Ray & Dot

Had a visit from Ray & Dot Wright during our day at Rainham Library and had a lovely chat about their lives in the village and their families.

Ray's grandad, Alfred Walls was a lamplighter and lit 52 lamps from the clock tower to Wennington Road every evening, he also ran the bike repair shop during weekends, rowed the ferry across the Thames & carried out car repairs and all in addition to his day job! Ray also told us a really sad story about his grandfather. In addition to all his jobs Alfred was asked if he could become the grave digger for the village which he accepted only to find the first grave he dug was for his wife and child.

On a lighter note Ray and Dot told us about the fire station built on the little factory site in Wennington and the fight for it to be built, about the smog, the new A1306,  Ford's - where Ray applied to work for because the wages were 2s11d an hour, more than he could earn working with his father as a lorry driver.

We learnt about dried fish skins being taken to London by horse and cart to sell, about the allotments, the families with large houses who employed local people to keep the ditches of the Ingrebourne River clean and clear of weeds.

We also found out Ray is 81 years old and Dot is 80 years old and they look amazing! 58 years of marriage too - clearly Rainham is good for you!