Canvey as glamour background location
Jo Wood née Karslake
By Robert Hallmann
Northwick Road, Canvey
Photo: ©Robert Hallmann
There have been some snide comments recently, not least from County Hall, about Canvey’s ambitions as a holiday destination, although that is a part of its development and history. Maybe this story will add a little spice to the argument?
In the early 1970s I helped one of the many young ladies with ambitions to become a model and, as usual, I sought out exotic/photogenic locations. Some of those sites were on Canvey Island. This particular young lady had barely left school and a local professional had already given up on her. Yet she was intelligent as well as enthusiastic and she had the backing of her parents, especially a resourceful, hands-on, practical mum, who provided costumes and outfits to my suggestions with great enthusiasm and talent.
The Karslakes lived in the Old Vicarage on Vicarage Hill in South Benfleet. Her father was a model maker – honest – by profession, with a complete scooter collection of practically everything Lambretta ever produced.
Jo Karslake at Canvey Point
Photo: ©Robert Hallmann
One of my favourite sites and glamorous settings were the gangplanks by Canvey Point, leading out to boats on rills and inlets. Hot Pants were the latest fashion. I took one of those pictures to the editor of the Daily Mirror, who again gave it a quarter page in his paper. It did set the girl up on a career. The Sun called her ‘The Face of ‘73’. Most of her history is known as wife of Rolling Stone Ron Wood, though lately she has made the mags again with her participation in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ on TV. (The Rolling Stones have been described as rivalling Dr Feelgood in fame and following…!)
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Anyone remember the old barn?
Photo: ©Robert Hallmann
There was a black cinder path (Northwick Road?) running out to nowhere, with an old barn and farm machinery by the roadside, which made an interesting background.
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Somewhere out there on the sea wall stood a crane, which appealed to me with the industrial background of Shell Haven. I had included the flame as a feature of interest. Jo’s father tried to help publicity by taking the picture across to the company – Shell? I believe – who turned it down because ‘the flame was too large’ for their image, but the picture did rate almost a spread in a photo magazine.
Above Canvey Sea Wall
Photo: ©Robert Hallmann
Just for David Lazell another image of the barn.
© Robert Hallmann