Christmas

A Memory of East Ham.

I always think of East Ham at Christmas, going to the Co-op to see Father Christmas, it seemed like magic how they did it. Then when older I remember my dad sat down our shed at 61 Stokes Road plucking chickens, he kept chickens in our small garden along with rabbits and canaries in an avairy. He would be all done up in scarf and big coat, with a lead going down garden with a light on the end, no health and safety then. The chickens were then displayed in the kitchen and all the neighbours bought one for Christmas dinner. It made up the Christmas money. I remember New Year's Eve out in the street having a good old knees up and listening to ships' horns going off at midnight at the Albert Docks. They can never recreate those days. Happy Christmas to all that remember good old East Ham.

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Added 14 December 2011

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I vividly remember going to see father Christmas at the Co-op in East Ham in the early 70's when I was about 4 years old. I remember going through a door that led to a sleigh, sitting down and watching glow in the dark trees go past either side, with reindeer in front. Then getting off through the same door (as I thought at the time) and seeing father Christmas in his grotto and getting a pack of green plastic soldiers. I loved the Co-op at East Ham and was so sad to see it pulled down.

By petecarrington on Sun Sep 18th 2016, at 9:34 pm

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Lovely memories of Christmas at the Co-open in East Ham, my mum used to take my sister and I there, I remember he had a real reindeer, not sure if it was there every year though. I really don't remember what gifts I got. My first time there was probably in 1954 when I was 5.

By Ida Spider on Sat Oct 20th 2018, at 11:46 am

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Ooh yes..............Christmas at the co-op East Ham, that is my first memory of Christmas. It was so exciting and I was totally convinced that the journey to the grotto with all the scenery flashing by was real (still do really!) Everybody knew their co-op number which ensured you got your ‘divvy’. Was it the co-op that had the money system that travelled in tubes above your heads? Not sure if my memory is failing me on that one or whether it was a different store but I definitely remember that happening somewhere.
Also remember a kind of deli shop somewhere along the stretch of high street opposite the Cock Hotel towards the co-op that sold hot saveloy and pease pudding (can’t recall the name) mmmmm, delicious! One of the stalls in the shopping hall market sold live eels and found watching them all writhing in the tank fascinating. My mum bought one once and I have vivid memories of it not being dead when unpacked and slithering round our kitchen floor!

By casea7 on Mon Oct 22nd 2018, at 6:08 am

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