The village horticultural society which thrived during the 1960s experienced success with victory over Sheppey Dahlia and Chrysanthemum Society at its show enabling it to win the Chrysanthemum Challenge Shield for the second time in just three months. Successful Upchurch entrants included George Friend from Ham Green with eight first prizes which included the Chrysanthemum Cup which he won for the ninth time in twelve years, farmer Les Stevens from Lower Halstow won the L & H Starnes Cup, Charlie Langford the Vegetable Cup and Ernie Waters from Ham Green won the Potato Cup on a memorable day for the society.
The Women’s Institute monthly meeting didn’t get off to a good start when the main speaker failed to attend due to thick fog. However, the meeting continued with news that the institute’s trading stall for county funds had raised £7. Mrs Smith from Oak Lane announced that she had been corresponding with a pen friend from the United States for thirty years and urged other members to do the same. Mrs Woodford from Crosier Court and her helpers were thanked for running a successful jumble sale while Mrs Fredericks from Crosier Court volunteered to help with the institute scrap book during 1965. After this Mrs Nelson and Miss Staines tied in the home-made wine competition and the evening ended with a spelling game.
Upchurch Football Club First XI continued to play their home games at the Recreation Ground in Division 1 of the Rochester & District League while the Reserves competed in one of the lower divisions and committee meetings took place in ‘The Crown.’ Neither side won any league titles or cup competitions during 1964 but notable players included Basil Barden, ‘Trotter’ Horsnell, Ken Wildish and long serving players Brian Stephens and Colin ‘Nippy Edmonds.’
The Darby and Joan club experienced a successful month raising £170 in the village hall from various sales. Hilda Swan from Kent Terrace proved the most successful individual fund-raiser by contributing £66 from the sale of jam products that she had made during the year.
In church affairs the Friends of Kent Churches offered £100 towards the cost of repairs to the church tower. Architect Mr Hartland-Thomas from Forge Lane added this to £750 obtained from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust for the repairs. News also arose about Mr Brightman who had been assisting the vicar and he became Dean to the Archbishop of Canterbury on December 20th at Canterbury Cathedral. He also became curate in the parish of St James in Westgate. He had previously served as leader of the Young Communicants Guild in the village, a position taken over by Mr Langford.
In parish council affairs concern arose over difficulty in seeing roads leading into Upchurch at night, particularly at the junction of Oak Lane with the A2. Suggestions to improve the situation included placing white kerb stones either side of the entry point and luminous signs to mark the junction. The parish council also made contact with the County Roads Department to widen The Street between Forge Lane and Horsham Lane and to widen the junction of Wallbridge Lane with Oak Lane.
William Brignall from Oak Lane caused panic when he collapsed on the pavement in Rainham High Street and had to be rushed to St Bart’s Hospital and then on to Stoke Mandeville Hospital by helicopter. Meanwhile, the burial of Polly Sketchley aged 84 from Station Road in Rainham took place in Upchurch and was the only one reported in the parish register for November, while there were no recorded baptisms or weddings. This ended a fairly ordinary month in the village.
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David Wood. |
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
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