Mum and Dad's photos of life in Benfleet

Going through my Mum and Dad’s (Peggy & Hugh Shearer) photos I found these delightful memories of their early years in Benfleet. We lived in Sidwell Avenue which, in 1952, only had houses on the south side.  The road was thick clay mud, after heavy rain, for the first few years, so I’ve been told;  I was comfortable in a pram. Mum soon joined the Young Wives and my Dad was invited to be Secretary of the Horticultural Society. I still have the spade he was presented when we left Benfleet in 1961. We were the new young family on the street and our neighbours could not have been more welcoming. Names that spring to mind, Mr & Mrs Bass,  Mr & Mrs Collicott. Also Mr and Mrs Pearcey and their daughter Margaret who would become our Godmother and friend throughout her life. My elder sister Stephanie (pictured at the Vicarage Garden Party dressed in seed packets) and I attended nursery school and later Brownies at the Hall in School Lane. Miss or Mrs Pyrer was the nice lady who taught us. Later we attended Benfleet primary and the only names that I remember are Mr Wood Headmaster, Miss Brown, Mrs Weir, and Mrs Beadle? Infant School secretary . Oh and Mrs Chapman the dinner lady who made me eat the cabbage I’d tried to hide under my knife.