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.