George Herbert Godden

The son of William Henry and Emma (nee Helman), George was one of 10 children and came from a hard working class family. His father being employed on local farms. They all grew up in a small cottage on Faversham Road on the edge of Newnham. Sleeping top to tail in bed the children George, Stan, Harry, Bill, Jim, Jack, Charles, Ann, Ivy and Florence had a hard life growing up but were all devoted to their mother who tried her best to prolong their education as long as possible to give them a better chance in life.

George was a bright and good student. He loved sport, especially football and enjoyed fishing and shooting and was a crack shot. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and very strong and solid.

He married Dorothy Lilian May Wigg in 1933. George and Dorothy (Dolly) and daughter Joyce were living with William and Annie Austin in 1939 at North Lodge, Sharsted Court, Doddington. He was working as a tractor driver. By 1941 the family were living at 82, The Street, Newnham and he was a fruit and vegetable dealer. In the 1960s they moved to Woodside Green then in the 1980s to Teynham. 

Later in life he had a fishing boat in Whitstable. He went fly fishing and shooting in Scotland on an estate where an old army friend was employed as a gillie after the war. He held organised pheasant shoots and trained Springer Spaniels as gun dogs. He appreciated good food and drink and was an excellent chef. Although Dolly always made the cakes and pastries!

He fractured his right leg playing football as a young man and in the 1950s he broke the same leg in a car accident where he was badly injured. He was treated at Canterbury Hospital where he was lucky to avoid an amputation. This left him with a permanent limp.

His Granddaughter Maureen remembers him as hard working, intelligent, quick witted, kind and generous. He was strict regarding manners and behaviour but was remembered as a devoted Grandfather to Maureen, Martin, Colin and Christine.