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July 1973 was not a busy month in comparison with other months in the village calendar apart from the parish council and the cricket club.
During July, various residents applied to the council for permission to begin a variety of businesses. Mr Calver of Danaway Fisheries in Forge Lane applied for a licence to make and sell ice cream at the premises, while Mr Bennett from The Poles applied for a licence to make and sell sausages. Some residents clearly saw new business opportunities in the village, which had expanded rapidly since the early 1960s.
Permission was granted to Mrs Swift to begin a business to extract and dispose of fumes, but it was discovered that she had installed the extractor without permission from the council. Residents had also complained about the smell from the building, but the council did not take any action.
The parish council complained to the National Bus Company for a more regular bus service for school children in the village. This was because about 80 children from Upchurch had been stranded in Rainham for about two hours, waiting for the bus to bring them home. The National Bus Company accepted responsibility and promised to provide a more regular and reliable service.
Sittingbourne Fire Brigade visited Upchurch Play Group, where they gave a demonstration of fire-fighting to the children who were allowed to participate, which caused a lot of excitement. This led to a photograph of the children in action with hosepipes being published in the East Kent Gazette newspaper.
Village sporting affairs were dominated by the successes of Upchurch Cricket Club, who were experiencing a good period in terms of results, mainly due to the exploits of well-known professional footballer Derek Hales.
Having returned to play cricket for Upchurch after a season playing football for Luton Town, Derek Hales had a great start by hitting 120 runs against Elham. Gerald Smith backed him up with a useful 25 as Upchurch totalled 200. In reply, Elham could only manage 130 all out, as Bob Goodson 4-38 and Basil Barden 2-35, were the pick of the Upchurch bowlers. This was a special month for the two Hales brothers as Derek was transferred from Luton Town to Charlton Athletic, while Ray Hales decided to join Chatham Town from Sittingbourne, on the basis that Chatham played at a higher level.
In the next match after Elham, Upchurch defeated Lenham Storage. Upchurch scored 192 mainly due to Gerald Smith hitting 50 runs and being well backed up by Tucker 37 and Dickenson 27, not out. Lenham Storage were then bowled out for 57, with Bryan Veale taking 4 wickets for 23 runs and Basil Barden taking 3 wickets for 18.
Derek Hales continued building on his early successes with a remarkable bowling performance which became a club record when he took all ten Cooling wickets for only 18 runs. Cooling were bowled out for 57 runs which left Upchurch with an easy victory after Ian Daniel had scored 24 runs.
Derek Hales’ relentless success continued against Gravesend NALGO the following week when he scored another century of 105. Upchurch scored 210. Gravesend managed to score 106 in reply, with Derek Hales taking 3 wickets for 10 runs and Bob Goodson taking 3 wickets for 28 runs. This ended a very successful month for Upchurch Cricket Club.
Another well-known local cricketer and footballer made the news when David Pullen from Rainham married Glynis Tyler from Chaffes Lane in the village church. David Pullen had played football for Gillingham Youth and Rainham Youth and cricket for Chatham Nomads Cricket Club. The married couple chose to live in Upchurch.
July ended with some remarkable cricket at Upchurch Cricket Club, still fourteen years away from getting its present ground at Holywell Lane, while the council dealt with numerous monthly affairs.
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.
The coronation of a young Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the largest event in the UK in 1953. The first coronation to be fully covered on TV. It captivated the nation with pomp and ceremony, similar to the recent coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
In Upchurch, a committee chaired by Cecil Bishop from Horsham Lane was formed to decide how the event should be celebrated in the village and how money should be raised.
Money raising events were soon underway in April, with a jumble sale and a house to house collection that raised £16. The committee also decided that all children under school age should receive a coronation souvenir and that a competition should take place to find the best decorated house and garden in the village. Mrs Porter from Crown Cottage at Ham Green won the Best Decorated House Competition, and Mrs Brunt from Oak Lane won the Best Decorated Garden Competition. This proved to be a very popular and well supported activity.
Upchurch Football Club planned to stage a coronation six a side football competition in May, but the KCFA refused permission. This setback soon passed as a coronation marathon was arranged for June 5th, and in preparation for this, the trophies were put on display in the post office. With competitions for men, women and juniors, it proved to be a great success and raised £30 for the coronation funds. The winners included Trevor Syfleet (men), Pat Atkinson (women), John Gilbert (boys) and Janice Lacy (girls). Carnival Queen Inys Hales presented the prizes. A hard working committee consisting of Mr Atkinson, Mr Bass, Mr Stewart, Mr Higgins and Mrs Bronger organised the event.
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh in
their coronation portrait, 1953.
The following Saturday saw the opening of coronation activities in the Paddock by Upchurch vicar Reverend Clark which also proved successful, raising £120. Events included maypole dancing, a fancy dress parade and races. Red, white and blue balloons and bunting decorated the Infants School, where free teas were served to children and pensioners by Mrs Burton, Mrs Grigg and Mrs Colvin. In addition, the Rainham & District Co-operative Society presented a special silver Elizabethan coin to Upchurch children to celebrate the coronation. Coronation mugs were also presented as souvenirs to all families in the parish.
A special coronation cricket match took place between Upchurch and Rainham at Berengrove Park in Rainham the following Monday. Unfortunately, Upchurch lost the match, but a collection raised £3 on the ground. However, the most popular and most well attended activity took place at the Old Forge in Forge Lane, where Vic Mannering, representing the Upchurch branch of the Conservative Association, showed a blockbuster film every second week to raise money for the Coronation funds.
In October, at a special coronation committee funds meeting at the Infants School, secretary Ted Tress explained that £134 had been obtained from donations, £104 had already been spent on the celebrations, and £30 was in hand. This led to a public meeting being called on Thursday, November 12th, to decide how the excess money should be spent, and demonstrated that with sound organisation and fundraising efforts, the village coronation celebrations had proven to be highly successful, making 1953 a year to remember.
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.
May 1973 proved to be a busy and significant month as arguments about the future of the Otterham Quay caravan site continued.
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.
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.
Ray Kemsley has served a long career in the police force and spent much of his time in Upchurch as the resident policeman, where he continues to live today as a retiree.
Ray began duty as a police cadet based at Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Nackington in March 1964. On becoming a police constable, Ray was posted to Gillingham first, where he met his future wife, Brenda, who served as a policewoman.
His duty as the resident Upchurch policeman began on 9th March 1965. Ray also served in Hartlip and Lower Halstow on a rota basis. When on duty, he was required to turn up anywhere within the Sittingbourne area, so he had a very full schedule.
What were Ray’s early impressions of Upchurch? Ray explains: “I was used to village life as I was brought up in the country at Badlesmere near Faversham… I spent most of my childhood on a local farm. The farmer had a son six months younger than me, but we were treated the same, and we worked hard from an early age harvesting and feeding the animals.”
During his time as the village policeman, Ray had to deal with a variety of crimes, such as the theft of fruit during the picking season, stolen turkeys at Christmas and sometimes the theft of a vehicle or caravan. Ray says: “Local people were the best source of information for solving these crimes.”
Ray Kemsley in police uniform - 1968.
In March 1973, a siege took place at 90 Chaffes Lane, where an armed and dangerous criminal held a family hostage. Ray did not have much involvement in this. Although he was kept informed of developments. Other police arrived at the scene, and Ray stayed in his office making cups of tea for the officers who were involved. Eventually, the criminal holding the hostages was overpowered and arrested, which brought the siege to an end.
Ray’s worst experience as a local policeman was at Kingsdown near Milstead when a light aircraft crashed, killing four people. Ray says: “In those days, one was not sent to see a psychiatrist - you just had to live with it. The smell of burning flesh lasted with me for about ten years.”
He also remembers funny experiences, particularly when shotgun certificates were first introduced. These had to be renewed every three years, but some people would forget and face prosecution. Ray explains: “Eventually, we were instructed to report people for not having a shotgun certificate, and I would have to confiscate their gun. The first person I reported was a well-known local businessman. I duly reported him and confiscated his gun one Sunday. The next morning, I went to Sittingbourne Police Station, where the station sergeant demanded to know what I had been up to because every local farmer had been in to get their shotgun renewal forms, but the police station had run out of them. Obviously, my reporting the local businessman had the desired effect, and from then on, everyone wanted to renew on time! The businessman I reported was given a conditional discharge by the local magistrate.”
What does Ray think about the village today? “It has changed immensely with the increase in population. Our local school is one of two centres of activity, which I have been part of for many years, first as a police officer organising cycling proficiency and giving talks about the highway code to children and for almost 40 years as a school governor. The other is the village hall, which is used a great deal these days. During the 1960s, I made the odd appearance at the youth club held at the village hall every Sunday evening. I also got involved with the village carnival and served on the carnival committee for a while.”
Ray did not always work alone in the village, he was often assisted by part-time Upchurch policemen Fred Wilson and Cecil Maxted at larger village events during the 1960s, such as the carnival. Outside of Upchurch, Ray was sometimes assisted by a rural sergeant and a police constable based in Newington. There were also rural officers in Bapchild and Tunstall.
After reaching the rank of Detective Sergeant, Ray eventually retired from the police on 31st December 1995 after completing 32 years of service, which included time in the cadets. After this, Ray worked for a security company for six months, then returned to work for Kent Police as a Duties Planning Officer and then as an Assistant Business Manager specialising in health and safety for Swale.
Ray enjoyed his time as a policeman in the village. He says: “I knew several local farmers before I came to Upchurch because my family owned a haulage business and would deliver to them.”
He continued to live in the village after 1973 when rural policing finished, and he was given the opportunity to buy the police house situated opposite the present doctor’s surgery in Oak Lane. Ray finally retired completely from the police in April 2008.
Now happily spending his retirement in the village with his wife, Brenda. Ray says: “I would like to think the village community of today would still pull together at a time of crisis as villagers did during the winter of 1987 and the hurricane of October 1987.”
Ray and Brenda Kemsley have been long-serving and active members of the Upchurch village community since the 1960s and have no plans to move away.
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.
A siege with hostages in Chaffes Lane, pigeons bombing residents and arguments raging about the Maplin Development plan, March 1973 turned into a month of action in Upchurch.
Two criminals had broken into a Chatham gun shop and had stolen a shotgun and cartridges. One of the men had later sprayed ammonia into the face of a police constable leading to a police chase for the two criminals. The police caught and arrested one of the men, but the other escaped, which led to a manhunt.
The armed criminal trying to evade the police reached and wandered the streets of Upchurch during the night, then posing as a policeman, managed to get entry into the Rahman household at 90 Chaffes Lane, where Mr and Mrs Rahman, their three children and mother of Mrs Rahman, Mrs Clemons resided. The criminal forced the family from their bedrooms and into the living room, where they were held hostage. Mr Rahman was later allowed to use the outside toilet when he was able to escape and alert a policeman living nearby, believed to have been part-time constable Fred Wilson who lived at Gore Bank in Chaffes Lane. More police then arrived, and an armed police cordon was set up around the house, and the neighbours were evacuated. The Deputy Chief Constable of Kent named Mr Haslam, not in uniform and posing as a Council Welfare Officer, then negotiated with the criminal. During the negotiations, Mrs Clemons was sent out to bring a car for the criminal’s escape and the youngest child freed. When Mr Haslam persuaded the criminal to let him enter the house to check the children, the police moved in, and after a scuffle, they arrested the criminal, which ended the siege.
When the criminal appeared in court with his partner, the judge sentenced both men to fourteen years imprisonment for a wide variety of crimes and described them as the ‘enemies of society.’
The proposed plan for the Maplin development, which would mean an airport and a seaport on the banks of the River Medway and would take the islands in the river and the lower part of Upchurch on the Ham Green peninsular, was discussed at a select committee in the Houses of Parliament and a decision for or against the development, was expected in the Spring. For farmers in the Ham Green and Poot Lane areas, it would mean the sale of their land or the compulsory purchase of it. People interested attended an open meeting chaired by TV presenter Raymond Baxter in Chatham Town Hall. Mr Baxter outlined the proposal, and then a representative of Maplin answered questions from the audience that included Bayford and Ham Green farmers Charles and Philip Barling and Jack Wood.
Complaints from Upchurch residents were made to Swale Rural Council about pigeons bombing them with droppings. Mr G Gilbert, clerk to the parish council, said, ‘I don’t think anything will happen to the pigeons. They may well get destroyed, but although the villagers may want to get rid of the pigeons, I don’t think they want them to be killed.’
In village sporting affairs, Derek Hales was selected to play his second First Team game for Luton Town against Sunderland in the F A Cup quarter-finals. Meanwhile, scouts from Luton Town and Gillingham watched his younger brother Ray, who was scoring lots of goals for Sittingbourne. But Ray had misgivings about becoming a professional footballer because he felt that unless he was offered a big salary, he would prefer to continue working in his present job and play for Sittingbourne at weekends.
In other sporting affairs, Upchurch Table Tennis Club First Team continued to top Division Three of the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League even after suffering defeat against Wyvern. The other teams were holding their own in their respective divisions, and the Monday evening practice sessions organised by Rich Boakes were well attended.
In a fairly busy month for the village, the Chaffes Lane siege became the main talking point, the council dealt with the bombing pigeons and the Maplin development was finally shelved and did not take place, meaning that Ham Green and Bayford farmers would not lose their land to compulsory purchase and could continue farming.
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.
February 1973 had the first snow of the winter, arguments for a proposed new caravan site and the crumbling of a dangerous chimney stack on a listed village building. It also saw the challenging of Swale Council by members of the Women’s Institute and the folding of the Sunday League village football club. February turned out to be quite a revealing month.
The biggest question of the month concerned the possibility of a new residential caravan site in Poot Lane. Mr Beckenham, the owner of Otterham Quay caravan site, made an application for this, but he met with opposition. Swale council rejected the application on the grounds that it would create demands for an unacceptable number of planning applications and for more public services. The site was also outside any area intended for development. Swale Council argued that the Poot Lane site was too close to the village centre and that the narrow road was unsuitable for an increase in traffic. According to the East Kent Gazette angry village residents accused the people living on the caravan site as being gypsies.
Residents had mixed views about a new caravan site in Poot Lane, but Mr Beckenham decided to challenge Swale Council’s decision, so he appealed and succeeded in getting a hearing at the Swale Council offices.
Residents at the Otterham Quay caravan site did not want to move. The lease on the site held by Redland Bricks expired in 1972. This meant that they could possibly lose their homes if the planning appeal failed.
At the Swale Council offices, residents of the caravan site presented their views about a new site in Poot Lane, and 73 voted in favour of it. However, Swale Council turned down the appeal after all the arguments had been heard, so a new caravan site in Poot Lane did not happen. The council told Mr Beckenham to continue maintaining the site at Otterham Quay, and residents did not lose their homes.
While arguments about a new caravan site raged, a fire took place at the existing site. Neighbours saw flames rising high into the air from a caravan belonging to a young couple named Mr and Mrs Gifford. The fire burnt everything the couple had causing about £1,500 of damage. Mr Gifford vowed never to live in a caravan again.
Wayside is located opposite the church in Horsham Lane and dates back to the late
fourteenth century. Amongst other uses, it has been a convent and a vicarage.
In the village centre, a chimney stack on the roof of Wayside in Horsham Lane, became a focus of concern as it was on the point of collapsing onto the road below and was considered to be unsafe. The County Planning Officer suggested that repair work was needed to prevent it falling down or that the whole chimney stack should be demolished and rebuilt.
In village sporting affairs, Upchurch United decided to withdraw from the Medway Sunday League as they had problems raising a team due to lack of interest with the team positioned at the bottom of the premier division. So sadly ended one of the most talented football teams ever to represent Upchurch.
During February, Derek Hales, who had become a professional footballer, had already scored 23 goals for Luton Town Reserves that season. This led to him being picked to make his debut for the First team against Cardiff City. Although the match ended 1-1, Derek Hales had a dream start scoring the only Luton goal and having two other goals disallowed due to infringements. Inexplicably he was dropped for the next game.
Closer to home, Derek’s younger brother Ray who played for Upchurch Cricket Club during the Summer was regularly hitting the headlines by scoring lots of goals for Sittingbourne. In February, he scored hat tricks (three goals) against Deal Town and Hastings and followed this up with four goals in a 6-0 win over Whitstable, leading to professional clubs taking an interest in him.
In other village sports, Upchurch Table Tennis First team were doing very well in Division Three of the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League, maintaining top position with Steve Davies from Horsham Lane regularly winning the most games.
Sad news reached the village about the death of former resident and railway worker Robert ‘Taffy’ Burnell, aged 63, who was killed by an oncoming train just outside Faversham railway station while he was acting as a lookout for the workers while working on the line.
During February, the streets of Upchurch became very dirty and covered with litter mainly due to the death of the village road sweeper. Pauline Tomlinson from Crosier Court became so concerned that she repeatedly called Swale Council to deal with the problem, but she had little success. Because of this, she raised the matter at the Women’s Institute, where she was a member. The ladies decided to take turns repeatedly calling Swale Council over a two-day period until they got a positive response.
The ladies formed a queue outside the public telephone box in Horsham Lane and succeeded in making 120 calls during the two days. They finally got a response, but it was one of passing the buck. Swale Council argued that while they had responsibility to have the roads swept and cleaned, the litter problem was the responsibility of Kent County Council to solve. Both councils eventually agreed to solve the problem, but it could not happen until the following month, so the ladies had to wait, but at least they succeeded in getting a response and some promised action.
So ended a month packed with activity. Sporting news was mixed, but a solution was found with regard to the question of a new caravan site which pleased the residents. Swale Council and Kent County Council eventually accepted responsibility to solve the problem of dirty streets covered with litter and the chimney stack on Wayside was eventually repaired.
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.
Formed in 1967 and perhaps the most talented football team ever to represent the village, Upchurch United were a highly successful squad with some outstanding players.
Playing home matches on Upchurch Recreation Ground in colours of red shirts, white shorts and red stockings, the team consisted of the local football talent in Upchurch and the surrounding area.
Keith Tress from Lower Halstow played in goal, while the defence consisted of brothers Rodney and Terry Jones from Lower Halstow and Richard Woolley from Horsham Lane in Upchurch. Aidan O’Sullivan from Chatham was a dominant and skilful midfield player assisted by Andy Long from Forge Lane in Upchurch. However, the main strength of the team lay in the powerful attacking duo of Rodney Diddams and Derek Hales, who both played for West Ham Youth on Saturdays and who scored most of the 211 goals accumulated by Upchurch that season. They were also assisted up front by Dave Whibley from Sittingbourne, Derek ‘Chud’ Wraight from The Street in Upchurch, and Steve Davies from Horsham Lane played periodically.
Centre half Rodney Jones usually organised the team assisted by adults such as Eric Woolley, and several parents assisted in transporting the players to away matches. As time passed, the Crown publican Bill Cockhill got involved, and the Crown eventually became the base for the club when they graduated to the Adult Sunday League.
The team had lots of support at home matches with Annie Bronger from Gore Bank being the most loyal and vocal. Two Upchurch based referees officiated most of the home matches. These were Kent League referee Fred Wilson and local league ref Dave Bronger from Gore Bank in Chaffes Lane.
Upchurch United Boys players Derek Hales, Rodney Diddams and Aidan O’Sullivan.
Photographed while playing for Hempstead United at Bowaters Sittingbourne in 1970-71.
The facilities on the recreation ground were basic as the players changed in a wooden hut without showers or a toilet but there was a space between the changing rooms for the team talk, and distribution of orange pieces at half time and the boiling of water for a cup of tea at the end of matches. Goal posts and nets had to be erected before matches and taken down at the end by the players.
After a poor start to the season with a 5-3 defeat to Rede Court and a 2-2 draw with Rainham Youth, the attacking duo of Derek Hales and Rodney Diddams combined to regularly destroy opposition teams. In some matches, the score ended in double figures with 26-0 being the highest. The league very soon became a two horse race between Upchurch United and Rainham Youth.
After drawing earlier in the season, the two teams met again in the League Cup in Upchurch. This time, Upchurch got revenge by defeating their neighbours 3-0. Rainham held the Upchurch Boys for a while before Upchurch opened the scoring, but they could not extend their lead before the interval as Derek Hales had his penalty saved by Rainham goalkeeper Dave Wood. In the second half, Rodney Diddams and Derek Hales added two further goals to become victorious against a Rainham team consisting of three Gillingham Youth players in Graham Knight, Dave Pullen and John Higginson.
As the season progressed, the Upchurch Boys did very well in the cup competitions, winning the League Cup, the Sittingbourne Charity Cup and the Kent Minor Cup, but they did not have it all their own way as they were runners-up to Rede Court in the Sheppey Charity Cup.
Playing the final at Sheppey United’s old ground at Botony Road, Upchurch fell a goal behind fairly early in the game, and Rede Court frustrated them by employing packed defensive tactics and having a player follow Derek Hales and tackling or fouling him whenever he got the ball. The tactic worked, but it angered the Upchurch supporters, and as the players left the pitch for half time an Upchurch supporter ran onto the pitch and attacked and flattened the Rede Court player who had successfully marked Derek Hales. Parents Eric Woolley and Dick Hales helped calm a very tense situation, the stricken Rede Court player soon recovered and the match continued without further incident. Rede Court employed the same defensive tactics in the second half and won the match 1-0.
Upchurch United also participated in the Medway Minor Cup. They trounced Rede Court 8-1 in the semi-finals before meeting Boughton in the final at Faversham Football Ground. Upchurch won the match 6-2 after Boughton had taken an early lead.
The boys met local rivals Rainham Youth in the Sittingbourne Charity Cup at Sheppey United’s ground. After an evenly matched first half, Upchurch overran Rainham Youth in the second half mainly due to an outstanding one man display by Rodney Diddams who scored a hat trick enabling Upchurch to win 5-1.
Upchurch had their greatest success in the Kent Minor Cup disposing of Sheppey Rangers 15-1, Boughton 7-2 and Bellwood 7-1. In the semi-final, they played Folkestone CYC, and in a very close match, Upchurch won 5-4. In the final, the team met Westgate, and in another exciting game, they won 5-2 to achieve their greatest success winning the Kent Minor Cup and becoming Kent champions.
Before the season ended, Upchurch had one more important match to play against Rainham Youth to decide the Medway Minor League Championship. Playing the match at Upchurch, Rainham Youth hit top form and defeated Upchurch 4-1 to win the championship with Upchurch runners-up.
Several of the Upchurch players progressed to a much higher level of football. Aidan O’Sullivan played for Dartford, Rodney Diddams played for West Ham Youth, Dartford and Faversham Town but Derek Hales reached the highest level playing for West Ham Youth, Luton, Charlton, West Ham, Derby and Gillingham. He also became the highest goal scorer in Charlton’s history.
Upchurch United Boys only played for one season at under-18 level then they were placed in the Premier Division of the Medway Sunday League in which they competed favourably without the services of Derek Hales who had a long and successful career as a professional footballer.
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.
December proceeded with adults eagerly awaiting the Christmas holidays and children impatiently waiting to receive and open their presents on Christmas Day. However, during this festive period, news of a serious incident arose about a fire in a house belonging to the Oliver family in Chaffes Lane.
While watching TV in the living room with his younger brother Anton, eleven year old Mark Oliver noticed smoke coming from under the kitchen door. Mark opened the door to see flames and smoke belching from the oven. The two boys immediately vacated the house, but Mark then realised that his baby sister Cheryl was still inside. Without hesitation, Mark rushed back into the house through a wall of fire and smoke, found his baby sister, tucked her inside the front of his pullover and rushed back through the burning inferno in the kitchen until they were safely outside. Amazingly, the two children did not suffer any serious burns, and Mark instantly became an Upchurch hero.
The fire had been caused by Mark’s mother, Christine Oliver, leaving a pan of boiling potatoes on the oven and then departing to do some shopping without turning off the switch. The potatoes were burnt as flames, and smoke rose higher from the oven.
A neighbour who had heard Anton screaming came to the house to investigate and upon finding the fire in the kitchen, threw a wet cloth over the oven, which caused the fire to subside. The fire service was then called but when they arrived, the fire had already finished.
The firemen praised Mark for his bravery, and then a shocked Mrs Oliver arrived with her shopping. She realized her mistake of leaving the boiling potatoes on the oven and then leaving the house, but she also praised Mark for his brave actions.
Because of his courageous act, Mark was nominated for the ‘Charlie Chester Award of the Month’ and invited to the BBC’s Paris Studio in Regent Street, London. Accompanied by his proud parents Stuart and Christine Oliver and his brother Anton, Mark received his award in the form of an inscribed scroll from the comedian Charlie Chester who felt that Mark deserved more and so he gave him a £1 note. The presentation formed part of a radio show to be broadcast on New Year’s Eve.
At the monthly parish council meeting chairman, Bryan Veale expressed his anger regarding the delay of the Department of the Environment’s inquiry date for the compulsory purchase of land in Forge Lane for a new Holywell School. A date for the inquiry had not been set. In the meantime, the existing Infant’s School in the Street had become seriously overcrowded. The situation became so serious that Mrs M Barton contacted local Conservative MP Roger Moate to see if he could use his influence to make the Department of the Environment set a date for the Inquiry. The problem dragged on, and the new school did not become reality until 1975.
In village sporting affairs, Upchurch United, who played in the Medway Sunday League Premier Division, were struggling, second from bottom in the table. In early December, they did manage a 1-1 draw with Twydall Engineers, and they were on the losing end of a very good game against Berry Wiggins. After going three goals down, Steve Davies and Ian Daniel pulled two goals back but then Berry Wiggins scored three more goals to claim victory.
All was not bad news as Steve Davies from Horsham Lane, one of the leading village table tennis players along with brothers Peter and Brian Boakes, saw the table tennis club’s first team go top of Division Three and the fifth team top Division Five in the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League during the Christmas period. The table tennis club, organised by Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane, met every Monday evening in the village hall.
Village superstar sportsman Derek Hales who had scored a large number of goals for Upchurch United Boys in 1967, had become a full time professional footballer with Luton Town in the Second Division (now the Championship) of the English Football League, while his two brothers Richard and Ray were regularly banging in the goals for Sittingbourne Football Club.
Hempstead United 1970-71 - New Brompton League Champions and
Kent Junior Cup Winners. Taken at Bowaters Sittingbourne.
Derek Hales pictured, second from left in the bottom row,
and Rod Diddams, second from right.
The goalkeeper is writer David Wood from Upchurch.
Derek Hales, son of village butcher Dick Hales, also proved to be an exceptional cricketer with Upchurch Cricket Club and in December, he won the East Kent Gazette and North Kent Times Cricket Bat Award for the highest individual score of 166 against Bredgar Cricket Club. He also scored 128 against Rodmersham, 123 against Lenham and he made 1,000 runs for the season. As a bowler, he took 45 wickets to contribute to the best season for Upchurch Cricket Club in eighteen years. These were the early years which saw Upchurch Cricket Club gradually transform from being a very average Swale village club to being a major force in Kent cricket with a first class ground and facilities.
In other village club affairs, the Women’s Institute were shown a film in which pop star Cliff Richard discussed the activities of the Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied organisation (PHAB). After the film, the result of the Competition of the Month was announced. The competition involved the ladies knitting a square. Mrs Cox won the competition with Mrs Gilbert and Mrs Skinner joint second.
The Women’s Institute also held its annual meeting in December to elect officials and form a new committee. Mrs Gilbert was elected president, Mrs Mitchell secretary and Mrs Goodson treasurer. The new committee consisted of Mrs Ambers, Mrs Dickenson, Mrs Lepinier, Mrs New, Mrs Smith, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Skinner and Mrs Bridger.
As always, some people hoped for a white Christmas, and in the week before Christmas Day, a cold spell saw the temperature drop to -13 degrees for one night, but mild weather soon returned, and a white Christmas failed to materialise.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, parties were held by the two village schools and clubs, such as the Darby and Joan Club. A torchlight procession also took place. It started from the Crown pub and proceeded to Bishop Lane. It then turned and continued back to the village centre.
A Christmas Sale took place in the village hall, which had Christmas decorations, a Christmas tree and a variety of stalls selling different products. The Brass Band of the Medway RAF Association played music, and Santa Claus sat in a grotto waiting for children to visit him. The sale raised about £40 for the Village Hall Extension Fund.
When Christmas Day arrived, the church opened for a Christmas morning service led by Father Bradshaw while most people stayed at home, eating, drinking and watching television. Jimmy Osmond topped the pop charts with his song ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool’, and The BBC showed a variety of attractive programmes. These included ‘The Morecombe and Wise Christmas Show’ with guest stars actress Glenda Jackson, singer Vera Lynn and Kenny Ball and his jazzmen. The televised pantomime ‘Dick Wittington’ starred Dick Emery, ‘Christmas Night with the Stars’ featured the Two Ronnies, Cilla Black, the Goodies Mike Yarwood and Dad’s Army. Jimmy Saville and Ed Stewart presented ‘Top of the Pops’, Rolf Harris presented ‘Disney Time’, and of course, the Queen’s Christmas Message to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth appeared during the afternoon.
On Boxing Day, some people went for walks while others attended sports events. During the evening, the local pubs were packed, as people celebrated, and some village youths attended the Central Hotel Christmas Disco in Gillingham. It was time for people to party.
When Christmas Day and Boxing Day had passed, residents prepared themselves for the New Year celebrations and December passed as an interesting month with a variety of memorable incidents, successes and activities.
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.
Look upwards in Westminster Hall, and you will see a beautiful set of curved beams on the ceiling. These have a connection with Upchurch as royal carpenter Hugh Herland of Upchurch designed them and organised the work to lift and hang the beams into place.
Hugh Herland lived in Upchurch with his wife Joan from 1378 to 1391. His carpentry work became so well known that King Richard II made him the royal carpenter. He also worked on projects at the Tower of London, Rochester Castle, Queenborough Castle and many others.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state below the hammer-beam roof at Westminster Hall.
Work to construct the roof at Westminster Hall began in 1393 and finished in 1399 and was supervised by Hugh Herland and stone mason Henri Yevele. The hall's timber beams and arches were framed in Farnham, Surrey and then transported on barges and wagons to Westminster. The arches were joined at the apex with a span of 60 feet. These held the weight of the roof. The arches themselves were supported by buttressed walls. When completed, it became the largest hammer-beam roof in the world and is still considered an architectural masterpiece.
Because of the height, constructing the roof with the buttressed walls proved challenging and highly dangerous. The beams had to be lifted 92 feet and fitted into position by men working on very tall ladders. The result of the project involving many craftsmen is a large hall not obstructed with pillars that became the largest in Northern Europe and one of the great masterpieces of the medieval period.
When you are viewing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, look above to the ceiling where you will see the great work of Hugh Herland from Upchurch.
David Wood
Oliver Twist is the most famous fictional character with a local workhouse connection which Charles Dickens based on the old Chatham Workhouse. Many Upchurch residents also found their way into a similar place known as the Milton Union.
For most people living in Upchurch during the 19th century, work was hard, physical and seasonal, particularly on farms where most residents worked and where crop failures, bad weather and low prices caused farmers to periodically lay workers off. For those in poor families suffering long term unemployment support from the parish became available but with the introduction of Poor Law Reform in 1834, the system of poor relief was removed from the parish and became the responsibility of the workhouse.
The Milton Union was established just north of Sittingbourne in the village of Milton Regis in 1835 and was overseen by an elected board of twenty guardians. Upchurch, along with seventeen other local Swale villages came under its jurisdiction. The idea was to encourage able bodied people to work by making conditions in the workhouse harsh. However, not all those who entered were able bodied. Those with mental disorders, sickness, old age and infirmity, pregnant women and orphans also found their way in. Old age pensions and sickness benefit didn’t exist in those days so if a man couldn’t support his family or get help from relatives’ entry into the workhouse was almost inevitable.
To enter the Milton Union, poor people could make their own way there, attend the weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians or apply to the relieving officer who visited their parish each week. They could also be ordered there by the parish overseer. Upon arrival, newcomers were stripped, bathed, covered with flea powder, issued with a uniform and registered as able bodied or sick. People stayed there for varying amounts of time according to their circumstances and could be released at their own request if they sought work, signed off by the medical officer if they recovered from sickness or by death.
A basic diet of bread and cheese was served for breakfast and the main meal although meat and vegetables were sometimes served with the main meal. Water was the only drink available for inmates except for old people who were allowed to drink tea. Therefore, the workhouse was designed to be a deterrent, offering back breaking, gruelling work like picking oakum, smashing stones or cutting wood.
In the early years, from 1834 to 1870, only a relatively small number of Upchurch residents spent time in the workhouse for different reasons. For example, in 1835, Rosetta Coveney, aged seventeen, entered the Milton Union, although when given leave to attend church on February 7th, 1836, she failed to return. In 1835 the Union admissions book recorded William Brinstead, a widower aged 79, described as ‘wholly disabled’. He spent his entire old age as an inmate in the union.
Milton Workhouse 1887.
Thanks to Peter Higginbotham for use of the photograph.
For more information on the history of the workhouse,
In 1840 eleven Upchurch people were admitted to the Milton Union, including the Maud children who had been deserted and left as orphans, Daniel Luckhurst with bad legs, Mary Seager with no place to live, James Clark with ague and Mary Pepper for having a ‘bastard.’
There is little evidence of misbehaviour by workhouse inmates from Upchurch but there was an exception in May 1841 when Mary Seager, formerly an agricultural worker from Wetham Green, was sent from the Milton Union to Canterbury jail for 21 days due to ‘bad conduct’. According to the union record book, she refused to pick oakum and was sent to the magistrate for ‘the most violent language to the Master and two of the Guardians.’ She periodically returned to the union, then in June 1853, after being registered as destitute, was again committed to prison for refusing work offered to her. From 1848 to the 1870s, she became a frequent visitor to the Milton Union for reasons which included sickness, rheumatism, destitution and no place to live.
Some Upchurch people eventually died in the Milton Union, like Mary Grigsby, who first entered the institution in 1836 and eventually died there of old age in 1859. In 1862 Sampson Scamp died there from unknown causes after spending various periods inside due to destitution. On July 7th, 1862, James Muggeridge was admitted by order of the village overseer because of fever. He died there several days later on July 12th.
Sometimes a girl who got pregnant out of wedlock could be turned out by her family and sent to the union on the order of the parish overseer. This is what happened to Mary Grundy on June 19th, 1862. An illegitimate child was usually entered in the admittance column of the union register as ‘bastard,’ a stigma that remained for life.
Some people only stayed in the workhouse short term due to seasonal unemployment. On July 31st, 1838, Upchurch resident John Hughes with his wife and five children were admitted but they were discharged on August 8th. James Watts was admitted, with his wife and four children on April 13th but only stayed until April 21st.
Ultimately, the workhouse was a last resort for most able bodied people because they viewed it with a sense of social stigma and dreaded the thought of going there, in the same way as going to prison. However, the institution served its purpose for desperate and needy people right up to the 1920s, when it finally came to an end.
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.
