Upchurch 50 Years Ago in March 1963

Once snow from the prolonged winter had completely cleared life became easier for village residents, particularly on the roads as the big freeze had curtailed travel and had periodically prevented the school bus from turning up to collect the village school children. Accidents became fewer although the last one reported in the East Kent Gazette involved 16 year old Ralph Stokes from Holywell Cottages who collided with a pedestrian in Solomon Road in Rainham on his motor scooter due to an icy road.

In religious affairs Reverend Bradshaw continued to educate villagers in the workings of the church and wrote about the importance of Lent as a period of penitence and self discipline in the village magazine. Meanwhile, the church choir which had made good progress under the leadership of Mr. Wheeler advertised for tenor and alto singers. Later in the month the Bishop of Dover visited the church to attend confirmation.

Although the football club didn’t play any matches until well into the month due to unfit pitches, fifty members of the Women’s Institute managed to attend their usual monthly meeting in the village hall. After arrangements had been made for the annual birthday party guests from the Darby and Joan Club were shown a film. The evening was rounded off with a competition for a child’s knitted garment won by Mrs. Turner.

David Wood.

In parish council affairs nothing happened in March as only four members turned up to the monthly meeting because of bad weather and important issues had to be shelved. At about the same time the council received an interesting letter from former Upchurch resident Frank Twort who wished to share some of his memories of the village from New Zealand. The letter revealed that he had been born at Anvil House, Forge Lane in 1884. He later attended the village schools and sang in the church choir before working in Lower Halstow brickfield for 1/6d a day doing hard physical work during the late 1890s. He also recalled enjoyable evenings at the vicarage in the company of Reverend Trew and his daughter where he played various games and was served with tea and cakes. He then moved to Newington and later to New Zealand where he became a magistrate and Justice of the Peace. He finally obtained fame when he became mace bearer in the New Zealand parliament and an example of somebody who had worked his way up in life from humble beginnings. 

Church burials for March included well known village character Kate Seamer aged 73 from The Street and Jacqueline Millen aged 44 from Jasmil Kennels while marriages included Peter Whitton from Kent Terrace with Patricia Haynes from Gillingham, Vicky Gardner from Oak Lane with Lionel Craggs from Abingdon in Berkshire and Roystan Wildish from Drakes Close with Valerie North from Newington. Finally, Malcolm Swift from Chaffes Lane, Michael Apps from Twinney and Stephen Bass from Webb’s Cottages, Ham Green all celebrated birthdays in a month where a big improvement in the weather brought relief to Upchurch residents after one of the longest and coldest winters in living memory.

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  or from us here at Upchurch Matters. price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

space