Southend Pier - Icon or embarassment?

[OldBlueLady]

We lived in Eastwood at the time of the '76 fire, and I remember you could see the glow from there and hear sirens pelting up the A127 (you could in those days!) and the planes going over tot ry and drop water on it.

I also remember before this the pavillion at the end, with the arcades and the tea rooms - and wasn't there a dance hall?

 

[canveyshrimper]

We lived in Eastwood at the time of the '76 fire, and I remember you could see the glow from there and hear sirens pelting up the A127 (you could in those days!) and the planes going over tot ry and drop water on it.

I also remember before this the pavillion at the end, with the arcades and the tea rooms - and wasn't there a dance hall?

There was a dance hall Kay, which became a disco called the Diamond Horseshoe in the early 70's.

 

[OldBlueLady]

There was a dance hall Kay, which became a disco called the Diamond Horseshoe in the early 70's.

Thought so, we always used to go for a brisk walk up the pier on boxing day when I was little. We used to walk all the way from my grandparents' House in Southchurch (Boxing Day was always there) through Southchurch Hall park and on to the seafront and up the pier and back. Have no idea how I managed it at such a young age!

 

[* ORM *]

We saw the smoke from Leigh, where we lived at the time. In the days before local radio, mobile phones and other multimedia, we jumped in the car and went down to Chalkwell where I can remember people just standing watching open mouthed. It is nothing short of DISGUSTING that no administration since then has remotely attempted (other than token efforts) to restore the old girl to anything like a national attraction bringing tens of thousands a year to our town.

Ok, before I get too depressed who remembers the Dalek ? :D

 

[Cricko]

I took Pictures of the fire from The Talk of the South Balcony and had them framed ....:cricko:

 

[J]

the pier is southend to be honest.. and is a national Icon!

 

[Andyhsufc]

the pier is southend to be honest.. and is a national Icon!

Well if thats the case, it doesnt say much about Southend does it. It must be an old, burned out, boring town with nothing in it. Actually, since you mention it.....

 

[blue scorpion]

We saw the smoke from Leigh, where we lived at the time. In the days before local radio, mobile phones and other multimedia, we jumped in the car and went down to Chalkwell where I can remember people just standing watching open mouthed. It is nothing short of DISGUSTING that no administration since then has remotely attempted (other than token efforts) to restore the old girl to anything like a national attraction bringing tens of thousands a year to our town.

Ok, before I get too depressed who remembers the Dalek ? :D

might there not be a problem with the exclusion zone around that boat that sunk with/without the bombs on board...

also, think of all the balls that would fly over the North Bank, and into the drink, never to be seen again after being poached by some chav in a canoe!

I seem to remember some years ago that the council opened a "save the pier fund" but it had to be closed down as, rather embarrassingly, nobody put any money into it.
Therein lies the dilemma.
The problems besetting the pier refllect those of Southend generally.
An almost total lack of imagination and direction by the local council [over generations not simply recently] coupled with a lack of initiative and investment has left this town scruffy and uninviting
Therefore, I fear, the pier will be low on the list of priororities in the town plan[if one even existed] and will continue to exist in its present form for years to come.

Moving on to the Richard Montgomery - no real problem there. Donate the site to borient for a new ground!

 

[adam3811]

its great, but if you travel from afar to see it, your not going to be too impressed