Post by Les on Dec 8, 2017 6:22:52 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well: ;
I was born in Maidstone and would you believe I am still living there, but I did spend 11 years living elsewhere from 1968 to 1976.
I was born in Brenchley Road, Tovil at my Granny's house during the war and when my father returned from the army, Mum, Dad and I, moved to Scott Street.
I remember the barracks in Sandling Road very well. My father used to take me, my brother and sister down to each passing out parade to listen to the band playing.
I remember having to walk past the Dragoon Pub opposite the barracks and hating the smell of beer that wafted out. There weren't many kids of my age to play with except David Osborne who lived next door but one to us.
(Does anyone know what happened to him?) He was like a brother to me and a year younger. In between us lived an old man who worked as a storeman in Lindridge's Fruit & Veg store opposite and he used to let us play in the store. We used to climb over the bulging potato sacks and get absolutely filthy. Enough to make modern Health & Safety rules a mockery. My mother forbid me to go there but I couldn't resist it.
I remember taking my young siblings to the Methodist Church Sunday School in Brewer Street. We went morning and afternoon every Sunday and enjoyed it.
I started school at St Pauls Infants and remember my first teacher as being Miss Halliwell. She always wore a floral smock. I recall Miss Dove playing the violin for us. Miss Green was the headmistress. I also remember that the girls toilets had no doors on them but I used to go home to dinner so I made sure I could 'hang on'.
Then I went on to Northborough Primary, South Borough Girls and ended up at Maidstone Girls Technical School, all of which prompt mixed memories.
We moved to Westmorland Road, Shepway when I was 15 to a brand new house and I was delighted to have the privacy of a bathroom and an inside loo. What luxury!
I always wanted to travel and I did and I never planned to return to Maidstone but fate had its way and I was drawn back into the fold in 1976. I guess I'm here to stay now and have witnessed so many changes I hardly recognise the place my memories come from.