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Peter Harvey Maidstone I remember it well: As a child I lived on Loose Road, a couple of trolley stops from the Loose terminus. My bedroom was in the front of the house, and I can well remember how excited I used to get when I was woken up on cold frosty mornings by the loud crackles and bright blue sparks created by the frost on the wires. At that time I travelled every day to school on the trolleybuses and can remember many incidents, mostly involving the poles coming off the wires and creating havock to the traffic. On one occasion a queue of trolleybuses had build up in the town centre, and they all ended up going up Stone Hill together, but clearly the load was too much and they all came to a grinding halt, which blocked all the raffic behind. I got to know many of the conductors and can remember two Italian brothers who used to stand on the platform at the back singing opera arias. Does anyone else remember them? Happy days!
Jim Yarwood Maidstone I remember it well: Hello everyone. With Barry Hynes and myself we organised the school reunion you're talking about at St Francies Junior School in Week Street and it was a brilliant evening. We made the ladies wear name tags with their maiden names so that "the sands of time" would allow one another to identify those faces from time gone by! Talking about Matteo those of you may remember that my mother was Italian, though you wouldn't have known it when I was at school. There was also the Hughes family, Italian to the core. Sadly Marie and her brother "Divvy" (David) as he was more popularly known have passed away, I believe the two other brothers Charlie and Billy are still around in the north of England. I have lived in Maidstone all of my life; first memories are of my mum renting two rooms at a house in Boxley Road which was convenient for going to St Francis at Week Street, personally a good time for me, I had no complaints and got on ok with the teachers, especially Mr McPartland, a real gent of the old style. Like Peter (Capon) I wasn't brainy enough to pass the 11+ so I went to the Nissan Huts in Vinters Park, again looking back a brilliant time of my school life. Remember Mr O'Donnell and his slipper for us "nauties"? Sadly he passed away a couple of years ago, again to me he was the one that kept me on the straight and narrow! We moved from Boxley Road, around the corner to Wheeler Street (the house has since been demolished) and then onto Shepway Estate where my schooldays finished. Mum had several jobs, with the first one being at Chiesemans, in their kitchen. I used to love going down into their basement store at Christmas time, it was sheer fantasy-land with Father Christmas at the end of a magical ride, I don't know how they did it in the days prior to all the electronic/computer generated backdrops of today. She then moved jobs to The Star ... what a brilliant place, anybody remember Monday nights in the 60s where the lights were dimmed and there were just candles alight on the tables? Can you imagine Health & Safety nowadays!!!!! Brilliant, brilliant times. I used to knock about with a group of lads and I printed up business cards - calling ourselves The Maidstone Set - anyone remember Jim James, Malc James, Alan Matthews, John Birch, Alan Leeson and myself? I can recall The Beehive, wonderful store, go in one entrance in Union Street and exit from the other onto Week Street, it had everything a gwaking young lad in the 60s wanted, how about Hubble & Freeman the sports shop in Gabriel's Hill? The best sports shop in the universe and Goldings junk shop at the top of Week Street (selling army surplus), next to the Barracks where the new road and White Rabbit currently reside. Timothy Whites at the bottom of Week Street, the Kent Messenger at the top of Week Street? Pia's milk bar also at the top of Week Street, Gilberts cycle shop next door and the fresh fish shop next to them? And what about "Misplaced Article" week (to co-incide with Maidstone Carnival/Cricket Week), when shops would deliberately put an article in the windows that they obviously didn't sell and so you had a form to go around the shops, look in their windows, try and spot the mis-placed article, enter it on your entry form and try to win a prize, all good, innocent fun! Could go on but you've probably fallen asleep by now, so I'll end! Let me know if anyone remembers me, great site Peter, congratulations!
Sure we remember you Jim. It was a sad dissapointment to see your hair though.
debbie codling Maidstone I remember it well: Dodgy Trinity disco, club musique, skipping school to drink beer by the archibishops palace near the rope swing, the tramps at brenchley gardens, the mummy in the museum, the tuesday market, bohemian rhapsody at the albion, the tower room at vinters girls, (miss martin and miss blake lol) penenden heath cafeteria on sunny days, brownies at heathorn street and the women only zone at brewer street wmc lol
Jim Clinch
Maidstone I remember it well: Maidstone: I remember it well. I was born here in 1927. My family had a shop in King Street, 30, next door to the Baptist Church. The shop is still there together with the side passage that led down to a garden under the Baptist church east window. The shop was run by my great grandfather James Clinch, a tin smith, until he died in 1924. His son William took over until he died in 1945 when the business closed in 1945. The shop was full of tin kettles, saucepans, any thing made of tinplate. But nobody wants tin goods these days with aluminium and plastics. Has anybody got a photo of the south side of King Street? There are many photos of the north side, probably because it was in the sun.
Andrew Dimarco Maidstone I remember it well: Goodness! I to can remember many of the things mentioned in the posts! My Father ran a Ice cream parlor and cafe almost next to St Francis, next door to Gilberts bike and toy shop on one side and Millers gent hairdressers on the other. For many years he also ran the little cafe on Penenden Heath, that a number of people have remembered. I went to St Francis, and was taught by Harry, Miss Stroud, and the others. I remember the playground accross the road from county hall, I think its the church car park now. Oppisite were the KM offices and printing press, that had a huge window facing the East station, and it was possible to watch the press (nicknamed 'Gertie' i think) printing the papers. At that end of Week St, there was also a row of shops with a coin laundry,Rawlings office supplies, and I think a little tobbaco and sweet shop also Currys was in this row. My brother Tony went to Westbrough, and my sisters to the convent in Boxly Rd Its so nice to remember! cheers everyone
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hello andrew,i remember your dads cafe well.I always remember thinking to myself that when im working im going in there and eating as much as i can !!always hungry.i remember the fish and chip shop there also and i believe was once also a toy shop.On other side of the road there was a sweet shop run by mr and mrs jones right opposite the school,just below was a grocers where you could buy a penny worth of specs and the chippy would sell you pennys worth of crackling or batter from fish.Good old days eh.bye for now
David Elphee Maidstone I remember it well: I remember the Civil Defence well, I was the friend that Peter joined with and went into communications., I still have my uniform and boots and have no hope of fitting into them, due to 40years of good home cooking. I also remember returning to the HQ behind the council offices on Friday nights and having a beer and cutting a slice from the great big slab of cheese on the bar and eating it with biscuits. We use to go out in a Land Rover and trailer laying down field cable on Exercises and at the County Show Ground at Detling. In 1980 I joined the Royal Observer Corps which had it's HQ at Ashmore House in London Road(it is now the property of Brachers.) We had an underground bunker at the rear of Ashmore House which would in time of war be able to accommodate up to 70 persons for 2 weeks.I served for 11 years until it's disbandment in 1991. I am sure I still have that uniform around somewhere!
vince (curly) oconnell Maidstone I remember it well: do i remember st francis oh yes i came from preston lanks with my brother tom and my sister ireen after the war to live in wouldham and being a good catholic boy we all went to st francis tom is older than me so he was ther from 1946 to1950 and i vince was ther from 1948 to 1952 and ireen was ther from1952 to 1956 all dates are aprox .i remember my teacher mr ludden and his little red mg sports car and his size 10 slipper i still have the marks on my rear end .and mr mcpartland cane on my hands mostly for fighting with my old mate george meekings i allso remember canon simmonds wat a man he put me on the right path many times he also marred me and my wife joan in 1957 and he baptised our three children .just a name or two from the old school bernard hughes barry and tony tynan ron monk brian weekly john ring gabby gamble jessy newel i hope im spelling ther names right i bet im not.i hope ther is mates out there that remember me yes i was that wrestler
Alan Coulson Country: Canada Maidstone I remember it well: .. and will be visiting Maidstone in May 2009. Attended MGS in the late 60's. Well remember Tish Stewart (sad that he passed away so young); cross country runs through Mote Park - how I hated them. 34 years later - it's still the place I was born in and the place where I went to High School. Many happy memories.
David Bowers Maidstone I remember it well: I am currently in Australia visiting my family and grandchildren and have been referred to your site by my daughter in New Zealand. There is an excellent new book "Maidstone A History" by Cyril Cooper that I have bought published by Philllimore & Co Ltd which may be of interest to your readers. www.phillimore.co.uk or www.thehistorypress.co.uk are reference points. I have much enjoyed reading your contributors comments which reflect my own memories of life and times during the last war into the fifties and beyond. Best wishes to all.
vince(curly) oconnell Maidstone I remember it well: as young boy i use to help out on pantonys farm one of jobs was to deliver milk to the friars i can remember that before 1948 part of it was a horse riding school.little did know i that years latter i would see my younger brother peter norris ordained as a priest there he is now the priest at saint marys rc church in the falkland islands.i have good memories of the friars and working on the farm
Did you see my memories of Aylesford Priory Vince?
barry
Maidstone I remember it well: hi all,i also used the pubs in loose,was the pub in question the "kings arms" had many a great night there myself and loved the old johny cash and country music.Different times wernt they? bye all
Yes your are correct Barry it was the Kings Arms when Frank and Jennie ran it.
Martin Baldock Maidstone I remember it well: I grew up in a house that backed onto the Heath, from 1954 until I got married in 1970. My brother and I could run out of our back garden through a small copse to the swings any time we chose (when we kids of course!). A brilliant place to spend a childhood back then...
Martin Baldock Maidstone I remember it well: My dad worked at County Hall initially and then Springfield - My first job was at Ansteys in Stone Street in the used car sales department - they also had a showroom right opposite the Granada cinema in Stone Street, a big servicing place where the huge shopping centre now is, plus another showroom in King Street. Opposite that one was Ansteymiles, the Triumph dealer and I worked there for a while too. Happy days of low pay but driving some great cars now regarded as classics! I believe Ansteymiles sold out to Dutton Forshaw and moved everything up to Park Wood
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hi pete,i remember the virginians very well.The singer was johny kibble.He worked as a bricklayer during the day in fact we worked together as i am a plasterer and i suppose we had couple of years together.john lives in larkfield now and he must be in early 70s!!Ive learnt to play guitar over the last couple of years a late starterand i play mainly merle haggard stuff also old classics from paxton and dylan but to very low standard.All for now.Keep in touch regards barry.
Hi Barry; Johnny Kibble was in the very early days, he was the bass player who had an extremely solemn look. The fronting singer was Johnny Horton brilliant singer who should have been more widely recognised.
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hi jim,your reference to old ron golding in sandling rd.if you remember the old saturday wrestling you will remember mel smith or mel steward he was the bald wrestler with the fu man chu moustache bald head and pony tail anyway he married old ron goldings daughter and they lived in i believe grecian st untill they moved to sheppey a few years ago.I remember mel being booed by the wrestling croud as i say he was always the baddie but in reality he was a lovely guy still pops into maidstone to see his old mates and still got moustache ponytail and still bald !!bye for now
Peter Grant Maidstone I remember it well: Anyone remember `Bishes` Teashop in Stone Street next door to the `Pilot`Public House. Run by Lottie Bishop and her son George.Photographs around the walls of customers from the 2nd World War. I wonder what happened to them when the shop closed.If you were a customer you became part of Bishes family of friends. Happy Days
vince oconnell Maidstone I remember it well: hi barry its good you remember my old wrestling mate mel stuart we go back along way we both started our wrestling training together at chatham in a little hall near the bus station in fact the first bout he had was with me. he went on to be a tv star wrestler and i started the saracens wrestling club that was in 1960s the saracens hope to open a new gym this year sadly no longer a wrestling club if ther is any old wrestling mates that remember me and the old days i would love to have a email from you.
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hi pete,i often talk to my son ben about whats happening nowdays with all the violence and he says that hurting someone means nothing to so many youngsters today. He says its not like your days dad a sense of fair play its about so called respect being 7st soaking wet thick as two short planks and demanding people look up to you, the best way they think to get respect is to make people scared of them. I used pubs in my years full of really hard men prize fighters etc and they wouldn’t dream of hurting anyone out of their circle. I can remember my aunt doll using a certain pub when she was really getting old and the pub was full of bruisers they always sat doll down bought her a drink and spoke to her. It made me smile seeing little dolly sitting with this crowd but we all knew she was safe and one of these bruisers would see her home safely. I mentioned a couple of names to my ben that were so called legends around the boxing and prize fighting fraternity and asked what would happen if these sort of people were around and sadly ben said they would probably get stabbed. This is what has happened to society. hurting people means nothing to them.Its all about respect and not being "dissed".Lets hope things get better but i think to much damage has been done and to so many just an acceptable way of life.Regards to all Barry
Cliff Vanns Maidstone I remember it well: I also used to work for Anstey Miles between 1967 & 71 at Tudor Garage on the London Road (Opposite Castle Way)& also at their workshop in King Street on the other side of the road from the ABC Cinema. Use to enjoy driving round the town (on road tests of course) in some really classic cars of the time, Triumph Stags, TR6's, Triumph 2000, as well as the Rover range they were certainly good days.
Joyce Masters(Hilt) Maidstone I remember it well: Does anyone remember the Hilts from Grecian Street,i bet theres a few that do. I was born in India, and came to the uk when i was 9.My first school in the uk was North Borough,then Vinters girls.Im now 63. I can remember several things, Cris Barbers shop at wheeler st end of grecian st. Our milkman lived in wheeler st, im sure his name was Jack. Ma Wade shop in wheeler st where we used to get 1 penny ice lollies. I used to go scrumping in a field at the end of St.Lukes road for raspberrys,gooseberrys,apples etc. My headmaster at northborough was Mr. Hopkins. I can remember Midd Dowding, Miss Collins, Miss Dibble,who tought French,and always talked about her Geese,i think they were nannette and babbette. Would love to hear from anyone who can remember me. I think i know Joy Brown who has submitted an article,and Douglas Lyndsey who i think lived in Curson Road,next to Salisbury Road. Love to know if i am right.
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hi Vince,good to hear from you.I bet you had some fun with Mel hes a good guy.He does bit of acting now and gets on eastenders as an extra and other small parts.I think he still does his flame swallowing act and entertains.Next time i see him i will give him this site and you can contact him catch up on old times.Bye for now Vince Barry
Enid Sharp Maidstone I remember it well: Lyons Corner House at the top of High Street where all the cyclist used to meet before going cycling to the coast or out into the country. The two largest clubs were the C.T.C and the San Fairy Ann.
ENID SHARP Maidstone I remember it well: Granada picture house was another place to go, they had a lovely restaurant where you could get a lovely cheese on toast and a pot of tea served by waitresses in their black dresses with frilly white aprons and little white frilly caps on their heads before going into the cinema for the big film. Seats cost in those far off days one and threepence and if you had extra pocket money two and ninepence, what a spend up.
Jennifer Archer (was Yates) Maidstone I remember it well: I was born in Waterlow Road but moved to Dog & Gun Boxley Road with my parents & sister.
ENID SHARP Maidstone I remember it well: We lived in Brunswick street just of Stone Street my cousins, sister and myself were playing in the back yard @ no 47 we looked up into a clear blue sky and saw a squadron of aircraft coming over us no sirens as yet had gone off but as we looked bombs started to fall. Then the sirens started it was bedlam, the noise as the bombs hit was horrific. When it was over there was dirt and dust everywhere, windows broken and doors hanging off. When we went upstairs to our bedrooms we found machine gun bullets all round the walls just above our beds, it was the worst day of my life.
Lyn Green (né Anderson) Country: France Maidstone I remember it well: Yes, I remember John Bradford's fish shop; it was opposite my Dad's shop"The Leather Shop". How Maidstone has changed? and as you say wasn't it a treat to have fresh fish too - and I believe that there were 2 fishmongers?
Barbara Neill-Bottle Maidstone I remember it well: We lived in St Luke's Road, Maidstone for 40 years; from 1966 until 2006. My Dad was Bob Neill, the hypnotherapist, and I am now following in his footsteps!
Barbara Neill-Bottle Maidstone I remember it well: In the late seventies, I worked at Hooks Bookshop in Bank Street. It was originally the County Town Bookshop. After Hooks Bookshop, the building was transformed into Frobishers Wine Bar.
Terry McKenna Maidstone I remember it well: Confirming one or two peoples memories: Joyce Hilt your milkman who lived in Wheeler Street was Jack Matthews and he had a son called Trevor. He also "helped" my dad Mac mcKenna to do bread deliveries in the 60's. To Doug Lyndsay I too was at that "Pop" show at the Granada. The bill included The Hollies, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Lulu,The Searchers and of course The Rolling Stones. My older brother Michael took me to Hastings to see this "fantastic" new band: The Original Stones with Brian Jones in 1963/4 and a year or two later when they were really BIG they turned up in a huge Oldsmobile c/w the chauffer at Godfrey Holmes in Granville Road (brand new shop then) and I fixed a major brake problem they had. All of them came into the shop and chatted and drank TEA. Hardly Rock and Roll eh but they gave us all tickets for that same night. Halcien days! Does anybody remember Gus Harris the boxing promoter and his "Gym" above Hubble and Freemans sports shop (I think)and two of his main boxers, AND both world champions!! Terry Spink and Dave Charnley. I used to run round Mote Park with them training and they were both really nice guys. My dad was a very keen (and good ) darts player and he got Dave Charnley to do "raffles" for various charity causes in the Greyhound pub on the junction of Holland Road and Wheeler Street. Talking of the Greyhound please don't tell me it's true it is being closed!! Bill and Milly Dodds were part of my early life and that pub could reveal many secrets. Used to love Sunday lunchtimes when the man came round in his van and sell cockles and Whelks etc. and we used to eat them with our darts!! Keep writing to this site cos Peter does a grand job collating all our yesterdays. Jim Yarwood Maidstone I remember it well: Sorry Terry, the Greyhound has closed down, it's all boarded up with metal grilles over the windows and doors, very sad indeed. And yes, I remember Gus Harris, I used to train at his boxing gym when he moved it up to the London Road, it was situated just where the "Chat" (signing-on) office currently is. Happy times! Enid Sharp mentioned the Granada restaurant, but who can ever forget the Fiesta coffee bar on the ground floor of Granada with its huge glass windows and seating, unbelievable that you could make a froffy coffee last all afternoon! Hamburger for 1s 3d or if you were really flush a cheeseburger for an extra 6d - 1s 9d! And then there was motorcycle/scooter bay across the road where currently the First Choice carpet shop is - we'd all watch the mods/rockers pull up (cos we were under 16 so couldn't ride) and then across the road was the site of the old bus station, pretty slippery on a wet day on 2 wheels if one of the old buses had pulled out leaving a trail of derv (diesel) across the road, that was always guaranteed to make it interesting!
Margaret Hills nee McGinty Country: Papua New Guinea Maidstone I remember it well: I was in Ms Lenton's class in 1956 and then Miss Stroud's class before my family emigrated to NZ in 1958. My best friend was a girl called Anita Fischer who had beautiful long plaits!!
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: By the way mention was made of DiMarco's having a presence at the Ag Show in Mote Park. They had an 'Ice Cream Parlour' for the want of a better description next to St Franis. Christine was amember of the St John's nursing Cadets.
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: The fish & chip shop near the Beehive was the Seven Seas, but my favourite was the one at the bottom of Gabriels Hill where my good mate & I would give them a bit of cheek on the way home from the St John's Amb. Cadets. We seemed to walk everywhere in those days (50's &60's). Living in York Rd, Mote Park was just one big adventure playground. Willington Woods was the place for good getting bows & arrows & a look at the misterious Shallow Cave. Lovely days.
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hello joan,you mention your nan lived at number 9 marsham street,well i believe my uncle and aunt also lived there at some time they were ernest and ivy sedge
Vivienne Peen (Snow) Maidstone I remember it well: Maistone I remember it well, I used to work at AnsteyMiles after they amalgamated, it was my first job on leaving Secretarial College, round about 1971. I remember going to the old Cinema and having to stand up for the national anthem. I also used to frequent the Wig and Gown, and met my husband there over 35 yrs ago. We were married at what used to be The Tudor House Pub along the A20 at Bearsted, and is now The Marriott Tudor Park Hotel.
gene murphy Country: United States Maidstone I remember it well: My visit in Aug. 1993 was special. By God's grace I wish for the health to return ... someday. June 4, 2009 Say hello to my cousin Fr. Wilfrid
BRIAN SCOTT
Maidstone I remember it well: MAIDSTONE I REMEMBER IT WELL TERRY McKENNA SAID JOYCE HILTS MILKMAN WAS JACK MATTHEWS .HE WAS MY UNCLE AND WAS A DRIVER FOR DANISH BACON COMPANY,THEN AN AMBULANC DRIVER AND THEN WENT ROUND TEACHING ROAD SAFTY TO CHILDREN [TUFFY CLUB] HIS SON TREVOR HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF MAIDSTONE COUNCIL AND HELPS RUN THE AIR MUSEUM AT HEADCORN
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: It seems that St Francis has a good representation - does anyone remember Frances Wigston? She lived at the top of York Rd & as I recall was the only one in the street that didn't go to Soughboro at some stage. She was the only girl allowed into our 'gang'. I think that was because her Mum & Step-father owned a coffee percollator & didn't have to drink the 'Camp' like the rest of us. Silly as it seems we all used to cram into the kitchen just to watch the percollator 'perk'. Now that was living on the edge OK. Where are you Frances
Raymond Clarke Maidstone I remember it well: I was born in County road across from the prison gates in 1946
Hi Raymond, I was born at the other end of Camden Street and Brewer Street in 1948. Do you have a younger brother by any chance?
Jim Yarwood Maidstone I remember it well: Anyone remember the "submarine" a brick-shaped feature that used to be in the water just a little under the high-level bridge? Spent many a happy hour wading/swimming out to get onto the "sub". And what about further along the towpath we used to creep into the lower end of the army barracks that ran down to the river's edge and muck about in their artificial "trenches" and assault course they built for training. It was always a bit creepy on the towpath under the high-level bridge arches, used to get one or two drunks who'd make it their patch, so we'd go down either in pairs or in a group. As for the old swimming baths, anyone remember queuing up outside on the steps waiting for the sessions to end? Then after swimming having wonderful hot tomato soup and a bread roll in the small cafeteria, mmmmm!
Jim Yarwood Maidstone I remember it well: I first moved to Maidstone in 1952 and my mum rented two rooms at the top of the house at 36 Boxley Road, (sadly it's since been demolished. It used to have metal railings outside where the local kids and myself used to swing round on them. After a few years we moved to 175 Wheeler Street (again, that's been demolished) it's where the now-defunct tyre depot used to be - virtually opposite James Street. Anyone remember the fish and chip shop on the corner of James Street/Wheeler Street run by Mr Sharp (I think - stand to be corrected!) Used to buy 3d worth of batter and to think nowadays that would be tantamount to a serious, serious health hazard! How times change!
Ivor Thomas Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Ivor Thomas,Perth Western Australia,Maidstone I remember it well.It was the town where I enlisted in the Queens own royal west kent regt in 1956.Being a bandsman I did many a parade from the barracks down Week st & Gabriels hill to the church. Met my future wife Jean Hilt at the star ballroom on her 17th birthday, she lived in Grecian st,we married at the registry office King st 1958,this is now a shopping centre I believe.We celebrated our Golden wedding at Darwin in the Austalian Northern Territories.
Congratulations to you both, my aunt, uncle and cousins lived in Grecian Street in those days. Still not a bad place to be.
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Mum was born in George St just off of Stone St, which was known as a 'rough area in it's day. Dad was born at Tovil - next to the toffee mine. He was a War Reserve Policeman and coincidentally Stone St was his regular beat. I remember numerous stories re 'The Bloodhouse' ie The Duke of Brunswick' pub on the corner of Old Tovil Rd. In later years I used to accompany Dad to what seemed every pub in the southern part of Maidstone - including as far away as the 'Bockingford Arms'. When young we walked everywhere. dad used to meet up with his old WW1 shipmates - another source of tall & terrible tales. I must say that it was always a great thing to walk down Stone St with him because everyone called him 'Mr Allen' Now if anyone calls me that I lookaround for Dad.
Was the toffee mine next to the treacle mine?
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Who remembers Billy Kent AKA Dave Kingsman? We were classmates at Southborough until I went on to the Tech. A few years later we met up again & he was now Billy Kent- Rock & Roller as per Tommy Steele etc. Dave was always the class clown & took great delight imitating the teachers.
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: As I remember going to the Tech there was usually only two avenues of employment on offer - either Aylesford Paper Mills of perhaps KEF at Tovil who at that time made agricultural machinery not HiFi. The 3rd option was always what you could find for yourself.
jerry pinner Maidstone I remember it well: We moved to Aylesford in 1965 and I went to MGS . Most of my memories of the school are not happy ; Nogger Knight was still there then and shouldn't have been allowed near children - he was a deeply unpleasant piece of work . In fact , I recall very few teachers from that era that had even the faintest clue about the art of teaching . One exception was "Willie" Fawcett who inspired me take ip drawing and painting ; another was my form master , "Killer " Kemp , a true gentleman of the old school. I was in the RAF section of the CCF ; it wasn't compulsory to join , but the alternative was circuit training on the playing field . I remember the glider being flown into the plate glass window of Willie's new art room .The place was a hellhole and , thanfully , my family moved away in 1968 , saving me from the failure that would surely have followed had I stayed !
jane alexander Maidstone I remember it well: Gosh what a lot of memories! I also learned to swim in the 1960s at the pool with the the lady who pushed us under with a long pole if we weren't good enough swimmers. That wouldn't happen nowadays! Also remember the poolside doors that you could see under. We lived on the London Road and I went to Brunswick House Primary School. Mrs Foster was the head teacher.I can remember the lovely Miss Gooding and also being kept in by Mrs Beynon. I went to the Tech for three years before moving away. My grandfather and great uncle ran the Beehive Stores in Week Street-endless memories of being in there with all its nooks and crannies. Happy days!
stephen winch Maidstone I remember it well: 2 more bands were Vanity Fair and Pinkertons Colours they played at the Tudor House Hotel
Nigel Green Maidstone I remember it well: Elvis is still about I saw him last week in the high street he still looks the same
ELVIS IS ALIVE AND WELL!
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