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Dear Editor,

I am looking for photos of the old Hawkinge County Primary School where I began my teaching career in 1956.

I have tried various websites but the old school and its history appear to be airbrushed out of existence, and I'm sure this can't be so.

In particular I am looking for good pictures of the original school on Canterbury Road.

I would be grateful if you could help by asking your readers as I am about to begin a book on 'The Battle of Britain' which may be dedicated to my first classes at Hawkinge.

If anyone in the area has any memories of that period between July and October 1940, I will be starting my book on 'The Battle of Britain' almost straightaway, and will be delighted to have photos [copies] and reminiscences from those months in the Elham Valley especially around Hawkinge.

Can you please help?

Yours very sincerely

Philip Copland

Editor's note: Please email us (editor@localrags.co.uk) and we will forward any replies or put you in touch with Mr Copland.

Dear Editor,

A step back in time beyond any doubt was the right decision that the town of Ashford took in accepting the British Mark IV World War One tank in 1919, as a reminder of the thousands of men from Ashford who Lord Kitchener and Lloyd George called up to sacrifice their lives for King and Country.

This has been a phenomenal asset for Ashford in reminding the younger generation of the carnage of human loss during the Great War. It is also a number one tourist attraction for Ashford, bringing in good revenue all around.

Therefore, give thought to what benefits can come to Folkestone from the restoration of the 1890 Leas Lift Carriage — far older than Ashford’s WW1 tank.

Shepway District Council’s community grant of 2007 gave £4,500 towards its refurbishment. The 1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration team have raised to date £7,500, totalling £12,000. At our annual general meeting in December a proposal will be put to the committee that we instruct Angelo Tripodi of the War and Peace group to initiate work on the base of the carriage.

As the total renovation cost is £25,000, we are looking to corporations and businesses to help us with a shortfall of £13,000. Anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause can donate to HSBC Bank Account: 21433784, Sort Code: 40-21-15.

The public have responded fantastically to our fund-raising efforts to ensure the safeguard of this carriage of great age so that the children of today and the next generation to come can physically experience for themselves the genuine item, instead of merely flicking through pages of a history book!

Yours respectfully,

Robert Mouland,
Treasurer
1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Group.
 

Dear Editor,

Through your increasingly popular website, one would like to announce that our seeds scattered in early March certainly reaped a crop worthy of harvesting with a total sum of £70.58p, stored away today, October 1st, in HSBC Bank Account number 21433784 for the restoration of the 1890 Leas Lift Carriage appeal.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the proprietor of Bar Brevet, Private Members Club in Castle Hill Avenue, Mr & Mrs Markram, who nurtured our appealing appeal presentation bucket, situated on top of the bar, throughout the summer months. Thank you!

The compassion of their patrons cannot go unnoticed, for supporting the carriage restoration project with their donations. We are profoundly indebted to you all. The grand total so far is just over £6,000.

The project’s website can be viewed at www.leaslift.org.uk

Robert Mouland
Treasurer
1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal

Dear Editor,

Re:Cheriton railway bridge - photograph

This photograph appears in a book entitled "South Coast Railways - Ashford to Dover (including Hythe and Sandgate Branch)" published by Middleton Press (ISBN 0-906520-48-7).

In that book, the picture is attributed to "Lens of Sutton" (a well known resource of photographs of railways and things to do with railways).

The book informs the reader that the picture was taken in 1913.

Regards,

Lazarus
 

Thanks to Peter, one of our regular readers who sent in an interesting old photograph of the railway bridge in Risborough Lane, Cheriton.
 

"The staging on the right was a station known as Cheriton Halt.

"I'm not sure if they are pulling down the old round bridge for the squarer one, as there now, or repairing both" said Peter.

Editor's note: Please let us know if you can tell us more.