Growing up in Mulberry Avenue, West Cross by Jacky Dodd
Susan with Jacky (Jacqueline) Dodd on the right.
I was brought up in number 11, Mulberry Avenue, a part of the new West Cross Estate, and this photo, shows me with my sister Susan, in the front garden.
We moved into our new home on 22nd December 1952 and this photo was dated 1954.
I was one of the first pupils at Mayals School, was it 1959 or 60?.
Susan, with me on the right, in the front garden, dated 1954, which looks about right, judging from the development of the garden.
My sister and I are joined by Philp Radford, who was a few years older and lived next door in number 9. Photo also dated 1954.
I am on the right and playing in the back garden, along with my sister Susan, perhaps washing the dolls clothes. Photo probably mid 1953.
I continue to play in the back garden.
In the background you can see some of the houses in Lilac Close, which are still under construction.
The first rent card which my mother saved is shown here. The first payment made in December 1952 was £1.10.3.
Mother also saved the official receipt for the deposit, which was ten shillings.
A great occasion, the deposit is made and the house is ours at last, to make our home.
A modern view of Mulberry Avenue and Lilac Close. The partly built houses shown in Jacky's photos above, are at an angle on the lower right.
Blackpill School
I attended my first school at Blackpill, from 1954, untill around 1957. Here, I am in the class photo, front row, second from the left. Front row, first left, is Linda King who lived in number 6 Mulberry Ave, and front row far left is Sylvia Rowe who used to live in Lilac Close.
What I remember most about the school, is having to take a spoonful of cod liver oil every day along with orange juice and yucky warm milk. My 'punishment' for not drinking the milk through, my by now soggy straw, was to make me stay in during playtime. When the teachers weren't looking I would pour the milk through the floorboards. I'm sure they must have worked it out eventually because the tea towels I used to mop up the spilt milk with ended up being dirty all the time!
Jacky Dodd
This School photo is from 1959 and I remember that my grandmother Janet, knitted this top in the colours of Grange School - yellow and royal blue stripes.
Grange School
I started in Grange School in 1957 and was in Miss Reese's class, J1 for one year. I then moved up to J2 with Miss Phillips, but was transferred to Mayals School half way through the year.
Mayals School
I was one of the first pupils at Mayals, was it 1959 or 60?.
I distinctly remember my mother, Margaret, receiving a letter telling me half way through my second year, that I would be transferred to the newly-built Mayals School. I was so upset, but, as it turned out, going to Mayals school turned out to be the happiest of school days and I have some very lasting memories.
My first teacher in Mayals School was Mr George. I was in his class for the second half of J2 and all of J3. I then moved up to J4 which was Mr Harry Trew's class. He taught us how to play the recorder and sing descant in the chorus of the Welsh national anthem. Such happy times.
I was in J4 when I won the Girls Skipping Race in 1962
I think that Mother, is pictured on the front left row of this unknown group.
My mother, Margaret, is in the second row, second from the right of this team photo, thought to have been taken in Underhill Park in 1937.
My parents, Henry Dodd and Dorothy Margaret (née Eynon) were Married at All Saints' Church, on May 29th 1947.
My grandparents, Janet and William Eynon and Jacky, at the Cockle Stall at Southend, which was said to have blown away in a storm some time later.
My grandparents used to live at 8 Dickslade, Southend and were very well known in the village.
Dickslade, next to The George Hotel, Southend, July 2019