Post by Les on Dec 13, 2017 20:32:13 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well: So it was you Phil, l think you do not remember me at all, l trust that we will not fall out over a few details!.
Did you buy a new Volkswagen Beetle?, John Smith was the bloke who took over the News from Dick Richardson, Dudley's Brother, 'Dudley' was in fact his middle name his real name was Athol.
Frank Smith, tall ginger hair, worked on the milk drove for the Standard. Les Ruler you are correct but l think his middle name is Cyril? we are not related although l had never really asked him(unless his dad was 'Albie', and l am) but l thought his Brother John did grass track although l am not certain about it. Mick was another lad on the milk that went to Australia and returned, he was a big lad but a good guy, he stuck to the Morris 1000 van because there was not space for him in the mini vans.
I was involved in the accident at East Farleigh in the winter when Ron Hodges, Rod Davis wanted to go to the Star Hotel for a dance and someone got a mate "Mo", Morris?, a quite short lad l remember to drive the van, we went to pick up his girlfriend from Coxheath, Patricia Day, l think her name was, after leaving her house we went to the next pub and he lost it on a bend and we rolled a couple of times and ended up on the roof, that caused so many problems for Rodney and Dudley who l think ended up paying for the damage which was more than a new van.
The punch up at Maidstone East was when we were waiting for the train to bring the classifieds on a Saturday night and the train was halted because they were both under it and the station guy Brian called the Police.
Rodney Davis not "Ron" gave up working for the Standard and went initially to work at the "House of Carpets" but shortly after he appeared and said he would go on the building as a labourer. I went to school with his Nephew years before and it was him that got me in touch with Rodney in about 1961.
On the Sunday that Dudley died my wife(l married one of the girls at the petrol station where we bought petrol) and l were waiting for him and his mate to come for tea after fishing, we lived at the Dolphin Motel at Dymchurch and he said they would come at 5pm for tea before going home, they never turned up and the next morning we went to Maidstone and by chance met Brian?, with glasses who was also on the milk, he was ashen faced and said "have you heard about Dudley", saying "no" he said he drowned yesterday, it was then that we knew why he did not show for tea with us.
Dudley was a good friend to many, he was a better friend to me, many people still alive today owe him much but he was very soft and easy going and looked after people that did not deserve his generosity. His Brother Dick was a lot different but he too was a good friend and came to find me at the Castletons Oak pub at Biddenden where l was to be found if not at home.
So 53 years ago is still quite vivid in my memory and l think that it is because there were mostly happy times, it was never a case of "we hate the Evening News", it was boyish bravado taken too far by some, what we did not know at that time was that one day "we would grow up".
I am very glad you are still here Phil, if you bump into anyone that remotely remembers me Please give them my good wishes. Some may remember that l did the Disc Jockey World Record at Biddenden in 1969 too.
Maidstone I remember it well: Richard Bailey, Thanks Richard, if 'Judy' worked at Pricerite at that time then that is her, the girl with red hair!, maybe about 67 years old now if l am correct?, if you still see her ask her about life at Pricerite way back then!