Bench dedicated to memory of firefighters who battled floods renewed | Castle Point News

The relatives of firefighters who tackled the 1953 floods on Canvey Island have welcomed the renewal of a bench in their honour and a new plaque in memory of those who lost their lives.

As part of the 70^th anniversary commemorations to mark the floods which devastated Canvey and numerous other communities on the East Coast, Cllr Dave Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, unveiled a new bench outside Canvey Island Fire Station.

He also viewed a new plaque which has been placed on the fire station itself.
 

 

Fifty-nine people died and more than 13,000 had to be evacuated from their homes after the island was inundated with water on 31 January 1953.

Cllr Blackwell, whose father was the late firefighter Henry Blackwell, was five at the time of the floods.

He said: “My father and his colleagues had to find whatever boats they could to rescue people. There were some they couldn’t get to and couldn’t save.

“The firefighters’ ordeal didn’t finish when the water subsided. They had to go into houses and retrieve the bodies. These people had been their friends and neighbours and I think for my father that was the hardest part.”

The eco-bench, which was paid for and installed by Castle Point Borough Council, replaces one which was dedicated to the firefighters in the years following the floods but which had decayed over time. 

The new plaque, which honours those who lost their lives, depicts 59 marshland flowers, one for each Canvey resident who died.
 

 

Firefighter Lee Blackwell, from Rayleigh Weir Fire Station, came up with the idea for the plaque.

He said: “I have close connections to Canvey Fire Station, having started my fire service career as an on-call firefighter in 1995.

"Forever in my memories are my dad's two uncles, George and Harry Blackwell, who both served during the floods. Their names are engraved on the bench, alongside 11 other firefighters who served at Canvey Fire Station in the floods.

“The plaque shows 59 marshland flowers, each depicting a life lost. It's a great honour that we can always remember them and share the history of Canvey with visitors to the station."

The Blackwell’s have a strong family tradition serving in the fire service and Lee Blackwell is Cllr Blackwell’s cousin.

Cllr Blackwell continued: “Seventy years on it is important we remember those who lost their lives and also those who gave so much to save others.

“My father didn’t really talk about his experience of the floods until the 1980s, and even then there were things he just didn’t tell us.

“It is a reminder of the courage it sometimes takes to serve as a firefighter.”