Hi Dave, and all the
“Whitstableites” wherever you are. Even those poor
souls in the land of Oz.... bless their little cotton socks. (New
Zealand’s West Island!!). Smile…no grin!
Not so long ago, you said it might be nice to see a
few photographs of where some of us ended up. Well, I left 43,
Gordon Road in Whitstable and, 40 years later, I have come to rest
in the lovely town of Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand.
The town is just a little bigger than Whitstable
with a population of about 45,000, about 100 kms. (60 miles) South
of Christchurch. Like Whitstable, it is a seaside town. The harbour
is larger and caters for container traffic and deep sea fishing.
Unlike Whitstable, you can still park
outside the shop you wish to shop in and for free! There are no
traffic problems and we can still go for a peaceful Sunday afternoon
drive.
Timaru High Street
We are only an hour’s drive away
from the nearest ski field in winter and yet have very mild winters
here in town.
Lake Tekapo Ski Area.
We have a motor race track, an
airport, two lovely sports stadium and a new hospital. Down on the
seafront there is a large sound shell which is used for outdoor
concerts and where the town celebrates the New Year.
Caroline Bay, Timaru
You can still buy a new 4-bedroom home with a double
garage and a garden for under $200,000 NZ.dollars (about 68,000
sterling).... so, all in all, a very nice place to live.
If any Whitstable residents are thinking of coming
down this way in your travels, my wife and I would only be too
pleased to see you and you would be made very welcome. Just drop me
an e-mail first.
Having been back to Whitstable 3 years ago and seen
the utter chaos in the town with far too much traffic for the
facilities to cope with, the council should be trying to persuade
people to build as far from the town centre as possible.
A council that would even contemplate such a move
would be out of office at the next election here. Anyway, time for
me to get off my soap box.
Hope you like the photos of Timaru. Once again let
me thank Dave and all who keep the true spirit of Whitstable alive
with such a wonderful web site.
Brian Bishop
June 2004
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