Entrance to The Strand c1955, Gillingham
Entrance to The Strand c1955, Gillingham Ref: G144013
Memories of Entrance to The Strand c1955, Gillingham
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Gillingham & local memories
Read and share memories of Gillingham and Kent inspired by Frith photos.
Sharps Green
We had some great times in the summer hollidays. A crowd of us would get on our bikes go along to the Strand and then along the sea wall to sharps Green. We passed a boat yard, but I don't remember the name. We were gone all day. We played "bike scrambling" up and down the mounds, the boys were always better at it than us girls. There were always loads of damsons and blackberries that we could pick and eat. We came home at six tired out. I first got my love of the countryside then and since then have always respected it. I also remember going to the war memorial on Mill Road with my dad and all the men removing their hats in respect. We went to fairs on the lines, Navy Days. I remember the Dockyard hooter morning, lunch time and evening, no excuse then for being late for school. Time off for the Queen's visit to Gillingham, she wore green I remember. "Happy highways where I... Read more
Gillingham Tech
I lived in Wigmore - the prefabs - and after passing the 11+ went to the Tech. I believe this was once Rochester Tech but had now started up in Gardener Street. We were the first year to attend in Gillingham and it was also the first time you could go to a Technical school at 11 (used to be 13). As the first group we had the school to ourselves. 90 pupils split into 3 classes G, T & S. the next year another 90 came and some time after the rest of Rochester Tech joined us. Some classes were held upstairs in the Odeon cinema which was right next door. I used to travel back and forth on the No. 45 or the No. 8 bus caught in the High Street and terminating in Fairview Ave Wigmore (45) or Queen's Head/Spyglass & Kettle (alternate) for the No. 8.
Those were also the days of SMOG and I remember that one day after school I tried to go to... Read more
Sharps Green
I spent a lot of time at Sharps Green in the 1940s and early 1950s and have very fond memories of the times my friends and I spent there. I lived not far away in Grange Road and my grandmother, Emily Randall, lived at Rose Cottage, the house on the corner of Lower Rainham Road and the road down to Sharps Green. The Cuckow family lived in the house right at the entrance to Sharps Green. My mother was raised at Rose Cottage which still stands on the corner. When I was a boy I sang in the choir at Twydall Mission Church next to my Gran's house. Sadly it was burnt to the ground by kids in the 1960s. I still visit the area occasionally even though I have lived abroad for most of my adult life.
Co-Op Shoe Shop Gillingham High Street
My first job when I left school in 1961 was at the Co-op shoe shop. I worked in the men's dept, and on my first day I had to open every box of shoes, dust them, and the box, and put them back on the shelf. After 2 days I reported I had finished, only to be told "go back and do it again". But whenever a customer asked for a size ,colour, or style, I knew exactly where the shoes were. We closed at 5.30 but there was always some clever so and so who would come in, look at severel pairs of shoes, then go because he didn't like any of them, and so I finished at 6.30. Then in 1962/63 a new shop front was built, while we worked on with a huge gaping hole in the wall, who can forget that winter? I rest my case!
Odeon Pictures
After the war I used to go to the Salvation Army flicks, almost next to the Odeon. They were free on sat ams I believe. I lived at 191 Gillingham Road till 1955,then went to Canada. Memories of Kerridges, Livingstone Circus, Darland Banks, Gill grammar school, David Frost, Strand, ice cream wafers...handmade...damson jam made at home, scrumping,gooseberries, Byron Road Sschool, Cubs and Scouts, St. Barnabus church, first girlfriend Deanna Cox..then Jean Wallingdon, soccer at the park, swimming at Strand pool, Byron Road School, Ted Jennings, Mike Meade, Johnny Brundle who died in helicopter training RAF,never forgotten... Eric Howes, Mike Greene, Gills fan...Jssreels...RAF cadets...
Gillingham Tech & The High Street c1960
I went to the Tech as well, in the 1960s before they moved to Pump Lane. Down from the school to the High Street, turn left and stood outside the Co-op, opposite Debenhams? OK I admit I did not learn much there but surely you had to turn right at the High Street to be standing outside the Co-op, looking at the station opposite Debenhams?
Just Asking
Does anyone remember the old Brittania pub in the old high street, not the high street where it is, it was in Pier Road? I am looking for photos of it as my nan owned it.
Usherette
I worked here and the manager was Mr Tremaine, good times then. The boy who worked the lights was Len Bowgen who lived at The Brook, Chatham but emigrated to America. I used to sell ice creams in the interval.
I'd Like to Find Out.
1932. I was born at Canada house, 10th March, I was put in an Royal Naval Orphanage 1936, now Penbroke House Gillingham and went to school at Barnsole Road I think. And then I went to Forge Lane Junior school in 1939/40.Anyone out there who has any connections like to hear.
Lost Pen-Friend
Back those days (1960-1970), pen-friendship was the big deal as Face book/Bebo is today. I used to have a penfriend by the name of Karen Francis. I am from Mauritius - a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean - and relating to Rainham, Kent simply seemed so far, so impossible. I knew a little about England through my geography class in primary school, more interested because of the history and literature class in college. And now my penfriend Karen was a blessing. She would write about English life, about Rainham, Kent station and college life as well. My writing to her helped me improve my English and actually I got very good grades in my examination for Cambridge University (External). Thanks Karen - whereever you are!
Sharps Green
This is a photo of Sharps Green which is now part of the Riverside Country Park. I remember playing there as a child - it was always a rather wild place. My family and a large group of neighbours would go for a picnic when the blackberries were ripe, and we would troop off to collect blackberries for our mums to make a delicious pie - we children always tried to find the most out of reach, fattest, ripest berries. The walk home was always tiring as it was all uphill!
Le Fevers And Coo-Op Denson 'Winkle -Pickers'
I went to Gillingham Technical School in Green Street and at the end of the school day ran down Gardiner Street, making a left turn into Gillingham High Street. This picture shows my homeward view with the Le Fevers store on the left (later purchased by Debenhams) and the station in the distance. On the right was the Co-op where I waited outside for a No 45 M&D bus. Never a boring wait because the Co-op shoe shop had the school-banned 'winkle pickers' shoes by a company called Denson. Only 49/11 for a basic pair of 59/11 for a premium pair - sharp points and Cuban heels! How long could you wear them without a detention!
Embassy
I believe that this cinema was called the Odeon before the Embassy. As a boy growing up I had the choice of going to Saturday morning pictures at the Grand in Skinner Street for sixpence (2.5 pence ) or the Odeon for ninepence (4 pence). At the Odeon you got in free on your birthday. Oh, such innocent times.
Cowper Road Gillingham
My nan, Lucy Williams lived in Cowper Road, Gillingham - she was a lovely friendly lady and my sisters often stayed with her (one at a time!). They remember Gillingham Park nearby, where they would go to play. My nan used to know the lady who owned the corner shop opposite, and would help out from time to time. When the owner was taken ill in 1954 she went over to help. She went to what she thought was a cupboard, opened the door and fell down the stone steps to the cellar. She was in hospital for a long time, I remember waving to her through the door (children not allowed). She died from her injuries - very sad. I go back to Gillingham to see an elderly relative in Cleave Road and I went to the shop, which is now an upholstery shop. I asked to see the cellar (they must have thought I was mad!) and they kindly let me in. I was then able to see... Read more
Canada House Gillingham
I was born in Canada House, in 1944. My mum's family (brothers and dad) were in the Navy and my Dad was in the Army. I drove by Canada House during a visit to England in 2010, to see what it looked like. My gran lived on Grange Road, and I remember sitting in her bedroom window looking out over the orchards to the water. Mum's family live in Gillingham, Rochester and Woking. When I was three or four, we moved to Pendleton, then to Corby. We emigrated to Canada when I was twelve. Coincidence being, as I was born at Canada House!
Naafi Club Days
Cocktails for Half a Crown, big eats and pints downstairs, lockers rented out in which to keep civvies for that rare 'Friday while', weekly dance cost just sixpence to get in.
For a young national serviceman heaven was just around the corner from HMS Pembroke !!
Doodle-Bugs
We lived in Grafton Place and my gran had come to visit us from Frindsbury. As she was going home we heard the sound of the doodle-bug overhead, we were not worried as we knew we were safe all the time you could hear it. As we watched a Spitfire was chasing it and trying to shoot it down but no luck so he flew under it and tipped it over with his wing, we all cheered as it went down, so my gran went home only to find the doodle-bug had flattened her house along with the rest of the street on top of Findsbury Hill . As luck had it my grandad was still at work, but some of other people were not so lucky.
The Bus to Bredurst
The Bredhurst bus did indeed pass the Jezreels but it was a number 38 (not 8). I was at Gillingham Grammar School from 1948 to 1955 and used regularly to catch that bus to my home in Forge Lane, Bredhust. I have vivid memories of running up Barnesole Rd ( the school was in Third Ave then) desperate not to miss the bus. If I did it meant an hour's wait or a walk from Wigmore - mostly on unlit and unmadeup roads in those days. Who remembers the annual Christmas dance we used to have with the girls from Chatham Grammar School and the agony of practices beforehand?
Jezerels Tower
If Ben went past the Jezerels on his way home from the Tech School he must have been on a no 8 bus and not on his usual 45. The No 8 went up Canterbury St to the Top Rd and then up the Rainham Maidstone Rd to Bredhurst past the Queens Head PH. The 45 went up Barnsole Rd to the Top Rd and then up Edwin Rd to Wigmore past the Smallholders Club and terminated at Fairview Ave jct Bredhurst Rd. If for some reason I missed the 45 at LivingstoneCircus I would have to dash up to the bus depot to see if I could catch the no 8 otherwise I would have had a long wait and been in serious trouble once I got home!
Jezreels Tower
I was born within walking distance of the Jezreels Tower which dominated the skyline & was always a source of fascination for growing children. As there was little traffic in those days we were allowed to play in the streets and wander at will. Whenever possible we would make our way up Canterbury Street to the ruins of the tower and dare each other to explore around it. I remember an old gentleman in a long sweeping coat and wide-brimmed hat who was regularly to be seen around Gillingham. He had the distinctive beard and long pigtail of hair hanging down his back - he was one of the last of the Jezreelite sect still living in the area. The boys used to make fun of him, but were all secretly a bit scared. It was a sad day in the 1960's when the tower was pulled down. I had moved away from the area by then & always knew I was coming home when the tower loomed into... Read more
My Short Life in Gillingham, Kent
I was born in a naval nursing home called "Canada House" on the 18th November 1954. I was the first child and boy - I was spoilt. I went to school at Byron Road Infants school until I was 6 then we moved to Swalecliffe in Kent. I was 5 years old and both my mother and grandmother took me to play and have a picnic on the "Darland Banks". We walked from the "Jezerals" along the top road, and up to the "banks". I was very excited I seem to remember.
We belonged to Green Street Tabernacle Baptist Church, we attended Church regularly. I remember being a bridesmaid to my mother's friend Doreen. My paternal grandma lived in Richmond Road along with my aunt, and I spent lots of happy times there. My aunt taking me to the Strand to swim and to the pictures to see Bambi. In 1959 my Sister was born in Canada House, and one year later another sister arrived. In 1963 we moved to... Read more
