Memories of Kathleen Walden (nee Martin)

A life in Billericay

Kathleen Walden on her 90th birthday
Claire Morley
Kath & Arthur Walden (centre) with their children Margaret (in Kaths arm's) & Leslie with Kath's parents Mary & Ernest Martin, sister Hazel Morley & niece Susan Morley
Claire Morley

 

These reminiscences were collected during Kath’s 90th Birthday celebrations on 2nd January 2016.

I went to school at GreatBursteadCountyPrimary School in Laindon Road. Miss Bartlett was the PE teacher I think. 

I then went to Billericay school. I was in Effingham house, the other houses were Grenville, Raleigh and Drake. Effingham’s colour was red. I remember Wilson Martin was one of the teachers.

I received a book for being monitor from Mrs. Cochran who I think lived in Lion Lane.

We used to play netball and shinty (a type of hockey). 

I left school at 14 and looked after the house for a time as my mother was ill. My mother used to work for Dr. Wilson and I sometimes went to work for him instead of Mother.

I was in church with my friends – sisters Meg and Chris Halls, when war was declared, the sirens went off and we all ran home to School Road.

I used to take ‘Aunt’ Emily to church at St Mary’s in the High Street. She lived with people called Hoisted in Chapel   Street. We went to Sunday School every third Sunday in the High Street and also sometimes to a Sunday School in South Green.

I was on the doorstep at home with my Mother and our neighbours the Kendal’s when a Germany bomber flew past so low that we could see the pilots. Mr. Kendal said if he had had his gun he could have shot them down! During the war I rarely went into the air raid shelter with the rest of my family, when the raids happened at night I insisted on staying in bed! 

I remember a Rosaire’s circus christening with the elephants pushing the pram to the christening at St Mary’s church in the High Street.

We used to go to a club called the Ace of Clubs over the Co-op at the bottom of the High Street.

My first full time job was at Speeds Café when our family friend Lil Stewart told us there was a job available there. The Stewart’s lived in a cottage opposite St Andrew’s Hospital. Speeds Café was at the bottom end of the High Street where the Kamble take away is today.

At the cafe I was a waitress. Speeds also had a removals business.

One of the girls I worked with was Pat Sutton, she was one of my bridesmaids when I got married. Her father had a shop in the High Street. 

I first met my husband Arthur Walden in the café when he was on leave from the navy. When he was demobbed he drove cattle lorries for Mason’s in London Road; Arthur would call into the café every day on his way to the farms. 

We went to the fair at Sun Corner for our first date. We were married when I was 21 in 1947 at St Mary’s in the High Street, by Rev Smith who had christened me. He lived in Laindon Road. Arthur and I were married for nearly 65 years.

When we first got married we lived with my parents, as the house we were going to rent from Palmer’s fell through; Arthur worked for Palmer’s at the time. Then we went to live with Arthur’s parents as his Mum was ill. We moved to Hart Street in Brentwood in the early 50’s, that house was also owned by Palmer’s. Arthur later went to work for the Post Office.

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  • This is so interesting. My name is Walden. Both my parents moved to Billericay in the late 1920s. I was born at St Andrews Hospital in 1950. Dad was known as Bill Walden. He was in the Royal Navy during the war and married my mum Eileen Tucker in 1947. Mum lived in School Road and also knew the Attridges. I have never heard of Arthur Walden. Could we have a connection I wonder? Mum and Dad also went to the school in Laindon Road as did I around 1955. I had the same teacher there as my mum. Her name was Miss Ager.

    By Terry Walden (02/03/2024)
  • I grew up with Cathy Martin in School Road, but I am 2 years older than her. She married my cousin Arthur who was my Aunt Lizzie Attridge’s son. I lost touch with School Road residents due to the war, but I have lived in Billericay all my life. I later learned that Cathy was married and living in Brentwood. Its nice to hear her experiences from that time on and I hope she is keeping well. I am always happy to hear from old friends.

    By Hilda Sherry (nee Attridge) (22/02/2016)
  • Interesting to hear about life in Billericay in the early part of the 20th Century. I wish Kathleen well for the future

    By Mitchell Vaughan (21/02/2016)

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