Upchurch Parish Council - Burial Ground Proposal Update

In March 2015 we invited comments on a proposal for a “lawned burial ground”, allowing 1 foot of earth for planting in front of the headstone. This is due to the increasing numbers of plots that are non-compliant with the current burial ground rules and regulations, which raise issues associated with grass cutting, increased maintenance costs and safety.

Thank you to those plot holders who made comments and gave us feedback relating to this proposal, this has been useful and much appreciated. We welcome your continued input into this project and hope that you will be willing to work with us to come up with a solution to these issues. 

As a result of this feedback, it has become apparent that some people would welcome having their plot turfed, as they are having difficulty maintaining it. We are therefore planning a phased approach to our proposal, starting with these plots and those that are unkempt and clearly not being looked after.

The most common plot non-compliance issues are:
· Kerbstones, hedges, edgings and boundary markers

· Loose stones, chippings, bark & other dressings

· Planting of shrubs/trees

· Memorial items & vases (including glass) not approved by the Parish Council

All of the above are against the rules and regulations. If the plot you are responsible for is non-compliant, please address this urgently by removing the above items. If you have difficulty with this, please contact the Clerk: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk or Tel: 01634 363906.

If you would like a copy of the burial ground rules and regulations or have difficulty maintaining a plot you are currently responsible for (and would like it to be turfed), please contact the Clerk who would be happy to help you.

Thank you

Upchurch Parish Council
space

Upchurch Cricket Club - New Associate Membership

As you may already know this year Upchurch Cricket Club successfully introduced a new Colts Football Club, consisting of teams for 5, 6 and 7 years and to date the response has been very successful. The dream is to one day have an Academy ranging from age 5 right up to senior teams.

To help these things happen it has been decided to form an Upchurch Cricket Club Associate Members Club.

The idea is to have a membership who could hold functions, events, parties, and meetings at the Club. The venue could be hired at a special reduced rate. The incentives are a great venue, friendly atmosphere and club price drinks at one of the nicest spots in the village.

To become an Associate Member costs just £20 per year 
and runs from May to May.

To apply for membership please contact Terry Lewis on Mobile: 07740 676703 or by

Email: terrylewis44@yahoo.co.uk and a membership form will be made available to you.

Terry Lewis

On behalf of Upchurch Cricket Club

space

Swale Community Advice Forum

Come along if you wish to discuss local issues affecting your area or need advice on anything else.

Swale PCSO Daniel Rudden is looking forward to meeting you so please come and have a cuppa with him at the CAF in Phoenix House Community Centre, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne ME10 4BX.

The next Meeting is on: Thursday 23rd April from 1:30pm to 3:00pm.

Email: Daniel.rudden@kent.pnn.police.uk for more information.

All welcome.

Refreshments provided.

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch
space

Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2015

Judging for the Best Kept Garden will take place during July.

Judges will assess what can be seen at the front of each house in the following categories. Firstly a garden which is predominately growing flowers, secondly a garden which is mixture of flowers, trees and or shrubs, and finally for those with only a small or no front garden the judges will assess any hanging baskets or flower troughs. 

The prizes, last year sponsored by the Parish Council and The Brown Jug, will be presented at the Upchurch Horticultural Society Show during September in the Village Hall and the overall winner will hold the Barbara Webb Rose Bowl for a year.   

Contact me if you would consider sponsoring a prize [cash or in kind] 

Gerry Lewin on 01634 366113 or lewing135@btinternet.com

On behalf of the Upchurch Horticultural Society and the Parish Council.

space

Upchurch Colts under 8's - Kit Sponsorship

Upchurch Colts under 8's are looking for a local company to sponsor our football kit.

Until now there has been no children's football club for Upchurch and the surrounding area and as you may or may not know we have started the club with nothing, so we are now asking local companies to help us.

I do hope you can join us in helping local children and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you. 

Rob Croome
Chairman - Manager

Upchurch Colts under 8's
Tel: 01634 379792 - 07909 688456

Email: robcroome@sky.com

space

Upchurch Parish Council - Extraordinary Meeting

An Extraordinary Meeting of Upchurch Parish Council will be held in Upchurch Village Hall on Wednesday the 15th of April 2015 at 7:30pm for the purpose of considering two planning applications affecting the village (one now amended).

AGENDA

1.              Apologies for absence

2.              Declarations of Interest

**********************************************************************************************

Public Time – half an hour allowed for the public to speak if they wish.

**********************************************************************************************

3.              Finance – Cheque – St John’s College

4.              Planning –

i) 15/501944/FULL – Land adjoining and rear of Jubilee Fields, Upchurch – Mixed residential development of 41 No. 2,3,4 and 5 bedroom houses together with all associated garaging, parking and infrastructure. The paper copies for this application will be brought to the meeting.

ii) 14/505230/FULL – Jack Russell Place Halstow Lane – Amended application submitted for only one additional caravan and security lighting.

The agenda for the meeting is available to download in PDF format from the Parish Council Website at the link here ☞ http://tinyurl.com/l2xcvm2

Upchurch Matters

space

Two Upchurch Soldiers on the Western Front by David Wood

Upchurch at War 1914-1918

Of the 34 Upchurch men who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 memories of them have faded with time but surviving documentation gives a detailed account of two who were well known in the village and who experienced some of the heaviest fighting and worst conditions of the war on the Western Front.

Percy Hales joined the Grenadier Guards just before the Great War and intended to make the army his career. The youngest son of Jacob Hales, a stockman from Horsham Farm, Percy became one of the first soldiers to be sent to the European mainland and fought in the early battles of 1914 which he survived unscathed. Having impressed his regiment he quickly gained promotion to corporal then to sergeant. According to his obituary in the East Kent Gazette his letters sent home were full of hope and showed a sense of duty. When on leave he often visited his old school at Holywell. He was killed on his 21^st birthday in France on September 6^th, 1917. Reverend F C Walmesley, the regimental chaplain wrote to his family:

I regret to inform you that Sergeant Hales was brought to this clearing station on the 6^th instant severely wounded by a shell in the head, leg and thigh. Everything possible was done for him, but his case was hopeless and he passed away on the following day at 3-40 p.m. He was unconscious all the time he was here. I laid his body to rest today in the cemetery for the British some few miles behind the lines. He was a magnificent type of guard, and I am sure his loss will be greatly felt by all….

William Clark from Shakespeare Cottage in Poot Lane, the eldest son of Ham Green farmer Henry Clark, attended Holywell School as a boy and performed as a talented sportsman playing for the village football and cricket clubs. He also served as a member of the church choir and as a church sidesman. After working on the family farm William enlisted in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles on May 4^th 1915. He went to France where he was attached to The Buffs and placed in the machine gun section where he excelled when involved in heavy fighting and soon gained promoted to lance-corporal. When returning home on leave in July 1916 he married his girlfriend Ellen Banfield and they later had a baby daughter. He returned to trench warfare on the Western Front where he was killed by an exploding shell on June 15^th 1917 aged 22. His regimental commanding officer wrote to his wife:

Just a few lines to sympathise with you in the great loss of your husband, lance corporal W. Clarke who was killed whilst on duty on June 15^th. He was greatly admired by officers, NCOs and men of his company for his bravery and throughout any operations he shared great fearlessness and coolness, putting the greatest confidence in those who were near him. His loss is keenly felt by all ranks…

Percy Hales and William Clark along with other Upchurch men who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918 have their names inscribed on a marble memorial tablet located in the village church.

Memories of  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. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

space