THIS week in Down Memory Lane we visit Tilbury Docks to witness a sporting occasion captured by the national press 58 years ago.

A reminiscence by Audrey Richards, of Tilbury, was stimulated by the Tilbury centenary celebrations this year and she kindly sent in our featured photograph. Audrey’s father was Lenny Carter, known as Kingy to his fellow dockers.

One of his favourite memories was watching the embarkation of the England cricket team as they left via Tilbury for their winter tour of Australia in October 1954.

Lenny was working on the loading of the Orient liner Orsova and due to take a four week journey to Australia via the Suez Canal.

The national press were present to record the team leaving for what they hoped would be a successful tour.

That week the photograph was published in a daily newspaper and was cut out and prized by Lenny as he and fellow dockers were in the photograph looking down on the cricket team on the deck below.

Sadly Kingy died suddenly only two years later.

Audrey mislaid the cutting over the coming years, but having read a Down Memory Lane article on the town’s centenary in the Thurrock Gazette, she decided to track down the photograph.

Spending several hours on the internet trawling through the archives of photographs in the major daily newspapers, she discovered it was published in the Daily Mirror in 1954, and bought a copy.

Her father is the man with the cap leaning over the railings second from the right.

If you have enjoyed all the Tilbury centenary events so far do not miss Totally Tilbury on Saturday, November 3, at Tilbury Riverside terminus, from 2pm.

Tickets are available at the Thameside Theatre box office at £3.