Oral Histories
- Iris Pearce
- Sep 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Personal oral histories & transcripts from Hythe residents capture their memories of growing up and living in the community during the world wars and significant events. They reflect on the town's changes, including the rise and fall of shops, pubs, buildings, and the impact of the military presence, brewery, and cinemas, highlighting both good times and challenges faced over the years.
Margaret Hart
Margaret Hart, a Cambridge-born entrepreneur and nurse, built a life of resilience through retail, managing a newsagent's for 17 years in Hythe after a turbulent first marriage. Following her marriage to WWII pilot Jim, she successfully operated a toy shop, a clothing boutique, and a paper shop, navigating challenges with humor and grit.
Margaret celebrated her 106th birthday on 19th December 2025 -Lads Club Saltwoood.
More information about her life is available through the interview notes.
Mr & Mrs Stuart Brown
Owners of Hythe Water Mill for 50 years
Mr H A Coe
Born in 1904. Talking about Hythe during WW1. Recorded in 1985
Mr Sidney Ridley
Born in 1904. Talking about Hythe during WW1. Recorded in 1985
Mr Alban White
Fisherman Born 1909. Talking about damage caused to Hythe seafront by the hurricane of 1987
Mrs Ellen Horton
Hythe Memories
Mrs K Nash
Age 86 years. Talking about Hythe. Recorded 1989
Rear Admiral Hall-Thompson
Talking about Hythe 1913-1914
Miss B Hadlow
Born in 1905 and recounts her memories of Hythe. Recorded in September 1989 when she was 84.
Mr Gordon Copson
RN in WWI - Parents ran the Bell Inn 1944-45
Gillian Gates
Gillian Gates born 1946- Has lived in Hythe since age 5, educated and worked in Hythe. Father owned Hythe Engineering Co. Married at St Leonard ‘s Church. Sharing her happy memories of Hythe.
Berkeley Hill
Professor Berkeley Hill Bsc. phD. BEM Director Of Music at St Leonard's Church, Hythe. Kent
Thomas James Beckett BEM & Marjorie Beckett
Thomas James Beckett -Born in Liverpool 1908-2001. Married Marjorie Bains. Dunkirk Veteran and awarded BEM—Chief Engineer for Mackeson Brewery, Hythe.
Marjorie Beckett (nee Bains) was born in 1917-1985. She came to Hythe at age 6 and educated St Leonards Sch. -Nurse at Royal Victoria Hospital during WWII. Married and raised family in Hythe.
Jack Adams
Jack Adams 1912 – 1998. Professional photographer. WWII joined the RAF in Special duties. He had a photography shop Hythe High St. from 1954 to 1982—a member of Rotary and HCS.
John Adams came to Hythe at age 11 and was educated at Harvey. Science teacher and became deputy head teacher, worked for Pfizer. Bequeathed his father’s large collection of photo negatives to HCS.
Don Hyde
We were delighted when Don Hyde agreed to be our first subject, John Osborne (Chairman) and myself and friends spent two very enjoyable sessions talking, listening to and recording Don's many and varied memories.
Son Griggs
"I met Son in 1948 ‐ we were married in 1950, and two children, five grand children and nine great grandchildren later I count myself blessed."
Peter White
"I was born in August 1942 in Tunbridge Wells and up to the age of 8 or 9 years old our family lived in Tyson Road in Folkestone, I think my mother went to Tunbridge Wells to give birth to me because Folkestone was in the front line of WW2 at that time."
Bridget Wight
The Cold Harbour house and land deeds go back to 1696. In the Kent archives. It was a farm with 33 acres and came as a dowry for the marriage of 'Northhamptona Court'. She could not write but made her mark. It was an old parchment.
Flora Laundon
I am just starting part one of my life’s story so at the end I start at the beginning. Now aged 95 Flora Laundon born on the 2nd May 1916 during the First World War. My parents Florence and Leonard lived at South Norwood, 45 Edit Road, where I was born.
Flora's Life Story: