Lenham Focus | January '14 by Falcon

JANUARY 2014 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1 Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

Design Team: What we’re doing.

We’ve been designing the Lenham Focus for a while now and we thought that it was time for us to introduce ourselves, and share with you how we’re taking the Focus forward.

for their feedback, and encourage people to keep sending in ideas and feedback as we’d love to hear them!

My name is Will, and I’m Creative Director at Flowbox, we’re a small design agency based in Maidstone. We took over the design and layout for the Lenham Focus as a personal project to give something back to the village of Lenham.

Picture focused articles Large image holders allowing articles to have a bigger impact

In August we launched the new design for the Lenham Focus, along with new designs for the social media pages. The design was well received and a lot of people felt that it brought a breath of fresh air to the magazine. We’re still taking feedback on the new design and perfecting little bits in each edition that comes out.

Bolder headings We’ve made articles headings clearer and more consistent

I just wanted to thank the readers

Design Team: What we’re doing

Recently we’ve taken the design forward. We’ve added:

Larger font size You asked and we’ve listened, the font size has been increased!

Any other feedback, please send to hello@thinkflowbox.co.uk A quick note to advertisers. Please send in PDF, JPG, or TIFF artwork as otherwise it cannot be included in the magazine. Word documents are not able to be reproduced.

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Welcome... to the first 2014 edition of The Lenham Focus. I’ve taken over the editorial for this month and was thinking hard over what to write. First of all, I hope you all over-indulged this Christmas, overloaded on mince pies and were utterly spoiled with Christmas presents. January is never the best month, how can it be? After following December, the most festive month of the year.

However I think that we can make January fairly exciting in our own way, Of course you have New Year’s to celebrate! Embracing a New Year, singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ which nobody ever seems to know the words to and it ends up being an incoherent droning of the tune, Then there are New Year’s Resolutions, which get kept for the first week at least. But personally, at the start of the New Year I like to say thank you to all my family and friends for a wonderful year and look forward to the new one. Which will no doubt be full of freezing cold mornings starting the car, perilous walks with the dogs along the icy roads, and if we’re lucky some snow! I hope this is the beginning of a fantastic year for all of you!

Welcome

Will Beeching Interim Focus Editor 01622 686990

will@thinkflowbox .co.uk

Lenham Focus Volume 16 Issue 1 | January 2014 Circulation 2000

JAN 14 Editor: James Collett 01622 850608 | lenham-focus@tiscali.co.uk Advertising: Annie Drylie 07956629772 | advertslf@gmail.com Treasurer: Sue Marchant 01622 858511 | 07788163828 | lenhamfocusinvoices@gmail.com Distribution: Gez Clark 07784 447200 Proof Reader: Jane Hewish Social: Jemma Cockell Printed by: Gemini Print

Copy Deadline: 7th of the preceding month. Please leave copy at 24 Maidstone road or contact us.

Advertising rates (Sep 2012) Eighth page Quarter Page Half Page Inside Cover Full Page Inside Cover Half Page Full Page Outside Back Cover

£13 £21 £38 £79 £58 £69 £88

Front cover available once a year per advertiser

£120

Print + Deliver one A5 insert

£250

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Your Focus Team We are the team behind the Lenham Focus, we build the magazine from start to finish every month. For you.

Writing: James Collett

Although James is not, and never has been, involved in publishing he works on the Focus to ensure the village is always up to date with events and to provide local businesses with a low cost publication to advertise in. As with all the team he gives up his time in between work and family and is always grateful to the contributors who make the job so much easier.

Design: Flowbox Flowbox are an innovative young creative agency based in Maidstone. Established in 2012 they have been providing the Focus with their time and design services for free. Flowbox works with all sorts of clients from one-man bands to huge corporations. If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after, get in touch! thinkflowbox.co.uk

Contributors

Photography: Andy Flood Andy has been providing photography to the focus since the launch of the new design. Consistently he has provided amazing shots, especially the front covers. Most recently the December and January edition! Check out his Flickr Photostream! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ 35132157@N04/

Photography: Richard Gare

Photography: Peter Bailey

Richard has provided some fantastic shots recently of in and around Lenham in the snow, and all of the Lenham Lights! Check out the inside back page of this issue.

Peter has in the past provided some stunning photographs to the Focus. None in this issue, but we hope to receive some more soon!

Photography: Elliott Round Elliott was commissioned to take some photos of Lenham when the new design came out. Now at Greenwich University he doesn’t do any photo’s for us anymore but we hope when he comes back he will. Photography: Jackie Blake

This is just a small snapshot of the focus team, we’re awaiting some photos and introductions for the crucial members. Keep an eye out in future editions for the rest of the team.

Jackie sent in some lovely photos of Lenham covered in snow last month, especially the shot of the snow covered tree currently on the welcome page.

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Borough Council Corner Highways Following on from comments made by residents about signage, I spent a few hours meeting with Brian & Jo Llong, driving around the village. We viewed the signs on Headcorn Road and took pictures of the broken 30 mph sign. At Sandway, amongst other things we requested re lining and pot holes management.

At the Ham Lane/ Old Ham Lane junction again re-lining particularly in the middle of the road, but additionally cutting back of trees. In Maidstone Road the many signs covered or fallen down, and the narrowing of the road through lack of maintenance. At Faversham Road/ Hill Crescent/ A20 signs, blocked drains and sweeping needed. Further up Pilgrims Way/ Lime tree cotts re lining and signage. Further still towards West St, potholes and broken signs. Finally we drove back to the community Centre and Doctors surgery. There

Borough Council Corner

Cllr Tom Sams Harrietsham & Lenham Ward t: 01622 859412 m: 07718173329 tomsamscllr@gmail.com

has been talk about parking at the Doctors and Community Centre and we asked that consideration should be given to an idea to remove the overgrown round border at the front, because we felt that the space gained would benefit users of the doctors surgery, and particularly those with mobility problems. This will be considered and land ownership explored. Can I thank Brian and Jo, plus also John Bone from Lenham Parish Council who has the thankless task of chasing up Kent Highway Services. Xmas lights. The Lights are I feel better and brighter than ever, and we should be thankful for all those that worked so hard to make this possible. Well done, it really makes a difference.

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Dates for Your Diary

JAN

Gardening Question Time Sunday 12th January 2.00 pm in Hollingbourne Village Hall.

JAN

Messy Church Crazy Science Party Harrietsham Primary School 6:00pm

Lenham Family Festival Meeting Lenham community centre 7:15pm

FEB

Yoga For Charity Ulcombe Village Hall 9:45am

Dates for Your Diary

Please keep an eye out on the Lenham Focus social media for more news and updates! Twitter @lenhamfocus Facebook fb.com/lenhamfocus

Hellebore Tours The end of the chilly season is approaching and it’s time to celebrate the very best of winter by a visit to Broadview Gardens for the Hadlow College Annual Hellebore Tours. They are taking place on February 16, 20, 22 and 23, followed by the 1st and 2nd March. Tours are conducted by the head gardener or assistant head gardener of Broadview Gardens, and tickets cost just £3 per person. Booking is essential: book by post by sending a cheque made payable to Hadlow College, to Pat

Crawford, Press Officer, Hadlow College, Hadlow, near Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0AL, or book by telephone: 01732 852243. Mobile: 07771 635684.

Climate Change is happening. Pat Crawford provides the Hadlow College comment and advice column. Regeneration is becoming increasingly important in economic, social and environmental terms – especially when it relates to making use of a semi-derelict site. Way back in 1989 the last coalfield in Kent – Betteshanger near Deal – was closed. Since then successive government agencies have promised numerous regeneration projects but none have come to fruition.

In November last year Hadlow College launched a massive scheme. Backed by £40 million public (£11 million, of which £6 million confirmed) and private sector investment of £29 million, it is believed this is the very first time a college has led such an undertaking. The project is important in terms of job creation in an area of Kent that has suffered a severe degree of deprivation. The scheme is expected to generate a thousand Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

Continued... new jobs - enormously important to this part of East Kent. But Kent as a whole – and maybe further afield – stands to benefit from the fact that the vision for the 121 hectare Betteshanger Sustainable Parks is described as ‘a 21st century global laboratory for green technologies that brings together business, environment, education and training, mining heritage and tourism’.

Hadlow’s partners in the Betteshanger Sustainable Parks enterprise are Dover District Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, East Kent Spatial Development Company and private investors. The site was acquired by Hadlow College during the summer. Green technologies will be a priority; Nick Boyle, CEO of Lighthouse Renewable Energy, the UK’s leading solar energy generator, comments ‘We are delighted to be involved with such a pioneering project ....(which recognises) the real importance of sustainability for future generations’. Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow’s director of finance and resources who led the project on behalf of the college, comments ‘The supply of incubator space for green technol-

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ogy companies ......is critical... (We are) working with the enterprise zone and the priorities of the local enterprise partnership to ensure we bring education, skills and business together...’. Despite mounting international concerns regarding the creation of sustainable energy, most countries – including the UK – are scarily slow to make real and sustainable progress. Hadlow College is well respected for the ‘Less Campaign’ (less energy, water and fuel – and create less waste) which is employed throughout all campuses. In setting up this pioneering, forward-thinking enterprise it is possible that Hadlow is providing a blueprint that other educational institutions may wish to follow. Collectively, they could make a contribution destined to become immensely valuable in the future. Mark Lumsdon-Taylor is convinced the launch of the enterprise celebrates an innovative and remarkable achievement that has the ability to provide a multitude of sustainable benefits. Pat Crawford can be contacted: 07771 635684 pat.crawford@hadlow.ac.uk

Walk through the Old Testament It’s not every day that you see a large group of mature men and women spending two weekend afternoons studying the Bible. Nor do you often see mature people making large gestures with their hands and arms to help them remember what they ‘ve learnt. But this is what people from churches in the Len Valley Benefice (Boughton Malherbe, Harrietsham, Lenham and Ulcombe) and Boughton Monchelsea, spent a weekend in November doing – thoroughly enjoying the experience, and learning as the afternoons went on. The Bible, of course, is the most widely published book in the world. It is estimated that it sells 100 million copies a year, and has been translated into no less than 2018 languages. The first translation into English was made by John Wycliffe in 1382. The Bible contains 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. It is the basis book for our Christian faith, while the Old Testament is the basis of the Jewish faith The Bible is the most widely quoted book in the world, and has had a major influence on history and literature, yet many people seldom read it, and many more are only fa-

miliar with parts of it –particularly the New testament. The course being studied that weekend was called ‘Walk through the Old Testament.’ Under the expert tuition of Carl Palmer we learnt about the structure of the Old Testament. First, we were introduced to the first five books of the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy, then to the next 12 books – the Books of History. We learnt that this history stopped with the book of Esther – and then there were 400 years of silence before the birth of Christ. Running throughout this period of history, the books of poetry – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs – were written. We then turned to the prophets – the major ones: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel, and finished with the twelve minor prophets, ending with Malachi. Throughout the two sessions, we were taught gestures to help us remember the sequence of events. We had to imagine Har-

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rietsham church floor as a big map of the area. By the end of the sessions, we knew where all the places mentioned in the Old Testament were - Ur, the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, Haran, the Sea of Galilee, the River Jordan, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, the Mediterranean, and Egypt. All who attended the course thoroughly enjoyed it. Many came away saying they had learnt so much and understood much more about the Old Testament and its relation to the New Testament, and how God was working throughout. The presentation was very professional, and we were all given an excellent booklet to accompany the course. We would highly recommend it. Molly Poulter Walk through the Bible Ministries Oak Business Park Beaumont Essex CO16 OAT Tel. 01255 871000 Email: mail@Bible.org.uk Website www.Bible.org.uk

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Clerks Report Dear Parishioners Lenham Parish Council members’ wish you all a Happy New Year. 2013 proved to be a busy year,

with such a vibrant and active community there is always something happening in and around the parish which the LPC strive to help to facilitate. We have worked on several projects, many of which are on-going concerns. The CEMETERY has had considerable works carried out to improve the site, upgrade the facilities and keep the grounds well maintained. In the New Year we intend to replace the dilapidated entrance fencing with chestnut cleft three post fencing; this will add to the overall improvements, which included planting Hornbeam trees on each side of the drive to enhance the area. The trees are now well established, thanks to regular watering throughout the summer, using the newly installed water supply, sponsored by A W Court and the Hatch Charity. In the spring there will be a volunteers’ day, when we will undertake to cut back and tidy the entire site. Country Style Recycling Group have kindly offered the use of a free skip, which is much appreciated. Cllr. Greenwood has led the

Clerks Report

initiatives to improve the grounds along with Cllrs. Bone, Bradshaw, Osborn and Willis. The WCs will undergo a modernisation project (subject to funding) following the decision to enter into a long term lease agreement with Maidstone Borough Council. We recognise the usefulness of providing public conveniences but aim to improve the facilities. Cllrs. Willis, Bradshaw and Gillett have been researching options. An upgrade of the CCTV system has been completed by Cllr. Bone with part funding from KCC. New cameras have been installed at Ham Lane play area and the BMX Park. Cllr. Bone has also worked with KCC HIGHWAYS on the perennial problems of road surfaces, flooding, signs, lights and parking issues. Fortunately, our newest member Cllr. Jackson (co-opted December 2013) has shown an interest in highway issues so this may lighten the load for Cllr. Bone. PLANNING is sometimes a contentious issue and Cllr. Huggens’ has guided the LPC throughout the year in his role as planning committee chairman. There have been

many applications, an appeal and several enforcements which have kept the committee busy, attending site meetings, public inquiries and consultation meetings. Alongside which, the NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN is progressing with local site meetings and consultations with developers. LPC strive to keep parishioners’ informed and organise public meetings where plans may be viewed and opinions expressed. The possibility of the GLEBE POND being made available to the LPC as an open public space, without the hindrance of the previous short term lease agreement, is being overseen by Cllr. Barr, who also works with Cllrs. Gillett and Greenwood to maintain and enhance the CHERRY DOWNS PICNIC SITE. Cllrs. Gillett and Godfrey have been working with allotment users to register the Jubilee Allotments as a Community Asset, to be included on the Asset Register. We await the decision from Maidstone Borough Council. LPC understand the importance of LOCAL NEEDS HOUSING and to this end, Cllr. Osborn has worked with developers to facilitate three new properties at Groom Way, negotiations are progressing well. Cllr. Osborn is also working with Cllr. Drylie to upgrade the LPC WEB-SITE in a bid to improve communications. Cllr. Younger keeps a close eye on issues relating to the legalities of providing safe PLAY FACILITIES at

all three play areas, he also offers advice on disabled access. Regular risk assessments are carried out by Cllr. Godfrey, who keeps an eye on the ever popular BMX PARK, which has recently had two new large litter bins installed and an on-going programme of repairs and maintenance of the ramps and associated equipment. Keeping a close eye on FINANCES, Cllr. Drylie’ offers us his expertise and budgeting advice, which during the numerous funding cuts has proved invaluable. LPC members’ are also involved in outside bodies, whereby Cllrs. attend meetings at both local schools, the Community Centre Trustee Committee, Kent Association of Local Councils, Police and Parishes Forum, Friends of St Marys and Lenham Family Festival Committee to name but a few. Lenham Parish Council appreciates the input from local groups, clubs and societies and supports the valuable work they undertake in a voluntary capacity. The Focus magazine in particular is very useful for communications. We are fortunate in having a very helpful Community Centre Committee, who always try and accommodate the numerous and sometimes ad-hoc meetings we organise throughout the year. The Community Warden, Martin Sherwood and PCSO Dave Rowley regularly attend the LPC meetings and keep us abreast of activities

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Continued...

throughout the parish, we are grateful for their continued support. Borough Cllrs. Barned and Sams are always approachable and helpful and County Cllr. Whittle supportive. From the point of view of the Clerk, I would like to thank the Cllrs. for their time, effort and patience, which makes my job enjoyable, challenging and interesting. I would also like to thank Tony Robinson who works tirelessly for the parish and to welcome Simon the handy man and grounds maintenance contractor, who really has improved the cemetery and churchyard in particular. Margo McFarlane (Parish Clerk) THANK YOU To the eighty plus people who attended the evening of vintage jazz provided by the very talented Vimala and the Baker Boys at the Community Centre on Sunday 17th November. Through the generosity of our supporters who donated raffle prizes to make up three hampers we managed to raise ÂŁ145 for centre funds. Margo McFarlane Family Festival Thank you to all those who supported the Family Festival raffle held at the Christmas Lights Switching On event on Sunday

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2nd December, a total of ÂŁ220 was raised, which will be shared amongst the three chosen charities. The event was well attended and as always well organised. The Lenham Lights Committee work extremely hard to bring us the wonderful display and the local business and Parish Council support the group. Alan Reading willingly helps to promote and organise the day and the overall joint initiative leads to a splendid family day for all age groups. The recent upgrade and improvements to the lights certainly put on an excellent display, so well done and thank you to all those involved. The next meeting for the Family Festival will take place at the Community Centre at 7.15pm on Thursday 30th January with the meeting in February taking place on the 27th, same place and time. We need more volunteers, stewards, local clubs, societies and groups to join us. If you can spare any amount of time and would like to take part in the Festival please come along on the evening or telephone Margo on 01622 859682 for an informal chat. If you have any old china for the smashing the crockery stall please call and we will collect at your convenience, raffle prizes would also we welcome. Margo

Be Safe & Happy Well it’s nearly Christmas again, time to think about getting all the presents, food in, not forgetting the drink, organising parties etc. all sorted, all done. Forgot something? Ah safety. Do find that drawing pin when dropped on the floor, pick up cocktail sticks, which can enter your feet, they can be find. These will not show up on x-rays. Throwing peanuts into the air and catching them in your mouth could slip down your throat in to the airway and lungs causing serious problems and a stay in hospital. Prickly Christmas trees with hot coloured lights fascinate children who want to touch them. If anyone has had too much to drink, don’t just flop them on the bed. Lay them on

their side, bring their upper leg up to tight angles, tilt the head so the airway remains open, then if they vomit they will not inhale and choke. Keep a watch on them; if breathing is causing problems get medical help at once. Don’t drink if you are driving or you could be inside or visiting someone dear to you in hospital. Don’t have unhappy memories next Christmas. So with these points in mind I wish you all a happy and safe prosperous new year. N.T.Colbran S.J.A.B

Yoga for Charity – Saturday 1st February 2014 Join me for the joy of a yoga practice in Ulcombe Village Hall, Headcorn Road ME17 1EB to raise money for ‘tearfund’ which aims to bring water and sanitation for communities in rural Zambia by providing boreholes enabling better health plus reducing time spent collecting water, therefore, improving the welfare too of the livestock and cultivation of veg-

etables. 9.45 for 10 o’clock start; closing the practice at 11.30 when tea/coffee and cakes will be served all for £10. To reserve your place telephone 01622 850381, email graftyyoga@ gmail.com, text 07803 962339 or facebook yoga with susan. Sue Burch

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Thoughts & Reports Christian Message January 2014 I grew up in Scotland at a time when the shops were open on Christmas Day and the New Year Celebrations were the major event. In my family it wasn’t the Hogmanay of partying and over indulgence that is often portrayed as the norm north of the Border.

Rather it was a time of renewal. Every cupboard, every corner, every normally forgotten cleaning chore was cleaned to a brilliant standard. The table was laid with the traditional foods, the fire black leaded and roaring and even the small children carried a ‘wee dram’ (non alcoholic, of course) to give to anyone who might visit. It was an outward sign to all that hope and expectation were alive and well in the family. The story, as I was told, was that if you had plenty at the turn of the year then you were sure to be prosperous in the months ahead. ‘Plenty’ meant being able to offer strangers food and drink, being generous and welcoming to anyone who happened to cross the threshold. It meant that however hard the past had been the future was full of promise.

Thoughts & Reports

The visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus brings a profound spiritual depth to this secular notion of hope and renewal. Their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolically confirm the Kingship and virtue of Christ on earth, deity or prayer and sacrifice through death and suffering. They are Gentiles, confirming that Christ came to redeem our sins once and for all – all ways and for all people. The meeting happened in the most ordinary of places, a stable. The witnesses were men of the fields – humble and poor. Even the animals in the stable were beasts of burden. All mirrored in the simple traditions of welcoming strangers at New Year. Yet what happened at that first Feast of the Epiphany, fixed in our calendar as 6th January, celebrates the visit of the Magi as the revelation of the Incarnation of the infant Christ and the realization that Christ is the son of God. It brought the hope and promise of an eternal faith, a future full of the light of Christ in our world and an assurance that whoever we are or wherever we start from He came for our sake.

So, if our New Year Resolutions – made once and broken often – are to be worth the making, maybe we should resolve to follow His teachings in our daily actions not just for Christmas!

gents, Harrietsham Parish Office and Grafty Green Stores

Messy Church A Crazy Science Party Fancy a change from the pantomine this year? How about bringing the family to Doug Horley’s amazing crazy science party? It’s full of songs, puppets, break dancing and some really fun and jaw-dropping visual experiments. The idea is to help people appreciate the incredible world we’ve been given. It’s at Harrietsham Primary School on Friday January 17th at 6.00pm and tickets can be bought in advance or on the door. Tickets are £2 per child, £4 per adult or £10 for a family.

Messy Church dates for 2014

Friday Jan 17th, Harrietsham School. Crazy Science Party 6.00pm Feb 15th, Lenham Church. 4 pm March 15th Ulcombe Village Hall. 4pm Friday April 18th . Lenham Church. 10.30

Buy your tickets from: Jill Bishop for Harrietsham school: 850921 Sarah Hill for Platts Heath School: 859174 Emily Davies for Lenham School: 07702 568377 Mary Parkinson for Ulcombe School: 858132 and also from Lenham NewsaVisit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

Lenham Wanderers Football Club – Autumn Trophy Lenham Wanderers U9’s had a great run in the Autumn Trophy by coming third in this new cup competition. Normally results are not allowed to be shown at this stage but special permission from the FA has allowed us to published the result table.

“Although we lost three games in the competition we certainly proved we can play with the best” said Mike Kingsmn U9’s Manger. “We were very unlucky not to beat Larkfield after missing numerous opportunities and having half the team off sick for the Kings Hill game.”

Maidstone United who had not been beaten all season in cup or league. With Maidstone playing a couple of Ex Lenham boys it just proves how good our Youth Development squad has become since it started three years ago. If you are interested in joining Lenham Wanderers Football Club please go to our website for details – www.lenhamwanderersfc.co.uk

We were the only team to beat

Position

Played

Won

Draw

Loss

PTS

1 Maidstone Utd Youth FC

2 Park Regis FC

3 Lenham Wanderers FC

-3

4 Larkfield Boys FC

5 Vinters Green FC

-1

6 Leybourne FC

-2

7 Kings Hill FC

-3

8 Bearsted FC

-10

9 Sittingbourne Ath FC

-8

Lenham Wanderers Football Club – Autumn Trophy

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George Chambers interview for Focus A familiar and highly respected face in Lenham, George Chambers was born in Platts Heath. His early schooling was in Platts Heath,

followed by Lenham primary school and then Swadelands.

mer George played cricket and was captain of the Lenham team.

What came next? Well, walking home from school one day George saw a roofing crew at work. ‘That’s for me!’ he thought. He was right. He went on to work with Bill Russell, a well known local roofer, until he was called up for National Service in 1953. It proved an eventful two years, as he served a tour of duty in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising and was then sent to Wuppertal in Germany. After that George returned to Lenham and of course roofing. After a few years he decided to go it alone and formed E.G.Chambers Roofing Ltd in 1960.

George has also been a trustee of the Lenham Social Club and helped with voluntary work to maintain the roof and cross of St Mary’s Church. Not only St Mary’s. Come storm, come lightning, come gales, come any emergency, and George was right there to volunteer his help.

Sports have also played a big part in George’s life, beginning with a passion for football and playing for many years for the Lenham Wanderers, and sponsored their kit for three seasons. Aged 42, he couldn’t bear to give football up so he trained as a referee, scoring 99% in the exam. That was just during the cooler months. In sum-

George Chambers interview for Focus

George has for many years been an avid collector, amassing a unique historical collection of over 400 postcards of local scenes, as well as historical ephemera, including World War II artefacts. His wife Brenda is his fellow enthusiast. They have been married for 44 years. They first met in a Charing pub when George noticed her as she came to the bar to order a round and called out, ‘Hello, Blondie!’ So now it’s a resounding: Hello, George , and thanks from Lenham for all you’ve done for the village.

GENERAL / SOCIAL NUMBERS Archaeological Society Badgers (St Johns Ambulance) Badminton Bowling Club Brownies (2nd Lenham) Drama Gardening Society Guides (1st Lenham) Lenham Badminton Club Lenham Nursery School Lenham Players Lenham Wanderers Lenham Social Club Harrietsham and Lenham Scouts Harrietsham and Lenham Cubs Mother’s Union Pilates Classes Royal British Legion St John Ambulance Women’s Institute Youth Centre St Edmunds Platts Heath Country Ways Quilters and stitchers Lenham ValleyBusiness Ass.

Lesley Feakes Mrs Manley Linda Bird Lyn Fuller Andrea French Gail Kelly Keith Varney Mrs J Thomsett Mrs Pat Abson Ami Rathmill David Abson Alf Smith Club Events Nick Still Mrs A Seales Mrs J Thomsett Vivien Elcomb Mr W Peter Mrs Bond Mrs C Toner Nicki Folland-Smith Karen Yardley Jan Haines Alan Reading

01622 850275 01622 842603 01233 756762 01622 851538 01622 851646 01622 850671 01622 850228 01622 859009 01622 858561 07967 128056 01622 858561 01622 859802 01622 858890 01622 859789 01622 859829 01622 859009 01622 853887 01622 850520 01622 205452 01622 850048 01622 859171 01622 858208 01233 714699 01622 820841

Borough Councillors:

Tom Sams John Barned (Roads, Pavements)

01622 859412 01622 851142 08458 247800 01622 602117 01732 847572 0800 776600 01622 842257 01622 859733 01622 679709 01622 853800 (am) 01622 858581 (pm) 01233 713317 01622 858341/859204 03000 242424 08454647 01622 851616 01622 859682 07772 226097 07870 252317 07977 981993 01622 858208 08458 274800

Kent Highway Services Dog Warden Cat Protection Drugs Helpline Heaths Countryside Corridor Lenham Enhancement Ass. Lenham Country Market Lenham Community Centre Lenham Heath Parish Hall LenValley Practice On Call Care NHS Direct Member of Parliament Parish Council Clerk Parish Police PCSO Police Constable Rural Community Warden St Edmonds Platts Heath Reporting Potholes

Lost and Found FREE CALL Ruth Lovering Brian Llong Kevin Fitzsimons Margaret Mitchell Sharon Reed Doctors Surgery South East Health Hugh Robertson MP Margo McFarlane Dave Rowley Brian Waghorne Colin Davey Karen Yardley

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Accounting & Business Services Air Conditioners Alarm Systems Barbers Beauty Parlours an therapist Builders/decorators

Butchers/Meat Carpentry Carpets/Flooring Caterers Catteries 34

Charted Surveyor Childminder Chimney Sweep Chiropody Cleaning/Housekeeping Clothing Computer Services

Cosmetic Clinic Dance Dressmaking/alterations Electricians/Gas fitters

Estate Agents

Contact Numbers

Stonebridge Associates RB Air Cybereye Security Sweeney Todd Mobile beauty therapist Alpha Andy and Paul Apollo Elwood (Painter/decorators) KRS Building/decorating KSE Home Improvements Lenham Decorating Services SR Interiors (painters/decorators) Stuttle Dyer (painters/decorators) G B Lister Snoad Farm Carpentry and General Building P Humpries Carpets direct Beaubray Caterers Little Dene Boarding Cattery Inkstand cattery James Collett Debbie Brett Invicta Chimney Sweep Afeneh Smith (mobile service) Heathers Chiropody Surgery Amy McLaughlin Phynix Domestic cleaning House proud valet The Little Attic A.C. Computers Harrietsham Computers Lynn MS Computer services The LenValley Cosmetic Clinic Lenham Ballet School Pam Hills AD Pink Electrics Barrie Weston Contractor Electrical Solutions Invicta Power Services/ Gas Fitters MGI Electrical Rockland Electrical Philip Jarvis

851542 07751466536 858612 07734950329 07738505575 762164 850437 07808414965 01634308933 851126 851400 858565 737225 859675 858220 01795890700 850364 858719 01233714999 763269 858510 859469 850608 01233714247 08003289877 853640 850376 07813030527 880028 07975513315 07530183895 850462 859442 745654 859969 852805 850329 858827 884774 01233712663 858794 850930 850055 07902017349 858241

Fitness Funeral Directors Furniture Restoration Gardeners Garages Greetings Vards Grocers Guitar Lessons Glass and Glazing Hairdressers Handbags and Jewellery HandyMan Holiday Let Home care Landscaping Locksmiths Logs Newsagents Osteopathy Pest Control Pharmacy Plumbers Pubs Roofing Schools Solicitors Taxi Tree Surgeons TV Ariels Veterinary Surgery Will Services

Activate Body and Soul 853750 A W Court 850840 Susan Surgey 01795227695 Just a Mow 859940 The Big Mow 07871088119 Gowers Garage 858210 Tricia Oliver 859226 Lenham Village Store 858255 Chris 07957214822 Glass n glaze 01233840768 Bow Window 858787 Phase Hairdressing 850001 Smartyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 851150 Immyblingy 298129 Simon 01795890052 Dorset Cottage 851766 Audley Care 633101 Simplicare 01732526934 Ireland Landscapes 844605 Maidstone Landscapes and Paving 851222 A Short 07738658751 Seasoned Logs 07733328715 Len Valley news 858262 Graham Yates Bsc Ost (Hons) 01304379954 A D Pink 884774 Pest Purge 842481 Saxon Warrior 858287 All Fix Plumbing 851186 Epic Plumbimg 210298 Pure Plumbing 769722 The White Horse 859511 Carter Roofing 01795886084 R and D Roofing 858291 Lorenden 01795590030 Thornloe and Co. 859416 Arshed Mahmood 07770725129 Gez Clark 07784447200 Ambilly Tree Surgeons 859113 R & P TV ariel services 631717 Harrietsham Vets 858666 Maidstone Wills and trusts 08453884495

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Regular Daily & Weekly Events Daily Monday Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday 36

Saturday Sunday

Activate Fitness Facilites

Line Dancing LenARA Brownies 2nd Lenham Pilates classes Line Dancing Redbacks Explorer Scouts

Activate Sports Swadelands 7am--8.30am & 5pm--9pm St Johns Hall, Ham Lane 4.30- 6.00pm 7.00-9.15pm Community Centre 8.-10.00pm Community Centre 9.30-11.30am (8-11 years) 6.30- 8.pm Great Chart Golf Ctre 10.30am Community Centre 8.pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Cadets (10-18) 6.00-8.00pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Community Centre 7.00pm-8.00pm 8.30 -9.30pm Community Centre 7.30- 9.00pm Lenham Primary Sch 6.15- 7.45pm Community Centre 11.30-12.30pm St Edmunds Platts Hth 8.pm Booth Hall Harrietsham 7.30.-9.30pm

H/sham&Lenham Beavers Guides 1st Lenham H/sham&Lenham Scouts Judo Club LenARA Keep Fit Lenham Youth Club

Harrietsham Scout Hut Community Centre Harrietsham Scout Hut Community Centre Community Centre Swadelands Ham Lane

Activate Fitness Facilites French Books for Children Tea/Coffee/Cakes Sunday Schools

Activate Sports Hall Swadelands 8am- 5pm Harrietsham Primary School 9.30-11.30am St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church 10.00-12.00noon see separate church services page

St Johns Ambulance Badminton (Feathers) Parent & Toddlers Group Harr & Lenham Cubs LenARA Pitch & Putt Lenham Badminton Club Lenham Youth Club St Johns Ambulance Lenham Youth Club Pilates classes

2nd Tuesday Derby & Joan 2nd Tuesday Royal British Legion 2nd Tuesday Citizens Advice Bureau 1st Tuesday Lenham Valley 1st Wednesday Parish Council Meeting 4th Wednesday LenARA (active retired) Last Wednesday Archaeology Club 1st Thursday Reading Group 2nd Thursday Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute 3rd Thursday Last Saturday Len&Har. Disability Grp 2nd Sunday Lenham Country Market

Regular Daily & Weekly Events

Lenham House Lenham Social Club Harrietsham Village Hall Business Association Community Centre Community Centre Community Centre Lenham Library Community Centre Community Centre Lenham House The Village Square

5.45- 7.15.pm 7.00- 9.00pm 7.30- 9.30pm 5.30- 8.30pm 2.00- 3.30pm 7.30-10.00pm

2.00pm 8.pm 10.-12noon 6-8pm 7.30pm 2.pm 7.30pm 4.45--5.45pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 10.30am 9.- 1.00pm

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Lenham Parish Council Brief report on the LPC meeting held on 4th December 2013

Public Participation: Members of the public who wished to speak; Mr. I. George advised the parish Council that the two street lights in Faversham Road of which he had previously reported at the last meeting still had not been repaired. The Clerk advised I/G that the faults had been reported to KHS and their policy was repairs would be carried out within 28 days of notification; the faults will be monitored. Mr. B. Long enquired if the grazing of sheep at the back of the Churchyard was still an ongoing project. The chairman advised B/L that the LPC had agreed that the project would go ahead, ant it needed a working party to get the project moving; it was agreed that Cllrs. Barr and Greenwood would represent the LPC interest on the working party, B/L, John Arthur Boyd and the Church Warden would also be representatives of the working party; they will meet as soon as a suitable date and time have been agreed to get the project up and running. B/L also reported that the concrete flower box outside the library in the square had nearly been pushed of its plinths,

Lenham Parish Council

it was recommended that a new centre foundation was required to make the flower box a more substantial base to be set on.; this will be further investigated. Dave Rowley (PCSO), Martin Sherwood and KCC Ward member Jenny Whittle had all given their apologies for not attending the meeting The Chairman opened the main meeting: Matters Arising: Mr. Martin Jackson was co-opted on to the LPC and took his place around the table, Cllr. Jackson lives in Foord Road, an area of the village that has had no representative for many years. Cllr. Jackson agreed to take on the role on Highways & Transportation for the LPC, being mentored by Cllr. Bone. All the business in the last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting minutes had been completed. Reports & Committees/Spokespersons:

Finance & General Purpose: Cllr. Greenwood advised that he will get a quote for the broken gate post at the footpath in Maidstone Road and report back at the next meeting. The Dog Warden has been advised of the continual problem of dog fouling on the footpath between Maidstone Road and Ham Lane, notices will put up to hopefully educate and encourage dog owner to be responsible for their dogs and clear up after them.

Cllr. Osborn gave an update on the additional Affordable Housing for the Groom Way site; the proposal from Golding Homes; is to go for the two 2 bedroom houses and a bungalow option, subject to further survey work the project should move forward next year. The Chairman advised that the sale of LPC land in Groom Way was now nearing completion; it was still a matter of signatures, which was all that was required for completion.

Planning: Cllr. Huggens had distributed his report and asked if any Councillors had any questions on his written report on the Planning meetings held on 20th November and 2nd December 2013, there were no questions muted. Cllr. Huggens reported that the demolition of the old iron mongers had been agreed by MBC planners as part of the original planning application.

Highways and Transportation: The Chairman read out Cllr. Bones written report; Old Ham Lane, the section of road from Grants Cottages to the railway bridge is prone to flooding. KHS have surveyed the area and identified a broken pipe on Network Rail land; Highways have passed it beck to Network Rail to repair.

Neighbourhood Plan: The chairman requested that the LPC write to Chris Garland and enquire why the SHLAA sites that have been identified and put forward for development in Lenham Parish have now been delayed until April 2014; the LPC wished to hold a public meeting whereby the general public would be able to identify areas they wished to see the future development of the parish. Groom-Way Development:

Ham Lane; three potholes have been reported i.e. by drain between No 21/22 outside the top entrance to Swadelands School and opposite No 17. Cllr. Bone has requested a new date from KHS as to when the double yellow lines in Ham Lane will be re-instated. Dickley Lane: Cllr. Bone attended a meeting with KCC Ward member Jenny Whittle and a representative from KHS to discuss double yellow lines out-side the Marley site. Cllr. Bone reported that it was unlikely that KHS would support the double lines due to a number of factors, the biggest being enforcement. Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

LPC Continued... The local PCSO will be contacted and asked to offer advice to the drivers of any Lorries that are parked on the road during the hours of darkness. Cllr. Bone also asked if it was KHS intention to apply either power or a solar panel to the three lorry weight restriction signs at the three locations; Highways will look into the reason as to why they are not in operation. Highways Questionnaire, Cllr. Bone has responded to the questionnaire.

Law & Order: The Chairman advised that the LPC had not supplied with last months reported crime figures from the police. The Chairman reported that he had attended two police meetings whereby the police have stated that crime figures will continue to rise if their budget is reduced substantially over the coming years, burglary is one of the crimes that have increased the most. The Kent Police are looking at asking for a ÂŁ2:71p increase per Band D household in its Precept that would enable the force to take on 200 new recruits, and also to encourage more recruitment of Special Officers, who have the same enforcement as regular police. Environment: Cllr. Greenwood reported that the

LPC Continued...

fallen boughs in the Cemetery had been cleared, and a quote for the fencing in the Cemetery had been finalised; he reported that Cllr Barr and he were had held a meeting with the vicar and Church warden over the Churchyard maintenance, and put the proposals that came out of the meeting forward to the full LPC to agree upon; this was duly carried out. R/G asked if his request that the MBC Tree Officer Mr. P Hagley be called out to inspect again the Beech trees by the boundary of the Community Centre; the Clerk advised that he had not inspected the trees so far, but that the clerk would chase him up. The Parish Clerk advised that Simon the LPC handy man had put in a quote to fence off the redundant recycling site, using the existing fencing at the site; the quote was agreed by full Council. Cllr. Gillett advised that the MBC had acknowledged the request from LPC to register the Jubilee Allotments on its register Council list of Community Assets under the Community Right to Bid Scheme; the final decision will be made by MBC on the 4th. December 2013. Cllr. Gillett also advised that it was now up to the Lenham Allotment Association to take further advice on the issue from the Kent/ National Allotment Associations, as the LPC had taken the issue as far as it could at this moment in time.

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR WITH

REMIX FRIDAY FILM CLUB, HARRIETSHAM VILLAGE HALL FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2014

Afternoon Matinee organised by Harrietsham Fish Scheme. Doors open at 2pm for refreshments, prompt 2.15 start Kind Hearts and Coronets Cert U A distant poor relative of the Duke of D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession. Starring Alec Guinness Admission £3 for members; U18 need to be accompanied by an adult. Contact Marjorie on 850657 if you require transport.

Youngsters’ Film at 5.30pm Planes Cert U From the makers of Cars, Planes is a story of a crop-dusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.

Admission £2 for members. Parental consent forms need to be completed

7.50pm for refreshments, prompt 8pm start. The Pink Panther This 1964 Classic Comedy/Crime tells the story of bumbling and conceited French police inspector Clouseau tries to catch The Phantom, a daring jewel thief whose identity and features are unknown - and is acting right under his nose. Admission £3 for members; U18 need to be accompanied by an adult. Contact Janetta Sams on 859412 or email sams_uplands@yahoo.co.uk See www.harrietshamvillage.org.uk

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Clubs, Societies, Organisations and Gatherings Lenham Gardening Society A happy new year to all our members and friends.

I trust you all had a good Christmas and New Year. 2014 is with us now and lots to look forward to but first a word about the AGM and Cheese & Wine social which, took place way back in November. The Chair gave a review of our activities during 2013 mentioning the successful outings and social evenings which, members had enjoyed. Our membership has increased to 84 which was most pleasing. Special mention was made of the Lenham Garden Show which proved to be very successful thanks were made to the Show Secretary, Lesley Feakes and her team who organised the event. Presentations were made to Edin for organising the teas and to Jan for running the competitions. The overall winners for the year were Pat Hollis and Eileen Brunger. Our Treasurer reported an increase in our funds and that a surplus was made on the years activities. This money will be used to help subsidise future outings. She announced that the subs will remain at ÂŁ7 for 2014.

Clubs, Societies, Organisations and Gatherings

A list of suggested outings for 2014 was circulated during the evening for members to comment on. For those who did not have a chance to indicate their preference, there will be an opportunity at the January meeting. A special presentation was made to our President, Jean Birtles who is leaving Lenham to be nearer to her family. Jean will be missed, not only by us but the whole of the village. Enid Laplain has kindly agreed to take on the role from January, Our next meeting will be on January 16th which will also be Subs night so please bring your ÂŁ7. Our Winter social will be held in February 20th, same format as last year so please make a note. LENHAM W.I. Our November speaker Barbara Stevens, as expected, was amusing and entertaining and gave us all an insight into the perils of Public Speaking. We will definitely be booking her for another visit in the future. By the time you read this we will have had our Christmas

meeting, so may I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year. In January we are having an indoor games evening, due to the unpredictability of the January weather, we tend to make our own entertainment for this month. In February we are hoping to have a talk on Drugs and Young People. We have a varied and interesting list of speakers for 2014,with talks on many different subjects, watch this space!!! Lenham Archaeological Soc . Our Nov meeting was an interesting talk by Keith Parfitt on discoveries by the Dover group at Nonnington. A pity not more people attended as it was a very good talk. Our next meeting on Jan 29th will be a few short talks by LAS members on their local findings . Please come along and join us if only for one evening ! Many of you now have access to the internet and if anyone out there has knowledge of setting up simple web sites, nothing complex or snazzy , one that I can operate easily â&#x20AC;Ś.help would be gratefully appreciated.(+ fees ) Using the internet Google Earth is one of the most fascinating pastimes. On the new aerial (June 2011 it appears to be even though they say 2013) one can see the strange small crop circle on our Royton site and Court Meadow is

bedecked with oxeye daisies . Wow ! what an aerial crop mark they show ! One can see the footpaths easily and the zig-zag path from the Barn Gate to the footbridge that John-Arthur so thoughtfully had cut so that people could appreciate the flowers.(see Aug Focus p 36. ) But look in the bottom right hand corner, the eastern corner. One can see a tracery of white parallel lines . Those will have to be ditches as the moisture promotes the daisy growth and they flower in more profusion . The only other explanation would be that the seed drill blocked and only a few lines received seed . I think it is the former as there is a wider more granular line from the secondary pond out towards the footpath stile . That line represents the hidden older sluice of the Stour (where stones where removed a few years ago) A fainter straight line runs from the same stile NW towards the houses = a sewer pipe . That whole section of the field we had surveyed by magnetometry in 2006 and that geophys did not show much at all â&#x20AC;Ś.hurrah for marguerites ! They seem to be a far superior archaeological detection agency ! It is my guess that these are ditches of an old watercress bed and the water was sluiced in from the pond via a raised stone walk way .

If I print the aerial picture here the features will probably not

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Continued...

show well , one needs to put it on your PC. A quick method of finding Lenham is to locate the western end of the Swale and drop down due south from there . Be sure to use the overhead bar and click on the clock . There are 2 -3 other previous years to see. On one of them one can see some of these ditches as dark green lines. If you look at the Isle of Wight the 1946 aerials have been put up (black & white ) they were taken by the RAF just after the war . Maybe they will do the same for our area before long . Happy flying ! And Happy Christmas and New Year ! Lesley Feakes 606@feakes.com RBL Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Section At our meeting on the 23rd January in the Community Centre commencing at 2.30pm, we shall

Continued...

be showing a DVD of Monetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden. There will be the usual trade stall raffle and tea and biscuits. The committee wishes you a very Happy New Year. Enid La Plain

Lenham and the Great War: 1914-1918 Anniversary Project The Great War wasn’t over by Christmas – and nor is it for us. We are still requesting information and photographs! In the last few months we have been listing some of the names of men who took part in the war and on whom we have very little information so far. We want to commemorate all 260 men who left Lenham to serve, most of whom survived to return but some of whom were less fortunate. Do please get in touch if you can help on these names or on any others from the parish. In many cases two or more with the same surname served, and we are trying to sort out whether they were related or not: here are some of these not so far mentioned: Burchett: William Burchett was killed, but Charles and Ernest survived. Chaney: William and Maurice Gillett: E and William Filmer: Ernest, Alfred, John and another Ernest. (This name has been mentioned before but we’re still hoping for information) Hadlow: Thomas,William,Charles and Alfred. All brothers we think. Morgan: J, John and Hasel (that’s how it appeared in the list we’re working from, odd though it looks) Neaves George (or Geoffrey), Frank and Jesse

Ransley: Fred and R. Robinson: Alfred and George Robert Roberts: C and John Smith: this is a real tangle. We have James (possibly an Edward James born in 1899, son of Thomas), Albert (could be one of several who appear on census records), Walter, George, Lester, Herbert W. (now does anyone know him? He won the DCM for bravery. He could be the son of Thomas, who was a fishmonger, and Clara); William, John, Robert, George (again could be several Georges who appear in the census for Lenham), another James, another George, Fred, and Berty. Spooner, Arthur and Albert. Albert was killed in action. Taylor: Alfred, Ernest, Harry, George, Frank, Charles and William

All contributions gratefully received! Please contact Amy Myers on 01622 859915 or email her at amy.myers@btinternet.com

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Lenham Players Drama Group

No Tipple

Lenham Players would like to thank all those that joined us for our production of

Now we are all into winter, let’s hope it’s not as bad as last year. Just in case prepare yourself with tins of soup etc,

Letters for Linda on the 30th November. We were delighted that 90 or so tickets were sold, which raised a total of £550 to be donated equally to Cancer Research and the Heart of Kent Hospice. It was a wonderful tribute to Linda our ex chairman, so a big thank you to David Abson and Leslie Phippen, together with the cast of course, for putting together such a great evening of entertainment. On behalf of Lenham Players, we wish you all a Very Happy New Year. Jan Moll Secretary

they will always come in handy over the next few months. Some people will be reluctant to turn their heating up, may not have adequate food and develop hypothermia when body temperature falls below 35c (95F). As the body ages it loses it’s sensitivity to cold and the elderly may not feel their temperature dropping. Some of the symptoms, the body reacts by shutting down blood vessels in the skin to stop core heat escaping, causing goose pimples, shivering, paleness and irrational behavior. You should re-warm patients slowly. Try giving the warm drinks or soup, and wrap them in a blanket. Do not speed the process by using hot water bottles, closeness to a fire and definitely no alcohol. Consider calling the doctor if you are really concerned. So please keep a look out for any neighbours living alone or who are housebound. Keep warm, a wooly hat will help keep the core heat in as well. N.T,Colbran S.J.A,B

Lenham Players

Dog Attacks in Sheep Getting Worse in Lenham This year has turned out to be a very bad one for dog attacks in sheep in the Lenham area.

We alone have had 3 instances with over 20 dead ewes and many bad injuries, making it one of the worst years I can remember in 50 years of keeping sheep ! We know of another 4 separate instances in the Lenham area. When a dog, whether a pet or a guard dog gets out and goes on a run-about in the countryside it reverts to a wild hunting dog very quickly, especially if there are two together. As soon as an animal is startled and runs away the dog will chase it. If it catches it, it will maul it and kill it. This is what happens in a flock of sheep, and the results can be disastrous, especially if the sheep are ‘in lamb’. Once the dog finds it can catch the sheep it can do it many times over in one frenzy. This results in horrendous injuries, a lot of heartache, for the farmer and dog –owner alike, and large bills for compensation, which very quickly turn into thousands of pounds. If you know of anyone who doesn’t keep their dog under strict supervision or safely penned, please let someone know, and if you have a

dog please be aware of the consequences if it gets out. Thankyou, Andrew Barr.

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Emilia’s Little Heart Happy New Year, we hope that 2014 will be the year that we raise £50,000 to support the children emotionally who are admitted to hospital. Last year our work

supported about 30,000 children in A&E Departments and on the wards. If you can think of a way you can help us to make this happen we would love to hear from you. Check out the details at the end to see how to contact us. I think I would like to start by just letting people know again what we are hoping to achieve with our work. We aim to ‘heal through play’, and you will see throughout this year how we become rebranded to incorporate this strap line and our new website will be available too. There is much evidence now that play can hasten recovery. Every child during their hospital stay can be given what we provide to help with that. We currently provide on a regular basis: stickers (I saw the doctor, I had a blood test etc,) certificates (good quality and designed by children), and art and craft activities (purchased from Baker Ross). We also purchase larger items for play in the play areas and pain distraction equipment on the wards. Play is extremely important for a

Emilia’s Little Heart

child as it helps them to understand their world. Play allows for a child to be physically strong, emotionally stable, and psychologically imaginative. The need for play in hospital is even more important as children are exposed to strange experiences, sights, sounds and smells. Being able to play enables them to continue at least one aspect of their normal life. It is known to reduce anxiety, and provides a medium through which the child can understand the treatment they are to receive. Also a relaxed child who feels in control of the situation is easier to treat which inevitably leads to a more relaxed parent. The end of 2013 for the charity saw us raise £37,000 so in the last two years with the support and efforts of our community we have been able to raise over £70,000. The potential this has been able to create for children to play, be distracted and diverted from pain during procedures is incredible. Thank you so much. November and December 2013 was the start of our new financial

year and we have already raised over £5,000. That is with a massive thank you to everyone who voted for us for the Lloyds bank Community Grant, as we won and received £3,000. Now if you are a child throughout this year who has a birthday when in hospital the money will go towards making it as special as possible and again creating some normality for the child. We also received £2,200 from the Kent Police Cadets, and I was very honoured to be invited to their Pass Out Parade in November to be presented with the cheque. A huge thank you to Mark Newman and Stuart Obbard who are Lenham residents and put us forward as the charity to support during their training period. Well done for raising so much when you were studying as well, truly commendable. The other funding in these months has come from the Harrietsham Wives Group who have been supporting us in 2013 and earlier in the year raised money for us by holding an auction. In November they held a Coffee Morning and raised another £300. We can not thank them enough for wanting to be part of making a difference. Projects on the horizon are the App for Intensive Care Patients that is to be created early this year and will cost around £10,000. Money for this was raised from our Annual Hope Ball, and we will be asking the hospitals to come forward with suggestions for projects they would like from this year’s

Hope Ball to be held on Saturday 18th October. We are also hoping to create an outdoor play area for Kent and Canterbury and for William Harvey, Ashford ready for Summer. If anyone has access to any play equipment that they would like to donate, such as a climbing frame; play house; trikes; scooters or anything else that is suitable for outdoor play we would love to hear from you. We have also been sourcing a UV Protective Canopy for both sites which together will cost us £20,000. This will provide protection from the sun as well as meaning they can play in all weather conditions. It will also provide protection for the play equipment. We have had quotes, but if you know of another company who might be able to help us make this happen we would really appreciate the information. Or if your business might like to be involved in funding them that would be fantastic. As said earlier if you would like to contact us to offer any support in 2014 to help heal through play then please email Claire Webb at emiliaslittleheart@gmail.com, facebook or tweet message us, or phone us on 07727274288.

Registered charity: 1145863

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A prickly day for volunteers

Volunteers from the Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership (KSCP) undertook a, rather prickly, job for the Heaths Countryside Corridor on October 30th. A large area of brambles was carefully cleared by hand to expand the area of acid grassland on their historic parkland site in Lenham Heath. Great Crested Newt, a protected species, and smooth newt, live on the site and care was taken to avoid disturbance to potential hibernation locations such as large woody debris or areas of deep moss. Heath speedwell and heath bedstraw are just two of the many delicate flowers that adorn the slopes of the parkland. The clearance of bramble will provide an opportunity for these, and other smaller plant species, to develop further across the site. This in turn will provide a hive of feeding opportunity for bees, butterflies and

A prickly day for volunteers

insects. Bramble, in pockets, creates superb nesting, protection and feeding opportunities for birds such as whitethroat and linnet. However this habitat can lose some value if its volume becomes too large and surface area reduces, consequently diminishing fruit production. The KSCP carry out a range of practical conservation tasks in the Ashford area. If you would like to join the group, learn about the countryside or meet new people please call Debbie on 0300 333 6490 or email Debbie.adams@ kent.gov.uk.

Osteopath As an osteopath and acupuncturist I often have patients with conditions such as osteoarthritis saying that at this time of the year their joints ache more. Indeed many state that they can predict weather changes through increased aching. A survey conducted in the US showed 67% of people with chronic pain stated the weather had an impact on their pain. According to the authors of the study the answer is not the cold,snow or rain.It is probably due to Barometric (atmospheric) pressure.As the weather begins to change there is a drop in barometric pressure which in turn allows our tissues to expand ,putting an increased stress on nerves that

leads to more pain. A way to reduce this is to wear layers of clothes when going out as well as a hat ,gloves and scarf.This all helps trap heat. Also try to resist our natural instinct to hibernate at this time by attending an appropriate exercise class,gently exercise at home by dancing to music or walk around an indoor shopping mall. If all else fails come for some manual therapy.There is good evidence to show effectiveness for hip and knee pains in particular.

Kent Plant Heritage Kent Group You are invited to Gardening Question Time on Sunday 12th January, 2014 at 2.00 pm in Hollingbourne Village Hall, ME17 1TR.

A good opportunity to share gardening problems with friendly members of the Kent Group all welcome, admission free Plants for sale, Homemade Teas

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Prize Crossword Please leave your completed crossword entry at LENHAM LIBRARY on or before the 20th of the month

Across clues

Down clues

1. Another word for food (8) 5. Nut used in children’s game (6) 8. A small child (3) 9. A record of one’s ancestry (6,4) 10. A decorative object (8) 11. Wanted (6) 12. Under-part of the foot (4) 14. People who try to turn other metals into gold (10) 17. Laundry machines (4,6) 20. Ogden …. U.S. humorous poet (4) 23. They are used in Indian cuisine (6) 24. Up till now (8) 25. What you say when you are not sure something is right (1,7,2) 26. Down (3) 27. An atomic nucleus having the same atomic number as another but a different energy state (6) 28. Sculpture (8)

1. People of a specific country (9) 2. Famous shipwreck (7) 3. Ill-repute (6) 4. By name (9) 5. A pungent red pepper (7) 6. Resident of one of the Scandinavian countries (9) 7. Highest mountain in the world. (7) 13. It is used to soften the skin (4,5) 15. Substance recently found in burgers (5,4) 16. One of five in a week for children (6,3) 18. They are worn on Remembrance Day (7) 19. More unsafe (7) 21. Forgetfulness (7) 22. Gunshot noise (6) 24. 1ac can be harvested (4)

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The season of goodwill . . .

Success comes from working together.

So letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start with wishing you all a Happy New Year from LVBA. For some, including me, our hopes and expectations left a feeling of wishing 2013 would become 2014 as soon as possible. Personal tragedies, illness, operations and deaths seemed to be all too frequent, not just amongst my family and friends but for more others too than I have ever experienced in any previous years. A tough time to say the least, a truly annus horribilis for too many. Through it all though life went on and the demands of a determined business owner, stop for no man (or woman). A good way to meet new business contacts is networking, real live networking not just online. LVBA provides a bundle of that and not just the monthly networking events run on your doorstep. From time to time you will receive emails about other opportunities like funding presentations from Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council; a free training opportunity for those over 50 setting up their new business; a networking opportunity at Leeds Castle for those envolved in tourism and presentations and events at other establishments around the Borough. At LVBA we believe that success comes from working together. Find out more on our website or phone Alan Reading, the guy with (top to bottom) Graeme Wyles, treasurer of Maidstone Tourism Association and Maidstone Town Centre Management; Nicholas Ward from Friday People; Cllr Clive English, Mayor of Maidstone and David Burton from Marden Business Forum.

Try it - you just might like it! LVBA wishes you Annus Mirabilis - a Wonderful Year! Keep up to date (& to join) www.lenhambusiness.co.uk or call 01622 820841 Advertisers

Do you advertise in the Focus? Here are our new advertising guidelines for advertisers. Full page: 122.7x184.6mm 1/2 page: 122.7x91.6mm

1/4 page: 60.7x91.6mm 1/8 page: 60.7x44.9mm

lenhamfocus.co.uk 63

Last months crossword solution Last months winner was Andrew and Catherine Barr, of Lenham

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Published by Lenham Focus Lenham Focus is published by the Lenham Focus Team. Any opinions expressed are those of the contributors and not the publishers. Every 67 care is taken in compiling the contents of the magazine to ensure that they are correct and accurate at the time of printing and the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The publication of advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by the publishers. Authors of articles and advertisements in Focus take full responsibility to ensure they obtain any prior permission for use of copyright materials. Focus is Distributed by Volunteers to: Lenham Village, Lenham Heath, Platts Heath, Sandway, West Street, Woodside Green and Warren Street. For â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Out of Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Readers Distribution Natwest Bank Lenham, Chequers Fish Bar, Lenham Post Office, Len Valley Newsagents and Harrietsham Post Office.

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Beautiful Homes In Your Area Call Us Now To Arrange Your Viewing Or Free Marketing Consultation

Happy New Year ! If you are looking to move in 2014 call Philip Jarvis Estate Agent now to discuss your moving requirements. Our dedicated and professionally qualified team offer unrivalled customer service providing comprehensive advice on selling and letting property in your local area. Call now for your Free Marketing Consultation on 01622 858241 or pop into our office at 1 The Square, Lenham

t: 01622 858241 a: 1 The Square, Lenham e: homes@philipjarvis.co.uk w: philipjarvis.co.uk