With kids soon to be back to school we take a look at school life on Canvey from the 1920s and beyond.

We can see Miss English’s class at the Canvey County Infants’ School in 1965 smiling sweetly for the camera.

Echo: Looking back - Canvey County Infants’ School in 1965 Looking back - Canvey County Infants’ School in 1965 (Image: Canvey Island Community Archive)

There is also a photo from the 1920s of Canvey Elementary School in Long Road which had 200 pupils in four classes.

It was the first council-run school on Canvey and when it was knocked down and rebuilt in the early 1970s, the new school was named after the first headmaster, Mr William Read.

Echo: Distant past - Canvey Elementary School in the 1920Distant past - Canvey Elementary School in the 1920 (Image: Canvey Island Community Archive)

Here, Northwick Park teacher Paul Sayers tucks into school lunch in 1975.

Echo: Teacher Paul Sayers tucks into school lunch in 1975Teacher Paul Sayers tucks into school lunch in 1975 (Image: Canvey Island Community Archive)

There is an image from 1982 of Ray Howard invited into the school as Chair of Governors at Long Road Junior and Infants Schools. Ray had been a pupil at the school and had sadly experienced some of his friends die in the 1953 Canvey flood.

Echo: In class - Ray Howard invited to Long Road Junior and Infants School In class - Ray Howard invited to Long Road Junior and Infants School (Image: Canvey Island Community Archive)

At the time he said: “It was a very emotional time for me to see all those old pictures because all the old memories of teachers and friends came back. It seems not so long ago since I was a pupils at the school.

"When I was a little lad, I never envisaged that I would be made chairman of the governors in the future. To tell you the truth,atthe time, I just wanted to leave. But now I am proud to be part of it again.”

All of the information and images are from the Canvey Community Archive, see www.canveyisland.org.