Is that early to mid-1940’s? That little girl is standing near to the south end of Hill View. The Summers family lived about there. Jean Summers started attending school at Borough Green Primary in September, 1945. Is that Jean Summers?
The colour postcards date from 1932 so I doubt it’s her. I’ll check to see if I have that recorded anywhere.
I think one of the group on the Long Pond image is a relative.
It’s a pity that Jean isn’t reading this.
She was a very good reader while in Miss Riley’s Infants class – and after a term or so, had overtaken practically all of those in Miss Bamford’s Transition class who were a year older. I remember Mary Forrester, who was in Transition, incredulously informing the rest of the school about this.
Jean became a mother at about the age of 16 or 17, so perhaps one of her grandchildren will let us know how she is doing.
I am intending to post some content from the school (hopefully) to generate some more views from BGPS pupils from the 80s which may have a knock on effect on those reading/contributing. Frank Bangay helped with some DIY in 1989 and received some thank you letters as a result. I’ll post these with surnames edited out.
Although the car and the little girl’s hair style and clothes appeared to be from the decade before, I pushed this to the back of my mind. I was thinking about Jean.
In the mid-1970’s, a young lady 12 years my junior, was mentioning the wearing of snake belts and the school dinner rissoles and gypsy tart while attending primary school in Lambeth. (the gypsy tart on all too rare occasions).
She mentioned how some of the rissoles mysteriously finished up under the table. And how everyone attempted to swallow the gypsy tart whole, in hopes of successfully racing to a second helping.
She asked if the same thing happened at BGPS. I agreed that – well, that sounds just so extremely familiar.
How about in your day, Ian? And in your day, all you others?
Living only a few yards from the school I always had home dinners. Oddly that carried on when I started at Wrotham which probably helped my running stamina but did little for my social life. Thankfully when in Maidstone I did not have to run home and back.
I decided to comment further in case you thought I was referring to belts made of snake skin – then noticed a young girl wearing one. I hadn’t really taken much notice of the belts since the late 1940’s.
Ours used to be a variety of lengthwise multi-colours only, with some stretch to them.
The snake was more substantial and fancy, compared to the one I have just seen (which looked plain and a bit home-made). I wish I had kept mine – though even with the stretchability, it is probably inadequate for my current waist measurement.
Gypsy tart.
Serves 6 (just right for me).
300g pastry
400g evaporated milk
330g muscovado sugar
No wonder it tastes so great – that is so unhealthy!
Everything that worsens my inflammation, LDL cholesterol, hay fever, psoriasis, weight gain, wrinkles, etc.
Hill View :
Mr Scrivener the primary school caretaker lived at the north end, next to the school playing field – convenient for lighting the coal / coke fires, and us having warm radiators on arrival. Temperatures were a little colder then, before global warming.
Mick Bennett, the BGFC right winger, lived next door to him.
And Peter Harlow lived at about the middle – he went to Maidstone Grammar School.
‘Windy Nob’, the hill just to the east of Hill View used to host the annual ‘Bonfire Night’, at its crest.
So all of the school pupils would see the bonfire being assembled for several months prior and be thinking of ‘penny for the guy’, and the fireworks that they would be taking there.
Windy Nob remains in part – part now covered in housing and part scrub-land with gorse on it. The observer corps building that remained for so long after its use has now gone too. You get a good view over the village from there. During my time at BGPS Ron Fissenden took over as caretaker and did a grand job. No idea who is currently in post but it’s probably on the board under a different more grandiose title. Premises manager is what I was trying to think of. Currently the caretaker is Mr R. Layberry, presumably Rod, a few years my senior.
Hi Campbell. Just a small correction. The hill to the east of Hill View was called “Naylors Nob” after the farmer who lived just bellow it. “Windy Nob” was the area just along the footpath to Ightham that goes across Staleys road and continues on to and across the quarry link road.Remember both places, playing their with friends in the 1960’s schoool summer holidays (Patrick Edwards. BG resident 1955-2012.)
There was a degree of fuss in the 60s when it was suggested that Bellows Lane running over/into the fields there was to be stopped up. Wisely it was left open after some local protest.
Rod Layberry sounds like a relation of Mrs L.Bennett (Basted Paper Mill lady rag sorters, 1912 photo).
If so he would probably have been named after her son, Roddy.
Rod’s name also seems to tie in with (what would be) his father and 2 eldest brothers : Reg, Ross and Robin.
They lived at Tollgate Estate.
The main family connection would have been Mrs Bennett (nee Cunningham) and Rod’s Mother.
They were also connected with the Cunninghams (sons – Glen and Roy), living at Wrotham Heath.
Rod’s mother’s name was Elsie – it had been on the tip of my tongue. I believe that she had been an adopted or foster child.
I felt that I should add this because Reg and Elsie were such good parents.
After Ross and Robin, there was Jill and – Roger?
I remember John Naylor building the Guy Fawkes bonfires at Windy Nob, during the late 40s/ early 50s.
It was also called Windy Nob before the Naylors started farming below.
But by the ‘swinging 60s, winds of change’, the Parish Council had come up with “Naylors Nob” – to avoid 2 Windy Nobs?
Well blow me down.
Patrick Edwards :
Re : The times I was watching John Naylor build those Guy Fawkes bonfires at Windy Nob.
Seven of my schoolmates from that time, have now assured me that was the only “Windy Nob” that they had heard of, during the late 1940s/ early 1950s.
Ian :
Patrick was playing there during the 1960s. This was 1 to 2 decades after I was watching John Naylor – the time that I was referring to @ 11:30 pm, April 18th 2013.
During the last three quarters of a century, quite a few of the roads, lanes, streams, ponds, places, etc., in the BG area, have had their names and/ or locations somewhat tweaked/ modified/ changed. And there have been some new names.
Actually anything not big enough to be called a hill deserves little attention, windy or otherwise. What passes for “windy” in Kent would be a gentle breeze Up North!
Oh! Ian, did you really mean that?
When I hear about the Staithes Village main street – dropping steeply into the old fishing village…..
And of occasions when a storm has blown, and houses washed into the sea [where James Cook first felt the draw of the sea], and the ‘Cod & Lobster Inn’, washed away on a number of occasions…..
And that steep climb to the cliff tops, while following the coast round to Port Mulgrave, towards Whitby…..
And the relentless pounding of the North Sea.
It all reminds me, in a strange sort of way – of the village of Borough Green, and the 2 Windy and 1 Naylor’s, Nobs, and the Mighty River Bourne – during that ‘Night of the Great Storm’, those unforgettable 27 years ago!
Have another one mate, the drink’s on me!
While the fascination with measuring and naming things may have inspired legions of cartographers, it is clear that they have not had to shop in Hebden Bridge, where a simple trip out for the Sunday paper requires a team of sherpas, a supply of oxygen and emergency contact numbers to be exchanged. Not to mention the weekly shopping at the Co-Op.
Ian :
One of your fans who had been looking over my shoulder, has been secretively searching the coast for Staithes Village, in a DK Eyewitness Travel book (to try and stump me with a question).
The maps show Northumbria Region with Loftus southernmost – and Yorks/ Humber Region with Hinderwell northernmost.
I noticed that she also had an AA Driver’s Atlas/ Britain book, so I eventually opened it to the Middlesbrough/ North York Moors map – and there was Staithes – but I didn’t receive much in the way of thanks for this service.
Borough Green photos
Is that early to mid-1940’s? That little girl is standing near to the south end of Hill View. The Summers family lived about there. Jean Summers started attending school at Borough Green Primary in September, 1945. Is that Jean Summers?
The colour postcards date from 1932 so I doubt it’s her. I’ll check to see if I have that recorded anywhere.
I think one of the group on the Long Pond image is a relative.
It’s a pity that Jean isn’t reading this.
She was a very good reader while in Miss Riley’s Infants class – and after a term or so, had overtaken practically all of those in Miss Bamford’s Transition class who were a year older. I remember Mary Forrester, who was in Transition, incredulously informing the rest of the school about this.
Jean became a mother at about the age of 16 or 17, so perhaps one of her grandchildren will let us know how she is doing.
Campbell
I am intending to post some content from the school (hopefully) to generate some more views from BGPS pupils from the 80s which may have a knock on effect on those reading/contributing. Frank Bangay helped with some DIY in 1989 and received some thank you letters as a result. I’ll post these with surnames edited out.
Although the car and the little girl’s hair style and clothes appeared to be from the decade before, I pushed this to the back of my mind. I was thinking about Jean.
In the mid-1970’s, a young lady 12 years my junior, was mentioning the wearing of snake belts and the school dinner rissoles and gypsy tart while attending primary school in Lambeth. (the gypsy tart on all too rare occasions).
She mentioned how some of the rissoles mysteriously finished up under the table. And how everyone attempted to swallow the gypsy tart whole, in hopes of successfully racing to a second helping.
She asked if the same thing happened at BGPS. I agreed that – well, that sounds just so extremely familiar.
How about in your day, Ian? And in your day, all you others?
Living only a few yards from the school I always had home dinners. Oddly that carried on when I started at Wrotham which probably helped my running stamina but did little for my social life. Thankfully when in Maidstone I did not have to run home and back.
I decided to comment further in case you thought I was referring to belts made of snake skin – then noticed a young girl wearing one. I hadn’t really taken much notice of the belts since the late 1940’s.
Ours used to be a variety of lengthwise multi-colours only, with some stretch to them.
The snake was more substantial and fancy, compared to the one I have just seen (which looked plain and a bit home-made). I wish I had kept mine – though even with the stretchability, it is probably inadequate for my current waist measurement.
Gypsy tart.
Serves 6 (just right for me).
300g pastry
400g evaporated milk
330g muscovado sugar
No wonder it tastes so great – that is so unhealthy!
Everything that worsens my inflammation, LDL cholesterol, hay fever, psoriasis, weight gain, wrinkles, etc.
Hmm.. Straying a little from the topic of Hill View here perhaps
I’m sorry Ian – but while eating that gypsy tart, we were only a matter of yards from the top/ west end of those Hill View gardens.
Hill View :
Mr Scrivener the primary school caretaker lived at the north end, next to the school playing field – convenient for lighting the coal / coke fires, and us having warm radiators on arrival. Temperatures were a little colder then, before global warming.
Mick Bennett, the BGFC right winger, lived next door to him.
And Peter Harlow lived at about the middle – he went to Maidstone Grammar School.
‘Windy Nob’, the hill just to the east of Hill View used to host the annual ‘Bonfire Night’, at its crest.
So all of the school pupils would see the bonfire being assembled for several months prior and be thinking of ‘penny for the guy’, and the fireworks that they would be taking there.
Windy Nob remains in part – part now covered in housing and part scrub-land with gorse on it. The observer corps building that remained for so long after its use has now gone too. You get a good view over the village from there. During my time at BGPS Ron Fissenden took over as caretaker and did a grand job. No idea who is currently in post but it’s probably on the board under a different more grandiose title. Premises manager is what I was trying to think of. Currently the caretaker is Mr R. Layberry, presumably Rod, a few years my senior.
Hi Campbell. Just a small correction. The hill to the east of Hill View was called “Naylors Nob” after the farmer who lived just bellow it. “Windy Nob” was the area just along the footpath to Ightham that goes across Staleys road and continues on to and across the quarry link road.Remember both places, playing their with friends in the 1960’s schoool summer holidays (Patrick Edwards. BG resident 1955-2012.)
There was a degree of fuss in the 60s when it was suggested that Bellows Lane running over/into the fields there was to be stopped up. Wisely it was left open after some local protest.
Rod Layberry sounds like a relation of Mrs L.Bennett (Basted Paper Mill lady rag sorters, 1912 photo).
If so he would probably have been named after her son, Roddy.
Rod’s name also seems to tie in with (what would be) his father and 2 eldest brothers : Reg, Ross and Robin.
They lived at Tollgate Estate.
The main family connection would have been Mrs Bennett (nee Cunningham) and Rod’s Mother.
They were also connected with the Cunninghams (sons – Glen and Roy), living at Wrotham Heath.
If it’s the same Rod I am thinking of then yes he lived on Tollgate.
Rod’s mother’s name was Elsie – it had been on the tip of my tongue. I believe that she had been an adopted or foster child.
I felt that I should add this because Reg and Elsie were such good parents.
After Ross and Robin, there was Jill and – Roger?
Patrick Edwards.
Re : Yours of July 30, 2014.
I remember John Naylor building the Guy Fawkes bonfires at Windy Nob, during the late 40s/ early 50s.
It was also called Windy Nob before the Naylors started farming below.
But by the ‘swinging 60s, winds of change’, the Parish Council had come up with “Naylors Nob” – to avoid 2 Windy Nobs?
Well blow me down.
Patrick Edwards :
Re : The times I was watching John Naylor build those Guy Fawkes bonfires at Windy Nob.
Seven of my schoolmates from that time, have now assured me that was the only “Windy Nob” that they had heard of, during the late 1940s/ early 1950s.
So any talk of Naylor’s Nob goes out of the window then?
Ian :
Patrick was playing there during the 1960s. This was 1 to 2 decades after I was watching John Naylor – the time that I was referring to @ 11:30 pm, April 18th 2013.
During the last three quarters of a century, quite a few of the roads, lanes, streams, ponds, places, etc., in the BG area, have had their names and/ or locations somewhat tweaked/ modified/ changed. And there have been some new names.
Actually anything not big enough to be called a hill deserves little attention, windy or otherwise. What passes for “windy” in Kent would be a gentle breeze Up North!
Oh! Ian, did you really mean that?
When I hear about the Staithes Village main street – dropping steeply into the old fishing village…..
And of occasions when a storm has blown, and houses washed into the sea [where James Cook first felt the draw of the sea], and the ‘Cod & Lobster Inn’, washed away on a number of occasions…..
And that steep climb to the cliff tops, while following the coast round to Port Mulgrave, towards Whitby…..
And the relentless pounding of the North Sea.
It all reminds me, in a strange sort of way – of the village of Borough Green, and the 2 Windy and 1 Naylor’s, Nobs, and the Mighty River Bourne – during that ‘Night of the Great Storm’, those unforgettable 27 years ago!
Have another one mate, the drink’s on me!
While the fascination with measuring and naming things may have inspired legions of cartographers, it is clear that they have not had to shop in Hebden Bridge, where a simple trip out for the Sunday paper requires a team of sherpas, a supply of oxygen and emergency contact numbers to be exchanged. Not to mention the weekly shopping at the Co-Op.
Ian :
One of your fans who had been looking over my shoulder, has been secretively searching the coast for Staithes Village, in a DK Eyewitness Travel book (to try and stump me with a question).
The maps show Northumbria Region with Loftus southernmost – and Yorks/ Humber Region with Hinderwell northernmost.
I noticed that she also had an AA Driver’s Atlas/ Britain book, so I eventually opened it to the Middlesbrough/ North York Moors map – and there was Staithes – but I didn’t receive much in the way of thanks for this service.
Captain Cook would have been proud of your good work. It’s a bit like Hull, once you get there you wonder where else there is to explore.