Growing Up In South Ockendon

A Memory of South Ockendon.

So happy I have just found this site. The photographs brought back so many happy memories of my childhood. We lived in the prefabs in Larkspur Road, number 24. I was 2 years old in 1946 when we moved there, and we moved away when I was 14, to London,

We had such fun, freedom to run and play in the many green areas behind the church, not forgetting the naughty days when we ignored our parents warnings and went to the quarry.

My Mum, Ivy, was a post woman and my Dad , George Kiff, was away most of the week as he worked in The East India Docks in London - so only came home weekends. I am still in touch with two good friends, both from South Ockendon. Carol and Wendy Hall.

Albert Wright was the milkman and, unfortunately, he has just passed away at the age of 97. I am still in touch with his daughter Carol who still lives in Essex.

I went to the local village school and was friends with the station Master’s daughter, who lived in The Station House, and Rosalind Rowntree who lived in a vicarage house if I remember rightly. Michael O’Shea is another name that springs to mind, plus Rowland Perry whose Mum Marion owned a sweet shop. I remember 2 of our teachers - one was Mrs Morgan and the other was Mr. Spencer. When I failed the 11+ my Dad sent me to a private school, Clark’s College, in Romford. I had to get the bus every morning which passed through Upminster etc. My Aunt lived in Harold Wood so I was accustomed to using the buses.

Albert Wright, his wife Glady’s, two daughters (Carol and Maureen) plus me, Linda Kiff, would weekly walk to the library. Carol’s Mum and Dad would have a drink at the pub on the green and we would then stop for a bag of chips and a pickled onion at the village Fish and Chip Shop on our way back to Larkspur Road.

There were two large families that I remember. The Waskitts (not sure of the spelling) who lived in a large brick house at the beginning of our street, and the Butlers (Alan was one son) who lived in a prefab behind us. There was a ditch behind our prefab, plus the local maintenance men’s hut. We used to jump the ditch and always got stung by the nettles ! Didn’t deter us though.

We went to the local village hall once a week to watch films from a 8mm projector onto a large screen on the wall. The village hall chairs were lined up in rows just like a proper cinema. However, my Mum and Dad would take us to Grays to a proper cinema every now and again.

I used to go to tap, ballet and Acrobat classes in the same village hall. I remember a little girl called Sandra Leadbetter who promised to go on and become a great dancer. I believe her Mum was Scottish.

I am 74 this year and live in Spain but one of these days I am going to make a special journey back to South Ockendon to walk through the village and visit the beautiful old station. I do hope it hasn’t changed too much.