Notice Board

Upchurch Village Hall - AGM Minutes

UPCHURCH VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes of the A.G.M. held on Wednesday, 9th September 2020

in the back hall of the village hall.

Unfortunately, because of the risk to public health due to COVID-19 and following Government guidelines to minimise social contact through public gatherings, the Trustees decided to hold this meeting without the public being in attendance. However, notwithstanding this, prior to the meeting questions Trustees invited members of the public to submit any questions, queries or comments that they have in respect of the village hall and these would be dealt with as part of the AGM. See item 9 below.

1. Present - David Steward (Chair), Sandy Tutt (Treasurer), Edward Murphy (elected Minutes Secretary for the meeting), John Wishart, Deb Martin, Kevin Long, Gerry Lewin, Christine Barker, Dave Barker, Ann Rolfe, Norman Rolfe, John Tutt,

2. Apologies - James Pearton

David Steward opened the meeting by welcoming everybody, explained the circumstances of holding the AGM so late in the year being due to the COVID-19 situation and how it is hoped that the next AGM will be back to its normal time of April 2021.

3. Minutes of the meeting on 10th. April 2019 - No questions were raised in respect of the past minutes and they were accepted as a true record of the business discussed at that time. Proposed by Sandy Tutt, Seconded by Edward Murphy.

4. Treasurer’s Report - Sandy Tutt reported that, with the exception of the Committees fund raising efforts, the year ending December 2019 was not one of our ‘better years’ for income.

Lettings income was down by £682-63 on the previous year with a total loss of £1,198-30 for the year. We did, however, carry out lots of fund raising for the building works we were planning to carry out at the time and subsequently started a dedicated fund raising account. The total amount in this account at the end of our financial year, (December 2019), was £12,538-01, up from £8,749-77 on the previous year.

The repairs and maintenance costs have increased throughout the year, up from £1,263-47 the previous year to £3,191-63 this year, as we have tried to make small improvements and keep everything running smoothly. This included new lighting in the kitchen which was becoming a Heath and Safety issue and needed replacing.

Sandy thanked all those involved in raising funds for the village hall including the WI, UpARA and Friends of Upchurch Village Hall. She also thanked David Powell for his work in hard work preparing Grant Applications, some of which have been successful in raising monies for the proposed building works.

5. Chairman’s Report - David Steward began by thanking all Committee Members for their hard work and support during the past year which, because of the COVID-19 situation has been particularly difficult. David explained that he joined the Committee as Chairman in October 2019. Lockdown began on Monday 23rd March 2020 and since then all activities in the hall have been suspended.

This has, however, enabled the Committee to focus on the refurbishment project and since March 2020 we have raised significant grant funding from KCC, Queenbury Fisheries Trust, Swale Borough Council and Garfield Weston Foundation along with other donations from Village Organisations. As a result, the refurbishment work is well underway, having installed a new fire detection system and updating the main electrics so far. Currently, a new ceiling and lighting system is being installed in the main hall and this will be closely followed by a new floor and fire doors. David gave a big thank you to the building Sub-Committee, spear headed by David Powell, who have made this happen.

Looking forwards David explained how it is planned to open the hall again in October and to encourage existing, and new groups, to use the newly renovated hall. At this point, David noted how we have welcomed a new user, the Rainham Tuition Centre, who have been using the hall throughout August (under strict COVID-19 rulings). Our challenge now is to secure new bookings to be able to keep the village hall solvent.

David finished by welcoming the new Committee Members who will help to support the running of the hall in the coming months and hoped to look forward to a bright and prosperous future for the Upchurch Village Hall.

6. Election of Village Representative Trustees - Deb Martin, Edward Murphy and John Tutt all being willing to become Co-opted Committee Members for the coming year were duly elected. Proposed by Gerry Lewin, Seconded by John Wishart.

7. Introduction of the new committee - The various user group representative trustees for the following year are as follows:

W.I. - Ann Rolf and Christine Barker

Bowls Club - Dave Barker

Players - Kevin Long and James Pearton

UpARA - John Wishart and Norman Rolfe

Parish Council - Gerry Lewin

Parochial Church Council - None

As not all the User Group Representative spaces were filled it was explained that the Clause 8 of the Trust Deeds of the village hall allow the Committee to fill the spaces independently up until the next AGM when a User Group would have the opportunity to elect a representative again. Currently, there are 4 vacancies and the Management Committee will be taking up this option where possible.

8. Appointment of Auditor - Brenda Groves has been the Independent Examiner of our finances for the past few years now and it was agreed that, if she is willing, to continue using her services.

9. Questions, Queries and Comments from Villagers - Notices were placed on the Upchurch Matters web site during the month prior to the AGM requesting Questions, Queries and Comments from Villagers in respect of the Village Hall. None were received.

10. Any Other Business

i. John Wishart proposed a vote of thanks to Peter McGibbon, a Trustee now retired from the Committee, for all the hard work he has done in arranging and helping with the upgrading of the hall during the past year. Peter was able to obtain the services of the Prison Service who provided free labour for carrying out much of the maintenance and decorating work around the hall. This enabled a big cost saving to the hall and without which, the current finance situation would be worse than reported above. The planned work that Peter was carrying out was halted by the COVID-19 situation. However, it was also noted that although Peter is no longer a Committee Member he has offered to continue with this work until it is completed. The whole Committee concurred with John and his proposal.

ii. Gerry Lewin proposed a vote of thanks to David Powell for all the work he had done in developing the work proposals, tenders and grant applications for the refurbishment works. The whole Committee concurred with Gerry and his proposal.

There being no further matters to discuss, the meeting closed at 7:55pm.

The Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Poolside Bar & Courtyard Music Nights September - November 2020 at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Upchurch and the 1970s by David Wood

Some residents probably still have clear memories of the 1970s. Things have changed but much of what existed about fifty years ago is still present.

Since 1970 some of the old buildings have disappeared. WH Hales butcher’s and cattle yard and the old vicarage were demolished. Woodruff Close, Four Gun Field estate, Jubilee Fields, houses in Oak Lane and the new Drakes Close estate did not exist, only the original pebbledash council houses. The cricket club played on a ground in Poot Lane, not in Holywell Lane and Upchurch FC and Upchurch United FC played football on the recreation ground.

Some of the businesses from the period have also disappeared such as builders EC Gransden & Co Ltd in Oak Lane, Upchurch Garage in Horsham Lane, the Upchurch Stores and Off-License managed by J & W Hudson, Wendy Hair Fashions and One Step Behind antique shop in The Street. Upchurch DIY, butcher’s Peter Rutherford and Dawnway Fisheries have all disappeared from Forge Lane.

The nearest doctor’s surgery was based in Rainham and not in Upchurch, although efforts were made to establish a surgery for Dr Khan at the Infant’s School building. The golf club did not yet exist as the land still belonged to Natal Farm owned by the Chambers family and Wakeley Brothers who owned Seventeen Acres hop garden in Oak Lane.

At the beginning of the decade, familiar figures who worked in the village included milkman Norman Long from Forge Lane who delivered milk for Terry’s Dairy, Dick Hales still worked as the village butcher at WH Hales in The Street and Ray Parker worked as the village plumber. John Ardley from the Mayflower barge at Ham Green was prominent in local politics, Cliff Wanstall managed the post office in the present day Snaffles building, Fred Clemons managed the newsagent’s, J & W Hudson had the Upchurch Stores and Off-License and Bill and Jean Cockhill managed The Crown pub. Wallace McNeil Bradshaw served as the village vicar followed by Keith Chare in 1973.

The building of the new Holywell School in 1975 became the biggest issue of the decade. It meant the end of the old Holywell School in Holywell Lane and the Infant’s School in The Street for the education of the village children, although the buildings continued to exist. At the new school in Forge Lane, Mr Andrews served as head and Mrs Tidmus as deputy head. The new school opened on April 27th 1976, although the top three classes continued to be educated at the old Holywell School in the short term.

An attempt to get a preservation order on the old Holywell School failed as Swale Council stated that insufficient local interest existed. Also, the Infant’s School could not be sold because a clause in the lease stated it should be returned to Wakeley Brothers who were the original owners of the land. Eventually, Eric Gransden bought the building for the village after Rich Boakes had used it for the youth club. It later became a private nursery school.

A swimming pool for Holywell School became another important issue. Fund raising began in 1976 until the pool’s completion and opening during the 1980s. Brian Boakes and a group of volunteers constructed the pool which measured 16 x 32 feet. The Holywell School Swimming Pool Committee raised money for the project with numerous events and activities.

The village hall extension also became a major issue during the first part of the 1970s. Fund raising began during the 1960s and ceased in 1974. The extension cost more than £7,000. Local councillor John Ardley opened it on March 30th 1974. In January 1977 a serious fire damaged the building but the insurance covered about £10,000 worth of the damage and the remainder came from a Swale Council grant.

The old vicarage which dated back centuries was eventually bought by compulsory purchase and this resulted in the construction of a new vicarage house, some old people’s retirement bungalows and Bradshaw Close on the site in 1975. Other significant building took place in Oak Lane with the construction of retirement bungalows near Bishop Lane in 1978.

The scouts had been looking for a new site since the 1960s and this resulted in a new scout headquarters being constructed beside the recreation ground along with a car parking area in 1973 with financial assistance from Sheerness Steel and Kent County Council. The new scout building became known as Drakes Lodge. Facilities included toilets, running water and main drainage. The county scout commissioner Mr J Charman opened the building on April 14th 1973.

The main annual village events such as the fete, the carnival and the village marathon continued to take place during the summer. The fete had the same format as previously in June and the village carnival, the most popular outside of Sittingbourne and Medway, remained the biggest village event of the year in August. It took place every year except in 1976 and drew big crowds. A procession with a variety of decorated floats with a carnival queen moved around the village. Lorraine Manley, Beverley Williams and Caroline Martin were three village girls who were carnival queens during the 1970s. A fete took place after the procession when Bert Millen from Jasmil Kennels ran the annual dog show and pupils from Holywell school and the Infant’s School performed dances. Wrestling also became popular with tag wrestling in 1971 and the appearance of famous TV wrestler Johnny Kwango in 1978. Rich Boakes usually played pop music on a raised platform for the crowds in The Paddock while stalls sold a variety of goods and a group of ladies provided tea in a tea tent.

During the week before the carnival, the village marathon took place and started and finished outside The Crown pub. There were competitions for men, women, girls and boys with some competitors in fancy dress. Of those who participated Richard Marshall and David Upton were the most frequent winners during the 1970s.

The Cast of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! performed at Upchurch Village Hall in 1973.

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee took place in 1977 for a three day period in early June and created much interest with a variety of activities while Lionel Bart’s popular musical Oliver organised by the church choir took place in the village hall in 1973. It starred some well-known village residents such as Tanya Uglow, Alec New and Bryan and Evelyn Veale and it became one of the most popular and successful village shows of the decade.

Most of today’s village clubs and organisations existed, although some from the period have disappeared such as the table tennis club, the Darby & Joan Club and the Mother’s Union.

While Upchurch flourished and expanded, there was a lot on offer for village residents during the 1970s.

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.

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

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

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

56 crimes are shown on the map in July 2020 including:

6 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Bicycle Theft

2 Burglary

5 Criminal Damage and Arson

5 Other Theft

4 Public Order

1 Robbery

4 Shoplifting

3 Vehicle Crime

23 Violence and Sexual Offences

40 crimes were shown on the map in June 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 July 2020 including:

9 Anti-social Behaviour

2 Criminal Damage and Arson

3 Public Order

2 Shoplifting

1 Vehicle Crime

14 Violence and Sexual Offences

2 Other Crime

29 crimes were shown on the map in June 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