Hawkinge, My Birthplace

A Memory of Folkestone.

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