Photo's - random persons

Below - photo of William Smith standing in the grounds that later became the Rolex Car Park and now under a rear garden in new housing.

(Heath End Road junction with Denton Road) 1940s looking towards the direction of The Dell and Crayford. It was on land just left of Owen Gemmell in the picture immediately below.

William Smith is the son of the William Smith who lived at the bottom of Beaconsfield Road junction with Heath End Road and kept donkeys

Below - Heathend Road c1964 - unmade and a glorious puddle every time it rained !

and then another shot of the same location about 10 years later

The eight immediately below donated by Clare FITZSIMONS nee MORAND

Below was taken in 1964 in Beaconsfield Road; in the picture is Jeffery Raine, Clare Morand 

Below was taken in 1967 in Beaconsfield Road, in the back garden, in the picture is Michael, Valerie, Clare Morand

Below three show Julie Smith and Elizabeth Blackman Heathend Road

Below picture was taken in 1976 in Beaconsfield Road, Maypole Estate of Valerie Morand from the right, next Clare Morand then Julie Humphreys and then Janet Humphreys on the left, going on a night out on the town looking for good looking boys Joke?

Below 

1st Picture - the late Michael Morand with Clare, Valerie Morand on the Maypole Heath 

2nd Picture (c1961) Julie Smith, Ronnie Gosling, the late Michael Morand, Clare Morand, Valerie Morand, Jeffery Raine, with Ronnie’s Guinea pigs back drop are the rear of the houses in Baldwyns Road - children in garden of Beaconsfield Road - probably Clares garden.

The below (donated by William Beck) was taken around 1953/54.

From left to right: don't know, Nancy Beck, Denise Flett, Edwin Flett.

Nancy dressed in mother's silk dressing gown with chrysanthemums in her hair, Denise wearing a pillow-case labeled 'Lavender bag'

and Edwin, with the best available sign of: Good old Maypole ~ nothing changes, we are still celebrating, Good old Maypole.

Hi Kim,

Have been looking through the updates and seen the picture sent in by Will Beck, the unknown girl is my neice Carole Smith.

Four little girls in carnival dress. I really enjoyed the reunion on the heath and look forward to the next one.

The history of the Maypole is so interesting and very special to all of the "old timers" Thank you.

Best wishes, Pat Page nee Davies

Below photo (courtesy of 'William') showing the Institute Hut, Baldwyns Road - 1922.

Info from Nancy Beck re below photo dated 26th May 2013

"Lovely to speak to you having had splendid hour or two searching the maypole. Photo dated 1922 greetings from WM LEONARD does show my grandparents & my mum. Vera Nancy Saunders is seated centre front long hair over each shoulder. Her parents Jimmy & Annie at the right end of the second row standing. Grandmother with granddad's head behind her left shoulder. She died in this1932 & he in1972".

Below - William and Nancy Beck in uniforms at the Baptist Church. Nancy Beck appears in photos of the latest 2011 Reunion

Below - info from Nancy Beck dated 26th May 2013, "My brother & I were members of thee THE BOYS BRIGADE & What is now called THE GIRLS BRIGADE formerly The Girls Life Brigade".

Above - we are informed that, sadly, Gordon Lennox and George Stockford (Jnr) are now deceased.

Above - the late Jack Roome c 1922 in Scout outfit
Image courtesy of the late Kitty Roome

Below - Jack's sister - the late Kitty Roome (undated) in Maypole School playground - note that Beaconsfield Road ended before the later bungalows had been built.  Kitty was a local historian.

Below, another of the late Kitty Roome (sister of Jack) in Dartford Girls Grammar school uniform c 1920s - first day at school - doesn't she look proud ! Taken in rear garden of 16 Denton Terrace and in background looking towards what was the Rolex and Maypole House property (the Daisy Meadow occupied land upon which the Rolex factory had been built c1959 and where is now the site of a row of houses)

Below is her father - image courtesy Bexley Archives

Title John H E Roome, R.F.R Date c.1900 Description John Hector Edward Roome, father of Miss Kitty Roome, local Bexley historian. Her father first joined the Royal Navy in 1896.  He later became a Painter and Decorator at Bexley Hospital.  He was born at Sidcup in August 1880 and died in Bexley in December 1945.

Below - the late Frank Blackman (Son of Edwin and brother of Winnie) c 1930 in his rear garden in Denton Terrace - near location and same aspect as Kitty above, wearing a Seascout uniform ? - rear towards 'The Daisy Meadow'.  This meadow was the local name given to land where, latterly, Rolex watch factory was built.  This is now demolished to make way for new houses.

Courtesy of the late Winnie Blackman

Below - the late Gordon Lennox wearing the Cameron 'Tartan' Scout uniform c early 1940s ? This special scarf was authorised by the Scouting Movement at the request of Mr Cameron of Broomhills.
Courtesy of Gordon Lennox

Above - the late George Stockford (Snr) sometimes referred to as STOTFORD - Caretaker c1960-1965 Maypole School

Above - the late Charlie Lawrence - a black boy - (born 28/4/1919) taken in rear garden of George Stockford's house in Baldwyns Road c1937. He was a pupil at Maypole School.  The school register shows he started school on 24th March 1924.  Has been described by the late George Stockford (Jnr) as a great friend and convivial boy. He lived at 14 Ivy Villas (Next to the Post Office) with his widowed mother. Her husband was killed in WWI when HMS Hogue was sunk by the Germans (20/09/1914).

Archives from the HMS Hogue Roll of Honour - LAWRENCE, Leading Stoker, WILLIAM, 297574. (RFR/CH/B/9794). Royal Navy. . Age 31. Son of John Lawrence; husband of Elizabeth Lawrence, of 14, Ivy Villas, Maypole Estate, Bexley, Kent. 

During WWII it was believed that Charlie joined the RAF. Records now show he was a soldier in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment.

Below photograph supplied by Dr. Mike Still, curator of the Dartford Museum

Dr Still has discovered the death registration online (on Ancestry). He indicates:-

The registrar of the local town seems to have insisted on registering every death at the local prisoner of war camp as if the inmates were local residents! Even though the camp was local, the registrar’s information was supplied from Berlin so we can’t know how true it is, but the cause of death is given as jaundice, so presumably Charlie had contracted hepatitis.

A woman with the same maiden name is certainly on his birth certificate but his adoptive mother may just have been pretending to the registrar that she was the birth mother when Charlie’s birth was registered in Strood (although he is said to have been born in Gravesend). Alternatively, the maiden name may even have referred correctly to a sister of hers, whose illegitimate child she then adopted. Further research is needed on this point to obtain a first name to go with the maiden name.

Charlie also found out that his mother died in early 1940 and he then moved out of 14 Ivy Villas and in with the Stockford family at 48 Baldwyn’s Road, shortly before heading off for France with the Army.

Below is record from Military Records

Death Date:Number:Birth Place:Residence:Regiment at Enlistment:Branch at Enlistment:Theatre of War:Regiment at Death:Branch at Death:

When he became a German POW. George Stockford (Jnr) proudly remembered collecting food for red cross parcels for him. After all, his dear mate was safe. Not for long.In November 1941 Charlie died. There were two stories floating around as to his death 1) he was shot - we are told whilst trying to escape - that was the usual reason, wasn't it - mmmmmm ? and 2) died of pneumonia after being worked down salt mines. Either way, we suppose this was nothing to do with his colour ?  The rumours about his death are in conflict with  Dr. Stills entry - the official cause of death.

He is buried in Poland. Two generations lost to enemy fire. 

Mentioned on the Commomwealth War Graves Commission - see below - the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery is where the remains of the 50 Prisoners of War who were shot after the 'Great Escape' by the Germans now lie.

Above . . . . .
All dressed up and nowhere to go . . . . .

Happier times - Alice Blackman (Sister of Winne and Frank and daughter of Edwin) and friend outside front of 12 Denton Terrace c 1920s

Courtesy of the late Winnie Blackman

. . . . and duplicated from the transport page below is Challices greengrocers lorry

Above

From Sheila Lusher nee Houlton - she suspects the above culprits to be

"We concluded that the chap on the bike is David Cruikshank. (He appears in photo above, some 60 years on !) Left to right, we think they are: Ernie Gosling, Mosie Challice, Rose Challice (wife), Jackie Challice and David C. I am happy to be corrected by another reader, as this input is from my brother, although he seems very certain. Not many of 'em left, I don't suppose?

Had a lovely afternoon, reminiscing with Den".

Regards,

Sheila (16th. December 2007)

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I'm the strawberry holding Mrs Potter's hand looking up at the man who later became my father in law. Also I am the girl on Mr Popes horse..I was three at the time. Lesley Smith nee Williams

Above - and for the special memories of Sheila Lusher - Mr Pope and his horse, Heath End Road. We thought it was beaconsfield Road but Steve Parker put us right ! The other photo is of Mr Smith - Penny Smiths dad in Fancy Dress in Baldwyns Road, for one of the procession 1950s. Standing next to him is Mrs Potter - already featured in another photograph of the same procession.

Photo courtesy of Penny Smith

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Below (Courtesy of Steve Parker) - Bill & Lou Proudfoot having just received trophies for indoor sports, Bexley Hosp. Sports & Social Club, mid 1970s

Below left to right - the late David Richardson (West Lodge, Bexley Hospital) Alan MacLean (East Lodge, Bexley Hospital) and Kim Button - see photo of him in one of the above images 'Telling me how it all once was c1999' taken some 30 years on. Photo taken in rear garden of 2 Beaconsfield Road 1967. Army surplus was all the rage then. Fashion was nowhere to be seen !