Oh the excitement of a day at Southend! No health and safety, no one being offended or offensive. Relaxed and happy, everyone speaking English and never guessing that in 60 years we would be strangers in our own land.
l lived just outside Southend from 1946 to 78 and actually a house over looking Southchurch park from that time until 2001 when l moved to España. During that time it was where l lived. Now after over twenty years l look back with nostalgia to a time long since past. In fact myself and a friend were filmed during the Mod, Rocker period in 1964 walking just past the Las Vegas amusement arcade.... we appeared on the 9 o'clock news. l never saw until over fifty years later on a RUclips program about that period of unrest between rival factions...
My earliest memory of Southend is burned into my soul. My delightful parents took me to Southend as a kid around 6 at the time, whereupon they swiftly and conveniently "lost" me! They knew of course any "lost" child found would be taken to the punch and judy enclosure , this was a fenced off area with Punch and Judy running all day, well best part of it, and in those days there were "attendants" no idea who they were but they were adults who would literally control the gate, and no child could get out unless accompanied by a "parent or guardian"! Hence as I was a fair skinned little child with blond hair and just shorts on, I got burned to the point of collapse under the searing heat of the summer sun. My parents "found me" there in the early evening distraught burned, hungry and dehydrated, then I got a spanking for "worrying them" by "wandering off and getting lost! They claimed to have been looking for me all day. Apparently I found out from my elder sister it was a genuine attempt to lose me "permanently" (our father told my sister the truth he was a timid man and definately under the thumb of the matriarch), but it was thwarted by a lady who my "mother"casually asked if she had seen a little blond boy looking lost at one of the arcades, for some reason that lady was suspicious when my mother said how long I'd been "missing" and she told one of the local policemen this officer walked my parents part way to the Punch and Judy place. Of course my "mother feigning tears and distress. I always knew I was NOT a favourite child, but had no idea they literally wished me gone, without it being any fault of theirs, or concern for my welfare! Ironically though I was born and raised not half a mile away from the biggest and I believe the main Dr Barnardo's home at the time in Barkingside.
Hello Roy, I'd like to apologise to you for uploading some of your video content. I love Southend-on-Sea so much and grew up there as a kid, spent many fun times in the Kursaal with my mum and dad. I wasn't thinking properly, I hope u can forgive me. By the way I love your video left a like 👍 and thanks too. Regards Ricky 😊
Hi Ricky, Thanks for your reply. I understand completely, no problem🎠🎠. My parents took us 3 kids to Southend every few weeks during the summer and the Kursal was always the highlight. It's where I became hooked on rollercoasters🎢 and still am to this day. My one regret is that we didn't have the equipment back then that is available today. With an HD camcorder I'm sure my Kursaal film would have been about 2 hours long and cover every ride and of course the picture quality would be so much better. 🎡 On a different note, I'm intrigued where you got my video from? You had it on RUclips before I did. Regards Roy 👍
Hello Roy, Reaching out on behalf of the Good Morning Britain team. Does this footage belong to you ? If so would they be able to get clearance to use it on the show tomorrow. Hope you can help.
Hello. Lovely video! I am producing a short video tribute to a lady who grew up in Southend who past away. Would you allow me to use some of this video in the tribute? I would of course credit you for it's use
There is a reason for this. If you look back at the comments from 2 years ago, you will see that someone stole my video and uploaded a really crap copy as if it were their own. They did this before I had even uploaded this one and didn't reply when I asked where they had got it from.
Oh the excitement of a day at Southend! No health and safety, no one being offended or offensive. Relaxed and happy, everyone speaking English and never guessing that in 60 years we would be strangers in our own land.
l lived just outside Southend from 1946 to 78 and actually a house over looking Southchurch park from that time until 2001 when l moved to España. During that time it was where l lived. Now after over twenty years l look back with nostalgia to a time long since past. In fact myself and a friend were filmed during the Mod, Rocker period in 1964 walking just past the Las Vegas amusement arcade.... we appeared on the 9 o'clock news. l never saw until over fifty years later on a RUclips program about that period of unrest between rival factions...
My earliest memory of Southend is burned into my soul. My delightful parents took me to Southend as a kid around 6 at the time, whereupon they swiftly and conveniently "lost" me! They knew of course any "lost" child found would be taken to the punch and judy enclosure , this was a fenced off area with Punch and Judy running all day, well best part of it, and in those days there were "attendants" no idea who they were but they were adults who would literally control the gate, and no child could get out unless accompanied by a "parent or guardian"! Hence as I was a fair skinned little child with blond hair and just shorts on, I got burned to the point of collapse under the searing heat of the summer sun. My parents "found me" there in the early evening distraught burned, hungry and dehydrated, then I got a spanking for "worrying them" by "wandering off and getting lost! They claimed to have been looking for me all day. Apparently I found out from my elder sister it was a genuine attempt to lose me "permanently" (our father told my sister the truth he was a timid man and definately under the thumb of the matriarch), but it was thwarted by a lady who my "mother"casually asked if she had seen a little blond boy looking lost at one of the arcades, for some reason that lady was suspicious when my mother said how long I'd been "missing" and she told one of the local policemen this officer walked my parents part way to the Punch and Judy place. Of course my "mother feigning tears and distress. I always knew I was NOT a favourite child, but had no idea they literally wished me gone, without it being any fault of theirs, or concern for my welfare! Ironically though I was born and raised not half a mile away from the biggest and I believe the main Dr Barnardo's home at the time in Barkingside.
Jesus that’s rough. I’m sorry you had such a awful childhood
Sorry to hear that.
A day trip toSouthend as a kid in the 50s was magical,great memories,thanks for this.
We'll never get days like this again,,proper family values,, NO mobile phones in sight wiv arrogant people using them.
Everyone slim and smart! Blackpool the same back n the day! What's happened to us?
Really miss the fantastic illuminations
Loved the flower hats
The Kursaal, wooden scenic railway, being wood it really leaned over and scared me 😉😉 Great to see it as it was .
Sadly no footage of the Kursaal Flyer...🤔
Hello Roy, I'd like to apologise to you for uploading some of your video content. I love Southend-on-Sea so much and grew up there as a kid, spent many fun times in the Kursaal with my mum and dad. I wasn't thinking properly, I hope u can forgive me. By the way I love your video left a like 👍 and thanks too. Regards Ricky 😊
Hi Ricky, Thanks for your reply. I understand completely, no problem🎠🎠. My parents took us 3 kids to Southend every few weeks during the summer and the Kursal was always the highlight. It's where I became hooked on rollercoasters🎢 and still am to this day. My one regret is that we didn't have the equipment back then that is available today. With an HD camcorder I'm sure my Kursaal film would have been about 2 hours long and cover every ride and of course the picture quality would be so much better. 🎡 On a different note, I'm intrigued where you got my video from? You had it on RUclips before I did. Regards Roy 👍
Hello Roy, Reaching out on behalf of the Good Morning Britain team. Does this footage belong to you ? If so would they be able to get clearance to use it on the show tomorrow. Hope you can help.
Hello. Lovely video! I am producing a short video tribute to a lady who grew up in Southend who past away. Would you allow me to use some of this video in the tribute? I would of course credit you for it's use
Hi Tom, thanks for the comment. Use the video by all means. I'd be honored.
Many thanks Roy, much appreciated!
Ha! Love the transvestites from 3:15 onwards!
Yeah, they were a brave lot for 1962.
Shame this was spoilt by two letters, R S, incrusted on the screen. Why do that to fascinating old footage?
There is a reason for this. If you look back at the comments from 2 years ago, you will see that someone stole my video and uploaded a really crap copy as if it were their own. They did this before I had even uploaded this one and didn't reply when I asked where they had got it from.