“KENT Police are hunting raiders who used a JCB to attack three banks in Gillingham High Street. It is thought the robbers escaped with thousands of pounds in cash.The HSBC, The Woolwich and Lloyds TSB were all targeted when the thieves, driving a huge digger, entered the high street at about 3.30am on Tuesday. The large yellow JCB smashed through the front of the Woolwich and Lloyds TSB banks and took one cash machine from Lloyds before making an attempt to rob the HSBC.The offenders are believed to have made their escape from the scene in two or three vehicles, leaving the JCB in the High Street.”

Gillingham is the town where I was born many years ago… It doesn’t make the news unless something bad it happening. This is an article from the Kent Messenger site. Apparently there was also a stabbing at the Railway station today. The town centre went down hill quite fast after the closing of the Naval base in Chatham, which was about 15minutes walk from Gillingham high street. It used to be a case of pub, shop, pub, shop etc. Certainly made one of my stag do’s more memorable. I think we did a drink in every pub from one end of Gillingham to the other. I lost count at about 12 or so. Last thing I remember from that outing was waking up in the back garden with my ‘best man to be’ lying next to me. I was covered head to foot in bunting which look suspiciusly like the stuff that used to fly outside a local car dealership. I don’t remember a thing… Oh those were the days…