Thorpe Le Soken, The Village c.1955

Photo ref: T253003

My name is Alan Southgate. My Grandfather had an older brother George Southgate who was a Policeman in the West Ham area of London until his retirement in 1922. He subsequently became the Pastor of the Baptist Church in Thorpe le Soken.

My parents owned the Edvard VII in the late 1950's before we moved to New Zealand. I would have been 9years old when we left. I recall quite a bit of my childhood in the area. Really sad to see photos of the pub now derelict. Now 70years old I am returning for a visit in September this year to visit places I remember as a child. Richard Morris

I was born in No2 Abbey street in 1947. My grandparents who lived there were David and Florence Cross. I moved to Kent at the age of 1 but revisited fairly frequently. In later years after the death of my Nan, Grandad remarried to Ida Dines and lived in the Memorial stores near the War memorial. Grandad was well known in the village and used to frequent the Working mens Club. my Grandad and ...see more

I lived at the house on the right edge of the photo, from about 1934 until I got married in 1947.