Hawkinge, my Birthplace
I was born at Corner House, at the bottom of Aerodrome Rd, Hawkinge on 31st August 1936. My parents were the local newsagents in Canterbury Rd, backing onto the famous airfield. I have vivid childhood memories of the war years and especially the Battle of Britain, the year I was 4. The photographs and nostalgic comments from your contributors 'ring bells' for me; as a teenager I often travelled by cycle in the summer months via Caesar's Camp hill to Harvey Grammar School, Cheriton Rd, Folkestone so I remember Holy Well area and the countryside fringing Folkestone where the Channel Tunnel Terminal is now, very well ! I sometimes cycled delivering newspapers during the summer holidays in the area 'behind' the airfield....Gibralter, Arpinge and so on, so the views from the top of the Down over Folkestone with the Channel and France beyond (on a clear day!!!) and over towards Romney Marsh in the other direction are still a vivid memory. My wife and I now live in Alston Cumbria (it is interesting seeing those old photos too). My wife is from St Albans so we will have to look at your photos of there!
By the way, I was wondering if you had any photographs of Hawkinge. I have a collection of old postcards of many places that I have acquired over the years, including some of Hawkinge which my Dad sold in our shop.
Well, that's all for now. I have found your site very rewarding....and I've only just come across it today ! I must explore further. Best Regards David Pepin
Memories Links
Other memories of Channel Tunnel Terminal 2003
See more memories of Folkestone
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
2 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "Hawkinge, my Birthplace".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: Hawkinge, my Birthplace
I found your comment on Hawkinge very nostalgic, I was born in 1942 and I lived at Page Place, Folkestone until 1959. My husband and I migrated to Australia in 1965. I can remember Sugar Loaf and what we called the woods where we used to go and pick primroses. I used to go to Holy Well School but when my husband and I went back in 1986 & 1995 we found everything had changed beyond recognition. When I worked at Silver Springs in 1957 my friend and I had bicycles and every weekend we used to cycle around the countryside. I don't remember the war myself because I was only a babe. Everything that I treasure had gone, my sister and I loved going on the boats at the Marina and we loved going to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre as a treat every Christmas. I can go on forever so had better leave it at that. Both times we returned something had changed and I am sorry to say not for the better, but Folkestone still holds a special place in my heart and always will.
I wish I had some photographs to give you but by now you probably have been lucky enough to get some.
All the best
Julia Deane
Comment from Julia Deane on Tuesday, 31st March 2009.
RE: RE: Hawkinge, my Birthplace
I was born in Old Rectory Close in 1967. From my bedroom I had a clear view across the airfield, a place where my friends and I would play all year round. I attended Hawkinge school and remember the village shops: the VG stores, where a packet of crisps cost 2p, Hollands butchers where I was always treated to a sweet or a biscuit by Mrs Holland who knew everyone by name, the shoe shop where I got my first pair of plimsoles for school and Pepins newsagent, a small cramped shop full of amazing goodies! I was taught to ride horses at Mill Farm stables in Mill Lane and would ride for miles around the countryside. The scene in the photo of the Channel tunnel was taken from a place I knew as the "heights", and I remember the view as being open farmland where hang-gliders gathered every weekend, the view extended to the then unfinished M20. All this has gone, no airfield, just housing, Pepins is now a Tesco Express and the other shops are take-away restaurants, thankfully the Saddle Rack sits as a reminder that Hawkinge was a place of the country before its heart was ripped out with development.
Comment from Tina Hallinan on Tuesday, 5th April 2011.