Nostalgic memories of South Ockendon's local history
Share your own memories of South Ockendon and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 21 - 30 of 76 in total
I was born in South Ockendon Cliff Place (Julie Harding) I had 3 sisters Vera, Brenda & Margaret. We are all still living but old age is creeping up.
I remember some of the names mentioned. My close friends in Ockendon were Ann Pond, Margaret
Ponsonby, Janet Moore, Jane Padwick and Janice Young. Janice,s husband I hear from usually at Christmas time but unfortunately Janice died quite young. I went to ...see more
I lived at 14 avontar road from 1953 till 1967 I went to Lennards secondary school 1959 to 1963 I used to walk to school with one of my neighbours Stella Mead.
My Grandparents, Albert and Ada Johnson, lived in a little cottage overlooking the village green around the turn of the 19th century, where they brought up seven of 13 children. I think grandad was the doctor's gardener and grandma 'did' for the lady of the house (next door?). My grandparents' front garden was surrounded by a flint-stone wall similar to those in the pictures and was separated from the cottage by the ...see more
I lived on Daglen(sp) drive opposite the flats in the early fifties. Dad worked at Ford in Dagenham and older sister Brenda went to Bonnyfield? Primary. We played football on the grass outside the flats wandered in the woods and went on adventures to Mardyke. I was one of the youngest kids on the street and lots of the memories reflect that ; being told to crawl down a foxes den allowed to jump in the deep ...see more
I was born at 78 Celandine Road in 1949. My mother told me that it was a very cold March day and had been snowing. The midwife had a number of calls to make that morning but as she threw back the eiderdown to make room for my delivery, it fell onto the small electric heater and caught on fire. Luckily I was a quick delivery and Mum was able to help the midwife to put out the fire before sitting her down and making ...see more
We lived @ 52 Derwent Parade above Harry Fenton's outfitters. Mum work at Phillips sweet shop beside the stairs to the flats above.
Other shops included Watts furniture, the Co Op, Woollies and the sensational , or so we thought, Sainsburys
Happy days in a good community of people who remembered the privations of the East End.
As my Nan said people had hearts now they have purses.
We left for Nottinghsm in 1969.
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for taking the time to email your memories,yes that was us my parents were profoundly Deaf and sign language users, unfortunately I don't remember you :-( but it's nice to hear from someone who remembers us ,do you rember the family surname Rodgers that lived in Anton Drive?we had a good family life there ,did you know any body that worked in canterbury Side-cars coner of Avontar and Arisdale Avenue I ...see more
My parents used to live in the flats in daiglen drive opposite the little woods, my brother was born in 1952 ,in 1956 I was born and we moved into 12 Avontar Road, many memories we had I have lost my parents and my brother so now thinking back from when I was young, our family name was Munday my brother was called Jimmy and I Bridget, can't really remember my brothers friends only one I recall was Gary I remember ...see more
It might seem strange and archaic to write in glowing terms about a public library on a council estate, but that's what I'm happily doing. To me as a kid, this place was like a wonderland, and I used to sit and read, and then leave with a huge armful of books on things as diverse as all the 'Just William' books, SF, How To Fly a Plane, almost anything really. It was a marvellous resource to a ...see more
I can repeat much of what has been said by others. I was born in Stepney in 1946 and after a period of homelessness and moving from friend to friend my parents were given a prefab in Foxglove Crescent (no. 25) It was a fairly basic house with water running down the wall. There was a mouse screwed behind the electric plug!! We moved to Cherwell Grove after a short time and I went to Shaw school and from there ...see more