Upchurch Twinning Group News

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

Try  www.holywell.kent.sch.uk  or  www.upchurchmatters.co.uk  for our news as well. In addition, visit  www.ferques.fr  for interesting stuff! 

Upchurch Choral Society trip - Our Choral Society gave the promised concert in the church in Ferques on Sunday 15^th April and the whole day was a brilliant success. The choir and others travelled by coach and about 60 people enjoyed a lovely lunch at a local restaurant. While the choir rehearsed in the church, the coach drivers took others for a drive around the local area and along the coast. The concert itself was a wonderful experience, with about 150 in the audience, some English, but many local Ferques residents. At the end, the audience showed their appreciation with a standing ovation. Afterwards, there was a reception in the Mairie before all departed, tired but extremely happy. 

Thursday 17^th May 2012 – Annual General Meeting

 7:30pm in Holywell School Hall. Come and hear more about us and enjoy refreshments afterwards.  All are welcome to this AGM and we would love to see everyone there.

Saturday 14^th July – Bastille Day in Ferques – We’ll be having a stall at the street fair in Ferques as usual this year. We will be plying everyone with English food and beverages, plus we will sell good quality, donated items to raise some funds. This event is well worth a visit as part of a day out and to see if you can pick up any bargains on the other stalls! If you have any items that would be suitable for our stall, do let us know – we can collect if required. See you there, hopefully!

Saturday 25^th August. 2012 – Sports Day – this is now an annual affair and this year will be in Ferques. We will be arranging a coach so think about a day out with lots of sporty fun in France that day, plus food will be available. Cost of a seat on the coach will only be £10. This is always most enjoyable and well supported so register your interest as soon as possible. We hope that both individuals and Upchurch organisations will take an active part, or just come along to observe and cheer on!

7^th October – Anniversary Event – an outing somewhere in Kent. A coach load of Ferques residents will be coming over the water to join us. Watch this space!

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

Sue Rossiter

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Weekend of 2^nd – 4^th June 2012 – Not long now! We’re hoping you’ll all come and join in with the Village’s efforts to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s an amazing thing for our Queen to have been on the throne for 60 years and none of us will probably see this happen again. So let’s make a fuss about it with a weekend to remember! Put up your flags, get out some bunting ...

Saturday 2^nd June 2012 – Jubilee Concert

Featuring local artists and groups and

excerpts from Lionel Bart's 'Oliver'

performed by the children of Holywell School and local actors

7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall Tickets £3

Get your tickets NOW from Sue Rossiter on: 01634 234780 or  suerossiter@waitrose.com

All monies raised will be put towards the weekend’s costs

Sunday 3^rd June  –  Parade

Service of Thanksgiving

Jubilee Jolly.

                       

Parade – 10:30am from Scout Hut to Church

Service of Thanksgiving – 11:00am in the Church – all welcome!

Jubilee Jolly – 12:00 noon at the Village Hall – fun for all!

All day – exhibition in St Mary’s church of Coronation Day 1953 memorabilia.

12:00noon – Jubilee Jolly at the Village Hall – stalls, games, fancy dress, bouncy castle – something for all and for organisations to run stalls etc. Entry is free and you can bring along a picnic although there will be refreshments available to purchase from local organisations’ volunteers.

Monday 4^th June – Street parties (privately arranged), bonfire/beacon lighting at about 10pm on the Recreation Ground.  This will coincide with beacon lighting all over the country. The Parish Council plans for a commemorative tree and a gift of a Jubilee mug for all children of primary school age are progressing and there will be also be mugs for sale at cost price at the Jolly on Sunday 3^rd June and afterwards. In respect of the mugs, we are now collecting the names of all children of primary school age who live in Upchurch, but do not attend Holywell School. Please let one of the committee know so that these children will also receive a gift of a beautiful bone china Jubilee mug, with suitable inscriptions to commemorate this special occasion.

Sara Tucker tel: 01634 388971    Pat New tel: 01634 374220    Sue Rossiter tel: 01634 234780

Sue Rossiter

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Upchurch Twinning Group - AGM

Upchurch Twinning Group hold their AGM at Holywell School on Thursday the 17th of May at 7:30pm.


Come along and


Hear what the children have done.


Where we have been.


What is planned.


Upchurch Twinning Group

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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