UpARA - Jubilee Fundraising Open Afternoon and Quiz in Support of the DEC Ukraine Appeal

UpARA would like to thank all members, villagers, and village organisations who contributed to our fundraising day and quiz on Friday.

A total of £1,624.86 was raised, which is a fantastic sum, and will be passed on to the DEC Ukraine Appeal this week.

The winners of the 'Battle of the village organisations' were the UpARA 'Artists', followed by Upchurch WI, and Upchurch Players in 3rd place.

A big thank you to all those who attended, helped and donated cakes, also to Upchurch's Co-op for their kind donation and the Village Hall Management Committee.

Your UpARA Committee

Swale Foodbank Collection - Call into the Church for 'A Cuppa and a Chat'

Swale Foodbank Collection

We have so much to be thankful for, even in these stranger tougher days.

Upchurch, I thank you for your endless generous support for those who find each day difficult as they try to balance the little money they have between all the demands they face.

Food should be a priority to sustain life and yet it's the first thing that people choose to go without so that they can sustain their children and a roof over their heads, which of course is their priority. 

Thank you that you stand alongside them, enabling them to survive each day.

God bless you - he sees your generous heart.

We will be collecting your foodbank donations again at the bus stop opposite the church on Wednesday the 8th of June between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags. Warehouse Coordinator Richard Divers will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The items they are most in need of:

■ Soup (packet or tin)

■ Spaghetti in Sauce

■ Tomatoes / Pasta Sauce

■ Tins Vegetables

■ Tins Meat (to reheat, such as Chicken in Sauce, Hot Dogs etc) or Vegetarian option

■ Tins Fish

■ Tins Fruit

■ Rice Pudding

■ Custard

■ Biscuits

■ Noodles

■ Coffee

■ UHT Milk

■ Juice

Of course, all donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date. I hope this list helps and that you can donate some of the above.

For every single donation - we are very grateful ♥️

'A Cuppa and a Chat'

While you are there, why not call into the church for 'A Cuppa and a Chat' in the Lady Chapel.

We will have the kettle on between 10:00am and 12 midday.

A warm welcome awaits you - just call in, and we will be pleased to see you.

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

St Mary's Church - Bell Tower Restoration Fund - Thank You

Elspeth with the Bell Tower model.

The Bell Tower at St Mary's requires urgent repairs.

The Bell Tower model on display in the church.

Thank you to everyone who gave so generously for the hog roast at The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons at the Recreation Ground on Thursday the 2nd of June.

Your donations on the evening raised over £920 towards the urgent repairs needed to the Bell Tower at St Mary’s.

So altogether, we have raised over £1000 now towards the St Mary's Church - Bell Tower Restoration Fund.

I can now get the Holywell school children to start covering the Bell Tower model with their post-it notes.

The model is on display in the church for everyone to look at until Monday the 6th of June. It will then move to Holywell School in time for my talk to the children on Wednesday the 8th of June.

I feel really excited about the brilliant start to our fundraising!

Thank you

Elspeth Baecke

Upchurch Burns Brightly for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022

Click photo to enlarge.

Thanks very much to Reverend Nathan Ward, Vicar at St Margaret's Church, Rainham, for sending us his photos of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons taken from the church tower on Thursday the 2nd of June 2022.

Nathan's three photos of the beacons visible at Riverside Country Park and Hoo show Upchurch burning the most brightly.

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For more information, visit: www.queensjubileebeacons.com

Upchurch Matters

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons - Upchurch

Click photo to enlarge.

Hundreds gathered at the village beacon on the Recreation Ground this evening to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's incredible 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

As part of a national celebration, a Piper played Diu Regnare, and a Bugler played the unique Bugle Call - Majesty before beacons were lit across the nation and abroad at 9:45pm.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Shorthouse, this evening's lucky winner in the Parish Council draw to light the beacon.

Thanks to councillors Tyrone Ripley, Alan Horton, Gerry Lewin, Pam Denny, Upchurch Parish Council, DJ Dave Neale and his fire crew, and everyone else who gave their time to help stage such an excellent village event.

Your donations for the hog roast this evening have raised a considerable amount towards the urgent repairs needed to the Bell Tower at St Mary’s Church.
Thank you

#PlatinumJubilee

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Upchurch Matters

Fence Damaged - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/104590/22

Between 10:44 on Saturday the 28th of May and 10:44 on Sunday the 29th of May, somebody damaged a fence at a public building in Orchard Drive, Newington.

The police are continuing their enquiries.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging