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.
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Displaying Memories 61 - 70 of 76 in total
Things I remember...... I lived at 52 Tamarisk Road; the prefabs were a wonderful place to live. I remember "Cyril’s" Mobile Shop, that used to sound his horn outside to let us know he was there, I think it was Barton’s the baker van who delivered bread to your door, but also had lovely fresh cakes available in the back of the van. We used to have to go "pea picking" with my mum near Ockendon train ...see more
This photo is of Mardyke School in Cruick Avenue, South Ockendon. I lived in Elwick Road just 100 yards around the corner and attended Mardyke (Infants and Juniors) between 1954 and 1960. The photo has been taken from the main school gates in Cruick Avenue and the infants' playground is shown. The flower border to the right of the pavement in the foreground was always stocked full of roses. It was a great ...see more
My parents moved into a prefab in Foxglove Crescent when I was 2. They were still assembling them and German prisoners of war were building the foundations. Compared to my nan's house they had everything, including an electric fridge which was unheard of then. The only problem was that in the winter everything froze solid inside, windows, wardrobe doors etc because they were all metal. We used to go to the ...see more
My family used to live in Celandine Close, number 20 from 1959 to 1964 where we moved to Carnach Green. I have two brothers, David and John Colley, the three of us went to Benyon School then on too Sommers Heath and Culverhouse. My memories of Celendine are very poor but I do remember my neighbour having geese, I never did know why. We went to Grays by train, green it was. We had sherbert from the little shop ...see more
I remember Jimmy Redpath and Peter Sutton, we were in the same class at Benyon Juniors School, also other names in class were David Clifford, Jimmy Dunn, Billy Stanton, Vernon Smith, John Owen, Leonard Smallwood, Tommy Tucker, Elaine Smith, Gillian Dennis. Tommy Tucker and Jimmy Redpath were good freinds. I lived in Larkspur Road from 1951 to 1960.
We lived in South Ockendon from 1957 until the 1960s and they were the happiest years of my life. My father was Mr Edward Bailey who was caretaker of Benyon School and the family lived in the school house, Mum, Ann, David and me Joy. Dad was a lay reader at St Nicholas Church on the green and he was in the choir and Church Warden too. I went to school at Benyon and then Culverhouse, had a wonderful childhood and now in my sixties look back over happy memories.
My Mum and I moved to Cheelson Road, South Ockendon from Plaistow in 1955 when I was 3, Dad was away in the Merchant Navy so took no part in the actual move. Cheelson Road was only built on one side with a row of bungalows built in the 1930s by Wilsons The Builders whos offices and yard were next to the old Methodist Chapel, now disused now I think and that is next to a Tesco store now. I have vivid memories ...see more
We used run down the hill past Ford Place to the Mardyke stream where we fished for hours for tiddlers. There was also a bluebell wood nearby where we found primroses and wild roses in the summer.
They are wonderful childhood memories, we lived at 202, Broxbourne Drive on the Aveley Estate!
My father Leonard Alfred Passfield was born in South Ockendon, in 1916 to Fred Passfield and Emily Jane who lived in North Street. Many are the stories he told me of his early life in South Ockendon. He had three brothers, Ken, Ernie and Fred who had a club foot.
My father joined 'The First Battalion the Essex Regiment' at Warley Barracks when he was 17 years old and was in for around 12 years.
My ...see more
We too lived on this street, half-way down on the left in fact. I remember the Spicers, I used to babysit Christopher.