The Town of my Birth

c1955
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This is one of my endearing images of Margate. I was born at 5 Market Place, which lies just behind the lower white buildings to the centre rear of the photo. It was 1952 and my father was a bus inspector on the East Kent Road Car Co. He loved Margate and the sea air, he was born in Tottenham and really appreciated it. We used to fish from the harbour and pier, my dad was a keen angler, and we enjoyed it too. Living in Margate to me was an adventure, there was so much to do. The beach was perfect, and we spent many hours in Dreamland Park. I am in no doubt that those years that I lived in Margate were some of the best I'd had. I went to St. Gregory's School, and remember buying sweets at the "Coffin Corner" shop on the way to and back from school.

There were still visible signs of the war in Margate. I can remember the old church just up the road from the Tudor house, we called it the "Bomb Church", we used to play in it often (although it probably wasn't safe to).

It was a time when we used to collect "Pop" bottles and take them back to the shop and get the deposit back on them, we would go to Saturday morning pictures at the Classic cinema for 9d, and get an ice lolly for 3d - that was our pocket money gone.

Firework nights were a huge success, there would be bonfires on Margate beach, and Christmas was magical, probably because I was so young.

I loved the house I was born in, it had a big attic, as my dad's collectables would bear testament to. My brother and I would get out of the top little windows and crawl around the parapet wall. We could see into the courthouse building, and below was the police station. There was something special about the Market Place, I felt so much at home there. It was a place where I could go around the block on a scooter without fear of getting run over. I would also go to get my dad's paper and packet of Players cigs. I remember that my dad was a special constable too, at Christmas we were treated to a super Christmas party at the Nayland Rock Hotel, that was definately one of the highlights of the year, bless my dad for that.

My mum used to play in small bands in the Thanet area, she was a pianist, and was very good. She used to play at the Stanmore Hotel in Cliftonville, I have fond memories of those days. There are so many things that made my life a joy in Margate, like the Lido and Tony Savage playing the Hammond organ there. Outdoor wrestling at the dugout, the beach, Dreamland, the pier and harbour, and my dad taking me out on the open top bus to Ramsgate.

I have recently stayed at Cliftonville, Dalby Square, it was a super guest house, so clean and welcoming, and a super breakfast too. It was the Innsbruck, my wife and I had a super time there.

Whilst I am saddened by Margate's demise, due to many factors, thankfully I can still see it as it was when I lived there. Margate will always have a special place in my heart, and when I see its welcoming skyline, I feel I've come home.