Random Memories

A Memory of South Ockendon.

I can repeat much of what has been said by others. I was born in Stepney in 1946 and after a period of homelessness and moving from friend to friend my parents were given a prefab in Foxglove Crescent (no. 25) It was a fairly basic house with water running down the wall. There was a mouse screwed behind the electric plug!! We moved to Cherwell Grove after a short time and I went to Shaw school and from there to Palmers Boys' School in Grays, My parents were heavily involved in the foundation of the Methodist Church on the estate, meeting originally in a house in Carnach Green.
At first I went to school in South Ockendon village and I can still taste the 'interesting' lunches. I can remember Miss Flowers the head teacher of Mardyke school and she was an old fashioned teacher of the best sort, ruling the school very efficiently and thoughtfully.
Many names come back to me from those days. Lesley and Lynn Wanklin, Chris Clark, Alan Parkinson, Brian Endacott, Alan Manie, Wendy Pescott, Don Brand, Michael Ross-Watson among others. Still in contact with many.
I did spend some time working while I was a student at the mental hospital in South Ockendon. It was not a very pleasant place in some ways and it was a dumping ground. I was asked to spend one night on duty at the switchboard and have never been so frightened as nobody told me how it worked I just had to try to work it out for myself and pray that nobody would phone. The hospital was eventually closed.
The council estate was not well served with either buses or entertainment. The 370 ran from Romford to Grays (I used to catch this from Ford Place to school.)
We used t play in the woods near the start of our street and there were a couple of sandpits which on reflection were very dangerous but held no fears for us. The weather always seemed to be good in those days!!

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