My Childhood Days

Peter Hewitt remembers childhood excursions

Do you recall those wonderful days out when the T.U.T.E and the Railway club both very community spirited and well supported, funded the hiring of up to 40 passenger coaches from Grey -Green and Harris. The coaches would park up in Toronto Road awaiting the arrival of the young passengers and carers. This was to give the children of their members a day out for free! The Railway club would take the children to Walton-on-the-Naze and the T.U.T.E to Maldon. However, I do recall also being taken to Chessington Zoo (now Chessington World of Adventures). Members wives played the role of child care, being on the coaches in charge of the children. We were given a lunch bag to consume and with the Walton trip,  tickets to go on the rides on the Pier. Tilbury at this time was a wealthy working man town in which most working men were members of both clubs. In them days we were allowed much more freedom to wander the sites and return to the coaches at a given time. To my knowledge we all enjoyed it very much. On these occasions Tilbury was a very quiet town, all the kids having a great day out. I can recall on our return Tilbury Band would meet us at Feenan Highway and St. Chad’s Road and played whilst leading the coaches in to Tilbury.It was these community spirits that have continued in my life.
Does anyone else recall their days out? It would be good to hear them!!

Comments about this page

Add your own comment

  • I remember those trip, they were such great fun i always looked forward to them every summer, Fun on the coach getting halfway to stop and have drinks and food, loads of freedom to be kids, Tilbury was such a lovely place to live a grow up, what as happen to the place ? i treasure those memories

    Paul Carpenter 

    By Paul Carpenter (28/01/2016)
  • Chonker, see you next year to chew the fat

    Are you still living in Tilbury?

    Keith Luck

     

    By keith luck (24/07/2014)
  • Tilbury had much to offer from Services to and Ship repairs, engineering, Railways, Power Stations the list goes on. Tony we even share the same surname do we share the same family line and Keith I am still called Chonker, (which I am very fond off) by many school friends. I now watch closely and see Tilbury and its new developments and wonder what stories they will bring????????????

    By Peter Hewitt (24/02/2014)
  • Great memories of the trips to Walton on the Naze….would the tide be in or out when we arrived? The stop on the way with the food and bottles of pop, the pier amusements and novelty shops….my nan Collins embedding herself in the Jolly Sailor and the sleepy trip home……wonderful days

    By Tony Hewitt (14/02/2014)
  • I remember when you use to be called Chonker Hewitt!!

    By keith luck (13/11/2013)
  • i remember those day’s they were great ,we would get ticket on the coach so we could have free ride’s when we got there, if i remember right we would get sweet’s and drink , and when we got back to the highway the band would be waiting for the coaches.we would waving out of the window ,and the people would be waiting by the side of the road waving back. great times. elaine holmes [ t / lane ]

    By Elaine Holmes (28/01/2013)
  • I remember going on these outings, especially the singing on the coaches and being met in Feenan Highway by Tilbury Brass Band and led all the way back to Calcutta Road.

    By Jannette Ryder (Gibbons) (16/01/2013)
  • The yearly trips organised by the Railway Club to Walton-on-the-naze,was the high light of the year. I can remember on arrival at the seaside with tickets in hand, rushing to the pier for the free rides on the funfair, what happy memories then and more so now, because I now live just down the road and visit Walton regularly, where I am taken back to those joyous and happy days.

    By JACKIE CLARK (02/01/2013)
  • I remember these so well. As a child it was very exciting. When we were teenagers we didnt need our parents to come with us. Everyone was laughing and having fun and yes there were so many coaches. Ive been back to Walton on Naze a few years back and all the memories came back to me. Wonderful memories

    By Susan Mccrory nee Malthouse (01/10/2012)
  • I remember these trips well, especially The Railway Club to Walton on the Naze. I think my dad used to be on the committee and I usually was in coach no 1, there used to be about 20 coaches I think, it must have been an amazing sight when they all gathered at the bottom of Chadwell Hill on the return and drove very slowly through Tilbury behind Tilbury Silver Band. When we reached the Railway Club all the parents would be waiting to collect their kids.

    By kathryn opie (23/09/2012)
  • I remember the day outings to Maldon..which we called Maldon on the mud……although I also recall the taste of the salty sea water in the so called swimminng pool. Do you remember the hoards of wasps in the cafe comservatory where we ate our cream buns……..memories of so long ago

    By Duncan Grant (14/09/2012)
  • I remember those days Peter, my dad was’nt a member of any club, all my friends went to Maldon one day and because I could’nt go on the coach I jumped on my push bike and rode to Maldon and met up with them, before riding all the way back to Tilbury getting lost in Laindon Hills was i saddle sore you bet.

    By Andy Reynolds (12/09/2012)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.