Southend-On-Sea

Warm childhood and teenage years

My mum visited Southend-on-Sea during her childhood years.  She was born in 1917.  Her family made a day trip there once per year, on public transport.  They could only afford one visit per year because they were poor.  I was more fortunate and visited there regularly with my parents throughout my childhood, sometimes with other relatives in tow, my aunts and uncles and young cousins.  I was born in 1948.  My parents were fortunate enough to own their own motor vehicle, a black Ford Prefect, so they would motor there every Sunday.  We would eat a plate of cockles, a huge chunk of white bread and drink tea from mugs before returning home to East Ham.  The tide was always out, the sand like squishy mud between my toes and crabs were plentiful.  Always we walked the length of the pier, it was one of my favourite things to do.  Later on, as a teenager, I motored there with friends to take part in ten pin bowling on the pier, until I left England in 1969.  During one of my husband's visits to England from Canada, approximately 30 years ago, and during a day trip to Southend-on-Sea, my father-in-law purchased some 'olden day' pier prints for my husband.  Upon his return to Canada we had those prints framed.  The prints were on show in the framing store until we collected them and many people asked if they could purchase them.  Never would we sell them because they bring back fond memories of our childhood and teenage years.  Next year I hope to travel with my granddaughter to England and yes, Southend-on-Sea will definitely be on our itinerary.  I'll introduce her to cockles, sprinkled with vinegar and pepper, and we'll walk forever on the sand trying to reach the ocean, watching the tide in the process.  I live nowhere near the ocean in Canada, so I cannot wait to experience the smell of Southend-on-Sea.  I don't think I'll ever forget that salt breeze smell.  Even now my mouth waters at the thought of cockles, drenched in vinegar, with a slight sprinkling of pepper.

Churchill gardens and the Sherbooms

My father lived in Tunbridge Road and was employed as a landscape gardener by Ian G Walker Ltd of South Godstone, Surrey from May 1946 until July 1959. Churchill Gardens was one of the Gardens he was involved with, it was started by Mr and Mrs Sherboom, who lived in a house adjacent to the old sand pit. The Sherboom land was called Havengore, and my father worked closely with the Sherbooms to create what later became Churchill Gardens. I believe it was Mr Sherboom's choice to have the Churchill name given to what he created.

I have many photos similar to the photographs here of Churchill Gardens of the same period showing Mr and Mrs Sherboom with their dogs in the gardens (they had many Great Danes) and a newspaper cutting of the time details what Mr Sherboom acheived. It's a little sad that I find no mention of Mr Sherboom's contribution to Churchill Gardens and their creation in any Southend Council info, not least because of my own connection.. I was concieved in Tunbridge Road...:)

Electric trains on Southend Pier in 1957

I remember exactly when I first went to Southend. It was October 1957 and I can be so sure as I remember seeing newspapers on sale with the fantastic news about the successful launch of the Sputnik Russian satellite. It was exciting news to round off an interesting day as my family took my on the outing of my choice to celebrate my twelfth birthday.

I recall the green and cream electric trains which trundled us up and back along the mile long pier. My four year old brother wouldn't walk that far but I was glad he was the excuse for my ride on the train! Ice creams, the amusement arcade and a fun filled day were followed by a bit of a problem with my Dad's car. We had an old 1953 Ford Prefect and he parked it for the day in the street in Southend. When we first arrived in the morning my mother was sitting in the back of the car with my young brother while my Dad and I went to some nearby shops - she heard a strange hissing noise and opened the car door to find some kids unscrewing our tyre valve and letting the air out. They got such a shock as they had seen my Dad and me walking away and thought the car was empty! Anyway he decided to park in the next street. When we returned in the evening after our lovely day on the pier he found a parking ticket on the car. He was so cross as there were no parking restriction signs so we had to find the police station to go and sort it out. Apparently there had been yellow lines in that road but it had been resurfaced and the lines not yet repainted. The police let us off as we were visitors and were not to know about this. Can you imagine this happening these days!!

So that was my memorable visit to Southend recalled in detail over fifty years later!

Separation

This scene has little changed although there has of course been the cliff landslip.The white railings on the right hand side of the picture enclose the dinghy maintainance/storage area of the Alexader Yacht Club. Perhaps a more accurate title for the picture would be to call it the WESTERN ESPLANADE. We were married in 1960. I was then in the Navy and we were facing a separation of fifteen months as I had been drafted to an aircraft carrier HMS Albion and she was due to sail for the Far East. We spent our last couple of hours here before I caught  the train. Sitting on a bench on the other side of this road holding hands and too frightened at the prospect of being parted to speak to each other. Mind you I must had said something right as we are still married.

Coach Beanos

I can remember during the 50's and 60's every weekend during the summer coaches lined up all the way from Gasworks Bridge right up to the pier.  

Pier walk

When we were at Shoebury on holiday Mum and Dad always took me on the pier. We went out by train and usually walked back providing the weather was good. I can still remember the platforms either end and the green trains with the seats with backs that could be moved. The red mine at the end of the pier and then the lifeboat station on the left. We would also go to Margate from there as well. Either by the Royal Daffodil or Royal Sovereign.

Motor Racing for the Young at Southend On Sea.

I remember this little track so well, it's just at the foot of the pier and has been there for as long as I can remember. My parents often took me to Southend for a day's outing, we had family friends at Thorpe Bay and quite often my dad and uncle and I would leave my mum and auntie to catch up on their gossip and chatter and we'd head off to Southend. After a time at the Kersaal with all its side-shows and dodge'em cars, we always went to the little race track last before heading back for tea. I can recall the smell of those little engines, the rubber tires and slipery wooden covered track. Every time a smell like that wafts past my nose, even today, I think of the track at foot of Southend Pier. It was still there in 1955 so the photo.

postscript: It's 2008 now and I understand the track is still there, albeit updated. I can't go back there now, it's too far, I live in Canada. Happy days they were!

Southend Airport

I worked for British Air Ferries in the early seventies as a post room assistant and remember so vividly the sight and sounds of those lumbering great Carvairs and the clouds of bluish smoke and coughing engines.  I was also an Air Cadet with the 1812 squadron.  I remember marching up the road behind Aviation Traders and sitting on the grass near the end of the runway, listening to the Sky Larks in between the bellowing of one fat NCO.  These were the days before high security and terrorism.

I also remember peddling frantically down Hoblythick Lane on new years day in the ice and fog to see a huge array of airliners diverted to Southend Airport.  In my haste, I braked on the ice, didn't stop, and ended up splayed across the road with cut knees. Oh to be young again!  I left Southend in 1974 and now live in Norwich but still have strong attachments.

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.

This used to be the highlight of our day out.

As a child in the early 1950's I can remember that the best part of our day out was the boat rides on this lake. I can still remember the smell from the engines.

I grew up in Hornchurch and if I remember correctly we bought our first car in the early 50's and 3 or 4 times in the summer we would drive to Southend and maybe once we would go to Clacton.