Upchurch Twinning Group News

Become a friend of the Twinning Group.

Upchurch is twinned with commune of Ferques-Elinghen in Pas de Calais, France.

Do look on the Holywell School website  www.holywell.kent.sch.uk  and also Upchurch Matters  www.upchurchmatters.co.uk  for our news as well. Also, try looking at  www.ferques.fr  for interesting stuff !  Under Tourisme, for example, there are details of a Chambre d’hote, which we know is really good !
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Bastille Day Street Fair in Ferques – The Bastille Day Fair in Ferques was much enjoyed by a good contingent from Upchurch, although the weather was a bit mixed.  Our cups of tea and coffee,  beer, bread, barbequed sausages etc were in a tent.  We had a wonderful stall of bric-a-brac out on the streets with all the other stalls and the Twinning Group would like to thank all those people who donated such a variety of things for us to sell on the day and all the people who came over to Ferques on the day.  In the end we made over £350 from all our efforts.

Sports Day – as I write this, we are eagerly anticipating a really fun day on the Recreation Ground on Saturday 27^th August (from 11am + BBQ from 12 noon, in case some of you get this early!).

Diary dates for you:

Saturday 15^th October – Anniversary Dinner and Dance in Ferques, again in Elinghen Village Hall.  This is an evening event, to include a meal and there will be some Celtic dancing this time.  Still no details yet, but do consider going over to France that weekend for a jolly good time!

Saturday 5^th November – Scout Group Fireworks at Westmoor Farm – Find the Twinning Group, who will be selling their famous, delicious bacon rolls again!

And for 2012:

Saturday 27^th January 2012 – Quiz night at our School – always popular, more details nearer the time!

Sunday 15^th April 2012 – Upchurch Choral Society will be performing in the church at Ferques – again more details nearer the time.

FRIENDS OF THE TWINNING GROUP – we are creating a “Friends of the Upchurch Twinning Group”.  These would be people willing to give practical support e.g. on stalls, or at events, giving hospitality etc etc.  Nothing too formal, but they would be people with a more firm connection to the committee, although of course the whole village of Upchurch is twinned with the whole village of Ferques.

Jim Harman (Chairman) 01634 235420                        Sue Rossiter (Secretary) 01634 234780

Upchurch Twinning Group

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Reports of Catalytic Converter thefts

Catalytic converters have a high scrap value and are expensive to replace.

There have been two reports of thefts of catalytic converters from the exhausts of vehicles in Upchurch.


Both incidents were in the Oak Lane area. One Car and one Van.


Please report any suspicious behaviour you see around vehicles to the local Police.


Upchurch Matters
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Porch Sale at St. Mary's Upchurch

Porch Sales take place every 2nd Saturday of the month.

St. Mary's Church Upchurch are holding their regular Porch Sale this Saturday the 13th and every 2nd Saturday of the month.


The sale starts at 9:00am and finishes at 11:30am. There will be home-made cakes and preserves, garden and allotment produce, books, jigsaw puzzles, CDs and DVDs, bric-a-brac, coffee and chat. 


All proceeds go towards the repairs and upkeep of this ancient church.


Do visit to find out what's on offer.


Pat New
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Broadband speeds in Upchurch

Many Villages are being left behind now.

Recently The Parish Council printed a report about the appalling Broadband speeds in Upchurch and asking for feedback. I contacted both the Parish Council and our MP Gordon Henderson afterwards as I feel strongly that we are getting left behind in upgrading. I heard back from Mr. Henderson that there is to be a meeting on the 6th Sept between MP's and BT representatives to discuss the need for an improved broadband connection in Kent villages and wondered if you could put an appeal for people to email the Parish Council and/or their MP complaining about the service here.

The more people who make contact the more weight it will give to those representing us. The broadband connection really is dreadful here and everyone I speak to is complaining about the speeds going down over the past few months and suffering frequent drop outs. Nothing can be done because the lines are overstretched and ancient. I know for a fact that many people are having to buy dongles just to keep some sort of connection going. We have businesses here and how they manage I cant imagine. This is 2011 after all - not the dark ages!

Thanks for your help. I would be grateful - if you decide to put an appeal - that you don't mention my name - as I might be inundated!!

Regards
Carole Griffith-Jones

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Roman Pottery and Burial Rituals on Upchurch Marshes

Memories of Upchurch

The Romans first appeared in Upchurch during the late first or early second century A.D. This is when a Roman settlement, one of the biggest pottery producing centres in the county was constructed, although the site is now covered by the river. According to Dr Richard Pollard in his 1982 doctoral thesis, the site probably lasted until the late second century when rising sea levels engulfed the marshes at Slayhills and Milfordhope. Although this probably finished pottery on the marshes, Pollard says that potting probably continued at Otterham Quay where Roman pottery and the location of a nearby Roman cemetery were discovered.

Most of the pottery found on the Upchurch marshes consists of beakers with smaller numbers of jars, necked and open bowls and flasks.  The quantity and variety of pots shows that Upchurch pottery was made where it was found. These black and grey pots known as ‘Upchurch Ware,’ are very different to other North West Kent pottery and have only been found in the Upchurch area.

The Romans introduced their own culture to Upchurch including the worship of a deity of Gods requiring the sacrifice of animals. Seven pots found on the saltings from 1950 to 1955 contained the sacrificial remains of puppy dogs only several weeks old. Charcoal was also found with the remains in each pot consisting of birch, hazel, ash, oak and willow. The pots were buried about five feet seven inches below the surface and the style indicated that these were made in the late second century A.D.

The significance of the puppy burials is uncertain because similar cases have not been discovered elsewhere in Britain, but in the classical religion of Greece and Rome dogs were connected to the underworld and were sacrificed to the Goddess Hecate as a purification ritual. She was sometimes referred to as 'The She Dog' and possessed power over fishermen and the sea. This may have been important to the Roman inhabitants of the low lying Upchurch marshes, close to the river. Sacrifices to Hecate were usually in the form of young dogs, preferably black puppies although the colour and breed of those found in Upchurch is unknown. Black lambs were also sacrificed. Types of wood like hazel and willow found in the form of charcoal with the puppy remains are also linked to Hecate.

The burials could have also been connected to agrarian ritual. The Robigalia ritual was held in honour of Robigus the God of Rust (mildew) to eradicate disease in wheat crops. Deities like this are known as earth spirits. Therefore, the puppy burials may have been offered or dedicated to the earth deity connected with the growth of crops. The only similar ritual can be found in nineteenth century Devon where, in order to rid a field of weeds, three puppies had to be buried there. However, available evidence shows that the Roman inhabitants of Upchurch were mainly concerned with making pots in a thriving and sizeable local pottery industry.

David Wood, who was born and raised in Upchurch, 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 Wood's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on:  david3702001@yahoo.co.uk  price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

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Swale Festival of Transport

Saturday 3rd September and Sunday 4th September.

This year held in aid of the Kent Air Ambulance and the R.N.L.I.

A good day out for all the family.

Over 200 classic vehicles and transport related exhibits on display, Arena displays, Stalls, Sideshows, Children's funfair, Refreshments, Bar Tent, and much more.

Just confirmed, 'HELI CHARTER' will be attending both days, offering helicopter rides giving the opportunity to see the river Medway and Chatham Historic Dockyard from a totally different viewpoint (circumstances permitting), In fact a good day out for all the family.

£1000 was donated to Kent Air Ambulance from last year's show (2010) Please help them to raise more this year. Open from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day. Admission £5.00 per adult. 2 accompanied children (12 yrs. & under) go FREE with a full paying Adult, £2.00 each per extra child. T&C’s apply, contact organisers for details.

Westmoor Farm (Boot Fair Field) Rainham Kent (Directly off main A2 between Sittingbourne and Rainham) Kent ME8 8QF

Website: www.swalefot.com

Upchurch Mattters

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