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Sorry Jennifer this is the first time his name came up. If we do come across anything it will be added to the site.
Nicholas Anfilogoff was my great grandfather. I’d be very grateful if you would let me know if you have any other photos of him. Many thanks.
This posting brings back a memory from the 1960’s. When the subterranean methane tanks were being constructed, the contractors clearly recruited labour from Ireland. Some of these workers were accommodated in unoccupied isolated bungalows along Wintergardens. Of an evening, these workers would visit various hostelries on the Island, including the Haystack, where, at that time, I worked and socialised. One of these Irish workers that comes to mind was a young lad named Willy. From memory, Willy hailed from the west of Ireland and had left, probably from a farm, to earn in the UK to help his family back home. At the time, one of my best friends was John, the son of the Haystack landlord Jack Plunkett. Naturally, a Maguire and a Plunkett had some affinity with Irish people! Willy didn’t appear to own much more than he stood up in; and what he stood up in, just about all the time, was a pair of Wellington boots. It was clear, speaking to Willy, that he was very homesick and, particularly, missed his mother. I asked him if he was writing to her and he admitted to being quite illiterate. I was quite touched by his predicament and so went back to his digs and took down his dictated letter to his mother. I added some comments explaining who I was and attempting to reassure her that her son was doing OK and the following day, posted the letter. If the first photo above is not the bungalow where Willy was staying, it was very similar and in an equivalent state of repair. Unfortunately, I don’t know what became of Willy.
Hi Graham, its Roy Hutt who moved to Germany in the 70s. Yes, my father Robert Hutt and my uncle who I was named after build from scratch a boat in the garden. They built the boat using the clinker method. Each plank was steamed in a long pipe. The planks became pliable and they were bent round the ribs of the boat, then fixed with copper screws. This wasn’t just a labour of love but a financial project. When the boat was sold my dad and mom had enough money for a down payment for a new bungalow in Weel Rd. As a child I lived in a massiv bunglow in Gainsbough Ave. The house had a wooden frame covered in corrugated steel sheets. Cold in winter, hot in sommer. I think the house had 12 rooms, one being a large dining area. Here lived my grandad and nan my uncle and his wife, my mom, dad and myself. Our neighbour was Billy Wells who had a large piece of ground where his ponies ran around, Billy used to have a pony ride business in Sommer near the Casino. Hope Trevor is still around as kids we had lots of fun. Memories are good but get dulled in the fog of time.
I remember this man, my mum and dad became good friends of his, they also brought many paintings of his. My sister still has at least one of his paintings. I loved how he would paint to music, he would build up the picture up before he finally finished the painting. I would love to get one of his lovely paintings for my own home.
Agreed, Wayne. My Mum is also in this photo and she thinks it was this very subject.
I can name all the people in this photo. In the interests of anonymity I won’t name everyone. I am front and centre. The class was a mixture of year 5 and 6. The year 6 group of us would have left a few weeks after this was taken. Myself and one other went on to Castle View but I believe all the rest went to Furtherwick. A great little class, unfortunately I lost touch with everyone almost instantly given I went to a different secondary school.
So sad to read the news of the passing of Robert Hallmann. I was introduced to to him by Dave Bullock in the very early days of the Canvey Archive and I got to know him quite well at that time. He was very helpful with several of my small projects. I even had the pleasure of visiting his house on Hadleigh Downs, top floor dedicated to the vast quantity of his work and with views of Canvey and the estuary but situated in his ‘ home territory’ of Hadleigh, Benfleet andThundersley. He will be remembered as professional photographer, diligent researcher and prolific author with a masterful use of the English language( not his native tongue). All of which will be available to future generations! Unfortunately our paths haven’t crossed in recent years but I will always remember him as really nice bloke !!! RIP. Robert. Graham Stevens.
What a knowledge this man had.of our area and history which will be shared for always to all the next generations.coming along.photos and books .he has been part of our history.not reading it.but making it.RIP. Robert.god bless and thank you. Thinking of all the family. Be proud of his legacy. For future generations. To see. And read.x Gary foulger.
Lovely to see my family home live on even though it’s only in pictures now.
Send the scan to cca@canveyisland.org Thank you
Ok I think the photo is in the loft with all my other old bits I will look and scan it Just need to know how to get it too you
Hi Janet, Lovely to hear from you. Carol
Hi Maureen,Your description is actually the ‘Smallgains Club’ which was as you accurately described just round the corner from the Canvey Club. It occupied the large strip of land to the south of the Canvey Club with what used to be Atwells Butchers & Chambers branch shop (Parish’s s/hand shop and a barbers later on) as a boundary. That building is still extant as one house! You probably remember that you used to get of the bus, coming home from school, at the bus stop right opposite the club I’ve checked with Rod Bishop re the fire (he was on one side (north) and I was on the other side, by the Clock House, and we are both certain it was in 1955. The property might probably have been derelict some years before. I have memories walking by it from 5 yrs old and it looking quite run-down then, hidden by the elm trees and the verandah stacked up with old chairs, crates of bottles etc. Rod even remembers MATTRESSES! The prestigious???? Canvey Club is out of the 3 clubs on the corner the only one not to have been affected by fire (the Corner Club caught fire a few years ago.) Maybe the mens’ urinal at the Canvey Club proved to be an effective firebreak! 😀 Graham. PS There is a very nice photo of the Smallgains Club in it’s hey-day to be seen if you put the name in the Archive search box.
Grace Dudley, Eileen Smith, Pauline Hook, Iris White,Ann Hollins and husband
There was a George? Howard from Wakering, on his first trip to London skippering a sailing barge on arrival moored near Westminster, while walking along the Embankment alone after midnight was confronted and had his throat cut and was robbed. His father the owner of the barge was so distraught that he sold the business. The assailant was caught but I cannot remember his name or sentence. I found that info’ several years ago on the ”Old Bailey Archives”
Canvey Market was on the High Street opposite Whittier Hall and The Settlement where Blossom Stevens lived. It was just past St.Annes Road. The Canvey Club was just around the corner from the current Canvey Club and on the same side. It had a bridge across the dyke and then a verandah. Inside was a large room. I think the bar was on the left. It burnt down in the 1940s. My sister had her wedding reception there.
This is my Dad – I lived at the Jellicoe for many years & this was our goat Bo Derek! Mum & Dad received her as a ‘leaving’ present from their friends & staff at The Cliffs Pavillion in Southend when leaving to run the Jellicoe, as joke as they actually asked for a lawn mower! Our little petting zoo grew quickly with another goat McGinty, shetland pony, ducks rabbits etc etc.
The archive would love a copy of that photo Andre.
I was one of the boys who played in the friendly team before it was named Concord Rangers. The team of boys used to all be in Canvey island boxing club and we all wanted to play football too. So two men one called Smithy and the other called Escliff got us a pitch over Newlands holiday camp and we had an old caravan as changing rooms after a while the camp wanted the land back to put more caravans so Smithy got us a pitch down the seafront opposite the Casino on the large grass. We then moved to the land opposite Concord beach until they built the school there. We was never in a league just friendly games. I have a photo of the very first group of boys with Smithy in it. After this Concord was officially formed Escliff went to Australia and Smithy was involved with the team until he died about 15 years ago.
Yes Graham more visitors from Holland!
So that’s where all those worms came from!
That photo is taken in the garden of my Mum & Dad’s old house ,back in the day. Have to say the garden looked a lot tidier then as they always had somebody to look after it. The group are standing on the spot where the’ famous Wilberforce Eagle’ stood for 20yrs. Graham Stevens.
Hi I’m ivy martins niece i remember visiting her in that cottage when I was a child it was nice to see her and her proud home thank you bring so much memories back
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