Upchurch's Peter Boakes to be an Olympic Torchbearer

Peter Boakes.

Upchurch resident Peter Boakes has been nominated and chosen from a list of over 30,000 inspirational people as just one of 8,000 that will carry the Olympic Flame as it journeys across the UK.

Peter received one of the places
allocated to Lloyds TSB.

Peter was nominated by his niece Angela for his 10 years + of fundraising. During the last 10 years, Peter, together with the assistance of family, friends and villagers has raised an incredible £50,000 + for various good causes, mainly by hosting and selling tickets for outdoor evening BBQs at his Upchurch home.


To play his part Peter will have to travel to Euxton near Liverpool on Friday the 1st of June 2012 where he will wear the special white and gold uniform supplied to all Torchbearers. There he'll be given the once in a lifetime honour of carrying the Olympic Torch for half a mile between 7:55 a.m and 8:15 a.m.


Representing peace, unity and friendship the Olympic Flame is Lit in Greece and arrives in the UK on Friday the 18th of May 2012. It will come within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK and will enable local communities to shine a light on the best their area has to offer. Torchbearers will carry the Flame through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK.


For more information on the Olympic Torch Relay visit the official London 2012 website:  here.


Good luck on your big day Peter from the whole of Upchurch.

Upchurch Matters

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The Runaway Upchurch Postmaster

Well liked and respected in the village, Harry Legge had served as sub postmaster, churchwarden and secretary of both Upchurch Cricket Club and Lower Halstow Working Men’s Club. He owned his own house and had a wife and two children. He appeared to be a contented and established figure in the village. On March 25^th, 1924 he suddenly disappeared.

Harry Legge’s worried family knew nothing of his whereabouts and the post office authorities had to be called in. After inspecting the accounts they found that £336 had disappeared. With the post office suspended until further notice, Harry’s shop (now Terry’s) was closed down and the police were called in to investigate.

The 49 year old sub postmaster who had held the position since 1916 was eventually traced after an extensive nationwide search then arrested at ‘The George Hotel’ in Hull on March 28th where he had registered his name as Fred Carlton. A waitress pointed him out to the police as he attempted to leave upon their arrival. After a scuffle the police seized a loaded pistol from him with nine cartridges and £164. When questioned he admitted that he had made out money orders, posted them to various towns and then followed these up with the duplicates and collected the money. He also admitted that he was on his way to Boston in Lincolnshire to leave the country by boat with his money.

Memories of Upchurch.

After charged with being in possession of a loaded pistol without a certificate Harry Legge was discharged then immediately re-arrested by Detective-Sergeant Burgess from Sittingbourne and transported back to Kent where he appeared at Sittingbourne Petty Sessions. He was then charged with intent to defraud and referred to the Kent Assizes. During the court case it emerged that he had lived in Argentina before arriving in Upchurch and this is where he obtained his pistol.

After serving three months in custody Legge appeared at Kent Assizes in Maidstone where he pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud against him but pleaded for compassion because he claimed he had financial problems and said his creditors had pressurized him. Therefore, he argued that he had carried out his crime as an act of desperation. This made little difference as he was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment with hard labour in Manchester prison on the basis that an example had to be made of him to other post office employees. In the meantime, his house in Upchurch was sold and his family dispersed.

Harry Legge’s case caused a sensation in Upchurch and his crime shocked his family and stunned the inhabitants of the village who could not believe that such a respected and well liked person could have carried out such a crime. Whether his actions were out of desperation or sheer temptation is debatable but his unusual story hit the local newspaper headlines for several weeks at the time.

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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Upchurch Village Hall AGM

The Upchurch Village Hall AGM will be held on Wednesday the 11th of April 2012 at 7:45 p.m. in the back hall.


Please come along to support what is after all YOUR hall !


Jan Lacy
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Temporary road closure of the A2 at Newington

It is necessary to close the A2 High Street at Newington (Swale area) from Monday 2nd April 2012 for up to 3 weeks.

The closure is for gas mains replacement works to be carried out in a section of road too narrow for works to be done safely without a closure.

It is anticipated the road will be re-opened on or before Sunday 22nd April 2012.

Closure and alternative routes

The road will be closed between the junctions with Playstool Road (access remains as far as Wickham Close) and Bull Lane.

Delays are inevitable, and it is suggested that drivers consider using alternative routes for the duration of these works.

The main motorway alternative route is via A2, A249, M2 between junctions 5 and 4, A278 and A2.

An additional alternative route for non-motorway traffic is via A249 to Maidstone, thence A229 and A230 to Chatham then back onto the A2.

The specific road names for each diversion are listed at the foot of this Bulletin.

Details of closure

This closure has been re-scheduled to be carried out during the Easter Holidays, following extensive local consultation.

Works will be carried out 6 days a week, working extended hours, to reduce the length of time that the road is closed.

These works are part of a scheme to replace the ageing gas mains with modern materials to maintain the security of gas supplies.

Southern Gas Networks has a legal obligation to replace all iron pipes within 30 metres of properties, like the ones at Newington.

All other options have been considered to avoid closing the A2 but there is no satisfactory alternative.

The existing main is in the middle of the carriageway where the road is very narrow.

~ Whilst the road is closed, other highway improvement works will be carried out to avoid the need for separate closures and minimise future disruption ~

Traffic issues

Signage will be put in place on various roads in the vicinity of the road closure to indicate they are unsuitable for large vehicles.

Weight restrictions of 7.5 T (except for access) are likely to be in place on roads leading from the A2 between Rainham and the A249, when signposted (these roads are individually listed at the foot of this message and on the Public Notice)

The situation will be closely monitored, and it may be that additional traffic regulations are introduced for the safety of the public.

Contacts

These works are being carried out by Morrison Utility Services working with Southern Gas Networks.

The Southern Gas Networks 24-hour Customer Service Centre phone number is 0845 070 1431

Kent County Council’s 24-hour helpline is 08458 247 800

Enclosed is a copy of the Public Notice in confirmation of this, as well as an Information leaflet and map giving additional details about the scheme.

This bulletin contains public information and can be freely forwarded to any other road users who may be affected. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, but no liability can be accepted for any changes or errors.

Alternative Routes

Motorway

The alternative motorway route is via A2 Keycol Hill, A249 Maidstone Road, M2 from Junction 5 to Junction 4, A278 Hoath Way, A2 London Road and A2 High Street.

Non-motorway

The alternative route for non-motorway traffic is via A2 Keycol Hill, A249 Maidstone Road, Detling Hill, Sittingbourne Road, Bearsted Road, Penenden Heath Road, Sandling Lane, A229 Running Horse Roundabout, Chatham Road, Maidstone Road, A230 Horsted Way, Maidstone Road, A2 Best Street, Brookside, Union Street, New Road, Chatham Hill, Rainham Road, Watling Street, Sovereign Boulevard, Watling Street, London Road and High Street.

Weight Restrictions

A 7.5 Tonne weight restriction (except for access) will be imposed on the following roads, when the relevant signage is in place:

Spade Lane, Mill Lane, Breach Lane, Lower Hartlip Hill, Playstool Road, Church Lane, Bull Lane, Callaways Lane and Rook Lane.

Road names are taken from the National Street Gazetteer on Elgin, with alternative names given where known.

For details of roadworks, please see:  www.elgin.gov.uk

Visit our website:  www.kent.gov.uk/highways  to find out how we look after the roads in Kent.

Customer Information Bulletin SW180G / 1

Regards

Phil Lightman

Road Closures Co-ordinator, East Kent Division

KCC Highways & Transportation

Ashford Highway Depot

Javelin Way

Ashford

TN24 8AD

(08458 247 800 (24-hour Contact Centre)

Fax : 01233 648318

Email:  roadworkseast@kent.gov.uk
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Upchurch Matters featured in Inside Swale Magazine

Click on the article to enlarge it.

The latest edition of Swale Borough Councils 'Inside Swale Magazine' carries a full page feature on Upchurch Matters.

Inside Swale is published quarterly and delivered by Royal Mail to over 80,000 homes in the borough.

The article is great publicity for our village and the website and we are thrilled to be in there.

Upchurch Matters

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Mother's Day

Please remember your Mum.

Celebrate Mum and say thank you for all she is and all she does at our Mother's Day Service this Sunday, 18th of March, 10:30am in St. Mary's Church Upchurch.

A service for the whole family, with fun groups for the children, and flowers for Mum.

Rev Hugh Nelson

Curate, The Six

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