(In conjunction with the Village Fete in the Paddock opposite the Shops not the Village Hall)
Saturday 20th June 2015 If you have seen the Allotment Challenge programme on TV recently then come and see the Upchurch version. It's easy to show and display your produce and flowers and you don't need to be an expert just an ordinary person.
Opening time is 11:30am upon completion of judging.
Exhibitors staging to be completed by 10:30am.
Prize giving and auction of produce starts at 3:45pm.
If you wish to join or enter a class contact Steve the Society Secretary on: 07703 339290 / 01634 373723 or Email: slaming@tycoint.com for more information.
This year the Women’s Institute will be celebrating its Centenary and as a branch of East Kent, Upchurch are no exception with 40+ members meeting monthly in the Village Hall. The committee and members are united in wanting to do something to mark the occasion and would like to provide, with your help, a Defibrillator for our village and the community.
We have started the ball rolling by informing the Parish Council of our plans as we value their support and yours and we have been in touch with The Community HeartBeat Trust who have provided us with a Project Guide on a Community Public Access Defibrillator. Other rural areas are already realising the importance of these projects and how it can reduce the constraints on ambulance services. The cost of this would be in the region of £2500 and already donations have been promised towards this target.
Over the next few weeks we will be writing to organisations to see if they would like to contribute in some monetary way. This doesn’t have to be a huge sum although that is always welcome. You could hold a raffle, coffee morning or any fund raising event. If we all pull together we can achieve what might seem an impossible task to some, but for our community here in Upchurch, we know we can do it. A Defibrillator can be a lifesaving piece of equipment that you now see in many public places and who knows – it might be one of us who are in need one day.
The Defibrillator will need to be sited in the centre of the village and will be in a locked, weatherproof cabinet. Several local venues have been identified and individuals will be contacted with regards to their thoughts and participation. As a WI we are planning to host an open session in the next few months when we will be explaining this in more detail so please keep a look out for further information. We do hope that you are as enthusiastic as we are and can offer your support and even consider coming along to one of our meetings which are held in the Village Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of every month barring August. We are just like Marmite, you will either love us or hate us but you don’t know until you try! In the meantime, if you would like to contact us with regards to any of the aforementioned, please ring any one of the following;
Carol Williams (President of Upchurch WI - 01634 924231) Gill Holland (Committee Member - 01634 366114) Jan Bunting (Member - 01634 375109)
Between the 23rd and 24th of March there have been a number of burglary artifice offences. All of the offences have 2 suspects that claim to be from the water board. They mention the need to locate the stop-cock. Offences are mainly on East Division in Deal, Dover, Canterbury on the 23rd and Ashford and Faversham on the 24th.
Distraction burglary/artifice is where the offenders trick or dupe the occupant or distract them, allowing the other person they are working with to gain access to the property and commit burglary. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to distraction burglary.
Please be vigilant. Be cautious, representatives from water, gas and electric companies rarely visit without appointments. If you are unsure do not answer the door.
If in doubt, keep them out.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
When Winston Churchill announced that the Second World War had officially ended 70 years ago on May 8th 1945, massive rejoicing took place in towns and villages across the country. After six years of hardship and loss people felt great relief and joy as they got ready to party. Celebrations were held in Upchurch on Tuesday 15th May, 1945.
Red, white and blue bunting gaily decorated The Street while Union Jack flags flew in many parts of the village. Cecil Bishop directed the operations, the church bells were rung and the bellringers included ex-prisoner of war Horace Boakes.
The most notable feature of the celebrations took the form of a decorated trolley that patrolled the village on which people appeared in fancy dress. These included Mrs. Joan Latter, Mr. Hamilton, Teddy Neame and members of their families. While Mrs. Latter played the piano on the trolley Mr. and Mrs Grigg and Mr. and Mrs Higgins made a collection for the Upchurch Welcome Home Fund. A total of £14/13/1d was collected from the watching spectators.
Later in the day Reverend Lightburne conducted a service in the church, Roy Rogers played the organ and a small orchestra participated. Members of the Parish Council, the Civil Defence and the police attended a packed service.
Children’s parties and victory teas were held in different parts of the parish. About 60 children attended a party in 'The Three Sisters' pub and were entertained with music and games after which every child was presented with a beaker bearing the flags of the allied nations and the famous V sign. They also received a red, white and blue bag with sweets and a new sixpence.
In The Street 58 children attended a party in the Infants school while In Oak Lane 24 children sat on Mrs. Burton's lawn where they were served with iced cakes and tea. Games and races in Ted Tress's orchard followed this. Afterwards the children were presented with a book, a pencil, a rubber, a shilling and a three penny piece.
At Gore Bank about 40 children sat down in Mr. Boakes’s orchard. After tea races took place and prizes that included a cockerel and eggs were presented to the winners. Every child received a token and sweets, babies were given a ball and money, older girls got a china beaker and money and older boys received a knife and money. A bonfire and fireworks followed this before Mrs M. Boakes presented prizes.
At Ham Green a victory tea took place in Mr. Hinge's meadow attended by about 40 children. Messrs Hinge, Holloway, Starnes and Howland gave gifts and money, Mrs Witherden gave strawberries and Mrs. Moon from Poot House gave cherries while Mrs Pat Atkinson from Webb’s Cottages looked after the children’s competitions. After races and games a bonfire with figures of former Nazi leaders Hitler and Goering sitting on top was lit and accompanied by fireworks. Street parties were also held throughout the parish where people sang, danced the hokey-cokey, performed the conga and ate and drank at decorated tables to celebrate the end of the war.
The video above may not be visible in our Email alert version.
Winston Churchill speaking in London summed up the VE Day celebrations when he said.
“In all our history, we have never seen a greater day. This is your hour. This is your victory. It is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole.”
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 at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
