the ridge

Joanna Lumley – St Mary’s Convent School The Ridge Hastings in 1959

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Write up: Michael Pilgrim

Claire Kelly-Triance… Remember the convent school the ridge the nuns the bell . It was nothing like it is now . Big old mansions now burnt or demolished no hospital just farmland . No cars it was quaint and interesting to a young girl from London.

Fred Marsh… My Dad worked there as maintenance man during the 70s ,I had the run of the place ,I loved it can’t drive passed it now without thinking of those happy days.

Richard J Porter… My wife was there with Joanne, Barbara Flynn (Murray in those days) and others. There were many of today’s names that went to school in Hastings.

Sheila Maile… She is still a good looking woman

Lloyd Johnson… I lived off the ridge in Clifton Road.

 

 

Fracmo The Ridge Hastings 1960s/1970s

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photo © Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland… If you worked at Fracmo on the Ridge in the 1960s/1970s, do you remember Shoey Bennett, in the middle of the photo. He was the machine shop supervisor.

Sheila Maile… Worked there on armature winding & stators

Harry Randall… me to briefly round about 65-66

John Gale… My dad worked there around 75/76. I recall him talking about Shoey.

Christine Swain… Very well What a character he was .Great place to work

Judy Atkinson… I worked for Fracmo at Castleham in the sales office, late 70

Chris Connell… I worked at Fracmo on the Swichboard . I started at the Ridge and moved with them to Castleham.

Julie Findlay-Jones… My daddy worked there late 60s till he retired in the mid 90s.

Sandra Prior (was Spencer)… My father worked with Shoey Bennett. My father was Bill Spencer, I don’t know if anyone remembers him?

 

 

 

Fractional H.P. Motors Ltd The Ridge Hastings – advert 1970’s

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Nadia Compagnone… You so wouldn’t get away with that now! Amazing advert.

Mike Cramp… Youre so right. No-one would use inverted commas around the phrase ‘our goods’ these days.

James Turner… I worked in the paint shop in the 70’s

John Gale… James, was you there when it caught fire must have been about 1978? Maybe earlier?

Sheila Maile… I worked on Armature winding for 9 months in 1972.

Nicola Dobson… I used to be Telephonist /Receptionist there

Julie Findlay-Jones… My daddy worked there for many years till he retired.

Christine Swain… I worked there Fantastic . Friends made for life from 1968 .It was a great place to work

Judy Atkinson… I worked for the sales manager there 1978/9 at the Castleham site

John Gale… My dad worked there for a bit. We both worked at the other factory on Castleham too. I worked there during my summer holidays 1977, in the Fettling room and the Foundry. I remember being there the day Elvis died.

Liz King… I worked there in the seventies doing the wages with lovely Ethnie (sorry wrong spelling) and lovely Melanie.

 

Crew Davis builders merchants The Ridge Hastings

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Supplied by Michael Sherwood 

Michael Sherwood… If I remember correctly this is where Maitland Close (The Ridge) is now

Merv Kennard… remember this well, l worked for M.Tyler furniture in the old Fracmo factory just along the road on the other side.

Alan Esdaile… My sister used to work here and also The Queens Road shop.

Chris Meachen… Remember it well, used to pass it twice each morning when calling for Roger Carey to cycle to school.

Roger Carey… That’s right Chris…I think my former neighbour and childhood friend David Read worked here for a while.

Steve Sampson… Crew Davis was also along Sedlescombr Road North.. … I remember Richard as well as Freddie Darling .. Vic Woodcock … Ron Smart … Victor Bray … Vic Nash … Ernie Philcoxs … I worked for external accountants there

David Boss… I think it was called Gilbert-Davis also . I could be wrong . I remember Roy White worked there

Ralph Town… I knew John Crew for many years.

Andre Martin… Do you remember the original store in Queens Road – trade access round the back also the Fireplace showroom at memorial end of Havelock Road ?

 

Hurst Court The Ridge Hastings – closed photos by Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

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photos © Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Tracy Birrell… Such a shame that it was knocked down……

Jo Turner… Worked there for a while in my teens.

Jilly Jones… Stayed there, for a night , it was an amazing inside.xx

Ian Johnson… Rewired it when I was an apprentice

Claire Triance… Before Hastings lost its character all big old houses gone or burnt down

Ju-ju Davies… My mum used to work here.

Gaz Linch… Did a couple of music courses here over Easter . Must be close to 50 years ago . Even swam in the very cold pool

Lance Collins… Did discos there

Pauline Sims… I remember those days!

Christine Giles… you could stay there weekends

Matt Thomas… Was this another victim of one of the towns mysterious fires?

Tim Moose Bruce… Matt, There was a care home next door that mysteriously caught fire..

Keith Veness… Painted some of the rooms when it was a youth centre

Neil Chalcraft… One my judo pals went to school there in its last days as a pre school

Katy Howard was Parsons… Had our wedding reception here. Was a great venue. Such a shame

Tim Moose Bruce… I read somewhere that it was taken down and shipped to America to be rebuilt.

Ian Quinnell… I seem to remember going there, after it had closed as a school, with a number of other pupils from Priory Road to help clear and tidy the grounds. Would have been around 1970. Anyone else from Priory Road remember this?

Wendy Weaver… We went to a wedding reception here. It seemed a lovely venue.

Chris Meachen…. Mum used to help raise funds for it, & I can remember going to various ‘fun activity’ events. Unlike the usual fires, this one was left with some windows open so the weather & pigeons could make it uninhabitable. Damned shame to have watched it decay over the years…

Mike Waghorne… I remember Westridge building contractors putting the blue hoarding up

Steve Mann… Had my wedding reception here – great venue

 

The Harrow Inn The Ridge St Leonards-on-Sea

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photo: https://www.facebook.com/theharrowinnhastings

Fred Marsh… Such a quiet road then

Heather Sidery… Love this!

Mick O’Dowd… Me and a mate and girlfriends got chucked out of here because we were accused of stealing glasses. We hadn’t and only left them by the billiard table after finishing playing.

Ken Hatch… Friday lunchtime would be full of Derritron employees

Judy Atkinson… Used to live opposite, down the driveway next to the shop 1967-75

Ian Johnson… I’ve drank in there

Stuart Moir… Pubs is the same now as it was then just the level of trade has diminished