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| Memories of Upchurch. |
Holywell farmer Frank Stevens opened the fete in The Paddock on Saturday July 8th and the event raised £160 for the Church Fabric Fund. With The Paddock packed to capacity stalls offered a variety of products like flowers and cakes. Highlights included country dancing by pupils from Holywell School and a fancy dress competition in which Laurel Clegg from Horsham Lane won the ‘Up to Eleven’ group and Roy Hogbin from Drakes Close won the ‘Up to Seven’ group. Miss Upchurch Muriel Clemons from Chaffes Lane presided over the fete while Revd Bradshaw described the overall effort as ‘a splendid piece of community teamwork.’
Early in the month Barbara Webb from Drakes Close was chosen as Carnival Queen from eight candidates while Angela Hodgkin from Poot Lane and Patricia Allen from Highsted were selected as her attendants for the big annual village event due to be held in August.
The village marathon which had been revived for the first time in six years by Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane and assisted by Bryan Veale from Horsham Lane, took place on the last Friday of the month as a preliminary for the village carnival. The women were first away from The Paddock and after racing a relatively short distance Christine Cripps from Poot Lane won the event. Six boys next lined up with Robert Gregory from Drakes Close winning and Ian Daniel from Oak Lane second. The men’s competition, a three mile race to Breach Lane and back was dominated by Maidstone Harriers runner D. Norman who coasted to victory on a very successful marathon evening.
Early in July the parish council met to discuss better facilities for the village clubs as Chairman Mr Colven described present facilities as ‘few and far between.’ Improvements were needed for several organisations including the rapidly expanding horticultural society. In their summer show entries exceeded 300 with a high level of exhibits. Winners included Mrs E Chaplin with roses, George Friend with vegetables, A Hinge & Son with cherries, Ernie Waters with potatoes and Charlie Stokes with onions.
The cricket club also thrived and recorded several good victories in July with the highlight being the match against Riverside in which Peter Smith scored an aggressive 57 in only 26 minutes. In partnership with Don Diffey who scored 80, Upchurch totalled 201-4. Frank Cook then bowled out Riverside for 50 taking four wickets for only 14 runs. Frank continued his good form with 6-22 against Minster later in July. Meanwhile, the Women’s Institute attracted new members with the July meeting being dominated by a report read out by Mrs Porter from Ham Green about the recent national meeting at the Royal Albert Hall followed by a talk about heraldry by guest speaker Mrs Skinner. After this members were asked to design a coat of arms for Upchurch. Mrs Nelson won the competition with Queenie South second. This ended a busy and varied month in the village calendar.
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 on: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + p+p £2.
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 on: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + p+p £2.
David Wood
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