HARRY AVIS - RAILWAY SHUNTER & LOCAL COUNCILLOR NUDC

Would I be right in thinking that Avis Road, Avis Way, Avis Close etc are named after this gentleman?

Most likely Richard, will put on the message board... Jackie - Editor

Yes Richard your thoughts are correct.

Top photo is fantastic, Fenchurch looks great, I have to keep taking my grandchildren for a ride on it at the Bluebell Railway. The building on the right in the top picture was once a bike shop. I bought a new bike there when I started work. It cost me 3 shillings a week and I had to call in with the money every Thursday. I got the wheel of my bike stuck in the railway track once. Bill Packham the policeman helped me get it out, then told me off for holding up the traffic. Happy days.

Now there was a good old Newhaven Bobby. Everyone knew Bill and he seemed to know every lad and their fathers, he did mine. Get caught up to mischief by him and it was instant punishment, usually a wallop with his cape and a threat to "come and see your Dad", although he never did. If he saw our bikes unattended, he would take them to the Police Station and we would have to go in and report them as missing, then, we used to get a real ear bashing before being allowed to collect them from the cells and maybe getting "locked in" for a short while. I would think that every person that knew Bill would have a story to tell, I have many. A great big man with an even bigger heart.

Yes he warmed my ears on a couple of occasions ! Then I had the pleasure of playing cricket with him for Newhaven.    John-- Editor

Bill Packham caught me scrumping in the garden of the big house behind the old fire station in Meeching Road once and gave me a wallop with the buckle of his cape. I remember having to take a handcart from Bannisters Builders yard in the High street to the Baltic sawmills to pick up some timber and on the way back I got a wheel stuck in the railway line. Bill came to the rescue and helped me push the thing back to the yard. I think he came and worked for the firm when he retired from the police.

I've found this page via Google - Bill Packham was my great uncle, my maternal grandmother's brother. It's fantastic to read your recollections of him and would love to hear more. Regards, Rachel Anderson

Folley Falwell, Ron Jenner and I went poaching over Firle one dark night. Caught some rabbits and came home the next night around midnight. Bill Packham was standing on the swingbridge and he caught us cold. Four rabbits hanging from the handle bars. "Where are you going sonny" "nowhere sir, just home." We said. Without looking down at the rabbits which he was at pains not to see, he said, in a very stern voice. "Well you get along then and don't get into trouble." I loved that man after that, he was the epitomy of the best of British Bobbies.

As Chairman of the Fenchurch Fund at the Bluebell Railway, I am always interested in seeing new pictures of Fenchurch and these are gems! Thanks for the good work and keep the site going!