Over the centuries many Upchurch residents have become well-known within the confines of the village, few have gained fame farther afield.
Hugh Herland became the first recorded Upchurch resident to gain widespread fame. He lived in Upchurch from 1378 to 1391 and became chief carpenter to Richard II and designer of the hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall, the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe and is considered a masterpiece. This became Hugh Herland’s greatest achievement. He also completed work at Rochester, Leeds and Winchester castles, the Tower of London, Canterbury Cathedral and the tomb of Edward III’s wife Philippa of Hainault in Westminster Abbey.
Hugh Herland initially worked with his father William who also served as the king’s carpenter. On September 28th, 1370 the king rewarded Hugh with ‘pesage of wools’ in Queenborough which established him as a member of the merchant class and also with a tenement in the City of London.
Hugh’s wife Joan also came from Upchurch but the couple eventually moved from Upchurch to Kingston in Surrey. Hugh Herland died in 1405 and a stained glass window featuring him exists at Winchester College Chapel.
Edmund Drake, father of famous seaman Sir Francis Drake served as the village vicar from 1560 to 1567. He came to Upchurch after working as a preacher and Bible reader in Chatham Dockyard while living on a shipwreck with his family of twelve on the River Medway.
Originally from a wealthy Devonshire farming family near Tavistock and a Catholic, Drake converted to Protestantism during the reign of Henry VIII but he had to flee the county after getting involved in criminal activity and came to Chatham.
How Drake managed to obtain the position of Upchurch vicar after working in Chatham is unclear but it’s believed that wealthy connections played a part.
It’s unknown if Edmund brought his son Francis to Upchurch in 1560 as evidence shows that the boy stayed with his cousin John Hawkins in Devon for a while then he became an apprentice on a small trading vessel on the River Medway. He later gained fame as a famous explorer and a national hero after attacking the Spanish in the Caribbean and taking a leading role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
When he died Edmund Drake chose to be buried in Upchurch churchyard according to his will and confirmed by Lady Eliot Drake in her book ‘Family and Heirs of Sir Francis Drake’ published in 1911. The exact location of Drake’s grave in Upchurch churchyard remains unknown.
Alice Chesterton became a well-known children’s story writer during the early twentieth century. She wrote a series of story books for the two village schools. These were purchased by Kent County Education Authority and used by schools throughout Kent. Alice also assisted teachers in the two village schools and became well-known in the Upchurch. Her fame as a children’s story writer was confined to Kent.
During World War Two Rowland Baker who lived in The Street developed a tank landing craft for the D-Day landings. The king awarded him an OBE and the United States government a Silver Palm in 1946. He later worked for the Canadian Navy and designed a frigate before taking control of the British nuclear submarine programme and becoming Chief Executive of the Dreadnought project. He received a knighthood for his services in 1968 and then moved to Bath.
Actor James Robertson Justice lived in Greylag at Ham Green during the second part of World War Two. He came to Upchurch after getting wounded while serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. A big man with a beard and a booming well-spoken voice. Also highly educated, he had attended Marlborough College and then University College London as a science student. He obtained two doctorates.
Being interested in nature and a keen ornithologist, Justice soon settled at Ham Green and was often accompanied by naturalist and wildlife TV presenter Sir Peter Scott when he ventured onto the saltings for bird watching. He drank in The Crown pub where he always had an audience and locals considered him an extrovert. He periodically walked around the Ham Green peninsular dressed in a kilt playing the bagpipes, he bathed naked in the river with lady friends from London and also openly bathed in a tin bath in his garden. The village children called Justice ‘Crackerbarrel’ because he appeared in newspapers and magazines advertising the cheese. However, he got into trouble when summoned to Sittingbourne Magistrate’s Court for breaking the blackout law. Village gossip spread that he was a German spy after a torch was spotted flicking on and off from a bedroom window of Greylag at night. Justice received a caution when he appeared in court.
When he left Upchurch, Justice gained fame as an actor appearing in a series of films which included ‘Doctor in the House,’ ‘Doctor in Love’, ‘Doctor at Large’ and ‘Doctor in Distress.’ He also appeared in other films like Moby Dick, Scott of the Antarctic, The Guns of Navarone and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Justice taught Prince Charles falconry while living in Scotland and became a personal friend of Prince Philip. He also became rector of Edinburgh University and once stood as a Labour candidate for North Angus and Mairns in the 1950 General Election. A blue plaque bearing his name is attached the front wall of Greylag at Ham Green in memory of him.
During the 1960s several well-known professional Gillingham footballers lived in the village. Brian Gibbs a prolific goalscorer lived in Church Farm Road, Les Riggs a midfielder lived at The Poles and Mike Burgess, a centre half resided at Crosier Court. Mike Burgess involved himself most in village affairs overseeing pre-season training with the village football club and he played his ukulele at village social events.
Derek Hales who gained fame with Charlton Athletic as a striker and still holds the record as the club’s highest ever goalscorer had a closer link with the village. He went on to play for West Ham United, Derby County and Gillingham. His father Dick who also gained fame in local football managed the family butcher’s shop W H Hales Butcher’s in The Street although the family lived in Lower Halstow. Derek’s early success in the village began as a goalscorer with Upchurch United Boy’s FC who he helped win the Kent Minor Cup and the Medway Minor League Cup. He also set records with Upchurch Cricket Club. By scoring 166 against Bredgar he set the record for the highest individual innings at the club and this stood for many years. He also scored other centuries and once took all ten wickets in a game against Cooling. He became the most famous Upchurch sportsman until the arrival of former Kent and England cricketer Dean Headley who came to coach youngsters and play in league matches for Upchurch Cricket Club.
Frank Godman from Crosier Court won instant but temporary fame when he appeared on the TV show ‘The Golden Shot’ hosted by comedian Bob Monkhouse in 1967. He won the Marksman of the Week Award for which he was presented with a mini electric scooter. He then tried for The Golden Shot worth £420. He missed by a whisker but he enjoyed a week of fame in the local press.
Former Olympic and professional boxer Terry Spinks arrived as publican of The Crown in September 1981. His presence attracted people from far and wide including famous faces from the boxing world such as Terry Downes, Alan Minter, Gary Davidson and Jimmy Revie. During this period Terry had the pub transformed from being a bare and basic pub of three parts into one large bar with wooden beams, new carpets, furniture and decorations. This immediately attracted more customers.
While at the pub Terry Spinks raised money for charity and presented boxing trophies at various clubs. He also gained publicity when he asked a priest to exorcise evil spirits after the flickering of lights in the pub and the mysterious movement of beer barrels in the cellar.
Terry Spinks and his wife Barbara left the pub and moved away from the area in 1987 after a very successful period at The Crown. Terry eventually received an MBE in recognition of his achievements in 2001. He is remembered as the most famous landlord at The Crown and the most recent famous person to live in Upchurch although he will probably not be the last.
About David
David Wood was born, raised and still lives in Upchurch today. He is able to write from personal experience about village life and the changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and 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.
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