December proceeded with adults eagerly awaiting the Christmas holidays and children impatiently waiting to receive and open their presents on Christmas Day. However, during this festive period, news of a serious incident arose about a fire in a house belonging to the Oliver family in Chaffes Lane.
While watching TV in the living room with his younger brother Anton, eleven year old Mark Oliver noticed smoke coming from under the kitchen door. Mark opened the door to see flames and smoke belching from the oven. The two boys immediately vacated the house, but Mark then realised that his baby sister Cheryl was still inside. Without hesitation, Mark rushed back into the house through a wall of fire and smoke, found his baby sister, tucked her inside the front of his pullover and rushed back through the burning inferno in the kitchen until they were safely outside. Amazingly, the two children did not suffer any serious burns, and Mark instantly became an Upchurch hero.
The fire had been caused by Mark’s mother, Christine Oliver, leaving a pan of boiling potatoes on the oven and then departing to do some shopping without turning off the switch. The potatoes were burnt as flames, and smoke rose higher from the oven.
A neighbour who had heard Anton screaming came to the house to investigate and upon finding the fire in the kitchen, threw a wet cloth over the oven, which caused the fire to subside. The fire service was then called but when they arrived, the fire had already finished.
The firemen praised Mark for his bravery, and then a shocked Mrs Oliver arrived with her shopping. She realized her mistake of leaving the boiling potatoes on the oven and then leaving the house, but she also praised Mark for his brave actions.
Because of his courageous act, Mark was nominated for the ‘Charlie Chester Award of the Month’ and invited to the BBC’s Paris Studio in Regent Street, London. Accompanied by his proud parents Stuart and Christine Oliver and his brother Anton, Mark received his award in the form of an inscribed scroll from the comedian Charlie Chester who felt that Mark deserved more and so he gave him a £1 note. The presentation formed part of a radio show to be broadcast on New Year’s Eve.
At the monthly parish council meeting chairman, Bryan Veale expressed his anger regarding the delay of the Department of the Environment’s inquiry date for the compulsory purchase of land in Forge Lane for a new Holywell School. A date for the inquiry had not been set. In the meantime, the existing Infant’s School in the Street had become seriously overcrowded. The situation became so serious that Mrs M Barton contacted local Conservative MP Roger Moate to see if he could use his influence to make the Department of the Environment set a date for the Inquiry. The problem dragged on, and the new school did not become reality until 1975.
In village sporting affairs, Upchurch United, who played in the Medway Sunday League Premier Division, were struggling, second from bottom in the table. In early December, they did manage a 1-1 draw with Twydall Engineers, and they were on the losing end of a very good game against Berry Wiggins. After going three goals down, Steve Davies and Ian Daniel pulled two goals back but then Berry Wiggins scored three more goals to claim victory.
All was not bad news as Steve Davies from Horsham Lane, one of the leading village table tennis players along with brothers Peter and Brian Boakes, saw the table tennis club’s first team go top of Division Three and the fifth team top Division Five in the Sittingbourne and District Table Tennis League during the Christmas period. The table tennis club, organised by Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane, met every Monday evening in the village hall.
Village superstar sportsman Derek Hales who had scored a large number of goals for Upchurch United Boys in 1967, had become a full time professional footballer with Luton Town in the Second Division (now the Championship) of the English Football League, while his two brothers Richard and Ray were regularly banging in the goals for Sittingbourne Football Club.
Hempstead United 1970-71 - New Brompton League Champions and
Kent Junior Cup Winners. Taken at Bowaters Sittingbourne.
Derek Hales pictured, second from left in the bottom row,
and Rod Diddams, second from right.
The goalkeeper is writer David Wood from Upchurch.
Derek Hales, son of village butcher Dick Hales, also proved to be an exceptional cricketer with Upchurch Cricket Club and in December, he won the East Kent Gazette and North Kent Times Cricket Bat Award for the highest individual score of 166 against Bredgar Cricket Club. He also scored 128 against Rodmersham, 123 against Lenham and he made 1,000 runs for the season. As a bowler, he took 45 wickets to contribute to the best season for Upchurch Cricket Club in eighteen years. These were the early years which saw Upchurch Cricket Club gradually transform from being a very average Swale village club to being a major force in Kent cricket with a first class ground and facilities.
In other village club affairs, the Women’s Institute were shown a film in which pop star Cliff Richard discussed the activities of the Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied organisation (PHAB). After the film, the result of the Competition of the Month was announced. The competition involved the ladies knitting a square. Mrs Cox won the competition with Mrs Gilbert and Mrs Skinner joint second.
The Women’s Institute also held its annual meeting in December to elect officials and form a new committee. Mrs Gilbert was elected president, Mrs Mitchell secretary and Mrs Goodson treasurer. The new committee consisted of Mrs Ambers, Mrs Dickenson, Mrs Lepinier, Mrs New, Mrs Smith, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Skinner and Mrs Bridger.
As always, some people hoped for a white Christmas, and in the week before Christmas Day, a cold spell saw the temperature drop to -13 degrees for one night, but mild weather soon returned, and a white Christmas failed to materialise.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, parties were held by the two village schools and clubs, such as the Darby and Joan Club. A torchlight procession also took place. It started from the Crown pub and proceeded to Bishop Lane. It then turned and continued back to the village centre.
A Christmas Sale took place in the village hall, which had Christmas decorations, a Christmas tree and a variety of stalls selling different products. The Brass Band of the Medway RAF Association played music, and Santa Claus sat in a grotto waiting for children to visit him. The sale raised about £40 for the Village Hall Extension Fund.
When Christmas Day arrived, the church opened for a Christmas morning service led by Father Bradshaw while most people stayed at home, eating, drinking and watching television. Jimmy Osmond topped the pop charts with his song ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool’, and The BBC showed a variety of attractive programmes. These included ‘The Morecombe and Wise Christmas Show’ with guest stars actress Glenda Jackson, singer Vera Lynn and Kenny Ball and his jazzmen. The televised pantomime ‘Dick Wittington’ starred Dick Emery, ‘Christmas Night with the Stars’ featured the Two Ronnies, Cilla Black, the Goodies Mike Yarwood and Dad’s Army. Jimmy Saville and Ed Stewart presented ‘Top of the Pops’, Rolf Harris presented ‘Disney Time’, and of course, the Queen’s Christmas Message to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth appeared during the afternoon.
On Boxing Day, some people went for walks while others attended sports events. During the evening, the local pubs were packed, as people celebrated, and some village youths attended the Central Hotel Christmas Disco in Gillingham. It was time for people to party.
When Christmas Day and Boxing Day had passed, residents prepared themselves for the New Year celebrations and December passed as an interesting month with a variety of memorable incidents, successes and activities.
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.
