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  4. Growing Up In Dartford In The 70's/80's

Growing Up In Dartford In The 70's/80's

A Memory of Dartford.

I was born in 1972 and grew up in Dartford, not leaving until i went to uni in 1990. It was never the most picturesque of towns but none-the-less a great place to grow up and easy to get everywhere. The schools were great to - I went to West Hill for infants and junior school and then Dartford Girls Grammar. I live in the USA now and I've been using Google earth to go back and see what the town is like today - so sad to see so many places shut up - I used to love buying sweets in Woolworths and going to Phillips toy shop near Trinity church, visiting Father Christmas at the co-op every year.

My mum and dad ran their own business in Belvedere and we used to go to a great shallow open air paddling pool area there. I wonder if anyone recalls the name or knows of any pictures of it?

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Added 03 July 2014

#309109

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ten years before you were born 1962 arrived in Australia. in 1954 started at westhill primary having moved to nelson road opposite. was the air raid shelter still there at the front of the school. was it highfield road where the boys and the girls schools were, the boys burnt down sometime, the gitls still as it was. yes I have googled the town and wrote a poem about dartford, what history, fantastic. east hill and westhill bring back so many memories. caught up with 3 school mates in 96 when I went back and still keep in touch, one who came to Aus. so many thing changed and somuch hadnt. have been back 4 times and would hope to go back again...Phil
By doll492 on Sat Feb 23rd 2019, at 6:32 am
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I was born in 1970, in West Hill Hospital, and grew up in Dartford. I probably share a lot of the same memories of the time and town you do. Yes, visting santa at the Co Op (not longer there) playing in Central Park etc. Moved away in my 20s but return every now and again as Mum still lives there. It's totally changed now.
By Massimo Cristi on Wed Jul 19th 2023, at 1:32 pm
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