DID you grow up in Colchester or Tendring?

If so, what place brings back the most memories of your childhood days here in north Essex?

That was the question we posed to members of the Gazette’s new Facebook group, We grew up in Colchester and Tendring.

The responses painted a colourful picture of fun, simple and innocent times.

David Mitchell was instantly transported back to balmy, summer evenings in Frinton.

“I think of the beach huts, of long evenings playing football on the greensward, family days at the seafront, the Children’s Special Service Mission events that took place for a fortnight every summer and, yes, one or two drunken beach parties at The Wailings when we got a bit older,” said David, who now lives in Somerset.

Two other responses involved heady memories of football.

Former FC Clacton hero Sean Hillier said: “I think of the Eastcliff playing fields (in Holland-on-Sea), being with my family and friends and playing footy every hour under the sun (outside school hours, of course!)”

Michael Jones, the dad of Paralympic swimmer Natalie Jones, who represented Great Britain at four Paralympics, winning five medals, including two golds at Athens in 2004, said: “My happy place was Layer Road and watching the U’s, especially the period under the big man Roy McDonough. Just awesome!

“I spent six happy years on the Roman estate, just a stone’s throw from Layer Road, before a job change brought us North.”

Tanis Conway dropped us a line to tell us about her special connection with Great Holland.

She said her childhood place is Kew Lane.

“I moved there aged seven, lived there until I married at 20 and moved back again in 1982,” she said.

“I then proceeded to live in all three houses in the road for the next 20 years.

“We moved to the Frietuna estate for 17 years and are now back in Great Holland, although not in Kew Lane!”

Ruth Allen grew up in nearby Kirby-le-Soken.

“My special childhood place would be the bottom of Quay Lane, where I lived between 1981 and 1994,” she said.

“I played for hours with all the other kids, in hay bales, up trees and in the mud banks. I loved it.”

Two other members told us about their childhood by the coast.

Suzy Moss said: “My special place would have to be playing around the old farmhouse in Crossways, Jaywick, or down the Crossways playground.”

John Watson spoke fondly of Point Clear.

“I spent most of my childhood there every weekend,” he said.

  • Fancy joining in the fun?

Email details of your special childhood place to matt.plummer@newsquest.co.uk - and send a picture if you have one - and make sure you join our We grew up in Colchester and Tendring Facebook page.

It’s a dedicated place for anyone who wants to share their memories and pictures, whether they’re from the 50s and 60s or 90s and Noughties.