Snodland memories
Here are memories of Snodland and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Snodland or a Snodland photo.
Mr Dods And The Stool
I still have the stool and ladder made in Mr Dods woodwork class. Some of the teachers I have fond memories of Mr Baker rural studies, Mr Horsnal. That bully of a teacher who seemed to like slapping the girls. He stood them on a chair first. The gardening teacher who lived in Aylesford. Mr Butcher the music teacher. Almost all with fond memories. I have lived in France for 20 years and have lost contact with all the class of 4B1. I was born in 1940. Alan Guntrip
Snodland School
I was at Holmesdale School from 1952 to 56, then returned in 1960 as head grounds man, when it had a farm run by Mr Baker, nice man. I remember Mr dodd and lots of the old teachers. I married a local girl and still live in Snodland. The school don't look as I remember it, it looks rather jumbled up.
Childhood
I was born in May Street and then moved to Brook Street where I went to school. It was very handy as I only lived across the road. I then went to the secondary school where I played hockey for the 2nd Eleven. I still live here now. Sadly my parents are no longer here and my brother lives in Wales. This place has changed so much in recent years.
Jim Iles
My husband Jime Iles was at Holmesdale School from 1956 to 1960. He won many awards for his metalwork and wood work with Mr Dodds. He lived in Tomlins Cottages in Snodland which have now been demolished. He worked at Holborough Cement works for a few years as his father Jim Iles (snr) who is 90 this year. We all now live in Perth Western Australia.
Memory of Snodland
I remember the Brick and Terry. Ted worked with my dad in the paper mill. I remember Mr Dodd as well. He was my woodwork teacher and a very nice man, unlike a lot of the other teachers at that establishment. I was in the Bull pub a few months ago, on one of my rare visits to the UK. I met a lot of my old pals from my childhood. They are still there, ageing like fine wine. I have a lot of fond memories of Snodland. Sadly it's not the same now. Nowhere is. I would love to hear from anyone who grew up there in the 1950s and 1960s - unless I owe them money, that is!
The Bricklayers Arms
The Brick was my home from 1954-1972. My parents Ted and Doris Simmonds were the publicans and maybe there are people out there who still remember them. My Aunt Ethel used to entertain everyone on the piano which she loved to play and was a big attraction. Dad used to make such enormous fires throughout the winter, which were so hot everyone had to stand in the middle of the room as far away as possible!! My bedroom was above the bar with the jukebox and so I used to listen to all the top 20. My brother Terry would let me keep all the old singles when they came off the jukebox. It was the end of an era for me when the brick was pulled down in the 1970s.
Teacher Mr Charles Dodd
My grandad was a Mr Charles Robert Dodd who taught woodwork up till 1967 at the school from about 1948 till he died in 1967, can anyone remember him?
Where I Lived in 1960
We moved into the flat above Snodland station on 9th January 1960 (my 8th birthday) and the extreme left upstairs window was the view from our lounge (or, rather - sitting room). I attended Brook Street CoE Primary school from then until 1963, when I moved to the "top school", known then as Snodland County Secondary School. The name change to Holmesdale was fairly soon after that as I recollect.
The lamps on Snodland station in 1960 were gas lit, with a pole to pull down the chain which in turn fired the gas onto the pilot light. Each lamp had to be lit individually - and took a fair time. My father was the Station Master, so I used to get to help the porters on the station.
Memories of Kent
Birling School.
The Headmistress of Birling School was Miss Bragger who lived in the schoolhouse a few steps from the porched door of the school. Miss Bragger taught the 7-11 year mixed classes. Mrs Dyke had charge of the 5-7 year olds, she had the most deadly aim with small pieces of chalk which came your way if you misbehaved. Each year we danced around the Maypole in the grounds of Birling Manor where a fete was held, we also had a ceremony for Empire Day, 24th May. I managed to be dressed up as Britannia on 2 occasions. We also had a service at the war memorial on November 11th each year, even in a snow storm we would be there. We always had to put a concert at Christmas. We held our Brownie meetings in a hut which was quite near the pub (was it the Bull?). I seem to remember the W.I. held jumble sales in the same place.
I remember the village shop cum Post Office with the... Read more
Bunting's Estate, New Hythe Lane
Our first house was in River Way and we moved in in January 1964 with our baby son.
It was cold and being "brand new" the house was still drying out, so condensation was a problem.
Happy days!
Ken Cook
The Late 1950s
I remember the baker's van coming down to Church Street in the summer, we could choose a cake, the baker would open the back of the little van and pull out the drawers, out would come a thousand wasps. No one ran for cover and the cakes were lovely. I remember that I had to wear an apron over my dress everyday to keep my dress clean.
The Buss Family
My dad was born in Burham in the 1920s. His mum was born there as well. My dad's name was Raymond Jesse Buss and his mum and dad were George and Audrey. I believe they lived at 3 the High Street. My nan lived at Marlborough Place when she was young. I have been to look for it but have had no luck so I assume that it no longer exists. I can't believe that when I was a teenager my friends and I used to walk out to Burham from the Tideway Rochester. We never had any problems either. We used to go down to the Burham lakes and then walk back. You couldn't do that nowadays. It never seemed to rain much back then either. I love the countryside of Burham. Wide open fields with views over the river Medway and the lovely little church St. Mary the Virgin. I don't think it's used for services any more but it is so sweet to look at, inside and... Read more
Wouldham 1946-49
Hi, I was born in Wouldham, 3 Castle Street, in 1946 and my family moved away in 1949 but I had a memory of the house that stayed with me all my life. The memory is of a tree in the garden that had a swing that my dad used to push me on, and of all things I also have a memory of an outside toilet with a wooden seat at the end of the garden. This year (2010) I returned to Wouldham for a look around and to see the house that I was born in. I found it and could not resist, I just had to knock on the door and a lovely lady opened the door and I asked if I could take a picture of the house. She said yes, and would I like to come in and have a look around - there was no stopping me. I told her of my two memories and when we went out to the garden, true enough... Read more
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