Attempted Theft of 2 Lawnmowers - Upchurch Cricket Club

Hartlip Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: XY/035910/15

Between the 12th and the 14th of October unknown persons attempted to steal 2 lawnmowers from Upchurch Cricket Club Pavilion in Holywell 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 Police Neighbourhood Watch
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Holywell Primary School Open Mornings for September 2016 Entrants

Liz Perrin
Administration Assistant
Holywell Primary School
Forge Lane
Upchurch
Sittingbourne
Kent ME9 7AE
Tel: 01634 388416
Email: office@holywell.kent.sch.uk

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Upchurch Horticultural Society - October Show Cancelled

Upchurch Horticultural Society regret to inform you that due to circumstances beyond their control the show scheduled for Saturday the 24th of October has been cancelled.

We hope to see you at the Village Fete next year in the mean time apologies to all those villagers who were looking forward to the show in October.

Steve Laming

Email: slaming@tycoint.com
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Winter Tea Room Aboard Edith May

Edith May Tea Room reopens for the winter season on Friday the 30th of October.

Homemade Cakes, Scones, Soup and a selection of Light Lunches available all day.

~ Tea Room Staff Required ~ 

Please contact: 07813 368137

We look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Edith May Trading Company

Email: info@edithmaybargecharter.co.uk

Website: www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk

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Robert Smith Book Signing of "A Dockyard Matey Makes Good"

Lower Halstow resident Robert Smith will be signing copies of his latest book "A Dockyard Matey Makes Good" on Saturday the 17th of October at Sunburst Books, 21 Station Road, Rainham, between

10:00am and 12:00pm.

Nigel Randall

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Swale Borough Council Community Safety Questionnaire - Tell Us What Matters to You?

Swale Community Safety Partnership is seeking the view of all members of the community to help us to establish what our local priorities should be. Whether you feel more attention should be paid to anti-social behaviour, burglary or deliberate fires to name just a few categories. Your views and the views of residents in your community are vital to help us to decide how to target our resources to make Swale a safer place.

Please complete our questionnaire by visiting ☞ here ☜ to tell us how much of a problem you feel certain issues are in your area and what your top 3 priorities are. If you would prefer a paper copy or for paper copies to share with your residents, these can be requested from: csu@swale.gov.uk or calling: 01795 417336. The deadline for responses is Friday 30th October 2015.

Many thanks

Stephanie Curtis | Safer and Stronger Communities Officer | Swale Borough Council

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Latest News from Upchurch WI

Hello Readers. Many of you will have seen in The Gabriel that to celebrate the Centenary of the WI we have been raising money to provide a Defibrillator for the Village.

We have been greatly helped by donations from village organisations and individuals for which we are very grateful. It is to be sited on the outside wall of Snaffles at the junction of Oak Lane and Chaffes Lane. The launch will be next Saturday, 17th October at 10:00am at the site and it would be lovely to see as many of you there as possible to celebrate with us as we officially hand over the Defibrillator to the Parish Council and the Village.

Councillor John Arnold already working to site the new village Defibrillator.

Please note: The Defibrillator will not actually be on site and operational until the day

of the launch on October 17th.

This will be followed by a Coffee Morning in the Village Hall at 10:30am (with lots of our renowned cakes and scones!) where there will be people available to answer any questions you may have about the Defibrilator and its use. We will also have a training session at a later date and you can sign up to register your interest at the Coffee Morning.

The talk at our next WI Meeting on October 13th is by Chris McCooey, entitled "Scandals - Sensational, salacious and sad" it would be good to see some new faces and you can be sure of a warm welcome.

Have you booked a table for our Quiz Night on Friday 23rd October starting at 7:30pm in the Village Hall? Tables of 6, food provided but bring your own drink and glass. You don't have to be a WI member, you don't even have to be female! Just get a group together and join us! Phone Chris on: 07796 860940 or Joyce on: 01634 232346 to book your table.

Christine Stevens

Upchurch WI

Website: www.thewi.org.uk

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Upchurch Parish Council Report - October 2015

The monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 1^st October at the Village Hall where 5 Councillors were present and 6 members of the public including Ward Cllr Wright and Ward Cllr Baldock.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2015 – It was proposed by Cllr Horton and seconded by Cllr Masson that they be accepted as a true record. All agreed.

Public Time– KCC Grants – Ward Cllr Baldock advised that next year would possibly be his last year as a Councillor and therefore Parish’s should start looking into any major projects that they would like to undertake with a view to Cllr Baldock providing a quarter of the funding with the other three quarters being worked into the precept. Bus Timetable update – Ward Cllr Baldock reported that leaflets had been distributed throughout Upchurch and so far a very good response has been received. Lower Halstow are still awaiting a leaflet drop. The next stage will be to collate the results and put a case forward to the KCC transport cabinet.  

Correspondence – Letter of resignation – Cllr Tucker advised the members that a letter of resignation had been received from Cllr Maria Rose and all agreed that she would be missed and that she had been a committed member of the Parish Council.  Village Hall price increase – The Clerk advised the members that she had received notification of minimal price increases for the hire of the village hall.

Planning – 15/507464/FULL -  3A Upchurch Poultry Farm, Poot Lane – It was agreed that there appear to be no issues with this application. Cllr Tucker will forward a response for the Clerk to submit before the 14^th October 2015. 15/502716/FULL – Breach Farm Paddocks, Newington – Cllr Lewin reported that permission was granted for this application at the Swale planning meeting on 23^rd September 2015. Both Cllr Lewin and Ward Cllr Wright objected strongly to this. 14/505230/FULL Jack Russell Place Cllr Lewin reported that permission was granted for this application at the Swale planning meeting on 29^th September 2015. Horsham Lane Garage – The Clerk reported that the she had received a demolition notice for the garage. The demolition will be controlled by the conditions set out by the planning department. These conditions are available from the Clerk or via the website.

Other Planning - Traveller Sites – Cllr Lewin reported that the Government have produced a new policy on traveller sites. This policy is applicable from August 2015 although Swale Borough Council are still awaiting guidance on this. Bearing Fruits – Cllr Lewin reported that the draft was submitted in April 2015 to the Inspector, following this the Inspector has asked for further information and commented that the number of housing being submitted at 540 is distant from the objective assessed and has asked that this be reassessed. Following the reassessment a figure of 776 will be published but Swale will be meeting with the Inspector in November to defend its initial figure of 540.

Finance – The Clerk reported that she had received a cheque for £125 from Allianz insurance in respect of the excess paid when a vehicle collided with the allotment fence. Finance meeting update – It was agreed at the finance meeting that following the playground inspection, the removal of the old play equipment and rubber matting would need to take priority. It had also been agreed that the Parish Council would donate £500 to the village hall towards painting costs.

Casual Vacancy – As there are currently three vacancies on the Parish Council, it was agreed that a leaflet drop would take place throughout the village to promote these vacancies.

Allotments – An allotment rent increase for next year was agreed.

Recreation Ground – The Clerk reported that a bench had been vandalised and that this had been reported to the PCSO John Cork. The Clerk was asked to speak to the insurance company regarding making a claim for this. The Clerk also reported that a large amount of household rubbish had been disposed of in the Recreation Ground.

Paddock – The Clerk reported that there had been further vandalism to the rubber matting under the round swing in the Paddock and this had also been reported to PCSO John Cork. This was thought to have been damaged by an individual sleeping rough in the Paddock and PCSO John Cork asked that people be vigilant. Cllr Tucker reported that due to the GPC meeting not taking place the way forward with the removal of the old play area equipment was still awaiting discussion. Cllr Arnold reported that the new parts have been placed on the climbing frame. Cllr Arnold also reported that the Paddock gate is broken and that he will be looking into costs for fixing this.

Bus Shelter – The Clerk reported that she is still awaiting an appointment for a pre planning site meeting with Swale Planning. Following the Swale West meeting on 14^th September the Clerk reported that Ward Cllr Baldock had agreed to provide a £5000 match funded grant next year towards the bus shelter.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – The Clerk reported that she has begun sending the revised rules and regulations to plot owners requesting that they return the signed statement to confirm they have read and agree to the rules.

Highways – Cllr Lewin reported that the enforcement officers have had a degree of success with regards to the parking outside of Holywell School.

Other Matters not yet arising – Remembrance Sunday Service – This will take place in St Mary’s Church on 8^th November at 10.15am. Cllr Lewin has ordered the wreath. Defibrillator – Cllr Arnold reported that this cannot be placed in direct sunlight and therefore Snaffles is not a feasible site for it. It was agreed that Cllr Arnold would look into a place to temporarily site this until it can possibly be moved to the Bus Shelter next year.  

Please note the full Minutes from the Meeting can be seen on the Upchurch Parish Council website.

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on 5^th November at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Julia Cura, Clerk to the Parish Council.

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

UpARA - October 2015 Events

David Powell - Chairman
Email: davidrpowell5@hotmail.co.uk
Telephone: 01795 843550
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Upchurch 50 Years Ago in October 1965 by David Wood

The month began with the parish council discussing village children playing ‘follow the leader’ on their bicycles in the village centre between Forge Lane and Horsham Lane. This created a dangerous situation as vehicles had to swerve to avoid them. Council chairman Ted Tress suggested that parents should be made aware of the dangers and that more emphasis should be placed on road safety.

Groups of youngsters congregated outside the Infant’s School to socialise during the 1960s because there wasn’t enough to occupy them. Rich Boakes ran the youth club every Sunday evening and played music on his loudspeaker system in the village hall which proved popular but youths still got bored. Some played football or climbed trees in The Paddock and often had to be ejected by Reverend Bradshaw.

At the October meeting of the Women’s Institute Mrs Dickinson showed the ladies the art of dressmaking and answered questions. Mrs Stevens then read a letter about the history of Upchurch Women’s Institute and mentioned that Illness had caused her to retire from regular active participation at the institute. Following this Mrs Tress won the competition for an embroidered handkerchief with Mrs Wraight second and Mrs Fisher third. The evening concluded with country dancing organised by Miss Staines.

In village social affairs an Autumn Fair took place in the village hall where donations of fruit, flowers and vegetables were on sale. The only other village social event of the month was the cricket club’s Annual Dinner and Dance in the village hall on Saturday October 30th with Kent cricketer Alan Dixon the guest of honour. Ted Tress gave a speech about the past season which had proven to be satisfactory after which the guests tucked into a dinner and then danced the night away.

If you had walked through The Street in October 1965 you would have seen far fewer vehicles parked on the side of the road than today and a Maidstone & District bus service ran through the village with greater regularity and operated from early morning until late at night. Not so many people had cars in those days so there were more customers for the buses. Unlike today general satisfaction existed with regard to bus regularity.

On October 17th for the first time Reverend Bradshaw tried to encourage more people to attend church by holding a Children’s Eucharist in the church which turned out to be very successful with many young parents and their children turning up and taking communion together. However, the evening service which followed this was less successful while Sunday morning services were very well attended with regular churchgoers.

Because the church required money for the repair of the church tower the Friends of Kent Churches donated £100. The Historic Churches Preservation Trust also promised a grant of up to £750 for the church tower which had suffered damage as a result of vibrations from the ringing of the church bells which had been taking place for centuries. Bell ringing had to be suspended until further notice.

Baptisms of village children during October included Karl Ronde from Chaffes Lane, Alison Singyard from Gillingham, Catherine Rush from The Street, Ruth Watts from Church Farm Road and Thomas Smith from Windmill Hill. There were not any recorded marriages and the only burial was that of Robert Dennis aged 75 from Hubbard’s Cottages at Otterham Quay. This ended a fairly typical month in the life of the village in 1965.

About David

David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

The Three Tuns Halloween Party

The Three Tuns
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News From Upchurch Twinning Group - Holywell School Day Trip to Ferques

In the early hours of Thursday 1st October the children of years 5 and 6 of Holywell School, came to their school and with mums and dads waving goodbye they set off in a Chalkwell Coach to visit the school children in our twin village of Ferques and it's commune in France.

There was lot's of excited chatter from the children who seemed to enjoy the journey particularly when the coach parked in the train and it moved off. We rather suspect this was a "first" for many of them.

We were soon in France and at our destination; where the children were greeted by the French children and given soft drinks and croissants. As ever, the French teachers had things well organised and the children were soon seated at big round tables with English and French children seated opposite each other and given simple written exercises. They were invited to explain a little about themselves to the child opposite using photocopied prompt sheets. Plenty of writing material was provided. Other simple exercises followed until they were all allowed outside to "let off steam".

The pattern of indoor and outdoor activities continued throughout the day. Fortunately the weather was kind to us and sunny with just an early autumn chill in the air. Another nice activity was some singing simple French and English folk songs with lots of arms and leg movements. This was organised by Marian, a bi-lingual lady who lives in Ferques and to whom we offer our thanks for coming along to help.

After saying our goodbyes and au revoir's the coach set off for Upchurch, England and home.

It must be said that all the children were very well behaved throughout a very long day and they were a credit to their teachers who willingly gave their time to come along and help.

You can read more about Upchurch Twinning Group at the link: here

Mike Johnson, Chairman: 01634 234226
Email: mikeinupchurch@gmail.com
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Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - August 2015

A brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

July 2015 August 2015 All crime 36 34 Anti-social behaviour 7 9 Bicycle theft 1 0 Burglary 6 9 Criminal damage and arson 8 5 Drugs 1 0 Other crime 0 0 Other theft 4 3 Possession of weapons 0 0 Public order 1 0 Robbery 0 0 Shoplifting 2 1 Theft from the person 0 0 Vehicle crime 1 2 Violence and sexual offences 5 5

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters
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Christmas Craft Fair at St. Margaret's Church Lower Halstow

Liz Mouland
Friends of St. Margaret's Church Lower Halstow

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Centenary Marks a Generation Lost in Kent's 'Somme'

This weekend (Sept 25-28) marks the centenary of probably the blackest day in Kent's history when thousands of young soldiers from the county were killed in the Battle of Loos during World War One. 

Twelve attacking battalions, including the East Kent, West Kent, Queen's West and East Surrey Regiments, lost 8,000 out of 10,000 men in just four hours of fighting on Sept 26, 1915. The 8th Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) was virtually wiped out.

The Battle of Loos was the largest British battle on the Western Front during WWI and the casualty figures rivalled the horrors of the first day of the Somme.

Kent's small rural farming communities were hit hard with many villages and hamlets left grieving the loss of their young men.

One of them was Sgt Arthur Harrison, of Newington, near Sittingbourne, who will be commemorated by Newington History Group and the village primary school on Monday (Sept 28) - the centenary of his death.

Sgt Harrison enlisted in Chatham in 1910 and fell in the Loos battle aged 23. The pupils have been learning about his family life and years in the 2nd Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). They will present the History Group with a small cross with Sgt Harrison's name on it to be placed at the village's war memorial.

British casualties in the main attack at Loos were 48,367 and 10,880 more died in the subsidiary attack - about twice as high as the German casualties. It represented 59,247 of the 285,107 British deaths on the Western Front that year.

It was the first time the British used poison gas - a move that backfired when wind blew much of it back over our own trenches - and was the first mass engagement of Kitchener's Army units. The battle was part of the attempt by the Allies to break through the German defences in Artois and Champagne.

The initial advance over open fields on Sept 25 was within range of German machine guns and artillery. In many places British artillery had failed to cut the German wire in advance of the attack, leading to the devastating losses.

Though the British were able to break through the weaker German defences and capture the town of Loos-en-Gohelle, supply and communications problems, combined with the late arrival of reserves, meant that the breakthrough could not be exploited.

The Germans had recovered and improved their defensive positions by the time the reservists arrived and the battle resumed the following day.

However, as WWI researcher Kyle Tallett, from Ashford, says: "The reservists (the 8th Bn) arrived in France - untrained and unacclimatised - and were marched straight into battle. They hadn't even had dinner!"

The advance with the reserves was repulsed and 8,000 men died in four hours.

The 8th Bn arrived in France on Sept 1 and were sent to the concentration area for the Battle of Loos on Sept 21 before being marched to Bethune on Sept 25. They were told to move to Vermelles for an attack that night which was postponed until the following morning.

Detailing the battle, Mr Tallett says: "The unit had only been in France for three weeks, hadn’t done it’s apprenticeship in the trenches as was customary plus it had marched hard to get to the start point without rations.

"The Buffs attacked an objective at Hulluch, they had to cross a stretch of no man's land a mile wide. The brigade and the Buffs reached their objective, despite being badly machine gunned, to find intact wire in front of it. The fight was conducted from in front of the German wire. The Division to the right withdrew leaving the right flank open with machine gun fire coming through it. 

"The Germans started shelling. The Buffs withstood this for four hours before withdrawing taking casualties as they withdrew. They were relieved that night, but the casualties were staggering. Only one officer was left alive to bring them out. The casualty figures were 24 officers and 610 other ranks.

"It was a similar story with the West Kents, Queens, and East Surreys. The battalion was virtually non-existent within three weeks of landing in France. The Division, the 24th never recovered, and had to have a regular brigade attached to it to stiffen it up. The truth is they were not taught to fight and never saw a trench until the attack."

By Sept 28 the British had retreated to their starting positions. Further fighting during October was hampered by fog, a lack of hand grenades, heavy rain and accurate German shelling as the losses mounted up.

The 6th Buffs, with three month's experience to draw on, were committed on Oct 13, also at Hulluch. By a cruel coincidence they clambered over the killing fields of their sister battalion.

The Kent men crossed no man's land to find the wire uncut and were machine gunned before they could retreat. Ten of the 13 officers were killed along with 450 other ranks.

Mr Tallett says Loos was Kent's equivalent of the first day of the Somme but is not as well known. "Our divisions were wiped out at Loos - a good seven months before the Somme - with casualty figures that rivalled the first day of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

"If the casualties of the 8th Buffs had occurred on that day they would have been second in the table for most casualties sustained. The 6th Buffs would have been in the top half.

"In terms of proportion to Kent's rural communities it was every bit a disaster."

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 soldiers who fell in the battle and have no known grave - including Sgt Harrison.

Richard Thompstone - Issued on behalf of Newington History Group

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Upchurch Choral Society Presents Christmas is Coming

A concert of festive music and readings

St. Mary’s Church, Upchurch

Saturday, 28th November 2015 at 7:30pm

Admission by programme £5 (children free)

Pat New - Secretary to the Choral Society

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Upchurch Parish Council - Problems in the Paddock

Unfortunately the Parish Council have to report further damage in the Paddock to the matting under the small play equipment. It would seem that there is a homeless person sleeping in the Paddock and using the matting as a mattress. PCSO John Cork has asked that if anyone sees the man walking around the village they report it to 101.

John will be checking the area tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday whilst doing his rounds.

Thank you.

Julia Cura - Clerk to the Parish Council.

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning at The BarnYard

Watch the Video

The video may not be visible in our Email alert version of this post.

 If not you can watch it here

The BarnYard will be participating in this year’s Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, from 10am - 12pm on Friday 25th September.

During this time we will have Buy One Get One Half Price (discount applies to the cheaper item) on everything available in our Gift Shop. There will also be a ‘bargain bucket’ of jewellery (excluded from half price offer) with all proceeds from the sale of these going to Macmillan!

Nationally Last years Macmillan Cancer Support World's Biggest Coffee Morning raised an amazing £25,102,796.00

All are welcome - Please come along and support this very worthy cause.

The BarnYard - Oak Lane
Tel: 01634 235059
Website: www.the-barnyard.com
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Upchurch Poppy Day Appeal - 2015

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

The Upchurch team of collectors will be making the annual house-to house collections from Saturday the 24th October until Saturday the 7th November.

Remembrance Sunday will be the 8th of November.

The Royal British Legion celebrates its 94th year since being founded.

Its purpose remains as always to look after the welfare of those who have served or the dependants of those who have served Sovereign and Country on our behalf.

The need continues - please donate whatever you can.

Gerry Lewin - Upchurch Poppy Appeal Organiser 

Tel: 01634 366113 or Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

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Annual Prize Giving at the Upchurch Horticultural Society Summer Show

Exhibits at this years Upchurch Horticultural Society Summer Show.

Christine Madden and Councillor Gerry Lewin with Horticultural Society Chairman Ted Lightfoot presenting the Barbara Webb Memorial Rose Bowl to overall winners in the Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2015 competition Mr & Mrs Friend for their beautifully presented garden in Beckenham Park.

This years prizes were sponsored by Upchurch Parish Council and Helena Sait of
Radiance by Helena seen here presenting Mrs Friend with her prize of a Gift Experience Certificate.

Upchurch Matters

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Festive Restaurant Lunch Menu & Christmas Marquee Party Nights at The BarnYard

The BarnYard

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Lionel Bart’s Oliver! at Upchurch Village Hall - 1973

The Cast of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! performed at Upchurch Village Hall in 1973.

Just after building contractor E.C. Gransden Ltd had completed the village hall extension (Stage, under stage storage, meeting room etc) I was approached to organise an evening of entertainment to celebrate it’s opening and a committee was formed.

The original concept producing a concert using local talent was very quickly over taken by enthusiasm for producing a shortened version of the Musical Oliver! which was then showing on the London stage.

The new stage was transformed with foot and spot lights, scenery and various effects for the big night by a dedicated and enthusiastic team led by Dick Borley, Vincent Webb and John Uglow.

The first half featured performances from members of the ‘The Upstarts’ drama group, notably John Tamsett and Mike Brady who were very funny, and musical items from other artists including children from the Leslie Nunn School of Dancing. The second half however was devoted to the performance of Oliver! which was a resounding success and destined to be repeated again in future years.

Lionel Bart’s Oliver!

The Cast:

The Beadle - Alec New
Oliver - Andrew Jacobs
Artful Dodger - Mark Veale
Fagin - Bryan Veale
Nancy - Evelyn Veale
Children of the Workhouse, Workhouse staff, Fagin’s Gang - Choristers and adult members of the Choir of St. Mary The Virgin, Upchurch.
Accompanist - Doris Rider

Lighting - Vincent Webb
Stage Manager - Richard Borley
Props and Scenery - Pam Borley John Uglow

Producer and Musical Director Bryan Veale

Bryan Veale

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The Upchurch Village Sign by David Wood

Village signs are often displayed in a prominent part of the locality such as in the village centre or on the green showing different aspects of the community.  Features on these signs show historical or cultural images related to the village. The sign is usually made of wood or metal mounted on a wooden post with the village name clearly displayed. King Edward VII started the tradition when he asked all the villages on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to erect village signs during his reign. He thought this would aid motorists and add an extra feature to the estate. After this more villages across England erected village signs as the trend became popular.

The idea of a village sign in Upchurch arose to mark the centenary of the Parish Council from 1894 to 1994. In the May 1992 edition of the Gabriel village magazine residents were asked to submit ideas to the Parish Council about how to enhance the corner of Horsham Lane and The Street. These were assessed then In December 1992 local resident and graphic designer Fred Richards from Wetham Green was commissioned to interpret the ideas for the design of a village sign. He later designed village signs for Bredhurst and Eastchurch.

Photos courtesy of Kim Taylor - Beryl Richards - AKN/KRN.

Fred first produced a set of visual ideas, one was chosen then a finished drawing made. Local builders E.C. Gransden Ltd produced a three dimensional model which Fred supervised and then hand painted after it had been cast in aluminium. E.C. Gransden Ltd also produced the post and its metal surround then erected the sign in the village centre opposite the church in Horsham Lane. Finally, a special unveiling ceremony took place in the summer of 1994. Amongst those who attended were the Mayor of Swale, Parish Council Chairman Wendy Moppett, Derek Gransden of E.C. Gransden Ltd and Fred Richards. The sign was erected on the corner of The Street and Horsham Lane so that it could be clearly seen by motorists and people passing through the village.

Parish Council clerk Pat New had earlier complimented Fred Richards on the finished sign in a letter written to him dated 29^th July, 1993:

“I have heard nothing but complimentary remarks regarding its design and execution (with only secondhand complaints about a waste of ratepayer’s money!) and the Council are very satisfied with the vastly enhanced appearance of the corner.”

The Upchurch sign includes colourful images of the church, a sailing barge and pottery surrounded by fruit and leaves, symbols of the village from the past and present. Under the pictorial design is the name ‘Upchurch’ in gold lettering on a black band with a general background of pale blue.

In addition to the sign the Parish Council also had the burial ground fenced in and part of The Paddock kerbed on the Chaffes Lane side near The Street. A centenary celebration in the form of a fete took place in The Paddock on September 10^th 1994. Documents and photographs related to the history of the Parish Council were exhibited in the former Infant’s School along with the launch of the Woodruff Diaries, based upon the writings of former Upchurch vicar John Woodruff who served the village during the early mid-19^th century.

The Upchurch village sign is now an important feature that can be clearly seen in the village centre and has only been repainted once since it was erected in 1994.

David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

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Rivers Restaurant Autumn Party Night at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
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The Rivers Restaurant Wedding Fair at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
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Look Out For The 327 Bus Service Questionnaire - Coming Through Your Door Soon!

Following a well attended public meeting on the 26th of August in Upchurch Village Hall regarding recent changes to the 327 Bus Service for Upchurch and Lower Halstow, Kent County Councillors Lee Burgess, Roger Truelove and Mike Baldock have prepared a residents consultation survey in order that they can make proposals to Chalkwell Coach Hire for a more satisfactory and usable Bus Service for the residents of both villages and one that will best reflect the needs of the local people.

Councillors will be out delivering the residents surveys over the next week or so.

Councillor Mike Baldock

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