Things Keep Coming Back

A Memory of Aveley.

Hello, Colin Newberry here. I've already contributed a few memories, read those from others and thought it was now time to come back. Down at the Junior School, I suppose it was 1956/57, we had a new pupil join us in Mr Skinner's class. His name was Gregory Ferrari, the name was unusual and his clothing was too - always khaki shirt and shorts. He also had reddish hair and freckles. He was only with us for 1 or terms as far as I remember. I guess he'd grown up in Rhodesia or Kenya or somewhere like that, and his parents were only in England for a short time. He was very athletic, I suppose because he came from Africa where they produce many good long-distance runners. While he was in Aveley he lived with 2 "stately" looking aunts in Purfleet Road, in a house on the right near the top. We were good friends (others seemed to avoid him) and I loved to visit his aunts because they had a pond in the back garden with huge goldfish and surrounded by wonderful roses. Like I said, he was only with us for a short time.
Something else I remember is that we had relations (no idea what the link was) in the prefabs. The family was named Marley and they had 2 beautiful daughters, Pat and Marion. They were Catholic, so the girls attended the Convent in Grays. Pat later married a seaman from the Merchant Navy, they emigrated to New Zealand and built a school, in which they taught. Marion emigrated to Perth in Australia but soon came back - it's a pretty hot corner, I believe.
On a more personal note - why not? I suffer from epilepsy and "spoilt" my relationship with a good friend in Aveley, actually now living in Grays, because it once caused me to behave somewhat irresponsibly, like a blackout. Consequently I don't come that way anymore - sorry. But I'd still like to hear from you all. Bye4now

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