UpARA - August 2022 Newsletter

Hello UpARA members,

Our fundraising support for 2022/23

The committee have chosen the Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund as the project to support for UpARA this year.

It is an important project for Upchurch, basically, the roof and internal floors of the bell tower are in a very poor state and will become dangerous if not attended to soon. Bats and birds have got in and made a dreadful mess and the bells are no longer usable. The roof needs to be waterproofed and re-timbered as necessary, and the timber floors need to be replaced completely.

The estimate for works is currently £50,000, and the project is being led by one of our members, Elspeth.

We hope that everyone will assist in our efforts to support this project, more details to follow...

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone, 

It could only happen to UpARA, to go on a Mystery Coach Trip on the hottest day ever recorded! The mystery was a little less when we drove down the M23, with Brighton as the destination; unbeknown at the time, the temperature in Brighton was 4 degrees less than that of Upchurch, and a refreshing sea breeze as a bonus, - a thoroughly enjoyable day, thanks once again to Malcolm and Brenda.

Bryn has mentioned our charity for the next year. As you know, we are quite good at raising money for charity, our last being the Village Hall refurbishment and the defibrillator, and just recently, a one-off fundraising day for the DEC Ukraine Appeal. Now we have returned much closer to home, (you can't get much closer to our meetings than the Church!). All our good wishes to Elspeth and we look forward to helping her with her latest project.

Finally, after a slow start, the Evening Boules seems to have "Taken Off" literally, although any purist would probably despair at our skills, but more to the point everyone had an enjoyable evening, which is the philosophy of all ARA's.

By the time you read this, our hardy walkers will (might!) have completed the Crab and Winkle walk from Canterbury to Whitstable, the August walk will retrace the boat trip we did in 2015 from Little Venice along the Regents Canal in hearing distance of the Zoo, and underneath the aviary.

John W

Badminton

There have been expressions of interest in running a Badminton trial, likely to take place once or twice a month on Monday afternoons. If you feel you may be interested in participating, please let Bryn know at uparaupchurch@gmail.com

London Walk

We will be taking on another London Walk, on 19th August, from Little Venice to London’s latest space at Granary Square, King’s X, along the Regents Canal, with a lunch stop at Camden Lock. If you are interested, please let Bryn know, to receive further details nearer the time, at uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Brenda and Malcolm... will not be at the August Friday meeting to take bookings, payments and menu choices for the August lunch at The Crown, but will be at the Coffee mornings, or alternatively can be contacted via uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Brenda will also be taking the balance for the Turkey and Tinsel holiday. There are still limited spaces available for both twin and double rooms.

Our September meeting 

Please note that our September monthly meeting will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month, September 16th, and not the second Friday that we normally hold it.

August Calendar

Mondays August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd at 10:00am - Short Tennis

Please note: No Short Tennis on 29th August - Bank Holiday

Monday, August 1st at 2:00pm - Kurling

Tuesday, August 2nd at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, August 2nd at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Wednesdays August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st at 10:15am - Line Dancing

Friday, August 5th at 10:00am - Village Walk

Friday, August 12th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Chris Stewart 'Hop Pickers of Kent'

Tuesday, August 16th at 2:00pm - Petanque

Friday, August 19th, London Walk - Grand Union Canal

Tuesday, August 23rd at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, August 23rd at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Tuesday, August 23rd at 6:00pm - NEW: Evening Petanque

Wednesday, August 24th at 12.30pm - Lunch Club at The Crown

Please Note: No Ten Pin Bowling in August due to School Holidays

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Website: www.upara.club

Upchurch Players: Car Rally - Treasure Hunt

Email: secretary@upchurchplayers.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UpchurchPlayers

Website: www.upchurchplayers.co.uk

Upchurch Players

Cancellation of The Gabriel - August 2022 Edition

Dave Candy - Editor

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

Temporary Road Closure - The Street, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of The Street, Hartlip from Wednesday 17th August 2022 for up to 1 day between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00.

The Street, Hartlip will be closed from outside Swan Cottage to outside Yew Tree Cottage, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is The Street, Hollow Lane, Lower Hartlip Road, Mount Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while pole replacement works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Medway Council - Rainham Community Showcase Event

Specialist teams will offer advice and eco goodies at Medway Council’s Community Showcase Event at Rainham Shopping Centre between 11:00am and 3:00pm on Thursday the 4th of August.

Stock up on Medway recycling bags, talk to Medway Task Force about seasonal personal safety, chat to Climate Change Champions about sustainability and check out the FREE dog microchipping service.

Medway Council

Holywell School Says Farewell to Miss Taylor

Assistant Headteacher Tracy Taylor at St Mary's Church, Upchurch.

Holywell said farewell to Miss Taylor this week after a milestone 25 years of teaching children (and some grown-ups) at the village school.

As a special surprise, Assistant Headteacher Tracy was presented with a scrapbook of memories from children and families, past and present and other gifts during the year six leavers service at St Mary's Church on Thursday the 21st of July 2022.

A poem by teachers Jackie Warner and Tom Ball was read out in church, and a sea shanty was sung for Miss Taylor by the children, who is a huge fan of both pirates and monkeys. The words to both are below.

For extra fun, the children got to play Human Buckaroo and placed items around their favourite teacher's neck.

Goodbye, Miss Taylor and wishing you the best of luck in your new adventure at the Aspire Primary School in Sittingbourne.

Thank you for everything you have done for Holywell.

You will be missed, for sure!

“Once upon a decade, but which one we will not say,

Lived an important person, who we will call Barbara today.

As a child, she moved a lot because her dad was in the army,

She went to so many schools, it almost drove her barmy.

Anette, Andrea and Harry grew up with her as a big sister,

But then she left for uni, my goodness how they missed her.

She said she studied Maths, but we know that’s not quite true,

In fact she was really learning how to captain a pirate crew.

She completed all her training and off in her ship she went,

Eventually she sailed and docked in the beautiful county of Kent.

She didn’t seek the usual treasure you’d expect a pirate to choose.

She wanted the best buckles and heels, in fact any pair of fabulous shoes.

Not a traditional pirate, on her shoulder there was no bird.

Instead she wanted a monkey, isn’t that absurd?

Unfortunately monkeys are banned and blocked by the RSPCA.

So she ended up with pets you’re more likely to see day to day.

First there was Ant and Dec, each a naughty kitten.

But Beau, her lovely Frenchie, had her truly smitten.

She said she wanted to be a rally driver, perhaps the next Colin McRae,

But instead she found a home and for the next quarter of a century she’d stay.

Twenty four years of loyal service to her school family at Holywell,

Too many memories for a PowerPoint so this is our sad farewell.

Good luck on your next voyage, you’ve been with us so long.

So we want to wish you well with a special pirate song.”

-----------------------------------

“There once was a lass called Tracy Taylor, 

Assistant Head of Holywell School

She helped to keep this boat afloat

She did her job so well.

Soon there’ll be someone else

To walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.

She has a little dog named Beau,

She loves her dearly and rightly so,

Her partner’s name is Kevin

And he’s always by her side.

Soon there’ll be someone else to walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.

We’ll all be sad to see you leave,

Our favourite pirate, aha matey!

But now it’s time to walk the plank,

We wish you all the best.

Soon there’ll be someone else to walk in her shoes and do her job.

But there’ll be no one else

Like Tracy Taylor.”

Upchurch Matters