Deal, The Promenade c.1960

Photo ref: D15092

being born and living in deal from the 'late fifties until the seventies' was such a wonderful part of my life, and has never left me. these photographs and memories bring it all back to me. the skating rink, boats, winches and plenty of tar! on the beach, the night ricemans went up in flames, parts of the channel freezing in the winter of '63. i lived in several houses in deal, my ...see more

Concerning Ricemans fire in Deal, Kent - Sunday 6th October 1963. Nightfall; I remember the incredible display windows, they were smashed and collapsing, a few people (including a guy who did some plumbing for my mum) managed to get some prime clothing out and scarpered. The local law and firemen were busy trying to secure the bank on the corner! The next day that was all that was standing. Deal wasn’t the only Ricemens shop ...see more

I grew up in Deal, spent many hours in this shelter, from around 1961, it is still there today. My fondest memories of that time are: directly opposite across the road was a roller skating rink and amusement arcade, cafe and a round bingo hut, later the bingo hut was removed and replaced with swing boats. I loved my time there. I have only one picture of myself on the rink, but cannot see the ...see more

In  my young days the greater part of the Prom was crowded with fishing boats. My grandfather, Ted Smith, often purchased the whole of a boatmens' catch. An entry in  his old ledger [sadly destroyed in the war] had 'a cran of herrings' for a shilling - a 'cran' was a thousand  fish. These were filletted and smoked, at the rear of his premises at 3 Alfred Square, or hawked in the town and around Sandwich.