Messing memories
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Memories of Essex
Homes Boy
I entered White's Children's Home and Mission (known as CH&M) in June of 1945 having come from Surbiton, Surrey. I was 9 years old. The home was situated in Church Rd opposite "The Pond", it is now a CO-OP supermarket. There was a large Georgian house named "The Grove" and a Hall with other buildings, we had a large field to play in, there was also a farm there. There were about 56 children there then, boys and girls. We went to Tiptree Heath School, and the Congregrational Church in (I think) Chapel Rd, now the Reformed Church. We used to be marched two-by-two to school and church. The home was founded in 1899 by Mr Herbert White at South Woodford. Tiptree was the holiday premises and because of the war they had to stay at Tiptree from September 1939 till Easter 1947, when most of the children were moved back to South Woodford. The premises were sold in 1954. When I was there Mr White and his wife with... Read more
Public House (Coach Stop)
During the 1960s I was a representative for a world known vermouth manufacturer and remember calling regularly on this large pub on the main road to Colchester and the Essex coast. The licensee John, and his wife, Marion, became good friends and I spent many happy hours just talking and joking away the hours. The coaches rolled in and were accommodated in a very large room attached to the side of the pub, this mainly served teas and light refreshments in large quantities. Any passengers that required stronger sustenance would wander into the welcoming bars.
The intervening years have affected my memory and I just cannot remember the pub's or the licensee's names and wonder if anyone can supply the answers. I believe Marion moved to a licensed outlet in Suffolk sometime in the 1970s.
Ken Cramer
Under an American Tank on The Bridge
My mother and I were returning from fetching water from the spring in the pub. Mother was carrying two full pails. As we were crossing the bridge an American tank came round the bend with one of its tracks on the pavement. I was knocked over and ended up under the tank, my foot luckily was under a gap in the track and apart from being stunned I was not injured. My mother was slightly injured as the pails pushed her through the railings, hurting her legs. At the time we lived in the first semi-detached cottage over the bridge as you came fron Birch.
My Granddad Stevens
Years ago my grandad had a small garage and workshop at the side of the Du-Cane Arms. My dad was born there and went to scool at Great Tottom. My grandad is buried in Great Braxted Church and my nanna is there too. In the last few years dad (Anthony Percy Stevens who died in 2005) was buried also in Great Braxted Church, and in 2008 my mum Alfreda Emily Stevens died and she also is burried with my dad in Great Braxted Church. My dad told me that him and his little brother would go into Braxted Park and get mistletoe and sell it on to get themselves a few pennies for Christmas. My eldest sister was christened in Braxted Church. My Aunty Dot and Uncle Cecil Raner lived in Braxted village for years a few doors away from the Du-Cane Arms and they had a green monkey that lived in a large cage in their garden. I would go and stay at my auntie's with one of my... Read more
Pundict Cottage
My grandparents lived in Braxted Park where my grandfather was a gamekeeper. They lived in Pundict Cottage, and having looked at local maps, I am wondering whether the house known as Pundict Lodge is built on the same site. Does anyone know?
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