Dagenham

Dagenham swimming pool.

My mum worked at Valence open swimming pool and my aunt worked in the buffet - what a result - in for free and free Oxo after the freezing water.  My mum looked after the ladies locker rooms - she remembers the boys trying to peep over the top of the girls lockers!  She remembers when they closed the pool and she lost her job, and saying 'no' to working at the Dagenham indoor pool, and a little girl drowning and the father saying it would never had happened in Valence pool.  Brilliant childhood memories.
Contributed by First name Last name

Valence swimming pool

I remember Valence swimming pool from the late fifties. I lived in Bushgrove Road and went to Valence School and used to go early on a Saturday morning with my mates to be first in there before the crowds. I couldn't swim, but that didn't matter 'cos I had an old van tyre to keep me afloat (I've still got the damn valve marks in my ribs now). I remember jumping in and not being able to breathe for about a minute due to the temperature (normally about 55 degrees Farenheit, if I remember rightly). It used to be posted on the board outside to let you know what misery you were about to go through. A cup of Oxo and ...read more here
Contributed by Bob Valentine

Dagenham 1934 -1950

My mum and dad were married in Old Dagenham Church and I was christened in the church in the mid thirties. I was educated in Fanshawe School from the infants right through to the secondary school and left school in Xmas 1949. My father owned 'Alberts' boot and shoe repair shop which was situated in a alley, which was access to lock up garages behind 'Gyps' the greengrocers on the corner of Heathway and Parsloes Ave. We lived in Kingsmill Road and my grandparents lived in Fanshawe Cresent opposite the school, and some people might remember that my gran had a monkey which sat on the windowsill in the summer. I will stop at that otherwise I will bore you all ...read more here
Contributed by karl bacon

Shopping at the Heathway

My mother asked me to go to the shops and get some bread at Barton's the bakers.
I was just ten years old. 'But' she said, 'if a raid starts, don't hang about but run straight back home'. I often had to go to the shops, it was never a lot I had to get - mainly just one or two things, and if a raid did start, providing it was relatively quiet, I would always try to get these things. So this day saw me queueing up for bread - you had to queue for everything in those days, when suddenly a distant siren was heard. Everyone shifted about slightly looking about them. Then a more closer siren joined in, ...read more here
Contributed by William Pullum

Memories.

I was married in this church 40 years ago. It was where the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, worshipped. the buildings on the right have been demolished. There used to be a bank, I think it was Barclays, and a small motor repairers called Davies Bros.
Contributed by E Hammond

Heathway Life

I grew up within a few minutes walk of this our local shopping centre.  The photo was taken outside the Fifty Shilling Tailors looking towards Dagenham Heathway Station.  Some of the shops I remember were Day's the newsagents, Meyer's the greengrocers, Gillings the fishmongers run by a pair of identical twins and Jenners which was a general store selling all manner of household equipment, linens, clothing and toys. They also ran a club whereby you could pay for things little by little and when paid for could take your purchases away.  On the other side of the road stood the Church Elm pub, the Post Office and Burton's the Tailors.  Above Burtons was the Snooker Hall and above that the Doughty ...read more here
Contributed by Eileen Hammond

Grange Cinema

This photograph was taken from outside the Grange Cinema. There were three cinemas in Dagenham and The Grange was the smallest. We patronised all three in turn for the Saturday Morning pictures which cost I believe 6d (2 1/2 p.). The parade of shops contained the only bank in the borough and a very busy barbers shop called Viney. My Dad used to work at the Ford Motor Works and when he was on night shift would call at Coleman's the bakers in Goresbrook Road, front of picture, to bring us home hot rolls for breakfast. Just out of shot to the right was the Chequers pub, now alas demolished.
Contributed by Eileen Hammond

Old Dagenham Church

My Mum, Valerie Sands married my Dad, Frank Lyall, in this church in 1953. When they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary they made a lovely album each for us 3 children of their childhood, marriage and up to 2003. A sketched copy of this church made up the front cover. I don't remember going to Dagenham when we still lived in England, but next time I go on holiday to England from South Africa, we are going to go and visit my mother's brother, Mike Sands, who lives in their childhood house in Central Park Avenue.
Contributed by Jane McKinnon

September wedding

I got married in 1968 at The Old Dagenham Church as it was known, although I believe its correct title to be St Peters and Pauls. (Correct me if I am wrong.) The marriage did not last, but I have 3 wonderful children and 2 fabulous grandsons and a new grandchild on the way. The pub opposite the church is the Cross Keys, which my dad Cliff O'Dell frequented with his friend Bill Chalk.
I lived in St Giles Ave, with my mum Eileen and dad, my 2 sisters and my brother Cliff, just a short walk from the church.
Crown Street was a wonderful road with lots of interesting old cottages & shops. The Vicarage I believe is still there, ...read more here
Contributed by First name Last name

childhood memories valence swimming pool

Recently visited Valance Park with my sister Sheila who is visiting from Australia. I live in Bedford, we used to live at 3 Coote Gardens. Memories of the sandpit, paddling pool, bandstand, the parky, football and Valence Park Swimming Pool - cold water temperatures, hot Oxo and a slice of bread and butter for a halfpenny. Shared with great mates, cousins Brian and Pat Kearney, Johnnie Cates, Brian Casey, Eddie Watson. Great community spirit in those days, from 1940 to 1956.
Contributed by terry kavanagh

Valence swimming baths!!

I was bought up in Dagenham and went to Valence swimming pool regularly with my school. If you had signed up to go swimming at the start of the school year you had to go  - whatever the weather!! I always had a cup of Oxo afterwards to warm me up!!  When Dagenham indoor pool was built in the early 70's it seemed like sheer luxury!! What a shame it has become so run-down now.............
Contributed by elaine sutterby

Valence Swimming Pool

I loved Valence swimming pool, I used to have swimming lessons there with Grafton junior school and still remember how cold that water was first thing in the mornings. My father used to buy me a season ticket which cost 7shillings & 6pence  (37p) which allowed me to go swimming when ever I wanted. I was very sad when they closed it, the then new Dagenham swimming pool was never the same. A few years ago I took my dog for a walk over Valence Park and went to where the pool used to be and was amazed at how small it must have been. I would be interested to know when the pool first opened.
Contributed by Carol Wainwright