The most important news of the month involved former Upchurch resident Rowland Baker who received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List. He obtained the award for the part he had played in the development of the British nuclear submarine programme as technical and chief executive of the Dreadnought project. He had earlier developed a frigate for the Canadian navy and a tank landing craft used in the D Day landings. For this he had been awarded an OBE by the king and the Medal of Freedom and a silver palm by the US government in 1946. Upchurch residents remembered him for his contribution to village football and cricket. His parents continued to live in the village.
In club affairs the Women’s Institute held a one minute silence in memory of former president Ethel Stevens from Holywell Farm who had passed away aged 69. After this Mrs Langford gave a talk and slide show about her native country Holland. A competition for a hand sewn article was won by Mrs Thompson with Mrs Rider second and Mrs Kew third. Meanwhile, at the Darby and Joan Club Mrs Swan made and sold marmalade which raised £5 and a whist drive was organised by Mrs Bronger and her committee.
The football club had a poor month with both teams struggling second from bottom in divisions two and five of the Rochester & District League. The first team only recorded one success with a 3-0 win at Brimar while the reserves lost every match. Both teams played home matches on the recreation ground where a wooden hut served as a clubhouse for changing purposes without showers and with a separate urinal.
Reports were made by the Village Hall Management Committee about children using the roof of the village hall as a slide creating a safety problem which had to be addressed. Another worrying problem concerned the wooden shingles at the tip of the church spire that had worn away and £500 had to be raised to fix the problem. The church authorities in Canterbury contributed £200 and the council £50 but the village had to raise a further £250. A ‘Spire Day’ allowed villagers to give money and a jumble sale took place in the Labour Hall.
In church affairs Upchurch vicar Reverend Bradshaw became Rural Dean for the area. A dedicated clergyman of great presence, he gained respect in the village for always visiting those in hospital or at home suffering from health problems and gave spiritual and moral support. He also attended most village functions, played a big part in forming the village scout movement and regularly visited the two village schools.
According to the parish registers marriages in the village included Brian Boakes from Chaffes Lane with Carol Edmonds from Holywell Schoolhouse, Michael Noons from Newington with Marion Murr from Drakes Close and Edward Jarvis from Twydall with Karen Busby from Wallbridge Lane. David Dodgeson from Church Farm Road, Paul and Diane, Marion and Martin Finn from Drakes Close were all baptised in the church. Deaths included Charles Glover aged 17 from Oak Lane, Jack Simmonds aged 64 from Horsham Lane and Ethel Stevens aged 69 from Holywell Farm.
The death of Charles Glover, the only child of Dick and Emily Glover from Oak Lane, was the most tragic event of the month as he had led a healthy life working with his father on the family land and had trained himself in photography, doing jobs around the village. From being a fit and healthy teenager he suddenly contracted meningitis and tragically died within days. Years earlier as a four year old he had narrowly escaped death after he fell into a deep and open sewer just off The Street and was lucky to have been saved by village resident Morris Germaine who happened to see the incident. Acting quickly Morris dived in, went under the sludge and pulled Charles out. Morris later received a certificate for bravery from the Royal Humane Society for his action.
The search for a children’s play area continued without success meaning that children continued to illegally encroach into The Paddock to play. This ended an interesting month in Upchurch.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.
Memories of Upchurch is available direct from David
Email: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at
Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
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