Lively dances took place at the Infant’s School most Friday evenings with ‘The Charleston’ being the fashionable dance of the day which got the village youth gyrating around the dance floor. The Upchurch branch of the Workers Union initially arranged most of these events while Mr Maltravers, headmaster at Holywell School, played music on the piano. The evenings usually ended with ‘Auld Lang Syne’ followed by the National Anthem and money raised was donated to St Dunston’s Hospital for the Blind.
The Annual Fancy Dress Dance at the Infants School became one of the most memorable social functions of the period mainly because residents were able to see well-known village figures dressed in a variety of outrageous costumes. In April 1920 those outstanding in fancy dress included Mrs Maltravers from Holywell Schoolhouse as a Spanish Gypsy, Mrs Stevens from Holywell as an Egyptian Slave, Cecil Bishop from Forge Lane as a flag lieutenant and George Holloway from Ham Green as a cowboy. At the event with 50 people present, Mr Maltravers acted as MC while the Walter Brewer Band from Rainham played music.
At the March 1921 Fancy Dress Dance a bridal party arrived at the Infants School to the accompaniment of the Wedding March. Holywell headmaster Mr Maltravers entered as the groom and Fred Cottrell from Wayside in Horsham Lane as the blushing bride which caused great amusement. Concerts were also periodically performed like that of March 30th, 1921 when the church choir sang and a short sketch entitled ‘Spring Clean Laughter’ took place with actors including Florrie Clark, Win Giles, Ted Gransden and Annie Seager.
Upchurch held periodic cultural events like the Missionary Exhibition which took place in the Infants School on October 16th, 1920. Over 400 objects were displayed while African and Indian songs were sung by children dressed in costume and slides of Indian homes were shown.
Sometimes visiting speakers gave lectures in the village such as Mr Percy, a missionary from Borneo, who gave an interesting talk in conjunction with an exhibition of artefacts and photos in October 1920. Later, on February 6th, 1925 the Bishop of Honduras and a woman named Evadne Hulse visited the village and spoke about domestic life in Belize. In October 1926 Reverend Dicker gave a talk and presented a lantern show about St Francis of Assissi. Several years later in March 1929 a lantern lecture entitled, ‘The History and Romance of London’ took place in the Infants School which attracted 88 people.
With the football and cricket clubs already well established, a lawn tennis club was formed at the vicarage during the summer of 1921. Len Harvey became chairman, Mrs Lakey treasurer and Fred Cottrell honorary secretary. A tennis court already existed so new nets were purchased and the club began.
The village women also had their fun and throughout the 1920s the Mothers Union arranged a series of trips for their members which included a trip to Folkestone via Canterbury on June 12th, 1923. The trip to Hastings on June 30th, 1925 became the most memorable when a large charabanc full of mothers travelled from Upchurch through the Kent and Sussex countryside for a day at the seaside, a big event during the 1920s.
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Mr Maltravers. |
Holywell headmaster Mr Maltravers who played a big part in village affairs set up a social club for the village men in the Old Chapel Room, opposite the church. It opened on November 1st, 1920. The club thrived during the 1920s and became the headquarters for the football club with regular whist drives and other social events. It began as a men’s club but eventually became a social club for boys and men.
The success of the social club was demonstrated in April 1925 when a supper and smoking concert took place with over 40 members present including patrons and farmers Sid and Seymour Wakeley, R. H. Lumley Webb, Tom Crawford, James Holloway and shop-keeper George Richens. The programme consisted of a song entitled ‘The King’s Champion’ and sketches by well known Upchurch comedian Fred Wyles. Ivy Cottrell an accomplished dancer and singer from Horsham Lane gave a dialogue between two old countrywomen. She also sang ‘Orphan Annie’ and ‘Broken Heart’. The evening was rounded off by Reverend Dicker singing ‘In Old Madrid.’
Upchurch Football Club played its part in village social affairs and organised an annual Christmas Party for the village children at the Infants School. Later in 1927, the social club organised the party for the first time. After games and entertainment, an orange was presented to each child as a Christmas gift. Later, in December 1929, the Social club and football club combined to fund the children’s Christmas Party. With 150 children present games, songs and dances were organised and performed by Miss Nutt and her dancing school, Rosie Wood from Ham Green sang songs and Bill Botting’s Jazz Band provided music.
Other annual social events in the village included The Empire Day celebrations in May with maypole dancing in The Paddock and the village fete held in July at which Ivy Cottrell gave performances of Spanish dancing to packed audiences in the marquee.
As today three pubs functioned in the village with James and Ellen Faulkner managing The Crown while Edward Packer managed the Brown Jug and Bill Edmonds ran The Three Sisters. These pubs provided a welcome drinking refuge for the village men who worked physically hard, mostly in the brickfields or on local farms.
Overall, many events took place in the village during the 1920s and these were usually well attended at a time when people didn’t have radio or television and had to rely mainly on foot or bicycle to venture out of the village.
David Wood
About David
David Wood was born, raised and still lives in Upchurch today. He is able to write from personal experience about village life and the changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable and detailed historical study of the village.
David's book is available from David at david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + postage and packing.
