Growing up on Canvey
in the 50's & 60's
My Mum & Dad’s (Ted & Gladys Payne) Wedding photo taken on 17th May 1941, probably taken in the garden at 3 Larup Avenue where my Mum lived with her parents and brothers & sister. Dad had joined the RAF with Mum’s younger brother George (Dad’s best pal), and they both served in 99 Squadron. A short time after the wedding, 99 Squadron was sent to India where they were stationed for most of the war. Uncle George was killed on 21st January 1945, just 2 days before his 23rd birthday.
Picture left to right standing:- My Aunt Elsie Ward, my Grandfather John Walter Baker, not sure, my Nan, not sure, not sure. Middle row:- Ernie Ward, Gladys Payne, Albert Edward Payne ( Ted ). Sitting:-not sure, my Uncle Don Payne?, not sure, my Aunt Pauline Baker
Please click on the pictures in the gallery for more about George and his family
On the back of this photo is written 'Ted Payne with Reg Morgan's car 1939' and is signed Bill (Gower?).
George Payne
This invoice was for the purchase of a house by my grandfather in 1939. From what I remember being told, the sale didn't go through as the house was damaged when the oil refineries were bombed during the war, and my grandfather bought 'Hope Villa' in Korndyke Road.
George Payne
My Dad loved playing darts, and won many medals and cups with his friend, Sam Hart. He was playing darts in Benfleet on the night of the flood, and only just made it home before the water started rising.
George Payne
'Benwells' the Greengrocers, 2 Furtherwick Parade (now 84 Furtherwick Road) in the late 1950's. L. to R:- not sure, Gladys Payne, Ted Payne, Pauline (Mum's sister), Nora Hart. My Dad worked in the shop after the war, and bought the business when Mrs. Benwell retired in 1957. We moved into the flat above the shop. It later became 'E&K Fruiterers' until 1983, when my Dad became ill and had to retire. It was a great place to live, with Vandersteens Fish & Chip shop on one side, and Grouts the Bakers next door but one.
George Payne
At the top is the pass my Dad needed to get back onto Canvey to run the shop after the flood. We had a couple of nights at Benfleet Junior School, then onto King John's in Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet finishing up in a caravan in the middle of a field along the A127 where Basildon is now (but wasn't then!). The receipt at the bottom is from Nurse Morgan, for her services at the birth of my brother, Derek. He had a twin who died at birth, and my Mum kept this receipt in her Bible until she died in 1989.
George Payne
'Hope Villa', Korndyke Road (now Avenue) in the early 50's. I was born here. The house is still there today. We lived here until 1957, when we moved to Dad's shop 'Benwells' in Furtherwick Road. I moved back into the house for a few years after my marriage, and my first son was born here.
George Payne
Mum (Gladys Payne) outside our home, probably early 1950's
Our house viewed from the junction of High Street and Korndyke Road as the floodwater was subsiding in 1953. I was very young at the time, but remember being lifted out of an upstairs window into a rowing boat. My Aunt and Uncle lived in my Grandfather's bungalow in Larup Avenue, and their garden backed onto ours. They swam across to our house, where we all took refuge upstairs. Korndyke was an unmade road in those days, and you couldn't drive down it as there was a dyke running across it. 'Hope Villa' was a semi-detached house, and next door was called 'Montrose'. The Dowler family lived there.
George Payne
The only picture I have of me with Mum & Dad
George Payne
Outside our house in Korndyke Road. As the Queen's picture is on the front door, it must have been at the time of the Coronation in 1953, and after the flood. I'm the one with the silly cowboy hat in the middle, and my brother Derek is on the right. Between us is George Young, and hidden at the back is Anne Young. Their parents owned the newsagents at the junction of Korndyke Road and the High Street. I can't remember the boy at the front, but he's obviously one of our gang!
George Payne
Me giving my brother Derek a lift. In the background looking bemused is George Young.
George Payne
Long Road Primary School football team on April 2nd 1960 after winning the Benfleet Shield at Hadleigh Primary School against Manor (Basildon). I think it was 3 - 1. On the way to the final we beat Markhams Chase 8 - 0, Billericay 10 - 1 and Wickford 5 - 3. Back row L to R:- Ian Wenham,Neil Brockes, David Ealding, Robert Reed, Alan Thorpe. Front row:- Dennis Haspineall, Derek Wilkinson, Philip(Pippy) Hope, George Payne, Christopher Smith, Malcolm Wilkinson.
George Payne
George Payne
Early group days. The Teenbeats (3 of us)! We're at front left. L to R:- Graham Wood, George Payne, Tony Wilson. On the right with the drumsticks is Chris Stevens. I can't remember his guitarist's name, but they later became The Premiers.
George Payne
I think this picture was from about 1965. It was at Canvey Civic Command Performance at Canvey Secondary School. I remember it was taken by the legendary Joe Overs from Jacksons Photographic Studios. From L to R:- Tony Wilson, Bill Goilleau, George Payne, Graham Wood, Ken King. Happy Days!!
George Payne
Comments about this page
These are fantastic George, thanks for adding them
Thanks for those great pictures & memories. Did your aunt Elsie & uncle Ernie have twin sons called David & Peter? Also, i remember Derek Wilkinson, “pip” Hope, and some of the others in the pictures. Happy days.
Wonderful! No relation to Margaret Payne the teacher I suppose?
Yes, David & Peter are my cousins, but Margaret is unknown to me. However, as we have not been the closest of families, it is possible that we are related.
Hi George. Elsie & Ernie Ward were friends of my mum & dad. Elsie and my mum kept in touch for years, after our family moved to Norfolk in 1962. Peter & David Ward were the same age as me, so we grew up together. Peter Ward is in the back row of this cubs photo, can’t see David though.
George I have never seen the photograph of the Rio ‘talent show’ contestants and thanks for the mention, the guitarist is Ian Fullick and as you say we went on to be The Premiers with Ian Thompson, Dave Newitt and my brother Graham. I too have a certificate that confirms that Ian and I as ‘The Blackjacks’ obtained 2nd place in the band/’beat group’ section of the talent competion, however as I recall there were only you as the Teen Beats and us in that section!!! Ian Fullick’s sister I am sure must also appear some where else on this website as she was Canvey carnival queen
Hi Chris. Yes, these were early days for both of us. I was 14 at the time. Our guitarist, Graham, on the left in the photograph hadn’t finished making his guitar, and it only had the first 5 frets. So whatever we played, it wasn’t very complicated!
I think the guitarist is Ian Fullick, I remember Dereck Payne from school.
To George Payne from Mick Muggleton ex Total tanker driver married to Pat Ward your cousin.Pat is lst front row of your photo and brother Vic is 3rd front row.Yes we believe that is Nan Payn in the back row.Also in the back row is aunt Joan Payne and aunt Florie Payne. Pat and myself both born on Canvey and still live here.
Hi Mick. Thanks for that. Hope you’re both well. I remember we shared many a petrol delivery at Corringham all those years ago, didn’t we. All the best, George
Sorry if you have recieved this message already, but I was taken by surprise to see these pictures of my Dad’s family when I was having a sneaky browse on line whilst I was suppose to be at work. Loved looking at the pictures.
Those were the days, I remember your group, but my mum and dad wouldn’t let me go and watch as they said I was too young, wish someone would say that to me now! It was great to see my dad as a youngster at your Mum and Dad’s wedding. What a good looking bunch they all were. Now I know where we all got our good looks from.
Hope all your family are okay. Great to see the photo’s. Thanks for that. Jan x
I remember going to this house with my dad and of all the things I remember about it was the white trellis, I suppose at 3 years old, for some reason I was fasinated by it and thought it was a very posh house to have this thing in the garden that plants grew up. Ha Ha. Jan
Hi, I remember going into your mum and dad’s shop once. They didn’t know who I was (your uncle Don’s middle daughter) Regards Bev
Hi George, So lovely to see the lovely pictures and to see my dad at your mum and dads wedding. Yes I agree with Janet, what a good looking family we have. I love having the memories of the old photo’s to look back at. I miss my mum and dad so much as I expect you do to. If possible I would love a copy of that picture and if you have any more of my mum and dad. many thanks to you and best wishes to you and your family X.
Hi Janet & Karen. Lovely to hear from you. Most of my parent’s old photos were lost in the flood, but I’ve copied the wedding picture and can send it to you. You can e-mail me at ‘gejpayne@sky.com’ Hope you and your families are all well x
I used to teach at Canvey Leigh Beck in 1957 with Mildred Lording. We taught in the Infants School. If you know her please get her to write to me via email. She was married to Fred and had a small daughter called Helen. I used to cycle from S. Benfleet along the dyke path to school and back!
Hi Gloria, In reply to your enquiry about Mildred Lording my first memory of her was when, on my first few days at Leigh Beck in 1947, having toddled from Gafzelle Dve I had to wait at Beale’s newsagents for her to see me across the top of Seaview Rd. She was then Miss Coupee(not sure about the spelling) and lodging with Mrs Lording(Fred’s mum at ‘Hirondelle’ in Westerland Ave. Sadly Mildred passed away eight years ago and Fred died some time before. My Auntie Dot is Fred’s sister and I have already told her about your enquiry about Mildred. Regards, Graham. P.S There are several pages re Leigh Beck in the Schools Section on the Archive.
Thank you Graham. I’m sorry to learn that Mildred and Fred are gone.Please give my condolences to your aunt. I now live in Canada but I remember, with pleasure, teaching on Canvey.
You dont no me but your nan was my nan the woman to your nans right was Roselyne payne then Parkes my mum. Janet & Karran are my cousin’s
Pip or pippy Hope is my dad in these pictures, he’s still going strong!
I also remember Vandersteen’s fish smoking shed round the back of the shop. It always seemed to be in use when I went round to George’s place.
I met Robert Reed in his record shop in Leigh last year (2013) .I went in purely by chance and he recognised me. After 50 years. How did he do that? Robert (or Bob as everybody calls him now) had pictures of the football team in the shop. Amazing.
Neil Brockes was our neighbour in his early years, and i met up with Pip Hope when i was a postman some years ago, we had a long chat about the good old days of our lives spent growing up on Canvey all those years ago.
David Belasco is still alive Bernard and avoiding the grim reaper.
Regards
Dave
I remember Ernie Ward was a baker at our family bakery Probably late 50s. Graham.
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