UpARA Newsletter - May 2023

Hello UpARA members,

Birthday Party... come and Join us for our Birthday Party on the evening of Friday the 19th of May, from 7:00pm. There are still a few places available and it is now open to bring non-member guests/friends.

It is BYO food and drink, and you are sure to have a great time with entertainment from the very talented Nick Boswell.

Don't delay and reserve your places in the usual way, by email to: uparaupchurch@gmail.com, or by text to: 07802 250773.

Tickets are just £5.

Thanks... for turning your phones to ‘silent’ during our last Friday meeting. It was so much nicer to listen to David Bowdler and his excellent musical repertoire without interruption - let’s keep it up!

A slight change... please note our May meeting is on the 3rd Friday of this month, followed by the AGM.

UpARA t-shirts, in various sizes, are just £15! They will all be out and on display to purchase on May the 19th.

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone,

We have reached that time of the year once again and we are putting together our thoughts from over the last year of our holidays, and all our activities and getting reports for the AGM.

The next massive event is the coronation of King Charles; several of us are of a certain age to remember his mother’s coronation and all the pomp that went along with the event. I can remember some of the people in our close without a television joined us to watch the event, the first to have been televised.

The next afternoon we all gathered in our village hall for the pageant put on by us school children, our prize was our own coronation mugs.

The hall was decked out as a street party and a great time was had by all.

As the end of our year has been reached, we have raised in excess of £5,000 for charity; some of which went to Ukraine DEC, The Turkey Earthquake Aappeal, the Poppy Appeal and Smile Malawi. Next month we will be handing over money that we have raised for the Bell Tower Charity.

Enjoy the coronation celebrations, looking forward to seeing some of you at the Potters week.

John W

Payments

At the next meeting, Brenda and Malcolm will be taking any money due for the lunch at the Golf Course on the 31st of May.

For any queries on trip and holiday availability, email: uparatrips@gmail.com, (we now have a separate ‘trips’ email address, although any emails to the main address will still get through if trip related).

Pick-up times for Potters holiday Monday 8th May

• Upchurch (opposite the Church) 10:00am 

• Otterham Quay (up from 3 Sisters) 10:10am 

• Rainham (The Cricketers) 10:20am 

• Rainham (opposite Pump Lane) 10:30am 

Northern Ireland trip

For those coming on the Northern Ireland trip in September, please note that the full balance for this is due in June. The itinerary for this trip is on our notice board as is the festive itinerary for our Holly & Mistletoe trip to Llandudno.

Activities

Please look at the calendar for all the activities we currently undertake, and if you haven’t tried them, why not give it a go?

Some of our numbers have been dwindling of late, and we need a new input of enthusiasm to boost this. The sad fact of all that we do, is that they can only continue with the participation of enough people. If you’re not sure, just email us and ask!

May Calendar

Mondays May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th at 10:00am - Short Tennis

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

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

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

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

Friday, May 5th at 1:00pm - Village Walk

Monday May 8th - Friday May 12th - Potters 

Tuesday, May 9th at 10:00am - 10 Pin Bowling at Hollywood Bowl  

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

Please note the new summer times

Friday, May 19th at 10:00am - Village Walk, 

** Friday, May 19th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Wilf Lower, ‘Behind the Scenes of TV’s Golden Years’

AGM to follow 3:30pm - 4:00pm

Friday, May 19th at 7:00pm - Party Night with entertainment by Nick Boswell  

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

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

Wednesday, May 31st - Lunch Club at River Valley Golf Club

* There is no Line Dancing on May the 10th

** Please note our Monthly Meeting is on the 3rd Friday of this month 

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Website: www.upara.club

Coronation Celebration at St Mary's Church

Coronation Celebration at St Mary's Church

Sunday 7th May at 10:30am

St Mary's and Uplift join together for this family-friendly service of praise and thanksgiving for King Charles III.

The celebration continues after the service with strawberries and cream. And there may even be a glass of fizz to enjoy with tea and coffee.

Everyone is welcome - We would love for you to join us.

Gill Gay

Bench Damaged - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/73365/23

Between 15:00 and 15:25 on Friday the 21st of April, somebody damaged a bench and a tree in a communal area at Watling Drive, Newington.

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

Kent Association of Local Councils Community Awards Scheme 2023

Click photographs to enlarge.

Congratulations to Gerry Lewin, this year's worthy winner of the Kent Association of Local Councils Community Awards Scheme 2023 in the community of Upchurch.

Councillor Alan Horton presented Gerry with his award at this year's Annual Parish Meeting, held in Upchurch Village Hall on Thursday the 27th of April 2023.

The Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) Community Award acknowledges and recognises a resident or group that has made a significant contribution to their local community over a period of years.

Gerry's certificate reads:

Hon. Alderman Gerald Lewin

In the community of: Upchurch

Awarded for: To acknowledge and give recognition to the significant contribution and dedication to the community, Upchurch Parish Council and Swale Borough Council as well as the many other local community organisations.

Thank you, Gerry, for everything you have done for our village 👏🏼

Upchurch Matters

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

Swale Foodbank Collection

Dear people of Upchurch,

You certainly outdid your usual generosity last month - it was amazing!

The Trussell Trust says they have helped 33% more people this year.

Together we can help keep them going.

I will be collecting your wonderful foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 3rd of May, 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.

Swale Foodbank is short of most items, but especially the following:

Soups

Jar Sauces

Tinned Tomatoes

Tinned Vegetables - Peas, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Potatoes (They don't need Pulses)

Tinned Meats

Tinned Fish

Long-life Milk

Custard

Tinned Fruit

Jars of Coffee

Bottles of Squash

Thank you, and may God bless 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.

There will be a warm welcome and there will be cake!

Followed by a prayer for our village from 12:00pm.

Is there someone or something you would like a prayer for?

Pop in and join us or leave a note.

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

Temporary Road Closure - The Street, Lower Halstow

It will be necessary to close part of The Street, Lower Halstow from Monday 5th June 2023, with estimated completion by 9th June 2023.

The Street, Lower Halstow will be closed in the vicinity of the cricket ground, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is The Street, Breach Lane, Holywell Lane, Halstow Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while new installation works are undertaken by UK Power Networks.

For information regarding this closure: please contact UK Power Networks on: 0800 029 4285, 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