Illuminated displays of Christmas past

It’s probably the busiest time of the year at the moment for towns and villages up and down the country, and Ashford is no exception.

Queues of traffic heading for the town have been a frequent sight in recent weeks, as residents searching for that ideal Christmas gift descend on the town’s shops.

Others head for the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, with some of us travelling further to the likes of Bluewater and Westfield at Stratford.

The colourfully lit streets and malls of huge shopping centres really lift the Christmas mood and confirm festivities are imminent, and over the years efforts have been variable throughout the country.

Sometimes lighting displays can be dramatic and councils can get carried away, whereas in recent times, the conservative approach has been adopted due to the expense.

Many have been disappointed with efforts in recent years compared to previous times.

Don’t get me wrong, this year’s Ashford lights look lovely but, personally, the efforts of Christmas past are what I really remember – when every street in the town’s heart was illuminated with festoontype lighting.

Nowadays, some traders in the narrow streets around Middle Row, for instance, feel left out – it’s still the town centre they say!

In the absence of these once familiar displays, sometimes the appearance of snow compensates.

Snow in many respects is a festive street decoration in itself but even the chances of a white Christmas are a little hit and miss nowadays with forecasters still unable to predict accurately and nature having other ideas.

This week’s Remember When looks back at three previous festive periods showing both the lighting efforts and the whole atmosphere, as we return to 1965, 1972 and 1976 respectively.

Don’t forget, signed copies of my new book Ashford – A Rare Insight are now available at Waterstones County Square and WHSmith in the High Street – the eighth pictorial history of the town, showing rare images of the town from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Do you have any photographs or slides that you would be willing to lend me, to enable them to be scanned and featured in the Kentish Express? Write to me, Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR, email me at rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @ SteveKMAshford. You can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232.

Upper High Street, 1965.