December 1971 turned out to be a cold and dull month with some snow late in the month. Comedian Benny Hill topped the charts with ‘Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West’ and ‘Love Story’ starring Ryan O Neil, Ali Macgraw and Tammy Lee Jones featured as the main film screened at the Queen’s cinema in Sittingbourne during the Christmas period. The month also saw a coal shortage and panic buying due to a coalman’s strike. Fewer houses had central heating than today and many residents relied on open fires for heating in their homes, so coal was in great demand.
Despite bad weather, the monthly meeting of the Women’s Institute still took place. With the election of committee officials, Joyce Gilbert became the new president, Pat New treasurer and Jenny Martin secretary. A whist drive organised by the ladies raised £150.
Another women’s organisation known as the Upchurch Branch of the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) made themselves available for any emergency in the village during the Christmas period. The organisation had existed to help people since 1938 and some of the Upchurch members included Annie Bronger, Grace Eastwood and Rose Humphreys.
The Upchurch United Charities also helped people in need at Christmas by giving grocery tickets to widows and invalids in the village.
The parish council had an active month. They turned down a plan to develop the village centre. The plan included six maisonettes, three new shops and a petrol filling station on the corner of Forge Lane and The Street. After a discussion, the parish council deemed this as overdevelopment. However, they did give permission for Ron Ware to have a garage built next to his house in Oak Lane, for Peter Boakes to have two four bedroomed houses constructed in Chaffes Lane and for Mr A Manley to have a chalet style bungalow built in Wallbridge Lane.
Good news came from Swale Council when they announced that they had had a plan drawn up for a new sewerage system to be constructed in Upchurch that would link 71houses in Horsham Lane and Wallbridge Lane to the existing system at an estimated cost of £20,000.
Earlier in the month, village clubs held Christmas dinners and celebrations. On December 10th, a Christmas Fayre took place in the village hall. Stalls sold goods and a Christmas tree with decorations created a festive atmosphere. A Fancy Dress Dance followed this on December 11th then the Darby and Joan Club held their annual Christmas party on December 20th.
Comedian Benny Hill, Reverend Bradshaw and Footballer Derek Hales.
The church held various activities such as the Carols and Torchlight Procession on December 15th. On Christmas Day a Holy Communion service took place, followed by a Children’s Toy Procession when children attended church with their parents and brought old or unwanted toys to donate to the ‘Save the Children Fund.’ A Family Eucharist service in the church led by village vicar Reverend Bradshaw followed this. A Boxing Day carol service also took place in the church starting at 6-30 pm.
Holywell School pupils were busy raising money before they broke up for the Christmas holiday. They walked around the village singing carols and raised £10 for the Blind of Kent. They also held a carol service in the Village Hall named ‘Look Away to Bethlehem’ for which they raised £11.50 for the Save the Children Fund.
Christmas soon arrived with the usual festivities. On Christmas Day most people stayed indoors and popular television shows were available to watch such as the Morecombe and Wise Show, the Black and White Minstrel Show, the Generation Game, the Best of Top of the Pops, Billy Smart’s Circus and the Annual Christmas Message from the Queen. The village pubs were busy at lunchtime and during the evening.
The village pubs were crowded and very busy on Boxing Day evening, while Maidstone & District buses ran a service until late at night which allowed residents without cars to travel outside the village for entertainment and celebrations.
In village sport, Upchurch United were doing very well in the Medway Sunday League Premier Division and at the end of the month, they were in second position, two points behind Luton Wanderers. News also arrived that former Upchurch United footballer Derek Hales who was playing for Dartford in the Southern League at the time had been granted a trial with Luton Town in the English Football League. He succeeded at the trial and became a full time professional footballer with a very successful career.
Upchurch Table Tennis Club teams competed in the local Sittingbourne and District League with varied success. They met in the village hall for practice and for league matches every Monday evening. Rich Boakes organised everything and some of the best players included Steve Davies, Peter and Brian Boakes.
Overall, December proved to be very festive with parties and entertainment, while some snow which arrived on Boxing Day evening added to the Christmas atmosphere. The month ended with a New Year’s Eve Dance in the village Hall with dancing to the Vic Hamilton Band, costing 60p for admission.
David Wood
About David
David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today. He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.
David's book, Memories of Upchurch, is a very readable and detailed historical study of the village and is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + postage and packing.
