On the campaign trail in a bygone era

Without getting on one’s political bandwagon, we’re in a very turbulent and monotonous situation in the country at the moment with much uncertainty over the subject of Brexit.

While we all have our political preferences, to switch on the radio or the television of late has often been a reason to switch either source off again. If you’re not careful, the arguments and disagreements can otherwise become part of your life.

Over the decades, there have been many different political directions and stances and many notable candidates that have made a political mark on the area which they have covered.

To be recognised and followed by your constituents, you have to prove your worth.

In days past, there seemed to be an ease of choice compared to today, with an often difficult decision on who to trust going forward.

Watching the way our politicians in Westminster and across the globe conduct themselves and their business today is more like ‘playground politics’ with all the stupid arguments flying around that could often be found in a primary school playground.

Proving your worth as a political candidate nowadays is one mighty task, especially when we, the constituents, are continually left in limbo over the country’s next move.

Where elections are concerned, canvassing has long been the tradition to win over the votes of people and more and more we see new faces putting themselves forward to serve their constituents.

These new faces appear more and more in a bid to take over long reigning positions up and down the country, in places where stalwarts and dead wood need to be ousted.

This week, Remember When looks back at two political canvassers of the early 1960s, namely Charlie Thomas and Mike Crudas, who are seen deliberating over their plan of attack in Hempsted Street, which is now buried beneath County Square.

■ Do you have any photographs or slides of old Ashford you would be willing to loan me to enable them to be scanned for possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, feel free to get in touch.

Write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8RY.

Email me: rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk

Follow me on Twitter: @ SteveKMAshford.

Or you can also leave a telephone message for me by calling the Kentish Express on 01233 623232.

The former Castle Hotel can be seen in the background of this nostalgic view showing just a few of the houses at the top of Hempsted Street where both Crudas and Thomas are canvassing