01634 373723 / 07703 339290 or Email: slaming@tycoint.com
Steve Laming
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Saturday 28 February 2015
Upchurch Horticultural Society 2015 - Show Dates
Wednesday 25 February 2015
Vehicles Vandalised - Bishop & Oak Lane
Hartlip Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/006556/15
Between 3:30am and 4:44am on Tuesday 24th of February, all windows except the windscreen of a Landrover were completely smashed. Both wing mirrors were ripped off. This happened in Bishop Lane Upchurch.
Crime Number: XY/006617/15
Between 24th and 25th of February the offside automated mirror of a Cherokee Jeep was criminally damaged in Oak Lane Upchurch.
Between 24th and 25th of February the offside automated mirror of a Cherokee Jeep was criminally damaged in Oak Lane Upchurch.
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
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Wednesday 18 February 2015
Burglary - Upchurch Village Hall
Hartlip Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/005653/15
Between 15th and 16th of February there was a burglary in the Village Hall, The Street, Upchurch.
Several cupboards were damaged and 6 large plastic sweet containers containing chocolate bars and sweets were stolen from within. A container with Turkish delight was later found in the local churchyard.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the crime number above.
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
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Monday 16 February 2015
Theft from a Digger - Spade Lane
Hartlip Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: XY/005070/15
Between 11th and 12th of February a starter motor was stolen from an Agricultural Digger in Holly Acres Stables Spade Lane.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the crime number above.
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
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Sunday 15 February 2015
upchurchmatters.co.uk turns 10 years old
The upchurchmatters.co.uk name turns 10 years old today.
Here's how the site looked back in the day.
Upchurch Matters
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Poolside Bar Music Nights for March & April at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course
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Saturday 14 February 2015
Upchurch Scouts & Guides 1978 - 1979
Upchurch Scouts & Guides 1978 - 1979.
Click image to enlarge.
This old photograph of Upchurch Scouts & Guides taken in the old Drakes Lodge Scout Hut 1978 - 1979 was discovered last week.
35 years on let's see how good are our memories are. Can we put names to all the faces?
1st Upchurch Guides were formed in September 1962. Can you help fill in the gaps and complete this list of previous leaders with the years they were involved with the group?
Margaret Bradley GG 1973 - 1974
Iris Martin GG 1976 - 1978
Pamela Harrison GG 1979 1982
Glenda Lee AGG 1980 - ?
Patricia Friend AGG 1976 - 1978
Mrs D Foulds AGG 1981 - 1984
Geraldine Smith GG 1987 - ?
Fiona Webb GG 1987 -?
If you recognise anyone in the photograph you can post a comment on our Facebook page here ☞ http://tinyurl.com/opwj837
Thanks to Tracey Snellings for the photo.
Upchurch Matters
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Friday 13 February 2015
Upchurch Parish Council Report - March 2015
The Parish Council met on Thursday 5th February
at the Village Hall where 8 Councillors were present and 12 members of the
public.
Public
Time – Localism Grant Fund – Cllr John Wright stated that
there is a small amount of money left in the fund. Cllr Tucker advised that the
Council would give this some thought. Otterham Quay Lane – A resident
raised concerns over the blocked gullies following the hedge cutting. Cllr
Lewin advised who should be contacted when this situation arises. The resident
also requested that he be able to remove the traffic cones left on Chaffes Lane
and store them for the Council. Planning – a resident raised their
concerns over the Solar Farm, Boxsted Lane and questioned why the planning
permission had been passed and that they felt they had not been properly
informed by Swale Planning of the planning application for this site and still
have concerns regarding the impact on the countryside. Cllr Tucker advised that the resident should
email all of their concerns to the Clerk who will then speak to Swale Planning
regarding this.
Correspondence – Local Boundary Commission Electoral Review – Cllr Tucker advised that the
Electoral review of Kent County Council has commenced. This is open to the
public and full details of this can be found on the website www.lgbce.org.uk. Lord
Lieutenant’s Civic Service at Rochester Cathedral on 10/3/2015 – Cllr
Tucker advised that Cllr New and Cllr Lewin would be attending this event.
Planning - 14/505230/FULL Jack Russell Place, Halstow Lane –
Variation of condition 2 and 4 of planning permission SW/11/0496 to increase
the number of mobile homes (from 2 to 5), and to have flood lighting security
lightning for safety. – Cllr Tucker confirmed that an objection had been made
by the Parish Council that the applicant had acquired new land not on the
original application. Cllr Rossiter had received a response from Swale Planning
stating that the applicant will be contacted with a view to the application being
withdrawn or amended. 14/506519/FULL Kent Terrace, Canterbury Lane – Redevelopment
of existing landscape contractor’s yard and land surrounding Kent Terrace to
provide 13 dwelling houses and an extension to the existing terrace with
associated car parking and landscaping. In addition a ground floor rear
extension of Plot 15. It was decided that the Parish Council would object to
the application in its current state and will reconsider an amendment.
Permissions and refusals – Crescent House – It was confirmed that Crescent House
has had prior approval for change of use to residential buildings.
Allotments and Recreation Ground – Allotments and Recreation Ground
fences – It was agreed to accept one of the quotes for both the repairs to
the Allotment fence and for the replacement of the Recreation Ground fence and for
work to proceed on these as soon as possible.
Paddock
- Nothing to report.
Burial
Ground and Churchyard - Burial
Ground Rules and Regulations – Cllr Rose has reviewed the Rules and
Regulations and has drafted a proposal to deal with the issues of
non-compliance of the current rules. It was agreed to move the proposal forward
on the ‘next steps’ and formulate a detailed proposal.
Environment - Salt bag –
The village annual salt provision has been incorrectly delivered to Nursery
Days car park. Cllr Masson and Cllr Lewin have agreed to distribute small salt
bags from the car park to residents who may wish to make use of the salt. A
date for this will be confirmed with the Clerk who will put notification on the
website and notice boards. Unipar Dual Message System - It was agreed
that the system be repaired and returned to the Parish Council.
Highways
- Street lights – Cllr Arnold reported that the
parts for the street light on the junction of The Street with The Poles have
now arrived. He was also aware of a faulty light in Chaffes Lane and that the
contractors have been notified. Cllr Tucker advised she would be raising KCC’s
proposal to upgrade all lights to LED at the Swale West Meeting to see if a
grant could be obtained.
Other
Matters – Church
Clock – It had been
noted that the Church is running slow. The Clerk will contact the contractors
to get this fixed.
Next
meetings – Confirmed as being 5th March 2015 and 2nd
April 2015, 7:30pm in The Village Hall. The Annual Parish Meeting will take
place in the Village Hall on 30th April 2015.
Julia
Cura, Clerk to the Parish Council
Telephone: 01634 363906
Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
Wednesday 11 February 2015
Upchurch Cricket Club - Colts Football For Ages 5, 6 and Under 7’s
It is a desire to start up 5's and 6's teams too who will be able to progress through the club.
Any parents with boys of these ages who would like to get involved are welcome to contact by Email Terry Lewis terrylewis44@yahoo.co.uk or Rob Croome robcroome@sky.com
All are welcome to visit Upchurch Cricket Ground on a Saturday morning at 10am where the present team train.
Terry Lewis
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Sunday 8 February 2015
Talented Local Singer Wanted
Hello people of Upchurch, Singer/Rapper "Palermo" (James Hansford) is looking for a talented Singer within the village to feature on an upcoming release which will feature on his
"Legion" EP.
"Legion" EP.
James would like to extend the invitation to the local people in the instance. The right person would have to travel to perform the single at relevant events where "Palermo" performs (all expenses paid for).
James "Palermo" is signed to a Manager/Record Label as well as being UK ambassador to an exclusive clothing line, so there is great potential to be seen by mainstream companies and record labels.
Please message James directly through Facebook to enquire: Here
James on Instagram: www.instagram.com/palermomusic
James Hansford
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Thank You from Upchurch Twinning Group
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This years winning team. |
This year we raised around £700 and our treasurer has gone to bed tonight a very happy man!
Thanks again to all who came along and spent their money buying raffle tickets and joining in our card game in the interval. Our thanks must also go to our question master, Frank Osborne and his team, not only for their efforts tonight but for setting the questions.
Ann Harman (Secretary)
Mike Johnson (Chairman)
Email mikeinupchurch@gmail.com
You can read more about Upchurch Twinning Group at the link here
Upchurch Twinning Group
Upchurch Twinning Group
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Wednesday 4 February 2015
UpARA - Latest Schedule of Events
Upchurch Active Retirement Association
Into another new year on the calendar and a new year for UpARA not far off. As of 1st March annual subscription become due at £15, the same as last year. Obviously it is necessary to be fully paid up to maintain your membership. You can even pay early if you like! Hopefully everyone will sign up again, but if you decide not to continue with us it will be very helpful if you can let the committee know, as we do have a waiting list of over 30 people eager to join us.
Monthly Meetings (2nd Friday of the month)
(Members Free; Guests £2.00)
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Friday 13th February 2015 - 2:00pm
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Friday 13th March 2015 - 2:00pm
Coffee Mornings (4th Tuesday of the month)
(Members £1.50; Guests £2.00)
*
Tuesday 24th February 2015 - 09:30am until 12:30pm
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Tuesday 24th March 2015 - 09:30am until 12:30pm
Village Walks (1st & 3rd Friday of the month)
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Friday 6th February 2015 - 10:00am
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Friday 20th February 2015 - 10:00am
Outings
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Tuesday, 10th February 2015
ITV Studios, London
Mel & Sue
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Saturday, 21st March 2015
Thriplow Daffodil Festival
David Powell - Chairman
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Tuesday 3 February 2015
Two Upchurch Men at the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915 by David Wood
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William Wood. |
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Charles Gransden. |
On September 24th 1915 the two Upchurch men sailed from Liverpool with their regiment to Mudros in Greece then on to Gallipoli where they had their first experience of warfare but were not used as cavalry, instead they operated as infantry in trenches. Coming ashore on the Helles Peninsular, they faced Turkish gunfire and shrapnel shells from high cliff-top positions. William Wood said they were targeted by a determined enemy who British soldiers respected as fighters and nicknamed ‘Johnny Turk.’ On the day after they arrived the allied commander General Sir Ian Hamilton visited and welcomed the East Kent Yeomanry but had a narrow escape when a shell fired by the Turks exploded directly above him according to his personal diary from 1915.
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Armed Soldiers of the East Kent Yeomanry |
Serving at the front line for two week periods followed by two weeks behind the lines where soldiers constructed roads and unloaded provisions, Wood and Gransden survived in trenches and dugouts in the firing line with their fellow soldiers and food was brought to them on a mule. When a Turkish sniper eventually shot and killed the mule this apparently affected the men's morale badly. Disease also became a problem with an estimated 50,000 allied soldiers suffering enteritis or dysentery. Unsuitable diet, flies, unburied putrid corpses and open latrines caused this. William Wood contracted dysentery but survived mainly off periodic food parcels sent from home.
Eating bully beef, biscuits and jam as a daily main meal, soldiers suffered more when the weather became inhospitable with a severe blizzard that lasted for three days in November causing hostilities to temporarily cease. Ferocious winds with torrential rain flooded trenches and the snow and frost that followed caused frostbite and death from exposure. The regiment spent several months facing Turkish gunfire on the rugged Helles Peninsular until they were successfully evacuated at night by the Royal Navy in late December 1915 which turned out to be the most successful part of an otherwise disastrous allied campaign.
During 1916 the regiment amalgamated with the West Kent Yeomanry to form the 10th Buffs Yeomanry Battalion. The new Battalion formed part of General Allenby's Palestine offensive against the Turks. After landing at Alexandria in Egypt in 1917 they participated in the Second Battle of Gaza, then the Battle of Beersheba. They also played a leading part in the capture of Jerusalem from the Turks. William Wood recalled that during the campaign he remembered Captain Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) regularly entering the army camp on horseback with Bedouin warriors to deliver information about enemy movements in the Hijaz Desert to General Allenby. Apparently, soldiers ran from their tents to stare or laugh at the captain dressed in traditional Arab clothes.
Heavy casualties on the Western Front required the withdrawal of infantry divisions from Palestine to France in May 1918. After fighting at Merville, the Kent Yeomanry Battalion moved to the Somme in September and participated in the advance on the Hindenburg Line and then in the final advance which led to the armistice of 11th November 1918.
When the war ended William Wood returned to his farm at Ham Green physically unscathed while Charles Gransden who sustained a serious leg injury in a rail accident in France returned to Forge Lane and later became bellringer captain and churchwarden at the village church. Both men maintained contact with their old regiment and regularly attended the annual reunion dinner together until they both passed away during the mid-1960s.
In 2001 on Anzac Day which is observed by Australians and New Zealanders, I visited the site of the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey where an Australian military historian took me to the beach where my grandfather and Charles Gransden came ashore with the East Kent Yeomanry and to the rugged and desolate area where they had fought, a fascinating and enlightening experience almost a century after the event.
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David Wood. |
About David:
David Wood 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's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
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