Upchurch's Co-op is Looking to Donate

Upchurch's Co-op is looking for a local charity or school that fits the criteria of bringing people together or fairer access to food and, lastly, mental well-being.

Our donation could be up to £150, and I will need to apply in-store on their behalf.

The Co-op then decides if they will receive goods or a cheque, whichever they apply for.

Please ask for Sally in-store or Email: sally.butcher@coop.co.uk

Thank you

Sally Butcher - Co-op Member Pioneer

RESULTS: Local Elections - May 2023 | Election of Swale Borough Councillors to Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch Ward

Local elections are taking place on Thursday the 4th of May 2023

All 47 Swale Borough Council seats are being contested, along with town and parish councils.

There will also be a by-election for the Sheppey division of Kent County Council.

To vote in the elections, residents must be on the electoral register. If you are not already registered to vote, you must register by 11:59pm on Monday the 17th of April 2023.

You normally only need to register once - not for every election. You will need to register again if you have changed your name, address or nationality.

You can register to vote at >> www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It usually takes around 5 minutes.

If you are intending to vote by post or by proxy, you must apply by 5:00pm on:

• Tuesday the 18th of April if you're intending to vote by post

• Tuesday the 25th of April if you're intending to vote by proxy

• Thursday the 4th of May if you're using an emergency proxy vote

You can find more information, including who the candidates are in each election, on the Swale Borough Council Elections and Referendums page >> www.swale.gov.uk/elections

Election of Swale Borough Councillors to Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch Ward

Upchurch Village Hall is our Polling Station and will be open from 7:00am until 10:00pm. The count will take place on Friday the 5th of May at Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, and the results will be announced the same day.

The number of Borough Councillors to be elected is 2.

Residents can vote for no more than 2 candidates in this election.

The candidates and results were:

Margaret Anne Cooper - Labour Party 279 votes

Alan Campbell Horton - Conservative Party Candidate 513 votes

Chris Palmer - Swale Independents Putting our community first 879 votes

Richard Palmer - Swale Independents Putting local people first 943 votes

Asha Saroy - Conservative Party Candidate 336 votes

Chris Palmer (Swale Independents) and Richard Palmer (Swale Independents) were elected.

New voter ID requirement

New government legislation means voters in England will need to bring an accepted photo ID to vote at a polling station.

If you do not have an accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate no later than 5:00pm on Tuesday the 25th of April 2023.

To find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day, visit >> www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id

Upchurch Matters

Vehicle Set on Fire - Hartlip

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/78918/23

On Tuesday the 2nd of May, somebody set fire to a vehicle on Cradles Road, Hartlip. 

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

Bargemaster Tales at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall

Bargemaster Tales is stories from over 20 years of Edith May being berthed at Lower Halstow Creek and will feature the highs and lows of maintaining a 117-year-old Thames Sailing Barge, along with the triumphs and disasters of sailing the East Coast rivers and creeks.

Skippers Geoff and Ed Gransden will share their memories, including sneaking into the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant and how they came to appear ignominiously on BBC Breakfast News.

Their talk at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall is on Tuesday the 23rd of May at 7:30pm and is open to everyone.

Entry is £4.00 on the door, which includes refreshments, and a raffle will be drawn on the evening.

Volunteers from the Friends of St Margaret’s Church, Lower Halstow, organise monthly talks from guest speakers at their Tuesday Social Club to help raise funds for the village church.

For enquiries, contact Liz: 01795 842272

Read more about Edith May at >> www.tillerandwheel.com

Upchurch Matters

Thank You from Foodbank Co-ordinator Gill Gay and Swale Foodbank

Dear Upchurch, you gave so generously again today.

The price of everything is soaring, yet you are digging deep to help those who need a helping hand.

A special thank you to Chris and Brian, who helped me collect the food and take it to the warehouse - they had so many empty shelves.

We had a chat today, and Swale Foodbank stocks four centres where people go for help. Three are churches, and one is at a school. They also deliver to people with no means of getting to a centre.

Well done, Esther and her team of volunteers, and to all the centres on the front line.

May God bless you all as you share his love ❤️

I will be collecting your donations for Swale Foodbank again next month at the bus stop opposite the church on Wednesday the 7th of June, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Knitting Group Decorates the Centre of Upchurch Village for the Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort

Click the photo montage to enlarge it.

The ladies of the knitting group, with their partners, have decorated the railings at St Mary's Church with eye-catching knitted gold and purple bunting and Charles and Camilla characters, adding some welcome colour to the centre of Upchurch village.

Their lovely decorations mark the national celebrations for the Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort on Saturday the 6th of May 2023.

A lovely knitted post box topper, complete with characters, has been added, along with bunting hung between the posts on the corner of Horsham Lane, from the bus shelter and the Post Office railings.

It looks superb again - thank you, ladies!

Go and take a good look for yourself...

Read more about the Coronation of The King and The Queen Consort on Upchurch Matters at >> https://bit.ly/41bSoOu

Upchurch Matters