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NHS Kent & Medway and NHS Sussex are working together to review and improve the NHS 111 service, and we’d really value your help.
NHS 111 is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers advice and support for urgent, non-emergency health issues, whether accessed online or by phone.
To ensure the service works well for everyone, we’re asking people who have used it to share their experiences.
The survey takes just 5 - 10 minutes and is completely confidential. Your feedback will help us:
• Understand what people think of the NHS 111 service
• Identify any challenges or barriers to using it
• Learn how the service can be improved
Survey link: www.haveyoursayinkentandmedway.co.uk/nhs-111
Thank you for helping shape a better NHS 111 for your community.
The survey closes on Monday, 4th August.
NHS Kent and Medway
SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU!
Upchurch Choral Society are always happy to welcome new members.
We are a four-voice part choir that rehearses on Fridays in St Mary’s Church, Upchurch.
Our next rehearsal is on Friday, 5th September at 7:45pm, when we begin rehearsing for a concert featuring parts of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ on Sunday, 23rd November.
There are no auditions, and while the ability to read music is helpful, it is not essential.
If you are interested, please call me on: 01634 361897.
Thank you
Liz Walters
Secretary Upchurch Choral Society
Author Richard Emmett’s new book, The Train that Jumped the Gap, examines the wartime railway disaster in Oak Lane, which happened on Wednesday, 16th August 1944.
Richard will be giving a talk for the Friends of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch, about his research into this disaster at 7:00pm on Thursday, 25th September 2025, at St Mary’s Church, Upchurch, where his book will be available to purchase.
The talk will examine the tragic WW2 disaster when a Doodlebug flying bomb demolished the railway bridge at Oak Lane, Upchurch, causing the derailment of the London to Margate train.
It examines the facts gathered from various sources, including eyewitness accounts, to evaluate what happened on that ill-fated day.
Tickets are £5 with proceeds to the Friends of St Mary the Virgin, Upchurch.
Tea and cakes will be available with donations appreciated.
Proceeds of the book go to the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne/The Heritage Hub.
Upchurch Matters
On the 2nd Thursday of each month.
The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday, the 10th of July, 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
Swale Foodbank Collection
Thank you to everyone who donated food and other needed items in June.
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday, the 2nd of July, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Please bring your items in carrier bags.
We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, provided the food is long life and well within date.
Thank you
May God bless you ❤️
Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Saturday, 14th June, 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
“Summer Serenade”
A classical evening of beautiful music from Handel, Brahms, Elgar and others.
On Sunday, the 20th of July at 7:30pm in St Mary’s Church, Horsham Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7AL.
Interval refreshments in aid of Friends of St Mary’s.
Tickets £12 cash on the door (under 12’s free).
For further information, contact Upchurch Choral Society Secretary Liz Walters: 01634 361897
Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
It will be necessary to close part of Spade Lane, Upchurch, from Wednesday 23rd July 2025, with estimated completion by 24th July 2025, between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00, or until the works have been completed.
The road will be closed from the entrance to the distribution centre to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via A2 London Road, South Bush Lane, Meresborough Lane, Spade Lane and vice versa.
Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while pole replacement works are undertaken by Openreach.
For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.
The KCC Highways Helpline number is: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/83756/25
Between 00:01 and 19:42 on Sunday, the 18th of May, somebody gained entry to a Peugeot Bipper in The Poles, Upchurch and stole a large amount of tools.
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
Medway Towns Bridge Club has opened a new bridge group at Hartlip Village Hall to encourage everyone to play this marvelous game.
or call: 07947 190 535 to reserve your place.
Medway Towns Bridge Club
Saturday, 10th May, 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
On the 2nd Thursday of each month.
The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday, the 8th of May, 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
Swale Foodbank Collection
Thank you to everyone who donated food and other needed items in April.
I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 7th of May, between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Please bring your items in carrier bags.
We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.
All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.
Thank you
May God bless you ❤️
Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
It will be necessary to close part of Wallbridge Lane, Upchurch from Monday 30th June 2025, with estimated completion by 1st July 2025, or until the works have been completed.
The road will be closed between the junction with Oak Lane and number 8, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Oak Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Wallbridge Lane, and vice versa.
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 KCC Highways Helpline number is: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Wendy Pitts - Upchurch Women's Institute
Click the certificates to enlarge.
Congratulations to Gill Gay and Elspeth Baecke, this year’s very worthy winners of the Upchurch Parish Council - Community Awards Scheme 2025.
In a break from tradition, Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin presented awards to both Gill and Elspeth at this year’s Upchurch Annual Parish Meeting held in the village hall on Thursday, the 10th of April 2025.
Gills’s certificate reads:
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
UPCHURCH COMMUNITY AWARD
In recognition of the unwavering dedication to the Upchurch Food Bank, providing vital support to those in need with generosity, selflessly and consistently, in all weather conditions.
Elspeth’s certificate reads:
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
UPCHURCH COMMUNITY AWARD
The Upchurch Community Award is presented in recognition of your outstanding contribution and unwavering dedication to the community, particularly through your efforts in the Church Tower Restoration.
Thank you, Gill and Elspeth, for everything you do for our village and your support for those in need in the borough of Swale 👏🏼
In addition to their certificates, the ladies also received vouchers for Special High Tea for 2, generously donated by The BarnYard in Oak Lane, Upchurch.
The previous winners of the Kent Association of Local Councils - Community Awards Scheme in Upchurch are:
Pat New in 2017
Tracey Snellings in 2018
Ray Kemsley in 2019
No award given in 2020
Cia Merrall in 2021
John Arnold in 2022
Gerry Lewin in 2023
Terry Lewis (posthumous) in 2024
Upchurch Matters
Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 14th May 2025, at 7:00pm in the Back Hall
The Village Hall Management Committee is a group of volunteers that run the hall on behalf of the community.
It is made up of representatives from the regular users of the hall along with village reps.
The groups currently with an opportunity to nominate 2 reps each are the Parish Council, PCC, WI, Players, Bowls and UpARA.
At present, not all of these groups are part of the Hall Committee, and we hope to see this change at the AGM because we want all regular users to have a say in how the hall is run and to help shape its future.
The AGM is open to all as an opportunity for residents to find out what's been happening in the hall, what plans are being made, and to ask any questions.
Thank you
Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee
VE Day Now and Then
Thursday, the 8th of May 2025, marks 80 years since VE Day when the Second World War ended in Europe.
The long-anticipated news resulted in spontaneous celebrations across the country, and a national holiday was declared when people from all walks of life came together to mark the occasion.
However, the war in the East did not end until the 15th of August, 1945, when Japan finally surrendered. The day was celebrated worldwide as Victory over Japan (VJ Day).
To mark this important anniversary, families and communities are coming together to unite and celebrate 80 years of peace since the Second World War ended in Europe to remember the enormous sacrifices that were made both at home and abroad and to celebrate as people did 80 years ago, the arrival of peace in Europe.
Beacon Lighting
Upchurch Parish Council invites all residents to the Recreation Ground, Oak Lane, for a beacon lighting event to commemorate the VE Day 80th Anniversary on Thursday, the 8th of May, from 7:00pm.
The beacon will be lit at 9:30pm.
There will be refreshments and music. Please bring your own seating and blankets.
VE Day 80 is a tribute to those who fought for the freedom we all enjoy today and a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity that have defined our country ever since.
Upchurch Matters
Kay Wright - Chairman
Boom Hush Theatre Productions
