The annual village carnival which had taken place every year since 1952 became the main highlight of the month attracting visitors from far and wide.
As always the village marathon took place one week before the carnival. It started and finished in The Street with separate races for men, women, girls and boys, organised by Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane.
Former winner Bernard Sketchley from Chaffes Lane dominated the 1969 men’s marathon and won the Pepperill Challenge Shield for the second consecutive year, beating his brother-in- law John Gilbert, formerly of Drakes Close into second position. Rodney Jones from Lower Halstow came third. Jayne Batchelor from Forge Lane won the women’s marathon with June Manley from Wallbridge Lane second. Alan Webb from Drakes Close won the boy’s marathon and Brenda Clark won the girl’s event.
In the weeks leading up to the carnival residents from the village housing estates and roads prepared decorated floats for the carnival procession through the village which started on the recreation ground and incorporated Oak Lane, Horsham Lane, Church Farm Road, Forge Lane, Chaffes Lane and Wallbridge Lane.
Fifteen floats took part in the 1969 carnival procession. Three nominated village queens also participated on their own floats. Maureen Siggers appeared as Carnival Queen, Lorraine Manley as Miss Upchurch and Vivian Atkinson as May Queen.
After the procession a fete took place in The Paddock which included a dog show and the crowds were entertained with a dancing display by the Maids of Kent (children from Holywell School). Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane provided recorded music on a loudspeaker system, The Women’s Institute served tea in a marquee, stalls sold a variety of goods and sideshows grabbed visitors’ attention.
Church Farm Road won the ‘Best Float’ competition for the second consecutive year with the Women’s Institute second. Carnival Committee chairman Rita Woodford told the East Kent Gazette, “The floats are better than ever this year. More work has gone into them.”
The 1969 carnival proved successful and well attended with £400 raised for the ‘Extension of the Village Hall Fund.’
Village clubs and organisations continued their monthly activities in August. The Women’s Institute held their monthly meeting at Lower Halstow where Mrs Duncan gave a talk about a horse drawn caravan journey from Somerset to Scotland. Meanwhile, Upchurch Cricket Club had a month of mixed results at their Poot Lane ground with some matches cancelled because of rain. The biggest disappointment turned out to be the abandonment of their annual all day match against Pegasus from Romford Essex on August Bank Holiday Monday. Upchurch managed to complete their innings scoring 188 with Ian Daniel from Oak Lane hitting 68 runs but rain finished the game. The Pegasus players then gathered in The Crown where they drank and loudly sang the night away, which they did every year after the match before returning to Romford.
The parish council had a busy month. They gave permission for the recreation ground to be mown for the carnival and reported that the old churchyard needed attention because of its terrible overgrown condition. As a solution they decided to look for volunteers to complete the job. They discussed stiles on the seawall as being a hazard for children and old people who found climbing over them difficult. They also discussed the growing problem of parking in the village centre and the racing of cars around the village causing a danger to pedestrians. Rubbish dumping raised concerns, so a proposal was made to display posters warning against it around the village.
The parish records for August recorded the cremation of Joan Barden from Forge Lane aged 46 and the baptisms of Cristine Goodson from Horsham Lane, Geoffrey Tyler from Otterham Quay, Philippa Thompson from Chaffes Lane and Jennifer Tassell from Huntingdon.
August proved to be an entertaining month for residents with the staging of the carnival and the opportunity for some housewives and teenagers to go fruit picking on local farms to earn some extra money.
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.
David Wood
