Ashford Museum

07/10/2026

Do you remember Bingo Bear? Ashford’s very own Top Rank bingo mascot! Barbara came along last session and shared her memories of working in the ODEON building when it was the Top Rank bingo hall, including how she brought Bingo to life – an experience which was not always easy.
“He was very difficult to walk in. My other half put a Tupperware cereal bowl inside him upside down and screwed it, wired it, and what have you, so that he would sit on my head properly and stay there. Otherwise, it just wobbled all over the place! “

Final session: Friday 9th October in County Square from 9.30 – 2.30
Come along and share your memories — and help us keep Ashford’s local history alive!
Please share this post and tag anyone you know who might remember the Odeon, Top Rank or Mecca bingo.

Image: AI generated representational image only

25/09/2026

Alteration to hours
The Museum will open
11am to 2pm Wednesday to Saturday
(except 26th September)
until 31st October

25/09/2026

The Museum will not open on
Saturday 26th September
due to volunteer illness

11/09/2026

UPDATE: Ahead of the final collection event, Ashford Borough Council have launched a new way for you to add your memories to the collection. Visit https://www.ashford.gov.uk/your-council/council-projects/town-centre-improvements/the-odeon/odeon-engagement-sessions/ and add your memories of the ODEON. Please pass this link on to anyone you know who may like to play their part in recording what an iconic venue the ODEON was in Ashford life.

Did you go to Saturday morning pictures at Ashford's ODEON? Linda did:
"My uncles used to drop me off outside the Odeon when we came down on holiday to see my gran, and they'd let me go in and pay my entrance fee, buy me my sweet cone or whatever, popcorn, and then go off around town, and they left me on my own in there, enjoying myself for the morning. I would have been about 10.
Years later
“I never did do bingo. Not my, not my thing. But my daughter went. Just now and again. A nice evening out.”
Whether its as a Saturday Club child, an date night film goer or a bingo player, we’d love to hear your memories this Saturday at the ODEON recollection drop in session. 9.30 -2.30 at The Gateway Plus Centre, Church Road.
See you there
P.S - Thanks to Ian Sharp for sharing this photo with us.

07/09/2026

AAHS's first meeting this year.

ALL WELCOME at our first meeting this year where Jason Hulott will speak about 'Medieval Knife Crime'. 7.30pm Monday 21st September at the Quaker Meeting House, Albert Road, Ashford, Kent. Entry £4 cash on the door for visitors/non-members.

27/08/2026

The Museum will not open on Thursday 3rd September
to mark the funeral of volunteer
Jeff Fenner

27/08/2026

Jeff Fenner

Jeff Fenner was possibly one the longest serving of our current volunteers, as a steward giving more hours than any other, of late opening the Museum on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. He was always willing to help with any manual tasks being undertaken in the Museum. He was a member of the Management Committee, always ready to speak up for the volunteers or if he thought the direction the Museum was taking was not true to its purpose.

Jeff had also volunteered at the British Heart Foundation and at Mobility Aid in Folkestone.

Jeff collapsed outside the Museum, on Thursday 6th August, as he arrived to open the Museum for a regular stewarding session. An ambulance was called and Members of the team from St. Mary's Church, preparing for the weekly 'Ignite' Church event, gave first aid including CPR. Unfortunately those efforts and those of the paramedics were to no avail and Jeff passed away.

Jeff was known to the congregation at Ignite as the 'nice man from the museum'

Jeff was the prime carer for his disabled wife, so this has had an even greater impact on her than might otherwise have been the case.

Deepest condolences are offered by all at the Museum to his wife and family.

The Museum will not open on 3rd September, the day of Jeff's Funeral.

15/08/2026

Only a week to go until the next ODEON memories drop-in session.
Come along and share your memories of this icon of Ashford’s High Street. At our first session Derek shared some of his memories as a projectionist:
“We ran the shows by yourself because safety film [had] come in. Before, you had to have three or four projectors because the fire risk was enormous. The responsibility was enormous because if we had a James Bond film on or a Carry-On film on, the place was full.”
Read more of Derek’s memories and add your own to the archive at the Gateway Plus Centre, Church Road on Saturday 22nd August. (9.30-2.30 pm)

Thank you, Ian Sharp, for sharing this photo with us.

06/08/2026

The Museum will not open
on Friday 7th August or
Saturday 8th August