Holywell School Exchange Trip to Ferques 2016

On Thursday 6th October, forty two children from Holywell School visited our twinned village of Ferques, this is an annual exchange visit. As Ferques school does not have the facilities to cope with large number numbers of visitors, we met in the nearby village of Elinghen, all in the same commune.

The coach left Holywell School at 6:00am, to noisy cheers from the excited children. Our Eurotunnel train was the 7:50am which meant we arrived in Elinghen at 10:00am. Delicious croissants and pain au chocolate were served by hard working French ladies there.

Outdoor games were played in mixed teams followed by packed lunches. Denis Joly the Mayor of Ferques paid a visit. He spoke about 2016 being the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Charter, he praised the work of the two committees in promoting the aims of the Charter. These exchange visits also reflect Holywell's school motto “Recognising & Realising Aspirations”.

Gifts were exchanged between the schools prior to our departure. The coach was soon taking us to Coquelles for the return trip to Folkestone. Parents were pleased to see their children safely back home.

Our thanks go to the Schools, the coach drivers, Ray Kemsley, Elizabeth Shorthouse and everyone who supports the Twinning Committee, your reward is to see happy and enlightened children.

Mike & Kathy Johnson, Chairman and new Secretary of Upchurch Twinning Group.

Telephone: 01634 234226

Email: mikeinupchurch@gmail.com
Read more about Upchurch Twinning Group here

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Swale Community Safety Partnership - What Matters to You?

Local people are being asked for their views on crime and antisocial behaviour in their area.

Swale Community Safety Partnership brings together the police, councils and local authorities to more effectively and efficiently deal with crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) here in Swale.

To help establish where you would like us to focus our efforts; and where to target police, council and community safety partnership resources - we would like to know what issue are most important to you.

The survey asks people what level of concern they have about issues ranging from anti-social behaviour and drug use, to internet safety and domestic abuse.

All responses are confidential and the survey will take

5-10 minutes to complete.

The 2015 survey reported that antisocial behaviour was the biggest community safety concern. This has remained a priority for the CSP, with the Community Safety Unit ensuring support is provided to victims of ASB. Total ASB in Swale has fallen by seven per cent in the 12 months to the end June 2016.

The survey is open until the end of November and can be completed online here or paper copies are available by Emailing the Community Safety Unit here or by calling 01795 417193.

Please complete the Survey at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/swalecommunitysafety

Swale Community Safety Partnership

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Overnight Road Closures - Lower Rainham Road - Upchurch

To allow trial-hole works to be carried out for future sewer works, Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on part of Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch (Swale).

Overnight closures are planned from Monday the 24th of October 2016 for up to 5 nights, from 20:00 hours through to approximately 06:00 hours each night.

Lower Rainham Road will be closed in the vicinity of the roundabout junction with Otterham Quay Lane.

Access to the remainder of Lower Rainham Road continues from the Rainham direction up to where the road is closed, but there will be no through access.

The alternative route for through traffic is via Lower Rainham Road, Station Road, A2 High Street (Rainham) and Otterham Quay Lane.

The closures are in conjunction with temporary traffic lights during the day, when the road is re-opened.

The works have been timed to be carried out during the school holidays to reduce their impact.

Some delays are to be expected, especially at busier times, so it is recommended that motorists allow extra time for their journeys or consider using alternative routes during these works.

It is possible that the works may over-run for such reasons as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen engineering difficulties.

Click map to enlarge.

For details of roadworks, please see: www.kent.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

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Holywell School Exchange Trip to Ferques 2016

An early start this morning for children in Pioneer & Challenger classes travelling to our twinned French village of Ferques, courtesy of Upchurch Twinning Group and Holywell School.

Bon voyage 😀

Upchurch Matters

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Important Message from Upchurch Gabriel

Dave Candy - Editor

Telephone: 01634 361040

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

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Upchurch 50 Years Ago in October 1966 by David Wood

A struggle between the Upchurch Stores and the Co-op Stores for an off license in the village dominated all other village issues in October 1966.  

Both businesses had applied for a license at about the same time and the case went to Sheerness Magistrates Court. A petition for an off licence had been signed by 112 people in The Upchurch Stores while another was signed by 404 customers in the Co-op. At the same time both applications were opposed by the Sittingbourne Licensed Victuallers Association.

Mr and Mrs Huggins of The Upchurch Stores in The Street regarded themselves as typical village store owners and an important part of the community who had been present in the village since the 1950s when they succeeded Mr and Mrs Neame. Unlike other village shops they had stayed open until 7 pm each day to allow people who had left work late to do shopping. Furthermore, Mr Huggins had worked as a wine merchant for several years and had gained experience in the trade. He had taken wine orders from village residents and had delivered the products free of charge with groceries. This is how he had learned about the demand for an off license in the village. Mr Huggins had recently given up his job as a wine merchant to help his wife in their grocery business.

At the court hearing Albert Stewart, landlord of The Crown pub, argued that his trade would be affected because his off license sales totalled 20% of his trade. The court dismissed this on the basis that the pub had made no attempt to open an off license previously so it was the publican’s own fault.

Mr John Byrt representing Mr and Mrs Huggins said it would be better to grant the off license to the couple who had staked their whole future in the village rather than the Co-op whose opening times were restricted by trade unions, a body governed by a national and not a village organisation.

After listening to all the parties the court then granted the license to Mr and Mrs Huggins and not to the Co-op for the establishment of the first off license in Upchurch.

Later in the month Upchurch Cricket Club held its Annual Dinner and Dance in the village hall with Kent cricketer Brian Luckhurst and his wife attending as the main guests. Club official Ted Tress told those present that the season had not been as good as it could have been with 25 games played, 10 won, 13 lost, I drawn and 1 abandoned. Ted Tress said that all the games had been played with an extremely good team spirit and assured everyone that ‘Upchurch Cricket Club would not sleep or die.’ Reverend Bradshaw then mentioned the Aberfan disaster in Wales and a special prayer was said for the victims and their relatives before Grace.

In other club affairs the Women’s Institute had a poor attendance for October but this failed to stop Mr Langford giving a talk to members about Italy. He also showed colour slides of the country where he had worked for several years and of the places he had visited there. After the talk serving president Win Wraight appealed for financial support for the Institute while matters discussed included a stall for the Christmas Fayre and a course of classes in floral decoration. Mrs Fisher won the competition for the most interesting holiday souvenir with Mrs Kew second and Mrs Nelson third.

In the cubs and scouts Sixer William Hewitt gained the highest Cub Proficiency Badge, the Leaping Wolf Award and became only the second Upchurch cub to achieve this. A cub football team was formed and a match arranged at Sittingbourne which Upchurch won 2-0. Cub. On a sadder note scout secretary Mrs Woolley retired leaving a vacancy for the job.

Upchurch fruit growers Charlie Chambers and his son Michael from Natal Farm won several prestigious awards for their pears at the Marden Fruit Show. This included the best exhibit of pears plus another first prize, two seconds, a third and a reserve, a great achievement for the local growers because the show is the biggest in the south of England.

Finally, despite an absence of burials and marriages in October, baptisms were held for Michaela Hicks of Marstan Close, Samantha Gibbs and Jennifer Macauley of Church Farm Lane and Andrew Attwood of Oak Lane. This ended a month dominated by the fight to open an off license in the village.

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.

David Wood