The Children’s Society

Collection boxes for the Church of England Children’s Society are due to be emptied soon. This year we shall be doing this at the Church Porch Sale in St. Mary’s Church on Saturday 14th July.

If you have a box would you please bring it along in the morning for counting anytime between 9:30 and 11:30am. Alternatively, boxes can be passed to any wives group member or left at 18 Crosier Court.

If you would like someone to collect your box, please contact me on: 01634 375109 and I will arrange this on your behalf and return the box to you when it has been emptied.

Thank you

Jan Bunting

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Upchurch 50 years ago in July 1962

Memories of Upchurch.

Few could complain about a boring village as expanding clubs and popular events like the village fete and marathon dominated a busy month in July 1962.

Holywell farmer Frank Stevens opened the fete in The Paddock on Saturday July 8th and the event raised £160 for the Church Fabric Fund. With The Paddock packed to capacity stalls offered a variety of products like flowers and cakes. Highlights included country dancing by pupils from Holywell School and a fancy dress competition in which Laurel Clegg from Horsham Lane won the ‘Up to Eleven’ group and Roy Hogbin from Drakes Close won the ‘Up to Seven’ group. Miss Upchurch Muriel Clemons from Chaffes Lane presided over the fete while Revd Bradshaw described the overall effort as ‘a splendid piece of community teamwork.’

Early in the month Barbara Webb from Drakes Close was chosen as Carnival Queen from eight candidates while Angela Hodgkin from Poot Lane and Patricia Allen from Highsted were selected as her attendants for the big annual village event due to be held in August.

The village marathon which had been revived for the first time in six years by Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane and assisted by Bryan Veale from Horsham Lane, took place on the last Friday of the month as a preliminary for the village carnival. The women were first away from The Paddock and after racing a relatively short distance Christine Cripps from Poot Lane won the event. Six boys next lined up with Robert Gregory from Drakes Close winning and Ian Daniel from Oak Lane second. The men’s competition, a three mile race to Breach Lane and back was dominated by Maidstone Harriers runner D. Norman who coasted to victory on a very successful marathon evening.

Early in July the parish council met to discuss better facilities for the village clubs as Chairman Mr Colven described present facilities as ‘few and far between.’ Improvements were needed for several organisations including the rapidly expanding horticultural society. In their summer show entries exceeded 300 with a high level of exhibits. Winners included Mrs E Chaplin with roses, George Friend with vegetables, A Hinge & Son with cherries, Ernie Waters with potatoes and Charlie Stokes with onions.

The cricket club also thrived and recorded several good victories in July with the highlight being the match against Riverside in which Peter Smith scored an aggressive 57 in only 26 minutes. In partnership with Don Diffey who scored 80, Upchurch totalled 201-4. Frank Cook then bowled out Riverside for 50 taking four wickets for only 14 runs. Frank continued his good form with 6-22 against Minster later in July. Meanwhile, the Women’s Institute attracted new members with the July meeting being dominated by a report read out by Mrs Porter from Ham Green about the recent national meeting at the Royal Albert Hall followed by a talk about heraldry by guest speaker Mrs Skinner. After this members were asked to design a coat of arms for Upchurch. Mrs Nelson won the competition with Queenie South second. This ended a busy and varied month in the village calendar.

About David:
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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Upchurch Matters Gets Government Nod

We're thrilled with this article which appeared in yesterdays edition of the KM Sittingbourne NEWS Extra and online on their website kentonline.co.uk.

Upchurch Matters

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Holywell School Summer Fete - Total Raised

The grand total raised from Sunday's PFHS Holywell School Summer Fete has been announced.


A total of £2088 has been raised for the School.


A big well done to all  involved !


Upchurch Matters
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Martin Sheppard - Off to Tanzania

Martin Sheppard (top left) along with his fellow travellers.

Hello my name is Martin Sheppard and I'm 15 years old. I live in Wallbridge Lane Upchurch. In the summer of 2013 I will be going on an aid project to Tanzania in Africa with a few pupils from my school 'The Westlands School' In this time I will be helping the communities by building the Children a small school etc.


My trip is for one month and it's costing around £4,500 all of which I have to raise BY MYSELF !


I'm very much hoping people around the village will be able to sponsor me ! If there are any jobs around the village that you would like done then please give me a call on: 07860 520387 or Email me on: martinsheppard@live.co.uk


Some of the main projects are based outside Tanga, one of  Tanzania’s oldest coastal towns and in the Moshi area of northern Tanzania, in the foothills of Kilimanjaro.


Some other things I will be doing when out there are:


Volunteer work on important projects to improve the standard of living for rural Tanzanian communities.
Participate in ongoing conservation initiatives to protect wildlife and the environment.
Safari in some of Tanzania’s premier National Parks.
Marine conservation programme.
Indian Ocean and rural location.
Mountain trekking opportunities.


Thank you


Martin Sheppard
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Hugh Nelson - Leaving

Hugh Nelson.

Curate, Rev Hugh Nelson, is leaving after 3 happy years in The Six. Hugh has been appointed Vicar of Goudhurst & Kilndown, two lovely villages in the Weald of Kent.

Hugh's last Sunday will be the 29th of July. Everyone is welcome to Hugh's Last Hurrah ! Service at 10:30am at St. Mary the Virgin Church Newington.

There will be no services in other 'The Six' Churches that Sunday.

Good Luck to Hugh and his family from all of us in Upchurch.

Upchurch Matters

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