Laindon Youths - Enefers Café
Brian Cordell
Brian Cordell
Laindon lads outside Enefers Cafe having a laugh. From left, as you look at the photograph, Vic Wiles, Brian Cordell, Vic Mansell, Bill Finch, Tony Willits, Peter Bassett, Fred Rand and Brian Slaughter.
The vehicle belongs to Fred Rand it was a Trojan Van.
The Ford V8 Pilot in the background, not sure who the owner was.
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1966/7 I was the proud owner of a Ford V8 Pilot, what a motor! Mine was the 30hp not the later 31hp, valve radio and the brilliant and often used Jackall system, decent tyres might have solved that one. Paid the grand sum of £8 for it, kept it for just over a year then sold it for the same £8. Not quite the bargain that I got as only one brake worked when I sold it. Saw a green one for sale on a website recently —— £20k !!! If only I could have seen into the future. Don.
Amazing site, my dad was Bill Finch. Unfortunately he passed away in 1975…I was 7, have few photos of him, great to see these on here.
Gloria, I’m trying to contact people who knew Fred (Brian F Rand). I’ve been told you are his sister-in-law, could you possibly email me? Many thanks, only I can’t find you on Facebook despite being told you are on there.
Can anyone remember the TV commercial that was filmed at the Cafe before the fire and its days as ‘The Happy Eater?’.
I think it was possibly for Anchor butter but I could be wrong
Hi Richard, yes Robbie still likes country sports. Did you know he has moved to Suffolk now, I still keep in touch, we often go to country shows.
Keith, next time you see Rob, ask him if he wants to meet up at The Crown, Langdon Hills where we all last went for a drink and chat.
I’ll see if I can raise Keith English from The Cats pub!! Thats loads of people living in Suffolk now including my Brothers Phil and Chris living at Tuddenham and Brandeston respectively (West and East Suffolk to keep them apart). Take care.
Brian, I am sure the lad at the far back in the van is my ex David and not Fred. Looked at my wedding photo again and I am pretty sure.
Could that be Fred behind the glass Fred had a mop of blonde hair, David had the short dark hair.
Gloria, yes that does look like Fred’s Pilot parked behind the Trojan. As I recall there were about three V8s owned by Laindon boys, I think one of them was green as I recall.
A whole group of Laindon guys used to hang around the Sombrero in about 1961 when they brought in those little wall mounted juke boxes where you couldn’t actually see the records being played.
A thrill for me would be to go round to Pam and Linda’s and see Fred’s V8 parked outside knowing he might be taking us somewhere in it.
When I moved away from Laindon I used to see a dark navy blue V8 Ford Pilot in Maldon, it was absolutely mint, the old envy thing again.
As for those Bronx jackets they were always advertised in the Exchange and Mart for sale by Lewis Leathers. Mum used to say, “I don’t know why you’re looking at them, look at the price!!” Never mind I was happy with my mohair jumper and black jeans.
Can’t wait for some more Brian Cordell input, come on mate.
Hi, I remember Robert McMasters having V8 pilot.
Hi Keith, I will have to ask Rob McMasters about his V8 next time I see him. Robert was in my class in Laindon Park, mate of Brian Stepney and Keith English.
I think he still likes all the country sports and still goes clay pigeon shooting last time we spoke.
Ah yes Brian! The Bronx Jacket you just had to have one if you were a real motor biker in our time. You won’t believe this I had mine for 30 years paid £1.10 shillings second hand and got £18.00 for it in a vintage auction, but do you know what it’s probably worth a lot more now, my profit was o.k. though.
I remember the lads also liking airforce Flying Jackets I could never get one small enough. I do remember Ronnie Hurbet letting me wear his jacket one day at Brands cos I was so cold (What a gentleman).
Do you see any of the old crowd now? Fred (Brother) lived in the same Suffolk village as me, he’s got a big workshop and M.O.T. garage now and sells posh cars, would you believe it. He is semi retired and his daughter runs it now. Did you see him at Dave Flashman’s reunion? I was ill at the time never made it and will always regret that one.
Keep them picks coming Bryan its like reliving my teens again Love it. Your old friend Gloria (nickname Glow probably my red nose cos of the wind in my face).
Hi Gloria glad you like pics have some more coming the leather jackets were. Called a Bronx and cost about ten pounds nineteen and six which we had on the drip the today price is £650 pounds
Brian, what a great photo of all the lads I knew and loved so much. I think the third one in is my brother Fred Sewell in the cap with his arms up and this was his V8 Pilot.
I remember Fred’s Trojan I think this was just after the hearse.
Fred was my brother in-law, David his brother, my husband. What a fun person Fred was, such a laugh and a great loss when he passed away.
The V8 Pilot: I recall my brother having a little oil lamp burning underneath it on nights when the temperature was below zero, so the block would not freeze.
What were the jackets called that we had to have, oh yes a Broncks don’t know if I spelt that right.
Really is good to hear from you Brian.
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