Albert who worked for Essex Rivers Catchment Board, was called out on the night of the floods to monitor the height of the tide as it was lapping over the sea wall. He then proceeded to go around to as many properties in the Newlands area, warning people to gel into their lofts etc. As the seawall was unsafe and may break, when suddenly a huge roar the seawall gave way, and running for his life in front of the torrent of water rushing behind him, he managed to climb onto a roof and spent the rest of the night clinging to a window frame.
Joy, whilst looking out of the loft window, seeing the seawall break saw her father’s brick built goat sheds and goats just washed away with the massive flood of water, also lost all his chickens, rabbits and geese. Winnie, her mother Mrs. Norris, Derek and Joy spent the night in the loft. The water reaching 6ft indoors. Albert was later reunited with family in the early hours by dinghy.
The family were later rescued the following day by a police launch and taken to Leigh, into St. Clements Hall.
There have been many, and rightly so people named as heroes, but strongly believe that Albert was definitely one of them. Many people have approached Joy over the years, saying ” If it had not been for your Dad, we and our parents would not be here today”.
The Sea Wall actually broke almost opposite this property, being the second bungalow in the road, Tewkes Road.
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