We seem to be filling up all the spaces.
Anthony Smith Maidstone I remember it well: I came to Maidstone in 1954 to commence my general nursing training at the old West Kent General Hospital in Marsham Street. I got my SRN in June 1957. I have tried unsuccessfully so far to contact former colleagues of those far off days.
Rene Newman New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: Antony you probably just missed my son's meeting the world in 1951 at the West Kent Hospital and who better than Sister Toomey to take charge of my wife Joan.Tough,kind,dedicated and what she didn't know about her work wasn't worth knowing. She ran the roost and the doctors knew it and were relieved that she was there. Joan loved her care and had high regard for Sister Toomey. She was Irish and if you came under her scrutiny you would not have forgotten. Your loss, her tuition would have been valuable
John Maidstone I remember it well: I haven't seen the photo referred to, but from what has been written it sounds very much like Alfie, whom we used to call Elvis. He would often try to dance around with a pint on his head, but I never witnessed him let go of it, he would simply hold it there with one hand. Nice site. I'd like to suggest a photos page, where all photos can be seen at a glance without chopping and changing pages.
Now you mention it John I never remember him letting go of his glass.
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: I recall all the cinemas too. Both the Cental in King St and the Granada had quite fancy restaurants as well, I was taken for my eleventh birthday treat to the Granada restaurant, great view over the Bus Station too! Another regular each year at the Granada was the staging live for a week or two of the 'Billy Cotton Band Show', we loved it as kids, and I think we had 'Educating Archie' live too at some point. Then later, in the sixties I recall seeing the Rolling Stones at the Granada, just as they were becoming famous. The Granada was a Grand Place indeed before it was rebuilt as a multiscreen cinema. The mention of the Fiesta Coffee Bar reminds me that it was a much later addition. There used to be a row of four shops under the Granada Restaurant facing Lwr Stone St, they were Meesons the sweet shop, Lindseys the surgical appliance shop (!!), The Espresso Bar (the first coffee bar) and Haversnack the original cafe type place frequented by bus drivers & conductors and workmen. The Espresso extended first into Haversnack when it closed, then into the other shops to become the much larger Fiesta, that was by about 1958. The chap who played the Piano marathon at the Palace in Gabriels Hill was Brendan Meehan I think, yes we did go and see him each day too!
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: The year of the ice on Mote Park lake was the very bad winter of 1963 when we had sub zero temperatures from New Year till about March. I recall even driving my old car across the lake!!! I was so confident that the ice was thick enough, and it was, luckily!! There were hundreds of people playing and skating on the ice there. That winter was a really cold one, we had rutted ice on the main roads even for weeks on end as the salt and grit just re-froze it was so cold. I also remember the prisoners from Maidstone Jail out in the streets of Maidstone clearing the snow off the pavements, under guard of course!!! There were shortages of everything because all the fields were frozen so no vegetables could be gathered, the trains were all delayed, as were the buses and the outlying villages were cut off completely.
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: I went to Maidstone Grammar School 1953-1958 when 'Wacky' Claydon was the Head Master. My Cousin and Uncle went there before and during the War also. From a village primary school at Sutton Valence where I attended it was quite a life changing experience going to the Grammar on the first day!! I recall as I went through the gate on that first morning a boy who would have been about 12 or 13 came running out screaming with a dart stuck in his knee!!! I thought wow, is this what it is like!!! It was so, so different to primary school, the ethos of Maidstone Grammer was to 'train' pupils for life at University, and it was hard in those days, We had preafects who were allowed to slipper boys, the teachers were allowed to cane boys as well, also preafects were allowed to have 'fags' as they were called, boys who had to clean their kit and tidy their room etc, all so much like the life in Uni then. We had a mad woodwork teacher, 'Nogger' Knight, who was a sadist I'm sure, he used to hit us with a three foot steel rule!! He was also an officer in the CCF, the Combined Cadet Force we had at school, which was mandatory unless you could prove you were a concientious objector!!! I was in the Army Cadets, there was an Air Force section too. They even had a glider which they used to 'fly' across the playing field powere by long elastic ropes which made it fly for about 400 yards! In my middle year there, the Upper Fourths, 1955, I was at my naughtiest...I kept a record of punishments in my journal, I had 49 sides of writing, over 1000 lines and some 24 hours of detention, and the detenton was Saturday mornings too!!! Can't imagine any of that taking place these days!! Anyone else there at the same time?
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: My recollections of the Swimming Baths were the intense smell of chlorine and, as someone said, the stinging eyes afterwards!! The male instructor was, I think, a bus driver or conductor as well as I often saw him on the buses outside of swimming, can't recall his name though. A later recollection I have was when I was working at Chiesmans, and at Christmes all the staff seemed to get drunk, me included, and I was only about 17. Anyway one Christmas eve we had been in the 'Old House at Home' in Pudding Lane where all the permanent staff from Chiesmans went whilst the temporary staff manned he shop!! (imagine that now!!) I was plied with too much drink and felt awful by about 3.30 pm, but was aware that I needed to get sober as it was always a big night out at The Star Ballroom on Xmas Eve, so I thought if I go to the Baths and have a shower it may sober me up...so off down Medway Street to the Baths, paid my 4d or whatever it was for a shower and towel, and into a nice shower. However, I must have slumped to the ground in my drunken state and the next thing I recall is being absolutely frozen, laying under a cold shower!!! Obviously the water had gone cold and I had eventually woken some half hour later!! Still, it did the trick, I was now sober, and got dressed and back to work to sign off, then home to smarten up for a very good night out at The Star!!! And what a superb time we all had at The Star Ballroom..we used to go Fridays, Saturdays, and even Sundays later on when it opened on Sundays too. Also Monday nights were dance nights too. It was THE place to be in the late 50s and early 60s. There was occasional 'trouble' on Saturdays when the American Air Force chaps from West Malling came to town and tried to 'pull' all our local girls, often as we left at midnight the Military Police 'redcaps' would be outside rounding up the drunken airmen!! There was a very good sprung dance floor there, only surpassed by the sprung floor in Chiesmans 'Georgian' ballroom/Restaruant, that really was sprung well. The Star had three ballrooms too, the main one, The Kings Hall, then the Queens Hall and even the Princes Hall downstairs. On notable occasions such as the 'Tech Arts Ball' all three ballrooms would be used for the same event...fabulous night that was!! Anyone else remember the super nights at The Star? Later on about 1963/4 they started having guest 'disc jockeys' there and such names as David Jacobs and Alan Freeman put in appearences. One night when Jimmy Saville was the guest I won the 'twist' contest with a girl called Pam from John Street (it made the KM newspaper with picture!!) and Jimmy took her home in his Roller much to my annoyance!!! However, some 25 years later when I was a guest at a 'Jim'll Fix It'show in London, I met up again with Jimmy, and he even remembered the occasion and remembered her name!!!
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: Seeing the picture of the floods in the High Street reminds me that in the 1960 flood I was working at Chiesmans then and we had about 3 feet of water in the basement for several days after that flood so we couldn't work down there and the whole department had to be re-decorated afterwards, the staff gents toilet was down there too so that wasn't available either, we had to use the undergound public toilets outside under the Cannon traffic island, anyone remember them? Also Maidstone featured on the front page of the Daily Mirror the day after the flood, a view looking towrards the river with a Loose Trolley Bus on the front of a national daily paper!!! Wow, how extraordinary was that!! I recall the raised walkways provided by the Council to get people to work and to and fro to the station and numerous vehicles that came to grief as the water was very deep each side of the bridge and had to be towed out. We had another flood in 1968 which was not quite as bad, but again the High Street was under water and I had a friend who worked nearer the river at 'House of Carpets' and his car was submerged at the rear of the shop, it was an old Ford Zepher, but we got it out after a few days and lo and behold after towing it along Fairmeadow a few times it started!!! It smelled rather badly though until it was totally dried out as you can imagine!! It was this flood (1968) that I recall seeing furniture from Len Cabinet Works floating along Palace Avenue and into Bishops Way before flowing off the edge into the Medway as the river Len had swollen to such a degree it swept right through Len Cabinet Works and Marchant & Tubb's premises in Water Lane and Granada Street quite an event!
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: Gabriels Hill. Just read the entry on Gabriels Hill. The furniture shop at the top of the hill on the corner with King Street was Ambroses, an old established furishing store and actually part of the Lenworth Group who also owned the Len Cabinet Works in Water Lane which indeed manufactured furniture. Many old photos of the top of the town show Ambroses store on that corner. The empty bombed out shop on the left going down the hill I recall well, it was very late being rebuilt, and the alley adjacent was always a bit scary for a youngster!! There was often a one legged first world war veteran selling lavender bags or matches sitting on the remaining frontage of this shop until it was rebuilt, or until he could no longer sell anything, anyone remember him? Your mention of the Granada Arcade as it was known, with Ashplants and Pias's Coffee Bar, reminds me that prior to the coffee bar being Pia's, it was Conte's, and before that, it was a smaller cafe/restaurant called 'Strawberry Fair' with a bow window and net curtains. I well remember this detail because we could go in there when bunking off school without the fear of anyone seeing us!!! The other memories include, on the opposite side next, or very near to, the Club was a chiropodist shop, I remember attending there for veruka treatment and also for 'dropped arches' when I was about 10!! On the corner with Palace Avenue was a large Funeral Director's parlour, and I think next door a Monumental Mason's showrom? Your mention of the Palace Theatre where Robert Dias is now reminds me that with big films on show it was often that we queued to get in and the alleyway adjacent to the site was where we queued and I recall a narrow canopy over about half the alleyway which did protect you from the rain. More than provided by the Granada which had no cover at all, and many many times the queue would go right round Granada Street and back to the bottom of the Hlll, such was the demand for the cinema in those days. Another memory of the Gabriels Hill area was the exposed part of the Rier Len in Water Lane, often as after school entertainment we would throw something substantial in the Len there an then rush round to Palace Avenue and see it float up to the wier opposite the old bus station. Talking of that area, who remembers the newspaper kiosk overhanging the Len outside Rootes Garage in Mill Street? Run by another first world war veteran who had a dreadful early motorised invalid tricycle car. I was at school with his son Peter Heron from John Street or Cross Street. He always had a good stock of 'pin-up' type material as well as the daily and evening papers!!!
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: High Street. Anyone recall the old coaching lane up beside the Rose Inn towards the bottom of the High Street, I believe it was called Rose Yard. It was there that a friend of mine printed the 'Stop Press' on the London Evening paper. Can't remember if it was The Star, The Evening News or The Evening Standard, yes, there were once three evening papers!! Each edition was put through a machine to print the very latest headlines or race results before they were distributed to the newpaper vendors which, if memory serves me, were located outside Chiesmans in the High Street, outside Ansteys opposite the Granada, outside Woolworths in Week St and outside the East & West stations. This activity is another piece of history that no doubt took place in hundreds of towns up and down the country.
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: Just loved Max from Canada's memories. I, too, was one of the MGS boys who used to buy 3d worth of chips in 'Smiffeys' chip shop in Stone Street, he knew the form that we weren't allowed to eat in the street in uniform and would wrap them in newspaper, tear a hole in the top, and we would put them in our satchels and eat them from there so as not to get caught!! The most embarrassing thing was the need to wear our school caps, even at weekends in term time, punishable by the cane if we didn't obey!!! I recall having dates at the pictures with the girls from the Girls Grammar or Girls Tech and having to wera a cap!!!! How embarrassing was that!! Then there was the end of school ritual when we finally left, that of casting your cap and tie into the river, I recall soaking them in lighter fuel and igniting them before dropping them off the bridge then crossing to see them floating off towards Allington with much cheering, I believe we had girls from the Tech doing the same thing too. Ah, the joys of Maidstone Grammar School rules!!! That was another regular punishment, having to write out the School Rules in longhand, once or even twice and handing it in the next day as an alternative to 'lines'.
Doug Lindsay Maidstone I remember it well: Reflections & Memories....Ah, there are many issues here, as you say there was violence and unruly behaviour back in the 50s & 60s, I well recall seeing bunches of 'teddy boys' brandishing knuckle dusters, bicycle chains and the like standing outside Woolworths in Week Street, they even had YoYos too, remember them!! There were often fights between drunken gangs outside various pubs in town too, mainly fuelled by alcohol I'm sure, but the big difference between then and now is discipline and respect. In those days we had many pedestrian policemen on the beat, they knew the trouble spots, and they knew the trouble makers too, and they respected each other, and we were all far more disciplined in our behaviour probably due to the recent WW2, rationing and continuing National Service making everyone far more concious of their actions. Once the sixties were upon us and we all had more disposable income and no National Service things started to change, gradually everyone had TV we became more informed, news became immediate, and we continued to earn more money. That still goes on today with the immediacy of the Internet, far more travel, even more disposable income and everyone wanting their own slice of the action has brought us to today's society where respect and discipline has disappeared to an extent. We used to respect the local copper or inn keeper, today they are often jeered at by youngsters who have had little discipline at school, often due to legislation, and thereby they respect nothing and think the state owes them a living! The difference about today's misbehaviour and violence is the fact that there's a far better chance of getting away with it, hence its almost acceptance by society, whereas, as you said, there was definitely some horrible violence and crime in the immediate post war period and people were hurt, but that was a minority, in the main we were far more well behaved and had respect for each other, and authority, which seems lacking today
Anthony Smith Maidstone I remember it well: As I nursed for ten years in Maidstone, and am still trying to contact folk who may have known me at the three hospitals where I worked, namely WKGH, Oakwood Hospital and Linton Hospital. Is it possible to upload a photo of myself?
Anthony Smith Maidstone I remember it well: One incident occurred whilst a student nurse at the WKGH. It was 1955, the time of the polio outbreak, and I was on night duty. I was detailed to nurse a child recovery from polio in a side room on the Children's Ward. The child had been in an iron lung, and I had to 'special' him all night. I was told by the night sister "Even if the hospital fell down I was to stay with my patient!". There was a dreadful thunderstorm that night. In the morning I discovered that flash flooding had flooded the hospital cellar to within a foot or so of the main electrics! The fire brigade had to pump out the cellar. Even cots had to be moved because of some flooding in the Children's Ward. My young patient had a very good and quiet night, and I had probably the most peaceful night of all the night nurses!
Chris Lovelidge Country: Canada Maidstone I remember it well: I was at Westborough from 1952 to 1958 I rose to the dizzy heights of Prefect and Captain of Livingstone house. I missed out on Head Boy because I tended to be a "rebel" I never did like discipline. I was one of the few who received a caning from Mr. Diamond for throwing snowballs. Now he would be in court for child abuse. For all those others who were at Westborough there is a very good web site where you can reconnect with others. It is called Friends Reunited and there is a Westborough County Secondary School page. I have hooked up with five others in my last year, it is great fun.
Chris Lovelidge Country: Canada Maidstone I remember it well: That piece about Mrs. Foster and Brunswick House reminded me that Mrs. Foster was headmistress of a small school in a church called St. Nicholas on Poplar Grove. I also remember the parade that started in town and went up the London Road and ended at the old Maistone United football grounds. Very near the Grammar School for Girls and opposite Fanum House the AA headquarters for Kent. They stopped the parade around 1958 or so.
patricia small Maidstone I remember it well: I was born in hatherall road,my dad use to take me to mr shipeys to buy fireworks.when I went eastboroug I use to go to ma wades to get 1p lollies.My friend chris lived in union st at the newsagents,hoods.we still see each other.we started eastborough 1957.when I left school I went and worked at sercks.
patricia giles(small) Maidstone I remember it well: I use to live at hatherall rd,I use to play up the heath and was always in trouble for getting back late.The names I remember from those days are:Kay Andrews,Gillian,dave saybine,colin gladstone,mick mercer,We use to hang about there but we never caused any trouble.
patricia giles(small) Maidstone I remember it well: I have only just come on to this web site recently.this is to terry mckenna.I remember you and your dad.I lived at hatherall rd.My brother robin giles is about your age,he went to the tech.Sorry I cant help you with Anita.There was a shop opposite yours Mankelows.Your dad use to drink in the greyhound.(a well loved man)
patricia giles(small) Maidstone I remember it well: I went to eastborough then vinters girls.does anyone remember miss dowding.I was terrified of her(the science teacher)She hit me round the head because I couldnt spell mammals!The highlight of the week was when we went to the boys school to do cooking.I use to hate running to the field for games.The last year I was there me and chris snoad use to stay behind in the cloak room at school and wait for everyone to go running then we went round to her house in Brewer Street!
patricia giles(small)
Maidstone I remember it well: I loved where i lived at hatherall rd.so many places to play.climb trees,make camps etc.got to tell you this.I went to brownies at st lukes,this year we have been looking at property in spain.one of the web sites we got in contact was a fellow brownie i was with all those years ago.
patricia giles(small) Maidstone I remember it well: does anyone remember when st pauls church was burnt down.I was standing in a que that saturday afternoon to go into the star in pudding lane when lots of fire engines went pass.I remember that man nick named elvis.
Max Matthews Maidstone I remember it well: Eastborough School walking down Union St to The Old National School in Wheeler Street for woodwork lessons and during the break running up to the little shop along the road for 1d ice-lollies at 'Ma Wades'
joy dodd ne' brown Maidstone I remember it well: i was brought up in grecian street. went to st, paul's school. fell down the toilet on my first day there.
joy dodd ne' brown Maidstone I remember it well: i also went to vinters park mr grey springs to mind and looking through smoky glass at the eclipse on a dinner time . would'nt be alowed to day . A.
joy dodd ne' brown Maidstone I remember it well: yes many happy days spent on the river even had to show the navy boys how to row a boat you could hire them from near the archbishops palace. oh! those were the days.
Martin Baldock Maidstone I remember it well: Before moving to Penenden Heath at the age of about 6yrs my family lived in a cottage on the Tonbridge Road at the junction with North Pole Road and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the crews swap the power pickup arms over because it sometimes flashed a bit!! While a pupil at the Boys Tech I would race them into Maidstone after school - always getting a telling off from the conductor - I also rode on the very last trolley bus journey - I had been to a Youth Club dance at the Howerd De Walden and offered to escort a young lady home as any young gentleman would. We walked down to the bus stops at the river and along came the trolley bus bedecked with decorations etc. I think the Mayor was on board too. Having safely delivered the young lady home safely I then had to trudge all the way back to Penenden Heath....
Shirley Maidstone I remember it well: I have lived in Maidstone all my life and well remember the Trolley buses, as we lived on the Tonbridge Road they came came past our house.I have often remarked that I would like to see them back on the road. But i'm writing about the swimming instructor, the woman scared the life out of me.I think the guy that everyone liked was called Percy. I too remember the bread rolls, we were always starving after our swim.
Alan Eberlein Country: New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: I went to eastborough primary then vinters boys, I lived in Holland Road. When I left school I worked at Modern Press, Tovil. Penenden heath was my favourite play place as a kid.In the woods there used to be lots of bluebells.
June Croft (nee Corke) Maidstone I remember it well: Hello Ruby, I was born over the fish and chip shop in 1944 to Victor and Jessie Corke,do you have any memory of them? my dad used to have a motorbike,I also used to frequent Mad Jack Golding's with my pocket money,all of sixpence!! My dad alas is no longer with us but Mum is still here and living just six doors down the road from me.! Mrs. Pope had the little tobacconist next door whereI went for my 1p lollies,it was also a newsagent and sweetshop with many different jars of sweets all round the walls. On the other side,was Mr.Swans vegetable shop which always had boxes of veg outside the front window. I also remember there was the box factory,a barbers and a car showroom opposite Jack`s junk shop.I also used to go in the snug of The Hare and Hounds pub to get the all important pub innsigns!! On the opposite corner was Wilkinsons Newsagents and tobacconist,I can also remember some friends names,Gillian Honeysett and her brother,Maureen Bishop,and Graham Smith along with Sheila and Brian Roberts. I wonder how many of these are still around? Ah,those were the days!!!
Garry Wilson Maidstone I remember it well: I spent lots of happy Saturday afternoons at the Maidstone swimming baths were I learnt to swim with my dad and we went right up to the point when it closed .we used to park across the road were the new flats are now there were two queues one for swimming and one to have a bath/shower, I to remember the strong smell of chorine . This was in the midd to late 60’s ,I also use to rush home to watch HR puff and stuff which was on at 5pm
Margaret Jones nee Winter Maidstone I remember it well: Yet another shot in the dark as I am researching long lost friend's and wondered if anyone out there know's Terry Hardcastle/Harwood, used to live at Fauchons Close,Bearsted., and worked on the Cunard Liners when I knew him back in the 60,s. Would love to hear from him or his sister Iris or anyone who know's him. Many thank's, Margaret.Cornwall. I only spent a short time at 33, Fauchons Close including Christmas with Terry and his wonderful family in 1960,s. They showed me what they could of the area around Bearsted,it was a lovely area and never forgotten. Hope to see it again one day.
First Name: Patrick (Paddy) Barden Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: It was strange to read those few letters about St Francis,I was there from 1948-58 and I remember Miss Stroud and Miss Coakly,there was also another very strict male teacher;can't think of his name,but bit of a bully.I also remember Harry McDonald, Mr.Mead,Mr MacFarland was the Head Teacher,whom I did have to visit now and again.Although St,Francis was a strict school I did enjoy myself there including the singing in the hall every morning.
Barry Newman Maidstone I remember it well: As Doug Lindsay mentioned, that b*****d Nogger Knight was a real sadist at MGS, I was there a few years after you Doug and he whacked me for no reason with a pole of some sort. Thankfully scum like this have mostly been eradicated from the education system in most civilised countries. I remember the glider too, all ready for the next war.
June Croft(neeCorke) Maidstone I remember it well: Thanks to your website I have just been reunited with Maureen Owen (nee Bishop)and had a lovely afternoon reminiscing,Thank you to Stella who put us in touch again. Are any of the other people out there,Brian and Sheila Roberts,Gillian Honeysett, and Graham Smith to name but a few,This website should be on a home page.!!
First Name: Elleanne Greycoat Kiribadi Maidstone I remember it well: Ohhhhh, I lived in ye 'ole Maidstone for many years my dear friends, I now live in Kiribadi which is not in Maidstone. My favourite memory from the glorious place that is Maidstone is when the wondrous Radio One event happened in Mote Park which is in Maidstone. What a day!
John Everett Maidstone I remember it well: Does anyone remember the Jubilee hall in Aylesford - possibly Reeds social club? It was demolished in about 1989.
Yes I do John I used to attend judo classes there and the odd aikido seminar. Didn't realise that they pulled it down though, it was a long time since I went that way.
Janice (Small fry) Maidstone I remember it well: I went to Eastborough and then to Vinters Girls. Yes, I remember Miss Dowding. She was nice to our class. In fact, we were the last class to be taught by her before she retired. I think she emigrated to Australia. She said we were the best class she had ever taught (1978). Does anyone remember Mrs. Hart the PE teacher. She tried teaching me 'dance' but I couldn't get the hang of it and she called me 'the scattiest girl in the world'. She was angry when she said it and I have never forgotten her words. I used to drive by her house in Tudor Avenue and think about telling her how she should choose her words carefully before humiliating impressionable, young girls. Anyway, I went on to dance in various productions and even did my own choreography. Having said all that, I did absolutely love being a pupil at Vinters Girls.
Jeremy Howes Maidstone I remember it well: I recall ABC minors in the Granada cinema, running riot at the cinema christmas special days. Fishing and swimming in the toxic looking Meadway, the smell of the Sharps sweet factory and free sweets from Herbert's mum who worked there. Walks up Giddyhawn Lane and around Alliington locks. Playing stuck in the mud. Having the backs of my calfs slapped by Mr Impy, extra handwritting lessons from the same old chap (the discipline never did me any harm). Mrs Crittenden inspecting hands before us going in to lunch. Drinking milk in the smelly milk room. Standing outside Mrs Fosters office for being naughty. Watching her holiday movies in geography lessons, being amazed that she had visited a volcano. Swimming lessons in the blue painted Victorian bath house. I remeber a joyfull sense of freedom, I knew my way around all over the area. Cycling the safer quieter streets, being let off the leash to explore. Good times.
Brian Carlick Maidstone I remember it well: I was born in Loose in 1948, leaving Maidstone in 1961. I have not been back since the late 1960s so I am fascinated by all the information on this website, much of which I can remember well.
We are the same age Brian welcome to the TOG's
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