Fun at the seaside
The amusement park called ‘The Kersal’ at Southend was a favourite on these trips. Young and old all had to have a go on the rides. The one that sticks in my mind was ‘The Wall of Death’ - how the rider defied gravity to come within 12 inches of the top of the wall! That made me stand back, I can tell you. And I remember that the helter skelter, dodgem cars and the scenic railway made for a few screams from the ladies!
Mind you there were some of the men who got off the bus (my Uncle Bill included and possibly my father) who would go straight to a sea front pub and apart from something to eat that’s where they stayed until they got on the bus and made their way home! Was there any trouble? No way. Everybody enjoyed themselves and made sure they did not stop others enjoying themselves.
After the fun at the seaside, it was back to the bus, children clutching new buckets and spades, a beach ball, ‘kiss me quick’ hats, and most of all the traditional sticks of rock. Oh, and let’s not forget the windmill on a stick. Whenever I had one as a kid there was never any wind to turn it but if you let it hang out of the bus window it went like mad! (and soon broke).
On the way home
Now the journey home. The enjoyment never stopped when you left the seaside - Oh no! Out would come a mouth organ and the singing would start. The good old songs thrown in with a few special ones, often by the same person who was coaxed into singing last year. One singer in particular was Oscar Starling. He had a voice which could easily have been on Top of the Pops! But the entertainment did not stop there! Half way home the bus would stop at a pub where we were made most welcome - still singing! At 10 o’clock, it was ‘Time gentlemen, please’ and back on the bus to Kirtling. What a day!
I was fortunate to go on these trips so I don’t know what the village was like for those who could not come with us. I bet it was a ghost town feeling with us lot out of the way!
That’s it for now...till the next time
Doug
Read Part VI
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