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

Swale Foodbank Collection

Dear Upchurch,

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

We will be collecting your Swale Foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 4th of January, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags. We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

You always amaze us with your generosity - Thank you ♥️

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 from 10:00am until 12:00pm.

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

Poolside Bar Opening Hours - January 2023 at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

UpARA Newsletter - January 2023

Happy New Year, UpARA members,

You will notice… that we have an added session this month, the 20th of January, which is intended to be a cross between a coffee morning and a monthly meeting. We have a talk around 2:00pm on the History of Upchurch from Elspeth. Join us and bring your friends, doors will be open from 1:00pm. Please also let us know if you can help in the kitchen or in any other way. This would be greatly appreciated; we can only run our sessions and activities with your support.

We have another one planned for the 24th of March which will include a mature drivers presentation (we all know we are great drivers, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the basics every now and then!).

Just prior to our first lockdown… you will remember that we had several UpARA t-shirts produced. Lockdown somewhat hampered our sales, and we still have a few left in various sizes. These are ideal if you partake in any of our activities and are a snip at just £15! If you would like to purchase, please Email us, or see a committee member at one of our meetings.

Membership renewals… are due at the end of February, after which there will be a one-month grace period for payments. If anyone is not intending to renew for the next year, please let us know so we can offer your place to others. Further details to follow.

The Thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone,

Another year has gone (where did that go?), and good wishes to all for a happy and peaceful 2023.

December was quite a month with our Salute to Christmas trip to the Inn on the Lake and our Christmas Party (the first for three years!) with great entertainment from Leyton and meal/service etc from the social committee and helpers.

A big thank you also to Elspeth who stepped in after our planned speaker had to cancel, and gave us a very insightful update on what’s been happening at Smile Malawi since first visiting us in 2014.

A big thank you to Upchurch's Co-op who were extremely helpful to us in providing a great Christmas Party on December the 16th. 

Buddy and Llandudno payments… Anyone who has reserved a place to see Buddy at the Marlowe on the 11th of April, payment in full is due by or at the January meeting on January the 20th. Likewise, deposits for those who have reserved a place for the Holly & Mistletoe Holiday in November to Llandudno is also due. Please see Malcolm or Brenda if you wish to go or to be put on the reserve lists.

Regards

John W

2023 Speakers

Please remember that there is now a £1 entrance fee at our Friday meetings,

to help cover our costs.

January Calendar

Tuesday, January 3rd at 9:30am - Christmas Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, January 3rd at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Friday, January 6th at 10:00am - Village Walk 

Mondays January 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th at 10:00am - Short Tennis

Monday, January 9th at 2:00pm - Kurling

Wednesday’s January 11th, 18th, 25th at 10:15am - Line Dancing

Friday, January 13th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Melanie Gibson-Barton, ‘Eva Braun, Victim or Contriver’

Tuesday, January 10th at 10:00am - Ten Pin Bowling

Tuesday, January 17th at 1:00pm - Petanque

Friday, January 20th at 10:00am - Village Walk

Friday, January 20th from 1:00pm onwards - Winter Warmer Social Afternoon

With quizzes, coffee, and a talk on the History of Upchurch

Tuesday, January 24th at 9:30am - Christmas Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, January 24th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Website: www.upara.club

Damage to Upchurch Village Hall Grassed Area

The photographs show how the person or persons unknown decided to celebrate the new year by driving their car(s) so irresponsibly round and round on the grassed area of the village hall.

As you can see, the area has been badly damaged and will now need both a lot of work and expense to repair in order that it can be used again.

The grassed area is used many times during the year for parties, weddings and other social events, and because of the amount of damage done, it may not be fully usable throughout the coming year.

Upchurch Village Hall has been in our village for over 60 years and was largely paid for by villagers like you by holding fundraising events. The management committee is constantly fundraising to keep the village hall up to an acceptable standard whilst making improvements.

If anyone has any evidential information about this unnecessary act of vandalism, we would appreciate your help in finding the perpetrator.

Thank you

Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Email: enquiries@upvh.co.uk

Telephone: 07368 461507

Ann Harman 1938 - 2022

Ann Harman.

Ann's funeral takes place at 9:00am on Friday the 20th of January at St Mary's Church, Upchurch, followed by a cremation at The Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing.

Ann loved flowers, but equally, our beautiful village and church were close to her heart. Options for both tributes are below:

We would like donations to St Mary's Bell Tower Restoration Fund in Ann's memory. Please see details of how to do this via JustGiving, and please mention Ann's name when you donate in the comments. Note that you can reduce the "voluntary" contribution to JustGiving to zero by entering £0 at the final stage of payment.

JustGiving link: www.justgiving.com/campaign/upchurchbelltower

You can also write a cheque to "Upchurch Parochial Church Council", but please write on the back, "Bell Tower Fund - memory of Ann Harman". You can send your cheques to me at:

Mike Powell

94 Chaffes Lane

Upchurch

Sittingbourne

Kent

ME9 7BH

I will arrange for them to be delivered to the Treasurer. Please do not send cash, and please also note that John Wier no longer holds cheques for memorials.

Floral tributes are to be delivered by 16:30 on 19/1/2023 to:

John Weir Funeral Directors

130-132 High Street

Rainham

Gillingham

Kent

ME8 8AR

Telephone: 01634 373111

Thank you

Mike Powell

Results of Kent PCC Matthew Scott's Annual Policing Survey - Your Views on Kent Police 2022

Your views on Kent Police 2022

Earlier this year, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott conducted his Annual Policing Survey to help shape his Police and Crime Plan.

The survey seeks to understand the views of Kent residents and businesses and whether they agree with the priorities Mr Scott has set for the force and to find out what matters to them and how safe they feel where they live.

The Police and Crime Plan is the document that outlines the priorities that Kent Police is held to account on by Matthew Scott.

Mr Scott was also keen to know if you have been a victim of crime and, if so, whether you thought the police and victim support services did a good job. He received 2964 completed survey responses overall. Your responses help shape what you want your police force to be focused on.

Residents told Mr Scott:

■ The new Chief Constable must show effective communication in his new role.

■ Violence against women and girls, antisocial behaviour, and gangs and county lines were the priorities the Chief Constable should focus on.

■ They agreed with the PCC's priorities for Kent Police. ‘preventing crime and antisocial behaviour’ and ‘being visible and responsive to the needs of communities’ were the most popular.
■ They feel safer where they live than in previous years; however, they feel less safe on the roads.
■ More than half would be willing to pay more council tax (with half of these stating they would pay £15 more a year) to support the police service.
■ Most had not been a victim of crime in the last year but almost 50% of those who had been a victim were dissatisfied with the service they received from Kent Police.

■ Crime types mattered most: serious violence, sexual offences, child sexual exploitation, and burglary/robbery.

The Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner website is >> www.kent-pcc.gov.uk

Upchurch Matters