The Channel Tunnel was high on the list of worries for many Kent residents in 1970. Although work on the tunnel would not start for another 18 years and the tunnel itself would not open until 1994, people were already being affected.

Kent County Council had put a hold on all development within a strip of land 14 miles long, and in some places two miles wide, in case it was needed for the project, extending from Folkestone through to Sevington, near Ashford.

Kent Life explained that Smeeth, Sellindge, Stanford and Brabourne Leas were the communities most likely to be affected but acknowledged that: "At the back of people's minds there is bound to be the nagging thought that this strip may have to be extended or widened." It also noted: "A property blight has fallen on all these villages."

Like many magazines of today, Kent Life liked to do a photo feature on a notable person each month. But unlike today, those featured in 1970 were not reality TV stars or fashion icons but were usually from the county's "great and the good".

The Right Honourable Countess of Shannon, wife of the 9th Earl of Shannon, who lived at Old Loose Court in Loose, near Maidstone (now home to the artist Ralph Steadman), was one of those chosen, along with her children Harry, the Viscount Boyle, aged nine; Lady Georgina, eight, and Lady Caroline, four. The feature noted that Lady Shannon was interested in "animals, gardening and various artistic pursuits".

In 1970 both France and Britain were still very proud of their joint aviation venture to produce the world's first supersonic jet airliner - the Concorde. The plane, which could reach a top speed of 1,353mph, had taken its maiden flight only the year before on March 2, 1969.

To celebrate Lord Cornwallis, then chairman of Whitbread Fremlins, opened a new pub - The Concord - in Wakeley Road, Rainham. It is interesting to note though that the pub was originally spelt the English way - without an 'e'.

Later we all caved in to the French and agreed to spell both the plane and the pub (which still exists today) Concorde.

The plane cut an eight-hour flight to New York to just three and a half hours. But it was expensive to operate and expensive to fly in and although its design was universally admired it was never a huge commercial success.

On July 25, 2000, an Air France Concorde crashed after departing from Charles de Gaulle Airport, killing 100 passengers, nine crew members and four people on the ground.

The planes were withdrawn from service three years later.

The Kent Messenger newspaper had a big year in 1970. On January 19, it installed a new web offset printing press at its headquarters (then in Larkfield, near Maidstone) which was modestly described as "one of the most modern in the world".

Edward Heath was the VIP guest invited to press the button to get the press rolling for the first time. Then leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Heath (later Sir Edward) was elected Prime Minister in June 1970, serving for four years.

One of the guests at the event was Richard Hearne, a local celebrity - though that word would not have been used in 1970. Mr Hearne, who played the children's TV character Mr Pastry, seems to have been somewhat like Woody Allen's Leonard Zelig character, popping up at almost every function worth going to.

Younger motorists topping up their fuel tanks today might sometimes wonder why their pump choice is between unleaded and diesel. Why not petrol and diesel?

The answer is that originally (from as early as 1920) petrol came with lead additives that both increased performance and reduced engine wear. Unfortunately, the lead pollution also caused brain damage in children and wider health problems.

Unleaded petrol was first introduced in the UK in 1986 and for a while during the cross-over period, motorists could buy either leaded or unleaded at the pumps.

But 1970 was well before any of those health worries and motorists were happy to buy their lead-using cars.

New on the market was the Renault Six. Today we would call it a hatchback but, in the parlance of the time, it was a "saloon estate".

Described by Kent Life's motor editor Tony Tucker as "a likeable, willing worker with plenty of space and go-anywhere qualities", the Renault Six retailed at £724 18s 3d.

Its maximum speed was 75mph, overall petrol consumption 34.5mpg and acceleration from 0 to 60mph was 29.5 seconds.

If you were looking for something a little more racy, then the Ford Capri 300 GT was for you.

Top speed was 114mph, though sadly the fuel consumption shrank to an average of 22.4mpg. Still, 0 to 60mph could be achieved in just 9.8 seconds.

Mr Tucker described this one as "neither an outright sportster nor a conventional saloon". But he did say the Capri had "superb straight-line stability" though cornering could result in under-steer. The car sold for £1,291. Seatbelts were extra for £14. Their fitting (on the front seats at least) had become compulsory just two years before in 1968, although it remained up to the driver whether or not to use them until 1983.

Tragedy struck in 1970 when the Black Mill at Barham, near Canterbury, burnt down.

The mill had been built by John Holman in 1834. It had nearly been lost when it was struck by lightning, then in 1951 it lost two sails in a storm.

But the restored mill found fame when it was featured in the 1955 film Raising a Riot, starring Kenneth More.

The mill was bought by Kent County Council in the late 1960s and was undergoing further restoration when a stray spark from a bonfire set it ablaze.

It had been the third mill on the site, the first having been erected at some time in the 13th century. But it's an ill wind that brings nobody some good and parts intended for the restoration of the Black Mill were used instead at Draper's Mill in Margate.

One of Kent's residents to be honoured by the Queen in 1970 was Dawnay Lemon - the Chief Constable of Kent Police.

Mr Lemon - or Sir Dawnay as he became - had been in post eight years and was credited with transforming the force.

Among his innovations was the introduction of personal radios so that officers on the beat could stay in contact with headquarters - previously it had been a case of looking for a phone box.

Sir Dawney's second innovation was "Neighbourhood Policing" - essentially an extension of the old idea of village constables to urban areas.

Kent Life reported: "Constables live in the areas where they are stationed, get to know the local residents and become identified with them, to perform their duties and live their lives after the style of the village policeman."

Sir Dawney said the method had proved very successful with "a consequent improvement of relationships between the police and the public".

If you walk through any town centre today you will see a complete range of fashion styles - and non-styles. In 1970, fashion was still more universally followed.

Judging by photos from the era, there were only two options available for women: either a trouser suit or a skirt ending above the knee.

Even quite elderly ladies are pictured with high hem lines.

We think it's fair though to assume that not all men were smoking cheroots and dressed like this chap in the advert for Aquascutum below.

One thing that is noticeably absent from every photograph is any kind of tattoo, body piercing or ear-rings on men.

Kent had its share of royal visits during 1970. Princess Anne was back at Benenden School to open a new £62,000 sixth-form block. The Princess had been a pupil at the school up until 1968.

The headmistress, Elizabeth Clarke, and the Princess both gave an address, before Anne planted a cherry tree in a new garden court.

Somebody helpfully held an umbrella over the Princess because it was pouring down with rain. The pupils just had to get wet - though judging by their smiling faces they didn't mind.

Princess Margaret also came to the county, visiting the new Letraset factory, making toys and graphic materials, in Ashford. She also went to Rochester to officially open the new £500,000 road bridge across the Medway, before dining with the Bridge Wardens.

The bridge was erected by the Rochester Bridge Trust at no cost to the taxpayer and was the fourth bridge across the river at this point. There was already a road bridge, a railway bridge and a bridge to carry service pipes.

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, also came to Kent but stuck more with her own interests.

She visited Folkestone racecourse where she watched jockey David Mould win the Whitbread Fremlins Elephant Handicap Steeplechase.

The "elephant" was a reference to the Fremlin's brewery logo, rather than Mr Mould's mount.

The Queen Mother was accompanied by Lord Cornwallis, then the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

Sadly, Lord Cornwallis, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother have all subsequently died. Lord Cornwallis in 1982, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother both in 2002.

We end this review with some photographs taken from around the county in 1970. Readers may like to consider how much the scenes have changed, and in some cases, how much they have stayed the same despite the intervening half a century.

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