Charlie or Waggy as he was called, a name given to him following his friendship with a dog of the same name, when he was a child growing up in Stepney. He married Annie Lilian Hackett on Tuesday 17 July 1945 at the Holy Trinity Church, Stepney, London . Both were 22 years of age, Charlie was still listed as being a Rifleman and Annie was listed as working in a brewery, place of resident was 16 Grantly Street .
Annie was born on Tuesday 21 November 1922, as with Charlie the short birth certificate only gives the registration district as Mile End Old Town. Registration did not occur until the 1 January 1923. Her parents were Phillip Henry Hackett, known by the name of Harry and Eleanor Elizabeth nee Moore. Annie was the youngest of five children and spent all her early life in Stepney where she new Charlie from a very young age.
Both Annie and Charles were born following the conclusion of the First World War in November 1918, the war-time coalition government, led by Prime Minister David Lloyd George, was returned to power, promising to build 'a land fit for heroes to live in'. However, after a brief spell of post-war prosperity, industrial profits and wages began to fall and demobilised soldiers found it difficult or impossible to find jobs.
By the summer of 1921 there were over two million people unemployed and strikes were on the increase. There was widespread suffering and deprivation. The Lloyd George coalition government collapsed after a series of scandals in 1922 and the country's economic crisis continued to worsen. A series of short-term governments attempted to cope with the crisis, including, from 1924, Britain's first Labour government under Ramsay MacDonald. [1]
They both attended Ben Johnson Primary School at Harford Street, which Annie could see from the three-storey flats where her family lived.
In early childhood in Stepney Charlie and his parents lived in a variety of rented homes including Eastfield Street in 1923, Taylors Place in 1924, at 16 Turners Road in 1925 and 51 Emmott Street by 1932, it was around this time that he first met Annie, even though he was in the same school from the age of five.
Life was bad enough for these families and the General Strike in early May 1926, in support of a strike by coal miners over the issue of threatened wage cuts would have not made it any easier. The strike only involved certain key industrial sectors in the docks, electricity, gas and railways but, in the face of well-organised government emergency measures and lack of real public support, it collapsed after nine days.
It was during this period that the family lost their second son Henry Robert John Raynham R56 in 1927; he was just six months old. However on Tuesday 9 July 1929 his late sister Iris Catherine Raynham R28 was born.
Throughout the 1920s the period suffered from economic and industrial depression but the worst period followed the crash of the Wall Street financial markets in 1929. For Britain, unemployment peaked just below three million in 1932. A year before, in August, the Labour government had resigned and been replaced by a Conservative-dominated National Government. Although the British economy stabilised under the National Government and unemployment began a steady decline after1935, it was only with re-armament in the period immediately before the outbreak of World War Two that the worst of the Depression could be said to be over.
A typical 1930 road scene, not much sign of the Depression here
The only school photo that is available shows Annie at the age of 11 years; she is on the far right in the bottom row. The post card photo was possibly taken just before she left to attend senior school that autumn.
Around 1933 on a visit to relatives in Dagenham
The photo above shows Annie in the bottom row right with her Mum in centre and Dad, right of centre. Also Doris, bottom row in centre and Annie's lifelong friend & cousin. This possibly represented one of only a few outings for Annie and her family. Holidays for the poor of the east London were non-existent, the first cheap steamboats took passengers to Gravesend and Southend, Margate and Ramsgate, using the River Thames.
Although the railway had already made seaside resorts equally accessible. Towns like Brighton and Blackpool grew rapidly and began to attract holiday-makers from the working class. In 1925 1.5 million workers were enjoying holiday with pay even though that year a bill for compulsory annual paid holidays was introduced unsuccessfully, this certainly did not apply to CWS drivers.
One of the earliest holiday camps for the less well off was Cunningham's Young Men's Holiday Camp, which was established towards the end of the 19th century on the Isle of White. But it was nothing like William Butlin's vision of a holiday camp. Appalled at what was available to many poorer holiday-makers, he bought a field in Skegness for £300 and opened his first Butlins there in 1936. A guest paid from 35s to ?3 per day, about ?90 and £153 today [2] and for that they got accommodation, entertainment and three meals. This was still a lot of money for some families and the only way for them to escape their normal routine was to work, for example, in Kent's hop fields. Something which Annie's cousin Doris had experience off.
At the relative young age of 13 years Charles lost his mother to tuberculosis in 1936, she was 36 years of age and from family memories had tremendous energy and drive. The photo below is believed to have been taken at a TB sanatorium in Carshalton, Surrey in 1936 just prior to her death.
Catherine Lilian Ada Raynham nee Coram
Charles and sister Iris in 1937
To celebrate the Coronation of King George V1 in May 1937, the family had a photo taken of their two children, see above. It appears to have been taken in a studio at Old Ford, Bow E3, Charles was aged 14 and Iris 7 years of age. During his childhood in Stepney he spent many hours in the local "flea" pit cinema watching his favourite western cowboys films. In those days these would have been silent black and white films and later in the 1930s films with sound.
Charles and Annie attended the local schools including Trafalgar Square School , White Horse Lane, Stepney E1 and in December 1936 Annie received the following comments in her Testimonial " excellent character, steady, painstaking and reliable, very neat in her person, quiet in manner". When she left school in 1936 at the age of 14 years Annie and family were living at 34 Victoria Dwellings .
Charles received the following comments, in a memorandum dated 21 July 1937 from his headmaster " he (Charles) is a quiet plodding lad who has reached the highest class --- his best subject is Composition---- He is bright and respectful and should make a good worker."
It was probably that autumn that he left full time education and commenced working with his Dad at the Cooperative Wholesale Society (CWS ) in one of their east end depots. He was employed as a van boy assisting the driver to deliver goods to the regional retail Cooperative shops around London and the surrounding counties. In his early years with the CWS he would have accompanied his Dad in his CWS red livery lorry. The CWS was to be the cornerstone of Charlie's working life and indeed very much dominated his social and domestic life.
Trips on trams would have been the only affordable public transport for Annie and Charles. The 1938 photo above has a tram going to Aldgate near the City of London
Annie had occasional day trips to the Essex coastal resorts, many with her cousin Doris Enemy nee Moore who she has remained in contact throughout her life. Travelling by car was a very dangerous experience in those days, with three million vehicles the annual death toll exceeded 6,500 [3] . Today with over 24,000,000 vehicles the death has dropped below 3,600.
Annie and Doris at Ramsgate, Kent in 1939
World War Two in Europe began on the 3 September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany after Adolf Hitler had refused to cancel his invasion of Poland. Poland, whose territorial integrity had been guaranteed by Britain and France in March 1939. Following several months of 'phoney war', Hitler invaded France and the BeNeLux countries, which fell to him in June 1940. Britain endured the Blitz and feared invasion until the Battle of Britain in September 1940 secured superiority of the skies.
Annie at the outbreak of World War 2 was still a teenager and she was employed in the printing industry and her weeks wages were 10 shillings, this is around £25 today. The war has caused a shortage of workers, with men being called up for military service and therefore women were being recruited in what had been traditional male work. Annie would have expected to go and do her bit and recruitment was being undertaken for the munitions factories in the Midlands.
However Annie had responsibility for the care of her invalided mother, Eleanor Hackett, who at the outbreak of war would have been aged around 50 years. As an alternative to munitions Annie took employment in a brewery as her contribution to the war effort. Of interest when she got married in 1945 she had to leave the brewery, as they did not employ married women. [4]
Annie and Dad, Harry at Pontsarrn, Cefn Coed,
South Wales in 1941
At the outbreak of war Charles was 16 years of age and began his National Service, when called up for military service and on Thursday 29 January 1942 [5] . He enlisted at Shoeburyness, Essex , a small town close to Southend by the River Thames Estuary. He was described as being 5 foot 91/2 inches tall, 144 lbs weight, [6] of fresh complexion, very dark hair, brown eyes and having a scar on his left calf and right eyelid.
Charles in 1942
Charles was 18 years of age at enlistment and completed various training courses including gas chamber, driving, mustard gas and five weeks with Carrier Platoon. He was also tested on his marching abilities, throwing grenades, mortar and artillery training; all this training was carried out from enlistment date to the 29 May 1944. Although training appeared to be completed he was given no embarkation leave. Clearly the build up to D Day on the 6 June 1944 would have been only days away.
Charlie, third from left, second row from top; photo
believed to have been taken during his training
In June 1941, Hitler extended the war to the east by invading the Soviet Union, thereby making war on two fronts. The war further escalated on 7th December 1941 when America declared war on the Japanese after they bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbour. Hitler's declaration of war on America proved to be his undoing. With American entry, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill felt certain of ultimate victory.
In England many cities were affected by the Blitz. Blitzkrieg, the German word for 'lightning strike', was applied by the British press to the tempest of heavy and frequent bombing raids carried out over Great Britain in 1940 and 1941. This concentrated direct bombing of industrial targets and civilian centres began on 7th September 1940 with heavy raids on London. The scale of the attack rapidly escalated. In that month alone, the German Air Force dropped 5300 tons of high explosives on the capital in just 24 nights. In their efforts to 'soften up' the British population and to destroy morale before the planned invasion, German planes extended their targets to include the major coastal ports and centres of production and supply.
Many children were evacuated to safer rural areas creating a social phenomenon that remains uppermost in the minds of the nation even today. Annie in the meantime had suffered the Blitz the East End had a fair proportion of these attacks with its heavy concentration of docklands and munition factories and Annie can recollect having to spend time in an air raid shelter built alongside a canal. As she says "if we weren't bombed out, we could have drowned". The bombing was terrible and on one occasion she saw a "buzz" or V1 rocket flying overhead and ran as fast as she could until she was at home.
Many people used air raid shelters that they had dug in their gardens, where room was available, otherwise they used the nearest underground railway station. This involved taking your blankets, hot tea and sandwiches. She could recollect the horrendous bombing near Bethnal Green Station and many people were killed in the rush to get into the station. In fact the true story [7] was that on Friday 5 March 1943 the air raid sirens having sounded at 8.17 pm saw 1,500 people rushing to the shelter in the space of 10 minutes.
With many more following a nearby new rocket batteries in Victoriaa Park opened up with a terrifying screech never heard before. This sudden noise caused panic and one woman lost her footing and within 90 seconds 173 people lay dead, suffocated or severe crush injuries; the dead included 44 children.
It is sometimes said that Hitler did more for slum clearance than would have happened if it ad been left to Goverments. Pity that it took a war to deal with the overcrowding and in-sanitary conditions that hundreds of families had to endure.
Not an untypical East End scene during the Blitz, the above bombing having taken place in September 1940 [8]
Whilst on leave from the Army, Charlie had some home leave and he and Annie visited the local cinema on a Saturday night, nothing unusual except on this night on leaving the cinema they noticed fire engines and hoses spread all over the road, with water everywhere. The Germans had bombed the City, buildings and homes leaving a trail of death and dispair.
It is difficult to visualise just what it must have been like to experience those times, we know from contemporary reports that the number of deep air raid shelters were inadequate. The cost of providing more was prohibitive, they took time to build and the Mayor of Stepney Frank Lewey was on record as stating that anyone asking for them must be a fool. Because the Germans would not bomb London and fancy being afraid of the Germans, and so nothing was done.
The arrangements for dealing suddem mass demands for clothing, food and sanitation were totally inadequate. As for the continuing education of displaced children no one had visualised what to do, the provision of static water reservoirs, rescue apparatus was lacking. As for fire-watchers they were as rare as Martians. [9]
Queuing was very much the order of the day, rumours would abound about which shops had deliveries of food items and Annie would take her turn to line up. Some of the goods on offer included tins of corn beef, bananas and tins of whale meat, not many takers for that. The ration books would be marked off by the shopkeeper so that you could not line up a second time.
Charlie served with the Royal Artillery and the 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (RUF) and held the rank of Rifleman (Rfn). His period of service states that he was with the former from his enlistment in 1942 through to the 14 December 1948, however he served with the RUF from the 15 December 1943 to the 4 February 1947. During his time with the RUF he was employed as a driver, official documents [10] describe him as being of quite disposition, having considerable common sense and works well.
According to family and certainly according to Charlie himself he spent his time during the invasion of Europe dodging senior officers and "collecting" war booty from the occupying German forces. He had many stories to tell the most frequently told was the burying of some valuable booty in a Belgium field, this was to be collected later and smuggled back into England. However the best laid plans were doomed to failure as he and I assume his fellow soldiers never did return and he was said that somewhere out there was one rich Belgium farmer.
Of the 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles there history during the northwest European tour, 1944 to 1945 was published in a detailed document. [11] The Battalion was first introduced in the summer of 1942 and began retraining for D Day near the end of 1943. The Battalion beachhead was a spot slightly west of Ouistreham in Normandy, just above the town of Caen. The journey from England across the English Channel was uneventful, with a relative calm sea and took about two hours.
The first landing occurred at 10.00am on the 6 June 1944 and proved to be very difficult and uncomfortable, with some Riflemen landing in four to six feet of water. In addition to their normal kit many were carrying a bicycle! Few casualties were experienced on the beach, those there were being from shell and mortar fire. Which company Charlie was in is not stated in the official documents but there is an official unit stamp, which clearly shows that he was in "S" Company at the end of the war. This appears to have been a Support Company to the Battalion and there are very few references to "S" Company in the document dedicated to their history during this campaign. [12]
The campaign took them from the beachhead above Cain, through Cain, towards Troarn and across northeast France. Through Belgium, Holland and into Germany and through Berlin. The sacrifice amounted to 49 officers, 733 other ranks killed, wounded or missing, this being virtually the complete turnover of a single Battalion.
Victory in Europe or as was known VE day was celebrated on Friday 8 June 1945, Charlie was still in service with the RUF and served in Egypt and Palestine during late 1945 and 1946 but found time to marry Annie in July of 1945, the ceremony was held up due to fact that the officiating vicar had just heard that his son had been killed in the war.
Even before the war had ended reform of the country was clearly going to happen for the people of Britain beginning with the Education Act in 1944, which raised the age of school-leavers to 15 and provided grammar, technical and modern schools, and grants for university students. Too late for Annie and Charles.
A further series of Acts provided a variety of insurance for the following: special care for the very young and the elderly, and a free health service for all British citizens; the NHS was born in those immediate post war years.
A general election took place in July 1945 and the Labour party gained its first landslide majority over the Conservatives. Winston Churchill's success in war was not to be underestimated but the electorate had not forgotten the 30s when, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he had caused the value of the pound to rise thus deepening economic depression. It was Clement Atlee who in the end signed the Potsdam Agreement with Stalin and Truman, which divided Germany into four zones to be occupied by the Allies.
Charlie on leave August 1945 in Blankenberghe, Belgium
On Monday 22 October 1945 Charles and Annie's first child, Robert Charles Raynham was born at the Tyringham House, "East End Maternity Hospital", Tyringham-cum-Filgrave, Filgrave Road, Olney East End Maternity Hospital\", Tyringham-cum-Filgrave, Filgrave Road, Olney" , Buckinghamshire a small parish two and half miles north of Newport Pagnell. Throughout World War 2 [13] it was normal at that time for pregnant mothers to be evacuated to maternity hospitals away from the dangers of the Blitz. The East End Maternity Hospital was a converted country manor house set in the heart of the country. [14]
Birth weight was given as 6lbs 12ozs and delivered at 5.00 pm, attending doctor was Hayman Jones. [15] No one from the family was at the birth; Charlie was still on active service and was informed of the birth by telegram [16] . The news was sent to a field post office somewhere in Egypt on Saturday 3 November 1945, twelve days after the birth. The message read:
"SON BORN MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU GOOD LUCK
ANN RAYNHAM"
Robert (Bob) at seven weeks
Charles had clearly received the telegram for on the same day he wrote a letter to Annie congratulating her on the birth and asking to look after herself.
A chapter has been produced for the early years of Robert and can viewed on this CD, much of the content of this chapter relating to life in east London has been derived from Robert's chapter.
Following the birth Annie and the baby returned to the two rooms at 11 Nicholas Road, Stepney and was baptised Saturday 15 December 1945 at St Michael's and All Angels, Little Ilford, Manor Park, London E12. It is likely that the above photo was taken at this time.
On Monday 30 September 1946 [17] the family were re-housed to 8 Palm Street , Bow E3. The accommodation was specially built prefabricated single storey houses, known as "prefabs" and occupied land that had been cleared following WW2 bombing. [18] The house was the standard cottage bungalow style with two bedrooms, living room, inside toilet, fitted kitchen and what always appeared to be a large, but bomb-damaged garden. Many a time large lumps of fused building material was unearthed in the garden. The accommodation was a significant improvement on the Victorian housing that dominated the East End.
The amenities included many "mod cons" such as an electric cooker, washing boiler, fridge and off course inside privy and hot running water, as far cry from the overcrowded and cramped accommodation, bed sharing and poor sanitary facilities which they and others in east London would have experienced. Everybody new your business and much of life was spent out of doors the "comforts" of home that we take for granted today were non-existent before the war. Television, three piece suites, modern electrical appliances were years away for many East End families.
Palm Street comprised of a row of original Victorian terraced housing with prefabs having been built on the site of damaged or totally destroyed terraced housing that had been bombed during the war. At the bottom of the road was a high brick wall, which prevented access to the Regent's Canal and adjacent to this was the Palm Tree Public House . It was possible to identify the extent of the bomb damaged area and it is likely that the seat of the explosion was at the junction of Green Street , Totty and Lessada Street where we used to play in the bomb crater. Advertising billboards had surrounded the crater but these were no deterrent to us kids who wanted to play.
The Labour Government had many plans for dealing with the aftermath of the war and the need to clear sub-standard Victorian housing. In addition to "temporary" pre-fab they embarked on the construction of high density high rise housing. The photo below shows one example, note the Victorian terraced houses in the foreground. By an amazing coincidence one of the new blocks of flats on this Ocean Estate was named Raynham House, no not named after one of East End Raynhams but in fact after the area of north Norfolk which has three small Raynham villages.
The winter of 1946/47 proved to be one of the worst in living memory with January temperatures falling to -27 degrees C with chaos on the roads and power cuts, adding to the misery was a strike of road haulage workers leaving families having to have meatless weekends and facing growing shortages of other food and coal. Although the pre-fab was new its thermal insulation was non-existent, and the paper-thin asbestos board walls would have offered minimal protection from the cold.
Charlie in the Palm Tree enjoying a game
of cards around 1950
Charlie continued to work for the CWS , following demobilisation from the Army [19] and in due course three more children arrived, Irene in 1947, John in 1949 and Michael in 1953. Surprise to the family was when Julie was born in June 1959, when Annie was 36 years of age at the Mile End Hospital, Stepney, London E1.
The new Labour Government in spite of the reforming enthusiasm and experience of many members of Prime Minister Attlee's cabinet, were still having to deal with an era of austerity as the devastating economic impact of the war became eviden.
The best remembered achievements of the Labour period include the founding of the National Health Service in 1946, and the nationalisation of many industries including coal in 1946, electricity in 1947 and the railways in 1948. Consumer choice remained limited, however, as the rationing of food, petrol and many other items had to continue even after war had ended.
A series of economic crises, including the failed attempt to make the pound convertible with the dollar in 1947, and the drastic devaluation of the pound against the dollar in 1949, was evidence of Britain's economic decline and her new dependence on the USA. A trade revival began as a result.
The four eldest children were baptised, Irene on the 21 December 1947 at St Michaels Church, London E12. This is possibly the same church that Robert was baptised two years earlier and the only connection to the family was that Charles's father and stepmother lived nearby. John was baptised on the 19 March 1950 at St Barnabus Church , Bethnal Green, short a short distance from Palm Street.
Michael was also baptised at St Barnabus on the 7 June 1950.
However later Michael was also enrolled at the Victoria Park Baptist Sunday School in October 1953, no doubt making sure his spiritual needs would be well taken care off.
In 1951 Churchill became prime minister again aged 76. The Conservatives accepted the social legacy of Labour, although they privatised road haulage and steel production. Churchill's health was deteriorating; he suffered a stroke in 1953 but persisted in carrying on until April 1955, he finally resigned in favour of Anthony Eden, who lasted less than two years.
After the death of her father, George VI, who died of a coronary thrombosis after treatment for lung cancer, Elizabeth took the throne in 1952. She was crowned queen the following year on 2 June. Her coronation was a splendid affair and was given lavish television coverage, thus increasing the new queen's popularity. On the day, over 20 million people watched the event; many of them having to visit the homes of television owners of which there were a mere two million. Yes the Raynhams watched it on their own black and white 12" Murphy. The Coronation was watched world-wide - a film canister was flown to Canberra, for example, by Jet bombers.
Life for Annie and the family was hard, money was also tight and was supplemented by part time early morning cleaning by Annie in the offices at the City of London. Charles on his part was always looking to earn some extra in many of his deals, usually involving some dubious property. Later he became involved with the Transport & General Workers Union and received a commission of 10% on the membership fees that were collected.
This has been estimated to be worth about ?3. 2s a week or about ?41 today. Such was the level of this untaxed income that it was not unusual for Dad not to have to open his own CWS wage packet, the wage for a driver in those days was about ?5 per week. Times indeed were getting better in the mid to late fifties, holidays at Warner's Holiday Camps at Corton in Suffolk and Seaton in Devon were a vast improvement on the odd week in a caravan in a farmer's field or a weekend in a windswept caravan site at Mill Beach near Maldon in Essex .
At these camps Charlie encouraged all the children to enter the children's sports events and it was not unusual for John, Irene and Robert to win many of them, particularly the short running events. The early morning Tannoy announcements were a constant irritation, with the daily events being shouted out and the immortal words "good morning campers" dear old Billy Butlin had a lot to answer for.
Life was certainly never boring in that Raynham household.
Early family transport was a pre-war car borrowed from Dad's friend, the Flying Standard circa 1937 with its wonderful leather inside was a classic.
"Flying" Standard 1937, similar to the one used by Charles
Many a journey required the constitution of a horse, what with Dad's cigarette smoking [20] the petrol fumes and the need to push the car up hills early motoring was not always a pleasure. One holiday journey involved having to push start a car around a field, with cowpats to be avoided and brother John being sick will always stick with me. The accommodation usually comprised of a rented/borrowed caravan.
Family holiday at Manston, Kent in a borrowed Rover car July 1954
Over the years he would own many cars, which provided the opportunity for holidays and day outings primarily to the East Anglia coast and Kent, more details can be read in the Robert Charles Raynham document.
Charlie & Michael at Leysdown,Kent
1955 a caravan holiday, one of many
Some of the vehicles included a 1963 Hillman Minx , 1968 Hillman Hunter , Toyota Starlet , Morris Marina and his last car in 1964 was a Peugeot 406 . A typical Hillman Minx on left and Hunter on the right are shown below.
Education was one particular strong subject upon, which Charles was keen, he himself had missed the opportunity to attend a grammar school, the reason given was that his own father would not or could not afford to pay for the school uniform. With his children he was able to see that John and Irene gained a place at the local grammar schools, Robert narrowly missed a place through the governors' scheme. As for Michael he preferred a life of "ducking and diving", in the true BBC comedy show "Only Fools & Horses" style, starring Del Boy and Rodney.
One feature of CWS life was the regular annual trip by the drivers to the coast for their "Beano", this comprised an organised trip in a coach with regular stopovers at pubs along the way. Venues changed each year with Southend, Ramsgate and Margate particular favourites.
A typical "Beano" gathering, this trip would have taken place in the early 1960s
During his long lorry-driving career with the CWS his accident record was extremely good and his employer in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents handed out certificates for all those drivers who had a blameworthy year of driving. His first certificate was gained in 1948, when he was 25 years of age and continued to receive them up until 1967. However one year he came close to loosing this impressive record, in the mid 1950s whilst driving along a local road in Bethnal Green he was mistaken by an elderly gentleman for a No 8 bus.
Being coloured red his vehicle could be mistaken for a bus from a distance, thinking that the "bus" was not going stop for him the old boy stepped out into the road and flagged him down. Charles however did not stop and hit the old boy on his left shoulder, spinning him around and was very nearly dragged under the wheels of the lorry. Thankfully, although badly injured and hospitalised he survived, no action was taken against Charles.
Although having no specific hobbies Charlie enjoyed several activities including repairing early valve radios and televisions and this certainly led Robert to his own interest in electricity and things mechanical. The house was always full of old sets which were either in repair or being used for spares, live components on show and the risk of electrocution always possible. He enjoyed a game of cards with his friends, although effectively a teetotal the odd brown ale shandy was always welcomed down the Palm Tree.
Charlie did however enjoy the social activities that were organised around the CWS Social Club and in particular the activities at the CWS Sports Ground in Chigwell. He would spend hours recording music on his Grundig reel to reel tape recorder and play the recorded music through the large speakers that he had transported to the Club.
For the children the music of the 1950s did not have a large impact upon. Although Rock and Roll had established its popularity with teenagers by the middle of that decade it was not a feature for Robert, John and Irene. It was however the influence of the American artists that created the environment that would eventually spawn the Beatles of the 1960s.
Annie enjoyed reading, knitting and gardening, which she was able to carry out right up to her mid 70s. Charlie enjoyed his trips to the local markets and in particular Brick Lane, where regular Sunday markets were held. This market, although close to Petticoat Lane was preferred by Charlie with its variety of stalls selling everything from clothes, shoes, household and electrical goods. However it was one stall that attracted his attention, dear old Tubby Issacs selling his favourite dish "Jellied Eels". This was a considerable delicacy with its five small portions of cooked eels set in a jelly. With the addition of white pepper and non-brewed vinegar [21] it can only be described as the nectar of the gods by those that enjoy them, others think they are horrible and a health hazard. Personally I think they great.
Additionally Charlie, Annie and the children all enjoyed the favourite East End dish of pie and mash. A combination of mince beef pie and mashed potato covered in a parsley sauce or liquor as it known, some people would also add a portion of stewed eels. The meal could be purchased for consumption at home but the vast majority of East Enders would use the pie and mash shops that were in their local area and at their peak of business over 100 shops were operating in the East End. For the Raynhams this meant a choice of two in the Roman Road and one in Green Street, all within walking distance of the pre-fab. [22] The Cookes and Kelly pie and mash shops dominated this area of east London and no one today can replicate the unique taste and atmosphere of their products and shops.
The period towards the end of the 50s was considered as idyllic and affluent. Unemployment had disappeared during the war, remained minimal under Labour and stayed that way for the rest of the 50s. Wages rose and the standard of living improved and this was reflected in Annie and Charlie's own standard of living.
In 1957, Harold Macmillan replaced Eden following the Suez Crisis. 'Supermac' as he was nicknamed, went on to win the election of 1959, and was briefly succeeded by Alec Douglas-Home in 1963. The early 1960s are remembered as an age of economic affluence and continued full employment. The standard of living improved steadily throughout the decade, as the global economy enjoyed boom conditions.
The British economy, however, continued to decline in relative terms. By the end of this period there was widespread pessimism about Britain's 'stagnant' economic performance.
The birth of Julie triggered a move to Dagenham where more suitable accommodation was available. Clearly a family of seven could not continue to live in the two bed-roomed prefab, this may have been the East End Victorian norm, but even by 1959 things had moved on a bit. Charlie was also concerned about the environment that the children were being brought up and the educational system appeared to be failing the family.
The first house that they moved into was at 14 Sheppey Road , close to the Becontree Railway Station and later in 1964 to 36 Waterbeach Road , a short walk from Sheppey. This latter house had three-bedrooms, upstairs toilet and bathroom and a large garden.
Charlie at 14 Sheppey Rd, railway station in background around 1964
36 Waterbeach Rd back garden around 1966
By 1967 Robert had completed his five-year Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship with Tate & Lyle Ltd, having left school in 1962. He spent very little time at home and in 1970 married Mary Pinchback and left home for good and moved with Mary to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to start a new job within the National Health Service.
Irene, having attended Coburn Grammar School for Girls in Bow from1956 to 1964, including a period of commuting from Becontree Railway Station to Bow left school for work in the City of London.
John attended Dagenham County High School , the same school attended by Dudley Moore, the comedian, actor and musician from 1960 and left to join a firm of quantity surveyors.
Michael attended a local comprehensive during the 1960s and left school undertook a variety of jobs. Eventually becoming a market stall trader in the well-known markets at Roman Road, Bow and The Waste, Whitechapel. This background provided fertile experience in "doing the deal" and recognising customer's needs.
Labour came back to power in 1964 under the leadership of Harold Wilson, whose government was re-elected in 1966. The Wilson Governments instituted a series of permissive measures, broadly reflecting the changing social climate in Britain at that time. These include the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual practices above the age of 18; the 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion under certain conditions; and the 1969 Divorce Reform Act, which relaxed the conditions surrounding the termination of marriage.
The Wilson years are also remembered for deteriorating relations between the trades unions and the government and for the failed attempt by the Government not to devalue the pound, they never learn the lessons of history! When devaluation came, in 1967, it was accompanied by sharp deflation and public spending cuts.
Only one siginificant event managed to override the Labour Government's term of office, the year 1966 will always resonate in the minds of English football fans. The England Team beat Germany, 4-2, and Kenneth Wolstenholme's famous television commentary became a soundtrack to England's nostalgia for bygone perfection as World Champions and his immortal words "They think its all over, it is now"
There were many opportunities for the friends and family to get together, usually at weddings, on the 2 May 1970 Robert and Mary Pinchback got married and the photo below shows the wedding guests together after the service.
Barking Registry Office, Longbridge Road, Barking
Guests left to right were friends Janet and Jim Porter, Charlie's step-mother Lisa Raynham, daughter Irene Raynham, Ronnie Emeny, Charlie, Doris Emeny, Annie, Pat Emeny, Robert the groom, John Emeny, Mary Pinchback the bride, daughter Julie Raynham. Barry Robinson best man, Mary Pinchback brides mother, Melvin Donne, Charles Edward Raynham grooms grandfatherCharles Pinchback brides father, Betty Donne, Percy Donne, Nellie Pinchback and Ben Pinchback brides aunt and uncle.
In 1971 Charles had the opportunity to purchase on a mortgage from the London Borough of Barking the family home at 36 Waterbeach Road for ?3825. This was under the then Conservatives Government's "Right to Buy" scheme allowing all sitting council tenants, with two years or more tenancy to receive a substantial discount should they wish to purchase their home. For Charlie this presented a dilemma, as a life long socialist and Labour Party supporter he new that such policies would inevitable lead to a shortage in social housing.
However family pressure, rising rent increases and the poor level of maintenance carried out by the local authority left him with no choice. Indeed the monthly mortgage payments within five years were lower than the rent would have been had the family remained tenants. The typical monthly mortgage payment was ?29.32 in 1972, about ?237 today. [23] The transfer of the house from the Council was completed on the 11 January 1971.
Charles worked for the CWS as a driver for over 30 years as a driver and in the early seventies he had the opportunity of becoming a foreman warehouseman working out of Hackney Wick Depot. This depot was responsible for the storage and delivery of fruit and vegetables to the retail Cooperative stores in southern England. On many a Saturday members of the family would descend on the depot to see Charles and pick up a "cottaul" or box of fruit and veg. Robert particular job would be to collect some for his grandfather, Charles Edward Raynham R3 and deliver them to his home in Little Ilford Lane, Manor Park.
Other perks of the his employment included his ability of get the car serviced from one of the CWS mechanics and on many occasions Robert visited the depot to use the garage "pit" to carryout an oil change and grease up the "nipples". However competition and the need to reduce costs forced the CWS to rationalise their delivery service, personally Robert believes that the company had enough of the thieving that was endemic within the CWS, at that time-allegibly.
It took four years to achieve, but decimal coinage became the official currency of the UK on 15 February 1971 with the issue of the 1/2p, 1p and 2p pieces. The British public expressed a fond farewell to the romantic ?sd coinage and joined the real world of metric money. No longer would school children have to learn that there were 12 pennies to the 1 shilling, 20 shillings to the ? and 240 pence was ?1. Forget the sixpence, one and two shilling or two bob, the half crown and the ten bob note or 10 shilling note.
Then in 1973 Britain finally joined the European Community after long negotiation, having first applied to join five years previously only to be denied entry by Charles de Gaulle. Again in 1967 de Gaulle vetoed UK membership. He reversed the decision in 1970 and Great Britain become a member after three years. Then when Labour took power in 1974 they demanded renegotiations and in 1975, in the first-ever UK referendum, the British public voted in favour of remaining an EC member. At last some common sense was prevailing, the "little Englanders" started to accept that there was life outside of the islands.
Between 1970 and 1979 Britain was led by three prime ministers: Edward Heath (1970 - 74); Harold Wilson (1974 - 76); and James Callaghan (1976 - 79). The period was one of increasing unrest and discontent, as the economy continued to decline, and inflation seemed, at times, to be spiralling out of control. In December 1973, Heath introduced a three-day working week to attempt to restrict energy use during a period of acute power crisis, of interest industrial output remained virtually unaffected. Whoops sounds like the British worker was sciving or is it those incompetent managers!
By the end of the summer of 1976, the British economy had become so weakened that the Labour Government had to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund. This was accompanied by harsh conditions which included deep cuts in public spending. By August 1977, unemployment levels had surpassed 1,600,000. This and later experiences were to have a profound effect on some members of the Raynham family and certainly led to some of them holding strong views.
In 1977 Charlie was declared redundant and after 40 years with the organisation he left. The CWS had been his life, all his friends were drivers and they trooped to his Waterbeach home looking for help and guidance. The level of redundancy payment was poor, the legal minimum and thus none of the drivers, who still had some years to go before normal State retirement age had no choice but to seek work elsewhere. No doubt the problems of the Labour Government contributed to the economic problems that many companies and organisations were experiencing.
Charles soon landed on his feet, used the redundancy pay to pay off the outstanding mortgage and started to work for Michael of the stalls in the Roman and the Waste.
Ladies gear was Michael's lines, mainly tops and with no changing room for the female customers. The customary Cockney humour and straight talking guaranteed that all had fun. Tape measures were non-existent and both Micky and Charlie soon learnt the bust size of their customers merely by looking at their profile. As Del boy would say "some diamond geazers have all the luck".
By 1978/79 Labour unrest reached a peak in the 'Winter of Discontent' when a number of major trade unions went on strike. The Winter of Discontent helped bring down the Labour government in 1979. The strikes meant that the dead were not buried and dustbins went un-emptied; there was rubbish on the streets, and other strikes threatened. The Prime Minister, James Callaghan, seemed out of touch when, in reply to a journalist's question about the growing industrial unrest, he implied there was no need for concern. This gave rise to a famous newspaper headline - 'Crisis? What Crisis?' - and although this was not what Callaghan had said, it stuck to him, and did not help his cause in the election of May 1979.
Robert in his senior management position in the NHS saw things from both sides but had little sympathy with either the Government or the Trade Unions. For the average NHS manager trying provide the clinicians and the general public with a semblance of an efficient service was next to impossible. All decisions were being challenged by trade union members, the country could not afford to pay decent wages and the maintenance of buildings and engineering services continued to spiral into disrepair. The lack of capital money resulted in lost opportunities to improve patient care, all this was to change.
In 1979 Margaret Thatcher, as leader of the Conservative Party she won the general election that year and thus began over a decade of radical change in England and Britain. Margaret Thatcher's ascent became apparent when she was appointed Minister for Education and put an end to milk for school children in 1974- no doubt based on the philosophy of let them drink water!
By the early 1980s Charlie and Annie were in there 60s and Micky by this time had made the decision to move to Spain, where he has enjoyed 20 years of prosperity. Julie their youngest daughter married on the 7 June 1980 as with other occasions this provided the opportunity for the friends, family and relatives to meet.
Wedding service held at St Peters Church, Goresbrook Road, Dagenham
In the wedding photo left to right are grooms parents, Tony Creed the groom, Julie Raynham the bride, Annie and Charlie Raynham. In the front row are the two bridesmaid with Lianne Raynham R17 on the left. In the reception photo below left to right we have Tony, Micky, Julie, Alan Taylor brother-in-law of the bride, sister of the bride Irene Taylor nee Raynham and John Raynham. Later Julie and Tony had four children and moved to Elm Park.
For Charlie and Annie retirement could begin and they spent many hours visiting the remaining children at their homes in Chelmsford, Roxwell and Elm Park with occasional day trips and short breaks. Of considerable joy was seeing the grandchildren and visits to Micky in his villa near Marbela, and his then partner Jane who he married on his 50th birthday this year.
Short break to Torquay, Devon in June 1983
The photo above shows Charlie and Annie with their grandchildren Steven, Mark and Lianne with their mum Mary Raynham at the Kent Caverns.
Charles Annie maintained an excellent standard of living in retirement, although dogged by heart disease throughout the 1980s. He had been very prudent with the family's hard earned money, he had taken an interest in investments and took advantage of the "privatisation" of the 1979 Conservative Government.Many services, like gas, steel and telecommunications were privatised and private ownership was encouraged and off course in the sale of council houses and the creation of alternative health providers.
It has been argued that Thatcherism quickly led to a North-South divide, and created a poverty trap while the number of millionaires rose, whatever this allowed Charlie to create a good nest egg, which served him and Annie well. However the demise of the Labour Party was for Charles a disappointment and believed that the excesses of the 1980s Thatcherism would not be sustained, but even he accepted that old Socialism was dead.
In June 1985 the children organised a surprise 40th Wedding Aniversary celebration for Charlie and Annie. On the pretext of attending a celebratory family restaurant meal Charlie and Annie were driven by Julie to a venue in Hornchurch, Essex where family, friends and relatives had gathered.
In 1987, after many months on the waiting list he underwent a triple heart bypass at the London Chest Hospital, Bonner Street, Bethnal Green . The operation was a success and in a few weeks he was back driving his car and visiting friends and family.
It was therefore with considerable shock that the family were told that he had been admitted to Oldchurch Hospital , Casualty Department having suffered a heart attack. He had been to the Cooperative Bank in South Street, Romford, Essex on the morning of the 25 April 1994 where he held an account and whilst paying money into the account he collapsed on the stairs. He appeared to have had a stroke and his condition was critical and was being cared for in the Coronary Care Unit
The prognosis was bleak and the family attended throughout the day and evening with Annie, the children John, Irene, Julie and Robert, together with Iris Liston nee Raynham, his sister. Later that evening they were told that he had not gained consciousness, and with the family by his side he passed away. He passed away at 9.30 pm the following evening, Tuesday 26 April 1994, a few weeks before his 72nd birthday.
His death certificate entry can be seen together with an extract of the Raynham Tree below shows the four-generation chart and provides an overview of the remaining family; included is the birth of their first great grandchild Jorja.
The funeral directors were, as you would expect the Cooperative Funeral Service [24] who had a local branch at Gale Street, Dagenham. The funeral was attended to by all the family and the funeral service took place at the South Essex Crematorium on the 5 May.
The chapel service was conducted by the Reverend David Bruce of the Greig Hall Evangelical Church.He was Charlie and Annie's next-door neighbour and had known Charles for about a year, the service was rather special with music selected Annie; Barbara Striesland's "Memories" and Stevie Wonder's "I called to Say I Loved You".
Several weeks later on the 24 August 1994 at 9.40 am his ashes were interned on Lawn 78 alongside the Mallard Bridge . These arrangements had been organised by Irene Taylor, present at the internment was Annie, Irene and Robert and Mary Raynham, the short service was conducted by the Registrar, Mr. F. Coomber.
Mallard Bridge, Charles ashes interned on the spot
in the foreground of the lawn
Robert had been researching the Raynham family name since 1990 and had presented his Dad with a family tree just prior to his death. To mark the occasion a special Raynham Tree was produced and presented to Annie, Iris, and the brothers and sisters. In December 1994 a dedication panel was installed on the Mallard Bridge dedicated to Charles George Raynham [25] .
Life for Annie and the family changed considerably, although financially secure with her State and CWS pensions from Charlie's employment the absence of Charles was felt. For Annie the loss of companionship and mobility, as she could not drive and relying on others for support. The children miss their father's humour, wise cracks and support and all the things that made him unique.
Annie continued to visit Julie almost every Saturday to see the grandchildren Christine, Jack and little Annie. These visits were always a joy and Julie was able to assist her Mum to get the weekly shopping, particularly the heavier items. These continued until Julie and her family left England to start a new life in Spain. Although not an emotional person it is believed that Annie missed the family and with poor health a visit to Spain would not seem possible.
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