I am still here after 25 years; where are these buildings?

The Surrey Comet started in 1854, and it's often said I'm the only one left who was there at the time.

Not so. Despite my looks, I haven't yet served 144 years.

However, I will complete my first quarter-century with the paper next Thursday, and will probably go misty-eyed at how radically Kingston, my face and the Comet have changed in those 25 years.

It may sound mawkish, but I've always been in love with the Comet. I love the fact that it's been at the heart of our local life through six reigns, has never missed an issue in all that time, and is the single most important information link between our local past and present.

An anniversary is a perfect excuse for looking back. So I thought

readers might like to look back at Kingston as it used to be through the pictures on this page.

All are from my most recent book, Kingston Past, published by Historical Publications. This is on sale at most local bookshops for £14.95. But to mark my silver anniversary with the Comet, the publishers are giving offering 12 free copies as prizes in a special competition.

All you have to do is study the scenes or landmarks in the pictures, and decide what they are and where they were.

Some people will recognise them from personal memory. Others will be too young, or too new to the Royal borough, to have such recall, but will still be able to work out answers with a bit of observational skill.

Do have a go. It should be very

interesting and fun, and the first 12 correct entries opened will get a book in time for Christmas.

Even if you don't win, you still might like to browse through Kingston Past. It's in Dillons, Waterstones and most other local bookshops, though modesty and good manners preclude me from claiming it's brilliant!

However, I can say that it's the result of 35 years' research into Kingston's history, and that most of its 189 illustrations have never been published in any book before.

The June Sampson Competition

Picture 1:

Picture 2:

Picture 3:

Picture 4:

Picture 5:

Picture 6:

Please send your entries to Kingston Past, Surrey Comet, 26 York Street, Twickenham TW1 3LJ. Or e-mail: jgumb@london.newsquest.co.uk

Entries must arrive by Monday, December 7.

Usual Comet competition rules apply. The editor's decision is final.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.