As an old “Thundersley boy” I am writing to say how much I enjoyed reading your War Lord Chronicles even though they destroyed my long held romantic view of the Arthurian legend!!
I don’t know if you’ve been back to Thundersley but it still looks virtually the same with the White Hart still dominent ( and serving excellent ale and food when permitted). Joe’s old house and the building school opposite have been turned into retirement homes and an estate replaces Cyril old home although Guide Acres is still there and thriving, The Wiggin’s church in Elmsleigh drive is now a nursery.
I attended the sixth Southend Boys Brigade held in the Congregational church at the top of Kenneth Road some sixty years ago and lived with my parents in Warren Chase.
Meeting up with old BB pals we often talk of the those dim and distant days and still hold a grudge against Cyrils clearing of Thundersley Glen and turning it into open park land. Where could we now play hunt the flag or capture the castle when there was no braken or brambles to hide our approach. For all their extreme Christing views they are still held in high regard by those who remember their philanthropic ways.
Legend still persists that thunder storms skirt Thudersley because an effigy of Thor was buried under what is now St, Peters church!!!
Incedenttaly another coincidence is that my uncle Harold Wildsh, a missionary to the Amazon tribes, also sent his sons to Monkton Coombe school!!
Enough waffle – keep up the good work and stay safe in these strange times.
Kind regards
Barry Wadley-Smith