Kent Association of Local Councils - Community Awards Scheme 2024

Calling all Upchurch Parish Residents.

Upchurch Parish Council will once again be presenting an award to a resident or group that has made a difference to the village.

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.

If you know of someone who has given this kind of service and merits an award, please nominate them.

The person must live or work within the Upchurch Parish Council boundary. Parish residents can make just one nomination, but all adult family members may submit a nomination form.

The nomination form below can be downloaded and printed or requested from the Clerk at: clerk@upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk or by telephone: 07798 600696.

Tap and hold or right-click on the nomination form above to download and print it.

The winner will receive a certificate signed by the Chairman of Kent County Council and the KALC Chairman.

The Upchurch Parish Council Chairman will present the award at the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday the 11th of April 2024.

Please send your completed nomination forms in a sealed envelope to:

Nina Henley

Clerk and Proper Officer

2 Alfriston Grove

Kings Hill

West Malling

ME19 4SR

The closing date for receiving nomination forms is Wednesday the 31st of January 2024.

The previous winners of the KALC Award in Upchurch are:

Pat New in 2017

Tracey Snellings in 2018

Ray Kemsley in 2019

No award given in 2020

Cia Merrall in 2021

John Arnold in 2022

Gerry Lewin in 2023

Upchurch Matters

Temporary Road Closure - Halstow Lane, Upchurch

It will be necessary to close part of Halstow Lane, Upchurch from Monday 19th February 2024, for up to one day between the hours of 09:30 and 15:30.

The road will be closed in the vicinity of Ridgedale Stables, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is via Halstow Lane, Forge Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Otterham Quay Lane, Lower Rainham Road, A2 Moor Street, London Road, Hartlip Hill, Breach Lane and vice versa.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while new connection works are undertaken by Openreach.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Openreach on: 0800 023 2023, 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

New Music Director Required for Upchurch Choral Society

Following the departure of our Music Director, Upchurch Choral Society is now without a Conductor and requires a new one as soon as possible.

We are a friendly SATB choir of about 34 members with mixed musical abilities. The choir was formed over 50 years ago and has grown from a small village choral group to the society we are today.

We would like to increase our membership and musical standards, sing a varied repertoire and develop generally.

We perform two, sometimes three concerts every year using a variety of choral music. Rehearsals are in St Mary’s church in Upchurch on Friday evenings from 7:45pm to 9:15pm.

The church has an organ and an electric piano and we have an excellent Accompanist.

If you are interested in becoming our new MD, please contact our secretary for an application form and job description to be returned by Wednesday the 31st of January 2024 to:

Mrs S E Rossiter, 114 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7BH, or Email: sue.rossiter1@outlook.com

Sue Rossiter

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Upchurch Matters.

Thanks for all the support you have given the website throughout the year.

This year's lovely village Christmas tree was again kindly donated by Bob Friend and his family.

Thank you, Bob.

Upchurch Parish Councillors have added 'SANTA STOP HERE' to the village sign so he knows where to stop and deliver all the children's presents.

The sparkling Santa's sleigh with reindeer and twinkling lights with the star on top of the Christmas tree all look lovely.

The knitting group has done another wonderful job of decorating the centre of the village with knitted Christmas characters. The added colour they bring really brightens up our winter days.

Why not go and check them out during the holidays?

The lit Nativity Scene, beautifully built by the late Frank Osborne, has also returned to the Churchyard.

Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and generosity, once again.

To more peaceful and affordable times in 2024 🥂

Upchurch Matters

The Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal - Thank You

Dear Upchurch,

You very generously donated three carloads, with boots, back seats and front passenger seats, all full of gifts for this year's joint Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal outside the church on Wednesday the 6th of December.

My car carried the wonderful Hampers of Hope, but we also had bags and bags of Christmas goodies, toys, gifts, knitted items and staple foods.

What a generous village Upchurch is. Esther, the Project Manager at Swale Foodbank (the lady in the red standing in their Christmas aisle), was amazed, and she sends her blessings.

She did say out of all the collections she receives, Upchurch is the most generous.

So be proud, Upchurch, your Godly kindness is noted. You have spread joy and light this Christmas.

Thanks also to Sally at Upchurch's Co-op for their collection point in store, where you kindly left your donations.

Thanks also to everyone who joined us for Carol Singing in Upchurch on Wednesday the 6th at Beckenham Park, Monday the 11th on the corner of Marstan Close and Chaffes Lane, and Monday the 18th, opposite the church by the village Christmas tree.

Over the three nights, you helped us raise a total of £156.35 towards The Salvation Army and Swale Foodbank - Christmas Food Hampers Appeal.

As well as raising money to help vulnerable people, it was really good fun.

We finished by the village Christmas tree with mulled wine and mince pies.

Thank you, and may God bless you ❤️

Enjoy your Christmas!

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Vehicle Damaged | Attempted Burglary - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/219929/23

Between 10:30am on Monday the 11th of December and 4:00pm on Wednesday the 13th of December, somebody damaged a vehicle parked in the road and let air out of the tyres in Church Lane, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/223127/23

Between 00:01 and 23:59 on Friday the 15th of December, somebody tried to break into a residential property in High Street, Newington. They left when they were disturbed by the resident. 

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