Letters

Dear Editor

It has been interesting over the years to read about the hop pickers in Kent, but nobody has ever seemed to mention the Red Cross.

When I was at school in London in the 50’s I belonged to the Red Cross, and every year a contingent of VADs as we were known (Voluntary Aid Detachment) came down to the hop fields to render first aid.

I only came for two seasons when I was in the senior school, but several of our older members had been doing it for many years. The first year I was posted to Paddock Wood where we were accommodated in a large Nissan hut in a farmer’s field. The second year I came to Yalding, where we had camp beds in the village hall.

It was very basic but great fun and as a Londoner - used to smog and lots of buildings - it gave me a love of the countryside and rural life which has never left me.
Mary Knott
Now living in Margate

Dear Editor

The Wolverton Anglo-Saxon Burial Display Case

Kent Archaeological Society members may remember the unveiling of the unique Anglo-Saxon double-tiered weapons burial display case at the Astor College for the Arts at Dover (KAS Newsletter issue 90, Autumn 2011). Since that date, the case has been utilized by the college and its satellite primary schools as an educational tool for History, Art and English lessons.

The case has now moved to a temporary display at the Discover Centre adjoining Dover Museum. Here the case and its story boards can be visited in normal opening hours. The case will eventually be moved into Dover museum when the Anglo-Saxon display area has been refurbished. Here the exhibit will be permanently used by over 12,000 school children visiting the museum’s education facilities each year.
Vince Burrows
The Alkham Valley Historical Research Group