Post by Les on Aug 21, 2017 9:52:00 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well: maidstone I remember it well- I remember going to the granada picture house bottom of Gabriel hill on a saturday morning and it cost 6d old money to get in. Now and again I and my mates would go to the RITZ picture house that was along king st which is now boots the chemist I believe. I remember watching the fire engine coming out from under the market buildings back in the late 50s early 60s Where it was garaged ready for a call out. I also visited the swimming baths by the river edge along the lower road leading to sandling lane.The swimming baths were the grotts, not surprised they closed them down.I can remember trams in maidstone, especially going up and down to the wheatsheaf pub and back into town. The tram garage was what used to be v.w garage at the top of tonbridge road, which are houses now.A good show of electric flashing from the overhead arms from the trams and hooked onto the power cables to make the trams run along tram lines in the road.Those were the times when there were very few cars on the road, and what were , was all black ones. Morris eights, ford populars, austin 7s etc, etc. How times have changed in maidstone, and not all for the good, I am afraid to say.
You probably can remember the fire engines coming out from under the Market Buildings but do you remember Charlie Wallis racing down on his push bike with a sign on the front saying Fire, ringing his bell for all he was worth. A clever man Charlie he designed a special attachment which fitted on the hose to put out chimney fires. Yes things have changed Bill and I'm sure our children and grandchildren will say the same to their kids. Pete