50s 60s Memories

A Memory of Grays.

I was born at 13 Alma Place (up the small alley from Argent Street) in 1952, moving to number 6 when I was 5. When I was 9 we moved to Sherfield Road, where I lived until 1970 when we finally moved to Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, where I live with my wife Christine, who also comes from Grays, having lived in Russel Road. I attended Arther Street Infants and Junior schools, before going to Torrels until 1967. Like Mike Walker I have fond memories of playing up Bruces Wharf, and in the old kilns next to the Wharf Hotel, coming home covered in chalk. I used to have paper rounds at Jimmy Carter's shop and for the Evening Standard in New Road. Grays was a great place to live in the 50s & 60s: the annual carnival, followed by the fair on Fishers Field, catching sticklebacks at Jumbo Bridge, and mucking about on the boating lake down Grays Beach. When I went to Torrels, I made new friends in the Lucas Road area, where we would spend most evenings playing football on the green in Thurloe Walk, and going to one or more of the cinema's at weekends. On leaving school I went to work for Tileman Co Ltd, with whom I moved to Warwickshire in 1970. Unfortunately, since moving to Warwickshire I have lost contact with most of my friends from Grays, some of them also having moved to other towns. Occasionally I return to Grays to visit relatives, and am saddened to see what has become of the town that I have such fond memories of. Most of the fine old buildings have been pulled down and replaced with modern boxes. From my bedroom window in Sherfield Road, I could look out at the Swan Lightship, and I am surprised that such an historic ship has been allowed to just rot away. Many people ask me if I would return to live in Grays, I always answer, "if Grays could be put back to how it was in the 50s & 60s yes, as it is now, never". I am pleased that I am able to go on line and find old photos of Grays that bring back happy memories.

---

---