Clacton On Sea, The Pier And Steel Stella 1958

Photo ref: C107062

I was born in Clacton in 1953 along with my twin Brother. We spent most of our time down by the sea because my Dad worked at Butlins around 1960. My uncles worked on the Pier and my Nan worked in the Arcadeds and we also had an Uncle taking tourist photos along the Beach. I remember many times watching Punch and Judy. Our family names are Box, Elgood,and Mudd. Yours Truely Billy Elgood. ( now living in London. )

I worked on the Steet Stella in 1963. One of my jobs in the morning was to walk round the whole of the track to make sure of the integrity of the woodwork. Also we had to spend two hours a day in the tower at the top to make sure the cars did not get too close together. Also we took turns operating the manual brakes whereby the cars were stopped at the end of the ride. I remember I was so sad when it was pulled down and replaced by the 'Wild Mouse'.

Every year until I was a teenager we spent our annual holiday at Clacton. We stayed at the same boarding house every year on St Osyths Road, it was owned by a lovely motherly character called Mrs Theobald, whose husband Percy was the buyer for Thackers green grocers on Pier Avenue. The pleasure boat in the picture is the Nemo II which was owned by "Newt" King. My brother and I used to get free rides, as Mr King ...see more

This picture takes me back! It was around 1962 and I was 11 years old. We travelled down to Clacton from South Harrow on a Valiant Cronshaw coach which we caught outside a pub in Northolt - The Plough, I think it was. A great journey to Clacton, and we stayed at 92 Rosemary Road. Gwen Hawkes and her mum ran the B&B - does anyone remember her? We met some nice people there, Mr O'Keefe was ...see more