May 1973 proved to be a busy and significant month as arguments about the future of the Otterham Quay caravan site continued.
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Mr Ron Beckenham, owner of the Otterham Quay caravan site, appealed to the Department of the Environment for permission to construct a new caravan site in Poot Lane after being turned down by Swale Council. This came after Mr Beckenham had been told that the lease on the Otterham Quay site would end in 1976. However, Mr Beckenham, unhappy with the verdict, appealed to the Department of the Environment. They also rejected his appeal on the basis that a new site would cause traffic congestion on the narrow country lanes in the area.
While arguments about the future of the Otterham Quay caravan site continued, E C Gransden Ltd applied for permission to construct 50 new houses between Oak Lane and Wallbridge Lane, and Wakeley Brothers applied for permission to build houses in Forge Lane, but local residents objected to the proposals. This came at a time when residents believed that more housing would put more pressure on the village schools when they were already under great pressure with high pupil numbers. The new Holywell School had not yet been constructed.
May saw local council elections in the area. In Upchurch, John Ardley from the Mayflower barge just off Ham Green won on behalf of the Conservatives along with Mr A Hough, Labour. Although he gradually developed the disability of blindness, John Ardley served the parish very efficiently during his time as Borough Councillor. He also served as a churchwarden at Upchurch church.
With the continuation of Otterham Quay caravan site in doubt, the Otterham Quay Lane brickworks was experiencing its final years. The East Kent Gazette reported the retirement of four local brickwork workers who had completed 200 years service between them. Each man was awarded a silver medal for long service by Redland Ltd. The men who received the medals were Tom Tassell and Arthur Jarvis of Station Road, Rainham, George Tyler of Berengrave Lane, Rainham and Tom Page of School Lane, Lower Halstow. Each man had served 50 years in the brickfield.
In village sport, the table tennis club ended a successful season with the first team winning Division 3 of the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League and the fifth team winning Division 5. The other teams failed to win anything. Overall, the club had a successful season.
With the folding of Upchurch United Sunday football team, the Saturday side was also experiencing difficulties as they had to concede a semi-final match in the Sheppey Charity Cup against local rivals Breach Rovers from Lower Halstow because of insufficient players. During the same period, successful local players Ray and Richard Hales helped Sittingbourne secure runners-up position in the Kent League. In the final match, Sittingbourne defeated Chatham 2-1, with Ray Hales scoring both goals, but in a bad-tempered game, Richard Hales was sent off.
With the new cricket season underway, Upchurch had a good start with Derek Hales in great form. In the match against Lenham Storage, Hales scored 112 runs, and he then took seven wickets for only four runs, which included a hat trick as Lenham were bowled out for only five runs. Upchurch next defeated Belnor and batted first, and Derek Hales, this time, hit 150 runs in a total of 197. Bryan Veale then took three wickets for only one run as Belnor were bowled out for 85. The following week Upchurch defeated Minster. Upchurch scored 105, with Steve Parker 30 and Derek Hales 28 scoring most runs. Minster were then bowled out for just 45, with Bob Goodson taking three wickets. In the final week of May, Upchurch played Hartlip, and after scoring 111, Bryan Veale took four wickets for 26 runs and Don Diffey took four wickets for eleven runs to bowl out Hartlip for only 43 runs to complete a very successful month for Upchurch Cricket Club who were still playing home matches at their ground in Poot Lane.
In other social affairs, the election of candidates for the Carnival Queen took place in the village hall. The winners were Julie Baker, aged 16, from Eastcourt Lane. Second was Lorraine Neil, aged 25, from Childscroft Road in Rainham. And third was Jackie Baker, aged 19, from Staplehurst Road in Sittingbourne. The girls were chosen from fifteen candidates. Lorraine Manley, the previous year’s winner from Wallbridge Lane, opened the event.
The May Queen selection also took place. Raeshel Lloyd became the new May Queen, and Julie Bennet and Jeanne Woods were chosen as her attendants. Although a power failure occurred in the village hall where the judging took place, the event was successful, with a tug-of-war competition won by The Poles team. Pupils from Holywell School did maypole dancing, and a children’s art competition was held.
Overall, Upchurch experienced a very successful month with a Carnival Queen and a May Queen election, the cricket club getting off to a good start, and new Councillors elected. Upchurch once again proved to be a village with lots of activities.
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.
