CHATHAM< A DIFFERENT VIEW

Wee Mac · CHATHAM< A DIFFERENT VIEW

For all those who found themselves serving or living in Chatham, you might have heard of, or been to the open air pool at Gillingham Strand.
Although I never served there, I was born and lived in Chatham, until I left for the delights of the Depot RM in 1970.
When I was a kid, there were only three swimming pools in the Medway Towns. The other two being at Rochester Esplanade and Buckmore Park.
My father used to take us to the Strand pool, to teach me to drown on the chute. Anyway, I was showing some of my grandkids, some googled arial views of the pool. After they had lost interest, I carried on up river, to see what had become of the Dockyard and HMS Pembroke.

Although I never served in Chatham, I spent a lot of time in the Marine Cadets, which had their HQ at the far end of the Terraced road, behind the drill shed. For you oldies, I can still smell the rum, as I walked along the road at tea time, on my way to cadets.
For all you former "dogends", who are feeling nostalgic, Take a few moments to have a satellite look at your old stomping ground. They've even built a bleedin tunnel, under the Medway.

Hornblower

Bloody hell Mac - I just left a welcome message on your 'hello' thread and mentioned it was good to get fresh perspective on things then come straight to this memory lane!!

A lot of us dogends used to frequent the strand pool nearly every afternoon during the long hot summers of 75 and 76. some of us are even lurking in these corridors. (Out you come Botty!)

It were reet grand perving the girlies in their bikinis, nothing's changed there btw.

As I remember, the sides of the pool were sloping into the water and made a great way of 'surfing' straight in rather than diving - which I was crap at anyway, unlike lurker Botty who was shithot off the boards.

Thanks for the memory! I've seen the dockyard and quite like it actually, but the tunnel is a mystery to me. I went up the M2/A2 last week (heading northwards home) and was slightly bemused that the exit for Gillingham was AFTER the Medway - the tunnel explains that anomaly.

RAB

Wee Mac

Because I left Chatham when I was 15, I never really got to have a run ashore there, except to visit the local pubs near my parents house, The Tiger Moth, which is by Rochester Airport and The Woodsman in Weedswood (Walderslade), for those who may have ventured that far, It's been demolished now. Too many Arthur Daly's and druggies etc.
Has any former Pembroke Inhabitants, got any dits of their runs ashore in my home town ?

Hornblower

Far too many to mention Mac!

I remember both the hosteleries you mention and used to live in Walderslade.

The problem with my dits is that they all seem to merge into one great run ashore and I can never remember exactly who was there at the time!!

Many a time, I'm mentioned at a particular incident and think, "that wasn't me" or "I wasn't there" but I'm assured that it was me and I was there.

I need someone to give me ol' brain cells a nudge before I remember stuff!!

There are various threads in here that deal with such stuff as running between as many pubs as possible in Gillingham and downing a half pint in each - easier said than done, especially when you can't pass the BFT and especially remembering the sheer number of pubs there!!

Dig 'em out mate and add to them where you can...

Stuey

RAB

Wee Mac · My request for Chatham dits.

As i was reading the posts by Rab and Hornblower, I remembered that I did get pi$$ed in Chatham on one occasion. Ironically, it was in HMS Pembroke. It was during my first long leave, Easter 1970. I was still a few months away from my 16th birthday and i went to a disco that was organised by the Marine Cadets, who I had left only a few months earlier.

All i remember is, lots of food, booze and a rather energenic Hokee Kokee. (Or how ever you spell it).
It had the desired effect. I was woken the next morning by my elder brother, who had not yet realised, what just 3 months as a Junior Bugler had done to me. He gently shook me from my drunken slumber and told me that i had been sick. Raising my head and slightly opening my eyes, I glanced up at the wall and the skicky mess that was trying to cling to the wall and had slid down to give me an extra pillow. I just replied, "so I have", then went back to sleep.

My mum, still made me clean up.

My first and last Chatham hangover.

Jimbo

I got pi$$ed once too, I think, can't really remember but I'm sure I did, maybe.

RAB

Mr Bass Trombone

Talk about running between pubs in dogend land, the late Jonie Couch used to run up to the Royal Marine on Bromton roundabout at standeasy time drop two or three pints and then run back, and be sat with his viola or clarinet before some people had taken theirs, after downing a cup of coffee, that boy could drink for Engaland, RiP JC.

Hornblower

I'll verify that ^^^^^^

He was one seriously good drinker and could get on the wagon at the drop of a hat too.

Really nice bloke too.

As MBT says Ginge, Rest in Peace mucker.

kielerwoche

Me, Taff Cox, Taff Kinsey & Chaz Ankers used to spend many afternoons down the Strand, between the pubs opening and closing. Drinking....... well anything really. Great days.

Wee Mac

kielerwoche

You're on Mac. I am only 4 miles from Forfar. Around most times but spend 1 week a month in Ireland. :)

bootybandy

lesbryan

bootybandy

I was a very brave boy once when I cut my leg. I didn't cry and my mum said I ought to have got a medal for being such a brave boy...... Who should I apply to to get a Medal?

kielerwoche

"I think you're too late to get your General Service Medal (NI Clasp) now Stan"

Just arrived here in Ireland, 2 hours late. Tell you what, driving the Irish roads, I deserve a bloody medal. If you see a gritter over here, you know he is lost. There as scarce as a free wet from a Welshman.

RAB

CHATHAM< A DIFFERENT VIEW

My request for Chatham dits.