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The Street, Upchurch taken later in 1967. |
As usual the main event was preceded by a slow moving procession which began at the recreation ground and circled the village with a collection of floats with participants dressed in a variety of colourful costumes. A float with Carnival Queen Kay Latter from Drakes Close and attendants Maureen Clark and Muriel Clemons from Chaffes Lane became the main focus. Other floats which captured attention included ‘Holiday in Holland’ by Upchurch Youth Club which won the best tableaux, ‘Beauty Parlour’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ and a Fremlins lorry which won ‘The Best Decorated Vehicle Competition.’ ‘Steptoe and Son’ with Derek Wraight and Colin Tress leading a horse won the best equestrian entry in a varied and attractive procession.
Entertainment in The Paddock followed the procession with the annual dog show organised by Bert Millen from Jasmil Kennels. This remained popular throughout the 1960s although nobody from Upchurch won any of the major events at the 1963 show. A coconut shy, a bran tub, a roundabout, swings, a punch and judy show and loud recorded pop music provided by Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane kept the large crowds entertained as the afternoon progressed.
In the fancy dress parade Malcolm Swift as ‘Cassius Clay’ won the most original entry, Ian Donald and Richard Woolley came second in their version of ‘Steptoe and Son’, while Jennifer and Rosemary Apps from Chaffes Lane won the most topical theme with ‘Witch and Cat.’
In the week leading up to the carnival several fun events took place. On the Wednesday evening a five a side football competition took place in The Paddock with various teams representing different parts of the village. These included Horsham Hotspur, The Street Albion, Crosier Courtiers, Caravan Otters, Drakes Close Ducklings and Oak Lane Acorns. Each game lasted for ten minutes and at the end of a hard fought competition Drakes Close Ducklings defeated Oak Lane Acorns 2-1 in the final. A crowd of over 200 people attended the competition which ended in almost complete darkness but beer was presented to the finalists and referee after the competition. Other activities included a ‘Glamorous Grandmother Competition’ won by Edith Colven from Horsham Lane, a ‘Dress the Doll Competition’ won by Barbara Trice from Drakes Close. Stan Gilbert from Drakes Close won the ‘Knobbly Knees Competition’ and Roger Hepton and Maureen Clark from Gore Bank won the dance competition performing ‘The Twist.’
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David Wood. |
The cricket club playing at their Poot Lane ground experienced a month of mixed results but had good victories against Murston, Boat House, Riverside and Plumbers and Coppersmiths. Successful batsmen included Peter Porter with 58 against Murston, Don Diffey with 51 against Plumbers and Coppermiths and 48 against Boat House. Bowler Frank Cook took 6-23 against Riverside and Alan Auger followed this up with 5-30 against Plumbers and Coppersmiths.
Finally, the only recorded burial in August involved Louisa Jane Still aged 70 from Otterham Cottages while birthdays were celebrated by Carol Button from Drakes Close aged eleven, Gordon Frost from The Street aged nine, Tina Harris from Twinney aged four and Roy Kemsley from Otterham Quay Cottages aged five which ended a busy and entertaining 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. 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
David Wood
