Canvey Island Summers 1951-1957

Each time my Auntie Rosa went to shop in the High Street, She’d bring us back a pink-iced bun; it was our special treat. We’d take them up to Grandad’s (we preferred to eat them there) We’d scoff them in the kitchen, in his big old Windsor chair. And Grandad made us thick black tea, as thick as tarmacadam, And carrots from the garden (if the rabbits hadn’t had ‘em!) He tried, I guess, but honestly, his cooking was quite ropey, And since he washed his plates in Daz, it always tasted soapy! He kept rabbits out behind his house (some of them were tame.) In the front grew antirrhinums – ‘bunny-rabbits’ once again. Their soft and furry noses looked exactly like each other: Each flower a tiny replica of its herbivorous brother. His house was full of assegais, elephants and gongs. He’d tell us of his voyages and sing us salty songs … He always wore a waistcoat and a greasy old flat cap. He still walked with a sailor’s roll, the nautical old chap! When Grandad wanted 'baccy, I’d go down Kit-Cat Lane To the musty shop in a wooden hut - ‘The Cabin’ was its name. T’was just like in a cowboy film, with barrels and all-sorts; But best of all was the real stuffed bear, moulting on the porch.. Sometimes we’d go to Gordon’s house. His garden had a swing. We’d crawl under his veranda, and discuss Lee’s brother’s Thing! Gordon did love swimming! He went in the sea each day. He went in once too often, for he drowned out in the bay. Those summers on the island seem so very long ago. These days I can’t remember why it is I loved them so … But sometimes, when a nasty pong comes drifting from a drain, It smells just like the Canvey dykes, and I am there again … I’m padding down a sandy path, between two slime-filled ditches, My hair is wet, my skin tastes salt, my swimsuit rubs and itches. I turn the corner of the lane; the graveyard smell is gone … In Grandad’s garden, there’s my Dad! He’s come to take me home! For the uninitiated (or simply younger!), an assegai is an African Zulu warrior's long spear, and tarmacadam is the stuff you put on roads - blacktop!