Comments on: Tillingham Flower Show

By: will

will — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:57:43 +0000

Hi Kelly,

My grandmother lived with her aunt at the time and i’m not sure what their last name was – it may have been Prior and her uncle may have been a barge skipper, but there’s no concrete information about that, i’m afraid.

As far as the Kemps go, i’d say there’s a very good chance that the Tillingham Kemps are distant relations. Most of my ancestors in this part of the world, come from Heybridge, but my grandmother’s great grandfather, Samuel Kemp, was a blacksmith in Cock Clarks around the 1840s. He died in the Maldon workhouse in 1870.

Unfortunately, due to skeletons in the closet and such things, we were led to believe we weren’t related to any of the Kemps around here. This has turned out to be untrue, but i’ve never met any Kemps from this area and compared family trees.

By: Kelly Andrews

Kelly Andrews — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:05:31 +0000

Hello! I have just came across your blog whilst i was searching for reviews on ‘Tillingham Flower Show’ as i am the Horticultural Secretary and i am very pleased with all your comments on the show and the village, Thank you.
It is a lovely village to be part of and i was born here some 29 years ago and i will try my hardest to never move away – which is why i decided to get involved with the Flower Show as i felt that i needed to put something back for all the great memories Tillingham has brought me.
The reason for commenting on your blog is that i noticed you said that your Grandmother lived in Tillingham. Do you know if you have any other family still left in the village, as the locals have great respect for a family here called the ‘Kemps’ they have lived here for many years and Norman Kemp, i believe, celebrated his 102nd birthday this year. The late Tony Kemp also ran the petrol garage, which sadly no longer excists. But the family are all thought highly upon amounst the villagers!
Maybe no relation at all but a piece of information for you anyway!
Kelly

By: will

will — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:50:50 +0000

Ha ha, no Juls, i don’t feel that bad!

By: Juls

Juls — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:08:28 +0000

Boss Hog!! Haha… I reckon you’d need a swim after breathing in pig fat for so long… you must feel like you’ve eaten a whole pig after a long day on the Hog Roast!!!!

By: Rob Kemp

Rob Kemp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:11:50 +0000

Well I can assure you that you have BOTH been to Tillingham before. Juliette backs me up on this – she was there. We went several times, including one occasion when JB went (sticks in my mind because we went in several cars and each thought the other was picking her up – in the event we all forgot her and I had to drive all the way back to Maldon to pick her up. I drove so fast on the way back that I half scared her to death.) Also there was an occasion when all five remaining Kemps were present – although I’m not certain it was the same occasion that JB went.

I can even remember what I had – it was called Paglesham Pie, some sort of vegetarian pie thing. Quite nice.

I bet Kevin remembers.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:46:55 +0000

I have absolutely no recollection of that event, like just about every other event from the past. The 80s and 90s were a bit of a blur for me (unfortunately not drug-fuelled, but kid-fuelled!). I thought that the first time I went to Tillingham was when I worked there several months ago. I quite liked it as I recall, unlike Southminster, which is, indeed “drowning in hideous estates full of shoddily built fake period houses”.

By: will

will — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:22:26 +0000

I’m sure Boss Hog’s more important things to do with her time than reading my blog! Anyway, she can’t sack me – she needs me! How’s that for tempting fate? I do IT stuff for her, too, so she can’t sack me at least until she’s got me to sort out the stuff that needs sorting out!

By: Rob Kemp

Rob Kemp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:00:15 +0000

By the way, I reckon the boss (Boss Hog?) might be a leetle bit upset with you for mentioning feeling sick even if not for eating the merchandise. Better add that you’re a long-term veggie/vegan/general weirdo in case any potential customers read this!

By: Rob Kemp

Rob Kemp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:34:17 +0000

1990 I reckon then. It sticks in my mind because it was one of the (then) rare occasions when all five of the remaining Kemps were present. Lucy ought to remember.

By: will

will — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:21:17 +0000

If i was, it would have to have been in 87, 90 or 92 then, as those were the only times i was in England – 1 month in 87, 3 or 4 in 90, and probably 3 in 92. I certainly don’t remember it though.

Nah, the boss wouldn’t begrudge me a bit of pig! And, yeah, i have tried it – a very small amount, the first 2 times i worked. Both times i felt a bit sick a while later!