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There are now 274 messages in our guestbook.
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Viewing messages 174 to 125.

Msg 174: Guy L

I'm trying to research the history of the Armed Forces Recruiting Office which is shown on the Chatham Town Hall page. Any info would be appreciated.

Thursday 9 October 2008 at 16:48:54 - Chatham

Msg 173: Lin Woodcock nee Willing | @

The fire at Upbury Manor school was in either 1973 or 1974. I was at the school at the time. Also there was a murder on the Great Lines around this time, anyone remeber that?

Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 17:19:28 - Carshalton Surrey

Msg 172: Stewart Coleman | @

Would anyone happen to know about the history of the two small cottages along Beacon Road, Chatham. Roughly in line with the Girls Grammer school. They look identical being small flint walled structures almost a if they originally flanked something. Would love to know.

Monday 29 September 2008 at 19:35:09 - Chatham

Msg 171: Michael Hatton | @

I would just like to congratulate you on a great and informative website.
My father was buried there in 2003 and I had the headstone erected a year later. Fort Pitt is one of the very few well kept cemetries in the Medway Towns sadly, and in the summer as well as in the winter it is a joy to visit. We held my fathers service in the small chapel, and to the sound of a lone bugler and the last post we laid him to rest.
God Bless all the brave men and women buried at the cemetry.

Sunday 21 September 2008 at 18:46:14 - Medway Kent UK

Msg 170: Ross | @

@Stewart Coleman - The steam tug is the John Amos, theres a website about it here: http://www.johnhamos.org/

Sunday 14 September 2008 at 15:14:26 - Chatham

Msg 169: Stewart Coleman | @

The paddle steamer reffered to in the Chatham maritime section is one of the last remaining steam paddle tugs in Britain. It is in the process of being renovated, but can currently be viewed quite close up sitting on a floating pontoon by the Rochester riverside development.

Friday 12 September 2008 at 19:41:46 - Chatham

Msg 168: dawn smith

hi again i forgot to put down dates ect of where i lived in chatham i lived at 23 tedder ave from 59 till dec 67 i was good friends with the hooper and spragg families if any of you are out there let me know thanks thank you web site for all the good info ect

Thursday 11 September 2008 at 17:20:43 - northamton

Msg 167: dawn smith

i was born at 1 russel street then taken to all saints as my mum was not to good my nan used to live at 103 henry st till the late 60s her name was violet weeks she had a partner named bll johnstone any 1 out there remember them good site just found it love it allready

Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 16:10:49 - northampton

Msg 166: anthony bell | @

excellant site another cinema was in gillingham,the plaza and also i think one called the grand near gillingham high street. iremember the bowling alley very well from the1960,s,as it was ameeting place for the local mods,as was the central hotel further along the top road toward rainham.(happy days)

Monday 1 September 2008 at 13:25:23 - alicante spain

Msg 165: amie wallington | @

in reply to stewart coleman,,
yeah i noticed too, its such a shame was a lovely house before it burnt down.
i read in the km a few months ago that they was going to knock it down, and build 5 town houses on the site... i thought they could knock it down cos it was grade ii listed.
anyway wats next for this site???

Friday 29 August 2008 at 18:04:12 - Chatham, kent, uk

Msg 164: Stewart Coleman | @

Has anyone noticed that the old house on the corner of Hopewell Drive and Capstone Road has been demolished. I believe that this building was one of the oldest in what was Luton Village although it was in a state of disrepair. I managed to get a photo about two weeks before demolition.

Thursday 28 August 2008 at 13:01:49 - Chatham

Msg 163: malcolm little | @

Coin, thanks for the info. Very interesting to see that the answer comes from Pa. USA. reminder of how the world has changed.
thanks again,Malcolm

Monday 18 August 2008 at 14:52:17 - canada

Msg 162: Colin Hall

this is for Malcolm Little. If you do a Google search by putting old anchorians in inverted commas, the first on the list returned is History 1. Click on this, and you will have the answer to bothof your questions.

Thursday 14 August 2008 at 13:32:11 - Columbia, Pa, USA

Msg 161: malcolm little | @

What happened to the Gillingham Grammar School. and the Old Anchorians. I cannot find the answers on the internet. Would like to contact the old boy association in search of people I went to school with. I was there from 1950 -1957

Monday 4 August 2008 at 18:46:13 - canada

Msg 160: Yuvraj A | @

The council just now figured out that the "Ban the mind reader graffiti" needed to be removed? I used to walk by that graffiti twice a day on my way to Upbury Manor Secondary school in Gillingham from Chatham . I was doing this during the late seventies and early eighties...

Wednesday 23 July 2008 at 01:11:32 - California, U.S.A.

Msg 159: Bernadette K | @

James, Thanks for the info its led me to
answering a big question iv been
searching for,which was where
was the Gibralter tower,
i knew where the Delce one was
but not the other and while reading
about the D-Day crash you mentioned
i came across a piece mentioning a
gun site and after a bit more researching
i found the Tower was demolished
and a church built on the site right
next to Victoria gardens,
so big thanks for that as
iv been looking for 2 yrs.

Wednesday 16 July 2008 at 09:26:39 - Rochester

Msg 158: James S | @

I've just done a bit more searching on that mid-air collision and the occasion was D Day the 6th of June at 05.30am.

There is an account by a former resident of Corporation Road included on The People's War website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/43/
a3089243.shtml

Very tragic.

Sunday 13 July 2008 at 11:54:26 - Northampton, England

Msg 157: James S | @

The references to a mid-air collision over Gillingham might actually relate to a collision between two American B26 Marauders in June 1944 rather than a VE Day fly past..
There are brief details here:
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:IzoK4-VeTx0J:
accident-report.com/UK/194406.html+gillingham/engl
and/394&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk

Sunday 13 July 2008 at 03:26:48 - Northampton, England

Msg 156: Hayley Brown | @

Hi
My Mum and I were viewing a house in Longhill Avenue recently, just up off Chatham Hill, Gillingham side I believe. Anyway we noticed what looks like a very old tudor house tucked right in the corner of Longhill Avenue and Longfellow Road. It is visiable from Chatham Hill, just. Does anyone know anything about it? How old? etc etc........ We never knew it was there, it has fascinated us. Please - someone has to know something about it!!!!!

Sunday 6 July 2008 at 15:30:47 - Gillingham

Msg 155: Vicki | @

Hi,
Myself & a group of friends are researching James Jezreels & the Jezreels Tower in Gillingham.
I would be very grateful to anyone who has any memories or information on both James & the tower if you could share them with me please.

Sunday 6 July 2008 at 09:51:56

Msg 154: Kevin Pope | @

Update re. 'BAN THE MINDREADER'

Sad news .. the council appear to have had a recent graffiti clear-up and all the 'MINDREADER' stuff on the Medway Hospital wall adjacent to the Great Lines has gone!! .. all thats left is a sort of ghostly outline, just about readable.

Of course it's right and sensible to have a clear-up now and again, but I thought they might have left the old stuff alone, bearing in mind it's age and history!

Saturday 5 July 2008 at 13:41:56 - Gillingham of course!

Msg 153: simon graham | @ | url

found these web sites by chance http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/hmswildfire.htm and http://www.medwaylines.com/fortclarence.htm there is some great info on here happy viewing.

Tuesday 1 July 2008 at 00:22:07 - chatham kent

Msg 152: Bill Fowler | @

Veterans Day takes place inThe Histric Dockyard on Saturday 5th July. Free entry for all Veterans and former Dockyard staff. As well as all the dockyard attractions there are loads of displays from the Armed Forces, Parades, a Veterans Reunion Hall, and a Beating Retreat at 6.00pm. Details from the Historic Dockyard 01634-823800

Friday 27 June 2008 at 06:24:47

Msg 151: norman skinner | @

when is the veterans day being held in the dockyard.

Monday 23 June 2008 at 19:02:28 - chatham

Msg 150: norman skinner | @

when is the veterans day being held

Monday 23 June 2008 at 19:00:31

Msg 149: Jacqueline Gibson Tweed | @

does anyone know if a house called Carshalton in Berengrave Lane is still there. My Greatgrandparents lived there and other ancesters before from the Sayer family also lived at The White Horse. Anyone with any help please

Friday 20 June 2008 at 00:53:09 - Northampton

Msg 148: marko

great site.... thanks for this intriguing info

Monday 16 June 2008 at 02:04:23 - the hamlet of luton, on the banks of the old bourne

Msg 147: Christine Sandmann | @

message for Rita, could you say where in Castle rd your Grandparents lived as my grandmother was born at 155, Castle rd in 1900

Sunday 1 June 2008 at 19:38:48 - Gillingham Kent England

Msg 146: John Woods | @

Message to Rita Arnold.
I remember the crash on Chatham Hill. It was a loaded tank transporter that demolished the cafe

Sunday 25 May 2008 at 17:03:36 - Biddenden

Msg 145: RITA ARNOLD(NEE WILLIAMS) | @

I was born May 1944 in All Saints Hospital & attended Luton Infants and juniors schools and Fort Pitt Technical High School for Girls. Although I now live in Spain since retiring whenever I visit the Medway Towns to see the family and friends we always 'go down memory lane' (to keep our brains alert!!) and attempt to name the shops and pubs as they were in Chatham High Street during the 50s and 60s. As a child and teenager I remember seeing sailors in uniform walking through the High Street. These sailors were not only from the Royal Navy but from USA, France etc. My own grandfather was in the Royal Navy and served in WW1, he and my grandmother lived in Castle Road Chatham until 1941. I remember having an arial photo of my old school (Fort Pitt) before the addition of it's new buildings I would love to know if anyone has a copy of this (circa 58/59) My form-room was in the Crimea Block in the Science Lab. On the benches (desk) were Bunson Burners which we minxes took great pleasure in turning on before going to assembly. This was the block that was burned to the ground (after we left school, I might add). I also remember the cottages and cafe that used to be where the advertising board is at Luton Arches/
Chatham Hill. I think that a lorry or tanker crashed into them at one time. I have lots of memories (the siege of Symons Avenue, The Cadet Bus Accident etc. etc.) Great site, I shall keep in touch.

Friday 23 May 2008 at 10:58:53 - Spain

Msg 144: nicole rogers

This website is so interesting i'm in my 20's & never knew half of the infomation on here well done !! will def check back for more info

Thursday 22 May 2008 at 08:43:12

Msg 143: Emma Haxhaj | url

IWhat an interesting webiste!

I'm a Gillingham girl, educated at Upbury Manor and now conducting an oral history of teh Dockyard. I'd love to hear from any former dockyard workers (industrial and non-industrial). If you're interested what not visit my website: www.chathamdockyard.net.

Saturday 17 May 2008 at 14:39:14 - Kent

Msg 142: Tony Patrick Dean | @ | url

Trying to find tf anybody may any info on Mullaney shop in Chatham,also info on the Medway Wheelers . Iwas born in 247 Luton RD Chatham and im trying to trace my ancestry hoping somebody may be able to help regards Tony Dean

Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 22:00:54 - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

Msg 141: christine sandmann | @

hello, did not know if you & your readers know there is to be a march for the freedom of Medway by the Royal Engineers from Kitchener barracks about 11.00 17th May 2008 (according to the KM)

Sunday 11 May 2008 at 11:32:33 - Gillingham

Msg 140: Bernadette Keane | @

This site gets better and better, Im still searching for any information on Gibraltor tower between Delce tower and Fort pitt if anyone can help, I have read that there are remains of some fortifacations on Jacksons field but am not sure if this is another part of Fort pitt or not,.Any info would be super,thank you.

Tuesday 6 May 2008 at 11:11:27 - Rochester

Msg 139: anita lucas | @

was searching for information on H.M.S. Bulwark when i came on your site my great uncle henry milton brett was one of the company killed by the explosion

Tuesday 6 May 2008 at 01:22:02 - dorset uk

Msg 138: Katie Ford | @

I love this site so much! I'm housebound at the moment but am a Chatham girl with a 200+ year family history of the town and have always been intrigued about the histories and mysteries of the town. I don't have to worry about walking about now - I can just look at your website. Did you know there is an opening from Fort Pitt Grammar's playing field that used to lead to a path through the trees directly to the military cemetary. When I was at school there in the late 80's the opening was still there and it was for the funerals to get from the old hospital to the cemetery when patients died.

It's nice to know

that there are people with similar interests in Chatham out there.

Monday 5 May 2008 at 01:56:11 - Chatham

Msg 137: Y Atwal | @

This is for Tony Dean. I lived on 43 Luton road from the late sixties to the early eighties. Our house was between the 'arches' and Bank street. I don't recall houses with alphabetical numbers on Luton road.

Tuesday 22 April 2008 at 01:14:02 - California, U.S.A.

Msg 136: peter beavin | @ | url

Thank you for a most educational
browse of your website.
As I was born in Gillingham, many years ago, it is very interesting to see details of events which happened over the years displayed on screen.

Tuesday 8 April 2008 at 16:29:24 - Bath, B.A.N.E.S. uk.

Msg 135: Tony Dean | @ | url

Born in Luton rd,Chatham in 1947.My parents were Gerald 'Dixie' Patrick Dean & mother was Marie Mullaney Dean. My father worked at H.M. Dockyard,Chatham as a coppersmith.Both my parents have passed away. We migrated to Austrlalia in the 50's.I'd like to find my ancestral roots

Tuesday 8 April 2008 at 08:02:04 - Melbourne,Australia

Msg 134: John Chaplin | @

I was born in Chatham in 1942 but now live in Devon. I am trying to find information about my relative Ben Cockrill who ran grey boats from sun pier to upnor where my aunt had a tea boat on the beach. Reading through your site has brought back many memories of my childhood but cannot find much about Ben and he's boats that I spent many happy hours on with him. So any information would be wlcome.

Monday 7 April 2008 at 19:34:50 - Devon

Msg 133: Colin Hall

Hi John. I made a mistake, I was born at 122 Corporation road.
Regards Colin.

Monday 7 April 2008 at 12:28:25 - Columbia, PA U.S.A.

Msg 132: Tony Patrick Dean | @

Have been reading the history on chatam and decided to try and find info about .IWAS BORN AT 247A Luton Rd Chatham in 1947 .My dad Gerald ( Dtxie} Patrick Dean dec, worked at HM Dockyard at Chatham im trying to trace my ancestors for a family .Im also trying to find out if the house iwas born in still exists

Monday 7 April 2008 at 05:58:37 - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

Msg 131: Colin hall

Hi John Wright
I was born at 102 Corporation road in 1940! I remember the plane crash. They were, I believe U.S airforce planes that collided in mid air waiting to do a fly past on V.E. day. I remember transporters taking away the pieces of the wreckage afterwards.
Regards, Colin Hall

Sunday 6 April 2008 at 19:06:26 - Columbia PA. U.S.A.

Msg 130: John Wright

Hi Ian, just read your e-mail on some site about where you were born at 103 Corperation Road Gillingham. My name is John Wright I'm from Gllingham, born 1961 and own an estate agency in Gillingham. I just wanted to e-mail you to say i recognised your adress as I used to rent it out for a bloke called Keith for about 5 years and ten I sold i for him. I vaugley remember your house as one of the thousands of houses I have rented/sold for the last 25 years or so, no big deal really but just thought it was funny and thought you should know. In fact I was in your road today at number 22 which was one of the 4 newer houses that were rebuilt after the war I remember the local story is a plane crashed on this site demolishing the houses, did you know that?

With kind regards,

John Wright.

Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 21:17:51 - Rainham

Msg 129: Cole T | @

hiya all great site and great information provided by it. my question is about all the forts in the local area. i heard they are all linked somehow and just wanted to know if this is true or not. If anyone has any information about this i would be very keen to hear about it as my nan used to say there were ways into fort ameherst she would never tell me about bcause she did not want me to get lost in the tunnels because i was only a teenager at the time. i figure this was not the publics entrance. maybe she was winding me up or maybe there are still some secrets to b revealed yet.!!!

Wednesday 19 March 2008 at 21:42:38 - rochester

Msg 128: Laurence Goodwin | @

An Excellent site again which has been stumbled on whilst trying to look at history and local pictures of where i have lived for the last 30 years....would be good to see more images of the tunnels on here and any information regarding the tunnels that were once in the cement works in Otterham Quay Lane in Rainham and the once used Twydall Chalkpit which was opposite the Riverside Country park which has no been abandoned, any info on these would be of interest to me - keep up the good work for this site! rare and valuable to people who live in Medway wanting to know a history of the area

Saturday 15 March 2008 at 16:09:41 - Twydall

Msg 127: Pat Reece | @

Hi Jason-Thnks for replying to me. I've also found (The?)Brook,on another birth cert., do you know if there was a Langley Square in Chatham area,c 1860s.I had absolutely no idea how Chatham looked,or it's history until I saw your site.My Grnddad Hori Lemon was in the Royal Hants Reg. and was stationed at Chatham around 1887-1890,which is where he met Alice Bromley,my Gran. She is there in 1891 Census as Alice Lemon,Best St.but he isn't anywhere, so I assume he must have gone abroad with the Reg. India maybe, or Ireland., who's to know. I always come back to your site, thankyou,it has helped me ' fill out' the history of my Gran. and her sisters. Pat

Friday 15 February 2008 at 12:35:21 - Somerset.UK

Msg 126: John Woods | @

message for Bob Bowring.
My dad (William (Bill) Woods used to teach at Upbury Manor. Can't remember exact dates but it was just as it opened up. Depends of course on when you were there. I also remember Johny Twyman who was metal work teacher and used to coach me in Tech Drawing so must have been about 1961

Thursday 14 February 2008 at 16:43:46 - Biddenden

Msg 125: Kevin Pope | @

I just noticed that the film 'Last Orders' is on BBC1 tomorrow night (Sunday 10th Feb 2008) .. worth watching since it features a visit to Rochester and Chatham War Memorial ! ... more info ...
http://www.sonyclassics.com/lastorders/flash/
Also interesting to see Bob Hoskins in this film .. I know he used to live in Gillingham in 1973/74 since my family used to own the newsagents in Duncan Rd (now a chemists) and Bob was a customer and regular visitor around that time !

Saturday 9 February 2008 at 19:08:40 - Gillingham of course!

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