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Upchurch - 100 years of remembrance
Upchurch’s WWI Beacon of Light, Brazier and new Memorial Bench have been installed at the Recreation Ground, ready for Battle's Over - A Nation's Tribute, the international commemoration on November 11th 2018 marking 100 years since the guns fell silent at the end of World War I.
There arm on the side of the post will have a shield on it, one side depicting the trenches and the other with soldiers at ease in respect of their fallen comrades.
Please join in with this important commemoration on November 11th 2018
Read more about Battle's Over and the itinerary for November 11th here >> bit.ly/2qfcOpP
Upchurch Matters
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Carolyn Sutton
Upchurch Cricket Club - Secretary
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Co-op Local Community Fund
The Co-op Local Community Fund gives money to local causes, helping to bring people together and make a difference.
The next round of funding has begun. Co-op Members can now choose their next local cause by signing into their membership account online.
The co-op chooses new causes every 12 months.
1% for local causes
Every time Members shop at the Co-op, 1% of what they spend on selected own-brand products and services goes in to the Co-op Local Community Fund - towards community projects near your home.
You can choose which cause you want your own 1% to go to.
Any money raised by members who don’t select a cause is added to the money raised from shopping bag sales and shared equally between the causes in your local area.
5% for you
When you buy selected products and services from Co-op Group businesses, including their food stores, they’ll put 5% of what you spend into your Co-op Membership account.
The Co-op has chosen 3 local causes for the next round of funding.
The 3 local causes are:
Upchurch Scout Group
Demelza Hospice Care for Children
Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee
Co-op Members have now raised over £16,712 for local causes in our area.
To become a Co-op Member, and to choose your next local cause,
Upchurch Matters
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Have a very Medway Christmas at the Medway Hospital Christmas Fair
Patients, visitors, staff and local residents will be able to get into the festive spirit at Medway Maritime Hospital on Friday 7th December at our Christmas Fair on the hospital site.
There will be plenty of stalls, including games, gifts, refreshments and of course lots of carol singing! You can enjoy live performances by the choirs of local schools, Bryon School, Brompton Academy and Chatham Grammar School for Girls.
The Salvation Army Band will be leading the festivities at the official Christmas tree light switch on at 4:00pm in the coffee house courtyard at Medway Maritime Hospital.
The Fair will be open from 12:00pm - 5:00pm and is FREE to attend.
Come along, browse the wonderful range of gifts that will be on sale and do a little Christmas shopping!
It will take place at Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY. For more information please Call: 01634 825398 or Email: medwayft.charity@nhs.net
All proceeds from the Christmas Fair will go towards The Medway Hospital Charity.
Cheryl Jones
Fundraising Officer
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Registered charity number: 1051748
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Cyclists can get their bicycles security marked for FREE at Rainham Train Station on Friday the 26th of October, between 3:30pm and 8:30pm
Upchurch Matters
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Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/066613/18
Between 12:00pm and 4:38pm on Thursday the 18th of October, an Audi S3, registration number: GJ18 XHV was stolen from High Street, Newington, after the thieves had entered the owner’s property to steal the keys.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Kent Community Messaging
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Rainham North Ward
Crime Number: XY/066030/18
A NatWest card was stolen from a residential premises in Macklands Way, Rainham between 1655hrs and 1705hrs on Saturday the 13th of October.
The suspect is a female aged between 45-55 years old, dark brown wavy collar length hair, wearing a beige raincoat with a dress underneath.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Kent Community Messaging
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The Three Tuns
The Street, Lower Halstow ME9 7DY
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It will be necessary to close Spade Lane, Hartlip from Wednesday 17th October 2018 for up to 1 Day.
The road will be closed from the junction of A2 to Meresborough Lane.
The alternative route is via Spade Lane, Meresborough Lane, South Bush Lane and A2.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 09:00 and 14:00.
This is to enable litter picking to be carried out by Biffa Waste.
This Notice applies when the relevant signs and barriers are on site and is valid for a period of no more than 5 days.
The Kent County Council Highways Helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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It will be necessary to close Wardwell Lane, Newington from Wednesday 17th October 2018 for up to 1 Day.
The road will be closed from the junction of Church Lane to Vicarage Lane.
The alternative route is via School Lane, Boxted Lane, Breach Lane, The Street and Vicarage Lane.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 09:00 and 14:00.
This is to enable litter picking to be carried out by Biffa Waste.
This Notice applies when the relevant signs and barriers are on site and is valid for a period of no more than 5 days.
The Kent County Council Highways Helpline is: 03000 418181
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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Report of the Parish Council October 2018
Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Peter Masson, Cllr Janet Marshall, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence
Street Light Consultation
The Parish Council has an ageing street light portfolio with various types of fittings throughout the Parish. Government legislation is phasing out the discharge lights so the Parish Council is considering upgrading the lights to LED light which will reduce maintenance and electricity. The Council does not have the funds to upgrade the lights so would need to take out a loan if the project is to go ahead. Salix are currently offering interest free loans to Councils.
Residents attending the meeting voted in favour of the Council taking out a loan to upgrade the street lights to LEDs.
Battle’s Over Commemorations
The beacon will be installed at the Recreation Ground on a four metre high oak post with a steel basket on the top. There will be an arm on one side of the post which will have a shield on it, one side depicting the trenches and the other with soldiers at ease in respect of their fallen comrades. A memorial bench has been purchased to complement the beacon. Oak Lane will be closed to traffic, from Bishops Lane to the surgery, to prevent drivers being distracted during the Beacons of Light event on Remembrance Day, this will also mean there will be hard standing for residents should the Recreation Ground be too wet.
On 11th November at 6:55pm Cllr Lewin will read out the names of the fallen; the Last Post will be played by a bugler; the beacon will be lit at 7:00pm; and the church bells will be Ringing for Peace at 7.05pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the event.
Church Clock
The JustGiving page has raised £1133 and a donation of £100 has been received from a resident as an act of remembrance. The community has responded superbly to the call for donations of remembrance.
Donations from groups and individuals can still be made by cheque payable to “Upchurch Parish Council” and sent to the Clerk at 14 Trapfield Close, Bearsted ME14 4HT or given to any Councillor.
Planning
Ref: 18/504316/FULL Address: Twinney Acre Susans Lane Upchurch ME9 7HA
Proposal: Change of use of part of residential garden for the siting of 3no. shepherd huts, with associated parking and access, to be used as holiday lets.
Councillors considered the proposal and agreed to objected to the application. There was a consensus that such a proposal would be good for the rural economy this was not the right area for it. Councillors noted the siting of shepherd hut 1 is closer to a neighbour than the property the huts are being sited; the garden is not as big as stated in the application; there is an issue of visual and environmental intrusion; residents in Susan’s Lane have raised concerns regarding the water supply which is a private supply to their properties, this is not mentioned in the application; there would be noise implications for neighbours; hours of opening could be an issue; there is a swimming pool on site which would attract usage; the proposal was not conducive to the area.
The Paddock
The Council has received the grant from the Big Lottery Fund and the new play equipment has been ordered. Cllr John Wright has approved a grant to pay for the new litter bin in the Paddock.
Dog fouling continues to be a major problem in the Paddock. There had been dog fouling near the play area and this has been walked onto the equipment. The Council will consider fencing the area off.
St John’s College land encroachment
The Landlords have raised the issue of encroachment onto the Recreation Ground and allotments from adjoining properties which have put gates in their fences. Some people have put gates in their fences to access the allotments and there could be an issue if these people give up their allotments. There is a security issue on the Recreation ground and the Council has worked hard to make the area secure. There was a problem when builders used the Recreation Ground car park as their yard when they carried work for a neighbouring property, using it for deliveries and for their machinery without permission. If people have access onto the Recreation Ground quad bikes could easily access the field and cause damage and safety issues. The Parish Council has never agreed to gates being installed in the fences and residents will be notified to remove or close up the gates.
KALC Community Awards
Councillors agreed to adopt the Awards scheme to acknowledge and recognise the contribution a resident has made to the village.
Nominations for a suitable recipient must be sent to the Clerk by 21st December 2018.
Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 1st November 2018 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 14th November at 7:30pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/064968/18
Between 8:30am and 1:30pm on Wednesday the 10th of October, 2 plant pots were taken from a back garden in Playstool Road, Newington.
One pot was approximately 24 inches and the other 48 inches in height.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Kent Community Messaging
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Remembrance Sunday (Poppy Day) will be the 11th of November. This is the date 100 years ago when the Armistice was signed to end the First World War.
The Royal British Legion, established in 1921, is a UK charity providing lifelong welfare support for the Armed Forces, Reservists, Veterans and their families. It organises the National Poppy Day Appeal as the main fundraiser for its welfare duties and it puts on the Festival of Remembrance.
In Upchurch a team of collectors will again be making the annual house-to house collections from Saturday the 27th October to Saturday 10th November.
The final amount collected in Upchurch for the 2017 appeal has been notified to me as £3,359.44.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Gerry Lewin - Poppy Day Appeal Organiser
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St. Mary the Virgin, Upchurch. Picture courtesy of Kim Taylor. |
The Friends of St. Mary the Virgin, Upchurch (FOSM) are holding their AGM on Thursday the 25th of October from 7:00pm in the church.
The aims of the charity are to support the maintenance and repair of this 700 year old listed building.
Each year after our traditionally short AGM we have a talk, usually lasting 20-30 minutes followed by questions and answers and wine and nibbles.
This is a FREE event at which donations are always welcomed.
This year we have asked David Wood, the local historian and writer to give a talk which is entitled “Upchurch in 1918”.
ALL (whether members or not) are invited to join us from 7:00pm to hear the talk. The Trustees look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
Chairman - Gerry Lewin
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Join Sittingbourne Orpheus Choral Society at Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne on Saturday the 10th of November at 7:30pm for an evening to remember the historical event 100 years ago when World War 1 ceased. We are remembering this event through music from the period 1900 to 1930.
This special Armistice Concert will be performed by 200 singers from Swale choirs accompanied by the Kent Sinfonia Orchestra. The programme is divided into 4 sections. As well as music, each section contains readings, actors and visual displays.
Part 1 Pre-War 1900-1914 includes Parry's "I was glad" and Music Hall Melodies.
Part 2 The War Years 1914-1918 includes "Mars" from Holst's Planet Suite, Songs from the Trenches.
Part 3 Remembrance includes music by Novello, Faure, Elgar and Butterworth.
Part 4 Celebration and Peace includes Songs from the Twenties and music by Holst.
Tickets
Adults: £12.50
Students 11+: £6
Under 11s: FREE
Tickets are on sale now from:
The Heritage Hub, The Forum, Sittingbourne - Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm
Carters Newsagents, Market Street, Faversham - Open Monday to Saturday 6:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday 8:00am to 12:00pm
The Criterion Heritage Centre, Bluetown, Sheerness - Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 3:00pm
Tickets are also available from participating choir members and Amanda Boyne: 01795 423854
Pat New
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Fireworks - the law
You can’t buy ‘adult’ fireworks if you’re under 18, and it’s against the law for anyone to set off fireworks between 11:00pm and 7:00am, except on certain occasions.
Adult fireworks are category 2 and 3 fireworks - they don’t include things like party poppers. Category 4 fireworks can only be used by professionals.
The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.
You must not set off fireworks between 11:00pm and 7:00am, except for:
• Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight
• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1:00am
Check with Swale or Medway Council to find out about any local rules for setting off fireworks.
Buying fireworks
You can only buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers for private use on these dates:
• 15th October to 10th November
• 26th to 31st December
• 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year
At other times you can only buy fireworks from licensed shops.
You can be fined up to £5,000 and imprisoned for up to 6 months for selling or using fireworks illegally. You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90.
Upchurch Matters
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Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
Saturday 20th October 2018
97 Chaffes Lane
Open to the Public 2:00pm
UHS will be holding its October Show in the Barn to the rear
of 97 Chaffes Lane
Refreshments
Raffle
Auction of Exhibits
Ample Parking
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
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Click the A4 poster to download it and print it out. |
If you are worried about people coming to your door during Halloween - particularly after dark or late in the evening remember, you don’t have to answer the door.
You can make this clear by displaying this poster on your front window or door.
If anyone calls at your door and their behaviour worries you, let a neighbour know. Alternatively, you can contact Kent Police on one of the numbers below:
In an emergency - dial 999
Kent Police non-emergency - 101
Upchurch Matters
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Jenny - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
Telephone: 01634 360626
Jenny - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
Telephone: 01634 360626
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/064305/18
On Monday 8th of October, all 6 oven knobs were stolen from a caravan in Beckenham Storage, Otterham Quay Boatyard, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch.
Crime Number: XY/064112/18
Another caravan was also broken into at Beckenham Storage, Otterham Quay Boatyard, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
Kent Community Messaging
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Saturday 20th October
Kent Fire & Rescue Service is hosting a drop-in style 'Restart a Heart Event' at Rainham Fire Station where you can learn hands only CPR and receive information about public access defibrillators.
The FREE 30 minute sessions are running all day between 10:00am and 4:00pm, no booking needed.
The fire engine will be there too, as well as fire safety information and teas & coffees.
It would be great to see you all there
For more information about Kent Fire & Rescue Service visit: www.kent.fire-uk.org
James Knight
Firefighter - Rainham
Kent Fire & Rescue Service
Tel: 01622 692121 Ext. 6745
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