Upchurch 50 Years Ago in December 1962

With the pending arrival of Christmas residents quickly entered into the season’s spirit with celebrations across the village while colourfully lit Christmas trees began appearing in living room windows.

The first main celebration took place on December 19th when the Darby and Joan Club held a Christmas party in the village hall. Reverend Bradshaw gave an opening address as guest speaker followed by games, dancing and singing with rousing solo singing performances by Mrs. Carlton from Wetham Green and Mrs. Lofthouse. The event turned out to be a very lively and happy one for the pensioners.

The Darby and Joan Club celebrations were soon followed up by a well attended torchlight procession around the village which began at the vicarage and ended at the village hall. Many people representing different village organisations attended in fancy dress. An organ mounted on a van playing Christmas carols and a sleigh with Father Christmas followed by hoards of village children proved to be very popular. Afterwards, in the village hall, stalls sold various types of produce and sideshows took place. Many village clubs participated in this with Young Wives members Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. Ray from Horsham Lane winning the fancy dress competition with their entry ‘A mother and baby.’ The event, organised by the parish council, was held in aid of the ‘Village Hall Fund’ and proved to be a great success.

The Women’s Institute made sure that they didn’t miss out on the festive spirit when they invited the church choir to perform carols at their Annual General Meeting and had a musical end to the evening. Before this the election of new committee members took place with Mrs. Burrows elected president, Mrs. Daniel vice president, Mrs. Jones secretary and Mrs. Thompson treasurer. The new committee consisted of Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Pepperill, Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Turner and Miss. South. 

David Wood.

On December 28th the final Christmas celebration took place with a Christmas concert in the village hall. A wide variety of village organisations participated in a musical event that raised money for the ‘Freedom from Hunger Fund’ and new curtains for the village hall.

During an evening service the church suffered a power cut and candles and torches had to be used for the event to be completed. This became another example to back up residents’ complaints to the parish council about the poor quality electricity supply to the village discussed at the monthly council meeting. Another problem occurred for the church when organist Mr. Wheeler resigned but this was soon resolved when Mrs. Bodley-Scott from Wallbridge Lane offered to help out until an alternative could be found. The recently formed Girl Guides group also had a leadership problem as vicar’s wife Mrs. Bradshaw continued to run them on a temporary basis although Mrs. Olive Couling from Crosier Court volunteered to be lieutenant to take some pressure off.

The only Christmas wedding involved Diana Naylor from The Street with Roger Gilbert from Rochester along with the baptism of Caroline Casey from Crosier Court. This ended an entertaining month in the village before a prolonged freezing cold spell with heavy snowfall set in on Boxing Day and lasted until March.

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 or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood
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Holywell School. Vacancy - Clerk to the Governors

KCC pay scale 4 Pro-rata  38 weeks - 2hours/week

The Headteacher and governors require a clerk to arrange and clerk meetings of the Board of governors. Maintain information on the membership of the Governing Body in accordance with legal requirements. Advise the governing Body on some procedural and legislative matters.

This position needs good interpersonal skill; ICT skills; Good listening, oral and literacy skills. Full job details with application form. Training will be given.

The successful applicant will need to have a CRB check and manage CRB checks for Governors.

Please contact Mrs J Bunting, Office Manager, Tel: 01634 366416 or Email:
office@holywell.kent.sch.uk  for an application form.

Return form to School Marked ‘For the Attention of Mr A. HORTON’.

Closing date 9th of January 2013.

Ray Kemsley
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Thwarted Burglary in Chaffes Lane

Message: 1395

[Reference: XY/037764/12]

This is Patricia from Neighbourhood Watch.

In view of a thwarted opportunist burglary at a property in Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, we would advise that householders keep all external doors locked even if they are at home and expecting a visitor. 

If you need to contact Kent police, use telephone number 101 and state you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch.

Thank you end of message

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch

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Nursery Days Christmas Fayre - Amount Raised

Sarah is raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Nursery Days Upchurch are pleased to announce their Christmas Fayre on Tuesday the 4th of December raised a grand total of £250 for Cancer Research UK.

The money  raised will go towards Sarah Oakham's fundraising.

On the 28th of April 2013 Sarah will be running in the 2013 London Marathon to raise money for Cancer Research UK. 

Sarah's giving page is:  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SarahOakham

Sarah and Steph would like to thank everybody for their generosity and for coming along.

Steph Oakham

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2 Attempted Burglaries in Upchurch

Message: 1358

This is a joint message from Swale Neighbourhood Watch and Kent Police.

Item one: An attempted burglary was averted when a security light activated and alerted a household member in Marstan Close, Upchurch. This happened at 6:30 pm on Sunday the 2nd of December.

Item two: Would-be burglars used a stone ornament to attempt illegal entry to a property in Oak Lane, Upchurch at 1:30 am on Thursday the 29th of November.

If you have any information about this please contact Kent police on telephone number 101 give Crime Number: XY/036887/12 or XY/036489/12 and state you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch.

Thank you end of message

Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch

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The End of World War 1 Village Memorial and Celebration Events

At the end of World War 1 most of the 140 Upchurch men who had fought in the conflict returned home, thirty four didn’t. Discussions took place in the village about how to greet those who had survived and what should be done to remember those who had perished.

The first major event took place on May 24^th, 1919 when a marble memorial tablet and stained glass window named ‘Soldiers at the Crucifixion’ were dedicated by the Rural Dean in the church. With the building packed to capacity the parish magazine of June 1919 described the service as a highly emotional event with tears streaming down many people’s faces as a bugler played ‘The Last Post’. The 34 names of those who had died in the conflict were then read out and a sermon given by Reverend J. G Easton in which he quoted from Rupert Brooke’s poetry:

Blow out you bugles, over the rich dead.

There’s none of these so lonely and poor of old.

Best, dying has made us rarer gifts than gold.  

Such was the intensity of emotion that Upchurch vicar Reverend Dicker was moved to comment in the following month’s edition of the village magazine that those who had openly wept at the service should not be ashamed.

Memories of Upchurch.

On June 3^rd 1919 a vote took place in the village for the best peace memorial. Residents had the choice of a clock for the church tower, a new recreation ground, a gate to the churchyard or a sun balcony for a hospital which had all been put forward at the parish council ‘Memorial Committee’ meeting. After residents had voted for the options a memorial clock for the church tower came first with 240 votes. The clock was eventually fitted to the church tower after a series of fund raising events in 1921.

A victory celebration fete took place at Holywell Meadow followed by entertainment for the soldiers and sailors from the village who had survived the war on Saturday July 19^th 1919. The Upchurch Nuggets performed a variety of clown acts followed by sports events after which old people and children were treated to a meat tea in the marquee. Gifts of tobacco were given to the old people and sweets to the children. The fete ended with the playing of the National Anthem.

The last celebration took place at the Infant’s School when welcome home celebrations for soldiers and sailors were held on August 8th 1919. With the building decorated with red, white and blue bunting guests sat down at long tables decorated with flowers. After Reverend Dicker had given a brief address packets of cigarettes and tobacco were distributed and a concert party with music took place to entertain everyone.

Finally, on November 11^th 1920 people in Upchurch were requested to stand still for two minutes at 11 a.m. followed by the tolling of a single church bell 34 times in memory of those from the village who had died in the war. A Sunday Remembrance Day service also became established which is still observed in the church every November.

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  or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
price £12 + p+p £2.

David Wood

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