READER Mary Felgate has been sorting through precious family photos from the past.
One shows Ernest Sawyer, her maternal grandfather, who left school when he was 13 to work for the Essex Steam Traction Company.
He was interested in engineering and Mary's photo shows him working on Berechurch Road in 1924, aged 17.
He had sole responsibility for steamroller number nine, pulling a wooden caravan behind in which he lived during his working week.
Where it all began - the original H & E Edwards, then a butchers on the corner of Queen Street and Osborne Street. Henry Edwards might be the tall, black-haired gentleman standing in the middle
He stowed his bike so he could cycle home to Kelvedon for the weekend, sometimes from as far as Southend.
"He worked on Mile End Road and around Maldon and although his bike had no gears, he boasted he could cycle to the top of Maldon Hill without stopping," said Mary, who lives in Rowhedge.
"He used to park his steamroller on the side of the road, all fired up, and it never got vandalised."
Mary also found a picture of The Nelson's Head pub, in West Stockwell Street, Colchester, taken in 1908.
Building up a head of steam - Mary's grandfather, Ernest Sawyer. He left school at 12 and was in charge of this steamroller at the age of 17
The landlord was paternal great-grandfather William Wade, pictured standing with wife Rosina and children Hilda (Mary's grandmother), William and Dolly.
Mary said: "It's interesting both girls are wearing knitted dresses.
"William's nickname was 'Pusser', after an extremely strong naval rum, his favourite tipple, and he was apparently a bit of a tyrant, making Hilda keep the place clean while also being expected to play the piano and entertain punters!"
The last three photos are of H & E Edwards, one of the oldest firms left in Colchester.
Family history - Reginald Charles Felgate, the dad of current owner Neil. He is pictured outside H & E Edwards, then dealing in fruit and vegetables, in around 1960
One is of Charles Felgate, standing outside the warehouse in Portland Road, just after the Second World War.
He is current owner Neil Felgate's grandfather.
Another picture is of H & E Edwards fruit and vegetable merchants, thought to have been taken around 1960.
Owner Reg Felgate is at the helm, standing in front of two lorries loaded with spuds.
Family history - Neil’s grandfather, Charles Felgate, who ran H & E Edwards with son Reginald just after the Second World War
Reg’s son, Neil, took over at the age of 21.
He has run the business solely as a potato merchants ever since.
Another of Mary's pictures is a rare shot showing the original H & E Edwards, then a butchers on the corner of Queen Street and Osborne Street.
Mr Edwards might be the tall, black-haired gentleman standing in the middle.
Great minds drink alike - The Nelson's Head, in West Stockwell Street. The landlord is Mary's great-grandfather, William Wade, and he is pictured with wife Rosina and children Hilda (Mary's grandmother), William and Dolly
Mary is delighted to share these photos of her heritage.
She said: "It's wonderful and helps you remember how real these people were and never to forget how free they were to live their lives, before things like political correctness, health and safety, the internet, chief executives and the 'woke' culture.
"Investigating my ancestry has taught me so much about their battles and where my own values stem from.
"I've got so many proud memories of how Colchester used to be, but am embarrassed by what it's become - potholes, cycle lanes, gated communities and ghetto housing - ruled by people living in sheer fantasy."
- To join our We grew up in Colchester and Tendring Facebook group, head HERE.
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