The Oast House & Little Stour

I lived next door to John and Anita Laidler, they lived at No 2 Brewery cottages, I lived at No 1. which your grandfather owned, as I recall, he died in the early 60's from cancer. Just a few yards further on upstream from this photograph was the swimming hole(created by a tree being uprooted), I learned to swim there in the 40's, (who else remembers those awful knitted woollen trunks........). other people I remember are Sally Jarvis, Susan Kennard, Rita Barlowe, Winnie Gimber, Philip(Pip) Hadlow, Mervyn Hutson, Pete Raines, Andrew (Panda)?????(lived in Jubilee Road), Janet Palmer, Jack Arnold, Michael Giles, Dennis?????(dad had a butchers shop), Billy Hooker, Julie Inkpen, Alan and Sheila Chandler, and loads more. I remember the shops, Holloways General Stores(also owned the Post Office) Ryes the newsagent and tobacconist,, The sweet shop, Blacks the Grocer, greengrocer(in Nargate St), Reynolds the Butcher, Hutsons (catapault rubber!!!), the Baker (also in Nargate St), 2 milkmen, 4 pubs, Arnolds the Laundry, another Butcher in Bekesbourne Rd, I went to the local school, headmistress, Miss Dean (Fearsome), my dad had an allotment (just over the bridge on the Wingham Rd), Oh I've just remembered Michael Wyant, his dad ran the Malthouse and later had a Smallholding, and bred originally whippets, but moved on to German Shepherds and became an authority on dog obedience. As a life long motorcyclist, I cannot fail to mention Dereck Minter, who went on to be one of Britains greatest motorcycleracers in the 50's and 60's, it was seeing Dereck on a BSA circa 1949 that started my life long love affair with motorcycles, and I still ride today, perhaps I should mention I am now 80, and live in Wiltshire, I'm in touch with these days with Malcom Clapton, originally from Ickham, now living near Deal. I would love to hear from anybody who remembers those days, Freddie (Rick)Thomas

Update and corrections to my ramble yesterday, my apologies to DEREK Minter for misspelling his name, also to Rita BARLING (NOT Barlowe). Andrew (Panda) FOX, Other names that I've remembered, Rodney Marsh, Andrew Marsh (no relation), Jane and Mary Elgar (dad was the local gamekeeper), the Firmingers (was the son called Mervyn?), my dad, who was a very skilled carpenter and joiner, worked for Mr Mount, the local gentleman farmer (I dont think he ever did any actual work, he had a farm manager, Mr Leaver).My dad had a workshop next to the manor house and did all the farm buildings and maintence work, everything done by hand, no power tools then! The garage,opposite the village hall, I think was run by a chap called Bowen who had a son with what now would be called "Downs Syndrome), He once scared the life out of me by smoking whilst filling the tank of my motorcycle !! I avoided using him after that! For all those too young to remember, in those days you never filled the tank yourself, the pump attendant came out and you said how much you wanted (2 gallons or whatever, never by a money figure) petrol was about 4 Shillings and 6 pence (approximately 23p) a gallon (4.55 litres). The 4 pubs I mentioned were The Anchor, The King William 1V, The Basketmakers Arms and The Evenhill. The filling station/car sales at the top of Even Hill wasn't built untill the early 60s, the village doctor was Dr Mercer, and he drove a Jaguar XK150, I believe his house on Even Hill was hit by a"doodlebug" during the war, Mr Lane had a business opposite the school doing metalwork and metal polishing, my friend Alan Chandler worked for him for a while. The highlight of the summer Fete for me was the motorcycle display- the driverless sidecar outfit (the driver was in the box sidecar), solo riders jumping through a hoop of fire!!!!! I've lived in London, Reading and Bristol, but I'm still a country boy at heart and now live in lovely part of Wiltshire, near the county town of Trowbridge. More thoughts may come to me and if and when, I will bore you all with my ramblings again, if anyone out there has any memories, comments, I would love to hear from them, my email is rickmadbiker@gmail.com. Freddie(Rick) Thomas

For those reading this - Rick Thomas
aka Freddy Thomas passed away on 18th June 2024. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer just 7 weeks previously.
He remembered his childhood in Littlebourne with such fondness - he took me to see his home village in 2004. He loved his motorbikes and was riding right up until 84 years of age. He was always proud of his Kent heritage. If you can remember him please do Diane xx