Thank you from Upchurch Scouts

The Scouts Paper Chase in on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

On behalf of Upchurch Scouts, our heartfelt thanks to all the residents of Upchurch for the trouble they have taken to either tie their papers with string, or put them in cardboard boxes for our monthly paper collection this morning

We really do appreciate the effort you have taken.

Thanks again, please keep on saving your paper.


Jim Harman
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PFHS Pamper Evening

A great idea for a treat for someone in your family !

The Parents and Friends of Holywell School are holding a Pamper Evening at the School on Friday the 16th of March starting at 6:45pm.


Treatments available are: Reiki, Reflexology, Manicures, Pedicures, Tarot Card Readings and Waxing. Stalls will  be selling ICE Jewellery, Bunting and Bags and Phoenix Cards, there will also be a raffle.


Please bring your own refreshments and nibbles.


Entry tickets cost £2.50 each. To pre book treatments text Julie on : 07795 104031


Feel free to bring as many friends and family as you wish.


Upchurch Matters.
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Upchurch Parish Council Report - March 2012

The Parish Council met on Thursday 2^nd February in the Hall of Holywell Primary School where 6 Councillors were present and 7 members of the public including PSCO Platt.


Public Time – PCSO Platt reported that PCSO McCall will no longer be the PCSO for Upchurch. We await details of her replacement. Bus Shelter – One resident commented on the bus shelter recently installed in Lower Halstow and hoped that Upchurch would have one soon. One resident asked for further information on the questionnaire carried out by a resident supporting the bus shelter. Another resident reminded members that the proposed location was opposite a beautiful church and the Old School. He feared that the shelter would attract anti-social behaviour. Another resident explained that he had carried out a survey of the number of people using the bus during the last month. He reported that apart from the school children, normally 18, the 9:29 bus had the most people waiting for it, usually 5. However most of the time, there was no-one waiting for the bus. He commented that it would have to be a large shelter to accommodate 18 school children. Rural Needs Housing – A resident commented that issues with car parking in the centre of the village and the demand on school places needed to be considered in relation to this scheme.

Correspondence – Village Hall Management Committee – A letter expressing thanks for the Councils generous offer of a grant of £3,000 towards the cost of removing asbestos. War Memorial – An email from a resident seeking the Councils comments on an Upchurch War Memorial. Members discussed this suggestion and commented on the memorials at the church i.e. the Church Clock, the tablet inside the Lady Chapel and the war graves in the Churchyard. Cllr New asked for a copy of the email.            

Planning - The following applications will be considered by the Planning Review Team and reported at the next Parish Council Meeting:

SW/12/0079 39 Oak Lane – Proposed two storey side and rear extension

SW/12/0058 Hursell Farm, Chaffes Lane – Change of use of site to allow the siting of a gypsy mobile home with associated parking and amenity space (retrospective)

Permissions and Refusals – the following decisions have been received:

permission granted:

SW/11/0949 79 Chaffes Lane – Retrospective application for amendments to scheme approved under SW/10/0762 comprising additional bedroom and en-suite in loft space together with roof lights and light tube in roof slopes, barn hip to rear gable and porthole window to garden room

Permission refused:

SW/11/1296 Frogs Farm, Susans Lane – Retrospective application for the building of an agricultural barn

Other Planning matters – Rural Needs Housing - The working group reported that holding a drop in event would be more productive than arranging a referendum. Members discussed various ways this event could be organised. It was suggested that at this event, residents could be given the opportunity to vote for the Parish Council to continue with the housing scheme and if so, which site they would prefer to be put forward. Another suggestion was to ask residents to vote on a site selected by the Parish Council. It was agreed that the working group needed to meet with Alison Thompson (English Rural Housing Association) and Tessa O’Sullivan (Action with Communities in Rural Kent) to discuss the next steps.

Finance – Cheque for approval & signature – It was agreed that a cheque to the sum of £3,000 to Upchurch Village Hall Fund be signed.

Allotments and Recreation Ground – Water usage at the Allotments - Cllr Apps confirmed that the water had been turned off and that there was no leak. He explained that the amount of water used in the three month period at the end of last year had been high but could not explain why. Members discussed various suggestions to tackling this issue. Cllr Apps will report back when the water is turned back on.                        

Paddock – External hedge– Cllr Catford reported that this would need cutting back shortly and would liaise with the Clerk as to the timing of this.                                    

Burial Ground and Churchyard – Tree Related Subsidence at 2 Horsham Lane –The Council will be obtaining a quote for the removal of the trees adjacent to this property as requested in the report issued by Oriel Services Ltd. It is claimed that these trees are causing damage to this property. Yew Tree in Burial Ground – A tree surgeon will be consulted regarding cutting back this tree and the Clerk will find out if this tree has a TPO.

Environment – Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations – The sub-committee reported their ideas for these celebrations which included an all-faiths service on Sunday afternoon, a family event on Sunday morning and gifts for the children. Cllr Rossiter had brought two sample mugs to show members the style and design chosen by the committee. Also, an example of the logo and wording was distributed. Village Clean up day – Cllr Catford explained that as the village cleaner was carrying out an excellent job, it was not necessary to organise a clean-up day this year. Cllr Lewin reported that he had forwarded a request to Swale BC for a litter pick in Oak Lane.

Highways – Proposed Bus Shelter – It was commented that further research was required on the design of a bus shelter. Cllr New offered to lead a small sub-group who could investigate further a suitable design for the bus shelter. This could then be reviewed by the Parish Council before consulting the Conservation Officer. It was suggested that then a consultation event could be held. The Clerk will obtain ideas for designs of bus shelters and along with Cllr New investigate further with two or three residents. An email had been received from a resident strongly objecting to the planning of a bus shelter to be constructed in Horsham Lane/The Street. Letters of concern had also been received from residents living opposite the proposed location, along with results of a survey carried out in January.

Next meetings – 1^st March 2012 and 29^th March 2012, starting at 7.30pm in the Hall of Holywell Primary School. Please note that the Annual Parish Meeting will be held at the Village Hall on Thursday 26^th April starting at 7.30pm where refreshments will be available after the meeting. Everyone is welcome.

 Claire Attaway, Parish Clerk, 33 Church Farm Road Tel: 01634 363906

Email:  clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk     Website:  www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Office opening hours: Monday – Thursday 9.00 – 11.30am

Parish Councillors Contact Details are available on the Parish Council Notice boards and website. Please be aware that the Parish Council Office is at my home address therefore I request that you respect the opening times.


Upchurch Parish Council
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The Well - This Sunday

The Well - A Community Cafe for local villages. Enjoy a home-cooked lunch for £2.50 this Sunday, 12 February, with loads of free activities for the kids to do so you have a chance to have some time off.

This Sunday The Well includes a free book, CD & DVD swap, so bring along something you've read or watched and swap it for something new.

The Well is open from 12:30-2:30pm in Newington Village Hall and everyone is welcome. No need to book, just turn up.


Hugh Nelson
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Upchurch War Memorial article in the KM Sittingbourne News Extra

The KM Sittingbourne News Extra ran this article yesterday on the Proposed new War Memorial for Upchurch. Thanks very much to Hayley Robinson for writing such a nice piece.

Click on the article to enlarge it.

Upchurch Matters
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Memories of Working at Horsham Farm

Milking the cows, looking after the pigs, sheep and bull, Bob Bearup who has lived in Upchurch all his life, loved his work at Horsham Farm where he started as a school leaver in 1958.

“I had always wanted to work with animals”, he says. “I could have gone to college to learn more about it but ‘Nutty’ Gransden who taught me everything about livestock at the farm advised me not to. I later got diplomas in dairy and beef production by studying full time. This qualified me as a stockman in those areas”

“The day began at 5 a.m. with the milking of cows”, says Bob. “This was followed by breakfast. After that the sheds were cleaned out and washed then the young stock fed. Next, the main work of the day took place with haymaking in summer which I hated because I was away from the animals.  Afternoon milking took place at 3 p.m. then the sheds were cleaned out again before the day ended.”

Horsham Farm Upchurch.

Horsham Farm consisted of 100 acres of land and was managed by Lyn Jenkins who employed several other men. These included Sid Jenkins, ‘Nutty Gransden’, Terry Tomkins and Bob Trice. Kath Jenkins, Lyn’s wife, also helped out. The farmland and house were rented from Rugby Portland Cement Company and the farm produced milk and beef with a herd of 25 to 30 Sussex cows. Sheep and pigs were also produced.  Mrs Bearup and Mrs Sketchley from Chaffes Lane and Mrs Trice from Drakes Close were regular seasonal workers who prepared the Christmas fowl annually in December.

A fatal disaster almost occurred when Lyn Jenkins got gored by the farm bull. After instructing the workers not to go into the pen unaccompanied, he broke his own rule when he entered it alone. The bull immediately charged and knocked him to the ground then began goring him. Bob says, “Terry Tomkins and I tried to help after Lyn shouted out. As I wrestled with the bull it dragged me towards the farm building. I knew I had to do something quickly otherwise if it pinned me against the wall I was finished. I managed to grab its nose ring and twist it hard until the animal fell on its side.” Lyn Jenkins luckily escaped with superficial injuries while Bob remained uninjured.

There was also a comical side to the work and Bob remembers haymaking on the hay cart with Eric Woolley and Terry Tomkins when a wheel came off and all of them were flung to the ground amongst the hay which ended in laughter after an awkward moment.

Horsham Farm finally ceased production in 1984 due to pressures of the European Economic Community after operating as a working farm for centuries. The house with eight acres was sold to a private buyer while the remaining farmland was rented to Bill Barling from Poot Lane. Although Bob was sad about the farm closure he describes his experience there as, “One of the best times of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.”

David Wood, who 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 on:  david3702001@yahoo.co.uk  price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

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