doves, Herons etc. Over' the dump' on the far side of the airport were Lancastrians, Indian Bristols and later hundreds of Prentices. We used to avoid the security guy on his bike, and play among the old wrecks. It was great fun! I remember in 1960 when the Hermese crashed onto the railway line. Later, there was the ATL Accountant (a one off DC3 replacement), Harvard smoke writers (D-FDOK) converted Prentices and Carvairs. I am now sixty five and still have an interest in aircraft of all kinds. My work as a graphic designer and print handler often brought me into contact with aircraft. I used to design and print the airshow programmes for Duxford Aviation Society in the 1980's and The Squadron Newsletter for North Weald. This got me rides in a Catalina, Junkers 88 and a very short ride in a Tiger Moth (crashed on takeoff). At North Weald, I flew in a Harvard. Years later, I worked on the Wings CDROM series and visited France, Russia and the USA, taking photos and hitching rides. Flew in a Ford Trimotor, Bell 47, and a Stinson Trimotor and got paid for it! Back in the 1990's I visited the Russian AirForce Museum near Moscow and eventually had a book published by Airlife (Monino a pictorial look at the Russian AirForce Museum). I still call by Southend Airport when passing, but the recent expansion has made it a desert as far as being able to see the aircraft is concerned! There is no where to park up for a few minutes and scan the airliners in for maintenance, and there is very little of interest to an aging spotter these days. Shame really!

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