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Par; .5. :5 ..-.9532‘: = lfixsxs. £33; 

E‘;-‘ifg’  Esjgaa  }‘€§'s;:§:i%::E.: 123   the and  315393, far 2 2 fa.-3. 
can 4  1:“é‘=i~‘3- I 313%, sf cease?  memezfii-as ef the zzzemhs wifich
 belzrze hcwstflities ceasfid but E C-33 Iamember 23, few iflfiiéfifitfii
 bar  parenés in 1a1:aIj;:e:J:s, w;h:'r::l: ::.:;:cm're:ei duymg ‘IE3 E? am: cm:

sf {base 1’ 2'7}: 53.3%: ft} Eater,

,,.,...4.

En addiifissn is the earnage if that First Wgrid War, I was barn at a
time when Britain was a majur gsswar, ya: we 5;: firis C}{}13l'§1tl'}" did nu: snjrzsy
the benefits which tadaj: we take far granted. Far hzstamze, wnnxen were
3:121} ‘asrifizout the fizmchi 3%: and the ‘zF«’e1;f'are Siata did not axisi; that: 155% 1321
public hrgzadgastixxg, radix: =31‘ Eeieariséez-.,, anfi sampuxar teshnology as we
mdefsand it today was a king way off.

 l'*a:aL.=. is fixes in the Carrzerburgi area fer mu‘-3h ofthe pre-
 period, I wag ‘Don: mach I1EE1‘€1"l:C! Lcntiégn. The giaee  Fairsaat,
a smaii haniltzt situated in the  formezi by Sevazzoaics, Reahesiey,
 Gravaseniéi Acaess ta Fairseat is made by an unciasséfiedi rasad which
czc-msects with $1»: ; 72’? {Wratfiam Heath ‘rs Gravesend}-

L1 B326 ihe ceuntxjsside amund Fairseat wsuld have been psasefixl,
but  the past  1;  the 3:23 has been transfizmc-pd, large estates
having been bail: to: mess: his needs if these whe cemmute dafly its
Landon ma eisevshere. E a:°.Edit.i«:‘m Brandg Hate}: raemg circuit hm beer.
:.onst.:'uct=:::1, 33 that t<3da§-P weeiazend walkers in the aim are ' :31}; is 2123:
the noise {sf Fazmuia B §21r.:.i2:zg cars as they power their W33? armuxd. this
track.

Altheufl in Ami? 19 E 5 ‘F-‘air3<“.=:at was 1II1€§01JbT’:d.1}*" a pezicefui piate
in whigh is Eve, the izfizabitants ef the few hmzsés which than existcd
weuld have been aware if the mmlnting casualties in France. 191}? mafhér
w{3u1d have zseaz-1 1-the E313 wit}: grrzz-Tat czgncerra, far my faiher had just keen
canscrijated fir: military 3%1"v‘iC€  my bénth was-. ijmzfineni, By June mfg
fame: was in France, set‘-5'11; as an mnbulance éziyer can Lha Wasiem Freni
and arriving sha:2rt£3,.=' hefcre the fxrsi battle sf the Sr:m1n1e, V.-*31en,E,0{II¥J
fiilied seldiars were to die :31: Lb: s3pem’::g 643:: {if the oiTe12si'»-‘e;

Mgmairs usuaiiy cantaiu reference 12:} fine writefs faxni y anszi I
have me cause 2% is mhrzxwise, thmzgh I 231:: unabla to pres-*i{i§ much

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.«=§«fe2?2ars%2:* Qf éiicfageztazréazr:

itxfennaiiag abcmt 1:1}? ear; §m§n:s' 6:21:33: Fears; fez:  rareif;  ahrsut
{hair fstcuth.

33%}; 21:3: fa.*:h:::' am} mssihar ware mambers mi’ 3 large family, net
unccszmnma in “.=“i<:r'::;~:ia:1. times? but in Qfilél‘ reaper:-:3 tfiefis 't:ackgr:;~1mds
ziéfiared. §ather was beam into 3 famiijg Wises} were agricuiiuxal werkers
whese zmcestars hazi §isre»;% 331 East Ken; as In}; grandparents did, £13:
centurias, 3302532??? Sififiii Eh: time af 2315 Ncrrman Canquestfi ifisenzas my
matemfl grmdilathar hat‘. emigzatzfi *9; England fiam Ireland during the
1'P;::d—fin€fi6&I1ih  Gianéfaflaer Scazflan had been apprsnticed ‘£13 a
Bubiin pawilbrrskazg ha?  Eagimd he fmined the Iwiewapciitaz ?n1i<:.e and
3:35: 5:: the 13$ €:f‘:ln:s.§:<:c-Eta‘. My paternal gandmether {nae Geadfian} was
firm East  my Emsmal gandmather nee Harper} was item
Brightan,

I-aijg mafixer; Etianche, was the seventh 22331:} if a family cf eight,
faur sens and ithur daughtsrs. 3.1} fear 53135 were salcliers fer variozls
igeriads, 021:3, Dasznsnfii beiag iziileci 3.: an earij; age whilst Sawing fin
Nigeria ’be{?;>3'e the Era’: Werid ‘Ear; confizingd, Lignai 3313. Ed ’E{I'd served
in Szsuth Africa, India and ihe Middle East, Lions} having been present as;
Gmaiuml-as: anti Eats: fsugh: in the B96:  and ‘:5-f“§sr’I, as éid Esiwaré. Bf
Reginald I hats: rm detaiieé. infam1aticm as its his 5£‘»I"‘=’iQ6.

it was Edxasard that  7§1e$:«; 3333:; fa: I 118‘%’EE‘ ms-t Reginald, and
Liana} semi}: twice. fin:-is Ted  9:}: cf my favsurite uncles and he gave
me much assistance 3:13:13: younger (lags, Hz: dim:-.d in 125*} , aged 8} years.

1%*ij~.-’ mother, tagafiiér with her sisters Eva, Narah and Grace were
 :0 many, Eierah pr::J:zaT::~1}-I a:1_i~::=3*§::g {he mere varied fife by emigrafing
ta Australia with her husband in ‘$13; Esra, the aidest, was witiewed
dxzwg flu: Figs: ‘iffierld War whezi he: husband was kiiied an the Western
Fmni in 1936, a few weeks aftesr the birth of her third chihi. Unlike {hair

’ bmtherg, 213% {aux sisfarc. Eivad: for eight}? 132325 91* mars, :11}: me-ther dying a

fav; weeks aftsr her ninetietfiz Eirthdaf-5.

M_' fathara iha  9f 3. waggoner, was the fifth child of 21 famfiy if
334:: {brag song 335: three daugizters. Compared with the Scanlan fmiy the
his:-my 9f the Sales cszulsi be regarded as 12513 ixitsrestiug. Iiziy fathefs
eidefi brfjibrél‘, fijfied, was agprsniiged ‘:43 3 biaeksnfiih, vs-'9~;§fi:1g first at

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P;-1?: E  1°-Sari —= Eéazzs: ;‘§'.5.£-3 E3

 2~'i§1a.ge  in fir:-33, fie-ax fsiargaie,  iaier in the fsunéijf :35
‘ ‘ifiings if Esvfaiaistsnasfi man'ufacia::rs sf §1€—3‘.—**}—*’ éuty ksrriss 322$ buses;

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1i

 the fffiungfisi, was 5 ‘verelg.-=' handicapped 13' having a shmrtened
lefi Ex:-g fiam chiinihoeii am‘. recsivirgg  iitiie sducafzitz-rag 30 that far "1116
must gzaré ha was em§«!:::ye:d fer  wed-:.. .511} three sisters were ii]
 sang,  flied  an Eviaggaie seaframt 1:; T3 in 3:2:
“mres::t'ies'; Emiiy, the sides: daughtsr, marriazi 3 market garfiener; 331d A-53,
& ratirad 36:1 captain cf a Cross-Chazmel  i}fm_y grmriparents I know
very Effie men: than 2%-ha: has aireasiy been 'wri€£-szn, the ::.»rL1j,v' one I knew
 Gran-fizzle-that S936 whs iived  Birchingiazz, Ken: wd éiefi in 192",
aged 72  The remaiznltag £1153: ézled befarc 1912 and before xeaazhizig
fix-at  hirzhéajz.

My parents '__c-r{:'&a33I}‘ met  ‘FEES in Lcndgn when Emih were:
‘it: s-:2-rvicel my father as :1 gremn and 3:2; maths: as a maid. At the time. gf
tIr1ei: xnanriage  ‘£312 my maths: W5 tfia iadjfs maié ai the §’;'v.=a1{:E1
Embassy. Befare their x2:es;Ldi:1g, and reafising the fL‘CG_lI‘€: importance of the
Elflfflffl” , they dscid:-§ri'n;tt fathar shaulti learn to drive, and this he fiid by
afienziingaé-Sghosi afjfigiéingg ‘warning in adsiitisan the fundarnentals of C23:
c9nstn;c{i{2::’:a.nd mafiifénance. Thé: Latter ‘Jffi most impafiazlt, far in {he
serif: days If metarizig, ears f1*eq11a:nfi§z’ Earaiqe down, necessitaiing zmadaiée
repeats.

D§S§2§E biz &‘diiionai qualificatimzs ii was 3:16»: Lzntil Eats 1914 11:3:
 -rrabtained ‘she pest :3}? drive: at §ai:s€a‘: Hausa where I was be-rn,
Meanwhfla {he}! warkeé briefly‘ at Narmansiané in Sarrey, whrsre 
xs:eai:'n}-' peapia had  grapefiies.

Efihefis Eat}: in ahtaiging the  sf past 21% sziuggd: was as ihe
result sf ssmrzoni-fs; rnEsfi:=rtu:Jr:. Earija i;;L1’§31-'-1% his ainpicrjier, a Cakinel Pitta
ané  ::haufi‘e's..s.r were iourfflg Ih{e"'C'::»n1.‘i:1e:':%: and had reached Austfig
when war  éeciawcxzi -and,  British citizens, were arresxefi‘
Aitheugh fllfi 201;:-nei, being abmre miiitar;-5 age, was allowed to reium
heme his chauffeur wag lass formtzate anfi was iixtemed.

B3’ Apr-ii 1916 father, Whi} hzié 2'::vi:1r§i£erec% ffli‘ military Eerséite an 1 N
several 1:=1‘:.:‘~:i<:-:15; Qccasionsg was recnfiied as  amb‘-.‘:Iam:e drive: and  T.
mgther was asked to *{*a<:aie their accornmsdation within six weeks cf my 
biriiiz As a result, maths: tank  at Maidstsne 3.115: ihese became em

 
 

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base, fir ugh wa. sass: ‘fie haw span: E-{mg pefisds wiih reiaiivas at 1-ienle}-'-
Gn Thfia“‘fi€S {_ Eva}, Birchingmn {_G1'ii1‘id:’}3{)Ih$§‘ Sale}? Siapls {Aunt
Emiiy ard B2:1§}::: ¥v’3.‘5::::'} and Bridgrs E: Grace ami Uncle George}, the
viiiagfis being 31333: f:l‘&I1iE§‘E§.1I‘3Z

 

 

 

 


Part 11. Life ig an Ezzgifih ‘fiiiagaz 191?-23

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Part H. L{& 3'?! cm 1E7.*x_"a*‘:Z5:»"z !":'.*’:':I_,f-.,r;-2.’ IE9-2:3‘

as an apprrsgeziate map will shew, the vifiage of Ezidge in East Kent 
Liseaieri fiiirac miées seuth {if Canterbu:'§;. Taxdays mfitmiais, hLL*r}'ing to er
fram the Change} parts offlaver and F Oikssiirz‘ 1, might WEB faii ta nstice
the vifiaga, far during me past  yzzas a dam} eazfiagewajs has been
censtructesi t::- jairz with the E32 near Faversham and the village new has a
’§y’=pass, 35-13 a {‘.=£rI1SB{';11§I1C§ 43333: ¥isii{:rs; :43 Brixiige new use ‘aha: 431:3 A2 and:
if apprizaclqmg friars} {:3.:“1T.61‘b=L1L‘_‘3’_., WLE éescand a 3151i ‘:3 see tbs iziiiage
nestling in the mile}; at" fix: Bi *3: I‘~3aiibs3urne3 :1 L‘ibuE1°§I of the Stem.

For these whc: remember the viilagr: fiom gre-Wm‘ days, one‘s firs’:
impression is that Bridge has changed lzlttie since fixat time: the ’i*.»s::r:*.-*-
fienied Seergian ‘muses wifti the azdjaaeni 15051: Gffi‘s3€; the Elizawthan
hrsuse {Which ‘was my hm-:5}; the ihree pzzbfic houses; ‘ihtz: parisfia churcfig
anai fine bridge which gave thfi Village its name appear the same as in
phcftographs taken eighty years agca. But be-ycnd the Sigh Street sane finds
man; new images *a;hic~§1 have been buiif; an gait}: fiaié sites, 33 that the
pogmiatisn  is p‘:‘€:h&b3}* 1:‘%{I{§ 9: mcqe, beifig *va_<=:;1§:  than in the
1S$‘2.{.i3, The Bridge which i‘ knew in cbiiéheed csuiai net have been
described a 3. typical English viiiage far *1: had amenities wrdcil wmzld mi
nsrmafiy have E15311 faund eisewhercfi nevertheless it was a viii.-agz: anai
mast of the weyking papxflatian were aznpiejgeri can fazms, some being part
of lag: 23:31:65 with s?.a.teE;‘§ ‘mmes. There were E{13I’3§’ large hauszazs in the
-:3.iS§‘I:1;‘-E ané they tea 9:4:-xriéezi 3 source of emplagmient. empiafsing bath
 and female §a§::eu§.

The vifia‘-=e  ::elf=cen‘iain,e:%, far there was a minprehensive
 {sf 3119103 - fcaurtean G1‘ mere in tetasl -  prmrided 3193: of the
neais if the Vifiagera. 81113’ when {me raquirird szlsntal treatment car wished
ta} purchasé hapiial‘ items iike fL';t°nitt.1:e  ii rte-cessem? to visit
Cantsrburg.-' :3: a nearby tewnfi and is: {ha ‘Z2535 ami ‘BS3 few working class:
pe~::-ple ‘nought new ’ii1mi?::1re.

E3: Esflfiitian K3 ‘aha shcsfzs the village aazild bsast of having £15 mm

 wazrrks, providing gas f-:2»: seeking and heating in some 0f the 11011363
and Iimited swam’: 1igh:i_*:;g,. There was a§s0 pipad water for same; a GP and

3 Distfict N333; 3 velunieer fire %:xriga<§a,, the nusn riding on an engine

puliad by we :31‘ twc: harass according is rcqufiements; there: was a viiiage

palicexnané zvémse presence heipeci fie Ififihiélfi crime, thaugh I cannot

remember any major incident. But the village maid 13:3: ciaim is have a

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.=‘.L-§}z::::;2r§e3 afar: Qcéagaszazriarz

sewag marks :31‘ refuse cciéectian. E3523: hauses W 5: fitted with a WC and
‘;vi%:cz‘e fizay existed the waste fizainaé int} 3 cassgét which requireii
gzegiaéicai amgtyéng, Mast; cf the viléagers hafi is be cazttsni with csutside
yrivies {up the gfi»iE:n=.;3ath’}, :~zit’n. lib: gaiis being anlgstied by the: night srsii
mam 5&5. far refuse‘: azcsil-zzctixzsli ibis was :10 pmbiem, far at the time: there
was hit}: packaging- Mes! cf 1513 hCI13S=$h{3}ii'S had access to open gr-::~un&_. a

‘kitchen garden or ailntmem, :31: hxyfia, as that much 0f the hcuusehaid 

 aithar bum: :3: campesiedg battles Ewing buried in fianks’? which are
familiar ta C-Qliectms, xafiiie the few: fins were aiisig-teeth’ dispased cf.

At Bridge were ihe offices   B;-icifi Rum} Bésifici Cmsncfl,
Eater the ‘Bfidge-B1333‘? ané. the 10:23}. Em)? Lia».-* institution; which was
Eireacied E}! some 016, peatzpie, «ss;3s<:§:iEijs' chiisfiess caupiss. 'fo»:.‘= aid :9 w_r£<;,
psassibiy infirm  ixaving no incame -etizezr than the  <§§d—a_ge
pensien cf this time, ‘3‘i.‘E§" were mlabie ix: maintain their inciependencc, SS
aha’: they 313% 111:» caption but in becgzme inmates of the ‘w0rkhcsuse'. Therm‘:
711255: were S€p2‘iI“a.iE{}_._ the man ta ihif Méigizz  his wifis ten the ‘e¥an1cn‘s
“s}J$:‘:. After many ;:a3rs of  fife  was difakzuit far them ii‘:
accefit.

Sf ‘ch: ’*sig}r;.s, saimds -and snzclisf‘ {:fvii1age Iii: these are bai a few:

? th: sighi. af amt‘-:5 Ewing airixren ifififififii that pasifares to Mr. Sf-.mB‘s fan in

file High Sires: fi‘I,-33$  and learing bshmii 21 iraié of mess 1:9 he
fBII1G‘v"’€d, tithe: bf; {he rsadsweegeer -.:::r ea‘-Stage gardeners, car bath. The
mass made by flag: a:cm-3 ‘WE added ‘:6 ‘:33: 3191533, {if xvhich there were
111313’, and an market  by  being ériven teffiam CVEHIEIEEQ’.

92 mar: ezxzcitirzg sigh: fax :5: Smflfi be}; was the ‘turn gut‘ by file
afiiiage firs: brégaée failowing ihe firizzg if :1 mareon, far it was then that}
Saw ths firemen tanning down fix: street: each age ¢iutchi.I1g his helmet
and axe: in cane hwd wftfile ixyitsg H3 faezian his Tunic with the other.
IE’? He? =.3:i‘r.;h fizis weuié bs: the rsmsxral sf 3  Ercxm the shafts cf 3.
*£:‘adesman’s sari :0 pufi the fire engine,

Gfisn the ‘call’ was far sismeihing 113- mere  than a srzhimney,
:3 thatfizhed Iiiflf, or maystack which inafi caughi firse, E11: {hare was tha
¢3cz:a§.i{:na1 big blaze- Sue ef ihese hiazas aczzuzreti an a bitterly cold
¥€§J'£‘£e:I"‘S night whaa the vifiage wisififried 55?; shcsp taught fir: and was
2':x:fi:a§§.§ ziastto}-’=:a*§.E iégzsggéixz :21: amp ‘being aééaacgnt to 316 river and the fire

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Pan‘ B. Lg‘_r}'2 in an Engfisf: Fifiage.‘ I2’-‘H’?-28

sttaéifin zscarhy, :1 ‘€r"EiS :9. has  situaiizjrrg {E}: iii: brigads was equipped
wiih 9. mwuaiiyaoperaieci gjuxngis Gifly whit}: cmzid am‘. prcduce the required
pressurs and 1:116 water 3:333 in the hesepipe, in desperation the brigade
resosisd 1:: buckcts  were able ta‘: prcvent seriaus damage; to {he Imus:
me-.:=:: agar.

Atnixng the ssungis remembered are these {if the aniznais as they
were sla%hi:ered at the abarteirs attached to the butchers, the semds
rt:-verb-eratixzg threugh-mt the Vfilge. Twe Giher seunds ware these made
by the viilage blacksmith as he forged shees ff.‘-2* hfirses ant}. the scsund sf
{has p=:2sir:13.n's heme. Riéiag an mp sf 9. box Carl; flit: pastznan vsmu}-:i pass
tlrazzgh the vifiaga  th-2 afiernofin wast: 311 route 133 Eiiham an the
Foikestzme road, rstmmizzg in the exzemg to asvzxiiect the mail at our post
0:336: 51: 8 pm pmcisely. The seund of his hints: as E1153? aiescendeai Bridge
Hifl an a geld wintsfs zijgfit is net fergatten

B1-iége ezaxfifi bnasi: sf having a. gas warm; it could aim boast of
Eiaving a railway station, the trains ::c:m1ez:ti:1g with main line trams at
EL‘.a:1ieIi::ury, and the vifiage was serxfed by the $31132.-3. which linked
iifanterburj,-* with Dover a;"=.=:i Faikestgna. The atsinnihuses wmfld best he
ééscafixea‘ as ciiarabancs, fer tsntfs akeut 1925 fneee Ear-gs cumbersome
vehic;es., fi1::';ez;l witi’t1 saiid tyres anfi wiih 3 my speed if :19 more than 29
nigh vg*$rT. ii} 56 seen an 3193: sf {Ea mums azxpsrated '53.’ the cezzzpany.

rawided zxriih a Sflfi itrp  :9 E113: fitted Ea} {}id-style ;_>:;-rrambuiators,
and faidéé back: ta rest a‘: ihé  of this *2-'».-*:hic1e, aha charabazxc  9.
seating capaazitjg far 3593? twent}’-five passfingers. The :’§I'§‘sr'€1' was assisted
by 3, cazzduciez  tegethzsn *.s'§€  weafier zequireai :::::m=‘er for the
-accuparzts, they weuid  the hand ané, drawirzg it ts the frent of the
charabazxg, make if secure 233.? means of leaiher thongs ihreaderii threugh
brackets fixed ts ‘iha Wings. Fer addiiismal prateciien, side £:1H‘t3.i1iS were
then tgeugrhé mtg 236: 31:21: a prazscsfims mgulé cans: a {$333}; to the
servi<;e. filers is nailing new abceu: cielays {:3 publiszt services 3

Tizese are same cuf-my 1113;130:353 zxffiri-zige during the period when
we lived  i

when ‘£2-‘WI i.-nded  November 1133 8 mcsthrzr and {ma}: have been
at Birchingtors, 1 am 11:31‘; 51:35  by flze su..rr1n1er sf the feiiewing year we
WEIE iiifuzg at Bridgag tsgether with my fathszg who  hack in 'Civv3'

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ifexyiéries Qfizrz if-3c?£€ig=:-?fl8.?‘i§?2‘

Street’. CHE this I am c::er:.ai:1. 3 ware than Saying with nay n1::}€t1r;=.r"s sister,
hfii‘ husbané ané smafl sen, Eda-md {Fad}, whe  fsur years my senicsr.

As a soidésr father haé. serves‘ in Fraizce, Eeigium and Eiaky, and it
 fmtzz Kai}; that he 1:132:16 his jisumey back :9 Britains &“£‘i“§’2:11g fan: €51‘
five months after the sigfiing cxf the Afinisiice. Alfimugh ‘sis
damebiéisaiiim was late: flum that if rm E S&n'i:.:c:_m§n, that proved to be
is his advantage; far he ffitmii izmnecfiaie erz‘1;:=1+3;;In«em  a. time when
wcsrk was r3'ifi'1a;.uit ta fimi Efzsrking far the: ‘$53: De§33r$:men‘: {‘*~Er"B:} as 3
<;ivi}i::~;r-. éfix-‘er: ‘size, 39%  1% fan"? Vehicies bring 3‘E3?.1L3‘£1€{i is this c::;u.mi::*§_i
frczm the Centizzent,  2116511: caiiesting a staff can 393:}; :3: ambzflanate
ficxm - Chis-$1331 pert,  Riazhbersrsiggz, 2:3: Sanéwéah, d::i*;E1g it in 8.
recepiiian csntise atFa5:ershau1 GI Sizsugh. As mast csf’t%e veificies were: in a
‘mad staie {sf r~:“:§s.ir they erouié tea fai 3% Eew speeds 0133-’, and were driven
(313 main  w}1ic.h haé a much psarar g:3:'f-ace than t9—:‘3a:;’:~: standard, the
§L11e‘La._¥:::n :0 campieie fifiilh §s:«ur;1e}r was masiderabie and father wnulazi he
away from harm: fa: several  Aiflxsugh his emp£::e;—:me:2t was not idea}
it. was war}: at  ‘ltime: whet: hundreds sfiizous ads cf eX—Sen-icenzen were
ainernpiixyed.

Unliks the system if dazneéfligaiion which ibiioxafed thg anti :3}?
"E\,r"‘~.7'I.e’§'._E ‘tsasicafigr ‘Egg:  firs: ozzutl thare was iiitle or 30 :~3ys’a‘::m of comrci,
313 that tram numbars af mar: wars fiéscharged an :3 231 unprepared lahaur
Itaaket, neitier fiionzmerce mt Industry hafing haii time in make the
 tn peacetime cunéiiiizns. As a. rssuit  z3~:—’Sa:rvicem23n fznmd
that insisad sf rrstumaing home is ‘a 33.136 fit far heme: to Hire in’ they faced
unempksjmieni which could 155: fax :1 Sang taxis‘ At the time it was not
uncmznncm ta see in tawns and villages, I1":$Il ‘svhe had been tfixaugh
‘Hell’, and were withoui mxeznplogmeni benefit, singing in the sireet;
 Liza harzaiie sf 3 bamsi Qrgan; going {mm dam?-ta-dear in fiifi huge
of sefiing a pair :3? sins laces or maichcs ami receiving in a€idi*iic=n a smaii
sum sf Illiiifié}-‘ f::3m a s§*mp:i:%h€:ic heuseholder. Sama men <:.=.-ere
axnputeess mhsrs were ‘giind.

.f:i’:3::sug11 mg; fafiisr fared ‘setter that: 3651: sf A-His wartime
ceileagues he fmrnri éifl‘icu3':y in cibtaiiiing safisfatary ample-j,.~'1neni, 3::
that in the space {if six  he had sis: difiarent jabs; beforze being ‘taken

T an‘ by a firm {Pf iimbcr merchants ‘-.3-*i‘£‘n when: he zranlained, wit}; the

excepzism cf fir:  :3. 7 5?:-§§=4S, fer the refiaaizxder €31‘ his xmrkigg fife. in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
  


 

 

 

Par‘: "K £g',?';='  an Engézkiz  39:’?-28

retirement my pazents csniinueé; 2:: live an tha premises until father dieii in
25332:.

'¥’v"§;en faihcfg C‘-I‘IEgZ!§{?j-,".a.'fl€Il§ ‘£3;-"i£§'i €13 ‘€i?:‘} enéeé he we-§i~:s:§ briefly

far a Smaii fitm of haulage centracizzrs, msrned by my ».::ou:;in’s .

gziadfather, 3:22? 1': is this firied that pzmiifias my f1‘S?.fi1€En0i'}’ of him. He
was heiping in the ‘zmkzaafiing cf a ‘maxi af pales from a barge-drawn dray
and was wéaring his Army 1:; ‘form.

About {he  tims we szeased ‘ssiflg Egtsaig-erg’ and zngwad inicz 3:1:
firs: home as: a fa::ni‘=.:.r‘,  pareizis having abiained the par:-tenancy afar:
Elizabethan hcuse. It pIQ‘;’Ed :0 be very pace: acss:zL224:>da:Eon, far it lacked
:31} fiarge s.c:r?’::ss: water, gasfelcciiiciijg and sewerage. Had the year been
2%: the pmperéj; weuid have been candemzied  being urfii far human
haijiiaticen but eighiy years ago  lizdng ccsnéitiexm were Bflf unusual, in
fact fire}! wauid fcxzzvs bean censiaiered the ‘m)m1‘ far werkiagwiass
faxniiiss  rural areas-

The hfiiifi still stands and E few yes;-3:5 age 2: 1:32:21 newspaper
published a brief history cf the p:t;;3an:}-*, together with 3 photegraph which
shmva moéem wifidajws and {he afzssenz:-e 0f the woudezz shutiers refened
ta heiaw.

Buiit in the sixtaenth canmzy as a §’E:{3I'.[‘:E.I1 far;r_n::'s harms: it Eater
7i}E.‘~Cv3IZf16 an inn afifi fien  aasthfiuse, when an anrzexe was addefi.
Prsbabég iézwards the and of the ?_i5:eias";:1th +;:e12tm'y the b12E1di;1g was
convsrteé 2:9 garcazride thrse Eomes. it has since reverted 11:: Sing}:
eccupanay and is a Iisted p*rs::p-erégs.

Pram the Guisidfi the gzziginai part sf L312 hcuuse is f_‘_5="piCé3.flff
Eii,z,a§3<:ihax:2: timber-flamed with bfick irfli z;"n<::ggirx‘j. in GUT fime iaxfice
Winéows were fitted 1s.:i’:_h Glfiaikifi shutters, The upper :~?terey sezitenfi

.he:.r:mé rig ficea: b=:E«3:=s. ffifigin-.t:fl},«-' the maf mighi have been ihatehad but
{sday it is tiiaé, T9 122: 12.1%-, 9: 331131, ef the zfider par: of the building is the
armexe built’ in brick, ih: £3922: , -'33}: being fitted uiih ‘aw-ca smafl windows.

fiuring vzsm’ sine-yea: occupaxzstjy ref the firs: cf the three homes,
access was made from Frimrose Alla}; tire dag: opening <fr'i_recti§: an :9 the

Iiving roam. Being Eifiie in-are {£25.-*2 zwslva fee: sq" 5  was litfie

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Space 1?-:3: fiimfimre, but standizzg in  c-enim :::f the team was a aircxflar
tsbéi-. upen which  3.  E3111;-3, 9:2: as}: Sm:-ice 01’ fighting 
dark. Sppasita ihe ?.«'End01v which :§i}0}£$fi C2112‘, an is the viilagrs strata‘: was
an ope}: firsgelact, the‘. 3913 source sf heating fa: ii}: sjtire hmzse and, with
the  -:31" a smaii ‘ifaifir S1Ii.}'s’E, mc«t’ae:":s U111}-' means af 
skzzszess is the secfind fle~«:a1' 119% made by 3 S€3i:1’:‘:‘*.S$ aariéich 35:1’: fI’{?1’fl the
Eiving mam hahind a partiiian 23:31 anii an reaching the Eanding sane dear
opened 6:1 1:3 Th: :r:s=:;:2: abavs the Ziving ICIQKIE, the asthsr to the mam 2i,b:s¥e
the 93113:, This room abmie the ceflar he-came mg; i~.~sdr<*;srz1. A bag,
balvtack-iike mmn, ii haé 3. ceiiing which skvpsd 3: an amt: angie, 3:: that
an The 31:23:: side it ¥:a3r==:I}* ;.xI£wis'3;e<§ head  fer a yemkg 13:223.-*, 5:—‘}“E€‘- smafi
winditrxs-' gjzaxréfiad Iiaijjral fight Gfien 3332:1332 3 {mid on a wintéfs nigh“, I
wen: U3 beé 32>}-' izaniiie iight, I315 cmfiie ‘Using qr.i<:-id}.-' extinguished.

Back on the ground fies: a £99: opened an is tha space beiczw the
staircafiag the sgasa being used is:  cazcking cm the ‘€310: stave,
ansi the stiyrage {sf coal. F1913: ":.’:1e:'a:-. Cane eeuld descend :3 flight of stairs: ‘£0
teas:-E1 the z‘:=1}1"r- Much of the cellar was Qccupiesi by 1:11: ancient firebox
wifich hafi been uses-3 fa»: ‘fie drying of hgps, but there was Sufiicient $pac.E=
{:3 accczxnmedate m::fi§::I’s raangis fitted with iarge wmden mllers.
Cfixgsizuctsd largely 9f :33’: iron, it reguéfed the sfrengih «sf   €13:
maximum gffixzisnqz The 25113: ais-3 providefi winter storage for varieus
res}: craps,  potaices, vftaiciz 3::-6 fathsr grew Wham tima gsennitieti.

The cefiaz W33 badi}-' H‘: by   viii,   tlagriighi hams
there was usuaélj.-' sufiflici-ant light 1:0 guide 0352 is {he stairs leading its the
yard. That: we fcaurld the csmmimai puznp 2§.:}1ic.I_r1, wézen Eh: icmperauzre
dmppezi is fraezixzgg Wisuid raguiia prinfing with her: water. Tha yard was
‘zhr;-: drying gremid fist the ¥‘¢’€t§ti‘_1}" aw.-ash zmd if. was their: fhat vane feunfi the

threat pfivies, gone £81‘ each $1’ ‘:31:-.  fa1m‘}ix,=:.s..

Eefgre the as;‘w’e:1i af the range sf écmestic appxiiances which are
zaow :21: gexwrai us-33 the ‘vacuum: 21333133, wasizmg znachine, refiigeratczr,
etc“; hausewafls: was a  Fer 1:11;; maths: washifig  meant
:2.“ ;_,-‘£113 nuxnarasug pails cf wsier frcm and ti: this yard, heafing the
required 3111:3113: 31: saucégang can the span fir: and wes,:~:h.i11g the clathes in
a zinc: ham (assaad 315:2 far {he ‘M-‘:ekl3* Tub‘ an Friday nights} sifier
washing, wit}: 9:‘ withfiut fine use of 22 mrragaigd wash}::s:ra.tfi, the 
was mangled, itself v=::r}= hard 2-v91'i<_, aad dziefz in {ha yaxfi  weather

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‘"‘§c_3ge: E53334-‘-25

,pe:3-nitted.   {ha a1ta.n1a1i'v.=e us: sf a fsais ad’ fiai‘ irons heaieé

an the span firs.

I}: ‘(ha absence sf a catntriting range most of 0:3: fasted was hailed, an
cxcepzitzzz being the xveskly was: eaten '-71‘: S11.1’§d€?ifs'5 the joint being ~::[o0Es:e{i
at ih-B hams sf {Eff mathafs §iSi&:‘ wizire Eire-:3 "a:_::i>s3 ‘the Wadi B}; the same
QFHEBIIS Ingmar *+.s.-‘as ab}: K3 pmaiuce 3 1.‘-:ee1»;ly 3&3 331$ bale:-3 p33?.I‘}’ in ‘the
cottage which, aithough more than twr: hlmflif  aid, had better
seeking, faxsilifies, piped water arié gas lighting. The cottage 3359 had a
153:3,-* L31’ ,2 ggrdan, ezzabiixig my Urgcie Gesrge B3 gew an a.1:t1pL=: supgiiy Gf
vegeiabieg, ‘$0 $136; a few atuicksz-as anfi, r.3e:ca3i:3:':al3jy; rear a pig. The rent
paid far this czzritage was three shiiiiitgs 3 week, Sixpence mere {bail for our
<ie3=-ms,

S§u);fl}' after 311:;  birthday in 3???? ‘i santracied diphtheria and
was iiriven 33 the '1sa313fis:>n hespitai iii 3 horse-drawn aznbulaac-6, the ‘fever
 -firiven by the sarrla uncie. The hospiiai was :19 more than a cenvcried
residence Eocazed in 3 cnmlérg 13113 a s§1_n::-It distance fr;3n1 Bridge. I was :3
Ie1nair1 that: far six weaks, enough 25:21: far me is retain :2. few memeries,
irtciuding the sicikigi meéicine w‘nic.Ez  like liquorice and fin: trains
which ran pass: the bufiding,  ihe iine, being in 3 cutting, mean: that
I c mid net see the  from Inf.-' winébw.

In the falieazéng Septembsr E staried schm}. M<;33.i gxopla can
yanzanlber fixcir first day, esgeciaéij;    ihej; hast‘; net previc:-usigr
attended a piaj-F sezhémi car z1urse;_; schoais Suck piacefi did net axis: in the
‘giiiags. Fm‘ me ii w3.s a zraimxaiic experience and E pmtested Eiaucily’ far a
few days but 3::-on found 21 511-11‘: mate: Ronald Tayior, kncwn as ‘Scrnn3:‘.
We were is magma great fiiends, and, iegsther with Ms twc: hrethers and
sistsr, I wzis is 31:25:15: much eef my flint at his heme, which was a:_1_§aci:nt.:.9
the schcml. His father ‘v"iEi$ {ha 3:263} cm} ‘merchatxz and haulage czaniracior
anfi his Extensive yards, prcsviding stabiing for his harses and stntsrage
Space first coal and 'f:+.ggC:is’ {kindling wezkdg E-scam: ens: Qf £311!‘ famurite
playing  -

The village sahafii pm‘-ii-fled an eir3mv::rri3ry edtzcatien far bath bays
311:‘: giris af 311 ages. and  openeé 1'3 the Ifineteenth centunr s}1z3r:1yafier
ihe Education Act of 1S?éZ!. KEDWI1 a Bridgé CQEE Sciaeai, it prsszéazied far

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_.i:femor:'es agfzz:-3 6::-.’;gé?:.»2?iz:t3:

an intaks sf abeut 129 pzzpiis. tiihihirezz ivauld siafi, schafli in file
Septamhaf :31’ the 3733: GE 2}:-gsir fifth ‘-::i:fi.z,:ia}*  sstslsi lsavs, as mast dié;
when fourtezn 333.13 of agefi the $631301 having age having ‘nest: raised
fr-am {waive by the Edusatiam sac: cf 3 918,

‘®“ii;T 3:195: zchii-.i:‘e:f:. fr:-‘i-{Ema cducaiign beifig at-nfineé E-3 Eéss
than nine years the smvficzziznn cancenfiaied an the tint: R55, Ease fimr:
being :.ix=.=*.-wzsteitfi ta Subjects like Gecagmpii‘-’, Hismry and  Each day
camnzgncfifi with  Escaizt afeémioaz  paiai to S13‘:-ft. For bc:-gs;
daszing winter zzmnihsj faatbali sf Eh: ‘kick about’ kind was piayed -I311
pasture iami Qpgasita the 3t:§1{i::3§,  ‘aging mafia 1:1: C-Iiliibiflg airing 3
fans:  s;ga;7«3:1er§ ihe Eizfez E\§a.i1t§0ur:1e- fin: f<:eet‘3a.i§ }3€?iQdS were ncn:
v-.-‘ail arganéseé and far: thczse ROI  ‘skiff: ‘azhé ru}-25., not verjg
bengfi:-ia}. 1 1121:} en: advaztage over man}? sf me  far I had faaibafi
beats, act ihai filfifg‘ did much for 1113’ game. During sugmzzer months we
rn‘:_gh‘i go far a run 3.2333 ‘the scan 3 ianas, xafixile {ha giris piayed netbail
an 2:. 11ea;rb:,»-' fieid. S's2€:':L11ir;g was 119: an eptieng fez  Ken: was ‘KC: wait
 years beffite pubéic indacwr swiznming pmis wet‘: buiit.

The s:.=b.::>oI pramisrazs vc,-‘ere: divided in prstrside fear ciassmszms: the
beafiniasisfs  i:wx:>  =- B316 far ‘iris bags, {me far figs giris -
and the  ciezzkream faciiifics. The curricuiuni for the nine yaars cef
 was taught by fimr teachers, ea-iii; 95 the asgisizm ieachers being
rsspersiblg far two ysars, the headmaster fer ihree. This was the systam of
eiemexfiary eduaation in raw? assess £1;-ingihe inie:*-wax‘ years.

For the firs: twr} years We ware taught by an unquafifiefi {gasket
and fa}: a few m:::n’:hs sat in rx:m;s an farms atrangéci as a tarmac, wrote on
slates 33:3 usad a piece :35 ‘?€%3€ rag far 2:333:33; Lair:-I} the ierraca was
éemzzéishsd, being 1‘ep134:€d by 511133 iabies and chairs, T0 ‘bring the class
in ‘E9 the twentieth 2e:1_n.1z*:J W: flier: were gixraia writissg b<}e}:s. The
classrisnm, like {he ashes three, was heated by a seiid fuel baiier, st-slaed
1-Vhflfi nesfissary‘ by I we teacher. E313: had E} be sitting near :11: built: 1:3 fee}
are; w.a..rr::%3 on a said wirztefs 533;.

gapafi frzmz 1'r:n1»=:mberi.r:g that much sf subject matter in the sariy

' jgsars was taught by mze, E remenzber very Eitiie of what was taught. 911

{R16 gccasion we weré: iald that the nmseiist Jesseph Ctsnrad, whc had lived
 the next viiiageg Ear} died. The 3333:’ would harass ha:-an 192%. (En anather

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Par: B’. Life I}: :2 : Exegiisiv i*":'3§.::ge.‘ ff???-28

eeeasierz he headmaster; when speaking ef BIC-ed}; Queen Mary’ and the
persecutien of Protestants, referzecé. he the Zsiariyts‘ Fieifi memorial in
Ceneerhury, when i ‘R13? visited the meinoriai i found that a $435.11 Seie
heasis the E3”: ef fi1::>ee whcs hast‘; ‘me: their iivee.

In each ef {E16 elassreeme hung 2: map which showeii the Brifish
Empire, then szevering e quager ef the ‘.§:’eIid‘e surface, minted  red.
Each yew, en 24 May, W-::‘ we-uiii eeiebrate Empire Bay, when 3 local
Bgignitary, efien Ccénnei ‘Ribs: {Rid}, whe EYCE3 in cane nf the stziieiy
houses, wazuhii give the mtfie sehezgsl a ’pep‘  emphasising haw proud
we sheuié ‘se is be British.

Aitizeugh fa? file meet get": I etxjejgeé seheelfi I liked better the time
be3..-m1d the seheel = eiee. “£‘egei:§1e;’ urge my Erienais the Taylers and a few
ethers I heii 21 Vnffifldfiifill time: enjznjuing fer Imfxre fieedem 13133 the medem
ebjfi .=‘%.‘i:1due:ien.enei elriihi abuse were weeds erlzzzewzt ts: ‘us, thxmgh
probabiy such crimes did exist. fievided I was heme far 1133: meais I113;
paxents were seidexn eancemed as to 111? £63’. he addition to piajying the
pcngmlar games of flle Stay, we wezfié re-am the many fieiés anti weeds in
me ziisuicg scxmetimes p1a:_.':?:1g ‘scsiéierel using the ireneézes which had
been dug fer pazaefiee éiilfillg 'i9§4-ES, weer: Keeps would be stationed
briefly‘ at Bridge before geieg ts: Fzenee. in the same field we wt:-uid maize
and Light a fire, seeking haEf«a~p=:3und cf it-eef sausages bought: with any
peckfii. msney fer te.*o§eece ané baking pcnzatees ereeght frets: heme.

£33  ehfid grewifig 119 ie the 293, E prrzfigxabiy had mere ihan the
average zsumber of Guifilgfi, fer there were some children who were iueky
if they went beyond {he boundaries of the viflege or saw the see once 3
year. Fer me, in adiiition to the ammal eating in the seaside, organised ‘:35;
a zriiiage cernrnittee fer ail ehjidren, and that previded by our Wesiejgan
Sunday Schoei teacher, a Fair Haggai, at his own expense, which was a
very Sinai} greup, there was ene, and somefimes {we visits each year ta)

‘ Birehington, The home 1;)? my paternal gra;:3:“3:n.nther. in adciiticzn, my ceusin

Ted emit I were taken by our parents 1:0 places iike Margate ané Heme
Be}; tra’t.=*e.l'i‘u1g in a h@Ise—draW:1 wagenezte ziriven 5}? my‘ Incle Genrge.
This ieizieef trave}  lcrzg  éiseppeered and it is uniilielg the: tedaj,-'
sue wmfié see 3 wagezxette ether thazi  e eazfiage mueeum. Besigec‘. ta
he :ire’s_.ve by 9:16 herse, 3 wagenette has a maxi:mun1 r:a§.>acit3' fer six
ailifiis, éhe cirieer and (me gaaesez".-gee sitfins;  at the from whiie the other

1?


ficfaézerias etgfszra Savage» aria}:

four, acsermnafiated at ‘:31: rear ‘:33-' 3::-each-typse 333:3 33% léngtéhvégefi sit in
 facing ens‘: sgzother.  ear party c-aznpzisgd Em: aduits anti ave bsga
$311!}; 11216 ham: was 310: axierbmdened aneii M1231 faced wifn 9. steep hill ta
céimh the '13:: waulii aiighi and, if ;'}E£€ESS3.E'§; all 53’? 1.11;‘: ramaisfing
1-mssangeza-

Leaving heme shmfijz after breakfast on a Sunday mornmg and
reiurning {ate m the ev§niz1.g? the ‘ax-‘s.go11ette przavad 2. mast giaasant way ‘is;
travel, fr;2:* {ha s:uuntr}’ 18.1163 were uncrewdedg and w}:z.at little traffic we mat
with was largsbr ‘m}r2a~;-2ira,w:1. Usuaiiy we wzrvuid travei in Ciihéii‘ Heme
Bay 9: Eviargaée, fly: latte: destinaiizm ins‘:-urring the gz,'eai'.est distance, heing
about twenty miles. ‘§‘s?':fl*1 the horse irefiing sinwiy and 3 stop far
"refres:h:ne1:T3‘_. the jemgzey weuié.  353$: three-312:1-a haif hours- The
hem: weuld than be siablech ftzi and rested until fiie early evening ‘+‘5:'hE11
we wzmld fe‘Q.u‘n hczeme.

Tha year $324 was a mementaus me far gexmg Liunei, far we
visited th: Empire Etxzfjbifiézn in Lozxdon mad 3 flew mstanihs 131%? I received
3 secend-Jami bi{:§*cL'—:- Trav Ring direct in Lscsmian by main from nearby
Bekesbamme Smtien our visit was far fem   but it was,
nevertizeiessfi a rare treat. fer mjs parents. as vase-ii as their smafi son. For m;
father it was  first pass?-W2: hsiiziajg anefl. hi was 3:31 is sxgjaji 3. Sfitjlid-3
apart fffifii the siawirsur}-* 11333 02351 heiiafajgs,  15:139.

33 au: firs’: fufi  we wen: 310 ‘£16  ‘€\r’hi-flh was held 93.
‘rfxfembiay £11: twe years, 3924 and ‘$3.5. Tn: previstnzs year the FA Cup
Fmfi was piayesri an ihs famayzrs turf fer»: {#15 513$ time and ‘ihasc familiar
with thse hiS1‘.Bf}“ cf the gama W311 knew that int: match was watched by a.
czfiwé cf 1SG$}{}{3. Hswezvx, ‘aefers th: matah staziexi :3. iarge. number cf
fixe Spfliatifiifi, fi'usi::’aiezi hf; ihe iack af accefimisdatian surged an is the
1922:}: ans! it was then that :5. single. ztzamztad §=:>i§.cemaI1 an a w}1i';'e horse
was Eargeij; resptzansible fa}: the pzoiice Iegaiifing cfiretrol.

Alflzmgh ii: is 2:3‘; alums: eight}; years ago, I remamb-2.=:r di_sf:1::c:1§g
Ike tsa:’in1€:*¢«-‘:13, wilish are new threatened wife destructiezzzz, as part at" the
piazza far file Hi‘-‘$5 naiizanai Sparta strzéiuxn, ?v”ifi1i.11 the stadium a series sf
paviiiens had been buiit £0 accemmadate displays repress-:1ting Britain‘s
1113.11}; overseas §)Q$SéSSiQflSt Ausfiatiaj C.a113.dg Indiafi etc,  by men
and \asv;en1en, same dressed 5:: their txatianal cesmznes, :11} emf the paviliens

18

 

 

 

  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


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Pat H. Egfé in an Erzgfizziz Vfffzzge: ISL’ £125’

were  interest. 3'11 a Eitigle  we eeuid net have visited rtmre than a
freetie; ef {be pea:-iiicgnsj but E retain mezeeries ef some ef €116 things
which we saw. 8:" en: 2-emairaing time in the capital I remember little,
apart  e. 132.5%: is» the Landau Z-Ge, p::ebe’e1_y-' en the feliexeieg day.
which  e 

It eeuié em have been more  a few mentiis Eater that I 
g:i‘~:en a ten shifiing mi: and tale is go and see {he Iedy  was seiling a
3:111:11 chiefs bieyeie. Net being abie is ride the machine I proudly pushed
the Bic}-‘"eie heme. it  :10:   I was riding around the disfriet
meet}? aiene and semefiznes a mile or more fiem heme. Tedey, that may
fie difficult te beiieve, but in 1?.-‘T; Emd for many mere years Britaii1’e
reads were not tee da13ge:'<::us_ B3: 1.924 a few 0:? the traders in Bridge had
xepiaeeé fl1eir hearse-drawn deiieery  with meter cars, the Model 1‘
Ford being the meet pepuiar, but the emztinned  ef horses was still the
preferred eheiee, perfieuizfly en   same year saw the demise of
the viliagés most famous mcrmfist: fieunt Zberewski who was kilied at
Le Manes An emigre ?eEs;h estzunt, Zbcrrewsi-ii was rich eneugh 3:9 indulge
his genehant for fast cars and model raiiways. In the grounds ef his stateigr
heme, Hi:.§h3a:1d £0331? he buiit a track around his estate anti 0:: this he ran
his trains and roiiing stack. 12:  werksizeg he it-uiit with the assistance ef
his meehenies e  hi3_h-gewered racing car,  an engine from 2*:
Germaiz zeppeiin,  was the eriginai ‘CE3iiI‘y-{f?it ’—Ba11g-Bang.
Whether it was fitied enifii siieneeze I dz: neat knew, taut when driven
fl'u'oug1‘: the viflage at sgseen‘ 3% made "err: Eleii if a miss‘. Fertzmateiy ii
weuld take a few minutes for the Ceunt te drive fiom his heme and deem
3 32:63}; ‘£3331, the  giving the viiiagers three in take evaaive. aetien-

‘éfnfie in the 19295 Biiifiizfs reads in mraé ebeas were uncenges-fled,
in the skies abeiie we saw few pianes, fer aviatiezz vim still in its infer}:-jg.
In  Blexéce. bed been the 5:5: fie make the 21-mile crossing its Dove:
frem France, and whfist the Great War had ace-eierated the design add
nlanufacture of we: machines. it i<.:=e}: several gem in develep civilian
airerafi 1:0 enable airiirxes {:3 be erstabfishei In  the mcrst'i1npe:>riani
grewar ajriine ‘ewes imperial A§1*s.:~.ra3e's.

At: Bridge the villagers would eccasiexzzili}-*  23 biglane which

might have taken-efi‘  nemby BeE:eeho12I:1e, one {if severe} smafi
aeredmmes built :3: East‘: Keg: deziag “~$s§Wl5 enablissg elanes in be_fe:1"}ed

E9


E,i'e::2=;s..-‘:‘5:; égfatz Sczasgeizariarr

§’GE1  :0 France. TEEEEE  plages  have beam 11366. in aerial
combat a‘:<:«ave the Esaaiefié:-1&3 sf fiiu‘-Z Eigssiera Fmnt, As time gmgressed
$133 rs_ig}.;i 21159 Emu: S6613  -:1 $133: sumznafs avenizxg ii;-3 Ezngxeriai
Airways’ Earge gassenger plane 2:; mute :3 Paris 131-43111 Craydgn, than
Lcsa-.:§.c::1"s airperi‘ Like 13% smaél Eight aimrfli the airline: I cmzld 
ciearija, fa}: it fiew at a 3:322: altimde, 5:: low  fag‘: that it. has been reparted
that the 3335: Weuizi wbsrz pessible, fcalhce ‘ the Z':3.fi\3!2';3.}" fines, aitlier ts}
B01-‘er at Fgxfizsasicsne. Theszz ‘rim Zines bj~;—pass€:i Bzidge and were but a
 {i;;S?E‘sEE2»‘3 :E'-em the main street. '

T336 grafiizai i:1=;:aa3e: in $116 use 3f the mama“ car and in the number
if planes seen in the slag: might have mdicated is 501113  life £1: the
viiige wcnfid 599;: 33% fimrfid Eadicallgr, but far: this majerity life renaaizzed
the Sam: Tl1f£v?i“-' Gui $11.: ’2{is and ‘E35, fig; the Ema} eccaemy was based on
agrictfitms and hxjriicuihma  the aalaxadar cf events feikswed the
xasonsw Of {:15 year; piamiug and sawizzg, hat‘-sestiig and pleugbjngt In
afidétion the reiigiaus fasiiviiies had greatezr sigjxéfiéaxace than the}-' have
 especiaiiy Easter and Cizristnzas, 531* ihejr wen: Bank Hcriidaysfi
§rGx-dding War§~:Lng m«:-:11 1,=.=*‘p:i's_ a paid hofidajg :1: a iirnz: wxlztn few e::j:3§=ed an
aimu-$1 week‘: Ezoiiday.

Thraugiiaut each  ihere were 3   sacial events, far
instance in file szmmm.-2 {ham weuld be we :3: iwo fates faficswed by €151:
aanuzai fi4i3‘F.~"£‘~§‘ show. These  were wéii sfipgjartefl E3! the vifiagers,
espaziallg: the latter, wiaen lea-:11 baa‘: gardezzérs. ixtaetfg pride in exhibiting
flair vegetables  fleszzers. Sutsida ef sh: marquea: they: wauld be 52
range sf  £?3£3€.3£_‘.rI’i‘x1'i shits, dart ccsmpetitiens and haggling 153: The
{live} pig, eat. 13 adéiilzm ‘£9  155:3 wzzukli be ccmpeiitiens for chiidren
and a display cf same kind, gjmmastics, gserferzneé by a team of $.91 iers
being 2='c-ry pegifiar. During the fiianean 3  band watxld play, to be
fi2.!fi{}w8-d by dancing in LE3 marquee is music E3; 3 122223} dance. band.

Kent has hang  éescxibiiszi as thi: ’gs:c§en sf Eng}and* and from
eafg: Eiugusi until mifiefictahsr the ‘J3.i'i»i."uS QI“{§}3S would be izarve-s1ed_,
inciuding the ceraaisg wsfzleat, barley Ed 05:15; agypies anti pears; vegatabéas,
inahldiag pamteasg meis,  an-i swetzies; azsd, cuf camse, heps.

Aithcugh the mecizarzigation cf fiinzfing a:‘q‘uipn1ent had begin: in
file: nénaiegnth »::.a3ni1Lr§;;  i3 East Kent -as alsewhere 1, ‘as sfiil labs-at

23

 


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:

P=*‘;';‘ 5:’.  3}’; am P’ }£9§§!—;.‘«.§’

izitersive azzii {hare  3. widfispread use sf harass. This wag particuiarly
343 when Ezazwsstilig cereal cmgs; Using a hors:3—dr3*.=:n bindzar the mm was
mi and dgeliz-'eret5é as §h£>;aves,_ *».‘+‘h.i::h_ *:~..-‘era: then manually stacked is farm
stegksé fisfler  in the sun the}? wezuld he carteé to :1 cautral paint fa:
fl-:as}'u‘3':g. This zvas dens by a iravssiling contraciar, using a frga.-fixer, beh-
 by :3. Steam eagine. Fmziéijz, the bags sf cam wstzld be ‘taken E) a
barn far stag:-age, ihe scéraw being made inté. haystacks. All this could take a
very icng time cempared with tzzdagfs use sf 3 cembined ixarszester.

Be.L__ 5. ehiéfi I played ms  in the hzifiesiing described but was
im-‘ehiczi in th: gficking cf heaps. For my mother  her sister pisking heps
ii} a 13231 imp fieid was Iegarzieci as 52 seciai Q§§€iSiC1£:, far they wauid. be
jeineti by other waman wise would net ritanzxaiij; dc: paid werk. Because it
was ‘traditicanai for zzhiidren 313:: is} pick hops ihe scheoi summer holiday
was armngeri ta» pro id»: fbr ihis, S-E3 that the viflaga school wnuici be dosed
fizz: Si}: weaks flan: znid-xiugfist miii Eats Septamher. Like my cuusin Ted
{hated hap~piciai::.g, is: I catflfi t§'n'nk sf fa: Eetttr things ‘("2 us during my
schoai helida}:

E-azzh }-ear we wouid pruceeé ta the same hop field aha-ui: 013.: mile
Cram cur ‘heme. 3Slnew:1 1092.111}?  ’Eiaker’s‘ it farmed par: sf a farm mmeii
by 3 family if the same nme. at the  3f the cenmry my father
E-serkaci fixer: as 3 i‘.':é'~I%i‘—§‘~.r"E—‘_‘;’-$?;}:‘%i§. f3i}<:»v;ing €3.13 death of :11}: grandfather.
Being aighteea miles fiam  hi: ‘iivrzd in’. He ctxulsi scat have has,-.1 very
happy and his mcathzer was patch:-Sci}; c<:=m;:,en1:<i5 but she was a. widcraa: with
sevarai young children am‘: 1. “lib ne wi:i9w’s pensien it was nscsssmy for
faint: is have the schea-E whi:.:i1 he: hafi atiandeé ha.If'-iime since he was tan
and go K3 E%r‘{}1‘35;  so far fiom him: is net i~:a:;=w§; :9 ms,

Bnsks have ‘seen written and films mash 3.3333: the hep fields of
Kant; if the a:1m3aE_ migraiien sf Eafidars fiififi Lmxden ta places like
Yalding, 1:-:31‘ Maiéstone, ta pick 13095 am‘; en;?,:}}* is paid caunfzjs hoiidajg-
Same ef the ianéensrs ‘#5111: further afieid and: far instance, reached the
Canterburfz area. Hardws3rEd:1g felk mi‘: living in same sf the: m1:>si
  ::vfLa3I1d::sn {bay couiéfi when ‘in drink‘, be a fairly unruly
lat. As a C-G21‘.-3E:q11EI1C$§ the ihrmers wise grew hops previdcd @2113? the mast
basic ascsannadaiion far the visitsrs and this wouici take the farm sf
ann;«;—i}*_j:e huts fitteci with bunk bcszis — and ma mattresscs E ;‘_-e uccupants

  


 

Mérzzcréas 13515212 Qcmgsrsariarz

2=;eu‘i«;‘; seek in the epen,  whaiavtz fuel  available and at night the
huts w91fl{Z be lit by hurrisane lamp-3.

Fammateig fie:   ‘mega! hep fields  flat attfasfi the visitors
 the iagsitai and   sf ‘fiséisrs’ were gziciraad by is-::»a_3. gieepifi.

Fer s:3n1ethin.g like :>igh=: 333353 192: would pick imp; at Ba£:2:3"s_,
iasaving 1121111: eacsh mnzxming at 5§3i}a:1-1 zmd retaming in ihe agvezzixzg, Fix:
the Era? flew  I was a11:::‘s;'x:&:é. 1;-:3 gziagg, ‘nu? fmm the age of eight my
bnttsm was fmzfiji ffiiifi on a 3:032 E  Ezztngzfiéléi is zlizided  is a series 23f
parallel IQWS anmss the whrfie widf}: (‘sf t§':e 13191:, “the haps being i1'a§'11¢<Z1:0E1
wiz'es and twine-  are several methads, At Bakssfs the hind firs’: {ruse
zrerticafiy {:3 reach a wits aiézrui: :39‘: fest frzsm the grmmd, tied and than
L;.§Il$%i s:{%::>3iqueE3 ta reach 3 height of; gIobab13', {en feet, Th: pn:ec¢dure
was 13:: puli a bimi and,  it an esneI’s Eap, aim the hind ever 30 as in
expase: the harps fer picking. ‘Khan the binds were dry, 11:: probiemg Wham
wet @116 was shuwcred with fair:-water. ?i:,};ing the::t heps, which had been
dressad with a fix.-"zgicide, was a mass}; business and not Wei} paid. Paid 35:3’
{he ’pL§c6', ihe picker was paid an average 531’ eighteen  {}Z.'i+p} per
five: bushels {same bushei : -eight vgailims}. Eat a ‘zraiioie éaffs werk my
mgfizez‘ and 1 iegathar might have pickasi fifteen busheis anfl far three
was N‘ work 1313:‘ take heme 333.33 wouici he Bass 13:13:: Ecru: gemlds. M01218:

migi have been happy; Line} was mt  E:;"_sweve:g I €Y1jQ‘}’%3—é the apréi T

‘nap picking hajfiia}-* vixen we wouié  is Biismingzsn. This }1G3i5.?a}’=T9¥’EiE
fiam 33132:: is fourt£t...~n days. After h at it was‘; back in 5:-zthotrei anfi the sfl ‘S:
if an Engiish wimtctr.

 Briiain *i5*:e weather‘ is fifién the fizst tapic of conversatian and
in white: pafiicuimijyx Tsdagy, is offset the giaam sf ‘rang winier night:
tedrmalzzggr prevides a wizie ragga-. {sf agparsras far hams entefiainmem;
TV and radia king 3 popular chaise? fer Thar: are mzmy TV ehanncis and
raéia statians ta satisfy xsaried irrierests. in arhfitisn, we 113%’: access to
videss and csniputsrs, sic»; A: 331:; Eimvs éunktg the day <3: night we gar:
press  button and listen is music if £3111‘ chaise, listen ta a talk at file
ragieflalfi mafia:-f3a'3 313:1 iniematiensfi E1155, 5:‘ we can turn on the ‘£51233’. 3}’
ielephnn-2 —- static :3: Inahiie - we can taié: {:13 friends  most parts 0f the
V-;“«'.)fld§ or 13-‘: can fax E11531 :31‘ send them an e~mai}. ..£=.d of this is
i!1S§£1§E?.8.11=E:E!1JEé. Elli this  not  in 33:6-'%§v”<§"’}I days: neither was {here that

1':
5.

(“xi

 

 

  

  

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Pas‘: if. if}? .6}: an Engficfz fizffage: {$39-23

same chaise sf ieismt grursuitg imaivie szzf rz:-néfs‘ heme :19; for flue
majesrim iha car 2:; speed them ‘:9 a Venn-3.

 Thejjintsrewaz }*'EEL1'S pretwicie an ixzteresfing period in the histary of
;"'1Ii§13mnatia:§_Tgz:hno1eg}*,  particular ihai ccsrscerrirsg raciia and television?
“ augh ii ioiiéz 22 few years for rasiio tr: izave :3. Iliajfii‘ i1fi11$l'1C-E an the Eivss

9:” peepd-2 and TE-" difi net, became pspular until afia: WWII.

in mrai areas, and to a $3333: ziegree in urbara 31:33, entertainment
and ether leisuze activities were xnafijs ‘E13121: gmwn‘. In the home ‘£3.13
oc::.upants reiieé mesti}? an eixnvczsatien, reading, and playing cards and
heard gaxneg Listening is music  a ram Qpfiofi, fiegending an 22-*ha‘L‘t1cr
or not 3 memiier of a faxniiy was a musician L.-“u1»:i wealthy enough is have 3
piancr :31‘ same, xathzzr instrument. Yes, more families passessed a
g'an1ophone, bai ii 1':-tquiredf mare effort tn use than the znctuiem CD 01*
cassetie  and the quality (sf repreduciion was not as gged. The
gramcphone af the ‘E5. mquficd :9 Eas ‘W{>1lIEi. up for playing each Ieesrdg 2;
reggzd wgrfid Pia}: fits: a. maximum if tan minmes incl, ideaiiy, the neeciie
vs'<:>u}fi than  replaced.  fizis shsws, a Syniphon}: cc-uld require a 35: of
Ehree recerds anfi a paust Zaetwgen the piayiag {sf each eftha six sides 
3. =.:m1sequen+:.e the gE'='.=iII1Qf:,!h{3£1E   Emma was seidnm galayed.

in rural areas,  this  Bridge, -zzutsidg aciivizi-as reléeci
heaviijs‘ en 1:122:31 taken: and iriitiatiwa The vifiage hafi was The venue for
indm: events éuring winter {maths and ‘{hE.‘:,‘-§ iaciudeé §§’hiS‘§ CL'i's’€S,
dances, pubiia macfixzgs ant: 11193? inzportamijg fir ehiidrcn, the azmual
Christmas parties. I :aa:~: eiigfifle in atiemi the  open in ail children
living in the vfiiag-2 and the British Legien §8.t"E_‘{ for members’ famfliesf A1:
every gang {he waning ended ‘es.-‘i’::h each child  an apgie and 
aragzge  C011-::e1'ts 1&2:-5 aisc» haid in the same hail when 10331 pescple came
farih to ;:~_:ivr.=*. ‘f their hast? fiwis sf the Em;-ai siaugmer men providing a sang
and dansa at‘: a barber 3 msnzjicague, whiie his wife priwided he:
. interpretatien of a papuiar swag 5 The viliage schooi 3159 siagéd an annual
cancefi, the writer Bf fhis piafgérsg a very mini}: reie.

ifazrranfly, during winter nmnths, fgw viilagex-3 wen: be;.*<3:1fi the
village beumiary, 2326;}: ‘:0 Cantefi:-uzy as“: sea: a siiant film at cane cf fir‘:
two smaii cinemas, 3 ’fa:;:::tba11 maid: or same crmer outdoor activity. Tc:
‘Jami fur-filer E0 Chg? ‘am, :3: to Landon i9 set: a '£i*:zt:’ shew wauld be

  

33

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3-4-&???§(I'?f£’$ qfazrrz G‘ érgkgeizsériczrz

 E 5:-:$~*3;:-iis3naL 3'22.-*3 same 3139 apgsiissd during summer nu:-rzéhs,
far :13: ex-*crj_v:,~11e had at‘; 32131113? 1-v:ee}c="f<3IiI:ight’s. heliarlajz and thgzse that iii
would prabahiji  traveiisd :2-1} fiLrt§1.er thafi ts piaces like Marg-3J:¢,
Eiafigata or Brightagzé A haiidags in F!EYC§E;._ ‘$53325 er Ssetianci wauld
  been regarded as axes;-tienai anti 2: heiida; in file Channel
Isles the ukimate; {:3}: wealthier 1252:2333: task hcéidajis abread, a few
durifig the 1i3‘3i3s ‘éaliina a gruise, when this farm of hali-day started to
become: 

Ttycéay we 23:: grass the Eaglisli Charms} ‘:23: air, sea, ar ‘:35: means
Qf {he Ehannai twine}. P-422232;; ta Franate and Qther Eurepean cauntzies is
easy, and far these iiving in flag sauiheast £11.:-» tcsi?-£1 time $122132 bum: in
Calais :3: Baulcsgmza takes no more than an ham :3!‘ two, 5:3 that thzre are
many W210 take a:i*.:a11tags cf this and frequa-':nfl}' 23955 the Chamlei as 
visiitors ta pzmzhasg ‘gears and wines at chaaper prices.

In pr:-*-:-val: Britain traveflers its the  had one éhniae: II‘§,‘f?i
by $3, urfiess -*.h:3j,: conic? affnrd $6 travei by the iimited air setvirse Eran:
LC!nd£3i':, Pi‘-cm Eh: eighteeath C€}fitY.L"“_‘§:' mzwards the ifiea -sf ttavefiing beiatzw
the waves ‘:9 France  :10 mar: than a pipe: iiream ané  the ‘2{§s
and  ané fa}: mach §C*I1&“”..:' shares in ‘:23:-— Chsmal Tunnel Cmnpany
 ed at ans shilling {5g;'}.

3:: intaresting  fez E"-2'~;e£1:,:rs $3}? ixaisz Gcsufied éuxing
the 1§2i}s what: the Seuthem Eaiiwajs inaugurated a tiuough senxizre :9

Paris from Ltmdrcm Siictizzéa S1:ai.i:;m.}; Enema fmm 3929 arm.-*ar<is as the
Gelden ézrrcw, the 52:31:25 cezitinued uzzfii 3.333731.’ and Eefi Landon 2:: 11am,
the train Eaveiiixzg inf: Paris via I-5,3-=:wer_. when the zarriagss were conveyed
by £33,-=r1~g ts: flaiais befere gaining the French sysiegn ta cnmpietxz the
jnuzzzcjg. The grai avzivzmtagra was that gassengars remained  the same
marriages and amzziziesi :1:::::   trarzsfanfifing as ffifii passengers
to {he ferry and :e~trair:ing at ilalais.

In this absefice ef £311-an, mil-esff fexfiesi :1 p=;:st~waI éavsi:3§I:1er1§
cars being taker: is the Cianiineni were heisted ab-:}ard a ferry at BQVST,
Fofizcstone at seine ether Smith was: pm‘:

As the precsdmg yaragrapizs will have shmia , iravefiing :0 tbs
Cs-ntinent before $9-"‘3?a»-‘IT was far flan: 2215;; and so there ware far fewer



 

 

 

 


MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWUrIvWWIa'WWWWIrW'W'IaWWWWWWWW

Part II.  in an‘ Engfisfi f"':'z?:2ge: .3 9??-353

visitozg £0 $35112: and E15-&2*:here>. Parsenaflggg I can remember in} mar:
than 3:13 0: here peapk, athgr £11311 e.::-S~...=‘rv:I»;:e men, whg vsnisured acwss
the 1"-.=:&11*£§:-':3ne miies of ssa which separates Engiand fmm France, 5:3 1.53:
the maj{::it§* were s:3:i<:€ie£i wiih viawlzzg Caiais flfilll the whit: ciifis <33’
Bisver.

La€’s nan. -' ream: is: my s::w11 :3,<:tivities as a chiié and how I spam‘
the Lang ‘sk";i‘J€I‘ evenings- Fez‘ fize most  they were spent: Eacrszas tha
rcrzadl playing with my cs;:usi:1 "fed- Althcragh he was 1Ti}*‘ genie: by fsaur
gsars we were firm fiienés and together we wauid 3333}? wiiitl tags which
 ‘simpkf campared with these m.ar}s;€§-sd today, amung the mast
yeopsiar at the time bsizlg Evleacana and steam eslgizies. Cambinxsfi, they
gave us many hours if £131, far we as-*=;}1:1<i make with Riecma a windmill,
at sea: Q3316? abjetzt, which we then were. ahie ta <'.‘ir§ve by the staam
an '- 3,  suing  aAdn"v§:1g bah; &»':.asia::aaJI§: we wixuid be jained by
T? '5 frisnd Harald De;-cent "\rh=:: Eivgd (714338 by, Hamid 3.}:-awed an
aptitude for drawing  a 1705* earijx age arid at a Iaier date we was fallow
studants at tha lacai Art caiiega. Einfornsnateiy Har<:x1v:i‘s early pronfise: was
nut. sustained and he did not pursue Art as a career- His father mmsci 0:1:
cf the three grocery shzzps  the viiiage and his hrasiness was ccsnducted in
a m:,n:1er tgrpicai cf? the pefiadg

in §f€~‘3':Wfl éays grcscers, large 3135.; small, purchased their gocds
in ‘cuik paxz-.i~;e<'; in large saszks 431' boznzesj etc. anti can entenhzg 1:211" Decemfs
Shep ens weaid see an  cf biscuit ‘tins, each éisplajsing a label
describing their mutants. The tins w::su1d be on tbs custon1eI’s side of the
creamer, as were :-1 number of Qthfif f-s1::i;istufi"s§ like pulses which were
tfiniainefi in sacks? together with things ifice dates 3115; prunes in boxes.
011 the cmmier cf {he shag: were an array if large pieces sf cheese -
usually  is Cheddar, Edam and Garganzivla - 3 quazltity sf butter, a
ham and possibly a nmnbe: of bags sf saga: wi:2ich an assistant would
have filled  £1 quiet psrifid and £11 an1:in::ipa:im3 cf ales during the
day. 315:1: an the ax:-unier {has ‘¥’ir‘{1siEk§ be $33.: sazaées anaci. the bacofi sheet
with ¥a.ri<3u:‘- jsizits Gf Easiajn hanging abcws on butchefs hgsaks.

With far fewer pie-packed hams  t’.aday it €}bV§G!lSI}*' '.{}!3k much
lengcr fcsf a custemer ta make purchases, particularly if one had to waii for
«Ether custismers ii‘: he servcd. In same instances it would take the assistant
a hang while is: deai wiiii 2: :-single *2-‘i.L’Sififl'1§I‘: butter had its be cut fltzsm 1:113

  


fifemczriés rgfltm Gciegergwiawa

§:n1§i=: supply, weigfied 5:25} patzezi ime shag»: 1E:>efi:3:':: wrapping; cheese. was
cut wit}: 3 wire; ‘:13-scan  slicefi imm ths gsieceg seiected biscuits haci ta
 removed {mm Eh: tin. But in pre-War éay:-7 tin‘-.€ was less irnpmiéz-z{n.t_,
gfisgficuéarigg far the h£}‘LES3§‘s’.‘;.f6. E3: Exit;-1&1: seif-smite shops, which
rs uiresi more packagifig, firs; ageyearad ii} the Eat: ‘S33  fiariy ‘iifis,
while: szxgermarieta and h}-Ԥr>r:r;nar:;ets came later.

Izsir Baum: proiaabfi-' press res. his srnafi qusgfiity of ham, baccm
and butter, etc; after clcssing hCIL1ES by stazzding them an a marbla slab heid

’ in a 20:31 mam,   tam 3:5  i::§1i1}-’ butchers in the village kept their

 

 

supgsfies sf I116-at, carcasses am} joints, in 2%. 3:2:-t}—1iz:«':s:‘: store.  wld by
blacks 3%’ ice suppiiesti ‘:33-" a flamsrbuzy refiigerafian saamgcamr. The arrival
ef {ha ‘ice man’ wfiuifi atizaei me atisntion sf Sinai} bays heping for 9. Ere:
sample 2

Damesti: maticr:-: :3: sari, the mast imporéant deiseiopmeni during
that nine years in w}1ici1 I Eveé in Bzi-zige. was radia Ergaficasting whicit.
began in 1922 wifh transmissigzzs by the Briiish Bmadcasting Ce.-mpany,
later :11: British Broadcasting Corgoratian {BBC-}, using the sail Sign 21.0.
Seen, veg‘ iong aeriais, held -an tall pales,  :9 appear in the viilagesfi
tune sf the earliest sweets of a wireiesa sat:  rasiér; was then &1B‘¥‘fig
being 1%.-it Ta}.r1er, my fi'i:nci’s father.  was a simple crystal 5:: fitted
"vx"';‘iii an:  sf haaépharas. ‘A. 3:33 32: 32 lai-5:  set was said to my
Unzfie Gearge and it was flien I iistasned to: th: radio for {he first time. i
was, sf caurse, far :03 young 1:22 appreciate the izxlprsrtance «sf radia and tbs
$36:  Ci‘! iii was :3 have an pe<3pie‘s Iixres, but I can rcniembar how very
exsitefi I  $231131}  :0 veigas Exam 5311:: iiisiaxzt p«:sint_., which was
pralsabiy icnderz.

J

Thais being just. 911$ pair sf heaéphanes, Eisterrsing was 3'8-Slfifitfid to 
2. single gzerseni unless ah: tws ear pitcés were segaratezi when hr»-':;s ccsuld’
share the pleasure :32; if the headigjimnes warn: ;3}a.:.:-ed in a Esrge h-zzwl, the ‘
number sf Esiaaers incrsaseci, thaugii (ma had to be very tguifit is hear thg:
brs3.ds':a_s.t; Later: my unclg bought 3 2-valve sai fitted with tram sets of E
hezadphcsnéfi Pmgjess, indeeci E This re}:-iassement necessiiated the use afa 
x=:e=t«:a=:1i ac-auznuiat-iar which azequired a. waskéj; G 1'  Te snsura no .;

i::‘::=:rrupt-§_@n is: listening my uncle bcmghi twa acctmauiators, gending arse
6%:-E1 weak is Ca.::£erb:'.:r3.* fa‘: czhargirzgn

'36

 
 
 
 
  


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P419‘? .31 f..}C=:« 21:; gm Engizkéz !»~"s‘§  15:3}?-2:55

&"iL‘1z:su;:h {he arrival sf the wireless 3:’: creaied much interxest, it
 not until fiat: inireductien ef the ksuiispeaiier that the impact; cf sound
bmadc—asting, was fufly apprgsiatede Ihaxia no reccsiiectian sf iistening :10 a
$6: fifzeai *  a Eeudsmaksr =.='hi3:=.% liviflg in is viliage rad ii Wfi net untii
3932 that my fathzzr pun:-based a set.

At ahgui the same   “L iisienai ta my fixst raciie hmadcafit I
saw — bu’: dié 1301 use - my first 2:ei:::p}1c:11e§ This also 9332.3 at ‘fzh-3 hams saf E‘-.-‘Er
Tayier. The teieph-351$ receiver fleck ah: fem: {sf 3 box seemed to 3 W31? at
3. 2:323.-rsnient height. The meufiipiecxz was afasheai in: {he fi-an? gdge; the
earpiece to fine iefi; hfznd Sid‘-; whfia an the right-hmd side was a handle.
its nuke a mi {me lifted. the earpiece, waund the handle, and waited f3:
{ha v«::ice ofthe 153:3} ;:-x:ss*';:“r:.i;-‘.=.rz,=:ss whzj asked fer the I13.11I1bEI’€'.O be sailed.
if the $u!:>.=.=r:ribe1' Eivszi Iacaiig she, would piug a E3391 inte {he agpropriaté
nmnbcr; if a s;-ali was inatside viliage exchmgs she. woufi *p3ug in‘ :0
meme: exchange. This cmxld be Can’£e:'bmy 0: same ether imam. ‘£3161:
the m1  finished ans ‘rang eff; again using the handle an the rz-;-caivar.
Fear nan-subscrlbsrs calls ceuid be made: at the viliage pest c-ffice, Qiiifiidé
tzzlcphanr.-. boxes appeared it-efixre 1939, the boxes being fitted with A and
B humans. To make a call the 2-=:.»c.eiz»'e:‘ was raised, maney inserted
{nzinimum 23133;: ‘zw-:.=g:-snce} and the ‘mice. cf the eperatar could be heard.
E-Ben buimn 11. was prassed the opcsramr cnulsi hear the caller and would
request ihe number required. Further money would ihen he, izzsezied,
depenfiixig an tima anzi distance, if  number was Lmebiainabis button 3
was prfisseti and L»: money which imfi been insertefi was rammed.
Subscriber Trunk Diaiing {SID} was izrtruducacl in the 19605, the Theme:
(Eviargate, Ramsgate disuict) Exchange being (me of the ‘finsi 1:: i1131‘a1i the
new sysiem.

192$, like the previous year, was ,3 mamenieus ant-. for the S012‘-:
famiiy, fer  April my bathe: Eesmonfi was  311:1 scan afiemmds
1:13’ father changed his  sf empi-zgemcnt whzzn he went ta vmriz for 21
firm sf timber merchants in C’.§..Y.'1f$¥’§‘£1"}f. Bzath ef these evsnts were of
mafia:  ta me, far I ceased to be: the nnly child and fizzm than on
i saw mare cf my father. Ewas than  years 93:? and umii that time we
were Eiiéie mar: than strangers, fa: fclimvizxg his three yea.rs’ service in the
Arnay fathefs we;-k as a civiii-an kept him fram the family ham: fcsr very
long hours. As a taxi ciriver he véould leave the heuse hefarc E was 5:11‘: sf
£333. and wsuifi remm mag afier E h:3,d gene is 5155;; Apex‘: fiem an

2.?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 


'-....I-

}':=i'e:.:~;{:»r;'Q Q3222: Gc:agg22:z.r:':m

c::.a:isna}  er; 3."=.e’€I‘%1‘.‘- zmszr:-. a  i: was a sex; 11-days-a-Wcek
ob. His new BII1§}k'I}‘TflEI1’i mean? v.,»'::::}:i11g 2; five-ané-a-haif'—day week.
Aithssugh he Vs?-Iju§{§ stiil Eeave the heuse by £5.3{E.arn. he wguid rstum shitrtly
after e5 pm, uniess overtime sieiayeé  This maant that we (11%? one
anather fer an hour at sex befsrsz I wan‘: is bad- {En Saturdays he wiruld 

hams fix: ear}? afiamaan and was fiea‘ Lmiii 1‘-z1c:‘;1.<'.iav memi .
v‘ -v us’

0

Far me if w:2:3 m1f{}z'tLn"La’t6 i;l1_ai he  a keen gar-éenfisg, fer tizaugh
there was 139 gardazi adjaceni is {he h-333a, he }13.»i an aliohfl  w_b:Zch he
Eiosd ii}  wi_r:ene'«er pass‘; is.

P«-::gsi‘.::1:;  a £33m: 2:21’ comgensaiéan E12 weuid fiequeatiy ailaw me
to acczomgany him to wa:r’5< en  meming, so iha: ttsgaiher we;
wuuid izzwei areuzad ‘aha éisirict fitfivazéjig quantities af timber. I realifs did
::11ja§; 21143523 matings? far they prmi»-ziaé fL=.z'&1a:r upportimities it: see the:
tzwns am‘: ériliges sf Bag  The foam {sf travel cauéd not be described
as luxuzious, fer his firs: ion?  a  a,:*t‘£. privaie z»*e}3i:_-la- I think the
firzzfa carpenter muss: have   atanvezsizm, for {hf} ‘coa::hwork" had
to be: seen is be beiieveé. The. make sf vehicle was ;-‘xijdagzs and Qnisns
{the name if $118 118'‘   there have 513611 times whszz such a mafgg cf
car has ‘bean Cane ef entries in the annual Lendcn tcs Brightim Veteran Cars
Run. Having {mes been a §ri¥ais*'; vehicic it  fiticd with pneumatic tyres
bu: at same  is‘; its life it had 133: the We {mat fiflflfs. There were, Bf
muse, ms: seat belts. i an: uzzceriain as ice wheiher the windsezaan haé
survivefi iéze com»'er:~,1icxn3 ‘ehcaugii it prabably had. it was 3 gredit ii) my
fafher that he was able ta: keeg: the larry in 5:;-:n;i=::e far as lung as he difi, for
i: needed cgnstant repair. éftar a 3'53: 01' 312- the compan 7 changed hands
and its: new gamers  10 seii Ernpufisé ‘aiming: in additifin ‘if: 
”i‘§is niaazzi 13133: the Aiiéays, zihich was iimitexi is a maéiitnumioafi of
fifteen hunzireiiweight, was :19 kxngsr suitaifie, far :3 ‘flamers bagan to
arder tin1't€r En éarger qumfiiies as mere anti Iilviiffi hauses were built. The
first rsplacement was 2, F-zarég fafiswed by a series sf Bedferd trunzks, each
capabls =efca:*1'§i3g a ksad uf ihreze iatrirs.

During the  ;§..;'$d sf €381‘ resiégzacs  Bridge, the vrlilagers
saw an increase in £115 use of aars in preference {:3 hnrses, though horses
cantinlleéi to be u.s:d,{s:1 fa::1§ until we}? after fine éfid af  It was
afinut 192%} wiien charabancs wars repiacafi by buses fitted wiin a hard top
am the  rgervizssag Canit‘.-rburgr ix} Efscwer  Cani.erb:.L':: it» Feiiiisstone

 

 


WWWUWWWWUWWDIWWWWWWlIWWUr'Iv'IWdWIvWW"flWUW'l9WWWW

 

 

I

Pm-r‘ £3,  £7? (23: Engfisfz Vigfasét 3§1".§‘—"‘§

were izzcrcascd. as 3 canseqijancs, the greats: £.::mf{a1*£ and fi‘e{f.1e;1c§s cf
the buses caused mare pespie ht: Eravel 511:0 Sanzerbmry far fheir Shflppill
ta fae detriznent of viilage traders in   ef.s£.’:v-:hez*e. During their
ieisure hours 120:: 1*-gsxgzrls also went in Camerbury far entmaimmeaa
Whiifil caused  gaduai flecfine in {ha number sf conigerts and dances held
at the réléaga haii. Fffim flie sasrze tine mwareis then: $53.3 % increasing
nuflibiif sf village traders Whfi switched :9 cars fifim horses far dalivering
orfzsrs in thair £‘.ZSE€‘:fi1€IE-1- The brewers whas suppiied that tIT_re.~:*. pubiic.
houses did likewise, so that beer was 11:} lcnger defivered by drays pulled
by pairs =::f magnificent Shire harass. ‘.Ee"1h,_i;1e 31.:  sf traders
preibrred the  as an aitsmative to the heme, 3 few b0@11i; 3, x«'e:*§g1::.-am-=
p:c}were:..i vehicle knosvn as Trojan. This xrehisie was gawered by a twa-
striésze engine which useé a bait for E‘?-J£$¥E1iSSi53i1. it was :10‘: very
su-scassfui anti gm}: disapp-ea.red fism em’  Eiflfiiie twcr of the brewers
bcugizt hea1»}*—fiuty iarries, ilflf: baught Lhe steam-driven F‘o-flan. Like the
E1arse-dram: *ae‘ag:::nefie.; the Feast: has been c<ms§_,L;,1z::{"1 its history &nefi is
rarelji seen outsieie C:-f museums. The Euden is a juggernaut and the weight
cf flue vehicie pmbabiy‘ exceeds its Inaxizzzum rsarrying capacity, Much «of
the weight can he atifihuteci icx the med to pravide a water tank and
bunkering for seal. Fifieezl. with scéid tyres it. 13~a.veE:'~: at very skew speeds,
wheizei an ievzzé :3: rising  when d.ri_V-‘en up 3. steep hiil I have
i:ns.:.:v.—~*n the speed of a Foden to drag to 2-3 mph. Ii-slow this flora persona}
e:-{p»3i'ienc—e fer, tegethef with EJ235353 E wsgui...  is the {mar bar when
one was climbing Bridge Hill an the Dine: I035. E Baitgereus? Yes, but
we wcuid knew at  peini 1:213 ’sF!:}"1‘§*:§s'?; wsuhi gather gjgeed, when we
Est go ef the {ow bar. The aznmmi of traffic than usiag this main r-sad was
minimal.

 Ebderx which dalivereé beer ‘:3 2%: 3b’}‘2£;‘e fliyrse in the village
was creweii by we men what: were as Ia-ttmd as 131: ialge barrels {Jf beer
zfiiich 13:16:; éeiivgzcd, ‘fifhen ihe}; climb-e.d 31:33 the  cab pasiticaned at
the exizéme from 91? the vehicié there ceuid have been E-"5I'§’ iitfle ream for

. than to w::ar§L_ one ciriving am} the (fiber  the ‘size:

13.23:  as {as when the fiat garage in ihr: viliage came in is
being, bu: 1 £19 1=;nms= that bscause £1232‘: were relatively few ems the
prepriatar. fmmd it necessary :9 Lznfiarzslis ether types cf engineering.
However hs: did prmide a sefiicza ft): thasa whs gamed gays and said
pairs} in retun1ab1eAtwc-ga}i0:1 cans. It was 21:31: Lmfii after we had iefi the:

 


Me:t:;;9.r‘.-‘E3 (23553: {3c£:2ge2’:czr.-'a;2

2-iiiage thai a as-cozid garaga  epened. This  izisiaiied 3. peimi
 . the final being ram :35: man:3a‘1‘:2? frzsnz ihe 3:1 ..v3h: 
E3 P. S F . F’: .e

Despite. the stezidgs incrrsase in tha use Hf the car in prefemnce to the
hats: 2316: 39111:: changes in that way‘ {hat a fare’ aviflagers mafia is their fix.-‘es,
the way if fife: in Bridge fairing rm: fina}  of residence remained
mmh $11: sans as it had base}: silica the era} sf WWI, both working and
ieisure hzzurs. iaeing Ea:-gelg; gzwemeé by the fan: seasons as previously
éssazribed- To the viiiage ifinermzt traders and ether visitors eentinued ta
make  waekijs visits.  Eéxmfiays during the seasen, the ‘sinfiznp anfi
wink}: rrsm‘ wcuid s:s:zm:: with his bicycle -ami hcsmsmarle traiier 3:: 5613 his
g-tmds,  iravelied first is =::3.."1§8I‘hLh‘§’ f:-mm Eifinitstafiie an the new
defimct yaiiway. In the 30}: family this measit either shrimps 01‘ 
fur tea, saws with 1n<::th::r‘5: hemit-mafia: rafis. fin ’E"l1:2rsc.ia}r afternxtims
gang fllfi ‘ail man’, his h€1:‘S§-<i1’aW‘fi can hea%=i1y iaden with harétxme
geraducis of afi kiuési  wizih  Hz: wszzld séep cut:-gfide -sf
csur image, when mczthar wouié 23223: that weeks supply of parafin far our
ti} 12.13213, aanfiigs and} any 13113:: re<:,ruire::1e:1E.. Wiziie the élradéf at‘-iendesi to
the needs sf others, his harse, tired after a kmg day, wmfld champ am its
bit and  (Image a, '=.fi:e1< 1:1"-_€:  9f the cigar: grindgz was heard as he
turned the handle cf the Qfgafl, fiani whence came familiar tunes,
inchiséiug n.1iiii31j; music? 31:93:; as ihai by Sauza, Lass fi‘3gui:ni}3:, gessibly
every semnd or third j-,:ear_,- zzam-2 _';he read m-finds. .

‘féufing ‘aha *’2{,‘*s. and 331::  ‘E03 1%‘ anfi ‘B’ reads it: Britaigl were
surfazéé with  and grave}? ihs: grave} being relied in it: the hot W by :3,
very hcaw steam mller. The road illfifidfifi, ~€e—*erkh1g as a zearn of six or so,
used vezj-,2’ h-Jsi: €€§.1i.pI11.6I1L for in addition is Th: miier them was Iifilc
mcjra than a 5111191: mobile finnace mounted on a chassis fitted with imp.
wiieeig, Wh€€1b3ETO1‘v"S, buckats, spades and ‘erasing; A hsavily constnzcted
weeéen caravan prcmided secure   fa-I thc small items sf
equipment 33:}. Shelia‘ far the meg ifI1i‘:23.€SSé'iI"}’.

‘M133 required In Z1‘iG‘f$ the c.ara.¥.-1:1 and fursace; the ::quipms:1:
fermezi a train, gxuiied by the rcdier ami as the grecess of re-surfaging a
rijaui pragressed €36 rifles: weuizi mw  equipment to .3 Eonvenisnt
pariziag span: to prcxvide 3 ioczai ‘C:-33::



 

 

 


‘ fiistfict and aCi3§§SS is mad:

wmmmwmmwwwwwwmmwwwwuwmmmmmwmwwmwwwwwwwmw

.7

Far: 53.  .92: 43.5: Eiegfiséé ¥'.f'§:r:ge.' E9}

Ea-sh  that gang "Gui-:1 siari WE:-are thsg; hazi fijzished an the
pravioxzs 4:33}; usiizg nzaieriai w’;1i»::§1 23312 Essex: deliverisii is the roadside.
Havixzg heaied a irzazrfi $3“ 231; tha 1'33 zmul-:i‘ be <:§1‘ait1ed 'm1:«.;« a bucket anai
than peuffid on ii: {he mazi, a secozici man ;ra}:ing the ta: :3 provide 3 thir:
film. Finally, using shmrelfigls cf grams-1, the tar w¢::=.1Is:1 be cmxered an ,
havfiag repeaied file preccss a number cf’ tirnasfi the mile: wmfld be
brought inta use. Surprisingly; a consiéerahle strcich Bf mad was treated
eazh day and, if thg job had started at Cfltartzury, the gang were scan at
work in High Street, Bridge, much to the concern if the villager;
e3§:~eciai13= tbs iadies, far isacsse grave} a;m=er:d with {rates of m were
picked up an faotwea: anti carrisad 332:: the home.

For ‘fiavefiers the re-sizrfacing {sf fflififi by the fliefiiafi ziesc-ribed
rsrzzated :a majm‘ prs:-b}ezz35, esgxeciailg-7 far cyclists, far E9035 gravei piayed
haw: xfiéh €115: tyres, 3:3 that if was zzsfiefi greferabkt is Waik a slizsianire to

mixgi the magi rscentijz treated sufface rather ihan mg the. 1'35}: of a
ptmctuze. §..L}i:‘x‘itiSfa€-tfifjf cc-mpared szrlth figs methads med icday, the
tarring and grfiiing of roaés pmdmed 2 smrfac-e nmch better to that foumi
an miner reads? whigii wera eiihsr ’fli1:’£2 ‘gavel’ €31‘ Bit‘-.-5*.

A Three mars anecdetes which Eaisizng 33 3§’2;? befarei begixi ta class
my ms:-marries cf fife in an English village? the 5:3‘: canceming a visit ta a
stately hcszne and my aserg tenugus link witi: 45:22}, iiic: famous Engfish
public schmzi The iatter fig mare easily sxplaizzed, far I sometimes ’s%'$IS
the casiéoff clething of the rich  San whiz attended thafi wheel 3 This
as made gsossibla by my fat’:1£r's fiicmiship with the bmler V‘e’hG werkeci
3‘: the "big house’ and it was my friendship with the ErutIez"s son w}1ich
made it passibie far ms: :0 see at firs-i— 133:} the werking conditions ‘below
stairs‘- @1056 9:115 have seen the 1“? series ‘Upstairs, Downstairs‘ GI an}?
fiim depicting the same period in time; wit}. Eznsw exactly what 1313213.

The stately heme, set in 2 very lazger park; is the iargest in the

‘ V a private read, guarded at each and by
‘I-adgesi hauses {hen occupied by ‘ihe gaiséceepars, Whilst ‘the public were
pr:-nniited :9 enter $215 park in r;-rvier to visii Bishuspsbeume, fix: next
vifiage; visixszszs were aiiewed to use the maé arzé a W311-dcfinacl path eniy.
The house is protactexé by 21 ‘secimd fine csf defence’ in the form sjf
substantial fencing, so ‘that access to Eh: house 3: this poi::1t isfwas max}: by
another gravelied mad. it was, therafar-2:, wtlfi semi: trepidatissn that I

L,m.'|
lad


Memarées -zzfem Ger;-;g.~::-;a2r:'a:2

a§p-raachsci the hangs: ai_t,E:augi1 1 bag‘.  assured  2::-.3’ cgmpafiisza that
’3E was. wssfii‘, for {:18 owlzer and his vi "a 3:31.‘: < :1 Eraiidag-*.

Having afisaazgé at Eb-2 322233: was desgazzgisé  simri flight Qf steps
and entered the iliilflfiing by me ef the 233333: baa-ii d0{}*I'*.:2 ts: fmd ciursehrses
in 3.  iarga kitshen-  my fiianfi me: his father and we  a host
of s.e:'\r':ants sf 311 Irjnds, kiichan I}I13iiiS,_. chamhef maids,  Thea: peeple
wm"2cea.'E iang hears, frozn early’ mornilzg ‘:9 Eat: at night far very little pay,
niuch {sf {heir tims respan-ding £0 eaiis ijt:-on: ixpstaim: buckeis of ceal, hat
wafer, fa-ad {ma «irink, at my gather ziemafl made by their €§E3}}}&3§+’t3}"S.
T9‘-IiEi}’ aw; might regard iheér mndifiefis of  as slayer}-i, but satin in the
cmztegxrt cf Lhe ‘$31: the servmts: probakhs zegaraied tfmzir enlplejnnent as
sa:is§a::=t+:;r;r_., for they regain-'c«fi 11%;: board and Edging am? with Sfmrae timy
might prngress ta become eithsr a bu-‘Jar 0: heusekeeper, depending
*:-.r§1efi*:..er male or female, Qsaugyimg the top jobs in the Eiierarchy. Sf cc::urss
aanziiiions af zqampi-3;rn1e:1i in the stateiy ‘norm:-5 Va:-ied, same cznplcsgsers
beilzg bettcr than gathers. in an}; case, fer many ::«:.~untr_-_;: girls * fiih a
warking class backgrr:-und the chaice {sf empioggment upmn Eeaving schsoi
was not geat and domestic. sewirse was eften Ens hast aptir:-n is arlopt
‘aeforfi, h{1pEfu§jyg they‘ 

Aithaugh I did. net 36:: ‘the  cf the house’ ‘L213’: 513%’! was ‘it: mat
her is: fiifiarent €'.‘-i‘i'€'i.§z"x‘4S’{s'ii‘:*{§€*.S a s'*:3e::r‘:  iaisr, Efiauzig Lionel was then
hrsfling the mies cf th${(" ’ ii: I was swingi_:3_g an 3. branch caf one Q’? the
  ireszs W3 en{_E‘sr£;i£§:m3 érinée past  3:36: chauffegr dffiven ca;
Cmdssring her c?:"iv»=:r in éfaisp E  giwsen :; savers: tlxtssing cicsxmz ‘Get
damn 3: ease’ was her i3:=3m~—:dia§e respansee E was (>313; a smell} bat}? and it
was 3 very large. :25. E was having fun. C311, weii, 1’: was her tree aid aha
was Enfiiieé in praise:  ébzgzai fart? years Eager, whilst 1' was listening tr:
 radirs broadcasi an the Bf: and W351: ef Iassph Cozzza-:1 the novelist, 3
 hazard the s:<:«iz:e af the Eaé}: She  recaijng her Izfuzmeries of the
great n1e.a when he was her neighbour aaé Ezfxsing  ths Izeafizsy village {sf
Bishepsb-zxzma. Lifs is full cf surpfises E

:’~*u.,1r.1m11 is “the ‘sheeting sfiason’ aid in the airiumn sf 192? a
‘shcafg extenziing izvfsz‘ severa} wegizgzzds, was hsié an Barham Dams
neat: a bias}: mifi, which was ‘zéjen 3 we}?-émewn L9.-nfiinarkg about tws
znilas from Bridge; 'I,=oa:al 11223:: 335;  were racruited to sen’:-2: as
’b3a:a=::3‘, the mar: being gaizi 33-‘p aid the bays 32p. Despite my tender

 


Mfimtwbmwwwwmmwwwwwmwwwwmwwwwwwwwmwmmwww

Farr‘ ff, Eéféz 5?? an E;Ig:’:'.S§2 .1-“'fz’22*: *6.‘ §§*2’§—2&-

years 1 hag‘  ::sfi§=:-2' ti: pariiuipats Eifiii, having abtainefi tiza’.-: grerrxlissiazz {If
my §3.i‘€i1‘-‘LS, E acaepteai tbs :3; er with aia.::—rit‘y, file prespeai {if receivizig 3
 equal  E15: ‘times my was-i:i}-’ packet. Eiflflfijf being tea great is resist.
V-‘fig armed with :1 gasket sf sandwiches, and iii the cfimpany Gf friends, I
.42‘: forth. Upon arri'»:ai I was pcsitisjnai an the semis: cf 3 mined and Lhera 1
stage? iiiéflfi, my sisiitude being bmiien  %:r the  cf 2: man with a
aiass cf ienionadc at midday. The prbceaiurs: fur the ‘waters’ was tn iiszeii
for a sigriai, the blawizzg sf a. whisfie.  indicated that 2: ‘shoe? was
air-gut ta) begin and the ‘heaters’ wxtre than requimé {:3 make as I'£13.1ChI1(}iS§’:
as przssibis by banging a izngfli cf wag»: aga:};§: :9. tree; This causad {he
birds in fly fiem the wsanziei and mwarzis iize guns,  mid-afiernunn ‘(ha
‘shim-f ended and, hafizig drawn my {:3}: I mfurn.-=:r:i hams. I repttated this
expezicnce fliree times and £5 sa éfiiiig became richer by 3’§§, a large; sum
at that time. I theught it :11} w:2;*.,hw’:1iie§ dsspite hashing get making wet on
me accasic-11. 1%}: cii pa3’_rii'.i:Lg  hangs 3:1 {cur bungalow at Drayrmti
serves as a reminésr csf my §§‘S{ pay days. In Daecnibcr {if the samc year
Grancimafiier Sfiie flied 3: a iime when snaew 313;: thick upon  gound.
On the iiiszrrring of Lie funerai I  sent iby bus ta Caiiterburg in calla!
the fam.ii}?’s wreatii, 3:: that in}; pazfinis’ deparmxe fax Birzshingimi w€>'uii;I
not bi: daiayed. in the aftemoen and $‘§t:31i3‘1g I went teboggafing wiih my
::.<;u3i:: ‘Teal uzéing a iobaggaii whicii my faihcr had niazzis. The %.«"6§1‘:.i8  a
i_ieari';}.-' field with 3 gauci slaps and ESE 59:31 ‘naii treineiidaus fin, assgeciaiij
ziurizzg the hfight filiééfiflit awning.

A u“

:

12!

The New fear heraiéed  ’xi‘u:>ia:‘+3i1i§.= year’ and £11: year when
was ief: Bridga. in p:'s—’s’=§\3FIi Bzitain the State gsmvideszi free :':enient2n'3'
e-zfhicatien far aii chiléren up in the age {if fourtceiig secondary education
being prmrideés by independent fee-paying schaeis, most {if which Qfiered
21 Elev-.: S{‘2b0i8.3'Shi§5S fer ‘chi: chiiéren af parcnts 2%-‘has 3:‘-.r'$1'»'3 unabie to pay the
fewee, ‘Paw’ is 211% correct wazfi is 152:, fer the number was minimal :9 the
exiireme aid the chances {if a chili ‘wiia haé attended a sriiiage school ta
attain the requirgai anirgg quaiifizzation was isimzaiiy Bi} and at the iima :15:
a. single pupil sf Bridge £fi:z1"I:. Schsei  been accegfied by fizz two
independent: $ch:}i}§.S’3  Langion anfi Kent Coilege (bays SE1}??-

Bespite this appaiiing racers} mfg‘ father was fearfui that I wauid bfi
accgpted far secondaq! educatimi, thus piacing an addifisjnai burden on his
siezider resources at 9; time what :13: fanjij; was facing a crisis. I was

uxiaware of T113135 311:! it was  Uniii mam’ gems later that It began to

 


Aefemaries afar: !:‘iT1"<’.3g€?2£;, Ear:

 

punfier‘ an :11: passééééa E63585. ant‘; 95:31»: is ’:Z':§ ci.mciusi<:m_ thz-3 my meihe: |
had bscezne firsd cf flaring £3: 2‘: Erase withaut sserviesss and wanted 
something better far bar ‘j,v'€}£LT:g 31331533: 551:} 53: herself. E-Eh: alga lagged fur _ H 
a f‘:a.:3.g§1€e§ ta ?3_'{318.Ct the Etiée girl whi} siied as an infant befme E was barn, [1 7 ‘
5. Siiiff-$'€ which she kept for F1311; 3,-Tears 333$ 11:12:13 mafia iznszswn £23 Lily azfiga

 

{am sure that In}: faiher werried graaflg 31*-cu‘: mcrihefs wishes, for ~=  
he kzzszif  he S»-::aui=..?‘a 310‘: p9ssi..}j,r abtain the tenanésy cf .3 hmzse with ah ’ 
‘I11-ad cans’ far E333 3 w&k, W232}: was what he gaid f9: 1 Prirrzrase 
C;3ttagii5. He W€}1'}:ed an the pfincipie that 0353 yen’: ahgulé no‘: Exceed fine _°
:’:1a_jv"E pay, w}':i::E1 mean: 3 maximum r::1.::?_ay {sf ’?{}p for rent, lighting, 3.11:1  
hazing. In fine end he fmmé 3. desirabia hsuse and in daing SQ exceeded
 targei ma it mus: have bean same reiief 1:; 213111 ihai 1 {Ed flat. pass Eh:
schaimsixip exaxninatiizn. Bu’: my irianii ‘Stmragf T3371-at did, having has} 2

 

 

series csf pfix.»:at»:: 133333153 arid  teachers est Viflage Rhfifii ware 6-uphzt}-Iii}, A
3»: much 3:: ihai the headmaste: preciaimed a speciai om‘:-day haiiday S I _ 

am Lmsure as ‘:13 whethzsr this was anfireig flue “is my frienéfs achicvemani,
but the heiidag we cartaixfiy hasri. *'

\.‘v?hE11 iwfifiiig sf Education Q  33....-}§5‘39 (me cfifimj‘ OF‘?-
emphasise the iz:1po;r:a.m:e cf ‘Tide gcimiarshija‘, far it pr:-vified a rare:
opportimzltjg for chiidren cf parents vefih lower incomes is rsbiaifi Eh:

 

* benefits 0? secesldarg education. This could lead to mare grestigieus V
snip!-crgmné iihalz that  '[  vxi%}";in reaeh sf ihfise whiz Iefi, schaei 3: 1‘ 

fsurieen afigf eiemeniazy eciucatien. Thase ‘\—‘~2‘hI.'2‘ Eefi sxzhizizsi at sixieen, whiz  H _
 recaixieai  éflusaiiea  who hafi ai3tai:1ed a Schcsxal J 
Ccrtificateg could e>:pec:.t to qualify fist‘ ziefilplajslnent in banks, the Civil " 1’
Servicg,  &e 9312:; sf a<::;o;2n‘%ag'z:s_, 2. 2., while girls, far vs-"hQEI‘z eriucatiezu
was sfiii thaugfi by 1123:}? :9 ha irrslevazat, could  empiaynzent as
teacheérsg nurses, SEAZfEiEL?‘iE=$, simrthasld iypisisi eta.

 

- F23: thus: W119 faiieci the "sc}1c:fiar::}1ip’ smanainati-:-n at the age if ’ T _
twahfe ~ anfi this was by far the rnaéoritg‘ - the future was bieak, far there r  
was 3:: second azifiangt-3, ether than hams study, $3}? eiregaing glasses. aridfkar _ ‘

cerrespanfisnce cciurses, which ceuié 163.5 to vocationai quafificaiissns, ii}-:2:
City and Guiids af Landon institute eeriificates‘ As a consequence many
-3f these whs iefit  e}e:ment21'}»‘ scheci witha-ui 331}; paper‘ qualificafion ~—
fmmsi emgieymarzt. as farm workers, factarg y’a’.'§1'§{€ .2, raiiway §}@I‘i$?S, Sim) T
3;‘-SiE’é,3ZfiS, its; afifiia the more 31336 saught an apprenticaship in

 


Far: I}. E-3%. 3'92 55!: Ezzgiisfz Ev’f.’§c2;.7é:' .»’§'.=’:3-.5-,

-._

sngiflesriqg, c-3132113: znaking, printing, ets:;.,, bu‘:  was fiiificuit if the
chfld iivefi in a Gears:-'3’ area-

Again in ::::':z.-W'£-‘sr’§§ Britain, mzivarsity entrance: was ztililfillfié to a
:ni:m:>1€rj; whiz ha-2% the ability ta pass the entrance exarrinaticn and whese
parsnis :3: spensizrs were xvealtby ansugh :5 meet me high  ixmjlved.
The anijg éxcepiions it} this hang the few 'e::;i:=ibitianis’:fs’, misjng Whfiffl
was Sir Edwarri Haath.

F9: 331: ifs?-f‘ai'}flts, azé 11:13.11); remain, Britain as-an iayday  pmué. sf
ifs pm:-‘isie::13 fa: ;E,_=§K1£a‘{iGfi. Far  whc: hay-5 the motivaiien thxsre are
ceurses aifailalaie :2 meet a variety cf ne-saris sf pfisjpkt cf 3}} ages,
academic and vecafienal; for the Eat: 5:31’€ifi}_¥8I3; ft}! the young, fig ‘Eh:
ski; far these if wcrking age, far ‘§E18S€§ w}3a have retireé. The Dpan
Univisrsitg zoursgfiding to deg_1‘e»3$ ix: 313113 3221333212, bears teatime-my
tn‘; the pregress  Eggficatéen in Great Briiaizz dzgréxzg :31: pas: seventy years-

1. __a,x"' .

Far Rcazzaid ’faj;k:r and Liazzci Sole The ’ss:ho§aIship’ zzxaminafizm
zneant the parting atrf tie ways. My friend irassferred firam the villggs
schim} is Kari Cefiaga 32:12:} Late: studied at Gc)1ds::3iih’3 Ccsllegé: in
Lflnzififi. B3: 393$ he was teaching at St Pezierfis, Breadstairs and when was‘
cane ha served, as I did, in the Miédle East, but he was an Czfiicer. Whfie E
was in‘ Tabrzibz he er-mite me a Eerie: in which I repiied, and some time Eater
we came tvifhin hafi‘-auufiie of sack mther when  unit fxarisferred to a
Eairge aim? in the £332.} Zane. Bat we Wars vmabls in meat; the Array siici
11:32! e;1c0urag<: <}i_;cers and E-flier raxzics ti} fiatemisae and I was 11:) niore
than a “£1, '6-striper’, a bonzbaréier. Qua’ asnversaiiion was therefore
canfinad to th: teiephanei Ugznjn our return is the {.5}: we met at his
parems‘ hem: but E}-' flier: we haii Eitfle ii: Cfiliiffififi mi? E have mist seen

 since, hat I have iaaznt that he becazxze headmaster cf a vet}; large
5"" Cgsémprahensive 531100? in the Lzmzien  1f%a:is stiil 3333.11: E harp: that he
“flag? claim: as E can, is haw had 3 xzerjg‘ happy am} interesting life.

 3 child I 12391 ‘been a friend ef Ronalfs. sister, Praia, am his two
bmthe.-15,; Mark anti E g , Afier he heft sece::nd:+;ry scheol Mark j-aimed the
RAF azi was   an aerenautieai engi:-ear and naviga£,oI,. sex that
what} war aranze he j-ainaé the anew sf a be-mber, It was during a cold
wi11ter‘s night that his piane was shat down ever Germany, and t13»::ug‘1}1e
was abie :0 ha}: out his parachute began: exztangla-:1 in 3 trea, resuhing in

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giiesézarfgs z:-fzzis =‘.’:‘:f(,_ em-::‘i;:rz

Eaim ivreaking his pehzis anti slrfierizlg sr:vereT imiemai injuritss.  was
famd axe :12:-it marnhig by 3. Eerman and trazzsferseé firs: is a huspitai emf:
‘$215.21 1.0 a PQW camp- He remaineé a. Pi??? urrifl E45, at enr: tiny: sharing
his captivity with Dzssuglas Baaier, Bfltamfs fameus legiess fighter ggxiiet,

Eéuring my  iflness, 194:3 - 3, whiisi. I  aim in hcrspitaifi
Iviarl-2 paid me a visit, His pa} ":::« had ksng since healed but he was sfiii
recsiziing fireatmgni fig: his intemg injméesg Twas. ycars later I visited him
in Gufs Huapiiai in Landon bx}: he was than teirminaliy £1} and died
:3§1=::«:“:i3r' affierwards- E3 was 3 159:3’ gm:-é fiiegii 33¢ a brave man, whess life:
was Sui Sheri at as‘: 32:};-* 

liming the war I had a chance meeimg  Ru:1aid‘s ather brother
in a Caim. We had 3. cauple {if beers tczgathezr beffire Ecbar and} want our
:-sspeszzitive wa;-gs. I has mat seen him since, but I believe he became a bank
zfsfanager on this azaiskifis sf Landau- Frada, the I£}fflB1'S§ sister, marfiefi an
Extra}! officcr and Ii‘-seé in [néia befrare that -3:333:13? gained its
fijiéependsncé from Britain. 1' me? her sevesal times in Briége during the
taxi}? pest-war period anti my East news sf her was 313%  was stzfibring
fi‘GI‘:1 CSAICEE.

A’: Eastiar, 1923 ihe ‘(was ‘1?31‘:‘i§HE!S§ the Saks and the Ci}*.%¥EfiS {ray
Unczés Gearge, :-‘aunt Gr-ac: 313:1 23:1:-sin Ted} made  iasi auting tegether in
$513 hogs:-dram: wagfinstie. Thai; day we went in Hem: Bay and while
Ted  I piaysd an :21: 336331; 011: paxsms engaged in several long
cenxversatiem. A week: 0;“ .36 Eater E £23111: ihz 3335331: we were 13} 153%
?ri1m*0s~=;-V A333’ and move is €152, Rape: Raaci Cantarhmry. This is a very
bug mad and  hrsuses, built can an: sifie cf the read only, were built in
sexnsral aiifferent styles and 29121;! ‘$31311 be — ans’:  stiii be - described as
‘aiesirahle’. Ext ihe Sims they were eccupiafi largely ‘G3: §:«1‘-efessioziai pacspls
and traaiasmen with their wivsss 311% children. This exceptiim. was a smali
 sf 3-1:3Z':£1:'(}i}§11€€i §1{,¥§T1S§S at the fiar and eff the Ioadg and {here
faznfiies with 3 smfléer inccsme Iiveéi.

‘z.-‘=..«-"6: moves: an 3 3311311333 aftemcmz, my féifhéf having ebtaimisi
permissivzrsn ta use his firm*s   remayal 31° 43233: pessessiens zeqtfirgd
two jauraeys and for the second my mafia-3r sat  front with Desmond,
than three ye-3:3 Bid, while 1 sat in this back: percheei 311 some item cf
f;1mit=.:cra afiii zzlutghiizg fins fa.n1i1j:‘s 23:. Haii the scene been filmed we

35

   
  
  
  


I.v'I.a‘I:«Wla‘IsIvWInIaWWlvIvIaIbIalnIvl‘l»IvIaIa'IvIvWWIeI~IvIaI»‘I»IvIvUvIi1
5

 

?an‘ I}. L-.:}’r:r in cm Engfésfi §'1?£—;2ge: IS-'IS‘—3‘=5‘

wsuld ham: 3. paareri mt:-.:h Eieze ihe ans 3::-czrnayed an ear TV screens: a
faznily fleeing    af was‘ :31‘ same §19.é:ur2%_1 siiaaster.

62 Biaptii Read was is be 1313: Ewflleg with 3  short itxtsrsuptiens,
for nine j.r"$‘E4l':3- Edy parents. lived in the road, but not the sarne house, for
the remainde;* 9:" their niarried life, umii ‘Ether died in 19?). :9: far me I
has’: Gfien ihoughi that my chiidhaod ezzdsd V.-=b_en we i'l’i{.‘r'£:’fid ta
Canierbazji fmzn Efitidge, far I w:~:s {hen ixaseivzs ye:.=n:s alé and EA-'0 years
later i started 5.131-jme wcefixz

{E23}: p~.-teple ti"Ea{:»fi their roots back ta their childhtsod and aven
new in my 011% age 1 sfcifi regard the   my heme ground. Fer many
years Icantifiued ta fie seams? with Bridge, perieéic visits being mafiz
untii my uncie ami aunt died in the 683 and my causixz had manied and
had m<.w~:“:::’: to anoihar district. M}? £33: visit was quite meant when 30:; and
{were staying at a farm near Fzmzrsham and we spent same tizne waiicijig
araurm‘ the ‘viliaga.

Alfiieugii, asl wrote eariier, the appraash to the vfliage causes an:
:0 ihfifik: Thai: the vfiiage has cfmged lift}: since my childhacsd a. class:
exatifinatian changes 0:163 opinicm. Fm insiance, game Esme the fourteen
pins shraps which had iiaéd the main size-3*; being repiacsri by one mini-
supenr;5rke:._ a newgager:t’s shcxp which 315:: seiis confezctitrnary, tzzrbacc‘-:>
 a few 131118: filings. The chemisz: 5-hep, once czvmexi by 3 Mr Stockwell,
being fspiaced  a pham1a:.§; acmmmafiziied in part sf ti}: pest offiize. 9111
these changes have came abeui through changes in fifé-Si}-’1£., mast cxf the
werkigzg ptspuiitien of the viflage, ma:  WL’P1'I3{£-3‘1"‘=_,  being employ .
in Canterbury azxd placas %”£:r aficid, 3.3 that they ‘:33.-:§ very busy lives
and has 3 prgferzsuce fer has-stag simyping‘ prxaxrided by Earge
supermarkets.

Amgmg the cxther changes xvhich I naieé that day «ms the
d.isa_1,;:pSaIa11*$E of E1: Stone‘5 farm  the High Street in which I would gag
carrying a gag, :0 buy ngfiki Gan: ion is the forga, the c<:=i)b1er’s shop,
where an: sometirnes saw flu: AA patrcjhnan eating I133 packesi lunch?
having previously learn: his cycle, mgether with his aftaché case ef tools,
againsi $118 $3311 ofthe Shep.

  


 

_£‘y§.tz2z::-rites qfa:: Gcfogeimrimz

Time diti I191 permit us to visii the sites af staieijs Emzaes  in
pm-war éays ;:rm’i.:iea1 amploymant far the “suiflagars, but I had heard
;3rs<.;ic=us13' that many  tham Ezad cgaséd being the residence cf  w::2.}fi1;;
owner and wars  used fer am:-that gampesez Highiand £2our.*., sacs the
heme sf Cami E".bor<m=s‘::i, beiag amazed by Kant and Caziterbury Hmpiiali
 Par}: at Bazhmn, tha E2031: sf Lizrd Kitchener, C133 Briti:-sh land
fijrces in 5.1? ‘$3 until his {ieaih ‘:23: slrcswning in E316, ha mldergane major
s:-hangas, the image beceming 21 firae-share gropamr, whfle part 9f the
exitnsive gzmiczds is the Crematorium fer Canterbury and disnict. it is

there that my fafner  buriefi, his fife reeerdgsi in the Book <2-f

Remembrance.

393' and E ended {my xdsii by dz'1'-sing fiewn School Lane whet: xx-is
pausefi apgogite mg: obi schso} which is I}fl¥+’ 3v:_>zneene‘s hams. C311 the
appesiis: siée if the raasi and leakéng acmss the fisids, we saw the new
sake-cal ané. fifis c-armed  in tixinja; sf t~:sci3.3:’s papfis and  their lives
might be 311:6 in cemparison. ta ‘(hose of my generaiion. I thuught that
many, Eike children living efiaawha-3 ., weriai be Eiving in ccrmfertabie
homeg fitted with ali mad-cons, and having  in raiio,  vidao
r:*::;s3r:dings, ‘pap’ music, compmier games, f.3:«Zi3‘1;g fatsigzz hglidays and
being taken t-3;’fiv3:11 schml by car far safety. Haw differezri frcm the
xzhildhaeé cf my generatiasn: 9. imver stamiard 9? Eiféfl but we were {tea to
roam at will; every _§0un1e3‘ hG¥u“i3‘s-3.".T smaii §}§3:s’fl'3Ei {he  of the
tsiiiage busing an a.c3v'e:1u1:e and a hcliéag.-* when was caszuld play an iha: sands
at Birchi:1gts::«n {if Mzargaie as-as  satisffgizig as $11: Casta tie’: Sal
zzdziétianaiiy, in the absence cf radie and TV, we were iasgely screeneé
fififfl fix: \>.*«C::*$e asp-eats. {if Rife; fié‘-1'e’S {sf vialent cfime, zigts 333:3 Wars: {-11
Burs was an inmjcrsnt ghiigflzaaé anti we wars moat}? happy. i hccpe thaz
iaziagfs children are  hag jg Em: ever}? chiid deserves a happy’
ebikihoed.

SS

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

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