Registered Charity No. 1070698
Last Updated 25/3/08
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About
our town
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Personal Memories
I am
e-mailing on behalf of my dad Bob (Robert) Eaton because he doesn't have
the internet. My dad is very interested in your website and is keen to
find out if anybody can remember the memories he talks about (below) and
he'd love to hear from anyone who has similar memories or remembers any
of the same people. Liz
Tunstall pre-war - Hugh Farrington
The Bull Hotel - Queenie Field (nee Allen)
Childhood in Tunstall - Peggy Jackson Wartime Memories - June Morgan The Mill - Gerald (Dixie) Dean 40 Years of Dance Music - Jack Whitnell
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1942-56 by Robert Eaton
My
name is Bob Eaton. I was born in 1935. I lived in Sittingbourne until
the age of 21, when I moved to Brighton. During the war I lived with my
family in Charlotte Street, opposite Lloyds paper mill. From 1948
onwards we lived in Homewood Avenue on the Manor Grove Estate.
I
was apprenticed as an electrician at F.C Lowe (dog biscuit
manufacturers) which was part of a complex of buildings at the top of
Wellwinch Road. The other two companies were: 'Export packing service'
and 'Wellwinch Engineering'. I was at F.C Lowe from 1951-1956. My
colleagues were John East, Nobby Beeson and Tich Craycraft. My mentor
was Bert Williamson (a brilliant electrician). We played
inter-departmental cricket at King George VI playing field. I went on to
play cricket for Milton Cricket Club at the same ground. The Sunday
captain of Milton cricket club was Frank Hales. The Saturday captain was
Frank Wilkins. People may remember our wicket keeper Bob King who had a
club foot but was a brilliant keeper (and also our local milkman).
My
father was very well known (Jack Eaton). For many years he was
Groundsman and Steward at "Gore Court Cricket Club". He was a founder
member of N.A.G (National Association of Groundsmen) and he became an
advisor to many clubs on the preparation of cricket pitches.
For some years during my early teens I worked as a delivery boy at
Covers the grocery / greengrocers shop in Milton (opposite the
Perriwinkle Stream).
I
went to school at Holy Trinity School in Spring Street from 1941-1949.
My headmaster was Bill Catt. The deputy headmaster was Frank Costen and
I learnt to write well because of Mrs Barnes. I remember pupils called
Gordon Hibbens, Raymond Howe and Michael Le'Brun. Mr Catt ran a bell
ringing team and they appeared on television in the black and white
days. We had a boy scouts group called Holy Trinity Pack. I joined just
before an outing to Sharps toffee works in Maidstone. We were bussed
there from our camp at Charing. Remember, this was during sweet
rationing and we were told to help ourselves to anything off the
assembly line, which were mainly plain toffees and chocolate toffees.
This seemed like we'd all died and gone to heaven...! This would have
been in 1947.
Our local ballroom where I learned to dance was 'Lloyds Club House'.
Myself and colleagues took ballroom dancing medals with Ann Lingarde at
the Carmel Hall at the bottom of Ufton Lane.
I
am still ballroom dancing and I work as a dance host on Cruise ships
several times a year.
I
would love to hear from anyone who remembers the places and people I
have written about here or who remember me or anyone in my family. My
dad was Jack Eaton, my mum was Dorothy Eaton, my brother and I are Bob
(Robert) and Bill (William) Eaton, my aunt was Lil, who also lived on
the Manor Grove Estate. Her Name was Lilian (Lil) Oag. |
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Volunteers We are always looking for volunteers to act as guides and to help out in the museum when it is open. Any members willing to help for a couple of hours should contact the secretary, Peter Morgan.
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