Na rathaidean fada, lùbach tro Chuimrigh agus Alba

Day 54: 2nd May – Southend-on-sea

Today’s trivia is Southend-on-sea:

Is the world’s longest iron pleasure pier, at 2.158km long.
The Pier was originally a wooden structure built in 1830. It has been rebuilt several times over the years.
In May 1915, Southend was a one of the first air raid victims of the First World War. Bombs were dropped by hand from a Zeppelin airship.
Is the largest town in Essex.
The town has its very own airport flying to places like Poland, Geneva, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Berlin.
It is officially the warmest and driest place in the UK.
In the 1860’s steamers used to cross the Estuary from Southend to Rochester, Sheerness and Gravesend in Kent.
It has seven miles of seafront, a mix of family-friendly pebbly and sandy beaches.
During the 18th century, Southend started to become a recognised name as a “bathing town”.
Parts of the town, in particular the route to the airport, were featured in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, when James Bond followed Goldfinger to Southend Airport for a flight out to Zurich.
The Pier was taken over by the Navy during World War Two to act as a departure point for convoys. The town was sealed off during the war and was renamed HMS Westcliff. It was out of bounds to all except the military and those residents who had not been compulsorily relocated for the duration of the conflict.
Bare-chested men are banned from the Adventure Island, the town’s theme park. New rules say they need to keep their tops on in line with American theme parks, where being bare-chested isn’t deemed to be family-friendly.

I asked and the hotel kindly supplied free of charge . . .

razor that isn’t much better, although no cuts today🙏

and a bit more on our favourite Caffè . . .

Past George for breakfast . . .

Told reception the air con came on again at midnight, they apologised and said had a few issues on level seven. They’d look into it (again). After breakfast, checked on status, to be told G2G and here’s two £18 drink vouchers for your troubles. Nice.

Where’s Wally’s crew at Stratford Station . . .

On the 1.5hr train trip we did a fly-by visit to the 12th century Hadliegh Castle . . .

Hadleigh was begun in about 1215 by Hubert de Burgh, but extensively refortified by Edward III during the Hundred Years War, becoming a favourite residence of the ageing king.

Southend-on-sea is in a different world, very few dogs, lots of young poeple and families and it is seems to be well spread out and less of a Scarborough we saw on our drive-by tour the other day.

I can’t believed that I paid to walk the pier . . .

Over at the theme park, there’s the usual teenage screams (sorry no sound). . .

Note to self, for each form of transport remember to tap off after journey, even if it means having to go through barriers and back in (which could be a 10min exercise). We didn’t for the return trip on the c2c line and underground. Luckily we had an understanding attendant at Holburn underground station.

and in Russel Square, opposite the hotel we were treated to Bushy the nutcracker. . .