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M Sheehan Maidstone I remember it well: does anybody remember faiths street in the 50's? kids used to play in the road no probs also played along the river and also in brenchly gardens oh happy days. went to junos which was like brownies now. remember the smells on mondays of sharp sweets being boiled coming across the river mixing with stale smell from the river and fremlins brewery. oh the happy days and school eastborough primary onto vinters girls then onto sharps to work as you did.
SHERRIE McNICOLL Maidstone I remember it well: Love to read about 'THE BEST JUNK SHOP IN THE WORLD'..........it was my grandfathers shop.....how wonderful to know that people still recall it with fondness .I spent a great deal of my childhood there, just loved being with my nan & grandad. Oh the memories!! I still think about those days........I am 51 now!
gez Maidstone I remember it well: allso learnt to swim at sandy bay as well as spending many hours fishing on this stretch of river.by the way jim is that ducati still running ok ?
SHERRIE McNICOLL Maidstone I remember it well: Every time I visit Maidstone travelling from the North I love to pass where my grandad's shop once stood...(it is now the Post office/Royal Mail building. I turn back the clock in my mind and relive those wonderful memories down the yard/in the shop/playing in the garden......ooohhhh!! WONDERFUL DAYS!! My grandad would very often bring something from the shop to show us....very shy man but a lovely man to have as a grandad.
mark wickenden Maidstone I remember it well: Lets go back to the best junk shop in the world,i have wonderful memories of that place,it will never leave me,my grandad ron was one of lifes characters, i suppose i have inherited his ways by hoarding junk,but you must realize,you can put junk to use,as i have done so often,i recall at the age of eleven,i used to leave southborough school on a tuesday,and then walk to david greigs, or pricerite, to meet my nan with her beloved shopping trolley,doing her weekly shop,we both would then go home to sandling road,my nan would then make tea,my grandad would arrive home in his van,which was an atlas,he had probably been to london to sell and aquire new stock,from another trader in the walworth road,which was on a regular basis,i spent many a time as a kid delving in the depths of the yard barn,among the piles of army surplus,and jumble,sundays was another time when turns were taken among my cousins,to have dinner,oh and what a dinner that was,all prepared by my little nan,it was a thrill to be around the best nan and grandad anyone could wish for,christmas bring to mind an upstairs room, decorated with the most gigantic paper bells,balloons,and paper chains,and that distinctive aroma of my grandads cigar,and oranges,and presents,which he handed them to us individualy, by name,only if the clocks could go back,i often have to go to the sorting office,and when there,i notice the wall to the right of the entrance, it is still the exact wall that divided his yard entrance,with the barracks,thanks for the memories,god bless you both.MARK.
Ray Wootten Maidstone I remember it well: I caught the Parkwood Trolleybus most days to work from Sutton Road. Ive still got an old bus ticket! Recently saw an old trolley bus at the Sandtoft Trolleybus museum near Doncaster. Those were the days,hassle free unless the pole left the wire near the loose turn and had to be put back on again.
Peter Attrill Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: I lived in eastborough during the 1950s attended East Borough Junior and Vinters Secondary. I'm looking for my mates,Pughy,Oakley, and Baker. My two nemesis were the headmasters Harris and later, Reid (the weed), bullies both. Most teachers were ok, one or two were full of themselves, but school was mainly pretty good, thanks to my mates.
Just thought I'd mention: the last person publicly hanged in Britain was Frances Kidder outside Maidstone Gaol on the 2nd April 1868 - not the 28th - for the murder of her step-daughter, Louisa, near New Romney. Regards, James Nicholls
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Talking about the Market. I was brought up in Hart Street No 14 then 16, at the top end of the market stood Foster Clarks opposite side of the Road was a tea / Coffee Cafe, behind large advertising boards were 3 Railway Houses 12. 14. & 16 Hart St, in front of them was the railway yards and goods offices (all gone now) I did work in those offices before transferring to Aylesford Station, (now an Indian take away) we had other attractions in the market , Wrestling & Flower shows , also in Heart Street we had a little sweet/ general shop. Mrs Hedges and the Pie shop with their great big St Bernard's and a Sausage dog , who can remember Grant's Cherry Brandy and the Mineral water factory, Willet & Robinson's the coal yards. all gone, like many I have so much memories of this great town, From Sharps to Maskells Ginger beer, , and the Cinemas Some one ask what was there before the Granada, Marchant & Tubbs Brewery, Brenchley Gardens houses part of The roof decorations Regards David Bird
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Reading the clips above brings back many memories, West Boro' School, Mr Diamond,a stricked but fair man and Oakwood,can't think of the little short teacher we had then at Oakwood, a group of us walked from home (Hart Street to West Boro' to save the bus fare (1 1/2 Pennies each way ) so we could purchase goodies from the shop opposite the school, we had two bakeries, one at the bus depot, and one down further Pococks I think, I understand West Boro' School is no more, when I left I went to work at Hanwell Optical works along with other school mates the left for the Railway as the pay was a few shillings more, at the Optical Works our bosses were always call by the first letter of the surname I.e Mr "H" was one, are such were those days, David Bird Queensland
Ken Allen Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Does anyone remember "Bushy Ring' who used to sell the evening papers around the estates on a Saturday & did a bit 'rag & boning' as well?
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: I see the "Swan" mentioned I wonder what happen to it and the smaller "Signet" traveling on each of these crafts was pure pleasure, as stated , the river was colours to the canning of the day from Foster Clarks, (My Mother worked there for many years) the factory over looked our back garden, next door was Leneys mineral water factory making all sorts of soft drinks from where we kids often had given to us a bottle of pop(big bottles) from one of the workers, oh such memories, David Bird Queensland
Don Westerman Maidstone I remember it well: I remember visiting the Corn Exchange in Maidstone around 1965 - 1968 where the Daleks from TV'S Doctor Who were making an apperance. Does anyone else remember going, or have a more specific date or year, or even any photographs ?
T.J.(Chip) Carpenter Maidstone I remember it well: Well, not really. Only for the last few decades. However I have have a dearth of myths, memories and mysteries given to us all as we wander around the ever changing open spaces we are able still to enjoy "at no cost to you " . Once upon a time there was form of payment for entering with a car , manually collected and no doubt eventually elfed and safetied to become an expense not an income and thus discontinued . Wotif over the eighty years "we" have owned it , it had been possible to collect the cost of a couple of pints of beer each a year from ourselves, to spend on upkeep and specialist staff employment? Could a numbersmith please hammer out some possible arisings , given that say there were c50,000 Residents in 1930, there are now say c150k, wages were Y and only one percent of the population coughed up? Use the usual RPI'sand Apr and spend half the looted income annually . There might be enough to do the Museum refit. Chip Carpenter .
Angela Waller (nee Loft) Maidstone I remember it well: Oh yes! Maidstone in the 50's and 60's was the place to be.I remember fondly the Gatland Estate prefabs where I lived with my family.I think those little homes were built at the end of the 40's and were ultra modern for their time. We all trekked happily along the road to West Boro' school past Mr Lampard's Bakery (you could buy a 'yesterday's bun for 1d then!) Sometimes we would change route and run along the Forstal just off the Tonbridge Road. Wickens was the dairy further down towards Barming and there we often were sent to buy a carton of fresh milk from the vending machine if the shop was shut.Mrs Sharp was the lovely lady running the corner shop at the top of Farleigh Lane where she patiently opened jar after jar of Robertson's jam so we could get the 'golliwog' stickers needed to complete a book and be rewarded with an enamel 'golliwog' brooch. We spent hours down at Farleigh locks during summer holidays catching tiddlers and minnows and we waited excitedly for the rag-and-bone man to come down the cinder track around the estate to get our old clothing exchanged for a goldfish! My grandma lived in King Edward Road and her groceries were delivered by Mr Esland with his horse-drawn cart and we used to love to give the horse a bucket of water and watch him snuffling about with his nose-bag!! I wonder if anyone out there remembers the name of the horse? Our favourite past-time on a Sunday was to walk to the West Station just to watch the traffic!!(so few cars then - a sight to behold)and a 2d ticket for the platform at the station allowed us to run onto the bridge over the track and be engulfed in the huge bursts of steam from the train after which we would get into trouble for going home covered in all the little black bits thrown up in the steam and needing our hair washed.Few people locked their doors and there was a great sense of camaraderie from the folk living in the prefabs - no child ever seemed to be aware of any danger.Everyone smoked in the cinema too and on the buses and in hospitals - crikey - no-one grumbled about it either!!Cigarettes were bought in packets of 5 and some off-licences would sell them singly along with vimto and oxo crisps.Yes - I remember it well - it was lovely in Maidstone then.
Phillip Wood Maidstone I remember it well: Hi (curly) O`connell Phil Wood here i remember you at St. Francis School 1946/1956 and all the names you have mentioned i do remember your sister ireen and her friend Mary Mason who had two brother`s John and Robert i seem to remember you worked for A.E.Reed fire service late fifties early sixties it must have been late fifties early when we last saw each other
phillip wood Maidstone I remember it well: Hello David Bird Phil Wood here i worked with you at Aylesford station back in the fifty`s i was a junior porter there i don`t know if you have been back to the uk recently if not would you like to know about the changes in the area
Waller (nee Loft) Maidstone I remember it well: In the early 60's there was a band called The Whirlwinds made up of local talent! Also The Kingfishers whose leading vocals were provided by the inimitable Tony Bathurst. They often played at the London Tavern. In King Street we frequented The Rat Trap, a small cafe where we all danced in the cellar which became very hot and crowded but I don't remember any live bands there. I was treated to the concert by P J Proby which was staged at the Agricultural Hall in the Market Place, a rather controversial exhibition according to the newspaper reports with dear old PJ once again splitting his trousers and complaining that the scaffolding on which he had to perform was decorated with toilet tissue!!Maidstone certainly knew how to look after the'stars'of the era, the best concerts were at the Granada cinema where many of the 60's singers such as Adam Faith, Billy Fury, Cilla Black and many others were staged and showcased. Also the Star in Pudding Lane put on Saturday night dances in the King's Hall Ballroom where we first witnessed Screaming Lord Sutch prancing around the stage wearing a toilet seat around his neck!! There was a very 'Liberace' style organist that played during intervals, flamboyant but wizzard on the Hammond - can anyone remember who he was? Was he ever one of the organists playing at the Granada Cinema who usually preceded the main film and who descended into the orchestra pit with the organ as the lights went down?
Angela Waller (nee Loft) Maidstone I remember it well: I was a firewoman/control room assistant in the mid 60's stationed at the headquarters in Tovil. We firewomen worked day and night shifts and took all emergency calls for Kent Fire Brigade and arranged distribution of the various appliances required.We sometimes had to arrange for refreshments for firemen working long hours at emergencies which could be a tall order in the middle of the night!!Putting down the 'bells' from Tovil (setting off a siren ) was easily confirmed by sticking your head out of the window to hear it go off!!
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: I think you will find They were Sentinel steam Lorries, Trojans were the old chain driven Brook-Bond vans
Jim Yarwood Maidstone I remember it well: Jez,, didn't realise you were a Maidstone born-and bred!!!! Course the Ducati's still running, when you coming out to play with the lads??? Jim
vince curly oconnell Maidstone I remember it well: hi phil its good someone remembers me.yes i did work at the mill i started there after coming out of the army in 1957 i served 14 years in the fire station the best years of my life .it would be good if the old school and work mates could get in touch keep well
Phillip wood Maidstone I remember it well: Phillip wood, Thanks Angela for reminding of the prefabs we moved from James Street in the 50`s it was heaven to have an inside toilet ,hot water coming out of the tap heated by a coal fire or electric emersion heater,electric boiler for clothes pulled out from under the sink heavan for mum,the fold up kitchen table,electric lights,no more gas mantales ? to burst no more from james street to brewer street to change the accumalator its like a small car battery to run the radio they were heavy for little ones to carry,and very soon we got a T.V.a ferguson magic,plenty of ground all around for veg and flowers etc making tour own soap box barrows what a run down the hill to farleigh locks you could get a good lick on do you remember boseman`s transport yard ? orchard`s with all the apples and pears lovely for scrumping , then the enterprise cafe opened at the locks which became a meeting place for bikers harry smart was the owner smashing bloke his son paul became a proffesional rider thanks angela Hi was it Mr Auchin who charged the accumulators.
joan williams Maidstone I remember it well: barry hynes..ivy and ernie are my mothers uncle and auntie ivy was my grandad george sister,they are all gone now even rod..i loved them all dearly and miss them so much
joan williams Maidstone I remember it well: dear barry hynes just to let you know florence and ernest where my great grand parents they were george ivy and rods parents,my mother is also named joan and ivy and ernies daughter was christine..are you related to ivy or ernie.. i live in derbyshire but loved maidstone more.
joan williams Maidstone I remember it well: dear barry hynes its joan again....do you have any family photos.and also great grandad lewis was blind it happened to him while he was the hospital a bomb was dropped and it blinded him, and my grandad george was in the navy during world war 2.
rod moodley Maidstone I remember it well: Maidstone-i-remember, yes i remember lots of the things already mentioned....the chap ted Kingdomdancing with the glass on his head at the 'London Tavern,' was indeed Adrian Cogger - he was the brother of my ex brother-in law!.....and 'Beehive Stores' in week street was where my pocket money went most weeks! ......and the frozen lake in mote park, which I think was 1963, I heard about the cars being driven on there, but never saw them. However, on our cross-country runs from MGS (ground was too frozen to play rugby) one of our short-cuts was across the frozen lake! we did this for a number of weeks, until Kevin Mannerings didn't quite make it across! I can remember a group of us rolling on the iced up ground, splitting our sides laughing at our friends misfortune! It all turned out ok in the end - luckily! Great to recall those innocent happy days. rod
Sue Maidstone I remember it well: I think the swimming instructor who used to say "Come on you ducklings" was called Mr Wright. He was kindly and taught the beginners in the small pool. It was a bit of a shock to graduate to the large pool and meet the lady with the long grey hair who was always rather stern.
Andy Fletcher Maidstone I remember it well: Fantastic web site. With regards to the chap who used to dance with a pint on his head in the London Tavern (have not seen the photo either). There is a guy called Elvis(not his real name)who is still around. Short guy who wears a bow tie. He used to be seen in Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone in the 80's dancing to the music being played around the time of the carnival/river festival.
Tony Smith Maidstone I remember it well: Going to All Saints school in 1957/1958 and then moving away from Maidstone to return for my first experience of working life at Sharps Toffee in 1965. Remember in 1958 singing the Maidstone Grenadiers song - we're one for all and all for one we're the Maidstone Grenadiers. Mid sixties the Milk Bar adjacent to the Granada (was it called Pauls?) many a good evening there. Whenever I visit now Week Street and Gabriels Hill have lost the buzz of the sixties - does anybody remember that state of the art David Greig grocery store in Week Street? what is it now? Remember also Sharps Christmas do's at the Star Ballroom in Pudding Lane - if my memory is correct the towns first Chinese Restraunt in " middle row" behind Bank St owned or managed by "Barney" all good memories thanks for bringing them back - many good friends long lost touch with - a byegone era I fear.
David Bird Australia Maidstone I remember it well: Hi Phil. yes I remember you well, we had great time back then, hard to believe that such a busy station is just a Indian Takeaway, I did visit Maidstone back i 88 and 93, like you said it has changed, I still have family over there so do get info, this is a great idea of a sitem so many memories come flooding back, if you want to contact me try delbird@iinet.com.au, and we can have more of old times, good to hear from you.
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: I can remember riding my bike that was fitted with a vincent firefly 49cc motor down Gabriels Hill. did not do it much good at the speed I was going it screamed, ah they were the days.
David Bird Country: Australia Maidstone I remember it well: does any one remember the Captain who sold newspapers from a little hut at the top of the west station , had a long invalid chair operated by long handles: as kids we use to get paid a smitten to run errands for him, he was often seen around the town , Hi Phil, contact me at delbird@iinet.com.au
Alan Hale Maidstone I remember it well: My grandfather Joseph Hale lived at 134, Wheeler Street and had a builders yard and bungalow next door. There used to be a sign J and S Hale and Sons on the corner of the yard.
Kenneth Evans Maidstone I remember it well: Hi my name is Ken Evans and I used to play Lead Guitar in various bands around the Maidstone area inc. Bill Kent, The Kingfishers, The Multitones, The Cats Whisker plus many others Love to here from anyone who remembers Regards Ken
Barbara Rudd Maidstone I remember it well: Hi, I used to live in Hermitage Lane, and went to work at the very large Mental Hospital there way back in 1939 when I was only fifteen. I worked as a maid, and had to live in as you were never allowed out only on your one day a month when I used to visit my Family. It was always the place where I wanted to work, and I did enjoy it. But sadly the War was declared and with my Father having to go into the Army, my Mothers Sister told us to pack up and live near her in Yorkshire,, where I have been ever since.
Lesley Shaffer Country: United States Maidstone I remember it well: Gosh, I can remember Dave Kingsman very well in 1957,his sister was married to one of the "ginger twins" and I dated the other one. The lady at the swimming pool with the long pole was a terror, she did however teach me to swim, which stood me in good stead when I lived in Kenya,The philipines, California, Hawaii, Florida, etc. My husband was in the U.S. Navy so we always lived close to the ocean. The reason some of us are confused on the cinama names is because two of them burnt down, and the names were changed when they re-opened in another location. I love the website.
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hello joan ernest (sedge)was uncle my mums brother and obviously ivy was my uncle.The sedges were a big family from Tovil 118 old tovil road is where i was born as was ernest i believe.Lot of history with sedge family joan.Please keep in touch email wayitwasin66@hotmail.com
barry hynes Maidstone I remember it well: hello ken,i bump into bill kent now and then he's still about and he's writing a book about rock and roll
KEN EVANS Maidstone I remember it well: Hi Barry, Thanks for that. Please remember me to Dave Kingsman when you see him next. So He's writing a Book!! I didnt know he could write!! He used to sing some great Ritchie Valens stuff. Does he remember the Grasshopper Club on Shepway? That is where I met my Wife some 50 years ago! Regards Ken Evans
catherine roberts Maidstone I remember it well: i have fond memories of going to mass everyweek when i was a girl then my parents moved to wales
Lesley Shaffer Country: United States Maidstone I remember it well: Although I went to the girls "tech" I remember the Tynon bros Barry and Tony from st Francis & John Ring, very well, the bros lived in West Malling. Someone mentioned Miss Amy Thomas the head mistress, we were all petrified of her, I can still hear her hour long lectures, and see her false teeth fly out of her mouth, as they did on more than one occasion. No wonder the drop out rate was so high in the 50's, and it was never questioned. Miss Reynolds took me under her wing and saved my self esteem, I will always be grateful. I went to college in the states what a difference! Iwas in the U.K. two weeks ago, and still love Maidstone.
Hi did you know my sister-in-law Joyce Martin.
Lesley Shaffer Country: United States Maidstone I remember it well: I knew a music teacher named Martin, also a girl the same year as I was in Joyce Martin we were in the same class for french, she was great fun and had blonde hair. Does any-one remember Shirley and Pam Bearsby from the London Tavern, in the 50's?
Eileen Hatton (nee O'toole) Maidstone I remember it well: Peter congratulations on the website, You jogged so many fab memories and brought so many people together. I work in Cornwall as Branch Manager of a Medical Centre and by pure chance while training to do the 26mile moon walk met someone who until 11 years ago spent her life in Maidstone and surrounding areas. I felt as we were almost same age our paths must have crossed so we delved and low and behold we know so many people including you from bygones (also Jim). Anyway,I've had a fab idea, considering so many of us have such a good time reminissing, to suggest a date in the new year when all interested and available meet at the White Rabbit along Sandling Road on a certan evening and see how many turn up. All schools welcome. What do you think - I'm sure you will be surprised how many will want to recapture the past in person.!
Not sure who will be interested but Hey lets give it a go. Anyone up for it.
kevin hemsley Maidstone I remember it well: I remember taking the trolley bus from maidstone town centre to Tovil just after the war I would have been about eight years old,my grandad was farm bailiff at Bydews farm in Tovil.We used to go at hop picking time,grandad worked in the Oast house at Bydews.I remember us running down the hill to catch the trolley bus which terminated at the Rose, public house, now sadly demolished.My Grand parents lived in a cottage next to the oast. on the farm.
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