Games like Pac-Man and Space Invaders would regularly draw teens wearing jackets – leather, bomber or corduroy – from across Herne Bay to Cain's Amusements in the 1980s.

At the same time, day-trippers from London would step through the arcade's doors, where they would join local families playing bingo, and pensioners hunched over coin-pushers.

Budding photographer George Wilson was working in the Central Parade arcade in 1982.

He would smuggle his camera into the premises and snap away, unwittingly creating artefacts that provided a glimpse into life in the town 40 years ago.

“I was supposed to be working there, not taking photos,” he tells former Canterbury Christ Church University student Shaun Vincent.

“I used to take my camera down secretly and take a few pictures. They couldn’t throw me out because I used to work there.

“I just photographed it because of the people. The arcades were just a haven for young people. They used to meet in there, have a cup of tea, coffee, play the machines.

“Then of course there were the visitors. What few visitors we used to have in Herne Bay back in the day, they used to go and play in there as well.

“The biggest part of the arcade was the bingo. It was the lifeblood in the summer. It was really, really busy.”

Those taking part in games of bingo would spend their time sat behind terminals, some puffing away on Marlboros, as they vied for prizes such as tins of corned beef and boxes of Persil or Daz washing powder.

The winnings were supplied by one of the owners, who would go out each week to the nearby cash-and-carry to purchase a van-load of groceries

George’s pictures captured people staring thoughtfully at the terminals in front of them, a nun deep in thought with her mouth agape, and women adjusting numbers as they cradled their children and dogs.

Pointing to an image of a couple wrapped in coats, Mr Wilson adds: “This is obviously in the winter and quite empty. In the summer it was quite full. This couple here seem really happy.

“It’s quite a picture because you can see the bingo games, but you can also see the rubbish people used to play for. All this food and stuff was prizes. They would play for an afternoon and pick up a tin of corned beef – ludicrous really.”

But in the arcade, George would often see children stood agog around pals playing on one of the site’s myriad gaming machines. The youngsters, many with mops of hair, would congregate at games such as Joust and Popeye. George describes this as a “phenomenon”.

The building’s 'fug' also seems to emanate from the collection of pictures. One shows a boy in his teens bringing a lit match to a cigarette perched between his lips inside the amusements. A pair of young men were also captured, deep in conversation next to one of the consoles, holding smokes.

But it’s a photo of another smoker, a middle-aged gent in a polo shirt, that presents what George calls a “real macho man”. Potbellied and moustachioed, the visitor is about to uncoil a punch on a boxing machine. In his left hand, meanwhile, is his lit cigarette.

“This is one of my favourite pictures,” George says. "It’s a real macho man trying to make the gong go gong or whatever they do. I like the way everybody’s smoking, cigarettes everywhere.

“He’s the complete antithesis to the modern man. The modern man would be slim and bearded, but he’s kind of fat and terribly badly dressed.”

George spent two years working as a bingo caller at Cain's.

His photos reveal features of '80s life that have since faded from existence.

“They’re quite atmospheric and historical documents," George continues.

"I didn’t think there was any future for them or that they’d be used; that’s just what I did at the time.

"Photography does one thing really well: record an event. That’s what I did really."

Running for 45 years

The David Cain-run arcade has been operating on the seafront for almost 45 years.

His family's history in the amusement industry dates back more than a century as travelling showmen.

In the late 1960s, the Cains bought their first arcade in Dover, but were forced to move when the land was redeveloped.

The search for a new site began, and on October 13, 1977, Bill and Frances Cain bought the Pier Arcade on Herne Bay seafront.

Within a year they added Manhattan Amusements and then gradually the rest of the parade.

Speaking to KentOnline this week, David, 66, said: "George's photos are absolutely marvellous. That was how it was – it brought all the memories back to me.

"Bingo was a big part of our business. It's gone out of fashion now. People used to come in, get a free tea or coffee, and they'd play bingo at 10p.

"My sister used to go every week, maybe twice a week, to the cash-and-carry and get groceries for the prizes. We also had eggs delivered to us and the butcher’s used to deliver as well. People even took the bingo ticket to the butcher's shop and they could spend it like money.

“Now all our machines give tickets that people exchange for toys and fancy goods. Back then we'd get lots of teenagers coming into the arcade part of the site, but it's more families now.

"My three sons, David, Bill and Tom, are gradually taking over and in the next few weeks we've got lots of new equipment coming. Hopefully we've got many more years to come."