Upchurch Women's Institute - Quiz Night

On Friday May the 11th why not book a table for our Quiz night ? Tables of 6 cost £5 a head, with a plouhgmans supper included. Bring your own drink. Starts at 7:30pm.

To book a table, please ring Joyce Gilbert on: 01634 232346.

Gillian Holland

Charity Quiz Night at The Three Tuns

The Threee Tuns Lower Halstow are hosting a Charity Quiz Night on Wednesday the 2nd of May.

See  Map

It all kicks off at 8:00pm with team sizes of up to 8 people. It's £3 per person to enter, this money is then split between the winning team and the charity of their choice.

Half time nibbles included.

The Three Tuns  Website

Carole

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Upchurch Choral Society sing to their French Friends

Upchurch Choral Society singing in the Church of our Lady of the Assumption. 

Upchurch is twinned with the commune of Ferques in Northern France.

On Sunday 15th April 2012, Upchurch Choral Society travelled over to France and gave a concert in the Church of our Lady of the Assumption in Ferques to an audience of approximately 150 people, including both Upchurch and Ferques residents. The Upchurch Twinning Group arranged the event with their counterparts in Ferques and funded the coach that carried the choir and local residents over the Channel for the day.

Upchurch Choral Society is a four-part choir, conducted by Helen Osborne and accompanied on this occasion by Upchurch Organist, Sue Rossiter. Both received a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a gesture of thanks, following the concert.

The whole day was a wonderful success and much appreciated by all concerned. The coach arrived safely and coffee was enjoyed in the local café adjacent to the church. Then the group headed off to a local restaurant, where about 60 people enjoyed a delicious lunch. The choir rehearsed in the afternoon and then performed a variety of well-chosen pieces in the church in the evening. The programme included items in English, French, German and Latin, ranging from Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine to some items from Les Miserables. The choir was rewarded with a standing ovation at the end.

After the concert, there was a reception at the local Mairie, where copious drinks and canapés were provided by the Mayor of Ferques and his Council. Eventually, the coach full of Upchurch choir and residents departed to return home tired, but very pleased and happy with the whole experience.

Sue Rossiter

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Terry Spinks MBE and ‘The Crown’

Terry Spinks MBE.

If you had ventured into ‘The Crown’ pub during the early 1980's you would have been politely greeted by a small, smartly dressed man wearing glasses and a suit. In reality he was far from ordinary having experienced the ups and downs of nationwide fame. Terry Spinks former professional boxer, ABA champion and gold medal winner at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 had become new landlord of ‘The Crown’ pub.

Originally from Canning Town in London’s East End, Terry arrived at ‘The Crown’ on September 21st 1981. His opening ceremony saw many famous faces from the boxing world converge on Upchurch, including Alan Minter, Terry Downes, Gary Davidson and Jimmy Revie.

Intending to make his business a success, Terry initially closed the pub for two months and had the interior completely refurbished. Having previously been a rather bare interior with three bars, it was converted into one large, neatly decorated bar with wooden ceiling beams, new carpets and furniture. Terry even had the initials of himself and his wife Barbara engraved into the wood of the bar. The result was an immediate improvement and an influx of more customers.

Such was Terry’s popularity that soon he was in demand for personal appearances at local boxing functions throughout Kent. He also raised £606 for charity at H.M.S Pembroke in Chatham and sponsored the first ever car to run on petroleum gas at the Lombard RAC Rally.

After being told by locals that the pub was haunted because of its location next to the church graveyard, Terry noticed that barrels were mysteriously being moved out of position in the cellar and lights were periodically flickering in the building. Feeling that something wasn’t quite right Terry caused a sensation by calling in the vicar who performed an exorcism to rid the establishment of possible evil spirits.

Terry owned an Old English Sheepdog named Ben and saw the funny side of its eating habits. The dog loved crisps so much that it became overweight. Forced to put his pet on a diet, Terry placed a sign around its neck which stated ‘Don’t feed me.’ A hungry Ben obviously unimpressed would sometimes sneak behind the bar, take a packet of crisps from the crisp box, tear it open with its teeth and eat the contents. Terry maintained that the dog took after him because it ate the wrong things.

Terry and his wife Barbara left ‘The Crown’ in 1987 and became tenants of ‘The Coach and Horses’ pub in Worthing Sussex. Unfortunately, after getting divorced Terry became seriously ill but recovered in Sutton Manor Clinic in Newnham in 1993. He later appeared on TV in ‘This is Your Life’, in one episode of ‘The Bill’ and in the film ‘Shiner’ with Michael Caine. After another spell raising money for charity Terry was eventually awarded the MBE in recognition of his achievements in November 2001. Terry later moved to Essex where his cousin Rosemary looked after him but he continues to be fondly remembered in Upchurch as the most famous person to have managed ‘The Crown’.

About the author:
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 on:  david3702001@yahoo.co.uk  price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood
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Local Produce Fair at the Three Tuns

The Three Tuns Lower Halstow will be holding another Local Produce Fair on bank holiday Monday the 7th of May, 12:00 - 4:00pm.

See  Map


Meet local producers & suppliers presenting their wares. Cream Teas available.

Stall holders will include:

The Seafood Centre & Farm Shop
Just Cutts Butchers
Taywell Ice Creams
Ellies Dairy & Kent Cheeses
Cottage bakery
Veggie Perin
Muffleflutt's Pet Emporium
& Many more

There will also be a Hog Roast.

This will all be taking place under a Marquee so the weather won't be stopping us !

The Three Tuns  Website

Carol

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Volunteer Event Marshalls Required

The Olympic Torch Relay through Faversham - Volunteer Event Marshalls Required

You may not have obtained tickets for the 2012 London Olympics but you can still be a part of the show leading up to the event.

The Olympic Torch Relay will be in Faversham on the 19th of July and Swale Borough Council are seeking volunteer Event Marshalls to help with the event.

The Faversham Olympic Torch Relay offers a highly evolved, all-round experience that is completely unique, due to the infrequent visit to the United Kingdom. It is about energy, community and fun.

If you are interested, then contact Martin Goodhew at Swale Borough Council before the 11th of May. Email: martingoodhew@swale.gov.uk  Tel: 01795 417399 Mobile: 07827 956832

Gerry Lewin

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