A struggle between the Upchurch Stores and the Co-op Stores for an off license in the village dominated all other village issues in October 1966.
Both businesses had applied for a license at about the same time and the case went to Sheerness Magistrates Court. A petition for an off licence had been signed by 112 people in The Upchurch Stores while another was signed by 404 customers in the Co-op. At the same time both applications were opposed by the Sittingbourne Licensed Victuallers Association.
Mr and Mrs Huggins of The Upchurch Stores in The Street regarded themselves as typical village store owners and an important part of the community who had been present in the village since the 1950s when they succeeded Mr and Mrs Neame. Unlike other village shops they had stayed open until 7 pm each day to allow people who had left work late to do shopping. Furthermore, Mr Huggins had worked as a wine merchant for several years and had gained experience in the trade. He had taken wine orders from village residents and had delivered the products free of charge with groceries. This is how he had learned about the demand for an off license in the village. Mr Huggins had recently given up his job as a wine merchant to help his wife in their grocery business.
At the court hearing Albert Stewart, landlord of The Crown pub, argued that his trade would be affected because his off license sales totalled 20% of his trade. The court dismissed this on the basis that the pub had made no attempt to open an off license previously so it was the publican’s own fault.
Mr John Byrt representing Mr and Mrs Huggins said it would be better to grant the off license to the couple who had staked their whole future in the village rather than the Co-op whose opening times were restricted by trade unions, a body governed by a national and not a village organisation.
After listening to all the parties the court then granted the license to Mr and Mrs Huggins and not to the Co-op for the establishment of the first off license in Upchurch.
Later in the month Upchurch Cricket Club held its Annual Dinner and Dance in the village hall with Kent cricketer Brian Luckhurst and his wife attending as the main guests. Club official Ted Tress told those present that the season had not been as good as it could have been with 25 games played, 10 won, 13 lost, I drawn and 1 abandoned. Ted Tress said that all the games had been played with an extremely good team spirit and assured everyone that ‘Upchurch Cricket Club would not sleep or die.’ Reverend Bradshaw then mentioned the Aberfan disaster in Wales and a special prayer was said for the victims and their relatives before Grace.
In other club affairs the Women’s Institute had a poor attendance for October but this failed to stop Mr Langford giving a talk to members about Italy. He also showed colour slides of the country where he had worked for several years and of the places he had visited there. After the talk serving president Win Wraight appealed for financial support for the Institute while matters discussed included a stall for the Christmas Fayre and a course of classes in floral decoration. Mrs Fisher won the competition for the most interesting holiday souvenir with Mrs Kew second and Mrs Nelson third.
In the cubs and scouts Sixer William Hewitt gained the highest Cub Proficiency Badge, the Leaping Wolf Award and became only the second Upchurch cub to achieve this. A cub football team was formed and a match arranged at Sittingbourne which Upchurch won 2-0. Cub. On a sadder note scout secretary Mrs Woolley retired leaving a vacancy for the job.
Upchurch fruit growers Charlie Chambers and his son Michael from Natal Farm won several prestigious awards for their pears at the Marden Fruit Show. This included the best exhibit of pears plus another first prize, two seconds, a third and a reserve, a great achievement for the local growers because the show is the biggest in the south of England.
Finally, despite an absence of burials and marriages in October, baptisms were held for Michaela Hicks of Marstan Close, Samantha Gibbs and Jennifer Macauley of Church Farm Lane and Andrew Attwood of Oak Lane. This ended a month dominated by the fight to open an off license in the village.
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 at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
