Published 13 February 2003

HERALD reader Robert Mouland, who is concerned about “disappearing Folkestone," was sorry to hear of the mysterious fire in Guildhall Street tackled by the Army's “Green Goddesses" and told me of a Folkestone Herald story 65 years ago when a serious blaze devastated the outfitters' stock of London House Ltd, on the same site. That was in the week ending October 23, 1937. The source of the fire on that occasion was tracked down to an office under the stairs on the main floor.
Look
BOYS of Dover Road School, around 1946, were the subject of a photograph in Memories recently sent in oy reader Gerald Taylor, of St Mary’s Road, St Mary in the Marsh. And this week, one of those who spotted the photo, Roy ‘Inky1 Ingleton, contacted me by e-mail to tell me how interested he was in the story about the “Dover Road ‘Dustbin Raiders’.” He writes:

“I too, was at the school during the Second World War, leaving- in 1946, at the age of 14, to become an apprentice at Vye & Sons, the grocers in Rendezvous Street.

Gerald Taylor says the class was Form 5, with Cyril Blunt the teacher, while the headmaster was Mr H.A. Wheeler.

“I remember Cyril Blunt with great respect and affection, the headmaster, Mr Wheeler, rather less so!” he commented.

“The only other name which rings a bell with me is John Donovan, who, I believe, went to live in Holland in the late 1950s.

“Those contemporaries of mine whose names I still remember after all these years are Michael Sparks who, appropriately enough became an electrician (!), Alan Frost, Peter (?) Pordage, who joined the Commandos, ‘Kipper’ Heron, Stan Darby, who died in the Zebrugge ferry disaster, and Peter Routli, none of whom are in the
photo. Perhaps we were at Dover Road a little before the class shown,” he suggests.

“After National Service in Korea I joined the police, returning some years ago as a Superintendent. Since then I have been mainly concerned with translating and writing” - Roy’s latest work, “Policing Kent 1800-2000,” is now in the shops.

“Roy adds that he would be very interested to learn what became of some of his contemporaries. He can be contacted on roy@ingleton.fsworld.co.uk

Sad day for Marcel

Former Hythe garage owner Marcel Baut, who was apprenticed into the motor trade with Maltbys of Sandgate and Folkestone from 1927, sent me what was for him a sad photo he took last month of demolition taking place of his former Rampart Garage, in Rampart Road, from which he retired in 1974. He was in partnership from 1933 with joint founder of the business, Leslie Hawes.

Looking sadly at the photo he had taken, Marcel told me: “I never thought this would happen in my life-time.”

Marcel was 90 when, a short while ago he privately produced a book on Maltby’s Motors and his experiences working for their garages and then starting up his own, at the now demolished Rampart Garage.
FIFTY years ago this month the once popular Folkestone attraction, the Victoria Pier was in the final stages of being demolished. Any hopes there might have been of its ever being restored probably disappeared when the big pavilion was

involved in a fire
reading about farmer Peter Harmer’s research for a possible book.

“It was about 1936, a lovely day. We were living in the dear old ‘True Briton” public house. Quite a few people were in Harbour Street and my grandad said, as we watched the airship, ‘There’s going to be a war and they are taking photographs!’

“Germany denied it; said it was bound for South America and was blown off course -but there wasn’t a breath of wind!

“John Donovan in the Dover Road School photo was my young sister Thelma’s boy friend. His parents had a cafe in Harbour Street,” added Eileen.
Ron Dutt, who is involved with Chris Walters in the organisation of a reunion of Old Dover Road and Hillside School boys, to be held in late April, is off on a week-long “trip down memory lane” in June.

He plans to return to South Wales to relive the memories of his time there while an evacuee with other boys from his old school in the Second World War.

Ron, who was a local groundsman when he retired, says he will be staying in the little community of Usk for a week.

“Yes! I remember a Zeppelin airship over Folkestone very well,” writes Memories reader Eileen Martin, of Folkestone, after
 

Drinks campaign threatens future of local public houses >4 QAQTHE FUTURE of quite a few Folkestone JL«?VrO public houses seemed to be in doubt as pressure reached boiling point in a campaign to cut drunkenness and get some of the town’s 140 licensed houses closed. The majority of pubs were well conducted but seven licensees were convicted for breaches of licensing laws and a few cautioned. Opposed were licences for the Blue Anchor, Bricklayers Arms, Granville Arms, Hope, Marquis of Lome, Providence, Star, Tramway and Victoria. Renewals were 'postponed' for the Brewery Taj}, Castle, Eagle Tavern, East Cliff Tavern, Imperial Hotel, London and Paris Hotel, Mechanics Arms, Lifeboat, Packet Boat Queen's Hotel and Swan. Plans within a week were demanded for the Chequers, Cinque Ports, Duke of Edinburgh, Perseverance, Prince of Wales, Queen's Head, Royal Oak and Wheat-sheaf. Decisions were expected at adjourned Brewster Sessions early in March. At Hythe the foundation stones of new Salvation Army barracks were laid. Mayor J Jeal laid the first, then Mrs A Pierson, A Day, Mrs Lemmon, F. Worthington, Miss E Day, Cllr Strahan, Miss M Day, J Snoad and Colonel Wright.

Flooding fears on Marsh as a very high tide nears *1 QCOSTRONG support was being given to a .L^OOlocal flood relief appeal, part of a national effort to relieve the suffering of victims of the East Coast floods, serious flooding in Holland where the sea breached flood defences, as well as the UK's sea walls on the east coast which were damaged in 300 places along 120 miles of coast between London and Deal. On the Romney Marsh there was concern over exceptionally high tides that were expected - two feet higher than at the beginning of February. Experts were hopeful these high tides would not coincide with stormy seas in the Channel. Hythe Venetian Fete's future was in doubt even in Coronation year, because of the lack of a guarantee that members of the organising committoo would not have to meet losses should the event be hit by bad weather. Hundreds of extra visitors were due to pour into the district boosted by an organiser of continental tours who decided to route trips through Folkestone's port. Demolition of ill-fated Victoria Pier was nearly complete while at Hythe a landmark of 80 years, a gasometer was demolished. Eighteen local staff of the East Kent bus company were among B0 guests at a party after each completing 25 years service.

Wak-out by Pier boss after heavy Leas Glff Hal losses A qaqLOSSES on Leas Cliff Hall evonts led to >L«S^OCouncillor Robert Forsyth walking out of a council meeting after councillors declined to hold a financial debate. Cllr Forsyth ran the old Victoria Pier; and was supported by Cllr Mrs Anness who launched a virulent attack on press reports she claimed were one-sided, while Cllr Barfoot warned that if the Council, trying to build up a winter holiday trade, carried on with winter concerts on the same scale they faced a £14,000 loss. At the port the best catch of sprats for years was landed by 17 boats, which averaged 10 to 20 tubs, each containing about 3,000 fish. Ten tons of fish were dispatched to factories at Deal and Ostend for 'conversion' to sardines, but many went unsold. The 'invasion' said fishermen was the result of a recent gale. A court heard of a family of eight on the Marshes who lived in two rooms, sharing one bedroom in which were two beds, two boys having to sleep on the floor. The two youngest including an infant, has no underclothes or shoes. The child's feet were blue with cold and the children were dirty. The father, who was out of work, and mother were bound over.

KCC urged to build more central home for elderly •f A COUNCILLORS in Folkestone were JUS7 I Odivided over future use of 18 acres of 'spare' land at Shorncliffe where an industrial estate was said to be booming. Some wanted the land for further light industry, but the KCC wanted to build a 40-bed old people's home, along with a hostel and training centre for the mentally handicapped, and possibly a school. The District Council strongly opposed building a home there, believing it was too far from shops and too close to industry. They asked the KCC to think again. One councillor said planners had an 'unhappy knack’ of siting old people's homes in remote spots. Another said while the industrial estate was doing well it would be foolhardy not to reserve land for expansion. The council decided to appoint a successor to Leo Piper who was leaving after working on promotion of the district on a short-term contract But one councillor wanted the work covered by existing officers. A plan to develop Mackeson's brewery site with 11 two-storey houses and 52 flats in two blocks, was rejected by planning committee members. Hythe Civic Society also opposed the plans. They and council planners advised it was premature in advance of a new Hythe town plan.