I visited St Margaret’s in 2002 when taking my younger daughter to Essex for a job interview. Having lived in Devon for many years, it was a pleasure to return to Benfleet where I grew up. My grandmother had also lived in Benfleet, and when she passed away, her burial took place at St Margaret’s. She always said that she wanted to be buried there because it looked so lovely when she passed it on the train. So the visit gave me an opportunity to pay my respects and show my daughter her great-grandmother’s grave.
There was another reason for our trip to the church – also of interest to my daughter. Her grandmother, my mother, grew up in Tarpots and attended St Margaret’s regularly on Sundays. She recalls that the church was packed every week; so full that the congregation spilled into the porch outside. This is surprising because the church, in a time of few cars, is a bit isolated. But St Margaret’s had a popular vicar and drew its congregation from a wide parish, including Bowers Gifford, Tarpots and a sprinkling of hamlets and farms in the area. Mum knew people who walked to St Margaret’s and back from Benfleet.
This was during the 1930s. Just before war broke out, Mum (Vi) met my future Dad (Doug). He had joined the RAF and was told that he and his colleagues were moving elsewhere, and during a break he could have a two-day leave to get married. Dad had an overnight guard duty on Friday evening and then travelled by motor-bike on Saturday morning (without any sleep) down to Benfleet. The wedding took place at St Margaret’s on his arrival!
Meanwhile, on the Thursday, Mum had received a telegram alerting her to the unexpected leave, and had to make all the wedding arrangements, including a hastily organised special licence and sandwiches, tea and cakes for the small reception. They were married on 15th June, 1940 – and Dad had to return to his new base near Cirencester the following day. Quite a weekend, and – as my daughter commented – very different from marriage arrangements today!
So thanks to Ken Slaney, whose article and photographs brought back happy memories for me and my 105 year-old Mum!
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