Title
Paul Hatcher Oral History Summary
Subject
Paul Hatcher
Description
A summary of an oral history interview with Paul Hatcher
Creator
Michael Romyn
Source
Kent's Sporting Memories
Date
Interview recorded on 13 July 2021
Contributor
Paul Hatcher; Michael Romyn
Rights
Kent's Sporting Memories
Relation
Paul Hatcher Oral History Recording
Format
Word document
Language
English
Type
Typed summary
Identifier
Paul Hatcher
Text
Kent’s Sporting Memories Oral History Summary
Interviewee: Paul Hatcher
Interviewer: Michael Romyn
Date: 13 July 2021
Location: Paul’s home in Rochester, Kent
0:00 Name, place and date of birth (Paul Hatcher, Maidstone, 2 October 1951); Paul talks about his grandparents, including the tragic story of his grandfather, who died by accidental shooting; Paul’s father’s work as an undertaker, at Thomas Miller (later Sears) in Maidstone, and memories of helping his father as a boy – ‘I used to enjoy it immensely’; his father’s standing in the community, and his willingness to help other people.
9:00 Paul’s mother’s activities during the war, and her role as a wife and mother; his father’s pastimes, including betting and gardening; the story of his parents’ meeting on the banks of the River Medway; Paul explains how his father eventually buried his older brother, who was unwell for much of his life – ‘he was a lovely guy as well’; his parents’ lack of communication about living and serving in the war.
21:30 Moving near Bromley, to Bickley, early in his first marriage, when both he and his wife worked in Bromley High Street (Paul worked in the fashion business); memories of growing up in Maidstone, including spending time in Mote Park, and visiting family across Kent.
28:00 Attending Plains Avenue Primary School and secondary school, which, except for practical subjects such as woodwork and metal work, Paul did not enjoy for the most part; sport at school, and his introduction to car racing through model cars and watching Rallycross on the television.
31:45 Paul explains how his love of cars started; his early forays into slot car racing through Scalextric; ‘I had the bug…if it had wheels it was great, if it had a ball it wasn’t that important’; his admiration for Jackie Stewart and other racing drivers like Stirling Moss; attending Brands Hatch racing school, aged 19, across several levels and in various cars; how a lack of means meant Paul could not enter into the world of motor racing in the way he would have liked; Paul’s confidence behind the wheel, and his desire to be involved in racing as a driver.
43:20 Getting married, moving to Aylesford (via Bickley), and leaving the fashion industry to begin work at a furniture shop in Maidstone, aged 22; becoming an area sales manager for a German bedroom company, a firm he stayed with for 29 years before retiring.
47:45 Being introduced by a friend to stock car racing and Hot Rods at Crayford Stadium, Kent – ‘I thought this is so good. And I came away from there…and said to my wife ‘I’ve got to buy a Ford Anglia and go car racing’; buying a Ford Anglia in 1972, stripping the car out, and preparing it for competition at Crayford.
51:10 Competing in and winning his second ever race at Crayford; Paul describes the mutual aid and camaraderie he experienced in the Hot Rod racing community – ‘there was always people to help’; making improvements to his car with the help of various people, including his cousin, a car mechanic, and later, a neighbor, who was also a mechanic; ‘I loved the participation…of being part of it – the drivers, the club, the social side of it, getting dirty, just driving around’; the joy of having his young sons at the track.
58:10 Crowds could reach up to 5,000 people at the various tracks, including Crayford, Brands Hatch and Lydden in Kent; the friendships Paul made in racing; the structure of competitive racing, which comprised a league and weekly events.
1:08 The enjoyment Paul derived from racing, and how he still enjoys watching it and being involved with cars today; Paul raced between 1972 and 1989; Paul’s involvement in slot car racing; being a member of and serving as chairman for Medway Slot Car Club – ‘It’s great fun’.
1:14:20 The biggest changes Paul has seen in his 17 years of racing; more on Paul’s slot car club, including how he got involved 22 years ago, and how it is similar in many ways – specifications, adaptions, sociability - to his racing days; meeting Jackie Stewart, his racing hero, in 2016; watching Jackie Stewart for the first time in 1969; Paul’s waning interest in Formula 1, and taking an interest in NASCAR racing; watching NASCAR and driving a NASCAR car in America for his fiftieth birthday.
1:26:00 Paul’s fondest memories and highlights from his involvement in cars – ‘I think it was just being part of it…it was just being on the track as opposed to the stands’.
Interviewee: Paul Hatcher
Interviewer: Michael Romyn
Date: 13 July 2021
Location: Paul’s home in Rochester, Kent
0:00 Name, place and date of birth (Paul Hatcher, Maidstone, 2 October 1951); Paul talks about his grandparents, including the tragic story of his grandfather, who died by accidental shooting; Paul’s father’s work as an undertaker, at Thomas Miller (later Sears) in Maidstone, and memories of helping his father as a boy – ‘I used to enjoy it immensely’; his father’s standing in the community, and his willingness to help other people.
9:00 Paul’s mother’s activities during the war, and her role as a wife and mother; his father’s pastimes, including betting and gardening; the story of his parents’ meeting on the banks of the River Medway; Paul explains how his father eventually buried his older brother, who was unwell for much of his life – ‘he was a lovely guy as well’; his parents’ lack of communication about living and serving in the war.
21:30 Moving near Bromley, to Bickley, early in his first marriage, when both he and his wife worked in Bromley High Street (Paul worked in the fashion business); memories of growing up in Maidstone, including spending time in Mote Park, and visiting family across Kent.
28:00 Attending Plains Avenue Primary School and secondary school, which, except for practical subjects such as woodwork and metal work, Paul did not enjoy for the most part; sport at school, and his introduction to car racing through model cars and watching Rallycross on the television.
31:45 Paul explains how his love of cars started; his early forays into slot car racing through Scalextric; ‘I had the bug…if it had wheels it was great, if it had a ball it wasn’t that important’; his admiration for Jackie Stewart and other racing drivers like Stirling Moss; attending Brands Hatch racing school, aged 19, across several levels and in various cars; how a lack of means meant Paul could not enter into the world of motor racing in the way he would have liked; Paul’s confidence behind the wheel, and his desire to be involved in racing as a driver.
43:20 Getting married, moving to Aylesford (via Bickley), and leaving the fashion industry to begin work at a furniture shop in Maidstone, aged 22; becoming an area sales manager for a German bedroom company, a firm he stayed with for 29 years before retiring.
47:45 Being introduced by a friend to stock car racing and Hot Rods at Crayford Stadium, Kent – ‘I thought this is so good. And I came away from there…and said to my wife ‘I’ve got to buy a Ford Anglia and go car racing’; buying a Ford Anglia in 1972, stripping the car out, and preparing it for competition at Crayford.
51:10 Competing in and winning his second ever race at Crayford; Paul describes the mutual aid and camaraderie he experienced in the Hot Rod racing community – ‘there was always people to help’; making improvements to his car with the help of various people, including his cousin, a car mechanic, and later, a neighbor, who was also a mechanic; ‘I loved the participation…of being part of it – the drivers, the club, the social side of it, getting dirty, just driving around’; the joy of having his young sons at the track.
58:10 Crowds could reach up to 5,000 people at the various tracks, including Crayford, Brands Hatch and Lydden in Kent; the friendships Paul made in racing; the structure of competitive racing, which comprised a league and weekly events.
1:08 The enjoyment Paul derived from racing, and how he still enjoys watching it and being involved with cars today; Paul raced between 1972 and 1989; Paul’s involvement in slot car racing; being a member of and serving as chairman for Medway Slot Car Club – ‘It’s great fun’.
1:14:20 The biggest changes Paul has seen in his 17 years of racing; more on Paul’s slot car club, including how he got involved 22 years ago, and how it is similar in many ways – specifications, adaptions, sociability - to his racing days; meeting Jackie Stewart, his racing hero, in 2016; watching Jackie Stewart for the first time in 1969; Paul’s waning interest in Formula 1, and taking an interest in NASCAR racing; watching NASCAR and driving a NASCAR car in America for his fiftieth birthday.
1:26:00 Paul’s fondest memories and highlights from his involvement in cars – ‘I think it was just being part of it…it was just being on the track as opposed to the stands’.