Revitalising Intra
Plus Medway author's new book on Kosovo, Medway podcast completes series, we review Christmas lunch at Gurkha Fire, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more
The area between Chatham and Rochester spent a long time being largely unloved and allowed to decline. Now, the area appears to be on the up, with all kinds of new businesses and creative endeavours. The Intra Community Trust is leading the charge, so we went down to find out what’s happening. Further down, we meet with a Medway author with a new book about Kosovo, look back at the excellent We Did It Medway podcast, and tackle the Christmas lunch at Gurkha Fire. You’ll also find our weekly events guide and news in brief sections too. Let’s get to it.
Revitalising Intra
Chatham Intra is the land between Star Hill and Sun Pier, often called ‘the Old High Street.’ We met with Alex Cameron, co-chair of the newly formed Intra Community Trust CIO, a charitable organisation, and Nick Flynn, one of the trustees, at the lovely No.64 Coffee & Brunch to discuss why there is so much interest in the area and their plans.
The area defined as Intra geographically is often an area of debate, with some insisting it is just the banks side as you get past the train bridge on the way to Rochester, as the other side of the road wasn’t part of the old high street. Alex disagrees with this, believing both sides of the road count. “That was my definition”, continues Alex. “The historic Intra, you’ll get from Rob Flood, is the old High Street this end. Intra is the bit between Chatham and Rochester.”
Intra is an old place that has been connected to the river and the Navy for hundreds of years. “It is a special place”, says Alex, “but in recent decades, it was a left behind piece of Medway. Which is sad because there is so much here.” “Intra for me”, adds Nick, “is not a specific boundary. It's very much about how people understand the area. There's a human geographical element to it. You ask two people about it, and you will get two answers.”
“The other thing about it”, continues Nick, “is that our focus is very much on the development of this road. But at the same time, in terms of our sustainability for the future, we're flexible to opportunities to develop projects outside of that area.” This segues us nicely to the main reason we’re talking today: What is the Intra Community Trust (ICT)?
The council successfully bid for this area to become a High Street Heritage Action Zone around the time lockdown started. Attached was funding to create a cultural programme alongside the project. Alex was part of the cultural consortium setup, where a lot of the initial ICT membership got involved. They started doing small cultural projects and little festivals, and about two years into that, “there was a sudden realisation among all the members”, remembers Alex, “that we can do this. Actually, we're quite good at this.”
The group got a “tiny bit of funding” to run a fringe event around Medway Night Lights, coordinated by Poco Loco. They then got funding to run a festival in the spring. “We did all that quickly for not a lot of money, and it worked. It really worked.” As a group, they carried on with the Heritage Action Zone project and about ten months before the end, they had to decide what to do next. What did they want to be? They won a bid to become a Heritage Development Trust through the council and became the first of now 18 such trusts across the country. This provided them with three years of funding to transition into the Trust while carrying on their cultural program. “We can enable things to happen because we're here. We're on the ground, and we've got a very talented group of people across the membership.”
“There's huge potential here”, answers Nick when asked why it is important to make a difference to the Intra area. “There is much work that needs to be done in terms of the buildings. Many lying almost derelict, but full of potential, and in terms of the diversity of the population here.” A lot of the buildings are listed and are of architectural heritage significance. Getting them back into a state where they can become resources for the local community to use and benefit from would improve the quality of life for people in the area. Unfortunately, finding out who owns which building is a perennial challenge.
They are now Charitable Incorporated Organisation. That enables them to get the funding to make a difference to the community. They got serious about organising, became independent of the council and formed a board. “We are a membership-led organisation”, says Alex. “Although we're both trustees, the members make decisions, the members are in charge. The trustees’ role is the governance role to make sure we're doing things legally by the book and implementing what the membership would like us to do.” One of the principal outcomes of this is that it enables them to acquire assets, including heritage assets, and turn them into a benefit to the community. Their first property is planned to be the waterworks at the rear of the former St Bartholomew's Hospital, sometimes called ‘The Old Mortuary’, along with the garden for community use, though handover has been delayed. “For good reasons, I’m sure.”
One question that they are keen to answer carefully is whether they will be developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. Some of the villages in Medway have recently put these developmental documents together, and a nearby one around Luton Arches was successful. “It's an aspiration”, says Alex, “but we have to walk before we can run, and a Neighbourhood Plan is quite a big undertaking, and we need to build credibility. There will need to be funding to enable that to happen, but yes, this area is crying out for a Neighbourhood Plan.”
“We're right at the beginning of this”, says Nick. “I don't think we're naive enough to think that this isn't going to be a struggle.” They are circumspect about the work that lies ahead to develop the Trust and its relationship with the community of people who live and work in the area: “We are a presence most people around here wouldn't know about.” Part of that challenge is that the area has a transitional community, with many living or working there short term, but there is also a vibrant community of people who have decided to stay. This is an integrated area with a mix of businesses, entertainment, food, and the creative sector. People live here. As Alex says, “it's almost like an urban village in the middle of town.”
In brief
🏆 Medway Council were named Labour Council of the Year, decided by campaign group SME4Labour. Which is… an accolade.
🚣 Sun Pier House and Tiller & Wheel have announced ‘300 Steps to the River’ as part of next year’s Creative Estuary commissions. The project will invite residents and visitors to explore and connect with Chatham’s proximity to the River Medway.
🖼️ The Winter Art Bazaar is back open at The Halpern Gallery in Chatham following a small fire onsite.
🧱 You can make your mark on the new The Docking Station project. To raise needed funds, the organisation is taking donations with the opportunity for donors to name a brick, a staircase step, or a window.
🚌 This weekend is a Free Bus Weekend in Medway, meaning all bus services starting in Medway will be free. Arriva, ASD, Chalkwell, Nu-Venture, and Redroute are all participating in the scheme, including the park and ride between the universities at Medway and the Rochester Christmas Market.
Medway author pens new book on Kosovo
Medway’s Dr Aidan Hehir is the course leader for the postgraduate courses on International Relations at the University of Westminster. We spoke to him about his new book ‘Kosovo and the Internationals: Hope, Hubris, and the End of History’, which is published as part of a series of academic texts, ‘New Perspectives on South East Europe.’
Aidan has been going to Kosovo regularly since 2009, and each year found that “the mood amongst the people worsened.” There has been high unemployment, rampant corruption, and Kosovo remained unable to join the EU. By 2016, it looked as though there was little hope for the country, but then people switched support from the traditional parties to Vetëvendosje, a party that sought to tackle corruption and adopt a more assertive stance in negotiations with Serbia. The party entered government for the first time in 2019 and won an unprecedented majority in the 2021 elections. “I wanted to write about how the people of Kosovo have, almost uniquely, rejected both despair and sectarianism and exemplified ‘good hope’”, Aidan told us.
Kosovo is under threat from Serbia, which continues to claim Kosovo is part of its territory. Serbian militias are active in Kosovo, and recently, a Serbian militia blew up a canal in Kosovo to disrupt the water supply. “Sadly, the West continues to ignore these attacks.” In Aidan’s book, he describes how Western attitude aligns with what's known as ‘wilful hope’, characterised by hubris and ill-conceived actions that are doomed to fail and “promises that everyone would soon be wealthy and safe failed to materialise”. He argues that this has led to a considerable rise in societal anger in the West, hence the emergence of populists and aggressive nationalists like Trump, Farage and Orban.
Aidan talks about the pathology of hope. “Humans can't exist without hope, but hoping is not inherently positive. If realising hopes requires someone else to take action, then an exploitative relationship can develop.” Much of Aidan’s book examines how to hope well. This primarily relates to setting realistic goals, identifying feasible means by which these goals can be achieved and, crucially, maintaining an awareness of the need to seek support and guidance from others.
“The book is about the people of Kosovo. It is their resilience that inspired it. I hope the book encourages people to understand more about a people who have provided one of the very few good news stories in recent years.” Aidan is keen that people should consider going to Kosovo. “It's a beautiful country. Great food, a thriving arts scene and the most interesting people in the world. There's a huge amount to do: Wild swimming, rock climbing, hiking, as well as great museums and galleries. It's always been one of the most important parts of Europe and a great insight into how Europe has been shaped by Christianity, Islam and Orthodox beliefs.”
A hard copy of Aidan Hehir’s book can be bought here for just £109.99. Let’s hope that Medway Libraries get a copy in.
They Did It Medway
The podcast highlight of the year has been the We Did It Medway series from Phillip Dodd and Rob Flood. Over eight episodes, they presented various topics with a Medway connection. If you haven’t already, you should check it out.
Some of our favourite episodes from the season:
Don't 4-3-3, Argentina tells the story of Strood’s Isaac Newell, who went to Argentina in the 1860s and founded the present-day football team Newell’s Old Boys, which has nurtured great footballing talent. Guests include the BBC’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery and local football fan and campaigner Adrian Pope.
God Save The Queen is the story of The Medway Queen from holiday steamer to Dunkirk rescue ship. Guests include Alan Cook, whose grandfather was the captain during the Dunkirk crossings, and the volunteers of the Medway Queen Preservation Society.
Ticket to Pride talks about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Medway, with a focus on the Ship Inn on the High Street in Intra, possibly the oldest gay pub in the country. Guests include Peter Moorcraft, Hilary Cooke, the Chair of Medway Pride, and Derek Arrowsmith, a 90-year-old gay activist.
Out to Christmas Lunch: Gurkha Fire
In which Steven Keevil assesses the Christmas lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to Gurkha Fire in Chatham…
For our Christmas lunch reviews, we returned to two of our favourite dining spots from our previous lunch reviews to see what they were doing differently for Christmas. For the first of two reviews, we went back to Gurkha Fire, the much-loved Nepalese restaurant in Chatham.
The main thing to note is that turkey is not on the menu at Gurkha Fire, so we must wait another year to find out what they can do with a turkey curry. I ordered a chicken and venison platter for a starter, served with Waghorn potatoes, a cranberry chutney and dhai puri. For main I had Gurkhali lamb with Himalayan dhal, carrots, parsnips, rice, raita, bread and a salad. For dessert, a Christmas pudding with brandy cream.
If anything, the food was better than expected. The chicken starter was well cooked and delicately flavoured, and the venison was generously portioned and nicely gamey. The Waghorn potatoes, a consistently excellent side dish, were well supported by the cranberry chutney. And then a surprise dish on the table! It was explained to me what the unexpected balls with filling were, but I can only describe them as (Gurkha Fire owner) Hari’s mystery balls with sweet sauce. They were very nice, if difficult to get into your mouth in one go.
The Gurkhali lamb was delicious, well-cooked in a flavoursome but not overly spicy sauce. I hope it stays on the menu after Christmas. The sides were good, with the carrots and parsnips proving a nice Christmas tribute. The Christmas pudding is one of the nicest I’ve had. Not heavy, small enough to be edible after a big meal, and plentiful enough to be enjoyed in its own right, with the brandy cream complimenting it well.
If you are looking for a great festive meal that’s something different, then Gurkha Fire has what you are looking for this Christmas.
Events this week
🤶 Sat 14 Dec - Festive Shop // Affordable artworks by local printmakers and artists. Including ceramics by Sarah Crouch, wearable art by Catriona Faulkner, cards, wrapping paper and decorations. Intra Arts, Rochester. Free.
👠 Sat 14 Dec - Alternative Fashion Show // Showcase of local designer Lily Burton and live music from Deven Grace. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Tickets £5.
🎸 Sat 14 Dec - Swansea Sound + MJ Hibbett + Sassyhiya // Careful Now Promotions Xmas Party with three indiepop bands. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8.
🥕 Sun 15 Dec - Rochester Farmers’ Market // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free.
🎹 Sun 15 Dec - Intra Christmas Piano Concert // A special Christmas piano concert to celebrate the season. With esteemed pianist Tyler Hay. Unitarian Church, Chatham. Free.
🎄 Mon 16 Dec - Intra Christmas Knees-Up // Join Intra Community Trust and Gillingham Street Angels for a fabulous, festive knees-up with Nick Allen, aka NickThePiano. GSA Emporium, Chatham. Free.
📽️ Mon 16 Dec - Anora // One-off screening of director Sean Baker’s acclaimed new film. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5.
🎸 Wed 18 Dec - Theatre Royal // Intimate full-band acoustic show for local alternative band. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Free.
🐸 Thu 19 Dec - The Muppet Christmas Carol // Festive screening of the greatest Christmas film. Cineworld, Strood. Tickets £5.
More Authority
Medway has a long connection with Japan dating back to Will Adams' arrival in the country in 1600. We spoke to the people keeping the friendship between Medway and two Japanese towns alive.
Last chance for Christmas! Remember that our Medwayish shop contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, shirts, prints, and other fun items. The last date for guaranteed Christmas delivery is Tuesday 17 December.
Footnotes
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Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition: twelve by the Singing Loins and A Little More Time with The Senior Service.
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘮 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 ‘𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵.’
No it isn't. It's the land north of the High Street between Doust Way and Sir John Hawkins's Hospital. It's the piece of Chatham parish that was included in the City of Rochester. As for the term 'Old High Street', I don't know where that comes from: the older part of the High Street must be that between Rochester Bridge and Ironmonger Lane surely?