Rainham Cricket Club and the Rainham Flower Show 1889-1910
The origins of the Rainham Flower Show go back to 1885 when exhibitors from the village and the surrounding area converged on the show to display their poultry, rabbits fruit, vegetables and flowers. Up to 2,000 visitors would attend in what was regarded as a major annual event in Rainham, usually held on a Wednesday in late July.
During the course of the years the organizors tried many things to attract the crowds, from musical bands, athletics meetings, tennis matches and demonstrations by the Fire Brigade. All of these activities contributed to making the Rainham Flower Show an attractive event for people in the area.
A special new cricket match involving Rainham Cricket Club was arranged to coincide with the Rainham Flower Show and this became an annual match for the club, designed as a sideshow for the crowds. This became known as the “Rainham Flower Show Match”. The first of these matches was played at Berengrove Park against Newington in 1889 and proved to be a very good game. The club originally hoped to have a match against the Philadelphians, a well known touring side from America but it fell through. The "East Kent Gazette" set the scene perfectly:
The fourth annual show of fruit, flowers and vegetables, in connection with the Rainham and District Horticultural, Poultry and Rabbit Society took place on Wednesday at Berengrove, Rainham, the pleasantly situated grounds of this residence having been kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by the Rev J.A. and the Misses Walter. The weather, an all-important factor in open-air gatherings at this season of the year, was magnificent, and made ample amends for the heavy downpour of rain with which the show of 1888 will always be associated. An additional attraction had been arranged this year by way of a cricket match, and something special was announced to be in store for lovers of the great national game of cricket. It was rumoured, in fact, that the Philadelphians might make their appearance at Berengrave, and challenge the redoubtable champions of Rainham to mortal combat, with weapons of willow and leather; but the visitors were spared the painful infliction of witnessing such a sanguinary encounter as a match of that description must produce, and instead of the Philadelphians we had the champions of Newington doing battle on behalf of their village, and after an interesting match the home team came off victorious. The game was witnessed by many spectators, who could recline at their ease on the green award, and sheltered from the sun by the shade of those fine old trees at Berengrave watch the cricket, and also enjoy the music so excellently discoursed by the band of the Metropolitan Police from Chatham, while away in the distance a view of the winding Medway formed a picture pleasing to contemplate.
Rainham won the match against Newington when they dismissed the visitors for 38 after scoring 50. John Packham did most of the damage by taking six wickets. In their second innings Rainham scored 66 with Samuel Hodson 17 and Thomas Wakeley 17 batting well. When the game ended Rainham won on the first innings. Newington were 29-4 in their second innings.
At the 1889 Flower Show the exhibits were considered to be better and more numerous than on previous occasions. Open classes were introduced for the first time and this allowed people to compete who didn't reside in the village. Mr William Wakeley dominated the flower section of the show with some beautiful roses both in this and in later shows.
In the following year Stockbury were invited to be the opposition for the Flower Show at Berengrove Park and this turned out to be a very good game. Rainham won the match when they dismissed the visitors for 25 after scoring 78. Brice five wickets and Harnett four wickets caused most of the damage. Rainham batted a second time and made 59 but Stockbury were unable to match the target as they were dismissed for 42. The “East Kent Gazette reported”:
On Wednesday the cricketers of Rainham displayed their proficiency of the game by administering a sharp defeat upon a team of cricketers from Stockbury under the captaincy of the burly Mr. Seager. Under the tender glances of the fair sex, who looked on with mute admiration at the performance of the local champions, the Rainham cricketers played a winning game from the first, and after a pleasant contest had the satisfaction of leaving the field victorious. A capital lunch was provided for the teams at the White Horse Inn, which was much appreciated.
In 1891 the cricket was marred by an accident when Rochester Liberal Club came to Berengrove. While they were warming up with some batting practice a ball was struck rather hard and high and it hit one of the chief organizers, Mr. Longley, behind the ear. The force of the blow knocked him to the ground and he had to be assisted, injured and dazed, to the marquee at the side of the pitch where a deep cut on the back of his head was bathed and treated. However, the match proceeded and Rainham won by 62 runs after scoring 116-9 with Walter St John Brice scoring 47 not out.
The best of the Rainham Flower Show matches took place in1892 at Berengrove when Rainham and Borden tied 74 runs each. Apparently, the game was played under windy conditions with heavy showers and the Upchurch Brass Band provided the music through the afternoon. This was the last Rainham Flower Show match to be played until 1903 as the venue of the show was moved to Parsonage Field, just off the top end of Station Road on the basis that it was more central for visitors to attend. Unfortunately, the surface of the field was too uneven for cricket so a match couldn't take place there. However, during the closing years of the nineteenth century tennis matches were arranged by the organizers and these were played in Mr Brice's Meadow, adjacent to the railway line, just off Station Road.
The next time Rainham Cricket Club participated in the Rainham Flower Show was in 1903 when they entertained Mr Carter's XI from Chatham. The match was played at the new venue, Rainham Recreation Ground. Unfortunately as on some past occasions torrential rain prematurely put an end to the match.
The organizers felt that the Recreation Ground was more central for visitors to attend and the venue remained there.
The Rainham Flower Show match was cancelled in 1904 when Rainham were due to play Sittingbourne Wednesday due to heavy rain but the corresponding game was played the following season which Rainham lost by 21 runs after Sittingbourne Wednesday had scored 103. Rainham bowler Charlie Clark who owned a menswear store in Station Road and was club secretary took six wickets while Albert Gooding, Rainham's Town clerk scored 20 runs.
The 1905 Rainham Flower Show was most remembered for the fact that on the same day King Edward VII paid a visit to Chatham causing a low turnout at the show because many people went to see him. About 1,500 visitors came to the show which was regarded as a little disappointing and an estimated £10 was lost in takings. However, the day was fine and after the cricket match which was regarded as a success the East Kent Gazette reported that everybody was 'appy and 'ot.
In 1906 Rainham entertained Borden School in front of an estimated 2,000 visitors. Rainham batted first and scored 210 with Walter Brewer scoring 74 and local Rainham policeman M.Martin scoring 60. In reply Borden School were 93 all out with J.Thurnham scoring 47. Rainham bowler Charlie Clark took 6-28. However, the match was remembered for a feat by Borden School batsman Waddington who scored seven runs with one hit, all run.
The show of 1906 was also remembered for the prize winning roses of Joseph Wakeley who took 33 prizes that season, including a silver cup at Harrow in a national competition making him champion rose grower of the year. He followed in the footsteps of his relation William Wakeley who had dominated the rose competitions of the late nineteenth century Rainham Flower Shows as well as other shows throughout the county.
The 1907 show was disappointing for Rainham Cricket Club who lost to Maidstone Liberals by 19 runs after chasing 115 on a hard and dangerous, fiery wicket. The only Rainham success was wicket keeper W.Cuckow who scored a very good 37. As in the previous year Joseph Wakeley dominated the flower section of the show with his roses. In the evening a new activity took place when a London artist gave an exhibition of cinematograph pictures at dusk to a large audience.
Although the weather was glorious there was a falling off in attendance at the 1908 show when about 1,000 people attended and generally there wasn't an improvement in the number of exhibits received. However, a cricket match took place when the Married played the Singles of Rainham Cricket Club. The Singles won the match by 31 runs after Bill Patterson18 and Stuart Jelly 17 had allowed their side to total 81. Samuel Hodson then took four wickets to help dismiss the Married for 50.
At the 1909 Flower Show the weather was fine, Walter Brewer's popular String Band played music for the crowds, a fire brigade competition and athletics meeting took place and a shock occurred in the flower section when Joseph Wakeley was pushed into second place by Rainham nurseryman George Longley.
Rainham won the cricket match against Newington by dismissing the visitors for 32 after scoring 59. Because of rain the previous day it was a bowler's wicket with Newington vicar S.R.Cox and Rainham's W.Hunt both taking five wickets.
The 1910 Rainham Flower Show was the 25th birthday of the event and it was to be the last appearance by Rainham Cricket Club. On a fine day but with a disappointing crowd Rainham played their local rivals Newington again but this time it was a one sided affair. Rainham scored 69 but Newington were shot out for 24 with bowlers Cook and Hunt taking five wickets each. Newington batted for a second time and scored 99-7 but Rainham won on the first innings.
Walter Brewer's String Band played for the crowds again and another shock occurred in the flower section when Sid Wakeley who had won the Sittingbourne Show with his sweet peas was knocked into second position by a local grower Mr T.Barrett, who became the Rainham sweet pea champion for 1910.
Although the Rainham Flower Show continued Rainham Cricket Club who had recently shown signs of going into decline lost players and members of influence and this was probably the main reason why they didn't continue their participation in the show after 1910.
David Wood 2008
