1 - Wally Brown

Walter Brown was born in Benfleet in 1903 to Charles and Alice Brown. Charles was a haybinder in the 1911 census when the couple and seven children, including Walter aged 8, were living at Brickfield Cottages, South Benfleet. Charles and Alice had married in 1897. The first record we have come across of the family on Canvey is the 1918 Electoral Roll which place the family at Scar House Farm. Walter’s mother Alice nee Baker died in 1921 when a wasp sting caused blood poisoning. At this time the family were still at Scar House farm but there were two more children.

Walter (Wally) married into the local Woods family who ran the shops in the village. His wife Ruby was the daughter of George Woods, Baker and Confectioner. They married in 1924 and went on to have three daughters Beryl, Pat and June. Beryl married Harry Beare in 1945.

The 1939 register have their residence as 1 Brickhouse Farm and his occupation as Farmer. It was about this time that Ruby’s father George died so we assume that is when the couple took over the bakers shop which he ran as a bakers/cafe. Wally died in 1975 and his wife Ruby died in 1985.