New Member - son of John Sadler

[tonyprotem]

Hello,

I stumbled across this Forum by accident last night whilst doing a bit of genealogy. In particular, I'm sorting out some photos and memorabilia which belonged to my father - JOHN SADLER.

He owned the gents hairdressing business (never called himself a barber) at 3 Long Road, Canvey. This small premises was on the corner of the parade of shops opposite The Haystack, at the junction of Long Road and Furtherwick Road. I believe the area was called Fisk's Corner.

He had been a hairdresser before the war, but was called up to serve with the Royal Engineers from 1940 to 1945. He landed on Sword Beach on D-Day, and during the next year he was building Bailey Bridges across France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in support of the British 3rd Infantry Division on the Western Front (and no doubt kept his unit the 71st Field Coy RE reasonably tidy as well).

After the war he cut hair for several firms in Leigh before setting up his own business on Canvey (I guess around 1948). My brother and I used to go to the shop some Saturdays, sweep the floor, collect chalk from the beach to make a paste to clean the windows, and generally get into mischief in the yard out back. He continued this job until the night of 31 Jan 1953. I was only nine years old, but I vividly remember the shock on his face the following Sunday morning when he heard news of the flood, and later that day, the terrible scene from the top of Essex Way.

Dad wasn't able to run the business for the next year - he volunteered to fill sandbags for the seawall for most of that time. He also offered accommodation for his (homeless) employee, John Crick and family for several months at our small bungalow in Southend, which meant that I had to move to gran's. Dad did continue the hairdressing business around March 1954 (I have his records for this period), but it seems that this continued only to about October that year, when he had a career change and began working for E K Cole.

That's a potted history of our family's involvement in Canvey. Dad died at the age of 75 in 1991 at his cottage in Newbury, where he moved on retiring from Ekco. I wonder if anyone on The Island remembers having their hair cut by John Sadler!

[CanveyAdministrator]

Hi Tony

look forward to seeing the pictures and story of your father - welcome to the site

Dave

[tonyprotem]

Thanks Dave,

I'm awaiting delivery of a new printer/scanner (due before end January). This will enable me to post some photos and at the same time fill in some more details of my recollections of times on Canvey.

Tony

[Graham Stevens]

Hi Tony
Welcome to the site. I believe I have a vague memory of your father, although, when I was 4yrs we moved from the Driveway up to Leigh Beck and therefore mostly had my haircuts at Selby's I must have been taken up to the Haystack for a haircut on some occasions otherwise I would not have these recollections. I certainly recall the business beng called Sadlers.
Post 1953 I used to get of the bus on my way home from school in Westcliff for a 'short back and sides'at the Haystack barbers,it was then known as Stan's. About this time Stan took on Dave ? as a trainee eventually that seemed to become a partnership,although Stan's son joined them for a time. When Stan packed up Dave carried on and later opened his well-known premises on the corner of Denham Rd.
Graham

[TriciaBooth]

Hello John, I'm very interested in what you said because during the same period of time my grandfather Samuel Critchell was a hairdresser on Canvey Island - that is, I believe so, since my family have taken photos outside their old shop, which at the time (probably during the 80's?) had turned into #Cheapies Furniture store. I will try to attach photos.

My grandfather livede on Florence Road, and I think the shop was on the corner - but am I correct? Would your family have known Samuel, since they were both hairdressers? My father was supposed to follow him into the trade but he didn't want to, and "escaped" when the war came along.

If I can manage to post the photos, there is one of the shop and one of my father and grandfather outside it. Ring any bells??

Samuel Critchell and my father Alfred James (Jimmy) outside their hairdressing shop

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