Friends of St. Mary’s Church - Photography Competition

The Friends of St. Mary’s church is holding a photography competition open to all. Prints (6in x 4in or 7in x 5in) of the church or its surroundings should be sent to 135 Oak Lane by 30th September. (Don’t forget to give details of the photographer!).

The entries will be displayed at the Friends of St. Mary’s AGM in October when the winners will be announced. Modest cash prizes for each class winner will be provided together with the opportunity for a small display of winners’ portfolios on the Upchurch Matters website.

The judges will be particularly interested in originality and innovation in the composition of the pictures. Entries at £1 each should be submitted in any of the following classes: 

• Black and white; 

• Under 16 years; 

• 16 years and over; 

• Creative i.e. manipulated images.

Ben Walters

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Charity Cake Bake at the Crown - Amount Raised

The Charity Cake Bake on Sunday the 24th of March at The Crown raised a grand total of £230.

Proceeds will go to Sarah Oakham who is running the 2013 London Marathon in aid of Cancer Research UK.

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

Upchurch Matters
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The Gullands Guide To Motoring Offences

For most people the mere sight of someone being spoken to by the police on the side of the road prompts them to slow down and consider how they would feel if they were in the same position.

The penalties if convicted of a very serious traffic offence can be high. For example, causing death by dangerous driving carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

For many, however, the prospect of losing their driving licence is a much greater possibility, and in these circumstances it is prudent to take expert legal advice from a solicitor.

Most road traffic offences, such as going through a red traffic light or driving in a bus lane, will add penalty points to your licence. Offenders who reach 12 points within three years, known as ‘totting up’, become liable for disqualification. A first disqualification is for a minimum of 6 months.

Not all motoring offences are endorsable but those that are carry a minimum of three penalty points with some, such as speeding, carrying a range of points depending on the seriousness of the circumstances. If you are caught speeding on a motorway and the measured speed exceeds 100mph, for example, the magistrates’ court will always consider a period of disqualification.

Where a person is offered a fixed penalty, this would be for three penalty points and currently a £60 fine. If they wish to dispute the offence or where the addition of penalty points would result in the driver totting up, they will be summonsed to attend court. If convicted, the magistrates can impose a greater number of points and a higher fine.

A magistrates’ court has discretion not to disqualify a driver, or disqualify for a period less than six months if, on hearing evidence, it considers that loss of licence would result in exceptional hardship.

An alternative solution available to the court is to impose a discretionary disqualification for the new offence, typically for a period of between seven and 56 days. This allows the court to mark the offence with a shorter disqualification, avoiding the need to consider whether exceptional hardship arises.

If you have been stopped by the police about a driving matter or have been summonsed to appear before a magistrates’ court and would like advice contact John Roberts at Gullands Solicitors.

Phone:  01622 678341
Email:   j.roberts@gullands.com   

Website:  www.gullands.com

Gullands Solicitors

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News From St. Mary's Church

Easter Saturday  St. Mary's invites you to come and experience the events of Holy Week leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection!

Follow the steps around the church and see how the events led to the horror of the Crucifixion and the triumph of the Resurrection!

See the Cross and the empty tomb and imagine yourself there!

For the children, we have plenty of craft ideas and fun things to do. For you all we offer hot cross buns and also hot soup and rolls at lunch time.

We shall be open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and we look forward to welcoming you all!

Queries? Ring Revd. Jacky on: 01795 842557, Elizabeth on: 01634 364676 or Gabriele on: 01634 374136.

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday  24th March 9:00 am Sung Communion and the giving of Palm Crosses.

Maundy Thursday  28th March. Stripping of the Altar and Sung Communion. 8:00 pm.

Easter Sunday  31st March. 9:00 am Easter Celebration Sung Communion for all the family.

Easter Sunday  You are invited to join Revd. Jacky and others at 6:30 am down by the Creek in Lower Halstow (behind L.H. church) for a service of light and celebration, continued in the church with Communion, and then after the service, stay for hot Bacon sandwiches and coffee!

Revd. Jacky Davis

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Upchurch Farmers Market

Upchurch Farmers Market is back this Sunday the 24th of March at Upchurch Village Hall, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Dave Candy

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Upchurch 50 Years Ago in March 1963

Once snow from the prolonged winter had completely cleared life became easier for village residents, particularly on the roads as the big freeze had curtailed travel and had periodically prevented the school bus from turning up to collect the village school children. Accidents became fewer although the last one reported in the East Kent Gazette involved 16 year old Ralph Stokes from Holywell Cottages who collided with a pedestrian in Solomon Road in Rainham on his motor scooter due to an icy road.

In religious affairs Reverend Bradshaw continued to educate villagers in the workings of the church and wrote about the importance of Lent as a period of penitence and self discipline in the village magazine. Meanwhile, the church choir which had made good progress under the leadership of Mr. Wheeler advertised for tenor and alto singers. Later in the month the Bishop of Dover visited the church to attend confirmation.

Although the football club didn’t play any matches until well into the month due to unfit pitches, fifty members of the Women’s Institute managed to attend their usual monthly meeting in the village hall. After arrangements had been made for the annual birthday party guests from the Darby and Joan Club were shown a film. The evening was rounded off with a competition for a child’s knitted garment won by Mrs. Turner.

David Wood.

In parish council affairs nothing happened in March as only four members turned up to the monthly meeting because of bad weather and important issues had to be shelved. At about the same time the council received an interesting letter from former Upchurch resident Frank Twort who wished to share some of his memories of the village from New Zealand. The letter revealed that he had been born at Anvil House, Forge Lane in 1884. He later attended the village schools and sang in the church choir before working in Lower Halstow brickfield for 1/6d a day doing hard physical work during the late 1890s. He also recalled enjoyable evenings at the vicarage in the company of Reverend Trew and his daughter where he played various games and was served with tea and cakes. He then moved to Newington and later to New Zealand where he became a magistrate and Justice of the Peace. He finally obtained fame when he became mace bearer in the New Zealand parliament and an example of somebody who had worked his way up in life from humble beginnings. 

Church burials for March included well known village character Kate Seamer aged 73 from The Street and Jacqueline Millen aged 44 from Jasmil Kennels while marriages included Peter Whitton from Kent Terrace with Patricia Haynes from Gillingham, Vicky Gardner from Oak Lane with Lionel Craggs from Abingdon in Berkshire and Roystan Wildish from Drakes Close with Valerie North from Newington. Finally, Malcolm Swift from Chaffes Lane, Michael Apps from Twinney and Stephen Bass from Webb’s Cottages, Ham Green all celebrated birthdays in a month where a big improvement in the weather brought relief to Upchurch residents after one of the longest and coldest winters in living memory.

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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