Latest Articles Added
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Changes in Orchard Street Rainham 2000 - Freemasons Lodge
Two of the older buildings in Orchard Street were vacated as furniture stores at the end of July by Lukehursts who have acquired new facilities at Sittingbourne. -
2nd Wigmore Brownies Fancy Dress April 1982
2nd Wigmore Brownies 1982 -
Diary of Third London Airport at Foulness - January 1971 Action Forum
British Airport Authority suggested expanding Stansted; Public outcry by local residents. Sheppey Group formed in July 1967 due to pressure built up in favour of Sheppey instead of STANSTED. -
Army & Navy Pub Rainham Kent
The Army & Navy pub was situated on the Lower Rainham Road and closed in around 2010. -
Rainham Boozers - Part 4 (Nov 1972)
ln the period between the Boer War and the first European War, no less than 10 pubs or ale houses were closed within the Rainham Parish boundaries. Of these, three were around Otterham Quay. -
Long Lost Rainham Pubs
In the November 1972 issue of Action Forum it was stated that 10 pubs or alehouses were closed in the Rainham Parish boundaries between the Boer War and the First World War (so before 1918). Of these three were around the Otterham Quay area. -
Rainham Boozers - Part 5 (Jan 1973)
The Cricketers, White Horse and Green Lion in Rainham from 1972 -
Action Forum - September 1972 Number 39
The cover informs readers about local libraries and lending other than books -
Action Forum - November 1972 Number 41
The cover showed a photo of the Rainham War memorial outside St Margaret's Church -
Action Forum - October 1972 Number 40
The cover showed a photo of the Rainham Community Centre - the old church school at the top of Station Road before it was demolished and the new Community centre opened at the Oasts. -
Action Forum -December 2024
Cover picture is of Rainham station during the heavy snow of 1987 -
Freddie Cooper talking about Rainham
Freddie (P.F) Cooper was a local councillor and Rainham historian -
The Angel Pub Station Road Rainham
At the lower end of Station Road on Lower Rainham Road is “The Angel” -
Watermans Arms Pub Rainham Kent
The Watermans Arms Pub was located in High Street, Rainham Kent but has been closed for many years and is now a private house -
Macklands Arms pub Station Road Rainham
The Macklands Arms is pub located in Station Road Rainham. It is named after the former Macklands Estate -
The Flying Saucer pub Hempstead
The Flying Saucer pub opened on Hempstead Road in 1951 and closed in June 12024 -
Pubs in Rainham Kent
Although the area is still fairly well served by pubs there are many that have closed over the years. The "Rainham Boozers" articles from 1972 highlight some of the ones that have since gone but there are others that ceased trading prior to that date. -
Rainham Boozers - Part 2 (March 1972)
Smallholders Club, Spyglass & Kettle, The Queens Head pubs in Wigmore -
Rainham Boozers - Part 3 (June 1972)
Rainham Boozers - Men of Kent, Three Sisters and The Angel pubs -
More Rainham Mark Reminiscences by Linda Taylor
Readers might like to know just how different Rainham Mark was in the 60s, 70s and early 80s -
Changes in Rainham Since 1969 from 1978 Perspective
I would hazard a guess that Rainham has changed more in the last nine years when Action Forum began than it did in the previous 100. Most dramatic has been the most recent — the final demolition of the old Church School at the top of Station Road. This has -
CAMRA - Action Forum May 1978
Hands up all those who like to go down to “the local” for a pint or three. Have you noticed the changes that have taken place in the way your beer is served? -
Jacobs Meadow Rainham Kent and Edith Cavelle Memorial
Jacobs Meadow and Edith Cavelle Memorial -
TW Cramp Baker Shop Chocolate Confectionery
TW Cramp Baker Shop Chocolate Confectionery shop in Station Road Rainham -
Action Forum - September 1983
Action Forum - Cover showing TW Cramp's baker shop in Station Road -
Action Forum - August 1983 number 160
Action Forum - August 1983 Cover showing Jacobs Meadow opposite the Railway Hotel in Station Road -
Sunderland Square/Scott Avenue/Russells Avenue Post War Prefabs in Rainham Kent
Post War Prefabs in Rainham Kent in Sunderland Square/Scott Avenue/Russells Avenue -
History of the Concorde Pub Rainham (Rainham Arms)
The Concord was opened on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5th, 1969 named in honour of the latest aircraft which was undergoing its trials at the time. -
Rainham Boozers Part 1 - February 1972
Rainham Boozers - 1972. Cherry Orchard, Railway Hotel, Concord pubs -
Rainham Parks - January 1971 View
The Editor of Action Forum has kindly offered space in the magazine for me to outline the present situation in Gillingham in general and Rainham and Wigmore in particular with respect to parks and open spaces and to give you some idea of future developments -
E Nicholson Sweet Shop Rainham Kent
E Nicholson was a sweet/confectionery shop located at 53 Rainham High Street. This photo is from around 1930 -
Milk Deliveries by Helicopter - January 1987 in Rainham/Wigmore
Milk was delivered to Rainham by army helicopter on 16th January 1987 after snow prevented delivery lorries getting through. -
Chatham and District Reliance Permanent Building Society (Kent Reliance)
The organisation currently known as Kent Reliance was previously the Kent Reliance Building Society before it was bought out by JC Flowers private equity as a result of the financial crisis of 2008 but was originally Chatham Reliance Building Society. -
Action Forum -November 2024
Cover picture is of Rainham RCFC Football club in 1924-25 season -
Action Forum - October 2024
Cover picture is of demolition of the Co-op Store in High Street Rainham in 1997 -
Action Forum - September 2024
Cover picture is of the Flying Saucer Pub in Hempstead in 1951 when it opened -
Action Forum - August 2024
Cover picture is of Co-op Store in High Street Rainham in 1975 taken from the church tower -
HOW SHOULD THE OLD CO-OP SITE BE DEVELOPED? (Written April 1998)
Probably the last act of Gillingham Borough Council before it amalgamated with Rochester to become Medway Council was the issue on 31st March of a Draft Deve -
Action Forum - July 2024
Cover picture is of Westminster Bank in High Street Rainham around 1961, reproduced by kind permission of NatWest Group ©2024 -
Action Forum - June 2024
Cover picture is of WR Durrell garage on A2 High Street/Maidstone Road in 1984 -
Action Forum - May 2024
Cover picture is of Station Road Church School May Day in 1955 -
W& R Durell - Motor Garage and Car Repairs Rainham Kent
W& R Durell - Motor Garage and Car Repairs Rainham Kent 1984 -
Action Forum - April 2024
Cover picture is of Rainham Station on Station Road in 1984 -
Elm Plastics Rainham - Mr Robert Michalkiewicz Background and History
Mr Robert Michalkiewicz came to England from Poland and was a pilot during the Battle of Britain. -
Action Forum - March 2024
Cover picture is of staff from Rainham based company Elm Plastics -
SUNBURST BOOKS - Kent’s largest charity second hand bookshop.
SUNBURST BOOKS Rainham Kent, Kent’s largest charity secondhand bookshop. 21 & 23 Station Road, Rainham, Kent. ME8 7RS. -
Rainham's George Meegan - Walk Across America
George Meegan is one of the people celebrated with a wall display in the Railway Pub in Rainham giving details of his epic walk across America in the 1980s. He walked for 6 years covering an incredible 30432 kilometers from the southern tip of South America to Alaska. -
Rainham Girls School, Orchard Street 1941/2
Rainham Girls School, Orchard Street, c. 1941/2 -
Elm Plastics Ltd - Rainham Kent - History
According to Kelly's directory, Elm Plastics was based at 22 Motney Hill Road in Rainham
