What an interesting website this is. I grew up during the war in the Goodmays, Seven Kings and Chadwell Heath area. My family were ‘bombed out’ several times. We used an air raid shelter underneath the Seven Kings library where they held concerts most nights. I went to William Torbett and then Downshall when my parents lived at Newbury Park. I finished up at SE Essex Tech. My brother won a scholarship to Beal. I’ve lived in Hampshire now for over 50 years.

I was delighted to find the post on the ‘1952 Ilford Schools Camp’. A wonderful holiday not to be forgotten. I was with the advance party of boys who set up the camp at Rosslaire. The crew of senior boys and four masters went over there about a week before the main body arrived. We spent the time digging latrines, erecting kitchen and dining marquees and putting up lots of those ‘boy scout’ bell tents. After the post war gloom It seemed like the sun shone there every day.

During our stay we were allowed to roam freely, no restrictions or health and safety then. We did caddying on the local golf links to earn some pocket money. We visited Wexford, swam from a wonderful beach, had singsongs round a camp fire, and made friends with local boys and girls. I will be 80 years old this year but remember it as though it was yesterday. A wonderful holiday, and great company of boys and masters.

Website: http://www.michaelkendall.co.uk