A2 THE ROAD MOVIE
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| Paul Ross on his journey down the A2 |
The A2 is commonly known is one
of the South East's busiest and oldest roads.
This week Paul Ross
looks at some of the amazing stories of this ancient road and unearths
some surprising facts.
The A2 dates back to Roman times and is a vital trade
route from Kent into London.
It has seen the invasion of Hitler's Doodlebugs in World
War 2 and was even used as a route by pilgrims in the Middle Ages on their
way to Canterbury Cathedral.
Paul Ross starts his journey with pilgrims of another
sort聟 The Mods!
Mods
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| Regulation
scooters, its the only way to travel! |
The Mod culture began life in the early 60's. Noted for
their 'shrink to fit' jeans and regulation scooters with fanned peacock
mirrors, the Mod lifestyle was a way of life for many teenagers.
For the last 40 years the A2 has seen a flurry of activity
with the Mods annual pilgrimage to Margate from Rochester.
Since the swinging 60's, the scooter has been the only
way in which the Mod boys will travel.
Roadworks on the A2 are often seen as a menace and problem
to all, but not for Anton Ludwig and his crew of Mods. They see them as
an opportunity to outwit the travelling holiday maker, avoiding bank holiday
traffic jams.
| Fun Facts |
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The word 'Mod' was short for Modern
or Modernist and emphasized progress and modern ideas such as music,
fashion and dancing.
Mods and Rockers were notorious rivals. The first
major battle was on May 18th 1964 in Margate.
Packs of each group caused chaos and destruction
around the town.
The Doodlebug was actually called the Vergeltungswaffe
1 FZG-76 (V1), which in German means "reprisal weapon".
FZG is an abbreviation of Flak Ziel Ger盲t
which means anti-aircraft aiming device!
The V1 could fly at speeds estimated between 300-450
miles per hour at an altitude of about 2000 feet, and it would take
them about 25 minutes to reach London.
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Doodlebugs
Paul discovers that during World War 2 the Old Kent Road
provided Hitler with a custom built navigation route, right to the heart
of London. The A2 was quickly known as 'Doodlebug Alley'.
The Doodlebug was Adolf Hitler's way of using unmanned
craft to bomb Britain.
The missiles were engine driven with enough fuel to reach
London. When the fuel ran out the missile would drop to earth like a stone
and deliver a huge blast, killing mostly innocent people.
Flying Machines
The history of the A2 doesn't just stop there! Paul's
journey takes him to a historic village between Canterbury and Dover.
There he discovers that the original Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang was created in Higham Park near Bridge. It was a monster racing machine
built by CountLouis Zabrowski in 1921.
His neighbour, the world renowned Ian Fleming, was inspired
to write the story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the legendary mystical
flying car.
He also created the character of James Bond, a secret
agent working for the British Government.
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| Higham
Park, The home of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
By the time of Fleming's death in 1964 the James Bond
adventures had sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
The enchanting adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
captured the imagination of generations of children and continue to do
so.
End of the line
Moving from Higham Park and flying machines the A2 finally
arrives at Dover which is the last stop before France.
For some this road is a misery, with its constant bottlenecks
and roadworks. For others it's a way of life and provides a vital trade
route from Dover to London.
The A2 is steeped in history and hides many fascinating
stories along its long and winding road. Each day is a new chapter in
its life and hundreds more enthralling stories are waiting to be told. | 
