Tim Bell
| Name | Tim Bell |
| Born | Isle Of Sheppey |
| Connection | Resident and Community Activist |
Tim Bell
It's good to see the restoration of the church going ahead, it was such a special place and I am very pleased to see you are also researching it’s colourful history and stories.
As choir boys we had a lot of fun with the Conker trees in the back garden of the church and firing fireworks with rockets with bangers tied to them on fireworks night over towards the army barracks to see if we could cause a reaction, (so much for innocent choir boys) and if the chance arrived we would climb up into the clock tower to see its mechanism and beauty.
Outside the dockyard church I'm next to the choir boy with the cross on the left of me and next to me on the right was Malcolm Brooks and then far right the choir master. Photo thanks to Geoff Wheatley.
The iron heating grate near the altar which Tim remembers survived the 2001 fire. It was uncovered during recent restoration works.
The heating in the church was underfloor in the grating on both sides of the pews. Just in front of the altar on the floor was another grate in the shape of a diamond and sometimes when the carpet was accidentally left in place, it sometimes hovered up like a magic carpet when the heating was on.
We were very privileged to experience this church with army, navy and dockyard workers, also VIPs like the captain of the Dockyard. On Armistice Day it was such a glorious sight with the pomp and service with all the banners and flags draped over the balconies, and the very smart dress code of all the services, one highlight was the parade to the Sheerness war memorial, I think the second photo was taken after such a parade.
“My friend Brian Carswell on the left and I'm on the right, photographed outside the side vestry door (on the left-hand side of the church at the back). In the late 50s/early 60s.” Tim Bell
One of the vicars was the reverent Nicholson who had a lovely wife and three pretty daughters, which all the choir boys were very fond of. They lived in the vicarage, which was the big end house next to the church in Naval Terrace.
“We were very privileged to experience this church with army, navy and dockyard workers, also VIPs like the captain of the Dockyard.”
Photo by Rikard Osterlund
All our interviewees
Tim Bell / Susan Broadhead / Dorothy Cruickshank / Jennifer Dillaway & Yvonne Durrant / Ray Featherstone / Jackie Friday / Ian Fry / Ruth Hurkett / William Jarvis / Jane Morphey / Margaret Rouse / Betty Sayer / Georgina Williams
Tell us your stories
If you have your own memories of the dockyard church – as a church, a social club or as it is now, we’d love to hear from you. We're also keen to build an image archive by making copies of photographs and memorabilia of the church.
If you’d like to contribute memories or images to the archive, please tell us a bit more about what you have using the form.
Inside the most beautiful church on the Island, the Sheerness Dockyard Church. I'm pictured here on the right, bottom row in the left-hand group, next to me on my left was Geoff Wheatley, behind Geoff was Malcolm Brooks, behind me, back row is now farmer John Lewis of Homeplace farm, head choir boy, the tallest chap was Ray Jarvis I think, and in front of him was Colin O'Austin together with the organist and the vicar. The man in black, the verger on the far left was sadly murdered in his bed when he lived in St George's Avenue. The group on the far right was Mr. Saul and next to him was Mr. Murser the choir master. Photo thanks to Geoff Wheatley.
The Dockyard Church left an influence on many Sheppey people, many of the choir boys, joined the local St John's Ambulance brigade, William, Trevor and Ray Jarvis, three brothers, joined the St Johns, William (86) being the president of the British Legion and West Kent commissioner for the St Johns, another choir boy Malcolm Brooks joined St Johns (also pictured the photo of choir boys) and he is now the president for the Adults of St John's, his father was a commander in the navy, hence his connection to the church. The commander was the president of the British Legion until his death, the post being then taken over by William Jarvis.
Geoff Wheatley was also influenced by the Dockyard Church and all the service personal there from the army and navy, he joined the training ship in the Medway, the Arethusa, and continued to a rewarding career in the navy servicing helicopters and much more, and is an active church member where he now lives.