New Road c1955, Chatham
New Road c1955, Chatham Ref: C69009
Memories of New Road c1955, Chatham
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Chatham & local memories
Read and share memories of Chatham and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
Looking Back on Life
I am trying to find out about number 12 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent. It was at the High Street end - a small alleyway led to a couple of small houses behind the shops. There was a toy shop called Bakers opposite St Marks Church. The houses were demolished in the 60's but there is now a gate where the alley is. My grandparents lived here, Walter and Rose Jarvis. They had 2 children, Tom and Dorothey. They moved here in the 1940's. Walter was in the navy, Dorothey went to Napier Road, Skinner Street and James Street school's in the 1940's. I used to stay there with my nan in the 1960's. I remember a man named Stanley alway's reading book's on the bench near the church, he was about for years. I remember going along to Woolworth - I loved the smell of the polished wooden floor and the counter's. I would love to hear from anyone that might be able to help me.
Buckmore Park Scouts Camp Chatham.
My first week away from home was in August 1964, when I was 9 years old. It was at Buckmore Park Scouts camp, Chatham. I belonged to the 22nd Sea Scout group, Wathamstow, east London. I think from memory, I had £3 to spend for the week. We ate in a large, round roofed, corrugated hut at the camp. I loved the rope slide which went across a field. There was a big camp fire on the edge of the woods and we sang scout songs around it. I saw my first shooting star. The boys were so noisy at night, we were made to run round the field to tire us out, to make us sleep! I did send a postcard to my parents, but sadly, I don't think I've got it any more. I was surprised though, to find another postcard, for my birthday, from Akele. It was a Frith series no: Frith/95actm119. The camp no longer exists (although I think the woods are still there) and has been replaced... Read more
Church Choir
I remember when I was about 14 being a choir boy in St Mary's Church. This would be 1953. We used to receive two shillings and sixpence for weddings, some of us belonged to another church further down the road toward Chatham and we would do two weddings on some Saturdays. In my late teens I used to go to the dances in the town hall at the bottom of the hill.
Learning to Swim
Oh the joys .... went here with my brother and the 2 boys from next door. Trying (as usual) to be 'part of the gang' I was persuaded to jump of the spring board ~ problem, I couldn't actually swim at the time! Came up just under the board thrashing around, but with a little bit of encouragement from the rest of them at the steps to my left ~ I doggy paddled my way over and climbed out. Never looked back from that moment. Had many happy times at this pool, and went on to do competitive swimming at the boarding school I attended in Redhill. Health and Safety rules in today's world would not allow for this sort of horseplay in swimming pools, but for me, and my friends, it was another 'adventure'. So glad I didn't miss it. So glad I learnt to swim.
Royal Naval Cadets Disaster, December 3rd 1951
Was anyone involved in the terrible accident that took place on 3rd December 1951, when Royal Naval Cadets were mowed down by a bus? Over 20 cadets died, mainly on the back row, they were new recruits who never had their full uniforms, only their hats. Me and my brother were new recruits but could not make the march that day. I never went back to the cadets after that, I was so upset.
Information
I was wondering if anyone knows anything or has any photos of members of the Tidman family? They originally came from the Cage Lane area of Chatham.
Where Has Chatham Gone?
I was born in Chatham in 1934, after my national service in 1955 nothing had changed but where has my Chatham now? The town I loved is no longer here. There were 30 pubs in the High Street, now gone, no Empire no Theatre Royal, no picture houses.
The 1960s in Chatham
I was born in Chatham in 1951 and lived there up untill I got married when I was 19. I can remember a pub on Military Road called the Three Brothers, I think. We used to meet there before going to the Dockyard for the weekly dance and disco. We also used to go ballroom dancing again in the High Street but I can't remember the name of the place. It was run by a husband and wife team and we would have a lesson for about half an hour and then we would be foxtrotting and waltzing to Engleburt Humperdink all night. Great and innocent times. I also worked at the Dockyard and I remember they had a couple of open days that I got involved in, we were really up to date with our computer that was the size of the Town Hall!! And I remember our punch cards. Happy days.
Short Stay in Chatham
For 3 months May - Aug 1969, I lived in the upper floor flat over the Manfield shoe shop. Next door was WH Smith. My husband worked in the shoe trade but not in the shop below. He worked further along the High Street at another shop owned by the British Shoe Corporation. From the kitchen window at the back of the flat was a view of the River Medway. I haven't been back since but remember Chatham as being hilly on the opposite side of the High street, and trains came out of a tunnel into the station. I took 3 small children on a boat to go around a naval ship and also took them to an army barracks open day in Gillingham, where they enjoyed building with small, real bricks.
Trying to Find
My Father left Kent to go to Australia with the little brother movement in 1916. His name was Lenard Hurbert Jeffery, and I was wondering is there any way of tracing his home address?
My Chatham
Born and bred in Grove Road off Luton Road, went to the schools of All Saints and Fort Luton. I found Chatham to be a friendly town with memories of seeing Arther English at the Empire, seaside at the Strand, being a 19th Medway west boy scout, looking forwards to Navy Days each year, using the brown and green Chatham buses and a High Street that was second to none in its length, variety of shops and ease of getting to. I had a number of places to play in such as the Lines, the fort above the Town Hall, the river and its 3d boat trip to Upner, the ring of concrete forts around the town and the Darland banks, a child's playground if ever there was one. I joined the Army (Kent Regt) and moved away, not sure if I want to go back and see what they (The Council) have done to my lovely old town.
Chatham And my Youth
Chatham was a great place to meet and have fun in the 2960s. We used to catch a 146 from Cookham Wood on a Friday evening and head for the Central Riverside. Once there we would boogy to all the local bands that played there. Orange Teacup, The Fringe. Even Chicory Tip ('Son of my Father') played there. We used to frequent the Pembroke Club, another dance venue in the Dockyard. The Prince of Wales, The George, the Two Brothers. The Central Hall was a brilliant place for not only the likes of Wilson Picket, David Bowie and many more but the wrestling was fantastic. Jackie Pallo, Steve Logan, Mel Kirk, Kendo Negasaki, Big Daddy all fought there. Where did all those years go I wonder. Good times. Lyons Tea House, Snob, Platform Nine, Martin Fords, Wilsons, Curtis Shoe shop, Wimpy, Bates. All gone now. Saturday morning pictures, Woolies broken biscuit stall, fresh fish shop. Chatham as I remember it has long gone. Such a shame.
