Wintery streets in heart of town centre

Christmas is a special time of year where we get together and celebrate the season of goodwill, but we also remember and celebrate those absent friends too. It’s a time for happiness and the most expensive period of the year for many of us, but the biggest question of all is ... will we get a white Christmas?

Many will argue that snow makes Christmas and Christmas isn’t Christmas without it.

We often hanker after times past where it snowed for weeks and disruption wasn’t so much of a problem as it is today.

Our predecessors seemed to have a ‘calmer’ attitude to winter weather and little fear was shown compared to now.

Many would be humoured by the way everything grinds to a halt nowadays.

Some feel we are now a generation full of excuses. So if it does decide to be a white Christmas above all stay safe, but remember the weather of the 1950s and 60s (if you are old enough) and take a leaf out of the books of those who lived through it.

This week’s trio of Remember When images give a real feel for the festive season.

Taken in 1959, they show the wintery streets in the heart of the town centre and really give a feel of how old Ashford looked.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank readers for their continued support throughout 2016 with Remember When and helping to make the publication of my new book Ashford – A Rare Insight such a success, with signed copies still available from Waterstones and WHSmith.

I would also like to thank all those that have written to me and those who have donated scores of Ashford photographs.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. So here’s wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

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 @

An eerie picture of the deserted Lower High Street in 1959. Headley the grocers can be seen on the immediate left, with the Odeon cinema on the right. An interesting note, this picture was taken almost exactly a year before ITV’s Coronation Street...

The Upper High Street at its junction with Bank Street in 1959. Lloyd’s Bank can be seen on the left with Hepworth’s the tailors on the right. During wartime blackout, the same Keep Left signs illustrated were fitted with hoods to cover the illumination