A CLOSE knit family brought to life some forgotten memories by taking a misty-eyed stroll around the places in Havering where shared their childhood in the 60s.

The Morley family have been scattered across Essex and beyond but to celebrate Lynda’s 60th birthday they took a trip back in time with a visit to Elm Park and Hornchurch.

Graham, Kim, Denise also took part in the journey, which took in their old home in Rosewood Avenue in Elm Park.

They took in their old schools, the Elm Park Hotel, swapped telephone numbers with an old friend’s dad in his garden, enjoyed lunch on a bench on the broadway and visited the church where Lynda was married.

The four time travelers said they were amazed by both the many changes and some of the subtle similarities.

Graham, now of South Woodham Ferrers, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Some of the shops haven’t changed – the Hobby Shop is still exactly the same. I used to have a Co-op milk round then and met the milkman at about 5am, and obviously paper rounds with, I think it was SJ Hollicks and sons newsagent but I don’t think they are around anymore. It was an absolutely fantastic day everyone said how much they loved it.”

Graham’s wife Gillian, a family tree expert who helped organise the day, said sadly two sisters, Brenda and Lesley, couldn’t be there but it was brilliant nonetheless.

She added: “There were a lot of memories that they hadn’t thought of. They hadn’t remembered how beautiful the park was or considered how small the house seems when you think that there were seven or eight of them living there.”