Shop furnished with a touch of glamour

Ashford has had its fair share of celebrity visitors over the years. From boxer Freddie Mills and footballer Bobby Moore to singer Peter Andre and former tabloid pin-up Linda Lusardi, the town has never failed to wow crowds with the many stars visiting for special events in times past.

And, quite often, we will see the likes of Paul O’Grady, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, who all live nearby, in the vicinity.

A few years back, I got off a bus and bumped straight into Chris Tarrant – but didn’t find time to phone a friend!

Back in 1957, crowds gathered as glamour model Sabrina spent time at furnisher W.H. Gibbs in the High Street as it held a Modern Homes Exhibition in its store.

She appeared in the film Blue Murder at St Trinian’s the same year and, in one of her final films, she replaced Jayne Mansfield in the horror film The Ice House.

Now living in Hollywood, Sabrina was born Norma Ann Sykes in Stockport, Cheshire.

This week’s Remember When looks back at the visit she made to the High Street store, which is now buried beneath the County Square shopping centre.

Do you have any photographs or slides that you would be willing to loan to me, to enable them to be scanned and featured in the Kentish Express? If so please 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. Or you can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232.