Putting town’s history back in the picture

As some readers may already be aware, the time has come for me to release my new book illustrating the pictorial history of the town.

Ashford – Visual Recollections, my ninth book, contains an unrivalled collection of images depicting the changing face of the town from the 1950s to the 1980s and is guaranteed to appeal to all with an interest in history.

It’s a mixture of rare images illustrating the town within living memory that have never before been published.

My official launch of the book will be held on Saturday at Waterstones in County Square.

I will be there signing books for Christmas from 10am till close. Please come along and say hello.

Equally, if you have any old pictures or slides that you think would be of interest, please bring them too.

One customer from last year’s signing event kindly donated the colour slides featured in this new book.

A huge thank you to Edwin Bartlett, from Ashford, for your kind assistance and for having the foresight to take the pictures in the first place.

It was 14 years ago that my first book, Changing Ashford, was published by Sutton Publishing Limited in Gloucestershire.

Nine books later, people ask me: “Is there really that much to write about old Ashford?” Well yes, there is. Since my first book, I am known to concentrate on the 1940s to the 1980s and there is good reason for this.

My good friend and mentor Richard Filmer, who passed away in May, pre-dated me as an author of many splendid books about the town.

In 1983, Richard’s first book, Old Ashford, was published. His focus in this and his other books was from the 1800s through to the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

Whilst I have researched these eras of the town’s history, it was out of my respect for him that I chose not to replicate or compete with his work.

Richard mentored me from the age of 10 about the town. Today, I benefit from his archive of which he gave to me.

Testimony to his kindness and long-standing friendship, I have dedicated the book to him.

This week’s trio of images are among those featured in the new book.

Do you have you any photographs or slides that you would be willing to lend me, to be scanned and featured in the Kentish Express?

Write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford TN24 8RY, email me at rememberwhen_kmash@ hotmail.co.uk, or find me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford.

Or you can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232. Please supply a return address for the return of originals.