Holywell School - The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 Art Projects to go on Display Alongside Your Flower Arrangements at St Mary’s Church

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 Art projects

Children at Holywell School have been working extremely hard over the last few weeks, researching, designing and creating their finished pieces of Platinum Jubilee art.

Each class were set a challenge to create a piece of art to celebrate either events, objects or people over the previous 70 years.

The art will be on display at St Mary's Church throughout the half-term holiday - please visit the church to take a look at all of the children's amazing ideas and creations.

School Jubilee Picnic

The school celebrated The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 together on the school field with a special end of term Jubilee Picnic on Friday the 27th of May.

Display of Your Flower Arrangements at St Mary's

Everyone is invited to bring their own flower arrangements (in vases and jars) to the church to help create a wonderful display in celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022. Children can bring wildflowers if they wish.

The church will be open to wander around and enjoy the flowers, along with the Holywell School Art Projects, from Thursday the 2nd to Sunday the 5th of June, between 9:30am and 4:30pm.

Jubilee Songs of Praise at St Mary's

A special Jubilee Songs of Praise will be held at St Mary's Church at 10.30am on Sunday the 5th of June, followed by coffee and cake.

Elspeth Baecke

Tracey Sellings - Holywell Primary School

New U7’s Players Wanted for Upchurch Colts FC

NEW PLAYERS WANTED ⚽️ 🏃🏻

Upchurch Colts FC - U7’s is looking for new players.

The team currently plays friendlies most Saturdays and trains on Wednesday evenings.

The new season begins in September, and we would like to be ready!

Please contact Keith: 07711 992104

Ben Campbell

Assistant Coach - Upchurch Colts FC

Platinum Jubilee Medway River Pageant

Historic boats set to sail in Platinum Jubilee River Pageant

Thousands are expected to watch a momentous occasion on the River Medway to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s unparalleled 70 years on the throne.

More than 100 boats will sail past historic sights in the south-east as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The River Medway will play host to vessels, including extraordinary ships such as the steam puffer VIC 96 and a collection of 100-year-old Thames sailing barges.

The riverbanks in Chatham from Gun Wharf to Sun Pier are expected to be filled with people eagerly awaiting the parade of vessels, including East Coast fishing smacks (traditional sailing fishing boats) and commercial and recreational craft, on Saturday, 4th June.

The Platinum Jubilee Medway River Pageant will begin at 12:30pm when the vessels come together near Upnor, led by a local rowing boat contingent from the Medway Towns Rowing Club and clubs from Queenborough and Faversham.

They will meander along the River Medway, passing Chatham landmarks before arriving at Sun Pier in Chatham at 2:30pm.

Sun Pier will have a street party vibe with live music, including a 30-piece choir performing pop music, a folk band and Music Hall singalong performers.

Her Majesty The Queen will even have an official representative aboard one of the vessels. The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain, will join the head of the fleet before conducting a fleet review at Sun Pier at approximately 2:30pm.

At 3:30pm a 21-Gun Royal Salute will be fired from Fort Amherst in Chatham to mark the occasion, signalling the start of 'The Grand Cacophony' - a synchronised spectacle of sights and sounds from ship to shore with the sounding of horns, cheering from the crowds, church bells ringing and further amplified by the whistles of steam locomotives at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The River Pageant has been organised in partnership with Tiller and Wheel CIC, which was set up in 2019 to raise the profile of the historic ships of the East Coast and encourage greater engagement with our rivers and coastline. The company offers free sailing experiences throughout the year, supported by a patron scheme, to make sailing financially accessible to all.

Deputy Leader of Medway Council, and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Cllr Howard Doe, said:

“We have a fantastic range of family-friendly events and activities planned to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and I am pleased that the River Medway is at the very heart of our celebrations. Witnessing more than 100 historic ships and sailing barges coming down the river will be a truly spectacular sight and with entertainment for all the family to enjoy, the unique event is not one to be missed. We are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to Medway to mark, and celebrate, this momentous occasion.”

Ed Gransden, Director of Tiller & Wheel CIC, said:

"70 years ago, when the Queen ascended the throne, the River Medway was a hub of activity - sailing barges, steam tugs and commercial craft filled the water. The Jubilee will bring life back to this part of the river in spectacular fashion and showcase the best of the modern river community."

Medway’s impressive events and festivals programme, and the Medway Jubilee River Pageant supports the council’s aspiration to become a Child-Friendly City, putting children and young people at the heart of everything it does.

To find out more about Medway’s fantastic jubilee events, visit: visitmedway.org/jubilee

Medway Council

Planning Permission Refused for up to 74 New Homes on Land off Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch

Swale Borough Council has refused Gladman Developments Limited outline planning application: 21/501839/OUT for up to 74 dwellings at land off Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system and vehicular access point - all matters reserved except for means of access.

The Swale Borough Council planning decision notice, and Medway Council consultee comment, letters of objection along with associated documents can be viewed at >> https://bit.ly/3wJ9Ahx

Upchurch Matters' post regarding the original planning application can be viewed at >> https://bit.ly/32CKIrU and the developer's pre-application consultation at >> https://bit.ly/3v7X4oL

Upchurch Matters

Celebrate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 at St Mary’s & Uplift, Upchurch

Gill Gay

Upchurch Fifty Years Ago in April 1972 by David Wood

In a year dominated by the desire to obtain a new school for Upchurch, April 1972 was highlighted by news that the Department of the Environment had approved the siting of a new village school in Forge Lane to replace the old Holywell School in Holywell Lane, an important step in getting a new school for Upchurch.

A big row broke out after the Brown Jug publican Eric Funnell had been granted bar rights at Rochester Corn Exchange. Rochester publicans were angry and argued that the rights should go to a Medway publican and not to somebody outside the Medway area. Eric Funnell obtained a happy conclusion when Rochester City Council finally confirmed the bar rights to him.

The parish council had a busy month starting with the election of Mr E Weeks of Church Farm Road as a new councillor, a position left vacant by the death of former councillor Roy Bachelor. The parish council also fought with Swale Council about concessionary fares on the buses for elderly residents in the village. This came at a time when Maidstone & District Bus Company had increased fares for passengers. Medway and Swale councils decided to pay a proportion of the fares to the bus company.

The parish council had a discussion about the recreation ground after the football club had complained that after a period of heavy rain, the surface had cut up causing stones and flints to appear which caused injuries to footballers. This led to the parish council discussing the possibility of getting a new recreation ground for the village, but an alternative suitable site could not be found after investigations. Bob Witherden from Poot Lane re-turfed the goal mouth areas on the football pitch to help protect the goalkeepers from serious injury, and the football club continued to play home matches on the recreation ground.

The parish council turned down a proposal by Rainham farmer Jack Clark to establish a residential caravan park with 75 caravans on a site in Horsham Lane. A proposal also submitted by Mrs Kennard to build on her land on the hill at Oak Lane where her bungalow and cherry orchard were located was also turned down by Kent County Council. Building recently began on the site in 2022 after the new owners had submitted a new proposal to the council at a time when the bungalow had become derelict, the orchard overgrown and long after the death of Mrs Kennard. However, in April 1972, the council did give builder Eric Gransden permission to build houses on land close to Wallbridge Lane.

Village residents were informed that the Bishop of Dover would be coming to the village to consecrate the new burial ground near the village hall on 6th June. The parish council also decided that they would contribute £2.50 for a new citizen’s Advice Bureau due to open in Sittingbourne on April 21st.

Upchurch Women’s Institute had an enjoyable month organising a week of activities for the institute’s 41st birthday celebration. A birthday party took place in the village hall on Saturday 8th April. The ladies decorated the village hall with flowers, and Mrs Pilcher made and decorated the birthday cake with a Spring motif which members admired as a work of art. Later in the month, Mrs Pilcher gave an interesting talk to members about wine making. A music quiz also took place, won by Mrs Jacobs and Mrs Thompson.

The birthday week ended with a talk given by BBC newsreader Alvar Lidell speaking about his experiences as a newsreader at the BBC, which resulted in a good attendance by the ladies of the Women’s Institute.

BBC newsreader Alvar Lidell.

In Upchurch sporting affairs, Upchurch Cricket Club began preparations for the new season with net practice and work on their Poot Lane ground before matches began. Although some matches were affected by rain, the club started well with an easy victory against Minster, who they bowled out for 29 runs and defeated them by nine wickets thanks to an outstanding bowling performance by Bryan Veale, who took five wickets for only fourteen runs. In the other early season game, the team drew with Belnor. The club progressed to have a better season compared to the previous one, with brothers Derek and Raymond Hales making outstanding contributions with bat and ball.

In a month really dominated by council affairs, the parish orchards lit up the area with a mass of pink and white blossom on fruit trees, and newly born lambs skipped in the fields as summer drew a little closer.

David Wood

About David

David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today.

He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.

David's book, Memories of Upchurch, is a very readable and detailed historical study of the village and is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + postage and packing.