25 YEARS AGO: Ten young musician soldiers were killed when a pre-timed package exploded at the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal.

The IRA claimed responsibility. It was the worst outrage in the south-east. The bomb, planted in a plastic bag and placed in the staff rest room, exploded with devastating results. The men were killed instantly and 22 were injured. Memorial gardens were later opened in honour of the musicians who died.

50 YEARS AGO: Donald Campbell, who inherited his father’s desire to break speed records on land and water, set a new land-speed record of 403.1 mph in his jet-powered Bluebird.

His father Malcolm Campbell, who was born and lived in Chislehurst, was a champion in the 1930s. Three years later, in January 1967, Donald Campbell died when Bluebird somersaulted during his attempt to break his own world record at Conniston Water.

100 YEARS AGO: More than 100 men who worked for Lloyds Papermakers in factories across Kent, but had signed up for the Territorials or Reservists, were told by the directors of the company that their wages would be paid in full to their dependants for the duration of the war.

At St Mary Cray Paper Works, where the £1 and 10 shilling bank notes were being manufactured, armed guards were on duty day and night and the building was floodlit.