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First Canvey Heritage Open Day

25th April 2009

By David Bullock & Janet Penn

Today on 25th April the Canvey Community Archive arranged a Canvey Heritage Day in conjunction with Canvey Library, The Benfleet Historical Society, the Dutch Cottage, The Bay Museum, Castle Point Transport Museum, Leigh Beck School and Dr Feelgood manager Chris Fenwick.

Castle point Transport Museum Buses outside the Library

Dave Bullock

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What a great day Saturday our first birthday bash turned out to be thanks to our partners Essex Libraries and the other organisations who joined us on the day. Benfleet and District Historical Society did a display at the Library as well as opening up the Dutch Cottage. The Bus Museum opened and laid on the buses to take everyone to all the places that were open. The New Bay Museum (opening later this year) did a splendid display with the War Ship Week Plaque, now back in its rightful place on Canvey Island. Thanks to Chris Fenwick for the Dr Feelgood Display put together at the last minute by the ever efficient Library Staff. We also had a display of work and pictures by Leigh Beck Infants School and Robert Hallmann, our resident author was on hand to sign copies of his books.

The Archive had lots of pictures gathered together from a year of hard work. We had memorabilia on sale including postcards, keyrings, and handmade cards all with pictures from the archive. Most successful of all were our booklets and a new booklet about Frederick Hester went on sale for the first time. All money made helps to keep the Archive online. Thank you to everyone who bought something or made a donation.

We made lots of contacts, received new pictures and stories. But I think the highlight of the day for me was meeting the descendents of Frederick Hester. Three generations of his family came to the event and bought lots of our booklets to take home.

I think we can say Canvey's First Heritage Open Day, despite the hiccups, was a great success. Thanks go to Sue Hampson, our Chair and organiser of the event, who unfortunately could not be there on the day, you were sorely missed Sue. Thanks to Diane and all the Library Staff. Thank you to all the Organisations who joined us, I hope I have not forgotten anyone!

But most of all thank you to all who came along on the day, without you we would have been very bored!!!!!!!

Janet
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At the base of this page are more Photos of the event, enjoy!

Descendants of Frederick Hester

Dave Bullock

Below are links to the participants into today's event:-

The Bay Museum

Castle Point Transport Museum

Dr Feelgood

Benfleet & District Historical Society

Essex County Council Libraries - Canvey Catalogue

Click the Photos below for close ups & descriptions:-

Photo:CCA: Graham, Barbara & Mark outside Canvey Library

Photo:Bay Museum - David Thorndike & Allan Reed

Photo:Canvey Library - Dr Feelgood Display with 'The Big Figure'

Photo:Canvey Library - Dr Feelgood Display

Photo:Vera & Stan Oaker - Canvey Historical Society

Photo:Canvey Island Library - Diane in the middle

Photo:Canvey Village - This used to be Attwells The Butchers

Photo:Canvey Island's Dutch Cottage Museum

Photo:Dutch Cottage Museum - Traffic Light from original Swing Bridge

Photo:Formally Woods post office in Canvey Village

Photo:Bus taking passengers around the Island on free tours courtesy of the Castle point Transport Museum

Photo:Our Conductor Mrs Patten with Robert Hallmann

Photo:Our youngest member Emma selling her home made cards

Photo:Benfleet and District Historical Society Display

Photo:Memorabilia donated by the son of H B Burchell who served on HMML115 The Ship Canvey Adopted for Warship Week 1942

Photo:Lesley Penn and the Archive memorabilia stand

Photo:Barbara Roycroft with some of our visitors

Photo:The first of the buses gets ready to go

Photo:The Mayor with Canvey's War Ship Week Plaque

Photo:Dave Bullock and some of the Hester family

This gallery was added by David Bullock on 28/04/2009.

Comments about this page

I was born on Canvey Island at what was then No.2 San Remo, on 15th October 1946 and my younger brother was born on 26th June 1948, my late aunt Mrs. Idah Shoffren then owned Tower Radio Stores across from the above address and my Great Aunt Mrs. Sonia Galperin lived a No.1 San Remo, she was also the Founder of the First Abbeyfield Home on Canvey, She died in 1973 at the age of 84. I have many happy memories of the summer holidays spent with my 2 aunts on Canvey. I also have a few photos of both my aunts, and can remember my aunt Sonia teaching me to crochet one afternoon sitting on the back veranda of her home.

By Pamela Winborne (nee Shoffren)
On 19/05/2009

Hi Pam

I'm afraid your email address dosn't work - please contact us as I would love to see the photos of your Aunts.

One of my earliest Canvey memories is when I was about 4 and your Aunt told me off for walking on the steps of her Tower Radio shop! I later was to work for the Mick Litman at Tower Radio.

By David Bullock
On 19/05/2009

It was great to finally meet you all and to see all the work you are doing for Canvey Heritage and for Frederick Hester in particular.

Your main picture shows some of the family of Olive, Frederick's youngest daughter, who sadly passed away last year. (Between them they spanned 155 years which must be something of a record.) It shows Olive's husband Ron, daughters Marilyn (L) and Pat(R) and Pat's husband Alan and son Paul.

By Paul Chetwin
On 07/06/2009

Hi David,

Just logged on my email address should work, a couple of years ago, I was in Southend and purchased a book 'Canvey Island A History' on one of the pages there is a photo of San Remo, do you still live on the Island, unfortunately as I said my Aunt Sonia is no longer with us and neither is my aunt Idah, or Mick Litman, though his wife still owns the business but today it is run by there son. I do not have many photos of my aunts, but if you still live on the Island perhaps I could arrange to come there one morning and meet you, my best day would be a Thursday.

Kind Regards, Pam.

By Pamela Winborne(nee Shoffren)
On 08/07/2010