A fine article which reminds us of the nature, and great value, of Essex and its people. ‘Chips’ Channon was an odd customer but Sir David Amess was a fine man, the feelings aroused by whose loss, as the writer notes, are visceral and hard to absorb; I should say beyond comprehension. I was born in Clacton so Essex is close to my heart. Many thanks.
In this respect Jonathan Meades’ “The Joy of Essex” is well worth watching as an affectionate paean to the county. Strange to say, despite being from Kent I have never been to Essex, it was always seen as a sort of black hole of vulgarity, not unlike that portrayed in the infamous Spitting Image song.
Last edited 2 years ago by Ferrusian Gambit
Ferrusian Gambit
2 years ago
A very interesting article: albeit one that perhaps paints an overly rosy image by glossing over Southend’s reputation as a nest of organised crime in recent decades.
Last edited 2 years ago by Ferrusian Gambit
Tony Taylor
2 years ago
Southend has the longest *pleasure* pier in the world.
Last edited 2 years ago by Tony Taylor
Christopher Peter
2 years ago
I’m a Southend lad myself (well, Rochford), and still have family there so visit regularly. My perception is that it hasn’t changed too much over the years, except that inequality may have increased – house prices have shot up, not only in the posher areas like Leigh and Thorpe Bay, and the seafront is smarter and a bit less dodgy than days of yore, but I was shocked walking down the High Street a couple of years ago to see so many beggars (which used to be very unusual).
Not sure I’d ever have described it as an especially low crime area though. I mean there are worse places, but Heffer clearly hasn’t experienced Southend nightlife.
Christopher Peter
2 years ago
I’m a Southend lad myself (well, Rochford), and still have family there so visit regularly. My perception is that it hasn’t changed too much over the years, except that inequality may have increased – house prices have shot up, not only in the posher areas like Leigh and Thorpe Bay, and the seafront is smarter and a bit less dodgy than days of yore, but I was shocked walking down the High Street a couple of years ago to see so many beggars (which used to be very unusual).
Not sure I’d ever have described it as an especially low crime area though. I mean there are worse places, but Heffer clearly hasn’t experienced Southend nightlife.
Bob Pugh
2 years ago
Having lived on the opposite side of the estuary for many years I never understood why it wasn’t named Eastend as it is at the eastern end of the Thames and not the south end of anything.
To answer the comment I believe it was literally the south end of Prittlewell; an ancient village to the north. Southend was a “new town” created in the Victorian era by the railway.
I grew up there in the 70s and 80s. Would never describe the place as “sedate”. In a million years. I like Simon Heffer’s writing but I am not sure he knows South East Essex so well, which is understandable.
The various films associated with the Rettendon Turnpike murders of 1995 (eg Essex Boys) and the spoof TV series White Gold about the world of double glazing selling sum up the culture far more as I would see it. I did go back briefly a couple of years ago and agree fully with Simon that it has not changed so much though. Still very 80s in feel.
Sir David was already a local MP (for Basildon) when I left the area at the end of the 80s. So his murder is in many ways a sad landmark from a personal perspective. It’s the loss of an element of continuity from one’s youth when MPs had a much higher local celebrity status than they do today.
A fine article which reminds us of the nature, and great value, of Essex and its people. ‘Chips’ Channon was an odd customer but Sir David Amess was a fine man, the feelings aroused by whose loss, as the writer notes, are visceral and hard to absorb; I should say beyond comprehension. I was born in Clacton so Essex is close to my heart. Many thanks.
In this respect Jonathan Meades’ “The Joy of Essex” is well worth watching as an affectionate paean to the county. Strange to say, despite being from Kent I have never been to Essex, it was always seen as a sort of black hole of vulgarity, not unlike that portrayed in the infamous Spitting Image song.
A very interesting article: albeit one that perhaps paints an overly rosy image by glossing over Southend’s reputation as a nest of organised crime in recent decades.
Southend has the longest *pleasure* pier in the world.
I’m a Southend lad myself (well, Rochford), and still have family there so visit regularly. My perception is that it hasn’t changed too much over the years, except that inequality may have increased – house prices have shot up, not only in the posher areas like Leigh and Thorpe Bay, and the seafront is smarter and a bit less dodgy than days of yore, but I was shocked walking down the High Street a couple of years ago to see so many beggars (which used to be very unusual).
Not sure I’d ever have described it as an especially low crime area though. I mean there are worse places, but Heffer clearly hasn’t experienced Southend nightlife.
I’m a Southend lad myself (well, Rochford), and still have family there so visit regularly. My perception is that it hasn’t changed too much over the years, except that inequality may have increased – house prices have shot up, not only in the posher areas like Leigh and Thorpe Bay, and the seafront is smarter and a bit less dodgy than days of yore, but I was shocked walking down the High Street a couple of years ago to see so many beggars (which used to be very unusual).
Not sure I’d ever have described it as an especially low crime area though. I mean there are worse places, but Heffer clearly hasn’t experienced Southend nightlife.
Having lived on the opposite side of the estuary for many years I never understood why it wasn’t named Eastend as it is at the eastern end of the Thames and not the south end of anything.
To answer the comment I believe it was literally the south end of Prittlewell; an ancient village to the north. Southend was a “new town” created in the Victorian era by the railway.
I grew up there in the 70s and 80s. Would never describe the place as “sedate”. In a million years. I like Simon Heffer’s writing but I am not sure he knows South East Essex so well, which is understandable.
The various films associated with the Rettendon Turnpike murders of 1995 (eg Essex Boys) and the spoof TV series White Gold about the world of double glazing selling sum up the culture far more as I would see it. I did go back briefly a couple of years ago and agree fully with Simon that it has not changed so much though. Still very 80s in feel.
Sir David was already a local MP (for Basildon) when I left the area at the end of the 80s. So his murder is in many ways a sad landmark from a personal perspective. It’s the loss of an element of continuity from one’s youth when MPs had a much higher local celebrity status than they do today.