The KM Sittingbourne News Extra ran this article yesterday on the Proposed new War Memorial for Upchurch. Thanks very much to Hayley Robinson for writing such a nice piece.
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Click on the article to enlarge it. |
Upchurch Matters
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Thursday 9 February 2012
Upchurch War Memorial article in the KM Sittingbourne News Extra
Upchurch Matters
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Tuesday 7 February 2012
Memories of Working at Horsham Farm
Milking the cows, looking after the pigs, sheep and bull, Bob Bearup who has lived in Upchurch all his life, loved his work at Horsham Farm where he started as a school leaver in 1958.
Horsham Farm consisted of 100 acres of land and was managed by Lyn Jenkins who employed several other men. These included Sid Jenkins, ‘Nutty Gransden’, Terry Tomkins and Bob Trice. Kath Jenkins, Lyn’s wife, also helped out. The farmland and house were rented from Rugby Portland Cement Company and the farm produced milk and beef with a herd of 25 to 30 Sussex cows. Sheep and pigs were also produced. Mrs Bearup and Mrs Sketchley from Chaffes Lane and Mrs Trice from Drakes Close were regular seasonal workers who prepared the Christmas fowl annually in December.
“I had always wanted to work with animals”, he says. “I could have gone to college to learn more about it but ‘Nutty’ Gransden who taught me everything about livestock at the farm advised me not to. I later got diplomas in dairy and beef production by studying full time. This qualified me as a stockman in those areas”
“The day began at 5 a.m. with the milking of cows”, says Bob. “This was followed by breakfast. After that the sheds were cleaned out and washed then the young stock fed. Next, the main work of the day took place with haymaking in summer which I hated because I was away from the animals. Afternoon milking took place at 3 p.m. then the sheds were cleaned out again before the day ended.”
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| Horsham Farm Upchurch. |
A fatal disaster almost occurred when Lyn Jenkins got gored by the farm bull. After instructing the workers not to go into the pen unaccompanied, he broke his own rule when he entered it alone. The bull immediately charged and knocked him to the ground then began goring him. Bob says, “Terry Tomkins and I tried to help after Lyn shouted out. As I wrestled with the bull it dragged me towards the farm building. I knew I had to do something quickly otherwise if it pinned me against the wall I was finished. I managed to grab its nose ring and twist it hard until the animal fell on its side.” Lyn Jenkins luckily escaped with superficial injuries while Bob remained uninjured.
There was also a comical side to the work and Bob remembers haymaking on the hay cart with Eric Woolley and Terry Tomkins when a wheel came off and all of them were flung to the ground amongst the hay which ended in laughter after an awkward moment.
Horsham Farm finally ceased production in 1984 due to pressures of the European Economic Community after operating as a working farm for centuries. The house with eight acres was sold to a private buyer while the remaining farmland was rented to Bill Barling from Poot Lane. Although Bob was sad about the farm closure he describes his experience there as, “One of the best times of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.”
David Wood, who was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.
David Wood
David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + p+p £2.
David Wood
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Friendship Lunch - Next Venue and Date
If you wish to come, to help us to know numbers, please call the following contacts by Monday evening the 9th of April: Ron Partridge on: 01795 842007 or Sylvia O'Shea on: 01795 478103. If you need a lift, also please call Ron Partridge on: 01795 842007.
Ron Partridge
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Monday 6 February 2012
Church News
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| St. Margaret’s Church, Lower Halstow. |
We will be marking the beginning of Lent by sharing an Ash Wednesday service also in Lower Halstow Church, on Wednesday the 22nd of February at 7:30p.m. This will be a Sung Communion service with the opportunity to receive a cross of ash on your forehead. (This is not compulsory). The service will be clearly explained throughout, and if you have never been to Lower Halstow church before, you’re in for a treat. It will be warm and candle lit. To find it, enter the village and turn left into Lapwing Drive, follow to the end of the road, bearing to the right. Park here and the church can be seen down on the right.
Our Lent Course will be starting on Tuesday the 5th of March from 9:30a.m. - 11.30a.m. at 3 Horsham Lane, Upchurch , (opp. the church’s front door). Our hosts are Bryan and Evelyn Veale. It will be led by Revd. Jacky, we had 17 who enjoyed it last year! YOU are very welcome to join us!
Lastly, in preparation for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, St. Mary’s will be mounting an exhibition of mementos, photos, and written memories of those who remember that day in 1953! Can we borrow your memories? If we can, please contact Elizabeth Shorthouse on: 01634 364676.
Thank you very much
Revd. Jacky Davis
Upchurch Twinning Group Quiz Night - Report
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A good time was had by all who attended the Twinning Group Quiz Night on Saturday the 4th of February 2012. We are very proud to say that we made a profit of £466.00. This will go towards the cost of coaches for the Holywell School and Choral Group to visit our twinned village of Ferques this spring. |
Our thanks to all who came, in spite of the inclement weather and participated to make it possible.
Sue Rossiter
Twinning Group Secretaryspace
Thursday 2 February 2012
News from Upchurch Scout Group
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| Upchurch Scouts are looking for more adults to help out. |
The Upchurch Scout Group is a registered charity. The Group is made up of the following sections, which all meet weekly in Drakes Lodge on the recreation ground in the village.
Beavers (5 ¾ – 8 yrs) Mondays 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Cubs (8 – 10 ½ yrs) Mondays 7:15 - 8:30pm
Cubs (8 – 10 ½ yrs) Mondays 7:15 - 8:30pm
Scouts (10 ½ - 14 yrs) Fridays 7:30pm – 9:00pm
If your child wishes to join any section of the Scout Group please phone either Darren on: 01634 373313 for Beavers or Cubs, or Robin and Diane on: 01634 371921 for Scouts. For all other enquiries please phone Rozz on: 01634 375168.
(We are an expanding group so are always looking for more adults to help out)
Rozz Dyett (GSL)
Cub Camp Newsletter 2012 by Cub Joshua Rose
At Cub camp in Bexon Lane, Sittingbourne, we did all sorts of activities. Here are just some of them;
Shooting, abseiling, archery, rotating climbing wall, rocket bottle, orienteering, obstacle course, and a sing-song around the massive camp fire!
(We are an expanding group so are always looking for more adults to help out)
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| Beavers is great fun and you can start at 5 ¾ ! |
Rozz Dyett (GSL)
Cub Camp Newsletter 2012 by Cub Joshua Rose
At Cub camp in Bexon Lane, Sittingbourne, we did all sorts of activities. Here are just some of them;
Shooting, abseiling, archery, rotating climbing wall, rocket bottle, orienteering, obstacle course, and a sing-song around the massive camp fire!
You will never be bored because there are lots of activities and jobs to do! So who wants to have a full English breakfast or enjoy a barbeque, make new friends and sleep in an enormous tent? Maybe you would like to join Upchurch Cubs then you could come camping at Bexon Lane too!
Joshua Rose
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Joshua Rose
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