Tower Hamlets, Dover

This was found in a junk shop in Dover a few years ago. It's a VHS copy of, I assume, an 8mm home movie with added sound. I have no idea who made it or when, except that it appears to be from the mid 70's.

I've been told that the main character was the caretaker at Astor Secondary school, this has not been confirmed however. Odd that the background music, the Allegri Miserere, is played at the wrong speed!

[@sappersteve1443]

amazing find!
My daughter lives on Tower Street,and he walked straight past her front door.The builders yard alas;is no longer there,and they have built loads of matchbox size houses on the site.I know that some people say that Dover is very run down these days,but we do take our home town for granted,and when you see it like this,you realise how pleasant Dover really is?

[@andrewcroft6855]

Great to see this. The Builders' Merchants the narrator went into was Castle Harris, Tower Hill and the chap with the moustache is Charlie Powell who lived in the cottage. I worked for Castle Harris Canterbury from 1979 and just this clip to a couple of ex colleagues who recognised Charlie. He was promised the cottage for life by our formed directors and when Castles sold the premises the yard was demolished along with the cottage

[@BurfordBoy57]

What a find! Thanks for posting it. The narrator obviously has a great pride in his Dover heritage. It'll bring back memories for many people. I was particularly interested in the period transport and enjoyed seeing some of my old taxi routes!

[@TheNagden]

What a little gem this video is, my husband Mike and I can remember Mr Woods very well when he was the caretaker at Astor Secondary School, it's brought back very happy memories for us. The music is Allegri Miseri played about 3-4 times the speed

[@admiralackbar9307]

Allegri Miseri song by Alvin and the chipmunks

[@terryflint6158]

I was talking to a chap today, who told me about this film. He reckoned it was filmed around 1963 ? Great piece of local history.

[@pilotg2426]

I've been watching this, sitting in my home in the South Island of New Zealand, and it brought back many memories. Growing up in Maxton and going to the Boys Grammar I've walked those streets so many times but had forgotten the detail. It was very well done for it's time. I think the audio is out of step with the video and possibly accounts for the tonal distortion of the backing music. Many many thanks. A lovely trip down memory lane.

[@romaapollo1]

That brought back so many memories. I grew up on Astor Avenue. Went to St Bart's, Astor Primary and Secondary and just saw my nan in the audience for the maypole dancing...Mrs Barnes, she was a dinner lady at Astor Primary. Mr Woods was a lovely man too. What a great find.

[@daleskidmore1685]

What a lovely film. There is still a lot of pride in Dover, I love living here. I guess the film to be from around '73/4 as some cars have the reflector number plates. Thank you for sharing what is a lucky find.

[@12borekent]

I guess this to be around 1970. I had left Dover seven years before this film was made.Yes I remember Kings sweet shop, I can hardly forget it because it was in direct competition with my Mums shop in Douglas Road. There were quite a few corner shops in those days, but all of them managed to scrape a living.
I recall St Bartholemews church where I spent a few years as a choir boy. I spent a wonderful childhood in Dover and have always been proud of its heritage. Sadly, like a lot of other towns it has gone into decline, it's a great shame that all the history in Dover isn't promoted properly; especially when considering the amount of people that pass through it.

[@colleenmiller19]

You are right TheBriancristopher her name is Roberta (Bobbie) Fullerton, she is my aunt. Deborah is my mum, its so weird seeing her like that lol. This is amazing seeing this as a grew up in Tower Hamlets for 21 years, the change is unbelievable. Thank you for this video :)

[@stuartthegrant]

This really takes me back, not a tower Hamlets lad, Elms Vale I came from. Very nostalgic look at Dover. Quite a find.

[@Aut251]

My favourite place in Tower Hamlets was Ellys Motorcycle shop.

[@davidking6802]

Wow that really takes me back,good times!!!!

[@sammydj54]

Great video.well done good find.......

[@mussdover]

Its very early 70s by my reckoning reason being you see 2 East Kent buses 1 is NBC Poppy Red and the other is still in the pre NBC livery......

[@admiralackbar9307]

Thank you this is very interesting, is the children's book author Kathleen M Duncan?

[@kristinrichards283]

It's definitely Mr woods great find

[@12DNWM]

I wonder when you wre at Dover grammar School?
My late husband was there during WW11 and evacuated to Soputh wales for a fe years.
His Mother lkved in Dickson Road.

[@sammydj54]

this is about 1969 / 70