David Peek has been looking through some photographs of Bridgwater back in the day including one of when the docks were a thriving hub.

He said: "One of my favourite old photos is of my parents Don and Winnie taken by the lock gates, clearly showing ships in dock and the cone oven in the background and railway trucks."

"On another tack my father was the manager/driver of the small Esso depot in the siding of Bridgwater station, fuel delivered to the depot by rail was then delivered to the surrounding farms by him in an old small tanker throughout the flooded areas we saw recently on TV guided between the striped wooden stakes at the side of the road . The depot closed in the 1950s and he transferred to a similar depot at Taunton station until that also closed."

Mr Peek said that Winnie died at the early age of 42. She worked at the town's branch of Marks and Spencer in the accounts section. Her death was a real shock to the town for the first and only time in its history the store closed for the day of her funeral.

He also recalls the days when there were old style swimming clubs in the town who played water polo and swam the five miles from Dunball to Town Bridge. The chaps used the old swimming baths where a Mr Saunders was the attendant.

He said: "My father's cousin was Harry Evans and was landlord of the vaults, an old pub in St Mary’s Street, famed for its large barrels on view behind the bar . The Johns brothers ran the bakery in Eastover, the Mills brothers ran the shops at the junction of Eastover and John Street.

"In the river swim the large chap left back standing was I think the town Police Sergeant, and next to him is my father's friend Cecil Moore who developed cramp in the river swim and had to retire, his late nephew, a hairdresser, became the Mercury’s fishing correspondent."

These are great memories and some fascinating insights into a Bridgwater that has changed but still has many stories to tell. Do you have old pictures and memories of the town? Email harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk as we'd love to hear from you.