31st January 1953 A tidal surge came down the north sea and flooded low lying Canvey Island in the Thames estuary . Fifty eight people lost their lives and the island had to be evacuated.

CANVEY ISLAND
Canvey Island - British Sea Power     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAPipGc1Vk4

Killed a wild swan
It was a kind of omen
Of everything to come
I can't believe it's happening
And that it's happening now
I can't believe it's happening
It's coming true somehow

Chorus On Canvey Island, 1953
Many lives were lost
With the records of a football team
I can't believe it's happening
And that it's happening now
I can't believe it's happening
It's coming true somehow

Don't you think it's strange, you know
The way it all works out
Brace yourself for storms and Summer droughts, so

Sometimes it's hard to tell
If it's going well
You know the odds against it
Were so phenomenal
I can't believe it's happening
And that it's happening now
I can't believe it's happening
It's coming true somehow

Chorus

Don't you think it's strange, you know
The way it all works out
Brace yourself for storms and Summer droughts

Don't you think it's strange, you know
The way it all works out
You start with everything then end without

Oh!
Oh, oh!
Oh

Oh it's happening now
Oh it's happening now
Oh