Some form of entertainment has existed in Upchurch throughout the ages. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the village schools provided much of it with concerts and operettas, but as time progressed other organisations and individuals emerged.
Tom and Katherine Wraight who managed the bakery in Forge Lane and the post office and grocery store, later known as Terrys in The Street, attempted to establish regular village entertainment during the 1890s. Katherine Wraight began by organising short musicals in The Church Room in Horsham Lane. In 1894 she organised a musical comedy named ‘Too Bad’ and then a production of ‘Cinderella’. Tom Wraight participated in later productions as a singer and violinist. In November 1895 he appeared in a comical rendition of ‘The Blind Beggar.’ Concerts arranged by Mr and Mrs Wraight continued throughout the 1890s. Apart from this smoking concerts took place in the Edward 1stInn and The Three Sisters pub. These involved live musical performances and raised money for needy village residents.
The Nuggets became the first well-known group to perform in the village. A minstrel troupe of fifteen men and six women formed by Holywell headmaster Mr Maltravers in 1911, the members blackened their faces and dressed in colourful costumes. They sang, danced and performed clown acts and appeared at different events in Upchurch and in other local villages. The group continued performing into the 1920s before disbanding.
While Fred Wyles and Bert Cox emerged as a singing, dancing, comical duo during the war years of 1914-1918, Ivy Cottrell, a trained dancer and singer from Horsham Lane regularly performed in the village. Her performances of Spanish dancing in a marquee at the village fetes of the 1920s proved the most popular with village audiences. In April 1925 a smoking concert took place in the social club at which Ivy Cottrell sang and recited a dialogue between two old country women followed by comical sketches performed by village comedian Fred Wyles.
Holywell headmaster Mr Maltravers organised various theatrical and social events and performed as a pianist and actor during the 1920s. The Annual Fancy Dress Dance held at the Infant’s School became the most popular event in which he participated, while short theatrical sketches and concerts were staged at the Infant’s School.
The theatrical events of the 1920s led to the formation of Upchurch Amateur Dramatic Society in July 1933. They staged a variety of productions such as the comedy ‘Gooseberry Court’ and’ Hotel Riposo’ which proved to be big hits in the village.
Teddy Neame from the Upchurch Stores became well-known in the village for participating in different dramatic and musical productions and he also gained fame singing cockney songs which he performed at different village events and at children’s parties in the village schools during the 1950s.
While Teddy Neame gained local fame with his singing and acting, George Chaney became a village sensation with his personal brand of rock ‘n roll guitar performances during the 1960s. Usually playing in front of a packed audience of screaming teenage girls in the village hall or at private wedding receptions, the blonde headed, red faced musician proved to be a massive hit as he gyrated and moved around in his smart suit and string tie singing and playing his guitar.
Gillingham professional footballer Mike Burgess from Crosier Court also made an impact as a talented ukulele musician during the 1960s, He captivated audiences at different social events such as the cricket club’s Tramp’s Supper while at weekends he starred as a centre half for Gillingham Football Club.
Phil Cooper from The Poles performed in front of packed audiences as a wrestler in The Paddock at the carnival fete during the 1970s. He became a regular performer and he trained some of the village boys to become wrestlers. His performances led to the appearance of well-known TV tag wrestling teams such as The Tigers and The Commancheros at the carnival fete during the early 1970s and then with the appearance of famous TV wrestling star Johnny Kwango in 1978.
The Choral Society has contributed to village entertainment since 1967 and they have raised money for different charities and good causes such as the Church Restoration Fund and Kent Air Ambulance. Performing in the church and at various events, they have held three concerts a year with a mixture of jazz, light opera and choir singing. They have also appeared in local shows and have supported local organisations such as Medway Opera.
The Choral Society also played a big part in the Upchurch Festival of Music which began in June 1988 and made a big impact by attracting sizeable audiences. The festival became a biennial event in the village. In a week of entertainment, it offered a wide range of music performed by village and visiting local musicians and singers. With the exception of jazz which took place in the village hall, other performances were held in the church. Village groups such as the church choir, Holywell School and the Choral Society participated.
The Upchurch Players, a dramatic group formed in 1960 by Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane regularly performed in the village after staging their first production ‘Home is the Hunted’ in October 1962. The group became defunct for a while but re-formed in 1991 and established their annual panto with Cinderella as their first production. To date, they have staged twenty seven pantos in the village. David Candy and Alison Lewin have become two long term established actors, while Adam James who is also a member of the Kentish Players has taken leading roles.
Periodically theatrical productions or shows have proven to be highly successful in the village. A performance of Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver’ by the church choir in 1973 became one of the most popular productions of the 1970s. Actors were obtained from the village drama group and dancers from the Leslie Munn School of Dancing. Bryan and Evelyn Veale, Alec New, Sharon Diffey and Tanya Uglow were some of the village residents who starred in this memorable production.
These days Terry Knight from Forge Lane has gained popularity as a professional magician known as ‘Mr Fizz.’ He is also a member of the Magic Circle. Appearing at private children’s and adult parties, he has become well-known in and outside the village. In Upchurch he has performed his magical tricks at the Co-op fete and the Holywell School fete.
A local band has recently gained fame. Colin Wood from Ham Green and Dave and Jenny Hursell formerly of Chaffes Lane performed in their band CJD (renamed the Fruity Pigs) at the Brown Jug from 2005. Later in 2009, they disbanded then Colin Wood and David Hursell with drummer Mark Neilson (succeeded by Vernon Hampton) formed the group, Mr Bridger. With their brand of music known as Garage Rock, they have released two albums and have appeared at The Crown, the Brown Jug, in Peter Boakes’s barn in Chaffes Lane, at Gore Farm and in front of farmer Robert Hinge’s Eastern European farm workers at Ham Green. They have also gained fame outside Upchurch at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, the Half Moon in Putney, The Underworld in Camden, the Hope & Anchor in Islington, The Command House in Chatham and the Beacon Court Tavern in Gillingham.
Guitarist and singer Jeff Pedley from Woodruff Close has performed in the village since 1984. He first started in a group called the Hasbeens then appeared solo at the Brown Jug, at River Valley Golf Club and in the village hall for UpARA. He has also performed at locations outside the village such as The Three Tuns and the fete at Lower Halstow and as far away as Chester.
Overall, various village residents and organisations with differing talents have provided Upchurch with entertainment over the years and as they have finished others have emerged to replace them.
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 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
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