My name is Beryl Cox and I was born in the City of London Maternity Hospital which is within the sound of Bow Bells. I lived in Canning Town and Plaistow for my first thirty years. In those days it was not very easy to find accommodation as such a lot of houses were in ruins due to the war; but my husbands parents had been bombed out and the Council had taken over - requisitioned - a house in Barking Road, which, it is not hard to guess, was and is the road from Plaistow to Barking.

Barking Road
     The house number was 415 and Bill and I lived in the top three rooms, plus a lovely large attic with a window through which it was very interesting to peer into the West Ham Central Mission's Queen's Gardens, where Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) visited and watched the young people who attended the church parade around the perimeter of the lawn. During this time, his Mum and Dad, and Bill and I clubbed together to buy a little weekend bungalow in Langdon Hills.

Kenrose, Western Avenue
     We used to take the 697 trolley bus to Plaistow Station and a steam train to Laindon, and walk the narrow winding pathway for about 30 minutes to Kenrose in Western Avenue. We had a case with nappies for the baby, and things for the other two little boys, and food enough until Sunday afternoon. It was very pleasant walking among the little houses in their own ground, where the gardens were tended carefully, having beautiful flowers. Not that gardens were not looked after where we lived, but they were small gardens, mostly at the backs of houses, and which we could not see, with front doors and bay windows bordering on the street.

     In our small 'shack' there was no running water; there was a tank outside to catch rainwater. The toilet (earth closet) was in a wooden shed about 3' x 3'. I cannot recall in those days being over fastidious about handwashing, but this evidently did not disturb our peace of mind, or cause any trouble. There was no washing machine, of course or television. In fact I don't think we had a radio. We have some very nostalgic photos of the children playing in the grass, and my mum and Bill's mum sitting in deckchairs in the garden. I doubt if there were many deckchairs in the gardens where we lived.

     It was very peaceful, the only noise coming occasionally from the gramophone of the family in the next plot playing appropriate old tunes and songs. The came down for the weekend and had a wind-up gramophone. I think officially we weren't allowed to sleep in these shacks, but most people did, and also had a tent where necessary. And, of course, we could take a week's holiday there. It was a long way to walk back to the Laindon High Road for shopping if we were there for more than a weekend but somehow I managed with the baby in a little pushchair which we called the 'taxi'. This had two wheels and no brake. I also recall buying some bread from a little shop I discovered at the top of nearby First Avenue. My husband was marvelous. Having no sight and as yet no guide dog, he kept on the narrow path to and from the station, but there were no mishaps.

     Then my husband had to take a job out of the area. In those days he was a switchboard operator, and we had to move to the new Heartsease Estate in Norwich. Several moves later we found ourselves back in Avondale Road, Vange, and then Vowler Road, Langdon Hills. It is appropriate to mention here the name of our house when we lived in Vowler Road. It was 'Ataahua'. Yes, just like a Sneeze! No matter how carefully I wrote our house-name on correspondence, many people just could not believe in such an unlikely name. Its spelling caused quite a few problems. I did count the variations one day, there must have been about thirty, the most amusing being Alleluja. Shortly before we moved out the house was given a number, No. 39, along with everyone else in the road but I do not know if the occupant still uses its unusual appellation, or if it is less trouble just to use the number. The suggestion was made to me that Ataahua was an old Maori word; perhaps someone could enlighten us.

      Our sons were very adaptable; and one year found themselves having to go to three different schools, one boy when he was only five. It was adventure to them, perhaps and they all did well at all their schools. I remember well the concert at Pitsea Junior, during which 'Johnny Todd' was played on the recorders and sung. This was so popular that an encore was demanded with much clapping.
     The headmaster of one school to which the boys had to go, misjudged the ability of one of them and put him in a lower standard. Fortunately, in the exams. he attained 20 more marks above the next pupil and subsequently attained a place at Fryerns Grammar School.

     We eventually moved in 1969 to a nice corporation house in Yardeley, Lee Chapel North, where it was near enough for me to walk to the market, with my daughter in a large pram on which I could carry several shopping bags. On two occasions in this busy market I was able to rescue a small child in distress, having lost her mum.

More Laindon Memories
     I must now mention something useful which sprung from being in Laindon. It was through enquiries at the High Road branch of Barclays Bank, then situated close to the railway station at Laindon, that my husband was able to get permission for blind people to hold an account. He was told initially that it could not be allowed, but a little bit of persistence bore fruit, to the satisfaction of others without sight.

     One other little item. I can recall playing the hyms for the Spiritualist Sunday Service which used to be held at the British Legion Hall in Laindon High Road before Mr. Tom Price and others built with almost superhuman tenacity and determination, the Temple of Light in Bedford Road, Laindon. He had the most wonderful gift of Healing, which was demonstrated when he was able to put right the damage done by my son coming down heavily on his head, and seemingly putting both shoulder blades out of position. Whatever it was, my son was in great pain, but Mr. Price and his helpers in spirit put it right on the spot! Mr Price was one of the inhabitants of Laindon for many years.

     I have one other small remembrance of Laindon, near the Fortune of War. My mum and dad hired a bungalow in Ladysmith Avenue in about 1936. They had to leave my elder sister, myself and two brothers in the bungalow while they did the shopping, taking the younger children with them. There was very long grass in the garden of this bungalow, and we were sure we had seen a snake. So mum and dad found us all standing on chairs with the door shut when they returned. Oh well! Better safe than sorry!

     I was very sorry the local shops closed down due to the building of the shopping centre. From Vowler Road my son would go on his scooter (not petrol!) along to the local shops for anything I wanted during his school lunch hour. This was tremendously helpful many times. No way would I send a child to cross two busy roads to the new shops. I wonder if mothers were/are consulted to get their point of view when planning. It is far easier to make two or three short journeys for what you want than to have to carry two or three heavy shopping bags in just one long journey. A car is not the answer for many reasons.

     We are sad that the area has had to change so much, but realise that it is inevitable. I would not like to live in a skyscraper if that were the only other option!

Title: From London to Basildon and Plotland Memories by Beryl Cox.
Source: Beryl Cox. Copyright ©Beryl Cox, November 2008. Updated January 2009.
Comments: This account was supplied by Beryl Cox for use on the Basildon history website.