Blue Anchor. Last Week In July, First Week Of August.

A Memory of Seasalter.

These were the two weeks that my family would look forward to every year throughout the 60's, for this was the time when we would hire a caravan on the Blue Anchor site.
I went back there last week after a very long time and although the site now houses very smart bungalows the rest of the area has changed very little after nearly 60 years.
Sitting on the beach the memories of Peter Cushion, the toffee apple man, my parents and friends we had made over the years who also stayed on the site (most of the names have escaped me but I do remember the Baxter's and the Stevenson's, whose daughter Barbara I secretly worshiped although she was the same age as me (12) and she was far more interested in the 15 year old boy that worked in Vi's Cafe on the site), flying kites, playing cricket and most of the time, waiting for the tide to come in :).
The tide going out so far for so long was never a problem though. The mud flats provided an opportunity for collecting cockles, digging bait for the long-lines and "surfing" on the shallow pools left behind. When I say surfing, it was more like skimming. My dad and other dads had bought 30" discs of marine ply from a timber yard somewhere in Whitstable and the idea was to skim the discs across the pool, run after them, jump on and you were away.
My visit provoked so many memories, the little row of shops next to the pub, shell fish, ice cream and the beach shop where I bought toys for 6d. The amusement arcade in the Alberta site and the Alberta Cafe on the beach. I could go on.
Probably got loads of photos in the loft if anyone is interested.

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