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Thank you for your comment Phil. So sorry to hear about your parents but nice to have some names for the people in our photos.
In the Christmas Dinner picture, standing at the back on the left are Doris McNeill and her mother Daisy. Doris’s brother Colin is standing behind the daffodils and his wife Betty is the young woman sitting in the middle. Betty and Colin (my parents) died 44 days apart in April and May 2021, aged 93 and 95 respectively. We are using a Whittier Hall picture in the Order of Service at Dad’s funeral (from the event named ‘Special Occasion early 1950s’ on another page). I guess this is 1948 or 1949. Thanks for uploading this picture.
Hi Pat, Thanks for the full detailed up- date. Graham.
I think that was me in the blue top working on the Octopus for Tommy Harniess. Great memories.
Just too put the story straight The Comodore fish bar was owned by Mr Lettuce until it was bought by Dave Bovill and Colin Willoughby in 1979/80 when it was gutted and refurbished into Dacol Furnishings. Dacol moved part of the furniture side of the company to the then new Knightswick centre and the empty part was turned into Seaview Mini Market with an off-licence and Pizza & rib shop attached. This was very successful until the building needed major works and sold on in 1986.
Drove to Canvey from Lancashire the last weekend of 1962, and hit the snow around Cambridge. By the time, 4 or so hours later, that we got to Canvey Reg Stevens, the Surveyor, and a team were just about managing to keep Northwick Corner open! The roads were very treacherous, but we had a front wheel drive Mini which was superb in the snow.
I seem to recall that Marjorie (aka Midge) North emigrated to New Zealand, I would think 60 years ago.
I can recall back in the v. late 50’s Albert North phoning our house one night and saying that he understood Dr Lintner & his wife were out with my parents and did I know where, as he was needed urgently.
RIP Dave. My old Regiment and Battalion. Before my time, but knew Dave from the rock. Dave was well respected in the Royal Anglian Regiment especially for his talent of boxing. Still to this day his name pops up within reunions etc. Respect for you mate. Up the Old Red Roaster. All the 44’s The Pompadours. 🇬🇧💜. See you at the Re-Org in the sky mate.
My dad David Cain was a wonderful man. Ex army soldier of The Royal Anglian Regiment. Who did boxing , which he loved. A gentleman and a good soul who cared. I have had great memories in my life even as a teenager with my mum Pat who sadly passed when I was 19 years old. Memories which I will treasure. He loved all his family, friends, going out on the boats that he had, were fun times. Having my step mum Moira in his life, also made him happy. He had a 20 enjoyable years with Moira. Dad enjoyed spending time with my uncle Michael Cain playing pool or snooker, when he could. One thing I won’t forget to his last words said “ Be strong we are Celtic’s “. Yes my dad was a strong tough man and fearless. I will love and miss him forever. Life won’t be the same without him. Maria Cain Dodsworth
That is funny Alan. Did you take your guitar with you on window- cleaning round as well? I bet it didn’t take long before you and Bill were having a good old jam session. What a character he was didn’t take much to persuade him to pick up his guitar . Graham.
Does anyone have a contact for Frank pls ? We are holding a book launch for Terry Naylor in Tottenham on August 7th and wondered if Frank would pop along . RONNIE x
Hi everyone, haven’t been on Facebook very long but found the article very interesting. I was. Bill Gower’s window cleaner years ago after finishing his windows at his bungalow in Nevada Rd played his electric organ indoors we both had interest in music – – obviously didn’t get much work done.!! 😕
Looking at George Payne’s comment. “Hope Villa”, along with “Montrose” had their building plans approved in 6th Feb 1934 and at that time the owner was W.ALDRIDGE. I believe ALDRIDGE built many properties on the Island.
Looks like the large semi-detected house on the right, and the bungalow in front of it on the right are still there.
I think the boy on the top row , forth from the right is possibly Tony Jenkins.
I have one of these! We won the tournament in 1995.
1995 to 2000 leavers photo I am at the back.
I lived in the white house on the right which was called “Hope Villa”. I was born there in 1948 and lived there with my Mum & Dad, Gladys & Ted Payne, and my elder brother Derek, who had his 7th Birthday on 31st January, the day before the flood. When the water was at it’s highest we were rescued by being lifted from the upstairs window into a rowing boat. My Aunt & Uncle, Pauline & Reg Thorn, lived in a bungalow in Larup Avenue and swam across to our house. Dad went round to his shop, Benwell’s Greengrocers in Furtherwick Road, to pick up his van and managed to drive it down the High Street to rescue us, as the water wasn’t too deep there. We went to Benfleet Primary School and then on to King John’s and finished up in a caravan somewhere near to where Basildon is now. I can’t remember how long we were there but I do remember the terrible state our house was in when we eventually returned home!
Regarding barges at small gains creek I do not have any photos but do recall them delivering timber to Canvey Suppply at the point which came from Russia sometimes to Bambergers at Rochford
When we’re being encouraged to plant trees isn’t it a shame that mature trees have been taken down in the Western Esplanade section of the new car park?
Bernard, one of my god parents. He was proud of receiving his MBE, but more so his Honorary Life Governorship of the RNLI. Much much rarer than the MBE. That meant so much to him being recognised by the RNLI, for all the years running and raising funds for the Canvey Island RNLI Branch. Also awarded a certificate from the Royal Life Saving Society, after swimming out near the Labworth cafe to save someone’s life. A really great man.
Hi. One thing I was not able to say in this interview was the involvement of my Dad, Aubrey. I was prompted to remember that he was often in contact with Mr Legg during the early stages of the scheme and carried on in an observer capacity from the very start. His photos, pre planting and of the first plants are here. I also have a suspicion that he was the ‘local resident’ who made the CPDC aware of the condition of original Canada Corner in the late 70s/ early 80s. I think I can tell this from the big grin of satisfaction he has on his face in the group photo taken at the Dutch Cottage! Graham.
Lovely memories
Hi , Here is a story from the early 60s when I was delivering bakery stuff to Albert. I think he had probably phoned up for some extra bread. I was working in the bakery and the delivery was quite urgent I didn’t bother to change and went straight out in white trousers, T-shirt and still wearing my apron. I went thru the side door and left the delivery there, then I went thru the sliding door to tell the shopgirls. Somehow I caught my right trouser pocket on one of the big fridge door handles , stepped away and the whole of the seam of my r/hand trouser leg came apart leaving me standing there with only my left leg trousered. Quick reaction with the apron saved some of my embarrassment ! I certainly didn’t hang around to see what the girls’ reaction was but beat a very hasty retreat to my van !!
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