Here you can see a list of the most recently added comments on this site. You can add your own comments at the bottom of any page on the site.
The library isn’t closing Stephen.
I worked for Arup for ten years during the 90s. This is Job Number 2 (according to memory) for the Firm. Job Number 1 was the Penguin slide / pool at London Zoo!
In the late 70s I worked in Canvey Library as a Saturday Boy. Happy days, and sorry the Library is going to close.
Yes we now that Martin. We have postcards on the site from the 20s showing it as such. But the name changed to Jones Store at some point. As the entry in AM Clark’s papers was later perhaps Walkers Stores changed it’s name too.
In a 1929 Newspaper, “The Cash Stores” was described as Long Road, Canvey Island (next to council school, Long Road). Proprietor : A. L. JONES, Families Waited upon, Your orders Solicited.
A. L. JONES was Alfred Louis JONES.
Good afternoon from Australia. I was a 7 year old student at the Catholic Convent on Canvey Island in 1953. I was attending the convent school at the time of the floods. At the time of my attendance, there was a beautiful Mother Superior, an exceptional lady. I would love to know her name. Both she and Father Manning are constantly in my prayers. My short time at the school were some of the happiest days of my life. I am in a school photograph from that time; this I have found on a Canvey Island website. Warmest love and prayers, Christine
Thanks Paul, I well remember the Trolls from the Youth Centre days. I was “road manager” of the Silver Buttons and tea chest bass player in the North Avenue Jug Band with John and Malcolm Wilkinson; John now, of course, better known as Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood, The Solid Senders, The Blockheads, The Wilko Johnson Band and Ser Illyn Payne of Game of Thrones. I now live in Leeds, but am looking forward to meeting up with surviving Silver Buttons and others down in Essex in January for Mel Vickers’ 70th party. I’m sure that memories of the Trolls, Noughts and Crosses and other bands from the period will be remembered in depth. Good to hear from you. Tony
John Taylor Walker and Lilian were my grandparents. Lilian was John’s second wife. He had 3 children from his first marriage, John, Fred and a daughter who we knew as Lally. John and Lilian had more children, Irene,Helen(known as Nelly), Ronald,Reginald,Rita(my mum)and Kenneth. Another boy,Roy was sadly killed in an accident in the home at age 5. John Taylor Walker died before the flood and Lilian died years later after moving to Kent to live with her daughter Helen. The little shop was sold first to a family called Nightingale who added a second floor and they later sold it to the co-op.
I was at school with Wilko, who was known as John Wilkinson then. I lived at Benfleet, and like him attended Westcliff High School in Southend-on-Sea. We took the train from Benfleet station to Leigh, then the bus to school.
A few years ago, Wilko was believed to be dying from cancer, as the article said, but in fact doctors found that his cancer was treatable, and in an eleven-hour operation, during which they removed a 7-pound tumour, they apparently cured him. A couple of years ago Wilko was performing at the de la Warr Pavilion in Bexhill (a quarter of mile from where I lived at the time) and I and another old Westcliffian (who also came from Canvey, Kevin Mansell, went to see him play there. Kevin spoke to the minders, and we were asked up to see the band after the performance. I’m not sure if Wilko recognised us, though we knew him pretty well when we were at school. I asked him if he was going to do any more Game of Thrones. he wasn’t sure. “They haven’t written my character out” he said.
We lived in Eastleigh Road, Benfleet at the time of the flood, and my father was one of those helping to rescue Islanders. He had a dinghy with an outboard motor, moored in Benfleet Creek, and went over to Canvey several times in the week following the flood. He told me that the son of our next-door neighbour, one Jim Marrison, had recently bought a new car, and drove over to Canvey in it several times to help with the rescue effort. He drove on the road with water up to the axles of his car, and less than six months later the car was written off – ruined by the salt water.
My school, Benfleet infants/junior school on Benfleet High Road, was used for housing Islanders, and I and my brother and sister got 6 weeks’ holiday as a result. My mother was delighted (not).
Hi Tony correct. We practiced at the Furtherwick Road School Youth Centre for a while and began by playing the Shadows instrumental repertoire then later added a vocalist, Jimmy Proops, which opened up our song list to include Kinks, Stones, Small Faces etc. They were great times. Incidentally, I think that’s the only picture of The Trolls that exists. cheers, Paul
Sorry but his name was ROY not Ray, i worked for them and their son Clive from school 1984 on YTS great family and company with whom i had many great laughs, i miss them even today.
Hello Carol, I lived in the old Mayors bungalow in Trevia Avenue in 1971 for awhile just before the demolition works started. But don’t remember this building with the fire, so I think Laura nee McKenzie is correct about it being in Folsville Road. I came across this post as I was trying to find a photo of the Mayors Bungalow but I can’t remember the number or name of it now.
I used to play with a boy called Colin Jarrold who lived just off Waarden road in Thisselt road. Such an unusual surname so probably no coincidence. He would be about the same age as me about 75 They moved to London in the 50s
Hi Paul, I was a bit doubtful when told the band was the Four Oaks, but after 50 years, I could not be sure. Thanks for the confirmation that it is the Trolls. Were you not the band that practiced at the Youth Centre, a little younger than the Silver Buttons and in your early incarnation, played a lot of Shadows covers? Kind regards, Tony Maguire
I enjoyed all the photos and your interesting story. I visited my grandmother in Canvey in 1947 with my new boyfriend. Her bungalow was just off a main road but I don’t remember the name. I think there was church called The Little Dutch Church quite near but where? In the floods the water came up to the top of the steps to her front door. I have photos of her bungalow and some when I was much younger.
Sorry but I don’t think the female seventh from the right is my cousin, Eileen Goller nee Clarke.
Fourth from left, second row from top is Harold Hart, I think Regards
Next to Tom Bonnett ( dark glasses) back row are Andrew and Martin Guyatt.
My wedding reception was held in the drill hall. 23rd January 1971. Mum and dad decorated the hall and we had a buffet. Later we held mum and dads silver wedding there.
Hi – quick addition to the info on the Canvey Carnival Talent contest pic above. The band that was thought to be The Four Oaks is, in fact, The Trolls – L-R: Paul Andrew Smith, Vic Collins, Steve Prout and Michael Langridge. We played locally for a few years before I left for Canada. Vic went on the play with the Kursaal Flyers and The Ugly Guys. I formed a band in Canada called ‘Wednesday’ and had a few #1 records here and in the USA (Last Kiss, Loving You, Here Today Gone Tomorrow etc). Canvey was such a great place to grow up and, to me, a very pertinent influence on, what was to become, a successful musical career. Cheers Paul Andrew Smith Wednesday
I love this it really represents canvey Island
Yes the lady at the back of the boat on the right is Doris Wallace my nan she lived at Sydervelt rd
Charles is my Great Great Grandfather. His granddaughter was my mum – one of 6 girls.
My mum, Molly, along with Violet, Lily, Sissy, Ivy and Dolly are the 6 girls. One son was called Charles.
You can also see a list of the latest pages added to the site.
View latest pages