This Rainham Spectacular programme from 1975 was kindly provided by David Alcock

It gives a great glimpse into life in Rainham in 1975 and some of the local businesses around at the time like Autoplant Engineering in Medway Road, Burns Radiio in Woodlands Road, Riverview Service Station on Station Road and FW Simes and Son Ltd on High Street Rainham

Click to view the whole Rainham Spectacular 1975 programme as a PDF

The Rainham Spectacular was a fair that took place during the 1970s and early 1980s in Cozenton Park Rainham to raise funds for the Community Association. The first Rainham Spectacular was in May 1972 when it cost 10p for admission as can be seen in the poster below. Events took place at a similar time each year into the 1990s.

The programme for 1973 included Naval gun teams, miniature train rides, dog show, gymnastic display, vintage cars and sky divers as well as stalls and shows run by over 50 local organisations. By now the cost to enter was 15p (1970s inflation!) and it was estimated that nearly 20,000 people attended and raised £1200 for the community centre.

Rainham spectacular 1981 news clipping thanks to Steve Chinn

Newspaper clipping of Rainham spectacular from 1981

AF 1977 no.?

This was the 6^th Rainham Spectacular, the Miss Rainham Spectacular and Beauty Contest was sponsored by the Evening Post and Debenhams. Entrants open to 16-26 year olds within the Evening Post circulation area. The contestants were to be in daywear and judged on looks, poise, deportment and grooming. The vouches prizes were for ; 1^st £50.00, 2^nd £20.00 and 3^rd £10.00

AF 1978 no 103

There were 25 entrants to the Miss Rainham Spectacular and Beauty Contest.  The Winner was Melanie-Jane Webb of Lonsdale Drive , her attendants Karen Beney and Anita Crowshaw

Jubilee edition of the Rainham Spectacular programme from 1977 thanks to Dave Alcock

AF 1976 no ?

A plea for MOT failures for a display by stunt drivers. Each car donated would be painted with the owners name and the colour of the sponsor. Sponsorship was a minimum of £25.00.

1977 no? 

Bob Thompson and banger racing enthusiasts put on a display of skill and daring; jumping over cars and caravans and other obstacles.

There was also a jousting competition.

Programs cost 10p; entry was 20p for adults and 10p OAP and under 16s.

AF 1977 no.98

1500 people had attended the spectacular and £250 raised. 

The winner of the Stunter Kite prize was Alan Miller aged 13 who gave an address that neither the GPO nor Police knew, so the winner was asked to ring a given number to claim his prize.

Hazel has come up with some more Miss Rainham details and a couple of names.

 AF 1976 no. 81

Rainham Spectacular, an invitation to take part in Miss Rainham Spectacular and Beauty Contest, anyone living or working in Medway was eligible to enter, over the age of 16, it was free to apply and the prizes were ; 1^st prize £20.00 of cosmetics, 2^nd prize £6.00 of cosmetics and 3^rd prize £3.00 of cosmetics

By the following year the prizes had improved!

1977 no.?

This was the 6^th Rainham Spectacular, the Miss Rainham Spectacular and Beauty Contest was sponsored by the Evening Post and Debenhams. Entrants open to 16-26 year olds within the Evening Post circulation area. 

The contestants were to be in daywear and judged on looks, poise, deportment and grooming. The vouches prizes were for ; 1^st £50.00, 2^nd £20.00 and 3^rd £10.00

AF 1978 no 103

There were 25 entrants to the Miss Rainham Spectacular and Beauty Contest.  The Winner was Melanie-Jane Webb of Lonsdale Drive , her attendants Karen Beney and Anita Crowshaw.

The famous escapologist Peter Mendini , performed on 27^th May, his amazing Spiderman trapeze act and later escaped from a burning rope high above the arena.

Miss Rainham Kim Unger at Rainham spectacular from 1981

The large Oast House, Wakelely's Oast, which stands beside Rainham railway station is the home to the Rainham and Wigmore Community Association (RWCA) run by volunteers for the local community.

We are trying to build up a picture of the history of this wonderful old building, which was built in the late 1800s. We are looking back to it’s original use as an Oast House and as the main Office for the Wakeley Brothers many businesses and on through the 20th century, up until the present day.

The photo above shows Rainham station and Platform Row cottages just in front of the oast in the 1950s

The Oast House was sold in the early 1970s and the dedicated committee and members of RWCA spent many hours of ‘blood, sweat and (no doubt) tears’ in getting the money and resources together to convert this massive building suitable for the community to use, in whatever way they desired.

There was a row of cottages alongside the Oast which were demolished as part of the conversion project in the 1970s. They were known as Platform Row. Interestingly there is reference to families moving in to Platform Row in 1965 after their existing homes in Hartlip were marked for demolition. As the cottages were demolished in the early 1970s it doesn't look like they had a very long term move.

The aerial photo from 1930 shows the siding towards the Oast Houses and the cottages just beyond the Oast.

Apparently the Challis family lived in the first cottage after the railway line ,Mr Challis was a guard on the railway their eldest daughter Theresa went to school with Lyn Scotting, I was told that the Platform cottages were for Wakely workers.

Drawing below of the Oast showing Platform Row cottages