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REMINISCENCE STORY BY
BERYL WILSON (formerly BLOGGS - Close relative to HENRY BLOGGS famous Lifeboat Hero)
I have been asked to write about my Norfolk Ancestors whom I'm very proud of. Henry Blogg was my Dad's cousin, Fred Blogg. He was brought up in a Stone Cottage at the back of the Parish hall by his mother and dad (Thomas Blogg).
The Parish Hall is where I went every Sunday to Sunday School. I was born in Cromer 1913 and married in Cromer Church 1937 - Beryl Blogg and now Beryl Wilson. I worked for nine years in one of the largest shops in Cromer and the most expensive. I had an apprenticeship as dressmaker and the first year 1¼ an hour. It was 8.30 - 1pm, 2-6pm ½day , Wed 1pm, Friday and Sat till 7 pm. I moved to Wramplingham a small village 4 miles from Wymondham. Cromer is always my favourite place and home I love the sea. I watched the wreck of the Sepoy on Dec 13th 1933, all Cromer turned out and when they got the men off and took them into the Bath Hotel on the prom, the church bells rang out. I'm 90 years now and so clearly remember it. I was so pleased to see in our EDP last Thursday the photo of the Old Holt Road Cemetery 19th century.
I remember going to my Granddad's funeral with my Dad I believe he was the last one to be buried there with my Grandmother. Coxswain Blogg was buried in the new cemetery at top of Holt Road. My Grandad Thomas Blogg was in his nineties when he died. I was also pleased to see the Bust of Coxswain Blogg back in its place with the words:
The Greatest Man who ever lived (and he was)
My wedding in Cromer 1937:
HENRY BLOGGS LIFEBOATMAN
· He joined the lifeboat crew aged 18 in 1894
· He served with the Cromer lifeboat for 53 years
· From 1907 to 1947 he was coxswain
· During his service the boat was launched 387 times, saving 873 lives
· He collected more medals than any other lifeboat man which included - 3 golds (the lifeboat mans Victoria Cross), 4 silver a George Cross and British Empire Medal
· Silver - December 13 1933 -Two men rescued from the Sepoy barge 200 yards off Cromer, with Blogg driving the lifeboat on to her bulwarks when it was impossible to stay alongside
The Bust of Henry Blogg overlooks the North Sea at Cromer.
There is a 19th Century chapel which sits off the Holt Road, Cromer. It has just been awarded listed building status and is the home for four graves of the towns lifeboatmen and fishermen whose final resting places are now protected by the order.