Upchurch WI Meeting

Come along on the 11th.

Upchurch WI will be meeting at the Village Hall on Tuesday the 11th of October at 7:30 pm, where Helen Kendall Tobias will be giving a talk on ‘‘ 50 ways to wear a scarf ’’.


Upchurch Matters
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Upchurch Poppy Day Appeal - 2011

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

The Upchurch team of collectors will be making the annual house-to house collections from Saturday the 29th October until Saturday the 12th November.

Remembrance Sunday will be the 13th of November.

This is a special year for the Royal British Legion as it celebrates 90 years 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 - Poppy Day Appeal Organiser
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Nursery Days Open and Coffee Mornings

Come along on the 15th and 18th.

Nursery Days Ltd Upchurch will be holding two Open and Coffee Mornings at The Old School, The Street, Upchurch  (map)  on Saturday the 15th and Tuesday the 18th of October between 9:00am and 12:00pm.

Upchurch Matters
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Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway this Sunday

Come along this Sunday and make the most of the nice weather.

Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway's set for a fantastic day this Sunday. Good news - it isn't the last day either!

This Sunday is the last full open day of the year and it looks like the weather is going to be just fantastic so bring the picnic, kites and balls - so you can relax in the park, have fun AND ride the trains. We are expecting three steam engine to be running as well as the usual attractions - the difference is you aren't going to get wet this Sunday so swap the brolly and raincoat for sunblock and shorts.

Although this is normally the last event of the year we have two further events for your diary. An Autumn Steam Gala - Enthusiasts day on Sunday 30th October. We will be running 5 steam engines including both Mozambique Fowlers plus 2 diesels. We will be running passenger and goods trains - some double headed. If you have an annual ticket this will get you in for free. Gates open at 10:30 and we will be open till 6pm so we can run some "late" trains. Between 1pm and 3pm there will be guided tours of the workshops (subject to availability and demand). This will be a great day and we expect a good visitor turnout so arrive early.

Finally Thursday 10 November we have Coffee and Trains. A coffee morning in aid of the Heart of Kent Hospice. For full details  click here  or  here. 

After last years successful issue of season tickets we are offering annual membership at an even lower price of £30 per adult which will include one child. Extra children are £12. This will get you into all public and any member only events for 12 months. Bring a passport photo with you and you can start saving on the day.

Did you know we can also run  Steamy Suppers,  an ideal event for Birthdays or even business dinners. You can also put yourself on the footplate and have a go at driving with our well managed, hands on, driving courses. You can also book the railway for special events or parties and have the railway to yourself and your guests. Call 01622 884254 for more infromation.


Visit us at:  www.bwlr.co.uk  to find out more about BWLR and events.

Best regards and see you Sunday,


Bill Best


BWLR
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Upchurch Village Hall 50th Birthday Fun Day

The Village Hall is 50 years old this year.

Upchurch Village Hall is celebrating it's 50th birthday this year with a Fun Day on Saturday the 12th of November.

There will be free children's entertainment from 12:15pm to 4:00pm, including face painting, arts & crafts, cake decorating and ending with a magician.

Admission costs just £3 for Adults and £2 for Children.

Ploughman's Lunches will be available between 12:00pm and 2:00pm and the evening entertainment will start at 7:00pm, with local talent performing sketches etc.

please contact:

Jan Lacy on: 01634 366729  or  Brenda Kemsley on: 01634 231585

Please support this important village celebration.

Upchurch Matters

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Upchurch Village Hall at 50 Years Old

Memories of Upchurch.

Of all the schemes dating back in the village none had been so long awaited as the construction of a village hall. For many years the Old Forge in Forge Lane, the Infant’s School in The Street and the Labour Hall in Horsham Lane had served as social venues but were increasingly considered unsuitable. Mrs Margaret Neame from The Upchurch Stores in The Street opened up the discussion after World War Two and this led to the setting up of the Upchurch Victory Trust Fund Committee in 1953 with the aim of obtaining a village hall.

In the early years a search took place for a suitable location with the oasthouse on the site of the present day Crosier Court being considered followed by a proposed conversion of the old Elizabethan barn at Church Farm. After consideration neither plan became reality so the search continued and the Village Hall Fund was started in June 1954 with a committee chaired by Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane. This led to fund raising events like a weekly member’s lottery, a Buy a Brick Club, whist drives, dances, raffles, and takings from the fete and carnival. Eventually, a suitable site was found behind The Crown public house and a plan was drawn up by architect Mark Hartland-Thomas from Forge Lane incorporating a hall and car park which local building company E. C. Gransden Ltd constructed. The building cost £6,750 helped by a £2,000 loan from the National Council of Social Services.

After initial problems over catering rights with Courage & Barclay Brewery, the village hall, designed to accommodate 300 people, was completed then opened on November 4th 1961 by Deputy Mayor of Gillingham Freddie Cooper. After speeches by local M.P Percy Wells and village hall chairman Rich Boakes, Revd Bradshaw and Methodist Minister Revd Groves conducted a dedication service. The debt for the building was paid off and a village hall extension fund set up for future improvements.

The new village hall soon became the base for organisations like the Horticultural Society, the Table Tennis Club, the Youth Club, the Badminton Club, the Darby and Joan Club, and various dramatic societies. With funds available the village hall extension was completed in 1974 followed by further changes in the mid 1990s and 2000 when better toilet facilities, wheelchair access, a new meeting room and storage room were created. The improvements made the village hall much more suitable for social events like wedding receptions, parties and dances. After fires in 1977 and 1995 which potentially could have destroyed the building, the village hall has survived and continues to play an important part in the life of the village.

A 25th anniversary was celebrated in November 1986 when several village organisations presented entertainment and a 50th anniversary is planned for Saturday November 12th 2011 when families will be encouraged to visit the village hall where stalls selling goods, competitions and entertainment will take place followed by entertainment for adults only during the evening.

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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