Youth gone wild. Call the cops. (2017)

For all I know this was happening all over Essex on this day.

In Leigh-on-Sea, probably just like where you are, we have an Art Trail. This year I thought I’d squeeze in Leigh Marina and The High Street in one go, which I did, and when I had I thought I’d buy an ice cream as it was hot and sunny; didn’t fancy what they had but for some reason there seemed to be a lot of schoolchildren about, gathering on Bell Wharf.

There seemed to be a lot of poster paint on the floor, on faces and clothes and adapted school uniforms, you can see that in the first picture. You hear Kelly turning up, the thud that follows is her jumping onto the deck on one of two trawlers lying alongside (F111 if you want to look it up), she’s not on there for long, I presume someone shooed her off but there’s talk of drink and searches being carried out.

The second picture and recording are from opposite the wharf, just the general hubbub, a jet ski; the tide was coming in and there were normal families on the beach.

I’ve no idea what it was all about: they’re too young to be leaving school, it’s too early in the year for it anyway, perhaps it was the end of some exams. Whatever it was, it was hugely exciting in the world of teen and something you just couldn’t afford to miss, just ask Kelly, Amy, Ellie, or anyone of that age in Essex who was out at 4.30pm that day.