Mid-Life Crisis Nostalgia Project

Whilst sorting through some paperwork over the last few days I found this photograph. It was taken almost thirty years ago at my secondary school. The picture shows just under fifty eighteen-year-olds who were just about to take their A levels. I’m in the back row, fifth from the right. The one with far more… Continue reading Mid-Life Crisis Nostalgia Project

James Cross, Lifeboatman

My family have lived in the same part of Essex for over two hundred years. The earliest record I can find is a Thomas Cross who was born in Little Clacton in 1789. Thomas was my great, great, great, great grandfather. The family moved to Great Clacton soon afterwards and then (once it was created… Continue reading James Cross, Lifeboatman

Tombstoning

I’d never heard of “tombstoning” until yesterday. Apparently it’s an “extreme sport” and involves diving off rocks and cliffs into the sea. Sounds bloody stupid to me. It seems that it’s also something of a craze in the town where I grew up. A middle-aged man drowned and another was seriously injured when they jumped… Continue reading Tombstoning