1958 News
History > Newspaper Stories 1900 - 2000 > 1950-1959
03 Jan 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Farewell gifts to a much loved rector
Picture feature of farewell event at WI Hall Hartley for Rev J W Henderson [1913-1998] and his family. Presented with AKC Hood, a book inscribed with the names of 158 parishioners who gave him £120. He and Mrs Henderson were praised for reviving parish organisations.
Car driver had arm round girl
[NAME], aged 20 of Appledore, Ash Road fined £3 for not having proper control of car at High Street, Gravesend. Police saw him with arm around girl passenger and that car veered towards offside, causing man on pavement to jump back. He said he was shutting car door.
10 Jan 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Clerk to Longfield Parish Council
Advert for part time clerk, salary £90 pa. "The work of the clerkship includes preparing agendas, attending all council and committee meetings. Taking minutes and writing up Minute Books. Collecting allotment rents etc. Keeping account books. Preparing all books etc for audit. Dealing with all correspondence and to generally carry out the directions of the Parish Council in accordance with the Local Government Acts..."
Obituary of Frederick Ganden
Aged 76 of 6 Mile End Green. Lived at Longfield for 54 years. Served with West Kent Regiment in France and Italy in WW1, member of British Legion. Worked for J & B Martin as Brickmaker until ill health forced him to retire. Leaves 3 sons and 3 daughters.
Rural Council wants to build 150 houses this year
Dartford RDC Meeting. (1) They propose to build 50 for slum clearance, 50 for aged persons and 50 for other people on the housing list, said by one councillor to be 1,017 long. (2) Cllr Sims of Longfield highlights dangerous bus stop at the junction of Main Road and Hartley Bottom Road. He said people choose to walk to the next stop and tell their children to do the same.
Hartley Parish Church Interregnum
Until institution of Rev E Tennick on 19 April, retired clergyman Rev S W Bucknall formerly vicar of Grayne will take Sunday services.
Council to complain about new rail passenger coach
Hartley Parish Council Meeting. (1) Council don't like some new coaches apparing on Longfield trains, claiming unsatisfactory seating and heating, and hazardous narrower running board. (2) Post. Saturday afternoon collections ceased. Council to ask for post box near Springcroft. (3) Church Road said to be in poor condition.
24 Jan 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Village Loss
Obituary of Mrs Irene M Wall of Erceldoune, Church Road, aged 45 after a long illness. Came to Hartley 20 years ago, and was former president of the WI. For some years until last summer she was the Kent Messenger's Hartley correspondent. Leaves widower and 2 daughters.
31 Jan 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Churches will share minister
"The Congregational [URC] Churches at Dover Road, Northfleet, and Hartley are to have a joint minister. He will be the Rev George H Thomas from Totton near Southampton. For the village church it will be a major step, for apart from a few months about 20 years ago, it has never had a minister since it was founded more than 30 years ago. The Northfleet church, which celebrated its centenary in 1950, had been without a minister for several years. The new minister who will live in Northfleet, will conduct morning and evening services at Hartley on the second Sunday each month. From the date of Mr Thomas's induction at Hartley - February 8th - there will be services in the village every Sunday at 11am and 6.30pm...."
[Paper of 7/2/1958 has picture of his institution at Northfleet]
07 Feb 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Town's thrift record hard to beat
AGM of Gravesend Trustee Savings Bank. In past year number of accounts up 1,200 to 20,988, average deposit up £9 to £145. Dangers of Hire Purchase highlighted.
Rector shocks council by rejecting move
"Members of Hartley Church Council had a shock on Friday. They attended a special meeting at which it was expected that the Rev E Tennick, Rector of East Farleigh, near Maidstone, and Rector designate of Hartley and Longfield, two parishes near Dartford, would be present. The 'bombshell' came when instead of meeting Mr Tennick, the council secretary Mr E R Collins [Edward Roger Collins 1908-2002], read a letter from the Bishop of Rochester stating that Mr Tennick would not be coming to Hartley.
The Bishop said that in agreement with Miss E M King, patron of the living, he was recommending to the council the appointment to the living of the Rev B D Williams, curate of Rusthall, near Tunbridge Wells.
[NAME], a churchwarden, referring to the original arrangement tha thte parishes of Hartley and Longfield should be combined in one living, with the Rev E Tennick as rector, said that the Rector of Longfield (the Rev C H Sutton) had declined to accept the living offered him at East Farleigh and declared his desire to remain at Longfield. In the circumstances Mr Tennick had felt that as the endowment of the Hartley living was much less than that of East Farleigh, his appointment as Rector of Hartley only would undoubtedly place a financial burden on the parishioners. On being advised of the position, the Bishop thought that the problem could be most easily solved by the transfer to Hartley of the Rev B D Williams [Brian Donald Williams 1903-1958] from Rusthall.
Mr collins said he had always felt that the proposed combination of the parishes of Hartley and Longfield was not a happy arrangement, and in his view Mr Sutton was to be commended on his attitude in the matter. Mr W Ball, who presided at the meeting thought the council could regard the revised arrangement as a much more satisfactory one and be prepared to welcome Mr Williams if he was willing to come to Hartley. Mr Ball said he understookd that Mr Williams was a man of mature years. Hartley would benefit from a man with such experience..... The Rev B D Williams trained for the ministry at St Aidan's College and has been curate of Rusthall since his ordination in 1955."
13 Feb 1958 Portsmouth Evening News
Fined for Drunkenness
Among those fined £2 each was [NAME] (19) of 91 Main Road, Longfield, Marine Engineer 1.
14 Feb 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Prize Winners at Crufts
"A Great Dane bitch puppy, Helena of Ashthorpe, bred by Mrs J V Drinkwater [Joan Vanderveen Drinkwater 1921-1965], Far Ben, Church Road Hartley, won first prizes in the two classes for which she was entered at Cruft's Show...."
Council Clerk for 37 years
"Ask anyone in Longfield 'Who has been the most courageous member of the community over the years?' and 9 out of 10 will give the name of Mr Arthur Adams of Fairdene, who on March 31st retires from the clerkship of the parish council after 37 years' service.
For Mr Adams, who is 66, lost a leg at the first battle of the Somme when a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery in the 1914-18 war. Despite his disability, he was a Dartford rural councillor for 6 years and for nearly 20 years was senior partner in a Longfield firm of builders.
At the age of 54 he started up as a farmer at Longfield Hill at the end of hte last war. He was successful and farmed until 1951 when he decided to retire from working life.
Mr Adams, married with a son and two daughters, has lived in Longfield all his life and has seen many changes int he village. 'Mind you, my firm built 25 houses and 2 shops at Longfield Hill alone, so you might say I was responsibile for some of them,' he said.
It is only recent ill health that has forced Mr Adams to give up the work of clerk to the council During his long career with the council, Mr Adams has been present at three ceremonies of beating the bounds. The first was in 1925 and the last in 1956. The parish council will find it hard to replace its oldest and most respected friend and adviser."
28 Feb 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley Conservatives
AGM of Women's section. Active support down since merged into men's branch. South Easter Area representative "said that women in Conservative associations were properly concerned with organisation than policy...."
07 Mar 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Church Stones Crumbling
"The Rev C H Sutton, Rector of Longfield, told a reporter this week it was likely that a considerable sum would have to be raised in the near future to pay for repairs to the centuries old parish church of St Mary. A recent survey has shown that much of the stonework both in and outside the building will have to be renewed. 'The stonework round the doors and some of the windows is particularly bad,' said the rector, 'In places the stone work crumbles to dust as you touch it.' Repairs to the organ will cost over £100."
New rail coaches do not please
Hartley Parish Council meeting. (1) British Rail dismiss PC's complaint about new coaches, Cllr Hitchin says new seats are 16 inches wide, old ones were 17-19 inches. Further reply to be sent. 11.18pm train from Longfield to run Monday-Saturday, PC want bus to meet it. (2) Post Box. New one to be placed at end of Manor Dirve.
14 Mar 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Longfield Parish Council Meeting
(1) Tributes paid to Arthur Adams, retiring clerk. New clerk is Victor S Callaby [Victor Shaul Callaby 1896-1985] of Fernholme [Apple Tree Cottage], Church Road, Hartley. (2) Dartford RDC have asked for suggestions for car parks, Station Approach is mentioned by PC.
Hartley Naturalist Club
Resignations of two committee members.
17 Mar 1958 Evening News
Dance of Bells and High Hats
"Morris dancing is being revived in North Kent Villages by a newly formed group of dancers from Hartley near Dartford. The dancers include the Rector of Hartley, the Rev C H Sutton, 2 schoolmasters, a chartered accountant, an engineer and a farm labourer. So popular are their displays that they have had requests to perform in villages over a wide area. The dancers wear white clothes, decorated with red, white and blue ribbons. Their high crowned hats have broad streamers and strings of bells are attached to their legs. Even more elaborate costomes are worn by the caller, [NAME], and the 'fool' Mr P Sephton [Percy Sephton 1902-1965], who amuses the crowd between dances. 'Morris Dancing symbolises everyday country life,' explained Mr Sutton. 'In mime it depicts ploughing, crop planting and harvesting. It was common in England after 1350, but died out with the industrial revolution. It is high time these country arts were revived again."
21 Mar 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Objections to Village Council House Estate Plan
"Objections were heard by a Ministry of Housing Inspector at Dartford, to a Dartford RDC compulsory purchase order concerning 8.63 acres of land at Hartley. The land, lying between Wellfield (formerly Haverstock Drive), Larksfield (formerly Silverdale Avenue) and Gresham Avenue, is shown on the Kent Development Plan as primarily residential.
Mr J H Milburn, clerk to the council, said that land was required for building purposes. The council had 1,059 applicants on its housing list and 113 were resident in the areas fo Ash-cum-Ridley, Fawkham, Hartley, Longfield, Southfleet and Betsham. In addition 22 people outside the rural district had applied for houses in one of the areas mentioned. Some 50-60 dwellings could probably be erected on the land which was the subject of the order.
For the executors of W[alter] J Huxtable, owners of some of the land, Mr J G K Sheldon [?1913-?2004] said he was objecting to the order as arrangements had been made to sell the land to a local builder for private development. Mr J H Hickinbotham [John Henry Hickinbotham 1886-1972], owner and occupier of property adjacent to the land under consideration objected to the council building houses on the site as the tenants would probably have cars or lorries. These he claimed would be a nuisance by causing noise, particularly in the early morning, and by 'churning up the road'. Snother nearby resident, [NAME] objected as he lived in a bungalow and the council would build houses. From the upstairs windows of the houses the tenants would be able to look down into [NAME] bedroom windows. [NAME] also objected on the grounds that the value of his property would decrease.
The inspector had received some letters from objectors who thought the value of their properties would decrease if the council built on the site."
25 Mar 1958 Daily Herald
Neglected dogs
Ida Somerton Bellerby [1891-1972], former concert pianist and dog breeder of Church Road, Hartley, fined £2 and banned from keeping dogs for 25 years after being found guilty of neglect which she had denied. Her 27 Rhodesian Ridgebacks (out of only 100 in the country) ordered to be sold. She got first one "Lady of Emasne" in Kenya in 1936, she mated it with Princess Elizabeth's "Just of Bamba", so all her dogs are related to the now Queen's dog.
01 Apr 1958 Lincolnshire Echo
Cranwell Pass Out Parade
"Member of the first entry of RAF cadets at Cranwell in February 1920, Air Chief Marshal Sir George H Mills, Commander of the Allied Air Forces in Central Europe was the Reviewing Officer at the passing out parade at the 72nd entry of cadets from the college today - the 40th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.....The sword of honour went to Senior Under officer [NAME], of Hartley, Dartford, Kent...."
04 Apr 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley Parish Council Meeting
(1) PC agree with Fawkham PC's request to put a 'no cycling' sign at Fairby Road end of Fairby Lane - Fawkham footpath. (2) Church Road. Flooding and poor state of road reported. (3) Railways. Some changes to carriages since PC's complaint.
11 Apr 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Obituary of Mrs Rose Martin
Aged 66 of 30 Whitehill Road. Had lived in Longfield 42 years. Leaves widower, 4 sons and 4 daughters.
18 Apr 1958 Kentish Express
County Council Election
Dartford Rural East result: W Simmons (Con) 2,027 (63.1%) D J Wise (Lab) 1,187+F2750 (33.5%). No change. Swing Con > Lab 1.7%
Labour hold Dartford Rural West, Dartford East, Dartford West
18 Apr 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Resigns from Council
"Mr A E Edward has resigned his seat as Hartley's representative ofn Dartford RDC. Mr Edward said that after 11 years on the council he felt that the time had come to make way for a younger man."
25 Apr 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley's Rector will push for new church hall
Picture feature on institution and induction of Rev Brian D Williams to All Saints'. At the reception at the country Club, he said it was encouraging to see many young people at the service and he would press for the church hall to be built as a centre for their activities.
Amalgamation Plan
Plans to merge the three Medway authorities into a County Borough hit buffers when Rochester insists the borough should be named Rochester.
02 May 1958 Kentish Express
Fawkham Young Farmers Club
"Fawkham club has recently been opened officially. As the village has no other active youth groups, and is somewhat isolated, there is great need to provide this group of young people with a club for themselves. If the local community will help over the first difficulties, the club should prove a centre of lively interest for the young people in Fawkham. Mr John Brennan has been elected the club leader and Miss Anna Meaden is the secretary. The club is meeting every Wednesday evening."
02 May 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Farewell gift to 'Perfect Parish Clerk'
Picture feature on Longfield Parish Council presentation to its former clerk Arthur Adams.
Rector's wife jumped in front of train
"The Rector of Longfield, near Dartford, the Rev C H Sutton said at an inquest at Bromley that he saw his wife, Mrs Dorothy Hilda Sutton, 53, jump in front of an electric train in Bromley South station on April 12th. 'It was a deliberate jump,' he said. The jury's verdict was that Mrs Sutton 'killed herself while the balance of her mink was disturbed.'
Mr Sutton had told the coroner...that his wife had been abstracted and depressed. His wife's health, physically, had been good, but she had had a great deal of depression. About 2 years ago she had been treated at a Dartford hospital for an overdose of sleeping tablets. It was at this time that she had first been acutely depressed. After seeing a psychiatrist and undergoing shock treatment she was much better and had been very well until recently.
They had been in Longfield for 6 years. Recently there had been talk of a move but the move had not taken place and Mrs Sutton had been disappointed. On April 12th Mrs Sutton had not been herself. She had been rather abstracted in manner. For about a week she had been getting depressed about minor, inconsequential matters. With their adopted son, they were waiting on No 2 platform at Bromley South Station. A train came in. 'I saw the letter 'O' on the front and said to my wife: 'That's not our train', ' said Mr Sutton, 'To my horror, she fell, or threw herself, in front of the train.' Questioned by the coroner, Mr Sutton said: 'It was a deliberate jump. The motorman did not have any opportunity to pull the train.'
Since the incident two years ago, Mrs Sutton had not spoken of doing herself any harm. In answer to a question by a juror, Mr Sutton said he was a yard and a half away from his wife. He tried to grab at her but failed....." Description of funeral, lesson read by Bishop of Rochester.
Hartley Players' 59th show was one of their best
Favourable review of 'The Paragon' which played to large audiences. "After 31 years' existence it is nice to see that Hartley Players can still do so well."
Wanton Damage
Hartley Parish Council meeting. Burial ground and road signs vandalised.
16 May 1958 Kentish Express
Election Results
Dartford Rural District Council (elected by thirds). Hartley - M H Farage (Cons) 522, W M Baker (Lab) 81. Council Cons 10 (-4), Lab 9 (+4), Ind 1. Labour appear to have gained 3 seats in Swanley and 1 in Sutton at Hone
Dartford Borough Lab 18 (+1), Ind 4 (-), Cons 2 (-1); Gravesend Borough Cons 21 (-), Lab 10 (-), Ind 1 (-). At the time Northfleet was a separate Urban District.
[Kent Messenger 25/4/58 says the Hartley election is a casual vacancy. The Labour candidate is chairman of Longfield Parish Council who lost his RDC seat at the last election]
16 May 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Naturalist Club
New rector agrees to be president to support youth organisations. Subs increased to 2s 6d.
Bank manager's fatal collapse
Obituary of George Stanley Grover [pictured], aged 56, of Beresford, Ash Road, Hartley. He had been manager of Westminster Bank, Gravesend for 2 years, having worked for bank since 1919, and collapsed in his office.
23 May 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Was well known resident
"A well known resident of Longfield, who was formerly in business as a shoe repairer, Mr Stanley Acton [pictured], Bank House, [45] Station Road, died suddenly on Thursday last week after returning home from work. A native of the village, he went to Bermuda in 1925 wit his family and returned in 1934. His business was taken over by Mr L Leary a few years ago. Since then Mr Acton had been working as a shoe repairer with a firm at St Mary Cray. During the last war Mr Acton was senior air raid warden at Longfield. He served as a sergeant in the RAOC in the first world war and was a member of the Southfleet and Longfield branch of the British Legion. A widow, two sons and three married daughters are bereaved."
30 May 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley's Representative
William Simmons [pictured], Hillside, Billet Hill, Ash, local county councillor took part in ceremony at City of London Faringdon Ward Club.
13 Jun 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Big Success
Over 400 attend Old Downs garden fete which raised £100.
27 Jun 1958 Kent & Sussex Courier
Rector of Hartley in Road Accident
"The Rev B D Williams who was assistant curate of St Paul's Church, Rusthall, for 3 years, died in a road accident at Hawkinge, near Folkestone, on Thursday, last week. He was 53. Mr Williams, who became priest in charge at Rusthall in November, accepted the living of Hartley, near Dartford, at the beginning of this year and was instituted as rector of the parish on April 19. Mrs Helen Elsie Irene Bryant, 45, of Hartley Rectory, Dartford, was also fatally injured in the crash. An inquest was opened on Monday by the Folkestone coroner, Mr N W Franks. After hearing medical evidence he adjourned the inquiry until July 10. He said a further postponement might be necessary if injured witnesses were not fit to give evidence. Mr Williams's Austin van, travelling twoards Folkestone, was in collistion with an estate car on the main Folkestone-Canterbury road. [NAME], aged 17, a passenger in the rector's van was detained suffering from shock in Folkestone hospital. The driver of the estate car, which was travelling in the opposite direction, was [NAME], aged 21, of the Spinning Wheel, Barham, near Canterbury. He received a fractured wrist and suffered from shock. Evidence of identification was given [NAME] of 10 Eversley Way, Folkestone. Dr [NAME], casualty officer at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone, said Mr Williams and Mrs Bryant were brought to the casualty department on thursday afternoon. Mrs Bryant who was unconscious, died almost immediately. She was suffering from multiple injuries. Mr Williams was deeply unconscious and died an hour later. Dr [NAME], pathologist the the hospital, said Mrs Bryant died as a result of breaking her ribs. Mr Williams died from shock due to internal haemorrhage and multiple injuries."
04 Jul 1958 Daventry Express
£4,000 worth of greyhounds would make me Considerate
"Greyhound trainer Tony William Dennis [1931-2013] wrote to Daventry magistrates on Tuesday that he had two greyhounds in his car on May 7th, whose combined value was £4,000. One was worth £3,500 and the other £500 - and that was enough to make any man a considerate driver.
But the magistrates found that Dennis, 27 of Clifton, Hartley near Dartford Kent, did not drive with due consideration for other road users at Braunston, and they fined him £6.
Insp [NAME] said that at 5 minutes to midnight a police car was travelling down Braunston Hill when Dennis's car was seen overtaking a lorry on the hill, and the police car had to brake hard to avoid an accident. Dennis made a statment: 'I though thte road was clear when I started to overtake. But then a car which I hadn't seen came round a corner.'
In his letter to the court, Dennis who did not appear said: '..... I would not have taken any risks with such valuable animals, and any sudden jolt might have upset them considerably. The lorry I overtook seemed to be moving quite slowly, and I thought the safest thing to do was to keep going when I saw the car coming.' "
04 Jul 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Prior's new post
After 6½ years prior T V O'Neill is leavng for Aberystwyth, successor if T C Gallagher.
Legion Fete
British Legion Fete at Rectory Meadow [picture of Fete Queen contest winners]
25 Jul 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
'Baby Longfield' contest held at Parish Church Fete
Picture feature on Longfield Parish Church fete at Rectory Meadow, which raised £155. Baby show winner was [NAME], aged 2, of 19 St Mary's Way.
01 Aug 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Car Park for Longfield
Dartford RDC meeting. "…Consideration of a scheme for an £850 car park at the Station Road and Essex Road corner at Longfield and a public convenience costing £660, excluding the cost of the site, was deferred pending further enquiries....."
07 Aug 1958 Times
Three Men charged
Three men, including haulage contractor Frank Archie Boulding [1910-1963] of Thames View Farm, Hartley, charged with fraud relating to sale of meat at Bow Street Magistrates. Remanded on bail pending trial.
08 Aug 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
All Saints' Church
Cancellation of summer fete meant church short of funds. "The most important item of expenditure was an overhaul of the boiler system in the church. A new boiler may be necessary."
Coffin borne on a farm vehicle
"As was her often expressed wish, the coffin was borne on a horse drawn farm vehicle when the funeral took place on Thursday last week at All Saints' Church, Hartley, of Mrs Fanny Elizabeth Darvel of The Elms, Church Road, Hartley.
A great animal lover, Mrs Darvel, who had lived in the village for 20 years, kept in the paddock behind her home a Shetland pony, donkeys and for a number of years a sheep which she had bought as a lamb. The pony is now 38 years old.
Mrs Darvel, who was 63, died in Joyce Green Hospital."
Todders' playground is new feature of country fayre
Picture feature of Hartley and Fawkham Conservative Fete at the Country Club, opened by Peter Walker, prospective candidate for Dartford. Innovations were a creche and a china smashing stall.
29 Aug 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Church Loss
(Hartley) Mr W R Solly [William Robinson Solly 1881-1967], people's warden at the parish church for 18 years left the district on Monday. Also member of committee of local Conservatives.
05 Sep 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley's new rector
"The new rector of Hartley will be the Rev R A Williams, at present vicar of Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall. It is expected that Mr Williams will be instituted and inducted before Advent. Until then Sunday services will be conducted by the Rev S Bucknall, formerly Vicar of Grayne."
12 Sep 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Cornish Rector for Hartley
"Hartley's new rector, the Rev Roger Arthur Williams MA [1915-1996], who is to be instituted in November, has spent 20 years in the Truro Diocese and since 1953 has been vicar of Kenwyn. While he has been at Kenwyn the Shortlanesend and Idless Mission churches have been reopened for worship. He has also seen the building and completion of the fine new church hall at Highertown, Truro. which is proving a boon to the growing community life of this rapidly expanding suburb.
He is a keen member of Truro Rotary Club, chaplain to the Phoenix Lodge of Freemasons No 331, and Provincial Grand Chaplain in the Mark Degree.
During the war he served with the Army in the Middle East, Italy and Greece and was senior chaplain to the 4th British Division. From 1946-47 he was the succentor of Truro Cathedral. Mr Williams, a Plymouth man, is married and has 3 children."
The Storm
"....Conditions were very bad in the low lying village of Longfield. Old people's flats at the bottom of Whitehill [2-8 Main Road, 1-7 Fawkham Road] were flooded to a depth of 5 feet. An emergency meeting of Longfield Council was held on Saturday to considre the disastrous effects of the flooding at the old people's flats. It was decided to ommuncate immediately with the Dartford Rural council. The chairman of Dartford RDC, Mr F Tanner, has opened a relief fund for flood victims in the area.....
Great piles of debris were washed down the hilly roads at Ash, which were like raging torrents. Many houses at the foot of the hills were flooded and people trying to get from Ash to Brands Hatch were marooned. Chickens were drowned and hives washed across the garden at Billet House, Ash....."
19 Sep 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
'British Legion must fight racial discrimination'
100 from Southfleet and Longfield BL dedication of new standards at Longfield Rectory Meadow. Vicar of Meophsm "who dedicated the standards said the British Legion was a symbol of comradeship. Racial discrimination was a bad thing and the Legion should do all it could to stop it. Major F L Chalk, chairman of the Kent granch, said: 'Some of these coloured people are our brothers in the legion. We should try and voice our opinion in this grave matter of racial discrimination.' "
[This appears to be related to the Notting Hill and Nottingham race riots which were happening at this time, where black people were attacked by white youths, so unlikely to be related to anything the local branch had said or done. ]
24 Sep 1958 Evening News
Three in a Row?
Picture of [NAME] aged 2 with her mother's dachschund Simon, already twice a show winner at 11 months.
26 Sep 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
British Legion
September meeting of Longfield and Southfleet branch at Hartley Social Club. Membership now 300 but holding meetings in the various villages they covered has not improved attendance.
New Branch
New Young Conservative branch to cover Southfleet, Hartley, Longfield, Green Street Green, Fawkham and Ash.
03 Oct 1958 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)
Austin 8 for sale
"Austin 8 1938 Good Condition, £75; Austin 7 1937, good condition £45. Kenwood, Ash Road, Hartley, Kent. Longfield 3350."
03 Oct 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Blue Mount Brand
(Advert) "Pre-packed potatoes, fruit and vegetables. Ask your grocer or greengrocer for Blue Mount Brand. Selected and packed by D Hemesley Ltd, Woodlands, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. Trade enquiries solicited."
Girl, 11, gets film part
"A well known young entertainer in North Kent, 11 years old [NAME] of Main Road, Longfield, is to appear in a film now being made a Pinewood studios. [NAME], only daughter of [NAME] who have a bakery business, takes part in a children's fancy dress scene. She is dressed as a Japanese girl.
She is a pupil at the Corona Academy for girls and boys, a stage school at Ravenscourt Park, Chiswick. From the age of 5 until she was 8, [NAME] won prizes for elocution at the Gravesend Cooperative Fesitval. She was only 7 when she made history at the Bromley Festival, being the first competitor to gain maximum marks for elocution. Last year she appeared in Gravesend Theatre Guild's production of Annie Get your Gun. She has appeared in local pantomimes."
[The film may be Tiger Bay]
Hartley Parish Council meeting
(1) PC approve proposed open space at junction of St John's Lane and Church Road. (2) Ash Road Pavement. PC concerned that lack of one at rail bridge is a danger. Rest needs repair.
10 Oct 1958 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)
Hartley Naturalist Club
Pictures of members of the club and three winners of Fancy Dress Parade - 1st [NAME] (aged 7, butterfly); 2nd [NAME] (aged 6 Blackbird); 3rd [NAME] (aged 8, Holly & Snow)
Paper of this week also has advert for 1,000 Fire King Wallflowers 35s; 1,000 Sweet Williams 50s from Hemesley. Longfield 3394/5.
10 Oct 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Shock for council: Chairman says he wants to resign
Longfield Parish Council Meeting. (1) Mr W M Baker said he wants to resign from the council, no reason given. Agreed to think it over. (2) Flooding. PC asked Dartford RDC to rehouse those flooded out especially one elderly lady who lost everthing. (3) Buses, protest over plans to cut 492 route to Fawkham and West Kingsdown, leaving some without any public transport.
11 Oct 1958 Gravesend Reporter
Proud Day for a Hartley Mother
Proudest but saddest mother in Britain on Sunday October 19th, will be 72 years old Mrs Mary Florence Grace Appleton, of Holly Cottage, Hartley. On that day Mrs Appleton, the retired headmistress of the former Fairby High School at Hartley, will be representing all the mothers of this country who lost a son in the war. She has been selected by the Air Council to attend a special service of reconsecration of the restored church of St Clement Danes in London. It was blitzed during the war. The service will be attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Mrs Appleton and her husband, Mr Charles Appleton, lost two of their three sons in the conflict, and only a miracle saved the third. All 3 served in the RAF. The youngest son, Pilot Officer Llewellyn Lister Appleton, aged 24, was a fighter pilot based at the famous Biggin Hill. On May 12th 1940, he went out on patrol over Belgium. He did not return. The eldest son, Karl, aged 30, was an officer in the Fleet Air Arm, having transferred from the RAF. In March 1943 he led his formation over the Mediterranean. He did not return. The second son, William [prob James William Appleton 1914-1976], was a test pilot in India during the war. When the Japs struck at Singapore he took his plane to the air to fight them. The plane crashed into a hillside and he was the only one to survive. Before he collapsed unconsious and badly burned, he pulled one of the crew clear from the wreckage. It was some time before he wa found and taken to hospital. Because he was so badly injured, it was considered too dangerous to move him to a hospital ship. The Jap invaders were creeping nearer. He was left behind. The hospital ship was bombed. The hospital was captured by the Japs and Mr Appleton had to survive British bombs before he went into captivity for over 3 years. Today he is the air attache in Bucharest. Mr and Mrs Appleton have 3 daughters. The eldest Miss [NAME], served in the Red Cross during the war. The other two were too young to take part. Now both are married and living in Canada."
17 Oct 1958 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)
Splendid entry at North Kent Ploughing Match
Two pictures from North Kent Ploughing Match at New House Farm Hartley. List of winners includes people from Hartley and Longfield.
Week's paper also has advert for 2 Saanen Stud Goats born 1955 and 1957, cheap to good homes - Keston Nursery.
24 Oct 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Scouts
"The Hartley and Longfield Scout Group held a partner whist drive which raised £3 for the funds. After the drive, Group Scoutmaster, H Wickham, spoke of the group's research into its past history. He said that the original 1st Longfield Group was formed in 1909, so that next year could be regarded as the group jubilee. There was, however, a hiatus in the recors during the period of the first world war and he would be glad to have any information of the group's activities during this period......"
31 Oct 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley Parish Council Meeting
(1) Two resolutions by PC adopted by Kent Association of Local Councils, one to ensure they are informed of all planning applications and the other to spend more on street cleaning. However PC rejected a suggestion from Swanley that rates be increased to pay for this. (2) Bus Stop. Shelter re-erected at War Memorial. (3) Village Sign has been renovated. (4) Footpath at Hoselands Hill. Stile repaired.
07 Nov 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Longfield Village Hall
AGM. Chairman Rev Sutton said rumours it would close were completely untrue. British Legion has often rented the hall and it is used for film shows. They are £60 in credit.
Plan for 'private' country bus service defeated
Dartford RDC. Longfield councillor F T C Sims proposed they request abolition of LT's monopoly in the area. Defeated 9-8 with all Labour members voting against. However they agreed to approach the traffic Commissioner with complaints about the service. "Complaints had been received by the council that schoolchildren wanting to travel to Longfield from Gravesend on routes 489 and 490 were, on occasions, unable to get on as the buses were full. The children had to walk 5 miles from Gravesend to Longfield as a consequence...."
21 Nov 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley Players shine in their 60th production
Favourable review of 'Bell Book and Candle'. [Paper of 14/11/58 has picture of cast]
Power Cut
"From Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening, between 60 and 70 people living in the Hartley Court, Hartley Bottom and Idleigh areas of Hartley were left without electricity. Evensong at Hartley Parish Church was conducted by candlelight. The fault in an underground cable linking together two sections of overhead line was extremely difficult to find and a new cable had to be put in. To many worshipper at the parish church the candles brought back nostalgic memories of services in the building before electricity was installed." Induction of Rev Williams 7.30pm next Thursday.
Longfield Toc H
"Group now raised to branch status, receives it lamp, symbol of the Toc H at a ceremony in the Youth Centre tomorrow at 8pm."
Paper of 28/11/58 has a picture of the event with branch chairman Eric Friday.
28 Nov 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Longfield Church Bazaar
Pictures of Guess the Name of the Teddy and the Treasure Hunt stalls.
Dog Fouling of Footways
Public notice. KCC intend to extend the urban bylaws to parish of Longfield and others.
05 Dec 1958 Tonbridge Free Press (KM)
Farmworker Wanted
"Farmworker wanted. Suit man with small pension. Age between 55 and 60. Wife or relative to do occasional work in adjacent house. Excellent bungalow on service - Apply Warren, Hartley Manor Farm, Hartley, Near Dartford, Kent."
05 Dec 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Closure of hospital: Council to protest
Dartford RDC Meeting. (1) Council to oppose plans to close Southern Hospital and develop the Joyce Green site. Cllr Tanner said the Friends of the Hospital said what was really needed was a new hospital on the most suitable site. (2) Council has dropped plans for a car park at Longfield, but asked the PC for their views on a public convenience. (3) "A site at Longfield is being acquired by the Post Office for the erection of a postal delivery office."
Hartley Parish Council Meeting
(1) Misconstruction of PC's letter means the RDC have moved the open space designation at St John's Lane. PC want it moved back to Church Road junction. (2) PC raise "dangerous" junction at Ash Road and Fairby Lane. Kent County Council say it is up to the owners in Fairby Lane as it is a private road. One councillor said the corner of the roads had been reserved by the KCC for road widening.
New Rector Welcomed
Institution and induction of Rev Roger Arthur Williams [pictured] to Hartley Church. Rev S W Bucknall thanked for looking after the parish in the long interregnum.
Young Wives Group
"The increasing attendance at meetings indicates that the group is meeting a much felt want among the many new residents in Hartley. At the weekly meeting, [NAME] spoke on family service units and their work in easing the burden of life for many."
12 Dec 1958 KM (Maidstone Telegraph)
Hartley WI
AGM. Membership up to 103 with average attendance 55. They have sent Christmas cards and presents to the refugee family they support. 8 members have regularly visited friendless patients at Stone Hospital.