1900

Troops for Boer War had to take their own horses!

HIGHER government grants towards pay and allowances were expected to Improve recruiting for volunteers to Join forces such as the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles which was sending men out to fight in the Boer War. It was thought numbers had been restricted due to the cost of volunteers providing their own horses! British troops In South Africa captured Bloemfontein and were thought to be close to relieving Mafeklng. South African Boer leaders had called for peace but Insisted there should be independence for the South African Republic or the Orange Free State. At Hythe there were plans to form a company of Artillery Volunteers supported by Colonel Fynmore, of Sandgate, Capt James and Lieut Welch, both of Folkestone and a list of 80 Interested people had been drawn up. St John Ambulance workers, looking ahead to cold nights which would soon face the troops In Africa decided to provide wool for knitting warm clothing for the soldiers. Folkestone council approved plans for a mission hall with kitchen etc, to be built by Miss E Flude on land described as the Cheriton Cottage site which she intended buying from the Council.

1925

Silver Queen buses operate services from airship station.

TWO NEW bells were installed at St Martin's Church, Cheriton in recognition of the war service given by 435 men in the parish and as thanks for those who returned safely. Silver Queen Motor Coaches, operating from the old airship base at Capel, were seeking bookings for the season, offering 14,22, 28 and 32 seater coaches. Hythe Council appointed a committee of seven to consider a plan for a ‘Winter Garden’ on the seafront. The plan was to put up 36 ‘weekend bungalows’ and garages on the frontage of an eyesore of a waste site between Albert Road and St Leonards Road and to create a winter garden out of the sunken site. The proposal was to attract visitors from London and other towns, the bungalows to be let on a yearly rental. According to deputy mayor Cllr E Osborne, it need cost the town nothing. Would you believe they used to drain the Bayle pond, which used to be a lot bigger than in recent times, to make room for the old Bayle Fair? I wonder what happened to the wildlife?! Did you know the town's first public library was at the old Harvelan Institute, which was in part of the former Herald office and printing works at the Bayle? The Herald published another In Its long historical articles on village churches, signed by W.H.E.; this time on St Mary's, Sellindge, with several illustrations.

1950

Silver City car flights to Le Touquet booming.

A SILVER City Airways, which ferried cars between Lympne and Le Touquet In 1949. said they expected to increase the figure by 6,000 in 19S0. A final appeal was made for names to go on the Hythe Roll of Honour In respect of the Second World War memorial in the town. Hythe was considering flying out a party of archers and tennis players to take part in an Anglo-Dutch sports meeting. Folkestone Motorcycle Club's annual trial meeting for the Folkestone Cup attracted a good entry of 65 riders to race over a course from the old Star Inn, Newington taking in Horn Street, Postling and Paddles-worth areas. The trophy went to a Tenterden rider. Townsman, writing in the Herald's midweek Gazette, featured an old photograph of the windmill which used to grind com in Millfield but was taken down and moved to Bethersden In 1885, the buyer paying £30 for it! (And that was after paying £400 for repairs not long before.) In the background of the picture were two houses which he said were in Cheriton Road. He told how William Marsh, of Brockman Road, had lived In the millhouse when he was a boy. He came to Folkestone with his parents In 1873 when his father, also William, took over the mill from a Mr Dawson and used to bake bread using his own flour. Nurserymen G & A Clark Ltd later had the ground.

1975

Help save town’s ailing hotels pleads councillor.

CHAIRMAN of Shepway’s publicity sub-committee, Cllr George Thomas called for government action to rescue the town’s ailing hotel trade. Most European countries, he said, gave enormous encouragement and help to the hotel industry because they knew its value. In Britain this didn’t happen. He wanted the government to come up with grants and loans. Upset Hythe people were pressing for local societies and other organisations to be able to make use of the new Cinque Ports Pavilion at Hythe which Shepway Council had proposed should be used only during three months in the height of summer, for fear of loss. And their fight was backed by Stade Court Hotel which suggested its use for business conferences, sales meetings and other functions ‘out of season’ general manager Tony Marsden adding that he did not expect his hotel to have exclusive rights. Saltwood Cricket Club chairman Jack Fakley hit out at the “damn petty" attitude of a development company which left the club ‘homeless’ while its former ground stood Idle. He described It as sacrilege! Target of his anger was Flag Developments which gave the club notice after the club had used the pitch for 21 years. The company failed to get consent to put up 54 homes and lost an appeal. The club’s hope of a new pitch rested on a site at Eaton Lands, some distance away.