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!
By George Payne (29/05/2021)
Looks like the large semi-detected house on the right, and the bungalow in front of it on the right are still there.
By Martin Lepley (31/05/2021)
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.
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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!
Looks like the large semi-detected house on the right, and the bungalow in front of it on the right are still there.
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.
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