We moved to ‘Basildon New Town’ in 1971. We were given a council house in Roseacre on the Barstable estate. I was 7 and went to St Theresa’s Primary. Miss Webb was my favourite teacher and I have memories of all the Nuns. Sister Rita was Headmistress. I remember them teaching us Irish dancing! I tripped one of them up and got the cane. My elder brother went to Barstable school. The oldest brother did a tool makers apprenticeship in Fords and went on to work with Tony Dow for years on the Martins ice cream vans. He then went on to open Ace Welding in the old dart board factory on the Fortune of War roundabout with a partner (Paul Hard, who was mentioned on a post here the other day). Mum worked a couple of jobs in the early days and I remember going to school with a key on a string around my neck so I could let myself in when school finished. That was not unusual at all. My best mate on the estate was Paul Scott. He went on to have a distinguished military career. His sister Keeley was a dancer and went to dance in Paris in later life I believe. I remember going to her first dance recitals when she was a tiny tot! Paul’s dad John was a fireman and later got an MBE for his services. There were some amazing people who came out of those estates in that generation and made huge successes of their lives. My old man opened Denham Motors in Durham Road, Laindon (behind Parkinsons) in the early 70’s and the business ran for many years after; eventually moving to premises the other end of Laindon. He was in the Rotary Club and many business people of the day were involved in that social charity. I remember Derek Greenfield (printer) and Ron Goldby (Photographer) Paul, who ran the bed shops in town. Recent posts talking about the Rotary Christmas collection with Father Christmas have made me smile. I remember going door to door with the Rotary Club as a kid in the late 70’s! We moved to Laindon in 1979 and then further out in the early 80’s. My first house was in Pitsea and then I moved out to Billericay in 1984. Since then I have lived all over the world, but look back on my childhood in Basildon with very fond memories. The spirit of the Londoners who came to settle in Basildon in those times was firmly established. I saw some amazing changes. From Aquatels to Bas Vegas! I saw Brian Greenan open Sweeneys and rejuvenate Raquals. Of course he went on to open the Q Ball Snooker Club which then became “Time”. TOTS, Rain, Epping Forest Country Club. The Retreat Pub in Chigwell on a Thursday night…..talk about memories. I married Jacky who worked in Sweeneys and we had 2 kids together. We both worked for Barclays Bank in various branches and roles. As you get older they say the memories of your younger days become stronger and I would say there is some truth in that. I often think of my walk as a kid from the Barstable estate all the way to St Anselms every day (so I could save the bus fare and buy some sweets). I wouldn’t allow my kids to do that now! Brother Mark was headmaster in those days. They made us do cross country across Gloucester Park. I can still remember being so cold I couldn’t do the buttons up on my shirt when we got back. Mr Lester the wood work teacher and cross country runner. What a bastard he was. Cutting a hole in the Barstable school chain link fence so we could play football on their fields every night. Only coming home as it was getting dark was the rule. Those really were the days of our lives. Keep the memories coming. Every now and then it’ll cause a smile on one of our faces! Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:50:21 +0000
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