Rainham History- Information about the History of Rainham Kent

Action Forum Jan/Feb 2012 Online

2012-01-23T21:47:00.002Z

The Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Action Forum is now online and can be viewed here

http://www.rainham-history.co.uk/action-forum/28-af2012/182-af022012

The cover photo is of the Coronation Day Party in 1911 to celebrate King George V's coronation

Rainham Weather - Current Weather Data and Trends now Available

2011-12-28T15:39:00.003Z

Rainham Weather, the current weather in Rainham is now available online plus latest data and historic trends can be viewed on the Rainham History website.

http://www.rainham-history.co.uk/weather/index.htm

Dominos Pizza Rainham Kent - Phone Number & Photos

2011-12-27T21:12:00.002Z

Dominos Pizza has now opened in Rainham Kent at the old Hop and Vine pub on the A2 near Tescos, Bowaters Roundabout.

Photo of Dominos Pizza Rainham

The Hop and Vine pub closed in 2010 and has been empty until Dominos began conversion a few months ago.

Dominos Pizza, A2 near Tescos Rainham Mark Kent

Dominos Pizza have apps available for the iPhone to order but if you are looking for the phone number for Dominos in Rainham to place your order then it is 01634 260046

Dominos Pizza
28 London Road, Rainham
Gillingham
Kent
ME8 6YX
Tel:01634 260046

Rochester Traditional Christmas Market 2011 at Rochester Castle Kent

2011-11-13T18:19:00.001Z

Rochester Traditional Christmas Market 2011 at Rochester Castle Kent

The Rochester Dickensian Christmas Market opens from 30 November 2011 in the ground of Rochester Castle and runs until Sunday 18th December 2011

The Rochester Christmas Market is a traditional German style market with various chalets in the grounds of Rochester Castle selling a wide variety of products from cheeses and smoked sausages to drinks and childrens toys. It is one of the largest Christmas markets in Kent.

This video was shot during the 2010 Christmas market in Rochester Kent.

Action Forum - November 2011

2011-11-08T21:20:00.001Z

Action Forum for November 2011 is now on the Rainham History website. There are old photos and an article about Rainham Rec and its history from the late 1800s.

http://www.rainham-history.co.uk/action-forum/14-action-forum-2011/116-af-nov2011

Action Forum November 2011

Loading Action Forum articles is now becoming routine each month so keep an eye out for new ones to be added

Stage Theatre Society Musical at Rainham School for Girls

2011-10-27T20:59:00.001+01:00

Stage Theatre Society Musical at Rainham School for Girls- Les Miserables - I Dreamed a Dream by ...

I Dreamed a Dream by Gemma Scholes, the song from Les Miserables

STS (Stage Theatre Society) will be performing the musical Les Miserables at Rainham School for Girls from 26th to 29th October 2011

This promotional video was shot on the Canon 5D Mark 2 with the Azten external microphone for Canon DSLR.

October Action Forum Now Available Online

2011-10-07T22:59:00.000+01:00

The October 2011 issue of Action Forum, the monthly magazine for Rainham, Wigmore and surrounding areas is now available on the Rainham History website. You can view it here

Action Forum October 2011

Mouse, Rat or Vole?

2011-09-04T11:36:00.002+01:00

We found this creature while out walking, it look like the nest had been estroyed and the babies were on the road. We thought it was a mouse but others have suggested it could be a rat and photos online look similar to a vole.

Any ideas?


Mouse, Rat or Vole?

Photo of Baby Mouse, Rat or Vole?

Hidsons Expand Car Dealerships in Rainham

2011-08-31T13:50:00.001+01:00

The former Town & Country cars site is also being redeveloped by Hidsons to become another of their dealerships. They now have a series of different marques along the A2, from Hidsons Citroen, Hidsons Kia, Hidsons Nissan in Rainham to a new Hidsons Seat location on the corner of Maidstone Road and the A2.

The new Hidsons dealership at Rainham Mark on the Town & country site will be Hidsons Vauxhall. This takes over from the former Greens of Rainham Vauxhall dealership outside Rainham that closed a couple of years ago. The Greens/Medway Mercedes site is still empty (as of Sept 2011)

Dominos Pizza comes to Rainham Kent

2011-08-31T13:48:00.001+01:00

Dominos Pizza comes to Rainham Mark

Dominos Pizza have finally got planning permission to open an outlet in Rainham. They had previously applied to convert the former Shell garage at Rainham Mark into a takeaway but were refused. They have now been granted planning permission to convert the Hop & Vine pub that closed in 2010 although this is only a few steps from the Shell garage. Strangely the Shell site would have probably made a better location as it has wider frontage and parking

The former Town & Country cars site is also being redeveloped by Hidsons to become another of their dealerships. They now have a series of different marques along the A2, from Hidsons Citroen, Hidsons Kia, Hidsons Nissan in Rainham to a new Hidsons Seat location on the corner of Maidstone Road and the A2.

The new Hidsons dealership at Rainham Mark on the Town & country site will be Hidsons Vauxhall.

Request for Info - Perks Grocers Longley Road

2011-06-29T20:23:00.002+01:00

I received this message today. Does anyone have any information to assist?

I wonder if you can help me....I am trying to find out when Perks a grocers situated on the corner of Longley Road Rainham closed and ceased trading.

Hope you can help

Latest Action Forum Now Available - May 2011

2011-05-17T09:02:00.000+01:00

With the new design of the Rainham History website it is now much easier to be able to publish documents quickly. As such it is intended to try to publish the Action Forum magazine online within a few days of it being distributed.

The latest issues from May and April 2011 are now online and can be viewed here. The full magazine is a large download (21Mb) but contains the full content of the magazine.

http://www.rainham-history.co.uk/action-forum

Mobile Phone Masts to Improve Service in Wigmore, Rainham and Hempstead

2011-05-02T20:54:00.002+01:00

Two new mobile phone masts are proposed for Wigmore and Hempstead to improve coverage for O2 and Vodafone. Both proposed sites are situated so that they are not directly outside a residential property and the Wigmore site in particular is on an empty piece of land that is adjacent to two mini roundabouts. Current designs for mobile phone masts are very similar to lampposts so they will be virtually invisible with all the other street furniture in a road. Some local residents are campaigning against the site of these mobile phone masts although they acknowledge there is a problem with mobile phone reception.

One resident gave the classic line "I realise reception is poor in Hempstead, but there must be a better way of improving reception." Unfortunately not - the only way to improve reception is to add more masts especially to improve 3G coverage which requires masts to be more closely spaced than for the older G2/GPRS technology.

Another argument is that the masts are situated too close to local schools - one suggestion was that 300m was too close to a school. Presumably that means campaigners believe that a radius of say at least 500m around any school cannot have any masts. In some areas with several schools this would mean that no masts could be erected at all giving no mobile coverage. In other areas with one school it would mean they had to be at least 1km apart and would leave huge empty spots of coverage where little signal exists.

If no-one used mobile phones due to the perceived health risks then the mobile companies would not be rolling out new masts. However mobile use is increasing so clearly mobile phone users - including the campaigners against the masts - are happy to use their phones.

The most common complaint from mobile phone users is lack of signal - if these campaigns get their way then this situation will not be improved.

More info on the guidelines that Mobile Operators use for siting mobile phone masts here
Health effects of mobile phone masts http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/uk_corporate_responsibility/protecting/mobiles_health.html

Mobile Phone Mast Campaign - Wigmore and Hempstead

2011-04-28T23:49:00.004+01:00

When running the Rainham History site I have always tried to keep a neutral stance on local issues to avoid any controversy. However the local paper today is reporting a campaign to stop a new mobile phone mast being erected in Durham Road is one that I feel needs to be highlighted. My personal view is that this is a crazy decision to try to stop the mast being installed. The huge majority of people use mobile phones and want to be able to have good coverage. It is all very well having campaigners stating that masts should be erected in commercial areas only; however most people who want to be able to use their mobile phone do not live in a commercial area and want to be able to make phone calls at home.

Mobile phone masts are needed where people want to use their mobile phones. If the campaigners are prepared to accept that they will not use a mobile phone themselves then they may have a case but anyone using a mobile themselves has no justification to then stop a mast being erected or they risk being accused of hypocrisy. The coverage around Wigmore area is particularly poor and this mast will resolve the problem by filling in the poor coverage spots.

Sadly our local councillors are campaigning against the mast so I would urge any interested parties to raise this during the election campaign, they can be contacted by email mike.obrien@medway.gov.uk, barry.kemp@medway.gov.uk, rehman.chishti@medway.gov.uk

More information on the location of the mast can be found here

You can email your support for the mast to Mike O Brien, Councillor for Rainham using this email mike.obrien@medway.gov.uk . Hopefully with enough emails he will realise the majority are in favour of the mast going ahead.

NOTE: If you are concerned about mobile phone masts then check on the locations that are already in place including opposite Parkwood school in the centre of the Parkwood residential area. An additional mast will have no impact on any radiation levels based on the number that already are constructed. You can check the locations of mobile masts in Rainham at this website http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search
You will see that there are currently 3 masts in the centre of Rainham (Brown St/Quinnell St) and one at Rainham station, as well as 18 (yes 18) other masts in Wigmore/Hempstead including Woodside and Fairview Avenue. All are in the middle of residential areas.

Rainham Train Station Bomb Scare

2011-04-21T17:21:00.004+01:00

Rainham train station was closed on 21 April 2011 due to suspect package being found on the platform at 6am. Trains from the coastal towns like Dover and Margate were unable to use the main line to London as a result of the station being closed. Buses replaced trains between Faversham and Gillingham during the incident which affected both the standard and high speed trains to London delaying many commuters during the morning rush hour.

http://www.rainham-history.co.uk/news/68-rainham-train-station-bomb-scare

The bomb squad were called to Rainham railway station during the morning rush hour when a suspicious package was found. A bomb warning was issued and Rainham station was evacuated. A controlled explosion took place and the police reported that it was "not an explosive device"

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2011-1/april/21/suspect_package_causes_rush_ho.aspx

Three Sisters public house in Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham

2011-04-14T23:29:00.000+01:00

This request for help has been received, if you have any information please let Roger know. If you can also post here too it may be useful to add to the site.

I am seeking a bit of help to see if anybody knows the origin of the name for the Three sisters public house in Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, maybe who the Three sisters are that it refers too. If not could you point me in the right direction of somebody who may know.
I appreciate any help that you may be able to give.

Roger Pester
Inn Sign Society
rogerpester45@talktalk.net

New Rainham History site coming soon

2011-04-07T23:50:00.001+01:00

Sneak preview of the new Rainham History site. Moving to a brand new platform that will make maintenance and updates much easier and faster.

http://www.rainham-kent.co.uk

Manor Farm has photos of wrong Rainham!

2011-03-21T20:19:00.001Z

I was in the Manor Farm pub recently and on their walls are old photos of Rainham. It is a nice touch to see pictures of how the area used to be so when we spotted one photo we were trying to work out where it was taken.

The name wasn't familiar, Bridge Road nor the scene of flooding with a church in the background. A quick search of the web showed that it was actually not a local scene and was actually taken in Rainham, Essex!

You can see more photos of Rainham Essex here

http://www.rainhamweb.co.uk/history/past2.html

Or for old photos of Rainham Kent click here

Quotes on the Kent Reliance Deal With JC Flowers

2010-10-29T21:10:00.001+01:00

If 25% of KRBS members vote NO then the deal will be blocked so please use your vote.

"the biggest winner by far in this deal is JC Flowers .... members’ welfare would be very much a secondary concern"

A few quotes from different websites about the deal by JC Flowers to takeover Kent Reliance Building Society. These are not my quotes but are collected from various websites and are primarily from respected commentators.

Norwich & Peterborough Building Society has denied claims that it will be joining JC Flowers as part of its plans to create a ‘supermutual'. “Unlike Kent Reliance, we are well capitalized and a financially strong business, therefore we have no reason to join JC Flowers as part of a supermutual.”

You can't accuse Kent Reliance Building Society's directors of not being prepared to think outside the box. An aggressive growth strategy under Lazenby has come back to haunt it in the past couple of years, leaving the mutual with a loss-making mortgage book and a commercial property loan portfolio of dubious quality.

the board fully accepted that there is the potential for losing independence by accepting the equity investment, losing control of the bank and of the industrial and provident society's percentage shareholding being reduced to a level that the ethos of mutuality is no longer sustainable.

“My initial reaction is one of caution. Venture capitalists are usually a pretty mercenary bunch who focus primarily on how much money they can make...So make no bones about it, JC Flowers would be entering into any deal primarily to make money for itself. I believe members’ welfare would be very much a secondary concern.”

But the biggest winner by far in this deal is JC Flowers. It has effectively paid £50 million for 40 per cent of Kent and it could see its stake increase further if Kent's £130 million commercial property loan book makes further losses. US private equity firm JC Flowers is lining up bids for at least four building societies to create a “supermutual” which would be partially floated in five years

Support Growing to Reject JC Flowers Offer for Kent Reliance Building Society

2010-10-25T20:45:00.001+01:00

Support is growing for the campaign to reject the deal proposed by JC Flowers to take over the Kent Reliance Building Society (KRBS). Members of KRBS are unhappy that the terms of the deal will give control of the Kent Reliance to the private equity company along with an excellent return on their investment while members get no benefit from the deal.

The members of KRBS need to get at least 25% of the votes cast in order to block the deal which is looking possible from the number of contacts received since the ballot papers were posted at the weekend. Members have until 19th November to decide how to cast their votes despite the board considering the proposals for over 6 months.

The proposal would give a new society Kent Reliance Provident Society (KRPS) 60% of the new bank with 40% given to private equity firm JC Flowers in return for £50 million of new capital. However details hidden in the voting pack documents show that this new bank is likely to be 75% owned by JC Flowers with only 25% for members of Kent Reliance as the board of KRBS predict that they will immediately need further additional funds to offset losses in their commercial loans book.

The proposed deal gives JC Flowers a return of up to 8% dividend per year on their shares in the new bank along with a 20% return on their money if they decide to sell in future.

Members of the KRBS are getting "up to 0.1%" on their easy access savings accounts or 1.02% on their ISA savings so this deal offers nothing to them especially compared to the returns that the JC Flowers private equity fund is making on their investment.

Note for Editors:

Kent Reliance is the only building society based in Kent which includes the Chatham Reliance (established 1898), Dover District (established 1861) Herne Bay (established 1888) and Kent and Canterbury (established 1847). Kent Reliance Building Society has been a long standing mutual society serving mainly Kent through its network of branches. In recent years the local branch network has been closed as the business has concentrated on postal accounts, many of the back office duties have also transferred from Chatham to India.

Kent Reliance Takeover (Kent Reliance Building Society) On BBC News

2010-10-25T20:19:00.000+01:00

BBC South East Today ran a story on the Kent Reliance takeover by JC Flowers today and did a short interview with me. Unfortunately they didn't use much of the material we recorded but hopefully the piece they showed will keep the issue in the media.

There is a press conference by KRBS tomorrow (Tuesday) in Rochester so more news may be forthcoming about the details in the Transfer document and why they have not given out the full facts in the summary of the proposals.

Kent Reliance Transfer to One Bank - JC Flowers Private Equity Deal

2010-10-25T00:17:00.000+01:00

Some rather interesting information has come to light from web sources regarding this deal by Kent Reliance.

One of JC Flowers reported other targets has said:

“Unlike Kent Reliance, we are well capitalized and a financially strong business, therefore we have no reason to join JC Flowers as part of a supermutual.”

Another site says

"The deal is likely to prove controversial, given founder Chris Flowers's reputation as a tough deal maker with no previous interest in mutuality."

Is KRBS Takeover good for investors?

2010-10-24T23:38:00.001+01:00

Read the details of the transfer to find out if the Kent Reliance KRBS take over deal is good for investors - that is investors in KRBS not investors in JC Flowers (JCF). I have no doubt at all that this deal has been structured to be an excellent deal for JC Flowers - a 20% return guarantee and up to 8% interest on their shares is something I think we would all like to have!

Whether the takeover deal is good for savers and investors in KRBS is another matter. The following extracts may be of interest - page numbers relate to the main Transfer Document.

(p63) KRPS will hold 59.9% and JCF 40.1%, The boards view is that significant adjustment is likely to be needed at the time of investment but is not LIKELY to increase JCF holding to more than 75%.

So they expect that JCF could own 75% of KRPS at the time of the transaction!! How on earth can they be proposing a transaction that they already know (expect/anticipate) will be exceeeded or changed as soon as it happens? Surely the transaction should include all relevant information up front rather than buried in the details at page 63.

Changing from KRPS owning 60% to JC Flowers owning 75% is more than a little change in circumstances especially when it happens IMMEDIATELY not at some unspecified point in the future!

At this point JCF can appoint the majority of directors and therefore control the company! So within a few months of the transfer, KRPS will have no control over the assets and bank that they created. Some deal for the Private Equity company!! I don't blame them, they are only doing the best by their shareholders and investors, but the management of KRBS are being seriously remiss with hiding these details.

By voting for this deal you are likely to have no windfall and no assets owned by KRPS (KRBS) within a few months. KRPS will be just like every other bank - no more mutual society owned by its members for their benefit.

Kent Reliance Takeover (Kent Reliance Building Society) KRBS Takeover Why No Windfall

2010-10-24T20:22:00.001+01:00

I hope a few more people realise the significance of what is being voted for. I've gone through the main document and there are some areas that have been very much glossed over in their summary. In addition the following was in The Observer newspaper on Sunday 24th October which presumably is based on the KRBS vehicle doing the bidding.

American private equity group JC Flowers is lining up bids for at least four UK building societies as part of an audacious plan to create a "supermutual" that could be partially floated on the London stock market in five years. West Bromwich, Skipton, Norwich & Peterborough and Principality are in his sights; together, they have more than 1.7 million members, the Observer reports.

(p61) The board's view is that further preference shares will be issued to JCF at the time of investment as a result of writedowns in the commercial portfolio.

So the numbers given for shares owned by both companies are meaningless if further shares are being issued at the same time.

(p63) KRPS will hold 59.9% and JCF 40.1%, The boards view is that significant adjustment is likely to be needed at the time of investment but is not LIKELY to increase JCF holding to more than 75%.

So they expect that JCF could own 75% of KRPS at the time of transaction!! How on earth can they be proposing a transaction that they already know (expect/anticipate) will be exceeeded or changed as soon as it happens? Surely the transaction should include all relevant information up front rather than buried in the details.

Changing from KRPS owning 60% to JCF owning 75% is more than a little change in circumstances especially when it happens IMMEDIATELY not at some unspecified point in the future!

At this point JCF can appoint the majority of directors and control the company! So within a few months, KRPS will have no control over the assets and bank that they created. Some deal for the Private Equity company!! I don't blame them, they are only doing the best by their shareholders and investors, but the management of KRBS are being seriously remiss with hiding these details.

In my view these are significant points and the board are being extremely secretive, one could even say deceptive, by not publicising these as they relate directly to the situation at the time of the transfer.

Why We Will Vote Against the KRBS/Kent Reliance Building Society Takeover by JC Flowers

2010-10-23T19:12:00.002+01:00

The documents proposing the transfer of Kent Reliance Building Society to a new company with Private Equity investment by JC Flowers have now been sent out.

I urge any member to read the document carefully. Although a complicated legal document it contains a number of very key points and some information that is critical to understand. Importantly read the section about Disadvantages listed by the Directors, the crucial ones being:

1) Loss of control of the bank by KRPS
2) KRPS shares will reduce so mutuality is no sustainable

Based on the information in the document we will be voting AGAINST the proposal.

The deal guarantees a return of 20% per year to JC Flowers
JC Flowers could potentially become the majority owner of the new bank very quickly
Mutuality is quoted but is effectively being given up to a private equity partner

More information about the KRBS Kent Reliance takeover is on the Rainham History website