People 1 - 29 Ravenswood Avenue TN2 3SG

Information about the children who lived at numbers 1 to 29 Ravenswood Avenue between when it was built and the 1960s

If you lived at numbers 1 to 29 Ravenswood Avenue on the Ferndale Park Estate as a child between when it was built and the early 1960s, have you ever wondered what happened to the children you used to know and play with? This page may tell you because it contains information, and some pictures, about some of them. It has been compiled from information and memories from persons who used to live on the estate, and from my own memories and research. Since 1998, I have been interested in genealogy, researching my own PAGE family extensively throughout East Sussex, and my mother’s HARRIS family in the East-End of London. I have used the various genealogy websites, especially the General Record Office (GRO), Ancestry and Find my Past, to help find information about the children and their families who lived on the estate when I was a child. All my research on this page is information that is in the public domain.

The GRO references to Tonbridge is because between 1837 and 1980, Tonbridge was the registration district that covered Tunbridge Wells. Since then Tunbridge Wells has had its own district. The centralised registration of births, marriages, and deaths in England and Wales commenced on 1 July 1837. Indexes to the records are available for public inspection and are separated into birth, marriage and death indexes. Each index is divided into quarters for each year (January-March, April-June, July-September and October-December) and they are referred in the text by the year, followed by /1, /2, /3 or /4 to indicate the appropriate quarter, eg 1944/2 for my birth in June 1944. There are many references to items published in the Kent & Sussex Courier newspaper and these are referred to as just Courier.

The names of people are listed in address order. Some of the earlier built houses had names before they were numbered, and in those cases I have added the name to the address. Occasionally I have added text in italicised square brackets to information given to me from others for clarity.

Whilst I am very grateful to those who have given me information and pictures so far, I would love to have more, so if you know anything about any of the children who lived on the estate between when it was built and the early 1960s, then please get in touch with me so I can add it here. I also welcome any corrections or clarification of anything that has been written here so far – thanks (chris@g4bue.com).

1 Ravenswood Avenue, Ankerd – Mr and Mrs DENNY

Street directories show the DENNY family lived at 1 Ravenswood Avenue from 1953.

Alan DANE (70 Ravenswood Avenue): “Mr and Mrs Denny had a son and daughter. Mr DENNY ran a small-holding on what is now the odd upper-side of Hilbert Road ie overlooking St James Park. There were allotments for Mr DENNY’s smallholding and St James Park.”

11 Ravenswood Avenue, Preswylfa – Stephen MUMMERY and Catherine (Kate) MOORHOUSE nee MUMMERY

In February 2021, Kate said, “I lived at [11] Ravenswood Avenue from birth and my family moved to 41 Bounds Oak Way, Southborough when I was three. I am not sure how long my parents lived there but I think my mother and grandfather were there during the war when my father was posted abroad. I have a brother Stephen, born in 1948, who was also living there, and he now lives at Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire.”

The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1940/2 for Herbert P MUMMERY and Elsie M ALLEN and births at Tonbridge in 1948/3 for Stephen G MUMMERY and 1950/2 for Catherine J MUMMERY, mother ALLEN.

Kate continues, “I remember the name SADLER [13 Ravenswood Avenue] very well but nothing about the family. My parents did keep in touch with some of their neighbours from Ravenswood Ave, but as they did not have a car then, and lived in Bounds Oak Way in Southborough which was at a distance from the bus stop, I do not think they saw much of them. My brother recalls we had an allotment (opposite he thinks) where our ginger cat drowned in a water butt. He also recalls expanding his vocabulary, associating with the pavers working on the pavements!

“Our father was Herbert Percy MUMMERY and his father of the same name lived with us, though my father was the freeholder. My parents married in April 1940 and I do not know where they lived before my father went off to war for five years. My father died in 1986 and my mother in 2015 aged 100. She lived at Mount Ephraim House residential home for the last 10 years of her life.”

12 Ravenswood Avenue – Frances and Dorothy SOUTHGATE

I remember Dorothy, but not Frances. The GRO has the following two births registered at Tonbridge: Frances M SOUTHGATE in 1942/1 and Dorothy M SOUTHGATE in 1943/4, mother DICK. The Births column in the 26 November 1943 Sevenoaks Chronicle announced, ‘On 23 November 1943 at Maternity Home, Tunbridge Wells to Nancy, wife of Percival James Southgate – a daughter Dorothy Margaret.’

The 3 November 1967 Courier reported, ‘Mr Michael Morris, son of Mr and Mrs Morris of Basingstoke, Hampshire and Miss Frances Mary Southgate, daughter of Mr and Mrs P J Southgate of 12 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, were married on Saturday at the Baptist Tabernacle, Upper Grovenor Road, Tunbridge Wells.’

An Ancestry family tree shows Percival James SOUTHGATE was born on 8 January 1907 at Canterbury and died 29 March 2001 at Tunbridge Wells, and his wife Elizabeth Agnes G DICK was born 8 March 1912 at Islington, London and died 13 January 2002 at Tunbridge Wells. The tree shows Frances and Dorothy are descended from Edward SOUTHGATE, born 1700 at North Barsham, Norfolk.

John HEASEMAN (42 Ravenswood Avenue): “Frances and Dorothy, they had a friend, Gillian MITTENS, I think she lived on the estate.”

Kate MOORCROFT nee MUMMERY (11 Ravenswood Avenue) said in 2021: “Very good friends of my parents were Nancy and Percy SOUTHGATE who lived opposite our house, and my older brother remembers them. I think the SOUTHGATE girls were called Frances and Dorothy and I think they went to Tunbridge Wells Grammar. My mother kept up with Nancy SOUTHGATE for quite a while.”

Clive STACE (104 Ravenswood Avenue) in 2015: “Our family knew the SOUTHGATEs (two girls) who lived at the top of the hill above your old house, but we know nothing about them now.”

13 Ravenswood Avenue, Philcot – Angela, Margaret and Julie SADLER

I remember Angela and Margaret SADLER, but not Julie. The GRO has SADLER births at Tonbridge in 1942/2 for Angela M, in 1946/1 for Margaret A and in 1949/3 for Julie A SADLER, mother HITT. Their father Frederick, like my dad, was a policeman at Tunbridge Wells. Street directories show they lived at 13 Ravenswood Avenue from 1939 to 1959. The GRO has a marriage at Chichester in 1938/2 for Frederick T SADLER and Ellen HITT.

An Ancestry family tree shows Frederick T SADLER was born 28 July 1913 at Heydour, Lincolnshire and died 1979/1 at Crowborough, and his wife Ellen HITT was born 5 August 1910 at Exeter, Devon and died on 4 December 1963.

The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1964/2 for Margaret A SADLER and David GRAHAM.

13 Ravenswood Avenue, Philcot – Maureen and Margaret WILLIAMS

The WILLIAMS family moved into 13 Ravenswood Avenue (after the SADLER family moved out and another family had lived there) in 1962, says Clive STACE (104 Ravenswood Avenue), just before he and Margaret WILLIAMS married. I remember Margaret’s younger sister Maureen WILLIAMS who was in the same class as me at St Barnabas School.

The GRO has two WILLIAMS births at Tonbridge, in 1939/4 for Margaret J WILLIAMS and in 1945/1 for Maureen J WILLIAMS, mother LAINSON. The GRO has a marriage at Orsett, Essex in 1935/4 for Victor F WILLIAMS and Margaret M LAINSON. The 2 February 1973 Courier announced the death of Margaret on 29 January 1973, aged 58.

The 27 July 1962 Courier reported, ‘The wedding took place at St James Church, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday of Mr Clive Anthony Stace, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs L A W Stace of 104 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells and Miss Margaret Jean Williams, the elder daughter of Mr and Mrs V F Williams of 13 Ravenswood Avenue. The bride...was attended by her sister, Miss Maureen Williams...and the best man was Mr Christopher Stace, the bride-groom’s brother.’

Clive STACE (104 Ravenswood Avenue): “My wife was Margaret WILLIAMS who lived in Goods Station Road, but just before we married in 1962 they moved to 13 Ravenswood Avenue – policeman SADLER’s house. You won’t have known her, but surely you would have known her sister Maureen (born September 1944), who would have been in the same class as you at St Barnabas.” I got in contact with Clive again in June 2023 when he said, ‘The main event in my life has been that Margaret died rather unexpectedly, but very peacefully without any known illness, in May last year. She was 82. We had been together for 67 years, 60 married, and before that she was my girlfriend from the age of 15 (and I was 16).” Clive sent me the lovely photograph (right) of Margaret taken in France when she was 44.

Clive, referring to Peter LAINSON and the photograph of Hilbert Athletic on the ‘Memories/Memories Hilbert Rec’ page, said, “He was the cousin of Margaret and Maureen (nephew of their mother), born in Tilbury but brought up with the Williams from the age of three (as to all intents and purposes Margaret and Maureen’s brother), after his mother left him and his father. Peter was a good sportsman and joined the army. He lives in Essex and he came to Margaret’s funeral.”

16 Ravenswood Avenue, Rest-a-Wyle – Susan and Andrew AVARD

Street directories show the AVARD family lived at 16 Ravenswood Avenue from when it was built to 1950 and 1953. The GRO has births at Tonbridge in 1936/1 for Susan AVARD and in 1942/4 for Andrew AVARD, mother CARD.

The 11 April 1958 Courier reported, ‘Groombridge Cricket Club member Mr Christopher John Robert Leigh, son of Mr and Mrs B Leigh of 4 Groomfield, Groombridge, married Miss Susan Avard, daughter of Mr and Mrs A S Avard of 39 Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells at St Courier Church on Monday.’

The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1967/3 for Andrew AVARD and Kay RANDALL. Reports in the local press suggest Andrew was a prolific table tennis player.

Patricia SKITTRALL nee TAYLOR (20 Hilbert road): “I have just spent a few days wallowing in nostalgia! My best friends were Pauline SKINNER and Carole BLAKER (Hilbert Road) and Susan AVARD (Ravenswood Avenue). I also knew Rita SERMON, Christine SKEWIS and Brian MEARS (Fairfield Avenue) and Marion OAKLEY. The AVARDS had a business in Crescent Road and moved away before we did to Great Durgates, Wadhurst.”

17 Ravenswood Avenue, Snae-Fell – Claudius Frederick GUEST

Street directories show Claudius E GUEST lived at 17 Ravenswood Avenue between 1936 and 1950 and ‘Mrs GUEST’ from 1953 to at least 1965. The 1939 Register shows Claudius GUEST, born 3 October 1866, a gas and water fitter living there with his wife Annie GUEST, born 22 December 1887, a son Claudius F GUEST, born 25 April 1920, a ‘clerk - (friendly society accounts)’, and two police officers: Edmund S REEDER, born 2 May 1917 and Reginald V CRUTTENDEN, born 15 November 1915, who later became the Inspector in charge of Southborough Police Station.

The 7 July 1950 Courier published a death notice for Claudius Henry GUEST as follows, ‘Claudius Henry Guest, of 17 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells passed away suddenly on 2 July 1950.’ The GRO has a death record at Uckfield in 1974/2 for Annie GUEST, born 21 December 1887. The GRO has a birth record for their son Claudius Frederick GUEST, at Tonbridge in 1920/3, mother’s maiden name REYNOLDS. The 1921 Census shows him residing at his widowed grandfather’s home 2 Dunstan Road, Tunbridge Wells with his aunty and parents. His grandfather is shown as Frederick GUEST, born 1859 at Mayfield of private means, his aunty as Amelia GUEST, born 1884 at Southborough, his father as Claudius Henry GUEST born 1887 at Southborough and working as a gas fitter, and his mother as Annie GUEST, born 1888 at Speldhurst.

On 1 January 1940, Claudius joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve during WW2, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM). His entry in the records says, ‘GUEST, Claudius Frederick. 911572 Sergeant, No 144 Sqn. LG 26/5/1942. Sorties 30. Flying hourse 198.15. W Op/Air Gnr. Air2/16965.

‘For continuous gallantry and devotion to duty during raids into enemy territory. This NCO’s work has been of a very high order and he has more than proved his courage and determination. Many of his flights have been undertaken in extremely bad weather conditions and his work both in the air and on the ground has earned the highest praise of his Flight Commander. Sergeant Guest by his enthusiasm and conscientiousness has set a high standard for the squadron as a whole.’

Unfortunately, Claudius was shot down and wounded near Emden, Germany on 13 August 1944 and captured by the Germans, becoming a prisoner-of-war until the end of the war. The General Questionnaire he completed for MI9 on 21 May 1945 after his release, shows he was interrogated at Durag Luft, Frankfurt and sentenced to 10 days in solitary confinement. He then spent five months in Stalag Luft III and four months in Stalag IIIA until May 1945.

On 1 September 1945, Claudius married Zoe ROBINSON, and the wedding was reported in the 7 September 1945 edition of the Sevenoaks Courier as follows, ‘At St James’ Church, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday F/Lt Claude Frederick Guest, DFM, son of Mr and Mrs C H Guest of 17 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, was married to Miss Zoe Robinson, VAD, daughter of Capt and Mrs J S Robinson, Ephraim Lodge, Tunbridge Wells.

‘F/Lt Guest was born in 1920 and educated at Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells. He joined the RAF for training as a wireless operator in 1940 and in May 1942 he was awarded the DFM in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty while on air operations. In August 1944, shorlty after his engagement, his parents were notified that he was missing after an operation flight over Germany, and in October of the same year the Air Ministry informed them that he was alive and had been taken prisoner by the Germans. He was repatriated in 1945.

‘The Rev Evan J Hopkin (Vicar of St James’) officiated at the wedding, which was fully choral, with Mr Wright at the organ. Given away by her father, the bride wore a silver lame gown and carried white carnations. There were four bridesmaids, the Misses G and M Vyse and the Misses D and B East, all of whom were dressed in ice blue organdle. Sub-Lt S J Matthews, RNZNVR was best man.’

The couple had seven children of which I was only able to find the births of four at the GRO: Edith A GUEST in 1946/3, John F GUEST in 1947/2, Robin S GUEST IN 1950/2 and Peter R GUEST 1959/3, all at Tonbridge with mother’s maiden name ROBINSON. In January 2022, Kit READ. Claudius’ son-in-law, got in touch with me after finding this website, and in September 2023 gave me the other three births: Paul Christopher GUEST, born 29 September 1953 at RAF St Eval, Newquay, Cornwall; Susan Zoe GUEST, born 29 October 1955 at RAF St Eval, and Judith Agnes GUEST, born 5 July 1957 at RAF West Freugh, Stranraer, Scotland. Kit married Susan Zoe GUEST.

Kit also told me that Claudius GUEST served in the RAFVR during WWII then rejoined the RAF in 1950 until 1959 when he served in Coastal Command in St Eval in Cornwall in 1951 and was then transferred to Bomber Command at West Freugh. Kit added, ‘His father married Annie REYNOLDS (born 22 December 1887) in 1914 who was born in Tonbridge, and in 1891 was living as nurse child boarder (I think it means she was fostered) with her brother in Speldhurst. She then lived in 1901 as a boarder at 101 St James’ Park, and was then joined as a boarder by Lucy HARDING (born in 1906) who becomes her life-long friend, and ends up buying/renting 8 Fairfield Avenue as a widow (virtually backing on to to 17 Raveswood Avenue). The 1939 Register shows number eight as two house holds.

‘101 St James’ Park was owned by William PAY who adopts Annie before she was 16 but died the following year. She works in the drapery business and in 1934 marries a garage owner in Goods Station Road, Reginald George KEMBER who, as a result of blood poisoning, died in 1935. She must have been one of the first to move into Fairfield Avenue. In the local press she was known as a singer and soloist in many Tunbridge Wells choirs.’

According to 1966 and 1968 Courier reports, Claudius was living at 26 Eridge Road, Tunbridge Wells at that time. There is a GRO death record at Tunbridge Wells in 1995/4 for Claudius Frederick GUEST, born 25 April 1920, died aged 75. The UK Burial & Cremation Index says he was cremated on 24 April 1995.

The 21 April 1995 Courier published Claudius’ Obituary as follows, ‘Claudius Guest, a founder member of the Tunbridge Wells Wiesbaden Association, has died aged 75. Heavily involved in the twinning of Tunbridge Wells with the German town, Mr Guest was joint-president of the newly-formed Tunbridge Wells Twinning and Friendship Association.

‘As a keen singer, he had been a member of the Tunbridge Wells Orpheus male Voice Choir since 1938. Born in 1920, he attended Skinners’ School. He joined the RAF at the beginning of the war.

In 1942 he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Medal by King George. He told the King that he had made 38 flights over enemy territory. He was a prisoner of war for two years. But he made a further 95 missions during his RAF service. During his life he was an active member of the RAF Association

He had seven children and leaves behind his wife, Zoe, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A service is being held at St Mark’s Church on Monday’.

18 Ravenswood Avenue, Himalaya – Susan, Lawrence and Paul MUFFETT

Street directories show the MUFFETT family lived at 18 Ravenswood Avenue from during WW2 to between 1953 and 1955. The GRO has MUFFETT births at Tonbridge in 1943/4 for Susan J, in 1945/4 for Lawrence W and in 1947/2 for Paul MUFFETT, mother LAWRENCE. The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1940/2 for Walter S MUFFETT and Margery I LAWRENCE.

The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1969/3 for Lawrence I MUFFETT and Sheila J PASSMORE, and in 1970/2 for Paul MUFFETT and Marylin K FRANCIS, and at Greenwich, London in 1973/3 for Susan J MUFFETT and Colin G SILVESTER and

Alan DANE (70 Ravenswood Avenue): “Walter MUFFETT was one of the directors of Muffett's engineering firm, then located at Mount Ephraim adjacent to the George pub. I believe their son also entered the family concern and in later years, the firm moved to Longfield Road business area.”

19 Ravenswood Avenue, Browside – Brian and Derrick BALDOCK

Street directories show the BALDOCK family lived at 19 Ravenswood Avenue from 1936 until between 1959 and 1963. The 1939 Register shows Brian E BALDOCK, born 13 September 1925 and his brother Derrick BALDOCK, born 20 April 1933 both at school.

The 8 March 1957 Courier reported, ‘The engagement is announced of Derrick, youngest son of Mr and Mrs E Baldock of 19 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, and Audrey, elder daughter of Major and Mrs A J Twelves, BAOR 60.’

Clive STACE (104 Ravenswood Avenue) said, “One of the BALDOCK boys (I guess the younger) was a very proficient athlete and won the Victor Ludorum at Skinners. When I was there years later, his records still stood for some events, I forget which.”

20 Ravenswood Avenue – Pamela and Jean SAYER

Street directories shows the SAYER family living at 20 Ravenswood Avenue from 1936 to at least 1965. The 1939 Register shows Stanley C SAYER, born 21 May 1905, a police sergeant; Lilian A SAYER, born 7 September 1908; Pamela J SAYER, born 23 January 1930 at school and a closed entry (Jean SAYER). The GRO has births at Tonbridge in 1930/1 for Pamela J SAYER, and 1932/4 for Jean M SAYER, mother LANGRIDGE.

The 9 March 1951 Courier reported, ‘The wedding of a Tunbridge Wells police sergeant’s daughter and an Army officer took place at St James Church, Tunbridge Wells on Friday. The marriage was between Miss Pamela Joan Sayer, the elder daughter of Sgt and Mrs S C Sayer of 20 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells and Lieut James Nichols, RA...The bride-groom is at present serving at Crowborough.’

The 11 March 1960 Courier reported, ‘Married at St Jamess Church, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday were Mr Raymond John Shaw of 14 Cricklewood Lane, NW9, son of the late Mr and Mrs Shaw, and Miss Jean Margaret Sayer, daughter of Mr and Mrs S C Sayer of 20 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells.’

25 Ravenswood Avenue – Peter YOUNG

I remember Peter YOUNG, who was a couple of years younger than me, but I never really got to know him. The GRO has a birth at Tonbridge in 1946/2 for Peter J YOUNG, mother MARTIN and a marriage at Tonbridge in 1966/1 for Peter J YOUNG and Priscilla J MOLLOY. It also has the following YOUNG births at Tonbridge with mother MOLLOY: 1966/2 Sherry Anne, 1967/4 Julie Karen and 1970/3 Sheree Anne. Electoral registers 2005-2022 show Peter and Priscilla living at St George’s Park, Tunbridge Wells.

The 2 March 1979 Courier reported the pancake race at the Nevill Ground organised by the Nevill Women’s Institute. The race was won by ‘Mrs Priscilla YOUNG from Broadwater WI’ who was pictured alongside the second and third placed ladies (picture right). Can anyone tell me if this was Peter’s wife, please?

An Ancestry family tree shows Peter was born 15 June 1946 at Tonbridge and died on 10 January 2013, which isn’t consistent with the electoral registers metioned above! His father John Richard YOUNG, known as Dick, was born on 10 December 1914 at Aston, Cheshire and married his mother Doris E MARTIN, born 11 March 1923 at Tonbridge, in 1945/2 at Tonbridge. Probate records show he was living at 25 Ravenswood Avenue when he died on 8 September 1989. Doris died on 25 October 2004 at Tunbridge Wells. The tree shows Peter is descended from William YOUNG, born 1782 in Cheshire.

Dick was a prolific writer to the editor of the Courier throughout the 1970s and 1980s when his letters, on a wide variety of subjects, were regularly published in the paper. An example from the 12 July 1974 paper, under the heading ‘Discrimination?’, ‘The public lavatories in the centre of town are marked “ladies” and “gentlemen”. Those in Quarry Road “women” and “men”.’

Alan DANE (70 Ravenswood Avenue): “Mr and Mrs YOUNG had a son. Mr YOUNG was associated with Nightingale Farm and would often be seen driving a motorcycle combination whose sidecar carried milk crates for delivery.”

27 Ravenswood Avenue – John and Anthony McQUEEN

Tony McQUEEN was two years younger than me and I remember him very well. We used to play together and were both in the 18th St Barnabas Scout Troop. I knew he had an older brother John but I only vaguely remember him. The GRO has births at Tonbridge in 1938/1 for John H McQUEEN and in 1946/3 for Anthony A McQUEEN, mother DUNSTER

The 26 March 1959 Courier included the following in their classified section: “The engagement is announced for John, elder son of Mr and Mrs A H McQueen, 27 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells and Jeanne, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Richards, 44 Northdown Road, St Peter’s.” The GRO has a marriage recorded at Tonbridge in 1960/1 for John H McQUEEN and Jeanne A RICHARDS and .

The GRO also has a marriage recorded at Tonbridge in 1969/4 for Anthony A McQUEEN and Marilyn H BELL, and births at Tonbridge in 1973/2 for Claire Jacqueline McQUEEN and 1975/2 for Katherine Sarah McQUEEN, mother BELL.

An Ancestry family tree shows John Henry McQUEEN was born on 24 January 1938 and Anthony Alfred Tony on 23 September 1946, both at Tunbridge Wells and Tony’s daughters Claire on 30 April 1972 and Katherine on 6 June 1975, both at Pembury. The tree also shows his father was Albert Henry McQUEEN (who I remember), born 23 October 1910 at Plumstead, Kent and died May 1991 at Tunbridge Wells, and his mother was Ada Daisy May DUNSTER, born 25 April 1914 at Tunbridge Wells. The tree shows John and Tony are descended from John McQUEEN born 18 June 1811 at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

In March 2023, Malcolm McQUEEN in Cortez, Colorado, USA, John and Tony’s third cousin once removed, sent me a copy of a 1994 letter John had written to him from a Southborough address about their family history. John said, ‘My grandparents marriage broke-up and my father and his sister were despatched to live “in care” in Tunbridge Wells whilst quite young. However, due to the family connections with the district, I was myself christened at Plumstead and retain a few hazy war-time memories of visits to my great aunt Ethel (nee McQueen) and uncle Jack (Smith) who was a foreman at the Woolwich Arsenal and a mason, no less’.

28 Ravenswood Avenue, Ashcroft – Gillian, Joan, Barbara and Audrey MITTINS

The MITTINS family lived at the top of the hill from us and I remember Gillian, who was a year older than me. I didn’t know until I recently researched the family that she had three older sisters Joan, Barbara and Audrey.

The GRO has a birth at Croydon, Surrey in 1929/2 for Audrey G MITTINS, and at Tonbridge in 1936/1 for Barbara A, 1938/4 for Joan I and 1943/1 for Gillian H R MITTINS, mother THOMAS. The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1928/4 for Charles W MITTINS and Winifred THOMAS.

The GRO has marriages at Tonbridge in 1954/4 for Audrey G MITTINS and Thomas Morgan L ILES, in 1957/3 for Barbara E MITTINS and Anthony T PAIGE and in 1964/3 for Joan I MITTINS and Robert DONKIN. I cannot find any possible marriages for Gillian or any other reference to her after 1964 (sister Joan’s wedding).

The 2 August 1957 Courier reported, ‘Mr Anthony Thomas Paige, son of Mr and Mrs H Paige of 30 Kirkdale Road, Tunbridge Wells married Miss Barbara Elizabeth Mittins, daughter of Mr and Mrs C W Mittins of 28 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells at St James on Saturday....She was attended by the Misses Joan Mittins, Gillian Mittins, Rosemary Paige and Janet Paige.’’

The 21 August 1964 Courier reported, ‘The wedding took place at St Luke’s Church, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday of Miss Joan Mittins, daughter of Mr and Mrs C W Mittins of 28 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells and Mr Robert Donkin, son of Mr nd Mrs Robert Donkin of 1 Dundas Street, Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham...The bridesmaids, Miss Gillian Mittins...’

An Ancestry family tree shows Audrey Gwyneth MITTINS was born on 17 March 1929 and died on 4 December 2014 at Longwell Green, Bristol. Her husband Thomas Morgan L was born on 5 July 1922 and died in May 2001 at Tunbridge Wells. The tree shows the MITTINS girls are descended from William MITTINS, born 1640 at Bristol, Gloucestershire. The tree shows their father Charles William MITTINS was born on 17 September 1901 at Southwark, London and died on 25 December 1989 aged 88 in hospital whilst living in St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, and their mother Winifred THOMAS was born on 31 March 1902 and died on 15 July 1974 aged 73 at 28 Ravenswood Avenue. The Courier reports Charles retired from Seeboard in 1966 after working for 27 years as an engineer in charge of maintenance of the distict’s sub-stations and in 1943, he was secretary of the Tunbridge Wells Angling Society.

29 Ravenswood Avenue – Gerald and Keith LARKIN

Gerald and his younger brother Keith lived nearly opposite us and we were good friends, particularly Gerald who I remember as a very keen sportsman. We used to play football and cricket together with others in the Hilbert Recreation Ground. The GRO has births at Tonbridge in 1942/2 for Gerald H LARKIN and in 1945/4 for Keith N LARKIN, mother WOOD. The GRO has a marriage at Tonbridge in 1938/2 for Stephen H B LARKIN and Edith M WOOD.

Gerald’s dad was Stephen Henry Benjamin LARKIN and in 1953 he stood as a conservative candidate for the Tunbridge Wells East Ward in the Town Council election. The 20 March 1953 Courier reported, ‘Mr Larkin is 38 years old and employed by Messrs Muffett as a chief inspector of precision productions. He formerly held posts as chairman and vice-chairman of the Friendly Societies Hall and was a member of the management committee. He is also a former Tunbridge Wells Oddfellow, and at present secretary of the Lodge of Oddfellows at Southborough.’ I don’t know if he was successful at the election. The GRO says he died on 15 March 2012 at Holme Grange, Rusthall.

The 2 March 1962 Courier reported, ‘Mr and Mrs B L Deeks of 83 Erskine Park Road, Rusthall, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter Carole, to Gerald, eldest son of Mr and Mrs S M B Larkin of 29 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells.’

The 23 August 1963 Courier reported their marriage under the heading ‘It’s a Double Celebration.’, ‘A combined wedding reception and silver wedding party for almost 80 guests followed the marriage on Saturday at St Paul’s Church, Rusthall of Miss Carole Bari Deeks and Mr Gerald Henry Larkin, son of Mr and Mrs S H B Larkin of 29 Ravenswood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells. The bride’s parents, Mr and Mrs Basil Deeks of 83 Erskine Park Road, Rusthall celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary the previous week....After spending their honeymoon abroad, Mr and Mrs Larkin plan to live in London where they both work – the bride on the staff of an insurance company and the bridegroom as a draughtsman.’ Unfortunately a photograph included in the article is not good enough to reproduce.

Gerald and Carole later emigrated to Australia where the electoral registers for 1972, 1977 and 1980 for the Baulkham Hill Sub-Division of Sydney, New South Wales show them living in Doreen Crescent and Gerald as an engineer.

The only GRO marriage for a Keith N LARKIN between 1960 and 1987 is at Leeds in 1967/3 for Keith N LARKIN and Margot CROWSON, and births at Leeds in 1968/1 for Julian Anthony LARKIN and Southampton in 1972/2 for Nigel Ian LARKIN, mother CROWSON. The GRO has a birth record at Leeds in 1948/1 for Margot CROWSON, mother LITTLEWOOD. The GRO has another marriage at Stroud, Gloucestershire in 1992/4 for Keith N LARKIN and Patricia A SMART, but I don’t know if either of these marriages refer to Gerald’s younger brother. If the latter does, then 2003-2010 electoral registers show Keith N LARKIN and Patricia A LARKIN living at North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire.

An Ancestry family tree shows Stephen Henry Benjamin LARKIN was born on 22 June 1914 in London and died on 15 March 2012 at Groombridge, and his wife, Edith May WOOD was born on 12 November 1913 in Kent and died 1997/2 at Tunbridge Wells. The tree shows he was descended from Stephen LARKIN (1846-1926) and his wife Jane SPRINGATE (1835, Hadlow, Kent-1924).

In October 2023, Gerald LARKIN told me, ‘Memories of Hilbert Athletic football team include The Oast House changing area (shared in memory by my brother Keith), clearing the field lines of snow so we could play, Carole – my then girl friend now my wife – getting frozen feet on the sideline and thawing them out in front of the open-fire at mum and dad’s house after the game, and in our first season in open-age football after leaving the youth league travelling by M & D bus to Fordcombe for the match and returning with mud on our uniforms and boots as there we no change rooms at that ground. This would have been the late 1950s I think as I turned 16 in 1958 and left school and started a job in Victoria Street, London.’

Kate Mummery’s mum Elsie standing outside 11 Ravenswood Avenue, believed about 1947, showing the original front fence – photo thanks Kate Moorhouse nee Mummery.

Frances Southgate, 12 Ravenswood Avenue, and Michael Morris wedding – photo thanks Courier.

Maureen Williams, 13 Ravenswood Avenue, at St Barnabas School in 1949 (left) – photo thanks Terry Novis, and 1950 – photo thanks Maureen Williams & Clive Stace.

Margaret Williams, 13 Ravenswood Avenue and Clive Stace, 104 Ravenswood Avenue, on their wedding day in July 1962 – photo thanks Clive Stace.

Patricia Taylor, 20 Hilbert Road, (left) with Susan and Andrew Avard, 16 Ravens-wood Avenue – photo thanks Patricia Skittrall nee Taylor.

Pamela Sayer, 20 Ravenswood Avenue, and James Nichols wedding – photo thanks Courier.

Joan Mittins, 28 Ravenswood Avenue, and Robert Donkin wedding – photo thanks Courier.

The 2 March 1979 Courier reported the pancake race at the Nevill Ground organised by the Nevill Women’s Institute. The race was won by ‘Mrs Priscilla Young from Broadwater WI’ who was pictured alongside the second and third placed ladies. Can anyone tell me if this is Peter’s wife, please? – photo thanks Courier.

I am wondering if this photograph is John McQueen? It was taken about 1958 with numbers 84, 82 and 80 Ravenswood Avenue on the left and 72 and 74 at the end of the road on the right. The motor cycle belonged to John Smith (78 Ravenswood Avenue) and his daughter Carol Campbell nee Smith, who sent the photograph, doesn’t know who the rider is, do you?

Joan Mittins, 28 Ravenswood Avenue, in the top class at St Barnabas Primary School in 1949 – photo thanks Clive Stace.

Extract from the 23 August 1963 Courier. Unfortunately a photograph of Gerald and Carole included with the article has not reproduced good enough to publish.

Margaret Williams, 13 Ravenswood Avenue at St Barnabas Primary School – photo thanks Clive Stace.

Gerald Larkin pictured as part of the 1960 Hilbert Athletic football team – photo thanks Anne Pearce, Facebook OTWPS.

Margaret Stace nee Williams pictured in France when she was 44 years old – photo thanks Clive Stace.

Peter Lainson, 13 Ravenswood Avenue (above left) as a member of Hilbert Athletic football team – photo thanks Anne and Doug Pearch, and later in the army in 1966 in the Middle East – photo thanks Clive Stace.

Susan Muffett, 18 Ravenswood Avenue, at St Barnabas School c1950 – photo thanks Susan Muffett Sims, Facebook RTWPP.

Extract from the 7 July 1950 Courier announcing the death of Claudius Henry Guest on 2 July.

Right: Claudius Frederick Guest in his RAF uniform – photo thanks Kit Read.

Below: The record of Claudius Frederick Guest’s DFM.

The Questionnaire for MI9 completed by Claudius Frederick Guest on 21 May 1945.

Extract from the 7 September 1945 Sevenoaks Chronicle of the marriage of Claude Frederick Guest and Zoe Robinson.

The Obituary of Claudius Frederick Guest published in the 21 April 1995 Courier.

Dorothy Southgate, 12 Ravenswood Avenue, at St Barnabas School c 1950 – photo thanks Susan Muffett Sims.