While on work experience from Astor Secondary School with the Maison Dieu, I stumbled upon an old album in the Dover Museum archive, containing a fascinating collection of photographs, including one of the Mayor of Dover, councillors and soldiers on the steps of the Maison Dieu.

So, what was the important occasion? A newspaper article pasted next to the photograph revealed all, stating that the Mayor (Alderman G.M. Norman) was reading the Proclamation of the new king, George VI.

This was of great interest to me, as I ‘m fascinated by the royal family. It was the second time that year that a monarch was proclaimed. Edward VIII, who had been become king earlier that year, had recently abdicated, because he wanted to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Also prominent in the photo was an impressive cast-iron porch to the Maison Dieu, which sadly no longer survives.

The photograph was taken on 14 December 1936, just a few weeks before the last Dover tram rattled its way from Worthington to Maxton. Photographs, newspaper extracts and a souvenir ticket from the last tram journey also appear in the album to record this important milestone in Dover history.

Leafing on a few pages, I came across a striking image of an annual re-union for the old people of Dover, being held at the Maison Dieu. Nearly 450 guests attended who were all over 70 years old, with a combined age of 34,200 years! The oldest was Mrs Dyer, aged 94, of Gorey Almhouses.

The album is one of a series created to record her time in office by Councillor Mrs Florence K. Langley, who represented Castle Ward.

I really enjoyed my work experience at the Maison Dieu which also included helping out with a BBC South East Today visit to film wall paintings specialists Arte Conservation reinstating the William Burges decorative scheme on the Connaught Hall ceiling.

Thomas Milton