A RAMBLE in the countryside after school is fondly recalled by Harry Sherwood, who remembers part of the route went past some First World War smallpox hospital huts. I wonder if this strikes a chord with other readers?

Harry, who lives in Sittingbourne, wrote with his memories of walking home from Borden School in the mid to late 1930s.

He says: "We were friendly with a lot of pupils who lived along the London Road and lived just before the brow of Boyces Hill, Newington.

"We would walk them home, then we would leave them and go along a cart track that led us by the old 1918 hospital huts, which were still standing, maybe a little rusty, but still there. I believe it was used as a smallpox hospital in the First World War. Later, some huge blackberries grew there, the fruits were very large and sweet.

"From there, we went across Monkey Island, with such a lovely view of the countryside, with views of five or six churches – Borden, Stockbury, Newington, Bobbing and Holy Trinity at Milton. Sometimes you could see St Michael's in Sittingbourne and possbily Tunstall, the views were brilliant in those days.

"Then our little group would head home over Monkey Island, down through the orchard and along a stony pathway, to come out at Mr Kemp's smallholding opposite Triplow's Farm at the bottom of Chestnut Wood Lane, then along the road (now the A249) and home to Chestnut Street – almost a full circle since school.

"I wonder if anyone uses these footpaths and enjoys the views like we did?"