Early Flying Days across the Channel
In the year 1907, John B. Moisart, a Frenchman, hoped to make the first flight from Paris to London. He made a forced landing at St Clare, and for a few days, while his plane was being repaired, was the guest of Sir Mark Collett. Crowds of people flocked to St Clare to view the plane and so most of the people of Ash saw at close quarters one of the first aeroplanes to cross the English Channel.

Airman lands at Idley
In 1913, an airman named C. Gordon Bell made a forced landing at Idley and went to North Ash Farm to telephone Mr T. Sopwith who later arrived with a mechanic. All three had a meal with the Day family, and afterwards Miss Day (now Mrs Ewbank) was allowed to sit in the cockpit. Again crowds of people came to see the damaged plane. This "Birdman" had set out with the intention of flying from London to Paris.

Ash Fair
This fair was held annually at "The Royal Oak", West Yoke until 1882 when it was discontinued. Stalls were arranged on the verge of the road. Climbing a greasy pole for a leg of mutton, racing in the meadow to Turners Oak, bread rolls on string covered in black treacle to bite with the hands tied behind, a roundabout pulled by a pony for the children and oranges floating in water had to be bitten without touching them with the hands, all created lots of fun.

Ash Flower Show
Before the first world war all the larger houses in the Parish employed one or more gardeners, and many of the cottagers had attractive gardens, but none of them could beat Mr A. Gilbert, a brother-in-law of Mr F. Fletcher. At that time Mr. Gilbert was living at the "White House", Ash, he later removed to the converted oast house at Pettings, where he still resides. The Annual Flower Show was a really big event. All the Parishioners were eligible to put in entries and without exception each year Mr Gilbert carried off prizes.

A Day Out
Many years ago a big Fair was held each year at Farningham and this used to be the annual "Day Out" for the majority of the villagers.

South Ash
Towards the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th, Ed T. Pink owned a well known jam factory. The head of this firm lived at West Kingsdown, where he owned extensive orchards, he also owned the South Ash Manor farms which were mainly under fruit. All this fruit was used in the factory. South Ash Manor House was at that time occupied by Mrs. Moore, a married daughter of Mr Pinks.

Hop Picking Days
From 70 to 80 years ago many acres of hops were grown in Ash and Ridley and local women and children went hop-picking when the season arrived. At that time the white cottages known as "Kiln Cottages", The Street, Ash, were a hop kiln, as also was "The Cottage", Corner Farm, West Yoke. Oasthouses stood at the bottom of Billet Hill, on Haven Hill at Pettings.

Vagrants
At the beginning of the 20th century and earlier a few men of no fixed address and no definite work would follow the threshing machine round the farms and make it almost compulsory for the farmer to engage them on the job. As now the farmer usually hired the threshing machine. At that time regular employees were usually put on other jobs. These men slept mostly in barns both summer and winter. One of the favourite headquarters was the large old barn at Corner Farm, another at West Yoke Farm. Sometimes they would sleep under hedges or in ditches. Their favourite haunt was the Anchor and Hope on the borders of Ash and Stansted parishes. When there was no threshing machine to follow they did odd jobs of hoeing etc. They were known by such names as Dusty, Jerry, Cannon, Shrimp and Brickie. They earned about 3s a day