Southend-On-Sea, Essex

My Father Edward

My father's ship 'Profit' was mined April 17th 1941 at Southend on Sea.

Days at Southend

I remember travelling to Southend with my family on a steam train from London.  My sister and I use to put our heads out of the windows.  More often than not when we sat down our faces would be black with soot from the smoke of the train and our mum would try to wipe us clean with her hanky.
When we arrived at Southend it was off to the beach for a paddle and a play then a ride on the boats in the boating lake.  At lunchtime we walked up the hill to have our lunch of pie and mash, or fish and chips, then a Rossi ice cream for afters. In the afternoon we would get on a boat to the Isle of Sheppey, and spend the rest of the day in the Kursal.  My fondest memory of the Kursal was the bowl slide, where you were were taken to the top of the slide by an electric chair then, once at the top, you were given a coconut mat to sit on.  At the end of the slide there was a big wooden bowl to catch the riders in.  It was such a thrill, I remember how lovely and shiny the wood on the slide looked through constant use. At the end of the day we would head to the train station stopping to buy seafood sold in straw bags.  As you were walking along the liquid would seep through the bag! Those were the days.  How I long for my grandchildren to be able to ride that beautiful slide which is now long gone.

The Kursal

We moved from Kent to Eastwood near Leigh-on-Sea when I was 11 which was in 1960.
Every Sunday we would get the bus (dad didn't drive then) to Leigh. We'd walk from where the cockle sheds were (dad always had some or whelks maybe but I wouldn't try them!) along the front to Southend Pier. We'd walk down the pier then ride back on the train - thankfully! We always had an icecream cone and sometimes used to eat at a little Italian style cafe not far off the prom. I also recall the big cafe on the front near the peir where they displayed all the food cooked in the windows. Sausages spring to mind, can't remember what else but I can smell the onions even now!
As for the Kursal, we used to visit there regularly. The ride that sticks in my mind is the Caterpillar - air used to blow up and blow your skirt up, very rude to us young girls! I also recall what I think was called The Wall of Death where they'd ride round and round on motorbikes - you used to be able to stand at the top and look down. Very scary!
One Christmas there was a concert there for local schools to take part in. I was in our choir and we sang 'Little Drummer Boy' - my mum went out and bought the single, used to reduce her to tears. It was off course released again fairly recently and what memories it bought back to me! It was terrifying to stand on that big stage and sing!
We returned to Kent after about 2 years - I was very sad to leave Belfairs High School as I'd made some very good friends there. We very seldom returned as there was no bridge/tunnel to go from one county to the other.
I returned with my husband and son some years ago and we were very impressed at how clean the town was. We played crazy golf on the front.
Shirley Chamberlain (nee Wright)

Southend Beach

My Great Uncle and Great Aunt (Joe and Rose) both passed away recently, so I decided to share their memory here. I am their Great Niece's daughter.

As far as I am aware, they met about aged  17 or 18 on a "Beano" on Southend beach one year, about 60 years ago during the summer. Joe fell for Rose immediately, and wrote with a stick into the sand, "Joe loves Rose". They stayed together for the rest of their lives and had children and grand-children. Rose was ill and died a couple of years ago. Joe fell ill also and he passed away and met her again up there almost exactly a year later. I am sad they are not here anymore, but I'm glad they are together again. I hope they appreciate me sharing their memory.

We lived in Rainham, but then moved near Southend about 15 years ago and so much has changed since.

Southend Photographic Memories

The clay cliffs at Southend have always been prone to slipping. Frequently, over the years, notices have been erected closing the threatened areas. Here we see railings lying at a very strange angle, probably as a result of this problem. The little girl, in her large hat, may have looked smart, but such clothes were certainly not designed for play. F r a n c i s F r i t h ’ s A r o u n d S o u t h e n d

Southend Photographic Memories

Although there are well- defined paths, the cliff gardens have yet to be laid out in a formal way. The pier and Pavilion can be seen on the right with many boats close by. A walker on the right is protected from the weather by an umbrella or

Southend Photographic Memories

Royal Terrace with the Royal Hotel on the eastern corner can clearly be seen at the top of the cliffs. Boats are drawn up on the beach close to the promenade. The foreshore buildings near to the pier include a small bandstand, suitable for open air concerts.