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A Child of the Twenties
A suburban childhood of the Twenties
seen from the Ninteen Nineties
by John Robert Laws 1921-2008
Part 16
Holidays 1,
HOLIDAYS
Holidays at that time meant the seaside, and the seaside
meant the East Coast, Sunshine, East winds sand and icy grey sea.
June was the preferred month, until school became important
enough to interfere. My mother packed vast quantities of clothing in a big
cabin trunk, which must have gone on ahead; it certainly didn’t come in the car
with us. It took a good three hours to cover seventy odd miles to the coast.
Bypass was an almost unknown word and certainly wasn’t applicable to even the
Essex county town of Colchester the first time of two that we went that way.
One was built in the next couple of years but now some sixty odd years later
has been virtually absorbed into the town to be replace by the (now hardly adequate)
A12.
We went to Clacton on the first holiday I remember and the
sand and the seafront were the attractions. The next year it was Little Holland
(Now Holland on Sea) where there was more sand and no seafront and I spent the
whole holiday on the beach.
Walton on the Naze Essex
After that it was always Walton on the Naze. Here we would have some rooms or latterly a house and we would stay for a month, though my father had only a fortnight of holiday and was only with us at weekends the rest of the time. We used to have a beach hut near the pier and would swim in the icy North Sea in blazing sunshine. It must have been here that I learnt to swim, taught by my mother, tuition later reinforced and widened by lessons at school. There was a stone-built breakwater in front of the beach huts and with the run of the tide along the coast there was deep water on one side and sand at the water’s edge on the other. Facing the deep side was a platform diving board and a springboard where one could display a considerable lack of skill combined with great enjoyment.
Walton on the Naze Essex
After that it was always Walton on the Naze. Here we would have some rooms or latterly a house and we would stay for a month, though my father had only a fortnight of holiday and was only with us at weekends the rest of the time. We used to have a beach hut near the pier and would swim in the icy North Sea in blazing sunshine. It must have been here that I learnt to swim, taught by my mother, tuition later reinforced and widened by lessons at school. There was a stone-built breakwater in front of the beach huts and with the run of the tide along the coast there was deep water on one side and sand at the water’s edge on the other. Facing the deep side was a platform diving board and a springboard where one could display a considerable lack of skill combined with great enjoyment.
The deep water was only there at high tide of course and so
the tides controlled the way the day was spent. In the youngest bucket and
spade days low water was in demand but once I could swim strongly it had to be
high tide. Not far from the diving boards, rafts were anchored to give a point
to swim to and even sit on, The young cannot sit still however and so it was
climb out and dive back in again and swim back to base to start again.
It was never crowded at Walton. Holidaymakers were squeezed
off most of the beaches at high tide but there were soon big stretches of
smooth virgin sand again and on one of these a beach artist would claim a large
pitch well overlooked from the promenade. He would draw his pictures on the hard damp
sand and set his hat to catch the pennies thrown from the prom. Perhaps he
doubled as a pavement artist in the winter. The un-crowded beaches were ideal
for flying kites and even permitted the continuous swinging of a tethered
tennis ball hung on long elastic between a pair of poles. On one holiday I
remember a less space consuming toy was rampant, the yoyo, and these spinning
discs on strings were in every hand rising and falling, spinning and circling
to show off the skill of the owner.
South of the pier was the sunniest part of the cliffs and
here and there, were tiers of beach huts rising behind the prom from which one
could watch the world go by or change for a swim. The beach hut was not only
for swimming from but also for sitting in the sun sheltered from the east coast
wind, very rarely for sheltering from rain, and for making tea and eating
snacks and ice cream. I was much better at eating than the sitting but would
sometimes stay and watch the sailing barges gliding serenely along the coast,
their big red sails filled with the east wind. It was not so funny for them
when it really blew hard. Distress flares would go up with a noisy boom and the
lifeboat went out from its anchorage by the end of the pier. Even in the summer
of holiday time this was not all that unusual.
Thames Sailing Barge - Canthussus
As well as sailing barges there were paddle steamers which called at the end of the pier. These came from Tower Bridge by way of Southend on Sea, and then sailed away into the far distance north to unknown Yarmouth perhaps.
PS Clacton Queen 1890-1937
These were best watched from the end of the pier itself where the bump could be felt as ropes were thrown and contact made with the big paddle wheels churning in reverse. On the pier too there was entertainment. The man who rode a bike off the high diving board was always worth watching, but the children’s concerts were pretty corny, even for kids.
To be continued tomorrow
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Family Events from our database for today April 10
1746 - Birth: William LAWS-3916, Billerica, Middlesex Co. MA USA
1775 - Baptism: Robert LAWS (Farmer) -45756, Mealrigg CUL UK
1785 - Birth: John LAWES-100758, Down, Hurstbourne HAM UK
1804 - Birth: John LAWS-41976,
1807 - Birth: Margaret Atkinson LAWS-3633, Great Yarmouth NFK
Great Yarmouth Norfolk
1829 - Christen: Jane Ann LAWS-7447, Portsea HAM UK
Nelson'sd Flagship HMS 'Victory' moored in Portsea Naval Dockyard
1836 - Marriage: Charles BOND-7680 and Elizabeth LAWS-7681, Newington SRY UK
1850 - Death: John LAWS-48538, Costessey NFK UK
Costessey Norfolk
1854 - Birth: Charles Nathaniel LAWS-37452, Hamilton Co FL United States
1860 - Marriage: Francis Augustine LAWS-115446 and Harriet Augusta SPAULDING-115447,
1866 - Military: Thomas Edward LAWS-MOORE (Navy Captain) -38745, To retired List as Vice Admiral
1868 - Birth: Dorethy Ann LAWS(Charwoman) -34013, Castle Eden Colliery DUR UK
1877 - Birth: James Sydney LAWS (Bricklayer) -54958, Camberwell, QLD AUSTRALIA
1880 - Death: Jerimiah LAWS-48560, Versailles, Woodford IL USA
1883 - Birth: Arthur Matthew LAWS-48118, Norwich NFK UK
Norwich Cathederal Norfolk
1884 - Marriage: Joseph Frank LAWES (Coachman) -568 and Jane JOLLIFFE (Cook) -746, Fordingbridge HAM UK
1889 - Birth: Fred LAWS (PFC US Army) -37954,
1890 - Marriage: Reuben HORSELL-45393 and Emily LAWES-33134, C7 Lot 6 Brooke Twp., Lambton County, Ontario CANADA
1904 - Marriage: Lonnie LAWS-56542 and Salina PEGRAM-56543, Wake NC United States
1907 - Birth: Stanley Newman LAWS-58379, North Witchford CAM UK
1909 - Death: William LAWS-7790, Stockton Upon Tees DUR UK
1913 - Marriage: Edwin George LAWS (Milk Carrier) -57773 and Jenny LONG-57775, Edgware MDX UK
1915 - Discharged: George William LAWS (ARMY Private 7488) -54440, Gillingham KEN UK
1917 - Death: Frederick William LAWS (Printers Compositor) -5906,
1920 - Miscellaneous: Thomas LAWS (Assistant Ships Cook) -45868,
1922 - Miscellaneous: Alfred LAWES (Steward & Cook on Ship)-45869,
1926 - Birth: Frederick Harold E LAWS-121558, Peterborough CAM UK
1929 - Birth: Billy Reid LAWS-123875, Turnersburg NC United States
1929 - Burial: George Herbert LAWES-47793, Norwich NFK UK
1929 - Death: Steven Price LAWS-42305,
1929 - Birth: Billy Reid LAWS-38165, Iredell County NC USA
1930 - Birth: Lillian Davison LAWS-47473, North Shields NBL UK
North Shields NBL UK
1936 - Military: Charles Frederick LAWS (Master Mariner 13605) -8012, Late Commander RMSF Comando died at Eastbourne SSX UK but resided at Court Lodge, Great Chart, Ashford KEN
1943 - Death: Walter Trowbridge LAWS-167444, IL United States
1943 - Birth: William George LAWS-115423, Mombassa Kenya, East Africa
1948 - Death: Mary Ledoska LAWS-3897, Ottawa, Franklin Co, KS USA
1950 - Departure: Sheila Beatrix LAWS-124709, Middleton St George DUR
1950 - Birth: Myrtle Maxine LAWS-123907, Mooresville NC USA
1953 - Birth: Adrian Richard LAWES (Company Director) -46424, Llanyrfon GLA UK
1953 - Miscellaneous: Frank Sydney Bruce LAWES (Export Clerk & Absent Voter) 122493,
1953 - Cremation: Laura Lucy LAWES-30920, Falkner Green Memorial Park, VIC AUSTRALIA
1957 - Birth: Peter John LAWS-119146,
1969 - Birth: Martin LAWS-42216, Harrogate NRY UK
1970 - Cremation: James Charles LAWES (Coach Driver) -53568, Kent & Sussex Crematorium
1973 - Baptism: Martin LAWS-42216, Aldershot HAM UK
1979 - Death: Alice LAWS-119202, Scarborough NRY UK
1979 - Burial: Stanley Vernon LAWS (S2 US Navy) -38085, Mountain Home National Cemetery, Johnson City TN USA
1979 - Death: Bertie James LAWES (Australian Army) -32387, Penrith NSW AUSTRALIA
1980 - Marriage: Richard Albert LAWS-53891 and Josefina Empueto RAFOLS-53896, Dumlog Talisay Cebu, Phillipines
1994 - Death: Lottie LAWS-50123, Los Angeles CA United States
1997 - Probate: Norman Ian LAWS-125123, Newcastle upon Tyne NBL UK
2001 - Cremation: Margaret Joan Burton LAWS-4583, Boston LIN UK
River Witham & Boston Stump, Boston LIN UK
2003 - Death: Jes Willard LAWS (U.S. Army WWll veteran) -31217, Lenoir NC United States
1775 - Baptism: Robert LAWS (Farmer) -45756, Mealrigg CUL UK
1785 - Birth: John LAWES-100758, Down, Hurstbourne HAM UK
1804 - Birth: John LAWS-41976,
1807 - Birth: Margaret Atkinson LAWS-3633, Great Yarmouth NFK
Great Yarmouth Norfolk
1829 - Christen: Jane Ann LAWS-7447, Portsea HAM UK
Nelson'sd Flagship HMS 'Victory' moored in Portsea Naval Dockyard
1836 - Marriage: Charles BOND-7680 and Elizabeth LAWS-7681, Newington SRY UK
1850 - Death: John LAWS-48538, Costessey NFK UK
Costessey Norfolk
1854 - Birth: Charles Nathaniel LAWS-37452, Hamilton Co FL United States
1860 - Marriage: Francis Augustine LAWS-115446 and Harriet Augusta SPAULDING-115447,
1866 - Military: Thomas Edward LAWS-MOORE (Navy Captain) -38745, To retired List as Vice Admiral
1868 - Birth: Dorethy Ann LAWS(Charwoman) -34013, Castle Eden Colliery DUR UK
1877 - Birth: James Sydney LAWS (Bricklayer) -54958, Camberwell, QLD AUSTRALIA
1880 - Death: Jerimiah LAWS-48560, Versailles, Woodford IL USA
1883 - Birth: Arthur Matthew LAWS-48118, Norwich NFK UK
Norwich Cathederal Norfolk
1884 - Marriage: Joseph Frank LAWES (Coachman) -568 and Jane JOLLIFFE (Cook) -746, Fordingbridge HAM UK
1889 - Birth: Fred LAWS (PFC US Army) -37954,
1890 - Marriage: Reuben HORSELL-45393 and Emily LAWES-33134, C7 Lot 6 Brooke Twp., Lambton County, Ontario CANADA
1904 - Marriage: Lonnie LAWS-56542 and Salina PEGRAM-56543, Wake NC United States
1907 - Birth: Stanley Newman LAWS-58379, North Witchford CAM UK
1909 - Death: William LAWS-7790, Stockton Upon Tees DUR UK
1913 - Marriage: Edwin George LAWS (Milk Carrier) -57773 and Jenny LONG-57775, Edgware MDX UK
1915 - Discharged: George William LAWS (ARMY Private 7488) -54440, Gillingham KEN UK
1917 - Death: Frederick William LAWS (Printers Compositor) -5906,
1920 - Miscellaneous: Thomas LAWS (Assistant Ships Cook) -45868,
1922 - Miscellaneous: Alfred LAWES (Steward & Cook on Ship)-45869,
1926 - Birth: Frederick Harold E LAWS-121558, Peterborough CAM UK
1929 - Birth: Billy Reid LAWS-123875, Turnersburg NC United States
1929 - Burial: George Herbert LAWES-47793, Norwich NFK UK
1929 - Death: Steven Price LAWS-42305,
1929 - Birth: Billy Reid LAWS-38165, Iredell County NC USA
1930 - Birth: Lillian Davison LAWS-47473, North Shields NBL UK
North Shields NBL UK
1936 - Military: Charles Frederick LAWS (Master Mariner 13605) -8012, Late Commander RMSF Comando died at Eastbourne SSX UK but resided at Court Lodge, Great Chart, Ashford KEN
1943 - Death: Walter Trowbridge LAWS-167444, IL United States
1943 - Birth: William George LAWS-115423, Mombassa Kenya, East Africa
1948 - Death: Mary Ledoska LAWS-3897, Ottawa, Franklin Co, KS USA
1950 - Departure: Sheila Beatrix LAWS-124709, Middleton St George DUR
1950 - Birth: Myrtle Maxine LAWS-123907, Mooresville NC USA
1953 - Birth: Adrian Richard LAWES (Company Director) -46424, Llanyrfon GLA UK
1953 - Miscellaneous: Frank Sydney Bruce LAWES (Export Clerk & Absent Voter) 122493,
1953 - Cremation: Laura Lucy LAWES-30920, Falkner Green Memorial Park, VIC AUSTRALIA
1957 - Birth: Peter John LAWS-119146,
1969 - Birth: Martin LAWS-42216, Harrogate NRY UK
1970 - Cremation: James Charles LAWES (Coach Driver) -53568, Kent & Sussex Crematorium
1973 - Baptism: Martin LAWS-42216, Aldershot HAM UK
1979 - Death: Alice LAWS-119202, Scarborough NRY UK
1979 - Burial: Stanley Vernon LAWS (S2 US Navy) -38085, Mountain Home National Cemetery, Johnson City TN USA
1979 - Death: Bertie James LAWES (Australian Army) -32387, Penrith NSW AUSTRALIA
1980 - Marriage: Richard Albert LAWS-53891 and Josefina Empueto RAFOLS-53896, Dumlog Talisay Cebu, Phillipines
1994 - Death: Lottie LAWS-50123, Los Angeles CA United States
1997 - Probate: Norman Ian LAWS-125123, Newcastle upon Tyne NBL UK
2001 - Cremation: Margaret Joan Burton LAWS-4583, Boston LIN UK
River Witham & Boston Stump, Boston LIN UK
2003 - Death: Jes Willard LAWS (U.S. Army WWll veteran) -31217, Lenoir NC United States
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