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Historic Medway : Search
There are now 274 messages in our guestbook.
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Viewing messages 74 to 25.

Msg 74: Alan D | @

at the scene and saw Mrs Jean Thompson at the bottom of the hole. The hole was a huge cavern about 40 feet deep. The concrete block at the top of the hole had swivelled and poor Jean had fallendown. When the first fireman arrived and went down the hole the concrete block fell shattering his arm which later resulted in him having to retire from the Fire Service. The second fireman went down to rescue the first fireman but was overcome by fumes and they were both taken to Hospital. When a third fireman went down with breathing aparatus Jean was gone having been swept away by an underground stream. Her body was never ercovered.. Ilooked after Carl until his father John arrived home. I remember reading in the local papers many years later that Carl had got married.The boy who lost his mother down the hole in frindsbury brought back many tragic memories. I was the first Police Officer

Friday 8 December 2006 at 12:38:45 - Rochester

Msg 73: Colin Hall | @

I was 11 when the cadets got run over, and had two friends that died. David Tickner and James Trigg.
I live in the US now but still remember that awful accident.

Tuesday 5 December 2006 at 14:38:49

Msg 72: Christine Jarvis | @

I was born in All Saints in 1952, I worked there as a nurse in the 70's 2 of my 3 children were born there, My mother and her mother were born there. so much history, such a fantastic site, I have only just found you, you are now one of my favourites. I used to live in Hartington street Chatham, which is off Chalk Pit Hill. I still live in the Medway Towns. I am actually searching for info on my gt grandfather Johnathan Moore Bear he lived in Cherry Tree Cottage, New Road then moved to Castle road Chatham with his wife Edith Mary and daughter (Mary my nan) thank you for your site

Monday 4 December 2006 at 23:50:55 - Gilligham Kent

Msg 71: Alan Drew | @

Just browsing

Sunday 3 December 2006 at 00:13:41 - Rochester

Msg 70: Kelly | @

Hi,

What a fantastic job you have done with this site. I am searching for information on two people - Joan Mortimer and Maude Macdonald Phillips - and I found your site due to the workhouse section where I think they may have been in 1918.

Still no closer to finding my two ladies but it was great to be able to see the photos of the workhouse - what a lucky chance to photograph it.

Keep up the good work!

cheers

Kelly

Saturday 2 December 2006 at 08:38:02 - Perth, Western Australia

Msg 69: Jean | @

Useful site. I am interested in HMS Princess Irene, as my grandfather was a Chief Warrant Officer on her when she sank - exactly one week after my mother's 9th birthday. I'm always looking for any information about her.

Monday 27 November 2006 at 20:34:33

Msg 68: Chris D Ford | @

Fascinating stuff... I was born in All Saints Hospital in1963 ,grew up in Gillingham and now live in Lower Rainham ( Pump Lane )
Really interested in local History especially the "hidden stuff"

Please feel free to email me for a discussion..

Regards

Chris D Ford

Saturday 18 November 2006 at 00:14:48 - Rainham Kent

Msg 67: David Charles

A very Interesting and informative site. Having been born in Chatham and worked and lived there until 1982 I still have fond memories of the Medway Towns.

Saturday 11 November 2006 at 11:46:19 - Portsmouth

Msg 66: tony bartrop | @

found your site by chance,i was born at all saints in1952,remember years later playing in grounds after dark.used to regularly get chased off!very interesting site will keep my eye on it in future!

Wednesday 1 November 2006 at 12:38:22 - cornwall

Msg 65: AMIE | @ | url

did u know that just on the other side from the cadet memorial plaque in dock road, just a bit further up there is a little white sign depicting where the point of impact was when the bus hit the boys on that dreadful night in 1951!!
i would like to read wat it says!! any help given would be gratefully recieved!!
what are you going to be writing about next Jason as i find your work very exciting!!
great work mate!! keep it up!!

Tuesday 24 October 2006 at 23:33:21 - Chatham

Msg 64: Bill Fowler

HMS Bulwark. You may like to try a web-search for the Sheppey Historical Society or the Sheerness Historical Society. Many of the dead are buried in the naval plaot at Gillingham (Kent!) Cemetary. There is a memorial in Sheerness.

Tuesday 24 October 2006 at 13:09:23 - Chatham

Msg 63: Rosalind Thorpe | @

I am trying to trace a name on our war memorial in Dorset which mentions HMS Bulwark. Is there any where I can find a list of those who were killed in the explosion. The person does not appear on the Commonwealth War graves Site.Thanks

Saturday 14 October 2006 at 10:38:04 - UK

Msg 62: Kathleen Oakley nee Jeffery | @

I trained at All Saints from 1963-66 . Before that I was a cadet nurse . We really were just a big happy familey.
I feel sad to see the hospital pictures and sorry I never saw the hospital before it was pulled down. I remember the chapel from when I was a Cadet Nurse or Brownie as we were called in those days. My first job was sorting linen! I got to know the hospital very well as we visted all the wards tying up the linen bags before they were collected!
In those far off days the geriatric wards were called Dorcus and Mathew and it was not Philliapa ward but Philip ward. ! I have such fond memeories of our Matron, Miss Harper and our ward sisters including Mrs Mary Elliott .Thanks for the memories.

Tuesday 19 September 2006 at 16:28:46 - Birmingham

Msg 61: Amie | @ | url

hi there again!!
just wondering when we get to read about the gillingham bus disaster.
it would be great to hear what you added in to the book you mentioned Richard.
maybe you could post a bit here.
many kind regards
Amie

Sunday 17 September 2006 at 19:45:48 - Chatham

Webmaster comments Hi Arnie

Richard's article is available at:

http://www.historicmedway.co.uk/disasters/gillingham_bus_disaster.htm

Regards

Jason

Msg 60: Richard Bourne | @

Very pleased to see someone making something of the Medway Towns' fascinating history in areas other than the Dockyard. It was a major industrial and commercial centre, and the biggest conurbation in the southeast outside London. It rarely gets credit for this and I think this needs to be put straight.

Love the stuff about the tunnels under the Lines near Luton Arch - I used to live at that end of the High Street and knew nothing about them!

I made a modest contribution to Medway's history last year when, in conjunction with Roger Davies, a little book was produced to mark anniversaries associated with the former Chatham Traction bus company. The book includes a piece on the marine cadets' accident which you may care to use as a basis for the section on this site. I can e-mail you a summary if that would help.

Thursday 14 September 2006 at 21:56:41 - Haxby, York

Msg 59: Amie | @ | url

i have been doing my own research and i have found out, from my own father infact!! information on the gillingham bus disaster.
it occured on the 7th november, 1951 when a group of royal marine cadets were doing a procession, i think from gillingham to chatham when a bus driver lost control of his vehicle and it ploughed into these unfortunate souls, 23 of which lost their lives.
the bus driver was fined £20 and had his license endorsed for 3 years.. hope this jogs anyones memory of that day and help you out with more iformation!!

hope this helps with your research and i hope to read te finished atricle soon!

with kind regards
Amie

Thursday 7 September 2006 at 21:52:33 - Chatham

Msg 58: Amie | @ | url

Hi i just thought i would take my time to tell you how great i think this site is. I was born in all saints (dec '85) but reading all your information you have input is fascinating!!
i never knew bout many of these!!
please keep updating and i was wondering if i ould use some of this information in the book i am starting to write on mysteries and the unknown of medway!!
keep up the brilliant work and will recommend you to many.

Wednesday 6 September 2006 at 21:35:31 - Chatham, will always liver here

Msg 57: KEVIN | @

Great info. I was born at All Saints in November 1960. It is shame it has gone. As for the holes in Frindsbury. I used to play with the ladies little boy in his back garden. It was very sad when she fell down the hole. I wonder where he is now,if anyone knows e-mail me please.

Friday 18 August 2006 at 22:29:11 - CA, U.S.A.

Msg 56: Paul Carroll | @

Very interesting site,some great facts!

Tuesday 1 August 2006 at 18:21:01 - Watford

Msg 55: alan hart | @

info about the fireman's tragedy in
1929 in gillingham park.

Saturday 15 July 2006 at 08:07:08 - chatham

Webmaster comments I've now updated the "Disasters in Medway" section to include details. See http://www.historicmedway.co.uk/disasters/
-Jason

Msg 54: Pam Browning | @

Just discovered the site through a link with the Medway Union Workhouse whilst searching for ancestors. Was born in Strood & lived in the Medway towns until 1982. Went to Rochester Grammar School (old building) & played badminton in the mortuary at All Saints Hospital - happy days! Great memories from the site.

Monday 10 July 2006 at 15:00:32 - Cornwall

Msg 53: Jessica | @

My mum and dad just showed me the site it was very interesting to see the hospital and town where i was born in 1994.i would love to see more photo's and footage of the hospital and the area.

Sunday 9 July 2006 at 12:58:00 - Maidstone kent

Msg 52: Marie and Darren Russell-Apcar | @

I was on the net showing my Daughter the hopital where she was born and also where me and her dad used to work ALL SAINTS HOSPITAL CHATHAM.Seeing the photographs brought a tear to my eye it was so lovely to see the old place again i do have my own photo's that i took myself about 12 years ago.i had the best day of my life in that hospital the day my daughter Jessica was born on 15th feb 94 on ruth labour suit in the delivery theatre.i used to work on Christopher ward and my husband was a porter.it seems like only yesterday that we were there walking through the corridoors and going to the leage of friends shop to get a snack for a qwick tea break.someone told me that there was a video to buy all about the hospital if so id love to buy a copy.So many members of my family were born at all saints and my sister spent a while in the oliver fisher special care baby unit when she was born on november 1st 1984.My mum spent most of her childhood on the childrens ward.So many memories.Many thanks Marie & Darren & Family.

Sunday 9 July 2006 at 12:49:31 - Maidstone kent

Msg 51: alan | @

info about a murder on the great lines in the seventies

Sunday 9 July 2006 at 12:47:42 - chatham

Msg 50: Lord Martyn of Bletchingley | @

fantastic site. The best local history site on the web! You have not laboured for nought. Thank you

Friday 7 July 2006 at 23:21:46 - maidstone

Msg 49: victoria | @

howdy from canada great site my friend simon refered me to it`

Sunday 2 July 2006 at 16:36:19 - canada

Msg 48: Sandi Sullivan | @ | url

I am looking for James Brisley who was buried in Chatham burial ground,

about 28 Aug 1863. Do you know who has the records for the grounds. Love the pictures

Friday 23 June 2006 at 03:16:58 - Canada

Webmaster comments Hi Sandi
The burial you're looking for was conducted by the Vicar of St Mary's Chatham on 30th August 1863.
The parish records are at http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/ (Click on the "Medway Ancestors" link).
I've sent a separate email with further details.
- Jason

Msg 47: David Ghikas | @

Brilliant site, I hope there are more people out there able to contribute.
I am most interested in the mysterious holes that appear in the strood area, so anyone out there know anything?

Sunday 18 June 2006 at 23:17:25 - Rochester, Kent UK

Msg 46: m janes | @

looking for information and locations of chatham's infamous pubs,specifically the brook area,also any assistance with past medway breweries,thankyou

Friday 17 February 2006 at 14:41:32 - Gillingham

Msg 45: kyn | @

there are too many underground tunnels etc. to list around brompton. i have recently e-mailed mod archives and they are willing to admit there are definatly tunnels around. they don't specify exact locations though. you might want to ask them, they may help.

Thursday 16 February 2006 at 22:15:31 - kent

Msg 44: kyn | @

there is meant to be underground tunnels next to upnor castle which were used for storage by the military.

Thursday 16 February 2006 at 22:12:48 - kent

Msg 43: matthew graham gfc1893 | @

i looking for old pics of luton road and old grove rd school were the william hill bookmarks on and old pic of the gordon road stand gillingham fc

Thursday 16 February 2006 at 22:10:22 - chtaham kent

Msg 42: caz & rob

very interesting. does any one know any info about underground holes and cave in's at wainscott and upnor

Thursday 12 January 2006 at 18:58:37

Msg 41: Bill Fowler | @

I am interested to hear further information on tunnels and other underground works in and around the Chatham area. Of particular interest are the areas underneath the Great Lines, Dock Road, Kitchener Barracks, Old Brompton, Fort Amherst.

Wednesday 30 November 2005 at 17:37:41 - Chatham

Msg 40: Brian Sillett | @

What a great site. I was born at All Saints on 22,03,1965. My tonsils were removed there when I was four and I stayed on Christpher ward I think. For the first three years of my life I lived in Haig Avenue Chatham next to the White Swan pub (now demolished) were my mother was a barmaid. We did a house swap with Bert Dallas the local mobile greengrocer(anyone remember him) and moved to White Road were I lived until I was 26(my mum still lives there). In 1993 my daughter Danielle was born at All Saints during a violent thunderstorm. Danielle is Home Educated and we will be using your website to do loacal history studies. Keep up the good work. How about a ghost story section, there are many ghostly tales of Medway.

Wednesday 9 November 2005 at 13:30:52 - Strood Kent

Msg 39: Peter H. Currie | @ | url

Does anybody know anything about the French POWs who were held in and around Chatham Dockyard in Napoleonic times? It is rumoured that there was a memorial to them in the barracks. Is it still in existence?

Sunday 6 November 2005 at 18:44:25 - Strood

Msg 38: simon | @

hi i was told there used to be a old school at the bottom of grove road just of luton road. i would love to see some old photos and what was henry street newnum street be for the new old peoples house were build. thanks

Wednesday 2 November 2005 at 04:04:22 - chatham

Msg 37: Debbie | @ | url

Greetings from all of us at Kent Paranormal Group! Keep up the good work! xxxx

Tuesday 27 September 2005 at 21:29:35 - Kent, UK

Msg 36: Kaz | @

Great web site! very very intersting!

Friday 9 September 2005 at 11:53:50 - Rochester

Msg 35: Bernard Shaw | @ | url

Have you any material on the Medway Children's Homes at Balfour road. I was an inmate from 1933 til 1945 I was evacuated in 1939 first to Whitstable then to South Wales. I would love to see pictures of the old place which is now a residential homes for elderly people. Thanks for any information or photo's. bernard shaw

Monday 5 September 2005 at 18:56:32 - Austria late UK

Msg 34: dave rickwood | @

born in napier rd. 1965. lot of memories. attended all the napier schools..secondry becoming THE ROBERT NAPIER mid seventies. now enjoying life in the n.w.scottish highlands.

Saturday 27 August 2005 at 12:26:44

Msg 33: ann brennan | @

i was born at all saints in 1947 january to be exact .the coldest winter so my mum said snow until april.i also had my tonsils out when i was 6 on guy fawkes night when i came round i remember fireworks going off in the grounds,i have very fond memories of all saints since i moved away.

Monday 20 June 2005 at 10:46:01 - i live in scotland now

Msg 32: Amanda Perry | @

my eldest daughter was the last baby to be born at All Saints Hospital on 6th July 1999, as soon as she was born we were moved to Medway Maritime Hospital Gillingham. I dont have many memories of the hospital till i looked on the site thank you for bringing back those wonderful memories of when i was in labour!!

Thursday 16 June 2005 at 14:37:02 - Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

Msg 31: John Casson | @

How nice to stumble on such a super site! I was born in All Saints Hospital in 1941, lived in Luton until I left the town in 1962. I recall playing around the Great Lines and the 'Holes in the Ground' near Luton Arches, and seem to remember them referred to as 'Fort Lizard' - or am I mistaken? As a student of railway history, I am certain that they had nothing to do with the local early railways.

Tuesday 17 May 2005 at 22:07:15 - Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Msg 30: barry | @

great site i have just moved to chatham and would love to find out any information about chalk pit hill.
if anyone knows anything please email me. thank you.

Tuesday 10 May 2005 at 06:45:49 - chatham kent.

Msg 29: Judith Thomson (nee Thresher)

Hi. I was born in Luton in l943 and my Dad was the local Copper. I went to Luton C P and then to Fort Pitt. I wish I had taken more interest in history then as Fort Pitt was quite a scary place and I would have liked to have learned more. I used to go to the pictures at the Ritz or Regent and then walk through Henry Street to a great Chippie by the Beehive Pub and then wander home to Luton. It was dark as there were only gas lights but in those days I suppose there was nothing to be scared of.

Tuesday 3 May 2005 at 16:34:51 - Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Msg 28: Charles Thomas | @

I got to Chatham in 1980. Where the hell is this? I thought, looking out of the station. I was waiting for an Army truck to pick me up and take me to Brompton Barracks(I was in the Royal Engineers). My wife (Entry below) dropped me off there in Jan 2002 at the same spot and looked back at the town I knew so well for (possibly the last time). I flew to Canada the next day. My wife and Children joined me 12 weeks later. We love Canada but we still miss Chatham and the surrounding area. I would like to say thanks for bringing back the memories with so many pictures and the history...

Thursday 3 February 2005 at 02:03:43 - Canada

Msg 27: Anne Thomas | @

Very interesting site. I worked as a Nurse on James Ward and left in 1985 to work on Tennyson Ward at the Medway. It was amazing to see the photos of the hospital, brought back many memories. Both my children were born there, Adam in 1986 and Sara in 1990. We emigrated to a place called Coboconk in Ontario, in the Kawartha Lakes of Canada. My son found this site and it is certainly like walking down memory lane. Thanks Anne.

Sunday 30 January 2005 at 14:50:23 - Coboconk, Ontario, Canada

Msg 26: Yazibel | @

Thoroughly enjoyed your site - left medway approx 5 years ago - found your website whilst feeling homesick. Keep the photos coming.

Sunday 30 January 2005 at 14:43:43 - USA

Msg 25: Wendy Hayward (nee Hawkes) | @

I am looking for records of R A COOK who married SARAH BILLINGHURST (my Great Grandmother) towards the end of the 1800s. Also for records of Sarah's second husband (surname SMITH). Sarah was licensee of THE BEEHIVE Public House, Henry Street, Chatham, Kent (c1920s). I would be most grateful for any information.
Coming across this web site brought back so many memories. Well done!

Sunday 30 January 2005 at 14:43:43 - Berkshire

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