A very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to one and all, from
Dorset to Cyprus, Hythe in East Kent, and even to anyone in a place called Surbiton !!!!!

Best wishes to you all,

Warren.

Well I am in stormy Hythe in Kent, also about a 5 minute walk from the sea,

Hello Natalie,

Just been going through a book about Old Hook which features a news agents which used to be at the Ace of Spades, opposite the Shell garage, the first shop on the left after crossing the roundabout from Hook (became a stationers, then a herbal remedy shop or whatever), called T Seymours:

The photograph was taken in the early 1900's, any way relatives of yours ??????.

Fascinated to know.

Warren.
(In a cold Hythe, Kent !!!!!!!).

Slightly off-topic as involves Kingston, but can anyone tell me the name of the pub that stood opposite the ABC Cinema which later became a Gala Bingo Hall, next to the railway station goods yard that was demolished to make way for road widening.

Thanks for your help !!!!!

Warren.

This shop, now occupied by the above, was first of all the National Savings Bank maybe. That is a guess, as I am too young, but there were carved stones at the top of the building 'NSB' Please correct me if I have that wrong. What I can remember is that we had two branches of the National Westminster Bank in Surbiton and this was the one
that went. The other one across the road still going strong as NatWest. After that it became the Halifax Building Society which moved down the same side of the road while a newer shop was being built. Now called the Halifax plc.

Now where the sandwich shop is, Greggs, must be approx the site of the old Boots the Chemist (still had a library in the early 1950s) which is now over the other side of the road on the site of the Bull & Son establishment.* That closed in the mid fifties (apart from the small shop next to the narrow passage which takes you through to the rear car park and roads beyond.) Mackfisheries was the supermarket that today is Somerfields. Bull and Son still trades and may be the oldest name in Victoria Road. First opened in 1895.

I would love to see a picture of Surbiton. What is your town like.
Does it have a hisory

It is such a shame that the area (Surbiton, Kingston) are not served by a truely local radio station, or a proper cable channel dedicated to the area.

Thames Radio was when I lived in the area appalling, Radio Jackie in the eighties was excellent and served us well, along with Radio Jackie.

Even the Surrey Comet gave poor coverage of local issues.

Telewest used to have a local cable news programme (Cable 17), but still the area was neglected.

I think it is time that the area had the proper news and information media outlets it deserves, after all, it is a densely-populated area which has so much happening and to offer.

Yes, I remember most of the places Warren mentioned in his posting.

When I was in my teens I worked a Saturday morning in a metal fabricating workshop for ten shillings. It was located off Victoria Road next to the railway wall.

Anyone free to visit Surbiton town centre tomorrow should, as the Surbiton Festival is on. The bunting and flags are already out! Fingers crossed for a dry day.

I move to Dorchester to live tomorrow so please let me know what is happening in the near future.

Anyone with an interest in Dorset and Dorchester should visit dorchesterdorsetshire. The site improves as I add links and a couple of pictures.

I am new to the group having lived in the Surbiton area nearly all my life (for 32 years)in Hook, before moving 3 years ago down here to Hythe in Kent.

Although Hythe must equal itself with the number of pubs as what Surbiton has (!), I must admit, I too miss the town.

How it has changed over the years, who remebers Puttocks the confectioners, Liptons (opposite Corkies), the stationers next to the ODEON Cinema, The Southampton (the Gary Warley Band), Whitewoods - the model shop, John Willments on the brow of St Marks Hill and not for getting the Railway Tavern (no more).

Many more things I could talk about concerning Surbiton, which existed as a railway town before Kingston and even also had electric lighting (hence Electric Parade) before the neighbouring town.

Hi All

Well we might not be the most active group but I aways like to read whatever anyone has to say about our beloved town.

With regrets my wife and I are moving to Dorchester in a couple of weeks time and I know I'll miss the convience of the chippy over the road, Blockbusters round the corner, Fish the new resturant in Brighton Road - excellent! and of course the railway station three minutes up the road where all great journeys used to start.

Now I will need a car for life away from Surbiton.

May Surbiton remain Queen of the Suburbs. I am looking forward to returning to visit family. I have heard that there are plans for a small shopping mall opposite to Sainsburys when the old Royal Mail sorting office closes very soon plus some housing and guess another car park which the town badly needs from a trade point of view. The motor car is a bad problem as so many old houses have no off street parking.