THIS week in Down Memory TLane I recall the memories of the disastrous floods that hit Thurrock on the night of January 31, 1953, an experience that sadly has hit many recently with the heavy rains we have been having.

In 1953, storms, wind and a subsequent surge tide caused exceptional high water levels down the eastern coastal areas and into the Thames .

Here, seawalls broke at many places, both in Thurrock and on Canvey.Tilbury town suffered worst, as it affected an entire community, but damage also happened on the Corringham/Fobbing marshes, and in Grays andWestThurrock, mainly to factories .

Only one death at Tilbury wa s reported, that of Charlotte Wood, 79, of Manor Road, compared to some 3,000 in Holland.

After the initial rescues by civil defence, police and the Army, the Women’s Voluntary Service and St John Ambulance cared for the displaced families.

The next operation was to plug the numerous seawall breaks with sandbags.

This was difficult and arduous, as on each high tide, seawater poured back through the breaks. There was also disruption to telephones, power, public transport and most riverside factories, which now had to be pumped dry and cleaned up, before production of petrol, margarine , paper and cement could be started again.

Thurrock Urban District Council started to make inroads drying out housesinTilbury with huge industrial heaters – actually RAF de-icing machines.

Morale was boosted with the arrival of the Queen to survey the disaster, along with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

Many people saw her at Tilbury, where she visited houses in Feenan Highway, Lansdowne School and then Chadwell St Mary Primary School, which were being used as temporary accommodation fo r flooded-out families .

The Queen also visited Thames Board Mills, at West Thurrock, and the East Tilbury Bata Shoe Company. She was guided on her tours by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Colonel Whitmore, of Orsett Hall.

It would be several months before life got back to normal and the Government funded an upgrade to theThamesseawalls. At least we had the Queen’s Coronation to witnessin June, 1953, giving everybody something to celebrate.

DOWN MEMORY LANE is written by local historian JONATHAN CATTON, in partnership with Thurrock Museum. Memories, photographs or objects relating to Thurrock’s past will be gratefully received for the museum collections. Contact by letter at Thurrock Museum, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX, make a personal visit, or email Thurrock.Museum@thurrock.gov.uk