On the night of January 31, 1953, a tidal surge came down the North Sea flooding low lying lands in its path and claiming 58 lives on Canvey.

The disaster, which has since come to be known by many names – ‘the Great Flood’, ‘the Canvey Flood’, 'the North Sea Flood’ – left a searing imprint on the memories of all who survived that tragic night.

With the 70th anniversary fast approaching, Canvey is gearing up to commemorate all those who lose their lives and look back at the most pivotal moment in the area’s long and storied history.

A new commemorative plaque marking 70 years since the flood will be placed on the wall outside Canvey Library, alongside the 60th anniversary plaque.

Ray Howard MBE, honorary Alderman of Essex County Council and Freeman of Castle Point, was 11 years old when the flood hit, leaving an indelible scar on his psyche. 

“This will probably be the last decade anniversary, as there’s not many more of us left around who can remember the flood,” he said.

“It was actually the night of the opening of a new war memorial hall, but it was a terrible and foul night, the wind was blowing a gale, so my family did not go to the opening.

“I remember being woken by my sister in the early hours of the morning, yelling there was water gushing down the street.

“We were very fortunate to be evacuated by the army and taken to Benfleet, but sadly so many poor souls weren’t as lucky as me.”

The flood, caused by a tidal surge and storms in the North Sea, claimed the lives of 2,500 people in Europe – more than 300 of them in the UK.

In the Netherlands, where the disaster is known as “Watersnoodramp”, 1,800 lives were lost and 10 per cent of the country’s entire farmland was flooded.

Fifty-eight residents died in Canvey that night, many asleep in their beds when the surge hit with little warning.

Such was the devastation, the disaster has become intertwined with the island’s history.

On February 1, the public is invited to the 70th anniversary event, beginning at 1pm.

VIPs including survivors, family members, and even the family of PC Bill Pilgrim – immortalised in a Daily Mail frontpage photo at the time, carrying a little girl to safety – will be in attendance.

Canvey Town council events organiser Laura Gould said: “The public can join us on February 1 as we put up the special plaque.

“The next day we will be holding an event for schools, teaching children about the history of the flood.”

She added: “The Environment Agency will also be setting up in the council offices to inform residents about current flooding protections, especially the revetment project that is going on.”

The £75million project, for which construction has begun, will help protect the island from flooding - with large parts of Canvey lying below the daily high-water level in the Thames Estuary.

A 3km stretch of the island’s existing tidal flood defence revetment will be renewed on its southern shoreline between Thorney Bay and the Island Yacht Club.

The Canvey Community Archive will also be holding a flood exhibition in Canvey Library on February 25.