Introduction

It has not been easy to compile a history of Paddock Wood from the limited record of events which I have in my own collection. However, I have attempted to present something of a picture of the early life of Paddock Wood and to bring it up to date covering most of the important events.

It had long been my intention to produce a book of this kind but in 1981 I was taken ill and spent some time in hospital, but I was encouraged to proceed with it during convalescence, and this I have done. I worked on it for about two hours each morning for some months and gradually it has come together.

However, it would have been impossible to publish the work without the help of others, and in addition to those mentioned at the end of the book, I particularly wish to mention Mrs Elaine Edwards, who now lives with her husband and family at Mascalls in the Morgans old house, and who transcribed much of my original longhand; Mrs Joyce Hutson of Mascalls School and Mrs Janice Smith for typing, and Mr L.A.Summers for editorial work and designing the book.

Such a valuable team could not be bettered, but when it comes to dedications I can only make it to my wife Joyce for her tolerance and understanding of a house cluttered up with considerable amounts of old and sometimes tatty reference material.

December 1984

Jack Walker