A knock-out way of raising cash

As reported in the Evening Echo 1st July 1975

‘LIFEGUARDS’ These ten letters spell out the name of the big-hearted group who raised £200 for a hospital. Canvey Lifeguards staged their second It’s a Knockout competition and sightseers packed the seafront to watch the fun.

Among the spectators was Sir Bernard Barine, MP for East Essex, who is pictured centre, cheering on the teams. More than 1,000 people cheered and laughed as seven teams from Canvey fought it out on the mud and then battled on the incoming tide. The contest raised £200 for the Regional Burns Unit at Billericay Hospital.

Among the games which thrilled the huge audience were a tug-of-war; a three-legged race on the mud and a jousting competition on a floating platform. And after the fun and games Mr Michael Hackett, a consultant plastic surgeon at Billericay, presented the winners, Canvey Rugby Club, with their prize – a chamber pot.

Miss Doreen Jessop, secretary of the organising committee, said: “It took a lot of effort to organise the games, but I think it has all been worthwhile. We were very surprised and extremely pleased at the enormous crowd. It was definately more successful than last year.”

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From a scrapbook donated to the Archive by Marian ‘Copper’ Hastings