T He Nurden Family History Book.

A Memory of Rainham.

My name is Dennis Nurden, I have a twin sister Valerie, we lived in Sunningdale Ave when Murex sports ground was there. Though not born there we did all our schooling there and left when we were about 18yrs old. At school I did paper rounds and worked on Saturdays in Castle Sports, the shop left in photo. My father Sydney Edward Nurden and his family were from Rainham and some are still living there today. My father was in the army and died in 1944 (injured in France). His name is on the War Memorial at The Clock Tower in Rainham, both my parents(mother Lucy Maud Nurden) are buried in the cemetary in Upminster Rd, as are others from the Nurden family. Rainham was a great place to grow up, Lambs Lane Secondary Modern had just opened when I was there in the early 50s with beautiful sports fields. As kids playing on the Rainham marches looking for old cartridges left behind at the rifle ranges and playing on the concrete barges on the side of the Rainham Creek I think it was. Buying an OXO cube for a farthing to suck on the way to school and my dad's brother uncle Charlie Nurden taking us into the Firbanks the newsagents to buy us sweets. Those were the days, I often think about growing up in Rainham, happy days. Born 1942 I went to school with John Homans, the man that posted the other message on Rainham. Although now living in Australia, Rainham is never very far away. Memories.