1970s Chatham | Royal Navy | Submarines | Military | Kent | A town called...| 1977

[@rebeccajackson2238]

Medway has never really recovered economically from the closure of the dockyards

[@jimwalsh8520]

Prince Philip visited Chatham in 1977. He asked the Dockyard bos "how many dockyard mateys work here"? " "About 40% on a good day" was the reply

[@stuartburgess2409]

I was there as a boy the year before at the Navy open day , went on board the many ships including RFA Grey Rover which I re boarded in the Falklands in 87 during my tour there , my mates dad worked as an instructor on heavy machinery at the royal engineers depot & they had some great open days there too where you could drive a multitude of massive millitary vehicles & diggers or be given the chance to gas or arc weld , the H&S bods would poop themselves now if that happened, Chatham was a ghost town when the Navy & engineers moved out so very sad. Great to see the late great Monty Modlyn , a true gent.

[@59patrickw]

looks like they got the same amount of ships in Chatham then we got in the whole RN now nice to see the old style navy uniform lot smarter then todays one

[@Highland_Moo]

Agreed. The new one looks cheap. Same with every government department - cutting costs means crappy quality. Sad.

[@mathewhilll6123]

I've just watched my Dad PO Pusser Hill, as he was, serving aboard Hunter Killer HMS Sovereign. Nice one Dad. 🫡

[@barryballsit4944]

Reported by the likeable Monty Modlyn, he started at the markets and in his parents gown business and then a reporter, his Cockney accent caused him obstacles at the BBC but he was very popular in the 1970s. Hosted the Today program for a while from 1964. Do a search on his obituary in The Independent, his forte as you can see was interviewing everyday people. I would say this report is from a program he hosted "A Town Called....."

[@Senyorita2030]

Gosh, it's hard to believe how much went on in Dockyard and Chatham back then and how scruffy the area is these days. I first came to Chatham in 2017 for lecturing on Medway campus (shown from 17:01). I believe setting up 3 universities in the area was an attempt to revive the area but 20 years later I can't really say that they have succeeded, there's just never enough momentum.. It's very unfortunate that Medway hasn't been able to recover economically. In the lockdowns though londoners realised that this is the only affordable area left around London and started moving here causing house prices soar. Things are changing slowly. Thank you for sharing the old footages, it really helped put things in context, and I now feel more respect for the area and it's past glory.

[@ianrobert6239]

When the dockyard went so did Chatham.

[@LadyBlanche.888]

My grandfather was a Major and my father was a Captain in the Royal Engineers.

[@hmq9052]

You must be very proud. What fine men

[@LadyBlanche.888]

@@hmq9052 Thank you. I am very proud of them.

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

17:20 Those buildings are now houseing Greenwich and Kent university.

[@philgaffin2191]

very suprised to see my father in this saying they bend them we mend them

[@Housey1985]

All gone 7 years later…😢

[@Alfredromeothatsme]

What did they do with it?

[@rebeccajackson2238]

@@Alfredromeothatsme tourist attraction you can walk round the old dockyard there’s also a shopping centre

[@Alfredromeothatsme]

@@rebeccajackson2238 Thanks Rebecca

[@Relay300]

The three giant basins where the warships were repaired and refitted are still in commercial use. One of them is now a busy marina with a capacity for 400 boats. Much original equipment, like cranes and mooring fixtures, are still there and well maintained. History is very much valued at Chatham.

[@greigs9384]

Brilliant. I started off working life at Rosyth Naval Dockyard. Only Rosyth and Devonport left now, both much reduced in size and privatised.

[@Rondon68]

Portsmouth also still going.

[@Relay300]

Great history thanks for uploading

[@AdamDTaylor]

Awesome - more on the dockyard please

[@jasonayres]

(9:30) A quick job description : "They bend 'em. We mend 'em."

[@johnthomas7038]

Good to see HMS Triumph on view and being mentioned, though I don't think that she was ever in commssion again after this time.

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Think you are probably right - I was on it in '81 and it was a shell. It was probably shipped there for decommission in 77.

[@iainstewart9844]

Triumph was already in Chatham in 1972 when l did a Course in HMS Pembroke. She had been out in the Far East as a Repair and Maintenance Ship and was laid up pending a decision on her future.

[@steveferry5629]

fascinating video, thank you very informative.

[@paulhease1007]

The town where I was born--gone to the dogs now. funny to think i was only a couple of miles away at the time... wonder what i was doing??

[@regplasma7906]

8.25 to 8.46 Spot the 70's wrestler hardcase.Looks like he could be Arthur Mullard's brother.

[@vxrdrummer]

The 'girls' lad could pick up an apple through a letterbox with those knackers.

[@florence2095]

Excellent video, thank you 🙏🐨🐨🦘

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Can't help note the bitter irony of this piece against the dockyard closure being planned as this was aired and the death of the town that followed only a few short years later. Triumph featured also but no mention of its planned destruction. I worked there in '81 and got on it but it was really a shell. Shortly thereafter shipped off for scrap in the ME IIRC.

[@BlackRose-vi2yg]

The brigadier is quite a character. He definitely did not go to a state school. 🤘🤘

[@GR1000]

I used to swim in the garrison swimming pool in the 1970's with my dad. It was bloody cold...

[@michaelmiller641]

I was there this evening, in the ropery basement, Chatham and district model railway club

[@Whiskey-Teaz]

My Grandad used to work here, can't remember what he was, he used to ride his bike from Rainham (In modern borders Twydall), every day, twice a day he worked there for a good decade or two, would've kept working there if it hadn't closed

[@seltaeb3302]

Good old school interviewing, no fluff or guff. We've lost all that now to inane jabbering & interfering ethnicity tampering to the point of lunacy.

[@grahamcook9289]

The Admiral clearly didn't know what was coming just 4 years later in 1981 or 1982.

[@Cous1nJack]

10:20 where’s the jimmy’s chin?

[@PaddyWV]

My Grandparents lived across the river. Whilst still active you'd be woken up in the morning by the hooters going off. Now all horrible tacky little houses. 🤮

[@mymymy9452]

- Never meet a Navy men that says something he miss is a woman touch.

[@anthonymaughan6103]

BIG man , BIG m.a.n. - CRASS ??

[@skippyripley1239]

So terrible all those men being shouted at...let's talk quietly..

[@Rondon68]

I joined the Royal Navy in 1985 and Chatham hadn't long been closed. Nice to see the officers talking like lords. It's not as bad these days as more are not admirals sons or daughters. But it's not the navy I joined at 17. It's an airy fairy now.