From the Chairman I would like to thank all members for their support over my 2 years as Chairman that has now come to an end and offer my support to all future members. Upnor Residents please be aware that the Committee is here to advise and hopefully contribute to the community spirit of the village. It needs a regular source of turnover of members to generate enthusiasm as well as more diverse approaches to all needs. Anyone taking on a post will get the support of existing members and it is important to generate new life. So please come on - let’s see some new Committee members. All posts are open for those wishing to take part! Entertainments In association with the Medway Yacht (MYC), the URA have organised the following two events: Quiz & Chilli Supper – 15 May 10 Firstly a Quiz Evening, with a Chilli Supper (+ Veggi choice) on Saturday 15th May at the MYC. The quiz will commence at 7.00 pm, with food being served during the evening. Allied to the quiz, there will be a raffle and bar facilities will be available. Any profit made on the quiz and the raffle will be donated to both the RNLI and Upnors’ ‘Local Charity’ ….. The Arethusa Venture Centre. The cost of the evening will be £10.00 per ticket, this includes your meal, quiz team entry fee (teams of 6 please) and prizes for the winning team(s). For those of you who would like to enter a team and book a table, please contact either Yve Dixon - 01634 713934 or Jane Higgs - 07780 911122 (messages can be left, with a contact number please). To accommodate the MYC, the number of teams has had to be restricted to 12 (72 per’s), so to avoid disappointment please book your table as soon as possible! Presentation by Dr Derek Clarke & Supper - 09 Jul 10 And secondly, a presentation, by the renowned after dinner speaker ….. Dr Derek Clarke (a retired Home Office Forensic Dentist/Scientist). Dr Clarke has a wealth of experience that he has kindly agreed to share with us all, in particular in a major identification role relating to the Boxing Day Tsunami a few years ago. This event will take place on Friday 9th July at the MYC and will consist of a 2 course meal, c/w a raffle & bar facilities. In due course, flyers will be distributed with costs and menu choices for you to book your places (to assist in making the evening run smoothly, pre-booked meal choices are required.) for what should be a very interesting social evening. In anticipation, our ‘Thanks’ go firstly to the Committee and the members of the Medway Yacht Club for letting us use their club house & facilities, and last but not least, both Benita & Hubba for helping us organise both the above events ….. many thanks! Upnor Vs. Frindsbury Cricket Match - 5th August 2010 This year is Frindsbury Cricket Club’s (FCC) 125th Anniversary of its foundation. To help them celebrate this auspicious occasion, the Club have ‘challenged’ (like many times in the past) The Upnors to an ’Annual Cricket Match’ (thumping more like!) c/w food and bar facilities. ‘The Match’ is to take place on the evening of Thur 05 Aug 2010 at 1700hrs at Frog Island. Full details will be circulated in a flyer closer to the date. If, in the meantime, if you would like to be part of the ‘Upnors Team’, please contact Mark Lee (Team Captain) - 01634 717727 / 07941 187622 - 36 Galleon Way, Lower Upnor - mlee@craftinsure.com Lower Upnor Depot We understand that a brief is being prepared for submission to the Local Authority for potential redevelopment. It has been indicated that the sale of the site will be in 2011. If any resident has relevant contribution which URA should present to Medway Council, kindly let URA committee have details. Action at Frog Island Pond In recent years the pond has become clogged with reeds and the pond-side overgrown and un-managed. There are signs of minor graffiti and some littering around the site. A large section of the hedgerow has been removed and the dipping platform removed after it became unsafe. About 15 years ago a collection of local groups got together to restore the pond (Dickens Country Protection Society (DCPS), Medway River Conservation Volunteers, Medway Council and others). Over the following years DCPS paid for work to clear the pond of excess reeds, but in recent years has had problems finding people to carry out the work. Little effective maintenance has been done lately and some of the local members raised growing concerns about the state of the pond. Although money was available from DCPS to carry out minor maintenance it was clear that a larger amount of work was required to get it back into shape and ensure its future. DCPS have liased with local organisations to raise the funds required and have been granted £1,000 by the E-On Community Trust. They are awaiting a decision on an application for the bulk of the budget and expect to hear at the end of April. The total budget is about £13,500. A steering group has been created from the local funders : DCPS, Medway Council, Frindsbury Extra Parish Council, Cllr. Peter Hicks (Ward Fund) and it is hoped Upnor Residents’ Association will join in as well. With money already donated, Kent Wildlife Trust have been commissioned to create a Management Plan to look at what we have, the proposed scheme of works and future maintenance. DCPS are also going to include the woodland next to the pond, which is part of the Frindsbury Cricket Club Site. It will not be possible to carry out physical works on the site until there has been a decision on grant funding, but it is intended to be in a position to start as quickly as possible afterwards. Much of the work will have to be done in the autumn for nature protection reasons and some work may need to be delayed until 2011, but you should start to see a difference in the summer. Suggested scheme of work includes:- Path from the entrance across the site, providing access for all to join the seats, interpretation board (which will be upgraded) and a new re-cycled plastic dipping platform. The hedgerow will be replanted on the road frontage and fencing installed within it to protect it. Half to 2/3rds of the pond will be cleared and dredged to ensure open water all year round and reduce the spread of reeds. There will be work for volunteers this summer and on a regular basis into the future. Contact: Chris Fribbins Email: chris@fribbins.cix.co.uk Free Family Fun Storytelling, craft and entertainment With Medway Council Arts Development Team and Library Service Make amazing nature and wildlife art, listen to a tantalising tale or two, meet Sparky the puppet and enjoy balloon art and circus tricks Wed, 7 April 10–12 Upnor Castle* (free entry included) 2–4 High Halstow Village Hall Thurs, 8 April 10-12 Capstone Country Park (play area) 2-4 Cuxton Library* Fri, 9 April 10-12 Cliffe Woods Community Hall SUITABLE FOR UNDER 11s ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT*Booking is essential for workshops at Cuxton and Upnor as spaces are limited. Please call 01634 338319 to book. No need to book for workshops at Cliffe Woods, High Halstow or Capstone – first-come-first served. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARTS TEAM ACTIVITIES CALL 01634 338319 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LIBRARY ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES CALL 01634 335896 FUSE IS COMING…If you enjoy these workshops, there’s more to come. Medway Festival is bringing a magical children’s theatre show, The Doctor’s Daughter to your area in June. For more information please call 01634 338319 Foxes Residents who put out their rubbish too early are being severely punished by ripped bags with contents strewn over their paths. Worse still, it is often the neighbours of the early birds who live adjacent the strewings and suffer the most. Foxes like a free meal as much as the rest of us, so please don’t put temptation in their way - put your rubbish out only on the morning of collection; for once the Council rules make sense. The Upnors Need You! The URA is looking for a new Chairperson & Secretary, as well as general committee members. Would you fit the Bill’??Without filling these positions the Association may have to fold! … This is not an advantage to anyone as the Upnors would be left without any direct representation to the Medway Council!! For further details as to what is required of these positions, please contact Ade or Jane on the Street Representatives list. Having Your Say The URA is always looking to include in its Newsletter any interesting articles, photo’s, jokes, events, celebrations or if you have a point to make, require an answer to a local problem, or just simply want to pass on some useful information, then please do contact your Street Representative at any time so that it can be included in the next issue. |