Peggy Morgan, as she was known in 1953, lost her husband, mother in law and young son in the floods of 1953. This is an interview she gave sometime in the 60’s.
Thank you to Pat Smith for allowing us to publish it on the site.
Click on the link below the photo to hear Peggy telling her story.
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Great interview – harrowing story
My heart goes out to Peggy for what she went through and survived. Thank you for sharing her story.
Although only 7 years old at the time l remember the floods on Canvey island well, l lived with my Gran in Fairleigh Drive Leigh on Sea.. Gran was asked to take in a family which she did, l wish l could remember their names, was mum dad and 2 boys. My heartfelt sympathy goes to Peggy Morgan and all the families who lost loved ones..
I was very saddened to read this, as Peggy was my aunt. We lost touch with that side of the family after my father died in 1977 and I now really regret not getting to know this brave woman better. I had no idea she was still alive until 2009. What a hard life she had. Thank you for helping me know her a little better.
Having recently acquired Patricia Rennoldson Smith’s book The 1953 Essex Flood Disaster, I was astonished and horrified to find it contained cartoons! This book about the traumatic events of the 1953 floods and the accounts of those who lost their lives in them is hardly the place for humour of this kind.
We are all entitled to an opinion but personally I found it helped to lighten the mood somewhat. Have you not found humour during adversity helped get you through?
Absolutely correct Janet, I know it helped me there were humurous moments, for example I helped Amy clear her shop Greenfield Stores all the labels had washed off the cans of tin food but she still sold them after not knowing what was in them, Joe her husband told me later Amy served him with a tin Cat food, he said it wasn’t to bad it smelt like fish, I also remember pushing Amy around in a bath tub rescuing Cats.
My mum often talks about that terrible night of floods and Peggy Morgan. I was 4 and my brother was 6 all I remember was seeing my dolls pram floating away mum told me about Peggy and my brothers friend Dennis and how she carried him in a boat in her arms and to be told he had died. After reading this I will tell her about Peggy. My mum is still on Canvey she lost her husband Dennis nearly 7 years now and all her children still live on canvey we were some of the lucky ones others lost there lives on that terrible night.
I am reading Patricia Rennoldson Smith’s book too and Peggy Morgan’s story, and the loss of her little boy, Dennis, is especially poignant. Despite acts of bravery and courage on the part of many individuals and local organisations the overall tone of the book for me is sadness. I too wondered why these humourous cartoons were included. They seem out of keeping with the tone of the book and the sadness of the event?
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