Sandling Road, and the best junk shop in the world
Who can talk of Sandling Road without thinking of Goldings the junk shop? Hours and hours I spent here as a kid if I was not his best customer why did he know me by my first name. Anything that a boy ever wanted you could have bought here; an American army helmet an old gas mask a petrol lighter made from a used bullet case I even remember him selling a tin containing the remnants of Nelsons last biscuit. I bought it all; mind you, sixpence went a long way in those days.
Down by the side of his shop he had a yard where the heavy stuff was, you know the sort of things that might come in handy but you do not want to keep indoors. A canon perhaps or an army trailer, very useful but still best kept outdoors.
Thinking back perhaps, it was not strange selling ex-army equipment when your junk shop is right next to the barracks.
It seems that every worker that I ever saw on a bike had an old gasmask bag to carry his sandwiches to work and I bet everyone bought them from Mr. Golding.
The barracks was right next to the junk shop. I remember attending one of their open days and trying out the latest in metal detectors. They had laid out a pit of sand with beret badges hidden, if you found one you could keep it. They didn’t tell me this and I just kept passing over and over the badges, every two or three passes they took the detector back to check and then gave it back to me. Bet they thought I was deaf but I never let on. They got so fed up with me that they gave me a handful of badges just to go away. I did manage to sell them at school the following week.
Barry Newman Country: New Zealand Maidstone I remember it well: Mum, Dad and I used to call Goldings "Smoky Joe's" due to the ever present cheroot hanging from his mouth scenting the air. A real treasure trove.
Most of you TOGS will remember in the sixties a world famous American folk singer called Pete Seeger; Pete probably was the originator of the anti-American everything (he was followed everywhere by the yanks because they thought that he was a commie). I am sure you will remember his songs like “If you miss me at the back of the bus” this particular song was for the black rights movement in the USA. Well to change tack slightly, not so many people knew that Pete had a sister called Peggy Seeger. Peggy regularly toured England with her unique style of folk singing and on many occasions she appeared in Maidstone. The plot thickens, just off Sandling Road (and I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the pub) was a venue for one of the many folk music clubs in Maidstone. I, as many others used to be regular visitors and on occasions performed here but on this particular occasion Peggy was well away singing anti-American songs when one bright spark decided that he had had enough of this, walked straight up to Peggy and tipped a full pint of beer down her. Shortly followed by the throwing of chairs and people scrambling to avoid the odd glass or punch. Being a bit of lad, I was in there with the rest of them but only to pull out friends. There was a well-known and quite famous Maidstone doctor that I pulled out at the time,he was duly thankful. On reflection, he promised me a pint but I can’t remember him buying it. Must give him a ring sometime.
Ruby Todd Maidstone I remember it well: I lived in Sandling Rd,I ran the fish and chip shop opposite the barracks,and the squadies used to come in for supper on the way back to invicta park,the local kids loved it when I fried potato fritters,happy memories.Ruby Todd
Hi Ruby, is that where the new road now goes into Boxley Road?
Kevin Maxwell Maidstone I remember it well: ...so glad to hear that you remember the Golding's place so well.....he was my Grandad!
I think many people will remember your Grandad Kevin he was nice man and I never remember him getting annoyed with any of us kids.
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.
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!
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.
stephen wickenden Maidstone I remember it well: hi another grand child of above ron golding and his great shop some things you never forget in life.
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