I was 21 when I started at a new job at a factory in Marshgate Lane. I was born in Stratford and worked locally.

My uncle suggested that I go after a job where he worked so I trotted off on my 21st birthday on the 31st July 1957 for the interview with the purchasing manger of this chemical company.

I knew where Marshgate Lane was but had no idea what I would find as I walked down this long lane past many different factories. I eventually arrived puffing and blowing hot as it was a sweltering hot July day, and to my surprise the factory was located a short walk from the canal and the area looked quite countrified. I had the interview and I took the job. There was only one factory beyond ours A&F Parkes, Glavanisers.

At lunchtimes it was great to get out of the office and go for a walk along the canal towpath down to the lock

It was the City Mill River that ran into the River Lea lock. There was also the Hertford Union canal coming through this lock, not that many barges were being used then, but we always saw one or two coming through the lock. They were always filled with household rubbish covered with tarpaulin.

There was a lock keeper there but he was not very busy. There was also a small stable where the large shire horses used to shelter after they had pulled the barges along the towpath. Walking along the towpath had to be done in single file and no larking about as the concrete sides down to the mucky water were very steep and if you tripped and fell it would have been difficult to get you out. I remember one of the chaps who worked at the factory cycled along the towpath on his way home. One winter's night he nearly fell in as he twisted and turned on the gravel path past the overgrown bushes.

If we had enough time at lunch we would walk over the narrow concrete paving stone bridge suspended over the lock gates to get to the small shops in Dace Road to buy cakes and sweets. It was quicker to get to those shops than back to Stratford. The area has changed a little since those days. The factory that I worked in has gone and now Marshgate Lane goes right through to Carpenters Road. The earlier days were nice and peaceful at lunch time sitting in the sunshine by the lock.