Guest Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 As regards alerting the old bill..we had a week in Devon..got back..someone had broke in and decorated!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted February 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Summer 1960, I was not quite ten years old at the time. Dad decided that we would have a whole week on holiday this year so he hired a car and off we went to Southend-on-Sea for a change from the Lincolnshire coast. Our holiday home was a B&B in a street behind the sea front and across the road was a gasometer - remember those? Throughout the week we explored the Essex and Kent coast and squeezed in a visit to dad's wartime pal on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. That led to a week in Sheerness the following year but that's another story. I remember the replica of the "Golden Hind" moored by Southend pier and the lovely green and cream trains that ran the 1.3 miles length of the pier to the theatre and amusements at the end. Off all the memories of that week, the one that stands out above all others for both me and my brother was the breakfast at Mrs Rudd's B&B. It was cereal followed by bacon and eggs accompanied by chips fried in the bacon fat. I have to say that it isn't the most pleasant of memories! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 When I was small, we spent a week in Southend about the same time. I can remember on the the promenade, we always used to stop at the Guinness musical clock, about the size of an advertising hoarding. I was fascinated by this large, automaton-type thing, with the toucans, and other animals moving all over the place when it chimed. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 48 847 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 #228 Is this the one TBI http://www.guinntiques.com/Images/FestivalClock/ClockVersion2.jpg 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,160 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 TBI.............I did the Arfer Daly and Terry walk along that Pier' circa 93'..............lol. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevorthegasman 150 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 My holidays were magic,train from Midland station (dad worked on the railways) and off to Caister on sea (Great Yarmouth) same caravan every year "TORESTIN" on Sycamore Caravan Park near the dog track and I think stock cars. Gas lights only but i had "My Lady Catherine" radio to listen to and off to the beach in front of the Lifeboat Station about a mile walk. Trips into Yarmouth, shows on "both piers" ride on the pedal cars and of course the fun fair. The main street was always packed and the "Bloater Shop" did a roaring trade posting wooden boxes of Bloaters back to Nottingham. The river Yare full of fishing boats and a trip on the river on something special,a converted Motor gun boat which my dad had served on in WWII. My dad was stationed there when my mother was pregnant with me so I spent a few months there before being born two days after D Day. All this in the early 50s onwards,before leaving for Australia in 1967 the family went back again this time my wife was pregnant with our only child... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 #229 Thanks Dave, that looks very much as I remember. There were lots of bits moving all over the place, I thought it was amazing. #230 A very long and very windy walk, benjamin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,160 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Without looking it up i think 1 and half mile................? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Always reckoned to be the longest pier in the world, anyroad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chulla 4,946 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 When I was a weedy youth, girls on the beach used to shout 'tin-ribs' at me. One day a big bully came along and kicked sand into my face and pushed me over. The girls laughed at me. When I went home I bought a copy of the Wizard comic and, after looking at the adverts, instead of sending off for a Seebackroscope I sent for a body-building course from Charles Atlas. The next year, at the seaside, the bully came back and kicked sand into my face. I bopped him on the nose and he ran away, with the girls laughing at him before they swooned at me feet. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I wish I was on what you're on, Chulla. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 This from Wikipedia: "Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending 1.34 miles (2.16 km) into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 How about some lovely seaside photos, folks? Let's see photos of yourselves, friends or for that matter anyone at the seaside. Here'sa starter-for-ten....two unidentified old ladies at the seaside in the early 1960s: 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Teddy boys at Blackpool, summer 1961: 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 A Ford Thames 400E, in minibus guise, and an E-Series Vauxhall Wyvern. Note the inflated tyre inner tubes, in which the assembled friends would bobble about the waves in - simple seaside fun, with no sign of a mobile phone or jet ski anywhere! Photo snaffled from www.oldclassiccar.co.uk. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,296 Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Compo #240, Great memories, seeing the patch on one of the tubes reminded me that my dad always took the bike puncture repair kit with him to the beach just in case. The valve stem in the tube could do untold damage if you were not careful. Often used truck inner tubes to go over the small weir on the far side of the island at Hazelford Ferry, a short walk downstream from the Star and Garter? and over to the lock on the island or a swim across the main river to the island. When we could afford it we progressed to the lilo's similar to the one the girl is sitting on. An early version of today's body boards 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 So many kids drifted out to sea on those Lilos (#241) and drowned. These days it would be unheard of to let a child go to sea on a plastic airbed. My friend Peter Occleshaw (Aged 10yrs) drowned at Skeggy in 1961. Our first trip abroad was a day trip to Bolougne on a ferry from the end of Southend-on-sea pier. That would be about 1962. As I recall, it rained and the sea was rough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,895 Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 My father used to be a scout master so our holidays always used to be camping. Both he and mum were born north of the lakes( Barrow in Furness and Millom) so I think we saw every corner of the lakes and visited all the places they spent their courting and early married days , always on a tandum. Then when I was born they added a sidecar. Feeding me was never a problem aparently because they gave me a bottle and there I'd be on my back feet in the air balancing my feeding bottle. I dont think my parents would have ever settled in an hotel. We then started camping in a ridge tent and when it rained ...careful not to touch the roof and then having to run your finger down the roof and walls so it didnt leak. We went onto a frame tent , then a bigger one with bedrooms until dad bought a caravan then an awning so all the family could join in. I remember the first time we crossed the channel arriving at Calais, customs officer if we'd got anything to declare. " such as what " dad asked and mum said " ssshh hes got a gun", 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,160 Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Love the great outdoors but hate camping,.......only done it twice,first time was when i walked the Penine Way in 82' (well most of it) got caught in a storm and could'nt make the youth hostel............spent the night in a 'one man' Tent with 3 others bleddy night-mare......the only other time was with a girlfriend in North Wales,chucked it down again a nightmare......i was on the way to Bangor as well............lol. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 Didn't we have a lovely time. The day we went to.................................Bangor. Ooh benj you are a one. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,160 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Great song that carnie...............on a par with 'seven little girls sitting in the back seat'............i'm sure you'll give us the next line gel.............lol. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,296 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Carni #245 I like Jasper Carott's Day Trip to Blackpool version better, slightly rude but funny. Many things that most of us have done at many seaside towns. Not Vinyl Vera though. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,600 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I'm going to get there before Carni! "Hugging and a kissing with Fred" 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
davep5491 360 Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Benjamin #244 Reminds me of my son closing a best man speech. I hope the newly married couple enjoy their holiday in Wales. I think that's where they're going because when I asked Mark (the groom) what he was doing next he said he was going to Bangor for a fortnight. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted April 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Well, it's summer holiday time for me and The Gambia beckons. I fly from Inverness to Gatwick tomorrow and then on the Gambia early Monday morning. Back on 20th April. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.