Broad-brimmed hats, long shorts and short hair.

Our pictures last week of St George’s Day Parade with the smiling 8th Dartford Beavers prompted KM Group journalist Crispin Whiting to dig out this photograph of the 8th Dartford Cubs on church parade some 48 years ago.

It was probably St George’s Day, but there were compulsory church parades several times a year back then.

He said: “I looked at the picture in my late father’s album and thought that with the sit-up-and-beg saloon car and the nurse/nanny with the Silver Cross-style pram it must date from the 1940s or 50s.

“Then I looked closely and thought hang on, that’s me at the front between the two Scout leaders."

“I reckon I’m about nine in the picture, which would make it 1966. I’m sporting two-year service stars in my cap.

“We would have marched from the Scout hut at the bottom of Oakfield Lane to Holy Trinity, which can be seen in the centre background, but I’m not sure of the exact spot - Dartford has changed beyond recognition since I left to go to university in 1975.

“I have fond memories of Lowfield Street, with Modern Models where we bought catapult elastic and balsa wood, Perry Son and Lack the stationers and Phillips toy shop, round the corner in the High Street.

"They wouldn’t sell stink bombs, but the newsagents in Shepherd’s Lane certainly did - sixpence for a bag of three.

“I can’t be certain of any of the other faces, but they probably include Nick Yandle, Alan Povey, Ian Prior, Peter Darby, Graham Haskins, and the Abblett boys.”

An album full of memories is in this week's Messenger pages 22 and 23.