My Childhood In Knatts Valley

A Memory of Otford.

I was born in Knatts Valley, in a bungalow belonging to George and Elsie Lines of Lynwood, friends of my mother and father. George became my Godfather, and one of my names is also George. I was supposed to have been born at Lavendale but it was not yet fully built. My Grandparents, Tom and Kate Griffiths lived next door at The Camp. I was Christened at the little parish church at Woodlands, and after the war went to West Kingsdown village school. I walked each day across the hill and farmland to get there. Later I went to the local school at Farningham when a school bus was laid on.
When I was eight years old and father had returned from the war (he was in the fart east) we moved to London, however I spent every school holiday in knatts valley with my Grandparents.
I used to go swimming in the pool at East Hill (The water always seemed freezing)

People I remember from the times.

George Booker (my uncle Will worked for him) and his son Georgie who owned a BSA Bantam major motorcyle (I was green with envy)
Ralphs, who used to charge up the old radio accumulators.
Miss Brown, a Schoolteacher, who lived with her lady friend.
Billy Watson
Mrs. Eckert, a widow who had lost her mind and lived in an old air raid shelter
The Meddicks, Ken and Doreen
The Claytons, who's wooden house was burnt to the ground.
Captain Pelham, a gentleman farmer who lived in the 'big house'
Doughties, who owned a garage in Swanley
The Weatherleys' smallholders.
The Pages
Mrs Morris, widow lived in a little hut next to what became the hillclimb
The Smiths' that ran the post office.
My memory is not what it was and many names and characters I have forgotten

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