November 2024 Edition of The Gabriel - Upchurch Village Magazine

Due to illness within the team, editor Dave Candy has taken the difficult decision to pull the plug on door-to-door deliveries of the November edition of The Gabriel. 

Dave would still like this month's parish magazine to reach the residents, and we are pleased to help by making it available to read online.

Please visit the link to read the magazine in PDF format: www.upchurchmatters.co.uk/Gabriel-November-2024.pdf

Our thoughts and best wishes for the future to everyone in The Gabriel team.

Upchurch Matters

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

Urgent Road Closure - Wallbridge Lane, Upchurch

It will be necessary to close Wallbridge Lane, Upchurch from Wednesday 6th November 2024 for up to 1 day.

The road will be closed from outside No.30 to outside No.40 and at the junction with Horsham Lane.

Temporary traffic signals will be placed on Horsham Lane.

The alternative route is via: Horsham Lane, The Street, Oak Lane and vice versa.

This is to enable carriageway repairs to be carried out by Kent County Council.

The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Poolside Bar & Courtyard - Christmas Party Night with P’ZAZ at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Email: bar@rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Temporary Road Closure - South Bush Lane, Rainham

It will be necessary to close part of South Bush Lane, Rainham from Monday 16th December 2024, with estimated completion by 20th December 2024.

The road will be closed in the vicinity of number 12, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via South Bush Lane, Meresborough Lane, Spade Lane, A2 London Road and South Bush Lane.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water pipe repair works are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

The Kent County Council Highways Helpline phone number is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Kent Police Surgery - Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch Ward

PC Jez Chittim.

Swale Neighbourhood Officer PC Jez Chittim is holding a police surgery at Holywell School, Forge Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7AE so residents can raise concerns about local policing issues they may have.

PC Chittim will be in the school reception on Saturday the 19th of October between 3:00pm and 5:00pm.

The surgery is for Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch residents, and it is an opportunity to find out what is being done to tackle the issues that matter to you.

If you are travelling by car, please park in the staff car park at the front of the school, and PC Chittim will let you in the gate.

Email: Jez.Chittim@kent.police.uk

Contact your local policing team at: https://bit.ly/3pprLHW

Is it an emergency? If so, please call: 999 now

Upchurch Matters

Important Notice to all Residents from The Gabriel

Dave Candy - Editor

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

SOLD OUT - Poolside Bar & Courtyard - Christmas Party with The New Jersey Boys and The Legends of Music Tribute Show at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Email: bar@rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

An Invitation to The Friends of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch - Bell Tower Restoration Project Talk and AGM

The Friends of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch (FOSM)

Talk and AGM

You are invited to a talk on Thursday the 24th of October 2024 from 7:00pm in the church.

Following a short meeting to transact AGM business we shall receive a talk from Elspeth Baeke on “The Bell Tower Restoration Project”.

Elspeth was the Project Manager on behalf of the Parochial Church Council and so speaks with first-hand knowledge on the matter.

The talk will review this now completed project - What was the problem? What was the solution? How did the community respond to funding the works?

The invitation to the talk is free of charge and open to all.

Wine and nibbles will be provided but donations will be welcomed.

The trustees look forward to seeing you at the AGM.

FOSM, as a registered secular charity, was formed to financially support the maintenance and repair of the historically listed church in the centre of our Parish. In this matter, FOSM has recently supported the Bell Tower Restoration Project by making grants to the church towards that project.

FOSM since being formed in 2011 has made grants to the church and will continue to do so in the future.

Grants made come from income raised through membership, donations, events and products. If you would like to become a Friend, i.e. a member, and support this charity, please contact Roger Pocock on: 01634 233521. Life or yearly memberships are available.

Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin

Chairman of FOSM 

Telephone: 01634 366113

Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

Christmas Market at Upchurch Village Hall with Proceeds to Gillingham Street Angels

20 Stalls

Tombola (children and adults)

Face Painting

Butlers Butties Hot Food Wagon

Refreshments

Raffle

Prizes to include:

Family Entrance to Wildwood

Family Entrance to Kent Life

Afternoon Tea for 4 at Bridgewood Manor Hotel

Meal for 2 at The Crown, Upchurch

2 Pantomime Tickets to Jack and the Beanstalk

Afternoon Tea for 2 at The BarnYard, Upchurch

£25 Voucher for The Rose & Crown, Hartlip

£20 Voucher for The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow

£25 Cash for Ginnys Gem Trees

Cuddly Toy Horse - Tyrone Ripley

Plus lots lots more!

All proceeds to Gillingham Street Angels

For more info, contact: janette.hodgers68@gmail.com

Website: www.thestreet-angels.org

Gillingham Street Angels

Three Towns Theatre Company Presents DRACULA!! at Upchurch Village Hall

To book tickets, Email: threetownscommittee@gmail.com

Website: www.threetownstheatrecompany.co.uk

Three Towns Theatre Company

Poolside Bar Music Night with Annie Love at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Email: bar@rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

St Mary's Church Fundraising Sale

Saturday 12th October between 10:00am - 11:30am

Homemade Cakes, Jams, Pickles, Scones and Savouries

Also Puzzles, Books, Bric-à-brac and sometimes Plants

Something for everyone!

Refreshments

Please help support this ancient building - Thank you

🍰 🍓 🧩 📚 🎨 🪴 ☕️ ➕

Upchurch Matters

Parcel Stolen - Bishop Lane, Upchurch

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/167972/24

At around 15:07 

o

n Monday the 30th of September

, 

somebody stole a recently delivered parcel from a doorstep in 

Bishop 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.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

Upchurch Parish Council Secures Grant Funding for New Play Equipment at The Paddock

Upchurch Parish Council is thrilled to announce that it has secured grants from The National Lottery Community Fund and Swale Borough Council Prosperity Fund to install an exciting new piece of play equipment at The Paddock, designed specifically for children aged 5-12 years old (Key Stage 2).

The grants, which marks significant investment in the local community, will enable the council to expand The Paddock's play area with an engaging and adventurous play structure tailored to the needs of slightly older children. This new equipment aims to offer a fun, active, and inclusive space for children to play, explore, and develop essential physical and social skills.

Vice Chair of Upchurch Parish Council, Pam Denny, expressed their gratitude for the funding, saying:

"We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and Swale Borough Council for their generous support. The addition of this new equipment will provide a much-needed resource for older children in our community, offering them a place to challenge themselves, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors."

The Paddock, already a popular destination for families, is set to become even more inclusive with the new addition, offering something for all age groups in the village. The design for the new equipment will be discussed at the next meeting of Upchurch Parish Council on Thursday 3rd October at 19:30 at Upchurch Village Hall, all members of the public are welcome. We hope to have the new equipment installed late 2024 / early 2025.

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer to Upchurch Parish Council

Tel: 07798 600696

Email: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday the 10th of October, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

As usual, we will be offering delicious cakes and savouries.

We will have our fantastic kid's snack deal - 5 items and a drink for £1. Where else would you get such wonderful value?

There will be crafts, a story for the children and a warm welcome for everyone.  

This all helps us support 4 children in Uganda to go to school and supply breakfast for a group of Ugandan children at their Saturday Club. How special is that?

Come and join us.

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk