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Anyone eligible is being encouraged to be protected this Winter by having the Covid-19 booster vaccination.
The programme starts from Monday the 5th of September with care home residents and people who are housebound, the first to receive their vaccines. Health and social care workers will also qualify for the vaccine.
Covid-19 vaccines are vital for protecting the population of Kent and Medway and remain the best defence we have against the virus.
Guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the Autumn programme outlines who should be offered the jab.
These include:
• Residents in care homes• Frontline health and social care workers
• People aged 50 years or above
• Anyone aged five to 49 who is in a clinical risk group or are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• Pregnant women
NHS Kent and Medway
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/169605/22
Between 16:00 and 23:59 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody stole a flail mower from a vehicle parked at a farm in Yaugher Lane, Hartlip.
Crime Number: 46/169048/22
At around 19:12 on Sunday the 28th of August, somebody deflated the tyres of a Toyota Yaris parked on the road in Pear Tree Walk, Newington.
Crime Number: 46/168989/22
Between 00:01 and 08:00 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody stole the batteries from temporary traffic lights on Windmill Hill, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch.
Crime Number: 46/169684/22
At around 17:16 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody broke into a water pumping station in London Road, Upchurch. 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
Hello UpARA members,
Did You Know
Did you know that Riviera Travel have an affinity partnership with KentARA?
If ever you book with Riviera and mention this, together with the name, UpARA, then a commission is received by us once the holiday is completed. To date, over £70,000 in commission has been raised by KentARA clubs in this way.
Dates
Dates for our first two fundraising events for the Church Bell Tower fund have been set.
On the afternoon of 21st October, there will be a ‘Race Day’ where you can join in a fun afternoon and maybe win some money to boot!
On the evening of 11th November, there will be another of our popular Quiz Nights.
Please support us and keep both dates free, more details later... Also, this month ‘History of Upchurch’ talk on 24th September in St Mary’s - See flyer below.
Our meeting this month is a week later than normal, on the 3rd Friday of the month. Our guest speaker, Tony Harris is returning to give us his unique take on ‘Secret London’. Many of you will remember Tony in his previous guises as Henry VIII, Sherlock Holmes, and, more recently, as a Pantomime Dame.
The thoughts of Chairman John
Hi everyone,
I can't believe it's that time of the month when you are subjected to my ramblings. We have been so busy throughout the month, as usual. I can't believe that this past week I have had Sunday afternoon tea with Dame Patricia Routledge (best known as Mrs Bucket) a wonderful lady who is a classically trained singer and has starred in 3 Broadway musicals and 11 in the UK, a no mean feat, such a talented lady, and at 94 still as sharp as a knife.
My week only got better as on Tuesday we had our Coffee Morning and Art Class (thanks to all our members who stayed behind and helped us to clear up). In the evening we had our penultimate Evening Petanque, a very close encounter, but I believe the men, (supported by Gill), won!
Wednesday, our monthly Lunch at the Crown, where I had the opportunity to meet some of our new members, (not too sure of the impression that we gave them?) hopefully they will see that we are harmless. It is really good to see that we are having more members joining us from the Village.
My day finished with an evening with the Rev Richard Coles and a Q/A afterwards. I can now see why my family are envious of my lifestyle, how did we all find time to WORK?
See you all soon.
John W
Badminton
We will be running a trial Badminton session on the afternoon of Monday 19th September at 2:00pm. Please just turn up. If this proves to be popular, we may make it a regular activity. Please Email us at uparaupchurch@gmail.com for more information.
London Walk
Our second attempt to complete our Regents Canal walk will be on 23rd September, from Little Venice to London’s latest space at Granary Square, King’s X, with a lunch stop at Camden Lock. If you are interested, please let Bryn know, and to receive further details nearer the time, at uparaupchurch@gmail.com
More London walks are being planned, including Soho, which was going to be our next London walk before we were curtailed back in March 2020.
Lunch Club
There will be no lunch club in September. The next will be on Tuesday 25th October in the Crown.
Evening Petanque
Our last evening Petanque... for the Summer will be on September 27th. After a slow start, this has proved to be quite popular as an early evening activity and gathering. Hopefully, we will be repeating it during the Summer months of 2023.
2023
2022 may be only just halfway through... but plans for 2023 are brewing, with Linda and Sandra beginning to book our schedule of speakers and Malcolm and Brenda looking at next year’s trips and hols.
September Calendar
Mondays September 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th at 10:00am - Short Tennis
Monday, September 5th at 2:00pm - Kurling
Tuesday, September 6th at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art
Tuesday, September 6th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis
Wednesdays September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th at 10:15am - Line Dancing
Tuesday, September 13th at 10:00am - Ten Pin Bowling
Friday, September 16th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting
Tony Harris ‘Secret London’
Monday, September 19th at 2:00pm - Badminton
Trial
Tuesday, September 20th at 2:00pm - Petanque
Friday, September 23rd - London Walk
Grand Union Canal
Tuesday, September 27th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis
Tuesday, September 27th at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art
Tuesday, September 27th at 6:00pm - Evening Petanque
Saturday, September 24th at 7:00pm - The History of Upchurch
Special illustrated talk in St Mary's Church, £5 entry on the door - all proceeds to the Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.
Natasha's winning design for the Rainham town sign competition.
A colourful sign designed by a resident will soon be installed in Rainham.
Natasha Springett, from Gillingham, has been crowned the winner of Medway Council’s Rainham town sign competition.
Residents were invited to celebrate their town by submitting designs for the new sign in this Platinum Jubilee year.
Natasha is a mechanical engineer and is also a leader with the 2nd Parkwood Brownies. Young members of the group also submitted designs for the sign as part of their jubilee activities.
The new sign is due to be installed outside NatWest, opposite the shopping centre, later this year and residents are able to see all the entries at an exhibition at Rainham Library in Birling Avenue from Monday, 12th September until Saturday, 29th October.
Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, said:
“I would like to say congratulations to Natasha for her great design. We received some fantastic entries and the new sign is a great way to mark the Platinum Jubilee in Rainham and welcome residents to the town for years to come. I look forward to seeing the sign once it has been installed.”
Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, and Child-Friendly Medway Champion, Cllr Martin Potter, said:
“I am delighted that many young people entered our Rainham town sign competition and I would encourage residents to go and look at the fantastic designs in Rainham library. As a member of the judging panel, we had a hard task choosing between entries, but Natasha’s design was a worthy winner and all the entries highlight the creative talent amongst our community.”
Natasha said:
“As a Brownie leader, I created my sign with the Brownies because I thought they’d enjoy it too. Then my fiancé jokingly said you’ll probably win, but I didn’t believe him as I’ve only ever won design competitions at school, never as an adult. I am super proud of myself and glad I entered. Maybe one day my future great grandchildren will see the sign and know their great nan designed it. How awesome is that?”
The judging panel included local community members and council representatives including the Mayor of Medway Cllr Jan Aldous, local businessman and former High Sheriff of Kent, John Weir JP and founder of the Rainham Bereavement Group and winner of The Queen’s Award for voluntary service, Julie Sharp.
Medway Council
It will be necessary to close part of Wetham Green, Upchurch from Monday 12th September 2022, with estimated completion by 16th September 2022.
Wetham Green, Upchurch will be closed in the general vicinity of Wetham Green Cottages, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route is Poot Lane, Wetham Green and vice versa.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while utility repair and maintenance works are undertaken by Southern Water.
For information regarding this closure, please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, 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
Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf CourseTelephone: 01634 360626
