UK Government COVID-19 Recovery Strategy

The Government has published its roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The document describes the progress the UK has made to date in tackling the coronavirus outbreak, and sets out the plans for moving to the next phase of its response to the virus.

The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap to easing existing measures in a safe and measured way, subject to successfully controlling the virus and being able to monitor and react to its spread.

The roadmap will be kept constantly under review as the epidemic, and the world’s understanding of it, develops.

“OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy” is available to download and read in PDF format at the link >> https://bit.ly/3dEMsEt

Upchurch Matters

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URGENT Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

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Changes to MCH Blood Test Clinics

Changes to Phlebotomy Service from Monday 30 March 2020

Due to COVID-19, with effect from Monday 30th March 2020 the Phlebotomy Clinic will no longer provide a walk in blood test service.

All blood tests will need to be booked by telephoning: 01634 471098 to arrange your appointment. 

Please see the poster for open clinics.

Medway Community Healthcare from Upchurch Surgery

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Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - March 2020

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

50 crimes are shown on the map in March 2020 including:

7 Anti-social Behaviour

6 Burglary

2 Criminal Damage and Arson

2 Other Theft

2 Shoplifting

6 Vehicle Crime

24 Violence and Sexual Offences

1 Other Crime

30 crimes were shown on the map in February 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Lower Halstow and Iwade

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

33 crimes are shown on the map in March 2020 including:

3 Anti-social Behaviour

4 Criminal Damage and Arson

1 Drugs

1 Other Theft

4 Public Order

2 Shoplifting

3 Vehicle Crime

13 Violence and Sexual Offences

2 Other Crime

21 crimes were shown on the map in February 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters

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May News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

I hope that everyone is coping with the lockdown and staying well. Maybe you are making the most of the single exercise session per day or using up the half empties in the drinks cabinet on a varied range of cocktails and punches. Alternatively you could be marching on in the garden with a single minded determination to produce as much fruit and vegetables as possible this year. I have pushed ahead and hardened everything off outdoors and started planting out. A small ground frost at the end of April cost me a few seedlings and the forecast for Monday is worrying. So…..do not plant out yet, I have been too impetuous and may pay for it on Tuesday morning as there is still a chance of frost and the climbing beans are tender.

The first lettuces are potted up and a second sowing is poking their heads through. I will also do a second sowing of beetroot and work out where to plant it later. The sweetcorn is in and planted in a rectangular pattern 6 x 3 as it is pollinated by the wind which can blow from any direction. I have a lot of surplus and they will go in the herbaceous border in a 2 x 2 arrangement along with the bush French beans. The maincrop potatoes (Picasso) are also planted out and just starting to show and the earlies (Rocket) are well under way and will be ready in 5 weeks.

All the fruit is setting with a good show of Apples (Braeburn) and Pears (Beurre Hardy) and a small crop of Plums (Victoria). The plum tree is prone to biennial bearing giving one bumper year followed by a sparse year. Let the small fruits bulk up a little so that you can identify the big healthy ones and then start thinning out the small ones. Apples store quite well so I will let 50 grow to full size after the June drop. Pears need to be picked a little early and eaten when ripe, so too many will just feed the birds and the wasps. As for plums, I will take as many as I can get and they can be de-stoned and frozen. Similarly the rhubarb, what can’t be eaten can be frozen.

This attitude of “Dig for Victory” has provided me with a great excuse for ignoring the weeds in the borders, although I have made good progress in the back garden. The front garden is an ever thickening jungle of weed, Tulips and Spanish Bluebells. Once the important job of dealing with the food supply has been dealt with I will get on with the weeds… although there is bad news of a recession to come next, which might cause a delay!

We have a small frog pond in the garden that used to see some hot nocturnal action in March, but over the years the population of the resident frog colony has diminished, while the newts have flourished. So the Duchess has investigated the matter on the internet and discovered that newts predate small tadpoles. So in the spirit of conservation she has collected the spawn from the pond this year and put it in a clear plastic filing box, with oxygenating weed, a rock and a protective mesh on the top. The tadpoles are thriving well and need a bit of fresh weed from the pond to provide the algae that they feed on and some fresh water. Some will turn into little froglets after 10 weeks when the legs appear and at this point they become carnivorous. Daphnia is available from the internet but those that a slow to mature will start to get eaten, so I think that is the time to net the froglets and return them to the pond to provide much happy ribbeting next March.

Meanwhile I still have a few half empties in the drinks cabinet and my favourite punch is 1 part Bacardi, 1 part Malibu, 2 parts Orange Juice, 2 parts Pineapple Juice, 4 parts Lemonade, ice and sliced oranges and lemons. Just sit in the sun and dream of the Caribbean… this lockdown won’t last forever.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
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VE Day in Upchurch by David Wood

With the planned official Upchurch VE (Victory in Europe) Day 75th anniversary celebrations in the village hall cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, we can reflect on how residents celebrated the first event in May 1945.

VE Day in Upchurch took place on Tuesday May 15th and not on the official day May 8th. A patriotic mass of red, white and blue bunting decorated the village centre, Union Jack flags flew in many parts of the parish and the church bells were rung by the bellringers as the event, directed by Cecil Bishop on behalf of the parish council, progressed through the day.

A decorated trolley which patrolled the village became the main feature of the event for spectators. On the trolley Upchurch resident Joan Latter played tunes on a piano and well-known village characters such as postmaster Teddy Neame appeared with his family in fancy dress. At the same time Messrs Grigg and Higgins made a collection for the Upchurch Welcome Home Fund. In total they collected £14/13/1d from spectators. Later in the day reverend Lightburne conducted a service in the church at which Roy Rogers played the organ and a small orchestra participated. Members of the parish council, the village home guard and the police attended a packed service.

Children’s parties and teas were held in different parts of the parish. About sixty children attended a party in The Three Sisters pub where entertainment with music and games was provided. After this every child received a beaker bearing the flags of the allied nations and the famous V sign. They also received a red, white and blue bag containing sweets and a new sixpence.

In The Street 58 children attended a party at the Infant’s School while in Oak Lane 24 children were served with iced cakes and tea on Mrs Burton’s lawn. After this they participated in races and games held in councillor Ted Tress’s orchard. Finally, all the children were presented with a book, a pencil, a rubber, a shilling and a threepenny piece.

At Gore Bank about 40 children sat down in Mr Boakes’s orchard for tea. After this races took place and a cockerel and eggs were presented to winners. Every child received a token and sweets. Babies received a ball and money, older girls received a china beaker and money while older boys received a knife and money. Mrs Boakes presented the prizes. A bonfire and fireworks followed this to end the day.

At Ham Green a victory tea took place in Mr Hinge’s meadow attended by about 40 children. Messers Hinge, Holloway, Starns and Howland gave gifts and money. Mrs Witherden gave strawberries and Mrs Moon contributed cherries. Meanwhile, Pat Atkinson from Webb’s Cottages organised children’s competitions. After games and races a bonfire with figures of Nazi leaders Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering placed on top was lit and accompanied by fireworks.

Street parties were held in many parts of the parish where residents sang, ate and drank at decorated tables and danced on the roads to celebrate the end of the war.

War leader Winston Churchill summed up national feelings and jubilation in a patriotic speech when speaking in London on VE Day.

“My dear friends, this is your hour. In all our history, we have never seen a greater day. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s the victory of the great British nation as a whole…”

Hopefully, the 75th anniversary celebrations will still take place in Upchurch as we join in national commemorations and celebrate safely together at home with our families.

David Wood

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 is available from David at david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + postage and packing.