mikegunnill

[mikegunnill]

First World War Kent Spies.

There were so many spies before and during World War One, that they were almost, falling over each other.

The trouble with spies of course, is that they are so hard to track down and even harder to research, changing names, birth dates, and addresses.  My mission starts in Sheerness, Kent in the United Kingdom.

Under the orders of Gustav Steinhauer 1870-1930, the head of the German Admiralty Intelligence Service, many spies were in key locations and well established locally years before the outbreak of war.  Steinhauer was so proud of his achievements he wrote a book, ‘telling-all’ after the war.

Ten years later, Losel had taken over the business and was living alone at the rear of 2 High Street in Sheerness.  He was listed as a photographer and maker of frames, of German nationality and the ‘employer.’   John Hunt died in the first quarter of 1887, aged 74 still living on the Isle of Sheppey as did his wife Mary Ann Hunt, who  died December 31 st. 1891.

In 1901 his address was Beach House, Sheerness which had a huge glass conservatory, which was used as a photographic studio.  It was noted later in the magistrates court, it also provided “uninterrupted views to Sheerness dockyard, showing the arrival and departure from the area.”  Losel had first been reported to the authorities in 1904 and a year later had been detained for taking photographs on the sea-wall at Sheerness.

Karl Hentschel ran a successful family spy ring in Chatham and visited Sheerness often.  In Central Intelligence Agency files released in 2015, they gave  1884-1959 as his birth and death. 

Part of his bargaining with the British authorities forwards the end of his spy days in Kent, he provided Scotland Yard with details of his previous spy-ring.  

 Hentschel said Losel was a German agent in a statement of August 1914, and had been for some years.  He also revealed that Losel took regular trips to Germany with his photographic portfolio. 

His early photographic cards were labelled as Franz Heinrich Losel.  As war hysteria against Germany increased, the name was changed to a more anglicised, Francis Henry Losel.  This didn’t help the Sheerness locals who knew him well and didn’t speak to him, when out walking.  

On the outbreak of war, local children made their feelings known and smashed his studio conservatory with stones, and it was never used again. 

On one such occasion, he took photographs on board HMS Victoria, during March 1890.  A group photograph was taken on the forecastle deck of the ship and it proved to be, one of the last images of the crew in England before the ship sank.  

During exercises on June 22, 1893, near Tripoli, Syria now Lebanon, the ship went down within 15 minutes after a collision with HMS Camperdown and a loss of 358 crew. Photographs of the crew of HMS Victoria and many other ships visiting Sheerness may have been included in his portfolio visits to Germany.  A photograph of the crew of HMS Victoria was shown earlier, as my picture number one.  It was found, after a long search at the National Archives, Kew,  and the image has not been published before.  The connection hadn’t been made, that the crew, while in Sheerness port, had been photographed  by a German spy.

Losel spent nearly 30 years in Sheerness as a photographer and for various reasons, was well known.  Remembered by a Sheerness resident Ivy Russell in Bygone Kent volume 37, number 6 “ As a sinister, menacing figure who frightened her as a child.”  He was also recorded at the local police station as “a suspicious German photographer who spends a good deal of money, but does little or no work.”

Losel was one of 24 interned aliens moved from Brixton Prison to Reading in January 1916.  He returned to Brixton on August 6, 1917.  He hadn’t been convicted of anything and there wasn’t any evidence, he just detained as a foreign alien.  It is thought he was finally deported back to Germany in 1919.

Losel was deemed ‘small-fry’ by local spy master Hentschel. Perhaps there was a class-system for spies, as the top man Steinhauer himself had interviewed and placed Hentschel in Sheerness and given him his initial instructions to set up a language school.

[mikegunnill]

111 years since the Titanic sank.

There are many stories about the sinking of the Titanic and the people who sailed on her. This my story; originally published in Bygone Kent magazine issue:37 Number 2, over 8 pages.

The Titanic sank on the 15th April 1912. Of the 2,223 onboard, 1517 were lost.

Many were searching for a new life in the United States. One of these was 36-year-old Kate Buss 1873-1972 from Sittingbourne, Kent. She was making the journey alone to marry her Kent-born fiancé, Samuel Willis in San Diego in California. Kate survived and they married three weeks after the disaster.

Picture: Kate Buss before leaving Kent.

Samuel Willis ran a tailor’s shop in Sittingbourne, first in the High Street and then later at 110 East Street. Kate Buss was born at 37 Shakespeare Road, Sittingbourne. In 1901 her father James Buss was listed as a grocer-postmaster at 68 Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne.

Picture: Kate Buss, birth home in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Samuel Willis sailed to America in 1908 and settled in San Diego and then opened his own grocery store. Saving enough, to send money back to Kent to pay for his wife-to-be voyage. Kate sailed on a second-class ticket for E-Deck, number 27849, which cost £13.

At 11.40pm on the 14th April she heard a crash and went on deck. Meeting a friend, she returned to her cabin and put more clothes on, then returned on deck. Along with a female friend they were escorted to lifeboat Number 9. Kate later wrote to a friend, Elsie Sparkes in Halling, Kent: “ I’d just my nightdress, my dressing gown and a long coat. It was terribly cold by the iceberg.”

“ I’ve lost everything to remind me of home, all my photographs, my letters, everything except my rings and watch.”

Lifeboat Number 9 was lowered at 1.30am and it was picked up by the Carpathia at 6.15am. The ship picked up 712 people from 13 lifeboats. The rescue ship arrived at Pier 54 in New York at 9.25pm on the 18th April.

Picture: The lifeboat arriving off the rescue ship; Carpathia.

Staying in the east side of New York at the home of; Reverend William Dalziel 1855-1935 and his wife, Emma 1856-1921, formally of Greenstreet near Faversham. Kate wrote to her mother in Sittingbourne.

“ I do hope you don’t believe most of the newspaper stories. I am well and want you to know this. I have been preserved from reporters, who have been trying to find me.”

She later left New York and started the journey to San Diego, where she was reunited with Samuel Willis. Kate wrote several letters to friends in Halling, near Rochester. “ They had to haul me up the last few steps of the rescue ladder and then someone wrapped me in a rug. I had hot brandy and water in the saloon.”

The memory of the terrifying climb, she said would stay with her for the rest of her life.

Kate married Samuel Willis as planned on Saturday, 11th May 1912.

Picture: Kate Buss and Samuel Willis.

Kate Willis never spoke in public about the tragedy but did so in private, when she became emotional. She successfully avoided the press and didn’t testify to either, to the American or the British boards of inquiry.

In one of the few public statements she made, Kate said: “ I willingly would have waited, if I had known how few lifeboats there were.”

On the 12th July 1972, Kate Buss Willis died in Independence, Oregon. On her gravestone her daughter added a,  “ Titanic survivor.”

Picture: Kate Buss Willis in 1950.

Passengers from Kent who died during the Titanic disaster were:

William Thomas Bevan,19 of 95 Richmond Road, Gillingham.

Harry Bristow, 39 of Station Parade, Shortlands, Bromley.

Richard Henry Rouse, 50, of 30 New Road, Sittingbourne.

Thomas Leonard Theobald, 34, 8 Cromer Street, Strood.

Alfred Rush,16, a friend of the Theobald family.

Bernard John Boughton, 25, of 12 Hardinge Road, Ashford.

Percival Thorneycroft, 36 of Bearsted.

Frank Goldsmith, 33 of 22 Hone Street, Strood.

A more complete version was published in Bygone Kent magazine. http://bygonekent.org.uk/

Relations of the Buss and Willis families, helped with details used in this article.

(c) Mike Gunnill 2023.

[mikegunnill]

The Chatham, Kent mother and her story of war time sacrifice.

Which wasn’t true!

Laying a wreath on the 7th of November 1928, at the new Winnipeg Cenotaph in Memorial Boulevard, Charlotte Susan Wood 1861-1939 from Chatham, Kent first made public,  a claim that she had lost 5 sons / stepsons,  during The Great War.  

The card on the wreath read; “In loving memory of my Dear Sons Killed in the Great War 1914-1918; Joseph, Louis, Fred, Harry and Percy, from their mother, Mrs C.S.Wood.”

© picture: Mrs Charlotte Wood and her salute.

In 1931 Charlotte Wood returned to Europe, visiting the war graves of the Western Front as part of a British Legion memorial visit to France and Belgium. She claimed to have made a visit to Chatham at this time and was later scheduled for audience with Queen Mary, but this was forced be to postponed, due to illness.

On the 6th May in 1935, Mrs Wood was awarded the George V Silver Jubilee Medal.  On the 16th July 1936 she sailed from Montreal, Canada for The Vimy Pilgrimage. This comprised of 8,000 Canadian ex-servicemen and next of kin, travelling to Vimy, France for the official memorial unveiling ceremony by King Edward 8th.  While by the Vimy Memorial, Mrs Woods was photographed for the Canadian newspapers, saluting, wearing her usual awards and war medals. Among these are, the full-sized Mons Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, another British War Medal, Victory Medal, the Memorial Silver Cross Medal and a selection of miniature war medals. These according to relations, she wore nearly all the time until her death in 1939.

picture: King Edward and Charlotte Wood.

Before arriving in England, the Winnipeg Free Press in 1936 reported that King had held her hand at the Vimy Memorial after the official opening on the 26th July, as Mrs Wood spoke of her 12 sons fighting during World War One and that, 5 sons had been killed.

The Canadian newspaper reported the full conversation between Mrs Wood and the King.

King:  “Madam, you had sons in this war?”

Wood: “It is a great honour sir, to have you speak to me.”

King:   Now holding her hand.

King: “What do you think of our beautiful memorial?”

Wood: “It is lovely, but I went to the trenches. I did not know until now. Wasn’t it dreadful our boys had to live like that?”

King: “Please God. It should never happen again.”

Research in recent years, by Wood relations has proved without doubt, that the basic story as portrayed by Mrs Wood to the Canadian people was, wrong.  Two of her stepsons died in the war and not the five she claimed.

One of the early people to challenge Mrs Wood’s statements, was her own stepson. Arthur Abraham Wood 1885-1949 who was born at 22 Chatham Hill, Chatham. He never emigrated to Canada like most of the family, but Arthur Wood as a Royal Marine met up with his father in Canada during the 1923-1924 Empire Cruise. A photograph, taken in 1924; during the visit, shows his father, Frederick Wood driving, and Arthur without his hat in the rear of the open top car. Two other Wood family members are in the photograph:(left to right) John J. Wood, Frederick Wood father, Arthur A. Wood and James A.Wood.

© picture: 1924 Wood family members, driven by Frederick Wood.

In 2010, based on letters written by Arthur Wood, the Great War Forum started to also question the Mrs Wood story. John Rusing, the grandson of Joseph James Wood joined the campaign, when he found his grandfather had not died in the war as previously thought. He had been one of those listed as dead by Mrs Wood.  

John Rusing says;

“I believe Charlotte Wood got caught up in the sadness surrounding the World War One deaths and stretched the truth when discussing her family’s involvement, for whatever reason.”

Mr Rusing continues: “On the positive side, it must be remembered that seven of her sons, returned to England to enlist and fight in the war.

With help from different researchers, Bygone Kent and Wood family members, this is an agreed, complete and up to date list of Frederick Louis Woods children.  The first five sons were by, his wife Elizabeth Willis Wood. The remainder by second wife, Charlotte Susan Wood.

1. RICHARD THOMAS WOOD number:7599, never served in World War One. Born on the 13th April, 1880 in St Thomas, Exeter, Devon but he moved to Chatham, aged one. Enlisted in the Royal Horse and Artillery Regiment from 1900 to 1905 when he was discharged as medically unfit. Died January 21, 1925 in Strood, Kent.

2. LEWIS ROBERT WOOD, never served in World War One. Born on the 19th of November, 1881 in St Thomas, Exeter, Devon. Lived in Chatham all his life, died 23rd of July, 1904 in Southwark, London.

3. JOSEPH JAMES WOOD number:19435, never served in World War One. Born on the 21st February, 1883 in Chatham, Kent.  Enlisted in the Royal Navy from 1897 to 1903 when he was discharged via a shore purchase. Died on the 29th of January, 1947 in Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan, United States of America.

4. WILLIAM WALTER WOOD number:8133, never served in World War One. Born on the 27th of October, 1884 in Chatham, Kent. Enlisted in the Royal North Lancaster Regiment in 1904 and was discharged 8 days later as “not likely to make an effective soldier.” Immigrated to Canada in 1906, Died in Canada, *possible date*- Alberta 1929.

5. ARTHUR ABRAHAM WOOD number:14851, served in World War One and survived. Born on the 1st November, 1885 in Seymour Road in Chatham, Kent. Enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry from 1904 to 1927 when he was honourably discharged. Died on the 10th of January, 1949 in Plumstead, Kent.

6. JAMES ALFRED WOOD number:6344, served in World War One and survived. Born on the 29th of July, 1887 in Chatham, Kent. Served in the Coldstream Guards during World War One and was discharged after a serious leg injury. Died on the 20th of April, 1948 in Winnipeg, Canada. Buried close to his mother in the Military Section. Left unmarked for many years, his grave was marked in 2017 by the Canadian Last Post Fund.

7. * FREDERICK FRANCIS WOOD number:13071, served in World War One and killed in action. Born on the 7th February, 1891 in Chatham, Kent.  After been first turned down for service, Frederick Wood, as Frederick Haywood enlisted successfully at Woolwich, and was killed on the 24th August, 1914.  He is buried, as Corporal Frederick Francis Haywood, in the Saint Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium. In official army documents, he is referred to as an, “alias of Frederick Francis Wood.”  

8. JOHN JACOB WOOD number:436163, served in World War One and survived. Born on the 29th of July, 1892 in Strood, Kent. Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from 1914 to 1917 and was discharged after a serious head injury which resulted in a 50% hearing loss. Died on the 24th of May, 1969 in Edmonton, Alberta.

9. BENJAMIN BERT WOOD, never served in World War One. Born in Strood, Kent on the 2nd of August, 1894. A medical condition prevented him from serving in the War. Most of his life, farmed with his father, Frederick. Died on the 3rd of December, 1977 in Gunn, Alberta, Canada. Buried at Rich Valley Baptist Cemetery in Gunn, Alberta.

10. HERBERT HARRY WOOD numbers:436232 & 624177, served in World War One and survived.  Born on the 23rd of September, 1896 in Greenwich, Kent. Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from 1915 to 1917 and was discharged as 30th November 1917 medically unfit due to poor eyesight. He died on the 1st of April, 1918 in Edmonton, Alberta, while serving as a fireman, falling from a moving fire engine.

11. * PETER PERCY WOOD number:887640, served in World War One and killed in action. Born on the 21st of May, 1899 in Belvedere near Bexley Heath, Kent. Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from 1915 to 1917 when he was killed in action in the area known as *The Triangle*. This was a set of heavily fortified German held trenches, where snipers caused heavy losses. It was a strategic position, northwest of the village of La Coulotte, France, near the cross-roads where the Lens-Arras and the Lievin-Avion roads met. Percy was seen to be killed while successfully taking the German trenches, but his body was never recovered. Wood died on the 5th of May, 1917 in France. He therefore has, ‘no known grave’, but his name is recorded on the Vimy Ridge Memorial, panel.

picture: Percy Wood, died 1917.

12. CHARLES CHRISTOPHER WOOD number:624201, served in World War One and survived. Born on the 11th of April, 1901 in Erith, Kent.  Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force from 1916 to 1917 and was discharged as a consequence of being a minor. His mother, Charlotte Wood may have reported him. Died on the 11th of September 11, 1988 in Royal Oak, Michigan, United States of America, and buried in Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley, Michigan.

13. ELLEN BEATRICE WOOD 1889-1983 Mrs Charlotte Wood had a daughter by Frederick Wood. She emigrated with the Wood family in 1911 and married, Lewis Robert Carle, having a daughter, Yoeland Kathleen Carle 1919-1980.  As Ellen Wood she returned to England, married John McCarthy 1884-1937 in January 1930 and she died in Strood, Kent 24th August 1983.

© Mrs Wood from Chatham, Kent and her medals.

Mrs Charlotte Susan Wood from Chatham in Kent, became an early Canadian *celebrity* for her pioneering work and support for the soldiers of World War One. She did however hide the truth from many who respected her, never thinking that the modern form of research via the Internet would one day, expose her story.

Charlotte Susan Wood 1861 - 1939.

*The First Silver Cross Mother of Canada. *

* This was originally to be used by Bygone Kent magazine. Due to space problems it was never published.*

[mikegunnill]

The (nearly) forgotten Whitstable Diver.

John Deane and his brother had a chance to try out an invention when the Bear and Key public house, caught fire.

On previous tests they had designed a makeshift-helmet, made from a suit of armour, with an air-pipe attached to a bellows. Several horses were trapped in the High Street, Whitstable pub, and using the new device John Deane walked through the smoke, saving all the coaching house horses.

John sold the smoke-mask patent, number 4869 to his employer for £417.

picture: The Bear and Key, right.

The successful rescue, gave the brothers an idea to develop the helmet for use, under water. They continued, what was now termed *diving equipment* in 1829, by working on the Carn Brea Castle. John and Charles Deane worked together on the wreck of the Royal George, during which John discovered the wreck of the Mary Rose.

picture: An early Deane diving helmet.

John Deane’s family, lived in a white-boarded cottage on Island Wall, the property was called Free Diver Cottage, but is now known as, The Crab and Winkle. On the front outside wall Canterbury City Council have installed, a blue plaque, noting that:

< John Deane 1800–1884. The Co-inventor of diving equipment and the diving helmet, lived here 1848–1854.>

The cottage which has changed little over the years, and is now, in great demand as a holiday rental property.

picture: John Deane’s cottage in Whitstable. Copyright: Mike Gunnill

During the Great Exhibition of 1851 several officials from The Admiralty viewed and inspected Deane’s ‘new’ diving equipment, along with his demonstrations held in a large glass fronted water tank. The men from the Admiralty would later seek John Deane out, needing help during the Crimean War, between October 1853 and February 1856.

picture: Deane’s warehouse in Whitstable.

John Deane with his family were living at 65 Island Wall, the home of the Browning family, when he was approached by the Surveyor of the Navy 1848–1861, Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker 1802–1876 on the 16th October, 1854.

Two days later, after negotiations, Deane signed a diving-contract, for one guinea a day, plus all board and lodging and if successful, a gratuity of £200 at the end of his work. As a matter of urgency, the Admiralty wanted him to take a team of four experienced civilian divers to the Crimean War. Not only did the country require John Deane for his diving skills, but also for his knowledge of using explosives under water.

The Russians had shuttled several ships at Sebastopol/Savastopol blocking the harbour. Somehow these vessels, had to cleared as the Crimean War was going badly for the British. His diving experience would be tested, as the plan involved placing specially made 1000 lb explosive devices on the underwater hazards. Sailing with him was friend, diving partner 1834–1855 and business partner William Edwards. The pair left Portsmouth on Sunday, the 26th of November, 1854 on board the ship, The Robert Lowe with the bomb cylinders and diving equipment.

Extra diving equipment was also loaded on to the store ship, HMS Prince which was making the same voyage. On board this vessel were two other divers, James Rigden and George Allen, both were well known Whitstable men.

Soon after arriving off Balaklava in November 1854, HMS Prince sank with the loss of 154 men, including the two Whitstable divers, Rigden and Allen. All the extra diving equipment was also lost, along with the main ship’s cargo, much needed winter grey coats, undergarments, socks and boots, for 40,000 British troops.

Deane and Edwards on their arrival, had the unpleasant task of diving on the ship, to see what could be recovered from the wreck.

picture: John Deane. Copyright Cambridge Library.

The Robert Lowe stopped in Malta and then finally arrived at Scutari, in Turkey. The Selimiye Barracks, were allocated as the main British Army barracks for the war. The barracks became a temporary military hospital, where in November 1854 Florence Nightingale arrived with 37 volunteer nurses, staying until 1857.

John Deane had to find replacement divers, for the those lost when HMS Prince sank. He wrote to his friend, James Bell a diver from East Street, Herne Bay to find three other men and to travel to join him. It is thought one of the new crew included William Bell, the son of James who now lived on Marine Parade, Herne Bay and was an old business partner of John Deane’s. The replacement team and diving equipment left Portsmouth in January 1855.

On the 23rd of May, 1855; Whitstable man, William Edwards left the main diving party on a secret mission to Kerch. Located further along the coast, it guarded a narrow passage-way into the Sea of Azov, which was blocked by shuttled Russian ships.

The clearance plans were a great success but not without the loss of William Edwards. During the final weeks of blowing up two Russian naval ships, Edwards contracted cholera and was transferred to a hospital ship, thought to be HMS Belleisie. William Edwards was born in High Street, close to Queenborough Harbour, the Isle of Sheppey, on the 27th of January, 1801. He was a married man with a daughter from his previous marriage, and a Master Mariner. William Edwards died on board the hospital ship in Kerch Bay on the 31st of August, 1855. He was buried in a British cemetery within the grounds of Fort Saint Paul, Kerch.

John Deane took the news of William Edward’s death very hard. He had been a friend-business partner for 25 years, and during the journey to the Crimea a constant companion. Deane wrote to his second wife, Mrs Sarah Edwards and daughter Ann, to break the news of her husband’s death. The letter dated, the 2nd September, was received two months later in Whitstable.

The Edward’s old home, by this time, had been converted into The Lower Hope beer house. Which, after renumbering, is at number 9 High Street in Whitstable. 

Today in Sebastopol or Kerch, there are no British cemeteries or neat rows of graves for the war dead, like other British conflicts. Just after troops and naval personel left the Crimea, many of the graves were desecrated, opened and plundered. By 1900 there were few British cemeteries left, and those that remained were bulldozed and cleared in the late 1950’s under order from Nikita Khrushchev, the soviet premier.

John Deane continued his clearance work around Sebastopol harbour, which included defusing several mine-fields. The Russians had laid a series of wired mines in the main channel, which all had to be cleared by hand.

In January 1856, Deane wrote to Sarah Ann Browning back in Whitstable, mentioning his diving duties. “We are getting on really well with the destruction of the Docks. Frequently using several thousand pounds of gunpowder, every day. The havoc, as you can imagine, is frightfully grand.”

John Deane was officially discharged from Government service on the 10th of July, 1855 but stayed on, to help and assist the Royal Engineers. It was in June of 1856 that Deane and his other two Whitstable divers finally left Balaclava harbour on board the Robert Lowe, arriving in Portsmouth on August 4th.

Deane returned to Whitstable as a hero and a local celebrity in 1856. His exploits had been reported extensively in The Times newspaper by William Howard Russell, who had nicknamed Deane “The Infernal Diver.”  More importantly after two years he was reunited with his children. son Edmund, and daughters Agnes, Caroline and Susannah. John was keen to see Sarah Browning who had managed his business affairs and corresponded with him, sometimes in a private secret code. Their relationship naturally developed and within a short time, they were married in Whitstable.

picture: Sarah Ann Browning.

He retired from the diving industry soon after returning from the war. Deane was a modest, quiet man and he told anyone that asked that, “He had done enough.”

Two of the captured cannons from Sebastopol followed Deane back to Kent. Others were distributed across the Empire and major towns in the United Kingdom. One cannon was presented to the people of Maidstone, in 1858. Number 24386 and sits at Lower High Street pointing towards the River Medway.  Not to be out-done by the county town, Rochester asked if they could have a cannon as well!  It was duly presented in 1859, again by Lord Panmure. In 1899 it was sited to Rochester Castle Gardens, where it has remained ever since providing a useful climbing frame for children of all ages.

Several years after returning from the Crimean War, the Admiralty after much stalling finally paid John Deane, the balance of funds owing to him. This totalled, £1,471. 18s.

Mr and Mrs John Deane lived in Whitstable and then, for a short time in Ramsgate. Sarah Ann Deane died in November 1865, aged 36 years old and her body was transported back to Whitstable for burial.

John Deane married, 43-year-old Ruth Norris in 1868 at Saint Peters Church in Hackney. After a short time living in Whitstable, the couple moved to Ramsgate. About 5 years after marriage, while living in Ramsgate, John Deane had his photograph taken.

picture: Deane and his wife, Ruth at their Ramsgate home. Copyright Cambridge Library.

Their home, was a four-storey terrace property, at Number 90 Hardes Street, which stands today and was owned by the Deane family from 1871 until 1896.

picture: Hardes Street, Ramsgate. Copyright: Mike Gunnill

John Deane, aged 84 years, was buried on the 12th of July,1884 in plot 342 in Ramsgate Cemetery. The large grave holds several family members and can be found in the old section of the cemetery, grave number; HB 342.

picture: John Deane’s grave, Ramsgate. Copyright: Mike Gunnill

Considering the invention of the diving helmet and the impact diving had on Whitstable industry, there are few reminders of the Deane Brothers, in the town. Even less is remembered of William Edwards, who played an important part in the development of diving and the use of explosive materials underwater. His work in the Crimea, with that of John Deane was heroic and helped shorten the conflict.

What does remain in Whitstable, is John Deane’s cottage and a strange modern sculpture, featuring the diver. The sculpture by Paul Richardson, was unveiled in 1995. Commissioned by Canterbury City Council to “reflect local heritage.”  You can find it, in the centre of the car park of Whitstable swimming pool.

John Deane 1800–1884 is sadly, largely forgotten in Whitstable and Kent - which is a shame! There was no better diver or underwater explosive expert in his life time. 

© mikegunnill 2023.

[mikegunnill]

Verena Holmes;

The first female engineer.

A small, almost insignificant workshop, tucked away in a Gillingham street is part of a previously unknown story, featuring the countries, first female engineer.

This was pioneering, Verena Winifred Holmes 1889–1964, who long held an ambition, during her successful career to own an engineering company, with an all female staff.

In 1946, after years of searching and planning, Verena Holmes founded the engineering firm, Holmes and Leather Company Limited with, Sheila Leather 1898–1983, a fellow member at the Women’s Engineering Society.

Verena Holmes.

Co-owner of the Beresford Works in Gillingham, Miss Sheila Leather.

Miss Leather later, following on from Miss Holmes became president of the Women’s Engineering Society in 1950. Both her sisters, Alice Muriel Hutchinson 1885–1969 and Lady Wemonah Hardwick Ansorge 1890–1979 invested in the Gillingham engineering company.

A small building in Beresford Road, close to Gillingham Road in Gillingham was found. The ground floor, with an outside toilet became a work-shop with several lathes. Via an internal open staircase, there were two small offices, one used by Miss Holmes as her drawing office.

The Beresford Works, Beresford Road, Gillingham, Kent - present day. Copyright: Mike Gunnill.

From the beginning, Ruth Faris 1910–2002, who liked to be called simply; ‘Faris’, was employed as the works-manager. She was originally from The Borough, Downton, in Wiltshire where her father, Ernest Frank Faris, a ex-seaman, was the local butcher. ‘Faris’ was highly qualified especially on the lathe, and would help train new staff, who Miss Holmes wanted with little, or no previous engineering experience. Most ladies were taken directly from the unemployment office in Gillingham. One of these recruits, was Mrs Amy Page of Chatham, who was the works-painter, finishing off, items made in the factory.

An office manager, Mrs Glasspool nee Burnett joined and like ‘Faris’ stayed with the company for the trading years, of 1946 to 1959.

As a new company, Miss Holmes considered various ideas to manufacture, including making: children’s prams, Yankee screwdrivers, map measures and parallel rulers. Finally they started production with a Bantam Shearing Machine, followed by a Bantam Rod Cutter and then, the successful, safe-guillotine.

The guillotine with the later added, safeguard was deemed safe enough to use in schools and the Gillingham company produced hundred’s of them!

Newspaper advert for the Beresford Works.

The yard and part of the building are now empty, behind number 203 and number 2 Beresford Road; which was owned by upholsterer, Leslie Louis Clarke. The building and yard are now owned by a builder with the upstairs office area converted into a small flat with its own street access.

Miss Holmes was officially registered living at 127 Highbury New Park, London, and later owned a semi-detached house at, 8 Rusholme Road in Putney. During her time in the Medway Towns from 1946–1959 she rented from 1947, a semi-detached house at 2 Cleave Road, Gillingham, then a terraced house, 33 Leyton Avenue in Gillingham. Finally between 1956–1959 a nearby semi-detached property, at 40 Osprey Avenue, Gillingham in Kent.

There is a local suggestion, that Miss Faris, the factory manager, may have rented 205 Gillingham Road, Gillingham. This was, just a short walk from the Beresford Works factory.

One of the great joys of Verena’s life, and her mode of transport; was her motorcycle, used between North London and Gillingham, and for visiting friends. The photograph used here, shows Miss Holmes astride a AJS machine, first made in 1929, with a M8 Twinport 500cc engine. The registration plate was, GE 8556.

Copyright by kind permission of Andrew Fox, Private Collection.

Rainham Kent historic-motorcycle expert Michael Best, who idenified the bike from the photograph says,

“ The bike wasn’t difficult to handle but had a large frame and the power was low. It had poor acceleration and didn’t have a high speed. These shouldn’t be compared with the modern combustion engines.”

The image of Miss Holmes is thought to have been taken in 1934, while visiting a Loughborough College friend, Nancy Johnson 1902–1993. Mrs Nancy Johnson was an ‘automobile labortary assistant’ at the college and is pictured with sisters, Helen and Pam Johnson and William Johnson in Pulham, Dorset. Miss Holmes suitcase is seen strapped to the rear seat of her bike. 

In letters found recently, Verena Holmes expressed her “great enjoyment” pushing her bike up a hill, with a young 15 year old boy assisting. Then trying to start the engine on the way down the hill. She added later:

“ It was a pleasant way, to spend an afternoon.”

On the 8th April, 1959 Verena Holmes wrote in her private diary, that she was closing the Beresford Works. There had been several personality clashes with some women not wanting to work together. There was, ‘a little friction’ between Miss Holmes and her factory-manager, Miss Faris, who towards the end of the company, disappeared for long periods and then returned as if nothing had happened. Faris also had a “falling-out” with the company co-owner Sheila Leather and the pair didn’t speak for many years.

Miss Verena Winifred Holmes, 1889–1964 was born at Highworth, Maidstone Road in Ashford Kent, the daughter of Edmond Gore Alexander Holmes 1850–1936 and Florence Mary Holmes 1861–1927 nee Syme. The family plus Peter Macfanlane Syme 1829–1893, Mrs Holmes father, lived in the large house, with five servants.

Her father was a school inspector, later the chief inspector of elementary schools in England. The family lived in a private house, which is now; Gower House part of Highworth Grammar School for Girls. The school maintains a link with Verena Holmes and a collaborative exhibition with Ashford Museum held in 2022, is due to be repeated this year. In addition the school will again celebrate Women’s World Engineering Day on June 23rd, which is Verena Holmes’s birthday.

Gower House, once the home of the Holmes family in Ashford, Kent.

She was an unassuming woman who enjoyed her engineering lifestyle and her pioneering achievements were many, with the word “first” repeated many times. 

* 1919 An early member of the Women’s Engineering Society.

* Loughborough College, 1922 Graduated BSc(Eng).

* Worked briefly for a marine engineering firm and then tried technical writing in the United States.

* 1924 became an associate of the Institution of Marine Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and worked for the North British Locomotive Company.

* 1931 The first woman admitted to the Institute of Women’s Engineers. President of the Women’s Engineering Society, 1931–1932.

* 1932–9 Working at Research Engineers Limited. Here she built her most ambitious invention, the Poppet Valve for steam locomotives.

* During WW2, she worked on; rotary gyro valves for torpedoes, new superchargers, and other apparatus for the Admiralty, designing the complicated mechanism for Lord Mountbatten’s station-keeping system. Set up a programme to train women for war time munitions work.

* 1940 Appointed headquarters technical officer with the Ministry of Labour (1940–44).

* 1944 gained full membership of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

* 1946 Founded her own engineering firm, Holmes and Leather, which only employed women.

* Created the Women’s Technical Service Register, where girls could enrol to train for positions like; junior draughtsman and laboratory assistant.

It was during the last days at her company; Holmes and Leather, it was noticed she was becoming fragile. She was nursed through pneumonia by friends, but she wouldn’t take medical advice, and continued working, moving to a nursing home, when only required to do so.

Miss Verena Winifred Holmes, 1889–1964 B.Sc(Eng.), A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Loco, E.,M.Inst.Met., A.M.I.Mar.E., died of heart problems in the Whitehanger Nursing Home, Danley Vale in Haslemere, Sussex on the 20th February, 1964.

During her time at the Beresford Works, Miss Holmes (left) with works manager Ruth Faris. Image: Copyright: Historic Images, America.

Her Will of 18th February, 1953 used her resident address of 33 Leyton Avenue in Gillingham. Miss Holmes made bequests to her sister, Florence Ruth Holmes, various relations and to the Women’s Engineering Society, who received £100. She made an addition to the Will or a codicil on the 26th November, 1959 to accomadate a new bequest.

Six years later, the Gillingham address had become a former residence and 8 Rusholme Road in Putney, the main addrss. The codicil was witnessed by; Mrs Aimee Violet Hall, the Matron of Whitehanger. So by November 1959, Verena Holmes may have been living at the Haslemere nursing home.

Leyton Avenue, Gillingham where Miss Holmes wrote her Will. Copyright: Mike Gunnill

As an addition to her main Will, Miss Verena Holmes left a pecuniary legacy of £2,000 to her old Holmes-Leather factory-manager and friend Ruth Faris. She was then living with her sister; Mrs Constance Joan Bishop 1921–2016 at, 124 The Borough in the village of Downton, Salisbury in Wiltshire, where she died in 2002.

Miss Verena Holmes in 1931.

[mikegunnill]

Piercy, Dick and McGuffie of the motor launch: Advance.

A little-known story from the Dunkirk Evacuation.

The pictures used here are copyright: © Mike Gunnill

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This post, follows on from the last post, the death of Mrs Heather Iandolo 1928–2022.

Mrs Iandolo’s mother was Mrs Hazel Joyce, nee Barr, the daughter of a dental surgeon from Canterbury, in Kent.  She had a difficult time married to William Joyce 1906-1946 and an even harder time, when he wanted a divorce to marry, Margaret Cairns White 1921-1972. The Nazi traitor and broadcaster made threats, tried to blackmail her and said he would have, the children taken away. Joyce made further threats when he heard she had married Eric Herbert Hamilton Piercy 1901-1982.

Hazel Kathleen Joyce 1907-2001 married a former insurance agent,  Eric Hamilton Piercy. He was also, the personal bodyguard of Sir Oswald Mosley 1896-1980, the leader of the British Union of Fascists, the BUF.

Picture caption: Oswald Mosley far right,  with Piercy far left, looking at camera.

Piercy however was no mere fascist or a traitor. With two fellow travelers, he took part in a reckless mission to rescue stranded British troops as part of the Dunkirk Evacuation. At the time, the British government were keen to publicise the deed when over 450-500 soldiers were taken from the Belgium beaches, until they looked into Hamilton-Piercy’s background.

It was found that Eric Herbert Hamilton Piercy knew, William Joyce ( Lord Haw Haw ), had married his ex-wife, knew Sir Oswald Mosley, and had been involved with his fascist party. The proposed Government publicity surrounding the daring rescue,  was quietly dropped.

When quizzed by government officers in late June 1940, Piercy gave a frank and truthful replies. He had been arrested the day after his Dunkirk journey and taken to Walton prison in Liverpool. He was released on the 12th August after his interview, partly because of letter from his wife in which she condemned unfounded local gossip. Mrs Hazel Hamilton Piercy ended her two-page letter by saying:

“ He doesn’t have any involvement in fascist activities and his continued detention is a great grief to me and our children. “

During questioning, Piercy had been helpful and early, had stated:

“ He had met Mrs Joyce and had fallen in love with her and wanted to care for her children, along those of his own.”

He was released but kept on a “suspect list” by MI5 and was the subject to surveillance.

On his official file, the questioning officers had placed a pencil comment in the margin. They were clearly impressed by his Dunkirk actions as others were.

In the early months of the Second World War, Eric Piercy teamed up with Colin Pomeroy Dick, a businessman and a BUF sympathiser. The third member was marine lawyer, Kenneth Cunningham McGuffie. 

Picture caption: Colin Dick, also seen in the following picture, wearing a captain’s cap.

Money man Dick, decided to purchase an old BUF launch, the 40-foot Advance. At a cost of £50, the purchase appeared to be a bargain. Piercy’s son, Nicolas who lives in Canada recalls:

“ Dad told me the engine was a Napier version of a Junkers liquid-cooled two-stroke, based on an aircraft and had a few hundred horsepower. It was fast, very fast.”

Picture Caption: Before Dunkirk, Piercy and ‘captain’ Colin Dick. The third crew member, Kenneth McGuffie is partly hidden behind Piercy. The location was unknown until recently, when identified by the National Piers Society, dated perhaps in 1937. The motor launch, Advance is pictured in the distance, anchored in Swanage Bay, Dorset. This is thought to be the only photograph of Advance.

In May 1040 the three amateur sailors answered the government’s appeal for “small ships,” and embarked on Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of thousands of trapped servicemen from the beaches around Dunkirk.

Arriving at Teddington Lock on the 27th May, the three men stripped the boat of unnecessary weight, including Dick’s well-stocked cocktail cabinet and left at 07.30, the next day. With a few handmade sandwiches they reached Sheerness Docks at 13.30 to join the rest of the flotilla.

Civilians volunteering for the evacuation had to sign up for a month’s service with the Royal Navy at the Sheerness shore base, HMS Wildfire. Dick, McGuffie and Piercy duly signed and then popped over the road for lunch at the Lord Nelson Hotel, 1-2 West Street in Blue Town, Sheerness. For some reason it was revealed later, that for the journey, McGuffie had signed up under the fake name of, David Merriman.

None of three man crew in a Royal Naval interview revealed that, Dick had just left a nursing home with “stomach-trouble,” and that McGuffie had been recently examined by the Medical Board and declared unfit for any National Service.  Dick admitted they were grateful to have Piercy, as he was the only physically fit member of the crew.

Picture caption: Kenneth Cunningham McGuffie 1913-1972,  known as David Merriman for the Dunkirk Evacuation.

At 16.00 hours, stocked with water, petrol, steel helmets, oilskins and sea boots  they sailed for Dover. Arriving at 03.00 the next day, they were told to wait further instructions. The crew had a short briefing on how dangerous the mission was by a Royal Naval Officer and a final offer from him, to “Go ashore.”  

The weather on Wednesday, the 29th May was fine and clear, and the motor launch,  joined the flotilla leader; Viewfinder, with Elizabeth Green, Bobeli, Hanora and later by Reda. One boat in the group, turned back after leaving Dover, with no reason given. The Advance and other Little Ships were among the first ships to arrive in position, off La Panne Beach, Belgium. They hadn’t been in position very long before they were bombed by two German aircraft. Piercy claimed they were so low, “ he could have thrown a brick at them.” The aircraft also removed the main radio mast on Advance, due the low level of flight. This was observed by the  Lieutenant A. Dann, the leader of the convoy section. 

“After the attack, three cheerful bearded faces appeared over Advance’s, cabin roof with their hands clasped together, as a signal that all was well onboard.”

Working as a team, they made a total of 20 trips between the beach and larger vessels further off shore.

The original plan was to tow whalers in, as close as possible and then row them to the beach for loading. This sounded, a simple operation, but proved difficult in practice.  Many of the whalers capsized or were grounded, especially when fully loaded.

At 19.00 hours the Advance was requisitioned for a special mission by officers from HMS Sabre. They had to deliver several transmitters and two radio operators to the British headquarters in the dunes at La Panne.  She was then returned to our three amateur sailors.

They resumed rescue duties, mostly under fire, saving in total between 450–500 men. Piercy reported later that;

“ We saw some of kinsmen literally blown to pieces after we thought, we had deposited them into the safety of larger ships.”  We were deliberately bombed by a plane and our boat suffered damage.”

Dick in his official report said:

“Late in the day, we stopped are normal operation and went around picking up soldiers where we could, some from whalers, from other bombed boats and in some cases directly from the water.”

The boat started to badly leak and they were told by Sub-Lieutenant Eric Garside of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, to abandon any further journeys, and to follow several ships making their way back to Ramsgate. The Advance and the Elizabeth Green left the Belgian coast at 20.45 arriving off Ramsgate at 06.30 the next day. 

They had experienced thick fog, crossing minefields without maps, making water fast and spending 36 hours at sea. They arrived with only four gallons of fuel left. The Advance crew agreed to another crossing for the 2nd June, and then they beached the vessel for much needed repairs.  Piercy returned to his home and his worried wife, at his rented Foxhound Green House, Hailsham East Sussex.

Mrs Hazel Piercy was pleased to see the safe return of her husband, but as they chatted in the garden, a group of police officers arrived and arrested him under the Defence General Regulation 18B. This allowed the detention of anyone suspected of belonging to an organisation with supported Germany or which had links with the enemy.

The Advance made another channel crossing under the command of Sub-Lieutenant P Snow and Petty Officer, Roland W Rawlings. All returned safely on the 2nd of June to Ramsgate and the vessel was absorbed into further service.

On release from prison, Eric Piercy returned home to find in the post, a certificate noting their actions on Advance, rescuing soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force and a cheque for £9.5s.3d for final settlement of wages.   A note was included in the letter below, asked for the address of David Merriman.  This was the fake name given by Kenneth Cunningham McGuffie.  As requested Piercy, provided the address of: 2 William House, William Street, ( Knightsbridge ) London on the 24th June, 1940.

Picture caption: The wages letter received from HMS Wildfire, Sheerness addressed to; E.H.Percy, June 1940. Posted back to HMS Wildfire on the 24th June, 1940.

It was later revealed while researching, that several letters had been written to the Home Office raising suspicions that Hamilton-Piercy was a German sympathiser.  One recorded in official Government files was from a lady in Bexhill, a Mrs Dorothy Farncombe. She claimed, he had a clear view from his home of the English Channel, that the area had been bombed six nights in succession and that several enemy paratroopers had landed nearby.

Eric Piercy spent the rest of war working for Combined Operations based on the Isle of Wight. His son, Nicolas recalls, that this included working as a coxswain and later helping to plan the Normandy invasion.  Nicolas Hamilton-Piercy adds:

“ I was smuggled into the base once, to see where Dad worked and I hid under a huge table with lots of marine maps on it.”

Picture caption: Mr and Mrs Piercy photographed at a function at the Royal Ramsgate Yacht Club in Kent, just before leaving for Canada.

The Piercy family emigrated to Canada in 1967. Most of this story wouldn’t have been known except for the official questioning.  Nicolas said:

“ My father told me many stories over the years about the war, but I know he kept more, to himself, as some were very painful.”

Pencil comments in the official,  Government report number: HO144/215164/1268054 by the Advisory Committee sitting to consider appeals against Orders of Internment, noted that:

“ The three men behaved heroically at Dunkirk and performed a great public service. Their conduct undoubtedly merits high praise indeed.”

Also known as the Dunkirk Miracle - 366,162 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches around Dunkirk between 26th May and the 4th June 1940. 

                                                        *

* Kenneth Cunningham McGuffie was born in Hove, Sussex 1913, and died in Marylebone, London 1972. Later he became a successful marine writer and a barrister.  He never sought or received his wages for Dunkirk. He was secretive and lived with his mother, Janet ‘Jenny’ Agnes McGuffie 1873-1948  who may not have known of his service on Advance, for Dunkirk.

* Colin Pomeroy Dick 1911-1953. Last known address at probate, Marsham Court, Marsham Street, Westminster London leaving £9417.9s 1d. He inherited his money from his mother’s family, and was never known to work.  Mentioned in The Dover Express newspaper, of the 22 November, 1953. He was fined £11.2s 6d at Dover Court for concealing, a cocktail shaker, electric razor while trying to defraud Customs.

* Eric Herbert Hamilton Piercy, 1901-1982. A member of the British Union of Fascists but “fell out of favour” and was dismissed. He “ fell in love with Mrs William Joyce,”  and later married.  Hazel Joyce said at the time, he “ was a handsome Blackshirt.” They lived in a rented bungalow in Hartley, near Longfield, Kent when first married.  Listed working for the River Thames Fire Service with the vessel, Advance prior to Dunkirk.  Before leaving for Canada, the family lived at, 8 Mansion Row, Brompton, Gillingham Kent. Nicolas Piercy helped greatly with extra detail in this feature and lives with his family in Canada. ** In some publications and records Hamilton Percy is hyphenated, but according to son, Nicolas this isn’t correct.**

* The motor launch Advance, after two crossings was requisitioned for the Auxiliary Patrol Service.  Nothing further is known, yet!

* Viewfinder: Was dragged ashore by Belgium troops, but never refloated.  She was noted still on the beach during the second crossing of Advance, June 2nd.

* Elizabeth Green: now at Chertsey awaiting restoration.

* Bobeli: Did not return, no further detail.

* Hanora: fouled her propeller, and was unable to continue. She was abandoned off the main beach.

* Reda: name changed to Columbine, then to Janthea.  She is still active as a Dunkirk Little Ship.

The pictures used here, are copyright -©-Mike Gunnill

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Mrs Heather Iandolo.

The pictures used below are all copyright; © mikegunnill

It has been announced that Mrs Heather Iandolo of Railway Street, Gillingham Kent has died, aged 93.

She dedicated her life answering and making amends for her father’s actions. Her father was William Joyce, better known as “Lord Haw Haw” who broadcast from  Germany during World War Two and, was the second last man to be hanged for treason.

Born on the 30th July 1928 as Heather Brooke Joyce, as the first child of William Joyce and Hazel, nee Barr from Canterbury, Kent.  Heather married Vincenzo Iandolo, a Gillingham hairdresser in 1955 and settled in the area.  They had four children but later separated when her husband became, “ uncomfortable “ with the Iandolo surname been publicised, at the reburial of William Joyce.  Heather Iandolo became a devout Catholic after spending time in France and  a regular at; Our Lady of Gillingham Church in Ingram Road, where she also sang in the choir.

She became a teacher and taught locally mainly French and history. At one point she worked in Walderslade and cycled from her Gillingham home, to and from the school, every day.  She also taught at Chapter School, Strood.  

After her retirement she provided private tutorials, sometimes for free for pupils preparing for exams. For many years she attended the Jewish Synagogue in Rochester in what she said, was  atonement for her father’s beliefs.  She also visited Israel several times.

Speaking in 2011 at her Railway Street, Gillingham home, she said she remembered her father, “fondly and with affection.”

“ He was my father and  I loved him.”

Until her late 80’s, every two years she visited her father’s grave in Bohermore New Cemetery, Galway. The journey, normally included taking cleaning materials to scrub the gravestone. Joyce’s body had been interred at Wandsworth prison after his hanging but in 1976, she obtained permission from the British government after a 10 year battle, to have his remains returned to Ireland.  Joyce had grown up in the Galway area, although he was born in America.  Originally, Mrs Iandolo tried to have her father’s remains, reburied in the Medway Towns.

Mrs Joyce Iandolo was born, 30th July 1928 and died in Gillingham, Kent on the 8th of July 2022.  It is thought her family delayed the announcement of her death until her funeral arrangements had been completed.

The pictures used here are copyright. 

[mikegunnill]

All photographs on this site are copyright.

© Mike Gunnill

[mikegunnill]

Piano Man revisited - 1st June 2020

Piano Man & the Kent Messenger.

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Where is the mystery 'Piano Man' of Sheppey now?

It is one of Kent's strangest mysteries. And 15 years on, it is still not known for sure how a young man from Bavaria ended up wet and lost on a beach on the Isle of Sheppey.

It was shortly before midnight when bemused police officers found him dripping wet and peering into McDonald's in Sheerness.

He was wearing a smart, dark suit but with no identification. Even the labels had been removed.

It looked like he had washed ashore at The Leas, Minster. Concerned onlookers spotted him near an abandoned boat and called police.

Officers eventually found wandering in town and were even more puzzled to discover he could not, or would not talk.

With little other options, they dried him, as best they could, and took him by patrol car to Medway Maritime Hospital's accident and emergency department at Gillingham.

After doctors gave him a clean bill of health, the mystery man was handed into the care of social worker Michael Camp. And so began a four-month saga as the world's media struggled to solve the secret identity of the stranger who became known as 'Piano Man'.

Left alone with a sketch pad to write down his name, he drew a picture of a grand piano instead.

Puzzled, Mr Camp took his new charge to the hospital's chapel where he was amazed by an instant transformation. As he sat at the keys of a piano, the stranger became calm and relaxed for the first time.

He could even play surprisingly well and was heard reciting sections from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and what appeared to be his own compositions.

After three weeks without any sign of recovery, a desperate Mr Camp turned to the Daily Mail to help launch a public appeal for information. Freelance photojournalist Mike Gunnill from nearby Upchurch was despatched to take exclusive pictures.

The former Kent Evening Post photographer, who went on to work for television company TVS and then The Sun and is now part of Bygone Kent magazine, recalled: "It was a Friday afternoon and I was looking forward to the weekend when I took a call from the picture desk.

"They said it probably wasn't much of a story but a man had been washed up on a beach and had lost his memory. Could I go and check it out?"

So, on May 6, 2005, Mike turned up at the hospital.

The social worker had been given permission to help get a photo but the mystery man would scream whenever he saw a new face. So the pair hatched a plot.

The photographer hid in bushes with his Nikon F3 film camera and 300mm lens and half an hour later Mr Camp led his charge through the hospital's grounds for a walk.

Mike,  said: "I only managed to fire off five shots before the man spotted me and became distressed, covered his face with his plastic music folder and started making strange noises."

But those were the only five shots ever taken of the man. Mike said: "Even then, I wasn't sure I had what we needed."

He drove home and spent an agonising hour in his darkroom processing the film to see the results.

Of the five shots, two were no good. The others captured a frail, lightly-bearded figure with spikey blond hair, wearing his by now dried-out suit and white shirt and with every possible button done up.

Mike emailed them to the Mail's picture desk in London and explained that the man wasn't talking but loved playing the piano.

"Like a piano man?" replied a weary voice at the other end of the phone.

Three weeks passed but still the photos had not been used.

Then a concerned Mike received a call saying the executives weren't going to use his pictures because they believed the man was an asylum-seeker and it was an elaborate hoax. But Mike was welcome to sell the pictures to anyone else.

The Mail was not alone. The manager of a pub near where he was found maintained the stranger was "just another illegal immigrant" who had either jumped ship or been pushed overboard by people-smugglers as coastguards closed in.

Instead, it was down to the Mail on Sunday to break the news on May 15. Mike's front page photo unleashed a worldwide media storm as news organisations fought to be the first to find out who the mystery man was.

Only later would he be unmasked as 20-year-old German Andreas Grassl.

Mike recalled: "My phone started ringing at 6am the next morning with requests from all the other nationals to use my photographs it and didn't stop until midnight.

"The following day there were calls from the foreign media. One magazine in Japan even tried to make me to say the man was an alien from outer space!"

Mike was also accused of taking the photos illegally until it was pointed out they had been with permission. Sale of the photos netted him an estimated £35,000. They are still used in psychology text books.

Patrick White, a writer and broadcaster who teaches at King’s College London and has spent much time on the Island researching the mystery, recalled: "It was on April 7, 2005, that a young blond-haired man wearing a dark suit and white shirt was found wandering, dripping wet and distressed, near a beach on Sheppey.

"The police who picked him up couldn’t get a word out of him, so they took him to the Medway Maritime Hospital on the mainland where he was kept for a while and eventually sectioned for his own safety.

"He refused to speak and became highly agitated when approached. He had no identification on him and all the labels had been cut from his clothes.

"The clinicians made no progress with their nameless patient until, on being given some paper and pencils, he made a drawing of a grand piano.

"Taken to the piano in the hospital chapel, he sat down and played, much to the amazement of his carers, who recognised snatches of Swan Lake in his performance.

"Over the following days they encouraged him to play more, presenting him with sheet music of Lennon and McCartney tunes and admiring the ease with which he played them at sight.

"They decided this troubled young man might actually be the real thing: a brilliant but tortured artistic genius who must have suffered some sort of nervous breakdown after a disastrous performance and not even had time to change out of his concert clothes before stepping onto the boat from which he would leap, distraught, as it approached the Thames estuary and end up on Sheppey.

'Really bizarre'

"It was thought he was probably British and that there might be an orchestra or music academy somewhere missing a pianist."

Interpreters were unable to discover his origin and orchestras around Europe were contacted in a bid to trace his identity.

After the appeal for help, more than 800 calls swamped the National Missing Person’s Helpline. Speculation was intense as the story about a person, apparently risen from the sea, was taken up almost instantly all over the world.

Journalists and television crews from far-flung places descended on Sheppey.

"This is really bizarre," muttered a reporter from the Island's local newspaper the Sheerness Times Guardian as he pointed out a Tokyo television crew to a French journalist.

Meanwhile, the man was still playing the piano

Canon Alan Amos, the hospital chaplain, said at the time: "He likes to play what I would call mood music. Playing seems to be the only way he can control his nerves and his tension and relax. When he is playing, he blanks everything else out. He pays attention to nothing but the music."

If allowed to, he would play for three or four hours at a stretch and at times had to be physically removed because he refused to stop.

The 'piano man' was later transferred to Littlebrook Hospital, a secure mental health unit in Bow Arrow Lane, Stone, near Dartford, where manager Ramanah Venkiah said: "He has been playing the piano to a very high quality and staff say it is a real pleasure to hear it. But we don't know what his position is because he is not cooperating at all."

During the course of the summer there emerged an endless line of possible names.

There was a performance artist who had been seen in France or Spain, a classically-trained pianist who had once played in a dissident rock tribute band in Prague and a Canadian drifter known as ‘Mr Nobody’ who had tried to enter Britain illegally.

Various women also announced they were certain 'Piano Man' was their missing boyfriend or husband.

By late July, nursing staff were wondering whether their patient’s voice box had been damaged or had been removed. But all speculation came to an abrupt end on the morning of Friday, August 19, when a cleaner went into his room and asked routinely: "Are you going to speak to us today?"

Unexpectedly, the Piano Man opened his mouth and replied: "I think I will. I am not feeling very well."

He explained he was a 20-year-old Bavarian who, far from stepping out of the sea, had arrived in England by Eurostar train from Paris and had been trying to kill himself in the hours before he was picked up by the police.

He told hospital staff he had two sisters and was gay and also admitted he couldn't play the piano particularly well and had only drawn one because "it was the first thing that came to mind."

By the time news of his recovery reached the press, Andreas Grassl was back with his dairy-farming parents in the tiny village of Prosdorf in Bavaria where he would only speak in carefully measured statements issued through the family’s solicitor Dr Christian Baumann.

His father Josef, 46, and wife Christa, 43, were delighted to have their son - the most famous missing person in the world - back home in southern Germany.

Josef, ruddy-faced and wearing green Wellington boots, overalls and cap, wept as he told the Daily Mirror: "We honestly thought he was dead. Not knowing what had happened to him was torture.

"I went to bed every night and woke every morning wondering where he was, wondering if he was dead or alive.

"At one stage I thought it would be better to find out he was dead, just to stop me and my wife going through this torture. She has been terribly upset and bothered with her nerves."

When Andreas was finally reunited with his family at Munich airport he said simply: "Mir gehts gut" - I am fine. Then he said: "I am so happy to be home."

He told Josef: "Dad, you know that I am famous now. I know that my picture has been shown all around the world."

Andreas added: "I just do not know what happened to me.

"I get little flashes of my past, like in a film. But I have no idea how I ended up in England like that, or why I couldn't talk. I just suddenly woke up and realised who I was."

His dad confirmed his son was a talented musician who entertained relatives on an accordion and played a simple keyboard alongside his younger sister.

Josef added: "He knows he had some kind of illness and breakdown but I know he would never make something like this up. He learned to play the keyboard from the age of 10 and can also play the accordion. I think he found some comfort in the piano, except towards the end."

There was still no clue how Andreas reached Sheerness, from his tiny village of Prosdorf near the German-Czech border.

He had no money, no documents and the labels had been cut out of his soaking suit.

Josef said: "He had no passport, no driving licence, nothing. Not even papers or a ticket. He still does not really know how he got into England. He thinks he got a train from France and then maybe a ferry.

"Given that he had no travel documents, I really do wonder, and worry about what might have happened to him.

"Was he attacked or robbed? Hit over the head? We just don't know. He just woke up and suddenly realised who he was. Before that, he could remember nothing, not even his own name."

He added: "Come July, I was going to look for him myself. We honestly thought something had happened to him. He always seemed to be unhappy and found it hard to express his feelings, to show his love.

"But the doctors in England somehow have cured him of that, they have worked a miracle.

"They have given me a new son back. He tells me that he loves me. I cannot put into words how we feel."

A friend of the family reportedly said Grassl went to a grammar school and had wanted to get into radio or TV or study journalism.

Back in Britain, Grassl was denounced as a ‘fraud’ for not being mute and as a ‘sham’ for not really being able to play the piano.

West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust issued a statement saying he was no longer in the care of the trust, that he had been "discharged following a marked improvement in his condition," and that its "involvement with this man has now ceased and will not be resuming at any stage."

According to an article published in Pink News on May 1, 2007, by which time Grassl was living in Basel, Switzerland, and studying French Literature at university, his last words on the matter were: "That Piano Man stuff, no-one is interested in that any more."

Mr White said: "It still seems possible that, one day, he might look back at that photo and feel just slightly satisfied that he produced an image that kept the snarling, and not just tabloid, contempt for asylum seekers and scroungers at bay for a full season."

The real-life story was turned into a play called The Piano Man in 2014 by London theatre company AllthePigs.

Director Sam Carrack said: “I remember reading the article as a student and getting so excited by it but also the drama and the mystery of these happenings. But the story went cold and we never really got a closure.”

Daniel Hallissey had the tricky job of playing the elusive character and even learned to play the piano for the part.

He said: “For me, the story was a lot about the loneliness we all experience in the modern world and our struggle for identity. Finding out who we are is so difficult in these times.”

Grassl's hospital stay in Britain cost the authorities more than £50,000.

Grassl was born on October 25, 1984, and is now 35.

[mikegunnill]

Love Beyond the Grave: Peter Cushing

August 11th, 2019 marks 25 years since Peter Cushing died in Whitstable. Fondly remembered by the town, one question is still asked about the man. Where is he buried?

The location of Mrs Cushings grave and for that matter, the grave of Peter Cushing has been a mystery since his death in 1994. With twists, turns and secrecy, this present day tale wouldn’t be out of place from that of Cushing’s acting world.

The couple were very close, and he often spoke of his admiration for the support he received from his wife. From meeting in 1942 to Mrs Cushing’s death on January 14th, 1971 they were described by many as “ inseparable “ and had, an almost spiritual relationship.  She was his companion while on film location or in the studio, helping with his lines and providing him with much needed encouragement and confidence. They were rarely apart and throughly enjoyed each others company.

Helen Cushing was buried locally to their home in Whitstable, and he always expressed a wish to be buried alongside her. I doubt they have been separated after death,  as a couple they were so close, during their life together. This is not only logical but it doesn’t take much time reading about Peter Cushing to understand his total love, affection and deep gratitude to his wife. Frankly the thought of them buried apart, doesn’t make sense.

However as Peter Cushing might have said while starring as Sherlock Holmes, I will present my evidence and let the you decide!

Born as Violet Helene Beck in St Peterburg, Russia on February 8th 1905. Her parents were Ernest Beck, who was born in St Peterburg in 1875 and Helene Alexandra Fatimia Enckell born in 1879 from Hamina in Finland.

Miss Beck enjoyed a priviledged lifestyle, provided by her father ownership of the Maxwell Mills in St Petersburg. His father Jack Beck originally from Ashton, near Preston in Lancashire had moved with his family to Russia to establish the James Beck Spinnery Company. Many families relocated from Lancashire to manage mills, train new workers and helping to pioneer the Russian textile industry.  With imported British machinery and experience, this venture was highly successful and profitable for the Beck family.

Helene, who disliked her first name of Violet, had two brothers, Reginald Ernest Enckell Beck, 1902-1992 and Godfrey Charles Beck, 1903-1972. Also two sisters, Marjorie Elizabeth Beck, 1908-1985 and Doris Rosalind Beck, 1910-1980.

Life was good in Russia for the British, but the local work force became to dislike the working conditions and long hours. The Ministry of the Interior formed a legal trade union for mill works to help quell their discontent. Trying to present a petition in January 1905, over 200 workers were killed during a protest demonstration by Cossacks. Although this revolution was brutially put down and failed, the working atmosphere within the country changed. The Beck family, for example, watched with concern, as the red army practiced manoeuvres in the woods, behind their house.

From the time of the failed revoltution in 1905,  the Beck family continued to have problems with some of their workers. It was clear to all, that Russia was no longer a safe place to live and that major changes was coming. Leaving most of their wealth behind, the family, in small groups hastily departed around 1911.

Returning to England, Helen Beck found work as a tutor, and later became a chorus girl which led to work in the theatre as an actress. She married Kenton Redgrave Kreitmayer in 1929 in Kensington. She lost a child in the final stages of pregnancy, which also removed the chance of further children. Kenton who dropped his surname of Kreitmayer by deed poll to use his middle name of Redgrave. He had previously been married to Vera Elizabeth Kathleen Hemingway, the daughter of John Hemingway. This marriage ended in scandal when she was divorced after admitting adultry to two men.

Peter Cushing lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles while looking for film work, but returned to England on the White Star ship, Tilapa from Halifax, Canada to Liverpool, on March 27th 1942. He gave the address of Cherry Tree Cottage, Horley Surrey as his permanent address in England. He needed to find work quickly and was accepted into the Entertainments National Service Association, in April 1942

Known professionally as Helen Beck, she first met Peter Wilton Cushing as a replacement actress for the Noel Cowards play, Private Lives. Sonia Dresdel 1909-1976 had to leave the tour because of the constant performing and travelling. Something that both Helen and Peter Cushing was suffer from,later.  Miss Dresdel went on to become a leading actress in the West End, in films and later on television. She retired to Ransley Cottage, a grade 2 listed property in Kingsford Street, Mersham near Ashford, where she died on January 18th, 1976. Helen Beck took over, the leading role of Amanda Prynne. Cushing had secured the male lead role of Elyot Chase, and they played a recently divorced couple.  They found themselves thrown together in this comedy of Noel Coward manners when they both realise that their divorce may have been a mistake.

Meeting to catch a bus at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane,London for their first performance in Colchester they met at the stage door.  Helen later said she thought they had met or she known “this man “ before. Quoted in later life she said,” I knew I would love him for the rest of my days and beyond.”

From May 1942 the company toured for ENSA,  entertaining troops throughout the United Kingdom. This tour included the towns of Colchester, Wolverhampton, Oxford, Taunton, Oswestry, Canterbury and Dover.  The tours were hard work, with all experiencing long hours.  While lodging in Bridge during the Canterbury performances, Helen became ill and had to miss some of the booked shows. Soon after Peter fell ill and they both left the touring group.  

They became inseparable after the theatrical tour, and Helen quickly became the centre of Peter’s life. With only her parents present as witnesses, the couple married on the 10th April 1943 at Kensington Register Office in London. According to the wedding certificate Violet Helene Redgrave was 37 years, the divorced wife of Kenton Redgrave and Peter Cushing, 29 years, was a batchelor.  Both gave their address as, 18 Bullingham Mansions, Church Street, in Kensington.

Helen gave up her career, to help Peter and continued to coach and suggest new area’s of work for Peter throughout her life. This included Shakespeare, and when times were hard, working for BBC Television.  Peter starred in Pride and Prejudice as Mr Darcy, as Winston Smith in George Orwell’s play 1984 and as the series, Sherlock Holmes in 1968. He appeared with Morecambe and Wise, between 1969 and 1980 in a long running comedy sketch, where he was trying to locate his missing £5 fee from appearing on the first show.

In 1969 they moved from old converted stables, a small two bedroom property at 9 Hillsleigh Road, Holland Park, London to Whitstable. Friends had mentioned a white boarded cottage right on West Beach, a short distance from the town. The move was mostly for Helen’s health, as it was hoped the move away from London to Seaway Cottages would help with its fresh sea air. This proved not to be the case and despite nursing by Peter, Helen Cushing died at their Whitstable home of emphysema in 1971. Helen had only been in Whitstable less than 2 years.

On her death, Helen Cushing left Peter a note.

< Do not pine for me, my beloved Peter because that will cause unrest, do not be hasty to leave this world, because you will not go until you have lived the life you have been given and remember, we will meet again, when the time is right, that is my promise.>

The personal letter, provided by Peter Cushing was quoted for the first time in 1990, by Canterbury film maker Peter Williams, MBE in his television series: The Human Factor, ‘For The Love of Helen.’

Helen died on the Thursday at 9.02 am 14th January 1971, and after a service was held at Barham Crematorium near Canterbury her ashes were later interred in Seasalter.

Peter revealed in a later autobiography, that he ran out. on to the wet, windy beach in front of their cottage immediately after her death. He then returned and ran up and down the stairs, as if trying to induce a heart attack with the greive. Peter Cushing would continue to morn for his wife, for the rest of his life.

Peter Cushing  mentioned, several times after her death, noteably in a 1972, Radio Times interview, said that he wished to join her.

During the interview he insisted with the writer, that he should include his comments, adding:

“To join Helen is my only ambition. You have my permission to publish that, really, you know dear boy, it is all just killing me. Please say that.”

In 1985 Peter Cushing wrote a personal note to the television programme, Jim’ll Fix It. Jimmy Saville returned an earlier favour and granted his wish to have a rose created in his wife’s name. Christopher Wheatcroft cultivated the rose as a one off commission, a mix of the verttities, Silver Jubilee and Deep Secret, produced in pink. Peter appeared on the show sitting next to Jimmy Saville and got his wish, a new rose called, The Helen Cushing.

The Cushing’s  used to have a huge garden in Whitstable, stretching behind most of Seaway Cottages, down to the road, Island Wall. The landscaped garden with a white shed, contained plants and roses and a local man assisted with the maintainance. The garden has long gone, sold off and cleared to provide for another house on the corner and larger cottage gardens. The special pink rose must still exsist, perhaps with Mrs Broughton?

A seat from his garden was later presented to the towns people of Whitstable in 1992 and is located at what is now known as, ‘Cushings View’. Situated in front of Keam’s Yard, car park and looking out to sea. It was a spot Peter Cushing loved, and he used to walk or ride his bicycle along the seawall from his cottage, a short distance away.

Details on the bench are : < Presented by Helen and Peter Cushing, who love Whitstable and it’s people, so very much.>

His wife was included on the inscription even though she had died 21 years earlier , Peter always used her name when sending Christmas cards and personal letters, and signed off as, ‘Helen and Peter’.

Steve Coneys was the vicar at the time at St Alphege Church, Seasalter and remembers Mrs Cushings death.  She was placed by the north wall of the church, where other ashes have been interred.  Asked about the rumour that her remains had been moved on Peter’s wishes, Reverend Coneys said:

“ For that to happen an exhumation order should have been obtained. I should have been aware of that. I do not recall that being the case.”

A headstone placed soon after her death, with a poem from her husband was removed after Peter Cushing’s death. Today the grave is difficult to find and the remaining inscription is not readable. Peter Cushing always stated he wished to buried with his wife and after his cremation at Barham,  many including the The Independant newspaper reported that “ Seasalter Church was his last resting place “, in his obitary.  While visiting his wife, sometimes on his bicyle, Peter always sat on the green wire bench a little distance from the grave. One day he was concerned that an unknown visitor had placed flowers on her grave and this deeply troubled him.  He also knew that local church officials had often removed notes and requests for his autograph from her grave.

It seems, at this point in his life he may have changed his own funeral plans,  or at least some of the arrangements. It was clear, he didn’t want to create a shrine in the churchyard and certainly didn’t like the fuss surrounding film star, whether dead or alive.  Seasalter residents recall seeing him, visiting, sometimes on a daily basis. He would be reconised of course, but during his visits, he would talk to others, rarely. One churchyard visitor said, he spoke one day to me, about the weather. I was lucky, as he often seemed very deep in private thought. He would always tip his hat, to the ladies, he was a wonderful gentleman.

Peter Cushing lived with the Broughton family in Hartley near Longfield, Kent on and off towards the end of his life. He spent less time at Seaway Cottages, where his house keeper, Maisie Olive had taken up residence, to be on call when needed. Mrs Joy and husband Bernard Broughton would take it,in turns to care and sit with him. One spending the night, the other sitting during the day. It was Peter himself who decided to enter the Pilgrims Hospice on London Road,Canterbury where he died on August 11th, 1994.

On Friday August 19th 1994, Whitstable town came to a standstill, many shops closed as a mark of respect. Led by Terry Davis of John Kemp Funeral Directors, using one of Peter Cushing’s own walking canes, led the funeral cortege. First to Cushing’s View, and then, to the Tudor Tea Rooms in Harbour Street - a favourite spot for Peter’s afternoon tea and cakes. The procession travelled along the High Street with many residents following behind while in the town, and then on to Barham Crematorium for a final private ceremony.

Terry Davis, who now has his own funeral business in Cornwallis Avenue in Aylesham, remembers the day with pride. From his company web site he notes: “ I will always remember 1994. I had the privilege to conduct Peter Cushing's funeral in Whitstable. The High Street was crowded by the general public wanting to pay their respects, this was a fitting farewell to a first class actor of his era.”

On January 12th 1995, a memoral service was held in St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden attended by friends, family and fellow film stars. Christopher Lee and Ron Moody read the lessons.

The normally sedate Whitstable and Herne Bay Times newspaper, published a front page story on Thursday, 15th June 1995. Under the headline ‘ Cushing Grave Mystery’, it repeated concerns of some local residents in the town about the location of his grave.  In reply to the story, his secretary from 1959, Mrs Joyce Broughton of Hartley and Faversham said: “Mr Cushing asked us to place him somewhere private.”

“ He was a very private man and did not like all the fuss and attention he was given.”

“ He is now in a private place. It was what he wanted and I have simply carried out his wishes.”

The story was followed up by the News of the World and the Sunday Times newspapers, which only added to the mystery and was also widely condemmed for it’s speculation, by Cushing friends and fans.

After his death, Mrs Margaret Broughton and her husband, Bernard Broughton were left the entire Peter Cushing Estate. A company Peter Cushing Productions Limited had been formed earlier with Mr Broughton as a Director and Company Secretary and Mrs Broughton as a director. As well as helping displays and background details on the life of Peter Cushing, the trust gave permission for The Star Wars franchise. They wanted to use, an image of Peter Cushing in the film,20 years after his death. A computer generated image was digitally created for the Star Wars, Rogue One film, after Cushing had previously appeared in the 1977 film, Star Wars, New Hope. Many were not sure about the CGI-resurrection, but the company said Peter Cushing had been proud of his Star Wars connections, and the work had been done with a great deal of affection. “ We would never have proceeded without the backing and approval of Cushing trust officials”, added an official press statement.

Helen and Peter Cushing are still a part of Whitstable and are remembered with a great deal of affection. The town allowed the couple and later Peter in his grief, to live a near normal life, by just leaving them alone. For this,  the couple both recorded their thanks, many times. It came as a shock to many, that that towns folk couldn’t pay their respects to the actor and his loving wife, not knowing the location of their final resting place.

The anicent church of St Alphege, known affectionaly as “the Old Church’ in Faversham Road, Seasalter must hold the mystery of where Peter Cushing is buried. The church has known many mysteries from origin in 1023 to the present day, but much like Mrs Joyce Broughton, isn’t revealing anything.

[mikegunnill]

A visit to see the St Mary’s Church Clock in Upchurch, Kent. We were grateful for this chance to photograph the workings of the clock.  

The new system will be 12/24 volt dc with trickle charge from mains so is impervious to power cuts unless of exceptionally long duration over 24 hours etc. The winding is achieved as before, but much more sophisticated using modern components.

Regarding the actual clock the timing will be fully computer controlled. At 5 to  hour the computer analyses the clock performance ,communicates with the radio time signal and compensates ,so the time is automatically kept spot on.

The people of Upchurch provided the clock 100 years ago to mark the end of World War One.  Currently having a little work done to make sure everything is working for November 11th 2018. The church clock will not work, until all the work has been completed.

Funded by the people of Upchurch, the clock and chimes were installed for Christmas 1918. A plaque by the main church door, marks this event.

It is well known in the village that the clock would stop with any disruption in the power supply. In Upchurch this seems to happen often!

It was clearly going to be an embrassment for the villagers if the clock wasn’t working for the 100th anniversary of the ending of World  War One.  An inspection was recently made and certain changes have been suggested which include a guaranteed power supply.  This of course costs money, which Upchurch Parish Council have agreed to fund, in the short term. The council appear not to have the required funds and a fund raising campaign will be started.

A link will be provided here, when Upchurch Parish Council start the campaign.

[mikegunnill]

Mary Jessie Harwood 1927-2018

Mary Jessie Harwood-nee Best, died on February 21st 2018, after a short stay in Medway Hospital, Gillingham, Kent. 

Born on November 11th, 1927 in Chatham, Kent she moved to Gillingham and later Bredhurst Road in Wigmore.  A secretary and doctor’s receptionist, in her spare time she held a weekly, ladies keep-fit class at the Smallholders Club, in Woodside, Wigmore for 47 years. 

She married Stanley James Harwood, who was born in Hackney in 1928, on April 15th 1950.  Stanley died, September 21st, 1995  at St Thomas’s Hospital, in Lambeth.  A few years later she moved to Findlay Close, Rainham in Kent.  

They had a son, Stephen James Harwood, who was born on June 29th, 1952.  Stephen died on April 5th 1974 in Medway Hospital, after a motorcycle accident.

Mary was cremated at Medway Crematorium, Bluebell Hill, Chatham, Kent at 3.00 pm on March 12th, 2018.  Afterwards,  a reception was held at The Barn Yard Restaurant, at Gore Farm, Oak Lane in Upchurch Kent.

She is missed and loved by her daughter Julia Ann Gunnill and grandchildren: Stephen Jan Christian Harwood Venema, Samantha Louise Gunnill and Alexander Elizabeth Lee-nee Gunnill.  Also her great granddaughter, Bethany Morrin, daughter of Samantha Gunnill and Dan Morrin of Ashford, Kent.

[mikegunnill]

Four Gun Field Estate, Upchurch.

I see the street names have gone up on the new Four Gun Field estate, next to the Three Sisters public house, in Upchurch.

You may be interested or indeed shocked to read this:http://mikegunnill.tumblr.com/tagged/Naming  

Further background details can be found when on the site by searching for Matthew Homes.

Local old local photographs can be found here: www.upchurch-village.co.uk

[mikegunnill]

Four Gun Field: Naming-a wasted chance!

The site owned by Matthew Homes in Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, next to the Three Sisters public house is marketed under the well known local name of Four Gun Field.

Four names have been chosen for the development.   Based on the names of brickfield owners they are: Eastwood Meadow, Woods Edge, Butcher’s Green and Quilters Yard.

Historic details on the names:

Edward Frederick Quilter.

A businessman who also bred horses from Hill House, Belstead in Suffolk.  Later the property, a 106 acre farm was called Belstead House. Used in modern times as a Judges Lodgings and an office for Suffolk County Council. One of 5 children, he died July 20th 1905 aged 57. He never married.  Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Belstead.

Joseph Edward Butcher.

Businessman from Frindsbury, Rochester.  He owned several brick field sites in Kent including Four Gun Field. His bricks carried 4 large capital B’s.  He used nearby Otterham Creek to transport his bricks directly to London in his own barges. These were Hartley ( 1860 ), Mid Kent ( 1863 ), Othello 1864, Princess ( 1866 ) and Trotter ( 1875 ). The largest sailing barge, Trotter could carry 45 tons of bricks.

John Woods.

From Singlewell, near Gravesend. Owned brickfields in Lower Halstow and a bargeyard in the village, building many fine sailing barges. Some of these were, Director, Sophia, Fanny, Arthur James, Nile, George and Ellen 1845, ABCD, Adelaide, Arthur and Eliza and Aboukir.

John Francis Eastwood.

He started the Eastwood Company in the early 1800’s. He had military connections and was once a serving commissioned officer, probably with the Duke of Wellington. Certainly John Eastwood owned Wellington Wharf, in Lambeth, which is named after the Duke of Wellington.  A clever businessman, his company soon became the main force in brick building.  It was suggested in 1880 that Eastwood would merge with five other brick field owners, Edward Frederick Quilter of Belstead - Suffolk, Joseph Edward Butcher of Frindsbury - Rochester, Josiah Jackson of Shoebury - Essex, John Woods of Singlewell - Gravesend and Charles Richardson of Vauxhall, London. Together the new company would be called Eastwood’s Limited.

It would appear that the suggested names came Matthew Homes Limited, owners of the site, who put forward the brickfield owner names and a list of sailing barge names.  Upchurch Parish Council agreed the brickfield owner names.  The names were sent to Swale Borough Council, Naming Department now run by Mid-Kent, Maidstone.  

At no time did anyone check that the names for the new housing estate met the required basic criteria adopted by Upchurch Parish Council and Swale Borough Council.

Woods is local to Lower Halstow.  Quilter is local to Suffolk.  It is true that all names plus Josiah Jackson of Shoebury and Charles Richardson of Vauxhall were the five brickfield owners in 1880 who merged into one company.

Shouldn’t someone have checked the suggested names had a historic connection to Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch?  Isn’t it, a basic condition when suggesting names, to make sure your information is correct.  Only two of the names conform to the requirements, Eastwood and Butcher.

Helpfully the GIS Operative & Street Naming and Numbering Officer for the Council Naming Department says, the names can not now be changed or renamed. “ The decision will not be overturned.”  New residents of Four Gun Field are bound to ask about their names!  Local relations of brickfield workers, will also ask the question, WHY?

I was asked to help with the naming and given the four names.  After very basic research, I found the names didn’t all conform to the council requirements.  This was mentioned to the parish clerk but I was told, four hours after been given the four names, it had been passed onward to Swale Borough Council.

It would seem both Matthew Homes Ltd., and Upchurch Parish Council were suddenly in a rush to complete the process.  When asked later, UPC said a ‘historian’ had checked the information, which on further checking was found to be, an employee of Matthew Homes in Potters Bar.

What a shame the area’s great heritage has not been remembered correctly.

Pictures showing Four Gun Field while working as a brick field can be seen via this web site:  www.upchurch-village.co.uk

[mikegunnill]

R.I.P. Church View, Upchurch.

Building next to St Mary’s Church in the centre of Upchurch village was never going to be easy.   The planning application for the old garage site has been in and around Swale Borough Council and Upchurch Parish Council for years.

In September of 2014 we raised questions on this site, with regard the view when approaching from Horsham Lane into the village.   This was mentioned by Swale Borough Council in two points.

1: Unsympathetic to the street scene.

2: Impinge on the well-loved view of the church when approaching the village from Horsham Lane.

This was mentioned also by Upchurch Parish Council when the application came up for discussion.   Both Cllr Tucker and Cllr Lewin made comments.  Please see history here.

The black and white image is from 1934 and thought to be one of the best views of Upchurch.   This we asked in 2014, should be the “bench-mark” test for the development. Swale Borough Council agreed.   Upchurch Parish  Council agreed.

The second image to compare, was taken on a bright sunny Monday afternoon, October 3rd 2016 as the front house nears completion.

I just have one question, repeated from 2013 - Where is the view church?

This is an artist impression of the front house, bordering Horsham Lane.   The house that is blocking the view of St Mary’s Church. 

Does no one look after the heritage of Upchurch village anymore?

Should the Parish Council have more responsibility on planning matters like these?  Just who is accountable for the loss of the street view?

I was told, privately that “ everything would be alright and the view would be preserved for future generations.”  

I was lied to and it’s too late now, the view has gone.

Thank you, whoever you are.  I am very disappointed in you!

I am just waiting now, for when the people who move into these new homes, lodge a formal complaint with the parish council about the noise from the church bells and on a Sunday too!

R.I.P. Church View, Upchurch.

[mikegunnill]

Four Gun Field - Sales Office

Matthew Homes Limited are to open their sale office on August 20th 2016.  

They will start selling homes, marketed under the name Four Gun Field.  A row of homes are nearly complete along Canterbury Lane as the rest of the site continues to be built.

The address they are using is Four Gun Field, Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham Kent even though it is within Upchurch parish.

Naming on the new site, here.

[mikegunnill]

Four Gun Field Naming!

The site owned by Matthew Homes in Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, next to the Three Sisters public house will be marketed under the well known local name of Four Gun Field.

Four names have been chosen.  Based on the names of brickfield owners they are: Eastwood Meadow, Woods Edge, Butcher’s Green and Quilters Yard.

Historic details on the names:

Edward Frederick Quilter  1848-1905.

A businessman who also bred horses from Hill House, Belstead in Suffolk.  Later the property, a 106 acre farm was called Belstead House. Used in modern times as a Judges Lodgings and an office for Suffolk County Council. One of 5 children, he died July 20th 1905 aged 57. He never married.  Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Belstead.

Joseph Edward Butcher.

Businessman from Frindsbury, Rochester.  He owned several brick field sites in Kent including Four Gun Field. His bricks carried 4 large capital B’s.  He used nearby Otterham Creek to transport his bricks directly to London in his own barges. These were Hartley ( 1860 ), Mid Kent ( 1863 ), Othello 1864, Princess ( 1866 ) and Trotter ( 1875 ). The largest sailing barge, Trotter could carry 45 tons of bricks.

John Woods.

From Singlewell, near Gravesend. Owned brickfields in Lower Halstow and a bargeyard in the village, building many fine sailing barges. Some of these were, Director, Sophia, Fanny, Arthur James, Nile, George and Ellen 1845, ABCD, Adelaide, Arthur and Eliza and Aboukir.

John Francis Eastwood.

He started the Eastwood Company in the early 1800’s. He had military connections and was once a serving commissioned officer, probably with the Duke of Wellington. Certainly John Eastwood owned Wellington Wharf, in Lambeth, which is named after the Duke of Wellington.  A clever businessman, his company soon became the main force in brick building.  It was suggested in 1880 that Eastwood would merge with five other brick field owners, Edward Frederick Quilter of Belstead - Suffolk, Joseph Edward Butcher of Frindsbury - Rochester, Josiah Jackson of Shoebury - Essex, John Woods of Singlewell - Gravesend and Charles Richardson of Vauxhall, London. Together the new company would be called Eastwood’s Limited. 

It would appear that the suggested names came from members of Upchurch Parish Council who put forward the brickfield owner names and a list of sailing barge names.  Matthew Homes agreed the brickfield owner names.  The names were sent to Swale Borough Council, Naming Department run by Mid-Kent.  

At no time did anyone check that the names for the new housing estate met the required basic criteria adopted by Upchurch Parish Council and Swale Borough Council.

Woods is local to Lower Halstow.  Quilter is local to Suffolk.  It is true that all names plus Josiah Jackson of Shoebury and Charles Richardson of Vauxhall were the five brickfield owners in 1880 who merged into one company. 

Shouldn’t someone have checked the suggested names had a historic connection to Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch?  Isn’t it, a basic condition when suggesting names, to make sure your information is correct.  Only two of the names conform to the requirements, Eastwood and Butcher.

Helpfully the GIS Operative & Street Naming and Numbering Officer for the Council Naming Department says, the names can not now be changed or renamed. “ The decision will not be overturned.”  New residents of Four Gun Field are bound to ask about their names!  Local relations of brickfield workers, will also ask the question, WHY?

I would suggest they start with members of Upchurch Parish Council, who according to their web site are; Sara Tucker, John Arnold, Gerry Lewin, Pamela Denny, Peter Masson, Alan Horton, Stephen Hunt, Tyrone Ripley and Gary Rosewell.

Further images/old photographs of the site at www.upchurch-village.co.uk