The End of the Pier

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In 2008, the area around Boscombe pier underwent extensive renovation. The derelict and unsafe building at the end of the pier was demolished, and replaced by a simple viewing and fishing platform. The rest of the pier was also restored. On 30 June 1986, a 54.9-metre (180ft) tanker named Kings Abbey crashed into the pier, severing a 21.3-metre (70ft) gap from the new pierhead to the rest of the pier, destroying the boathouse used by the lifeboat service [40] and causing major structural damage due to the destruction of iron piles and supporting girders. While this was temporarily bridged to restore access, full repairs were not completed until 1989. [43] Fire and restoration [ edit ] I read this book last weekend and haven’t stopped thinking about it. Without a doubt, this is my favorite book so far this year and I just know that it will remain in my list of favorites for all-time.

Our average response time is usually 10 minutes and that includes a quarter-of-a-mile sprint across the pier to the boathouse. Tsouras, Peter G (2015). Bayonets, Balloons & Ironclads: Britain and France Take Sides with the South. Skyhorse. ISBN 978-1-62914-867-0. Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom. Extending 2.16 kilometres (1.34mi) into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. [2] The bill to build the new pier, to replace a previous timber jetty, received Royal Assent in May 1829 with construction starting in July 1829. The timber pier was replaced by an iron pier that opened to the public in August 1889. The Southend Pier Railway, opened in the early 1890s, was the first pier railway in the country. Danny Robins’ play intelligently explores the different roles comedy can play in society" The Stage Talk on the fire on the pierhead 29th July 1976" (PDF). What Do They Know. 31 August 2017. p.6 . Retrieved 24 August 2020.What we all know is that war is difficult, and there aren’t only casualties on the battlefields. Maureen’s father is a veteran of the first World War, and has never quite been the same man, or even a whole man, since his return. From lives that were poor but mostly happy in the getting by to a whole new set of struggles, friends leaving and in danger, the threat of bombs and death a very real possibility, the story winds through struggles and trials, coming together for support, family and friendship, and the sorrows when it all seems to explode into nothing but loss. Bittersweet yes, but so ultimately engaging and evocative of the time, the characters come alive in ways unexpected with plenty of moments to laugh in spite of the darkness (or even using that darkness) around them.

A restaurant and the Mermaid Theatre were built at the pier-head in 1961 although the ‘Theatre’, in fact, opened as a covered roller-skating rink for its first two seasons. In April 1965, the leaseholder, Cleethorpes Amusements, converted it into an arcade. The council formally took over the Mermaid ‘Theatre’ in 1988 when the lease ended. I must say this book was misleading. I was expecting much more from this description. The publisher description may seem simple but in fact, this book was very simple. The only way I can describe this story is that it is very bitter sweet. There is so many nice and lovely friendships as well as moments that made me smile and warmed my heart. On the other hand though, there are a few events that had me heart broken along with the characters and had me reaching for a tissue. It is certainly an emotional roller coaster of a read.Right at the beginning of the story I was already laughing about the smell of boy. I tease my husband for smelling of boy, so I told him what I’d just read and that I wished he smelt of strawberry jam and lemons, and was promptly told to shut up and get on with my reading, ha ha. I did love the humour. Sometimes the humour was dark, but it still made me smile.

Southend Pier celebrated its centenary on 23 July 1935 when Lord Richie of Dundee, chairman of the Port of London Authority unveiled a bronze plaque on the pierhead. [26] The centenary was not celebrated in 1930, which would have been 100 years after its first opening, as 1835 reflects the date when the Admiralty began to include Southend Pier on their navigation charts. [27] Wartime operations [ edit ]As for the Heritage Lottery Fund, they now tell me that “it was a matter of following the legal administration process. The final decision on the transfer of the pier lies with the administrator.” It became clear, they also say, “that the costs and losses were more than projected and a decision had to be taken earlier than the full 12 months” that they had originally intended. They say that is was “not possible to fund the administration indefinitely”. I bloody loved Maureen (read it and you'll understand!) and her little sister Brenda. They have a relatively happy early childhood, in Brighton, with loving parents. They don't have much money, but their home is full of love. They spend a lot of time with their Dad, who they love dearly despite not really understanding him or why he can't work. He had served in the first world war and had never been the same since. His love for his daughter's was heart-warming, but his struggles heart-breaking. Their Mum worked, cleaning the homes of the rich, to pay the rent and put food on the table. This drew me in from the first sentence, the love shines through, Maureen and her family are the stars of the story. The unbreakable bond between Maureen and her sister Brenda is so endearing, the relationship with their Da, he worships his angels. I love the amount of play time they had with him, running on the downs, playing on the beach, him making a doll's house for Christmas etc .. mum was the strength of the family and worked tirelessly often against the odds to ensure they were all cared for.

Southend Pier Cultural Centre by White Arkitekter and Sprunt". Frame. 17 September 2012 . Retrieved 18 July 2021. Southend: Pier entrance to have grand opening". Daily Gazette. 21 May 2003 . Retrieved 11 July 2021. Oliver Smith (29 July 2016). "The world's longest pier – in numbers". The Telegraph . Retrieved 21 August 2020. This story begins in 1930 and spans through to the end of the 2nd World War in 1945. It felt like Maureen’s life had been so much longer than this, so much tragedy for one still so young. There were marches through the town, children were given the day off school - it was really a very special occasion."

The Boscombe Pier Company was formed in 1886 and the first pile was laid on 11th October 1888. Designed by Archibald Smith, the 600 foot pier opened on 28th July 1889 but, initially, was not successful. Brenda gets a chance to fall in love to as well as Monica who sits by the town waiting for the right man to come by. ( Hehehe!, love her decision to never live poor. So is life. Sigh!!) Constance recalls, "I remarked on it but they did not give me satisfaction of telling me the truth. During the summer of 1999, former pirate radio station Radio Caroline moored their radio ship Ross Revenge at the pierhead for about a month and conducted a 28-day legal broadcast under a Restricted Service Licence to the Southend-on-Sea and southeast Essex area. Whilst moored, a power-cut left the pier without power for two days. Radio Caroline helped generate electricity for the pier via a spare generator aboard their ship, enabling shops and attractions to function until the mains supply could be restored. A subsequent lightning strike disabled their rear tower and took out the transmitter. [47] 21st century [ edit ] The new shoreward end of Southend Pier