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JUNE 2014 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 6 Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus
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Looking To Rent? If you are looking to find and rent a village or country home, call us to register on 01622 858241 or pop into the office. Feel free to visit us and discuss your property requirements in detail.
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Welcome... to the June edition of the Lenham Focus First I would like to say a thank you to all those who stepped in recently to help get the Focus out and I hope that all our readers appreciate the effort all those involved put in.
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I would also like to welcome our new team members and look forward to working with them. We are always looking for more help and the bigger the team we can put together the better the Focus will be. Now to this month, we have the second Lenham Family Festival and I hope you all will attend. There are plenty of activities over the weekend of the 7th June. I hope to see you there. We also have the latest update from Lenham Wanderers and the first update from Lenham Cricket Club, we look forward to more sporting success from both groups.
Welcome
James Collett Focus Editor 01622 850608
lenham-focus@tiscali. co.uk
Lenham Focus Volume 16 Issue 6 | June 2014 Circulation 2000
JUN 14 Editorial: James Collett, Margo McFarlane 07956629772 | editorialslf@gmail.com Advertising: Annie Drylie, Chris Wood 07956629772 | advertslf@gmail.com Finance: Sue Marchant, Mark Dunbar 01622 858511 | 07788163828 | lenhamfocusinvoices@gmail.com Distribution: Gez Clark 07784 447200 Proof Readers: Jayne Hewish, Katy Bennett Social: Jemma Cockell Printed by: Gemini Print
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Copy Deadline: 7th of the preceding month. Please leave copy at 24A 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 Front cover available once a year per advertiser Print + Deliver Single Sided A5 Insert Double Sided A5 Insert
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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. 06
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 there’s something you’re after, get in touch! thinkflowbox.co.uk
Contributors
Lenham secure promotion with play-off final victory Lenham Wanderers under 11s finished their season in the Invicta Primary League level on points with Vinters Valley for second place. Although Lenham had a better goal difference league rules meant a play off final to determine who finished runners up and achieved promotion. The Invicta Primary League finals day was hastily rearranged to incorporate a play off final at Cobdown Sports Ground on May 4th. On a sunny afternoon both teams received a warm applause from the 100 strong crowd as they walked onto the pitch accompanied by the referee and linesmen. Lenham set the early pace with Connor Bradshaw and Scott Gordon creating several good chances. The deadlock was broken as Richard Davies - almost unstoppable down the wing - cut in from the left hand side and slotted the ball to James Blake who rifled
the ball across the keeper into the bottom right hand corner to put Lenham 1-0 up. Defensively Lenham looked strong, full backs Ben Jones and Finlay Smith particularly putting in a good first half performance keeping Vinters down to one real effort on goal which was spectacularly saved by Jacob Sulsh. 10 minutes before half time Lenham struck again with James Blake calmly slotting home from a well worked move and deservedly went in 2-0 up at half time. Lenham bought on both Jamie White and Conor Grant at half time and they withstood some early pressure from Vinters. Lenham’s defence held firm with another solid performance from the centre back partnership of Mark Russell and Harry Slevin. There was nothing between both sides in the second half, two teams closely matched both having beaten each other in the league matches early on in the season. Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus
Continued... Ashley Lewis was introduced in the second half and showed some great touches to keep Vinters aware that Lenham still showed the potential to score again on the break. A lot of credit to Vinters for the way they played throughout the season and in the play off final but it was a fantastic team performance from Lenham who clinched a 2-0 victory, the runners-up spot and promotion for next season. Lenham Wanderers U11s would
like to thank Maz and Chequers Fish Bar for their sponsorship and support this season Lenham Wanderers victorious u11s; Jacob Sulsh, Ben Jones, Jamie White, Mark Russell, Harry Slevin, Finlay Smith, Conor Grant, Ashley Lewis, Richard Davies, James Blake, Scott Gordon, Connor Bradshaw with manager Paul Hewish
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Forthcoming Events Various: World Cup Games 100" screen June 28: Race Night Best hat competition
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1st Tuesday Every Month New members always welcome, apply to club Members and Guests Only . All events start at 8pm.
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Dates for Your Diary
JUNE
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Lenham Family Festival Lenham Community Centre The annual Festival is a weekend of music, drama, dance and entertainment in and around Lenham with the main event day on Saturday 7th June at the Lenham Community Centre.
JUNE
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RBL Women’s Section Annual Strawberry Tea
3pm Lenham Community Centre
The tickets are £6 and can be obtained from Eve on 858478.
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Lenham Primary School Summer Fayre. 12pm to 3pm. Lenham Primary School
JUNE
Dates for Your Diary
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The next Messy Church is on June 21st at 4.pm in the churchyard in Lenham for water based fun and games. Bring your own picnic tea and share our cake. In the church if wet.
JUNE
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PLATTS HEATH SUMMER FAYRE Saturday 21st June.12pm – 4pm World War One Centenary Commemoration
Platts Heath Primary School PTFA
JUNE
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CHARITY CONCERT St Mary’s Church Hungarian soprano Andrea Turner and pianist John Summerfield will be giving a charity concert ‘Songs from the shows’ as part of the Lenham Family Festival on Sunday, 8th June 2014 at 7pm at St. Mary’s Church, Lenham. All funds collected will be going to Cancer Research UK, Demelza House and Alzheimer’s Society. Entry by donations on the day.
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Our Summer Fayre will be returning to the school field this year (weather permitting – otherwise we will relocate to the school!) Come and join us as we step back in time to commemorate this landmark anniversary.
Lenham Wanderers Football Club – Presentation Day It was great to see over 200 people turn up for the Youth Teams Presentation Day on a fabulous sunny afternoon. The day started with a terrific game for spectators to watch as the U12’s narrowly lost 3-4 to Maidstone as the season came to a close. It had been a good season for all the Lenham Youth Teams especially for the U11’s and U12’s both coming second in their leagues and being promoted for next season. The club supplied plenty of games on the day to entertain all our teams, from our Youth Development squads up to our U14’s. The highlight of the day was the Dad’s V Kids matches. After all the months of dads shouting from the side-line throughout the season – it was payback time ! It was extremely amusing to watch Daniel Fairman in the U4’s totally out play his dad with some excellent football skills, Simon Lewer missing from less than five yards out and for the first time ever Steve Campbell keeping a clean sheet. A day to remember ! Special thanks goes to Maz from the Chequers for his continued support and to Guy Lister the, Lenham Butcher, for putting on an excellent BBQ and keeping hundreds of kids very happy with delicious home made hot dogs and burgers. Thanks also goes to the
Dog & Bear, White Horse, Activate and Soccer Elite for supplying all the raffle prizes which raised £200 for club funds. The club would like to say a special thank you to Paul Hewish for all his hard work for running his team for the last 6 years as he hangs up his boots for his pipe and slippers. Paul has great rapport with his lads and has been an excellent coach and he will be sadly missed by the club. It’s a great way for him to finish as his U11’s get promoted to Division 2 next season. Craig Smith has stepped into Pauls shoes, Craig already runs the Senior’s Reserve Team so he brings with him lots of experience. The club is actively looking for more people to help run this great 100 year old village club. We need managers / assistant managers to run our Youth squads plus people to help with administration so the club can progress and grow. If you would like to help the club please contact the Chairman – Steve Campbell on 07968 042876. The Clubs AGM is on the 9th June at the Lenham Social Club starting at 8pm – everyone is welcome. This is your chance to have your say about how we run the club, and should you chose, a chance to become part of a great village institution.
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Clubs, Societies, Organisations and Gatherings Lenham Archaeological Society Our meeting in April was an interesting talk by Dr Jean Stirk on finding out about the History of one’s house and the meeting on May 28th will also be about houses; but on structure and materials used. David Carder is always a good speaker. Please do not forget our Extra General Meeting on June 25th to discuss the way forward with our society, and whether you would like to change its name to History Society. 18
The clock ticks and time and history march on. Now it would appear that Lenham is growing very fast. I am writing this a day before an Open Evening led by Jones Construction for 80 new houses west of Ham Lane. Several of you might be interested in looking at those fields via Google Earth. Have you realised that we can now look back via the “Spy- in- the -Sky” to 1960 and 1946? Even my amazingly computer literate nephew did not realise until I told him to click- on- the -clock on the tool bar above. The cursor will slide back to two more satellite years and then these two black and white ‘old fashioned’ images Clubs, Societies, Organisations and Gatherings
taken by plane. Incidentally there is another very detailed black and white circa 1940 taken by the Luftwaffe available from some libraries. The idea that fake airfields (laid out by us during the war) would fool the Germans into believing they were real is a little hard to believe when one sees the detail of their photography. Some of the best early cameras were German, I know because we used a Voigtlander box camera when I was young and that company is the oldest manufacturer of cameras. Anyway, looking at aerials of the fields between Ham Lane and Dickley Wood it is apparent that the long shadow in the dip was once the line of yet another stream leading down to the Len. One can still hear the tinkle of this stream trying to continue its tortuous way, despite the railway line embankment, if one stands at the edge of Lenham Court land. In 1611 Speed drew in a stream on his map, apparently rising at Lenham but he labelled it the Elle and drew it connecting to the Stour. So did he make a mistake? Was he confusing streams? It is difficult to say from his small scale map. Is this the original name of the River
Len at Lenham ….the river Elle? Seeing how corrupted names become in literature a change from Ellenham to Lenham is not difficult to imagine at all!
John Speed map 1611 Even now everyone will have noticed how that hidden stream seems to maintain itself by flooding the A20 after heavy rain! (Although the line of the stream was not the parish boundary; that is further west beyond Dickley). I think Dickley could have had a very early settlement but that is archaeological conjecture to be proven well into the future! However, in modern times it would make sense to use that dip in topography as the limit the spread of modern Lenham west as that green band does seem to be our ‘greenbelt’ between Lenham and Harrietsham . (Just
my thoughts) Now I am close to the word count limit! Even if Lenham Archaeology club folds I will try and write something each month to hopefully interest you all. Lenham Gardening Society Our April speaker was Steve Bradley who is known to many of you as one of the BBC Radio Kent Garden Show presenters. His talk, Summer in the Garden, was full of interest and useful tips for improving your garden. The 60+ members enjoyed his talk as was demonstrated by the number of questions raised. On his Sunday morning show, following his visit, Steve said how much he had enjoyed his visit to Lenham village and the LGS and hoped that he would be asked back - you certainly will be, Steve. Our June speaker will be Mr G Bareham who will give a talk on Blossom & Bloom. We will find out more on the night! The competition will be Five Sticks of Rhubarb same variety and/or Five Homemade Cup Cakes. So please come along and support the LGS. Reminder that tickets are still available for the Hampton Court Flower Show, these can be
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Continued...
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purchased at the June meeting or from Pat on 859084 price £25 members, £32 non-members. Tickets for the August outing to Hatfield House will be £24 for members and £30 for nonmembers, price includes a cream tea. These will be available at the June & July meetings. As you know our July meeting is Pimms & Strawberry night, the cost will be the same as last year £6. The format will be the same so any prizes for the Tombola please let me have them prior to the night and for the raffle please bring along on the night. There will be a quiz, heads & tails and great food and Oh yes Pimms!! The LGS will have a stall at the forthcoming Lenham Family Festival on Saturday 7th June at the Lenham Community Centre. Please come along and support the Festival and why not pop in and see us? We are hoping to be selling plants hanging baskets etc. That’s it for now look forward to seeing you at our next meeting, why not bring a friend. Keith Varney Chair LGS Lenham Gardening Show After the success of last year’s show we have decided to carry on with the aim of making it an annual event again after so many years.
Continued...
The date will be Saturday 30th August at the Community Centre, exhibitors from 10.00am, judging at noon and open to the public at 2.00pm, cups to be presented at approx.3.45pm. Afternoon tea & cakes will be available. We have added some new classes this year, cake making etc. these will be detailed in our programmes, with entry forms which will be available in June at the Library and other locations around the village. So start preparing and let’s aim to make it a bigger show then last year. Keith Chair LGS Lenham W.I. In May we held our Annual Meeting. Fortunately the current committee was all prepared to carry on for another year, with the addition of one more ‘volunteer’! Several of our members enjoyed the District Walk, organised by Stalisfield and Otterden W.I. It was a little muddy in places, but very picturesque and enjoyable and finished at a pub where lovely refreshments were provided. The speaker at our June Meeting is Lesley Gould, who will be telling us about ‘The Life of a
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Continued... Japanese Woman’ and in July, Jan Parsons will be giving a talk entitled ‘Victim of Crime’. Both talks sound very interesting, so, if you come along as a visitor, it will only cost you £1-00 and you are not committed to joining us if it does not suit you, so, why not give us a try!! Gill Simes
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RBL Women’s Section This month is the Annual Strawberry Tea Date - 26th June 2014 Venue – Lenham Community Centre Time – 3pm for 3.30pm The tickets are £6 and can be obtained from Eve on 858478 Do come along and join us for a summery occasion Enid LaPlain HUB CLUB AGE UK The next meeting is Thursday 5th June 2014 2.00-4.00pm at the Social Club. I have written about Nobby and Sid under the Young at Heart column. I want to say a big thank you to Judy, Lyn and Elaine for their help and consideration on May 1st. We could not have managed without you. We hope to see you all at the next meeting. Martin, Tom, John, Jenny and
Clubs & Soc Continued..
Nina YOUNG AT HEART 60+ It is with much sadness we have to report the sad passing last month April 2014 of our dear friend Norbury Colbran. He was well known in the village and had a wealth of local history. To many of his friends he was ‘Nobby’. He served for many years with the St John Ambulance and wrote a short piece every month in the Focus for them. On May 1st 2014 it was Sid Corker’s 90th birthday. He organised a party at the Social Club and all was going according to plan lots of laughter and enjoyment. He unfortunately collapsed while playing the electric organ and passed away shortly after. It was a great shock for all of us. He was always so smartly dressed and a real gentleman. These gentlemen were both members of Young at Heart and Hub Club and it is sad to have to say goodbye to two wonderful gents. God bless both of you. Sadly a lovely lady member has also passed away. Pam Brawn often joined both the Hub and Young at Heart gatherings, and she too, will be sadly missed. On a happier note, the next gathering of the Young at Heart Club is Thursday 19th June 2.00-
4.00pm at the Community Centre hall. If anyone needs a lift please call Jenny 01622 859208 Martin, Tom, Olive, Sue, Jenny and Nina Lenham Enhancement Association Lenham Enhancement Association recently held their AGM and the existing officers were re-elected. However it was noted that the Secretary and Chairman will be standing down at next year’s AGM and people to take on these posts will then be required. A big thank you to all who buy raffle tickets at the Farmers Market every month,
And all those who have made donations over the past year. Without you we would not have the funds to cover the costs of keeping the village full of flowers. Over the last year we have had a few new volunteers who now come along to help with clearing and replanting the flower boxes. This has been a great help in taking the pressure off the existing older members, but we would like more volunteers so that the load is spread even further. If you can help please contact us, so that you can be informed when we are next planting. Brian Llong
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Lenham Church needs a new treasurer! Could you be the person to help us out? We need someone to organise our finances, keep track of our income and expenditure and deal with our gift aid scheme, 3 or 4 hours a month.
Training available. Please ring Rev Dick on 858195 or email at dickvenn@gmail.com
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Saddle up for Air Ambulance bike ride
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Life-saving charity Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance is appealing for cyclists to sign up for this year’s Double 100 Cycle Challenge and help save lives at night. The 100-mile or 100km bike ride is to be held on Sunday, September 28th, to mark the first anniversary of the launch of the night flying service. Last year’s annual event raised more than £12,000 and organisers are aiming to double its success this year with two starting points at the helicopter bases at Marden and Redhill. Both new circular routes will include all counties covered by the Air Ambulance and this year’s Double 100 has kindly been backed by main sponsor Fidelity
Saddle up for Air Ambulance bike ride
Worldwide Investment. Corporate Citizenship Manager Vicki Haxton said: “Fidelity is delighted to be supporting the Double 100 Cycle Challenge and helping to raise money for this incredibly worthy cause. “The air ambulance is a vital service in this area and we recognise the significant contribution they make towards saving lives in our community. We are looking forward to many of our employees participating in the event.” Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance launched its night flying service last September in a move expected to benefit a further 400 to 500 patients a year. The charity now has to raise an extra £1million a year to fund the cost of a 24-hour service, up from
ÂŁ5million to ÂŁ6million. The 2014 Double 100 has also been sponsored by Howard Cundey Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents, and supported by the Asda Foundation, Warburtons and Southern Water. The ride is open to regular and occasional cyclists including individuals and teams with feeding
stations along the scenic route. The first 200 riders to sign up will receive a special Air Ambulance jersey. To register go to www. kssairambulance.co.uk/ involved/double100 and for more information call Julie Clare on 01622 833833, or email juliec@ kssairambulance.org.uk
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Connie Wise Everest Connie’s war-related memories include seeing Zeppelins come overhead in the first war and being a fire-watcher in Blackfen during the second. She experienced a very close call from a doodlebug in 1944, which caused the premature birth of her son, Jim.
A Lenham resident since 1985, Connie was born in Tunbridge Wells on 13 April 1913, so has just celebrated her 101st birthday. Her great grandfather was a prominent Tunbridge Ware maker, Robert Russell. Her father, George Wise, was a stretcher-carrier in the Royal Medical Corps and died in Gallipoli in 1915. Her uncle Jim died in the 3rd Battle of Ypres in 1917. She remembers her grandmother receiving the telegram notifying her of his death. She also remembers being at the unveiling of the Cenotaph on 11 November, 1920, as well as the birth of Queen Elizabeth in 1926.
Connie was one of the earliest ‘scholarship girls’, having won a scholarship to attend Dartford Grammar School. She went on to attend Goldsmiths College in the 1930s and was teaching during WWII when she married John Everest (in 1942). Connie went on to teach for over 35 years at several schools in Kent, notably at Sutton-at-Hone primary school near Dartford. She’s had a lifelong love for music and has played the organ at Sutton-at-Hone church.
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Connie had two children, Jim and Marilyn, who both live in Lenham. She moved to Lenham in 1985 to help her daughter, Marilyn Graveson, who had just taken over what is now the Village Stores. Connie became a familiar face both behind the counter and around the village. In memory of Connie Everest who sadly passed away on 15th May by Jim Myers
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Emilia’s Little Heart What have we been up to? The last few months have been extremely busy for the charity, so sorry for not being present in last month’s edition. However I have lots to report in this edition.
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Donations First I would like to start with the thank you, as without people’s generosity of time and donations we wouldn’t be able to make the difference to thousands of children’s hospital experience. We have received over £1000 in donations last month from local groups such as Lenara, to individuals, from quiz nights and from supermarkets such as Asda and Waitrose. Thank you if you managed to shop in these stores and put a counter in our box. Fundraising We have also received over £5000 from people organising and taking part in fundraising events. Dan and Jo, good friends of myself and regular supporters of the charity took part in the London Marathon
Emilia’s Little Heart
and raised £2350.01 to date from their sponsorship. With gift aid, this will be well over £3000, which is amazing. Well done you two for challenging yourself and for the money that you managed to raise; we are extremely proud of you both. Jo ran a PB! She ran her perfect race in 4 hours 22 minutes. In Dan’s words “I had no chance of a PB but pushed really hard and ran myself into the ground in a not so shabby 4:04. We had a teary moment when we met at the end and took a moment to think of you guys and how lucky we are to have the chance to contribute and be part of such a positive, children focused mission. Everyone that has contributed has commented on how personal, local and grounded ELH is and how refreshing it is that all monies raised go to support your goals.”
We would also like to thank Gary Webb and his team
members: Andy Trinder, Sarah Kirrage, Richard Killian, Terry Trinder, Michelle Eccles, Brian Connolly, Kelvin Milgate, Caroline Clegg, Neil Trinder, Steve, Howard and Fiona, Gayle, David, Becca and Patrick (and possibly one or two others)! who on Easter weekend took part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. In under 12 hours they managed to climb the three peaks which is the equivalent in miles of a marathon. An incredible feat and again an amazing amount raised of £2364.50 to date. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! There is now a token memory of their efforts on the top of each peak. Our local efforts in fundraising go to Maddie Campbell and her friend Ellie who through their Duke of Edinburgh challenge have chosen to volunteer to work with the charity for three months. In that time they have been holding cake sales and organised a successful 70s Disco Night at the White Horse, Sandway. Thank you again to Tony (landlord) for supporting the girls and the charity by allowing them use of the function room. They have managed to have a good time and raised £394.90, which will be used to purchase a sand and water table for William Harvey Hospital, Ashford. Well done girls!
A huge thank you to West Malling Primary School, who for the third year in a row have held a circuit training event and raised £1200. The continued support from children, staff and parents is fantastic and we look forward to hearing what they are up to next. Where the money goes! Well that leads me on to where the money is going. With all that money being raised it means that we can continue for the rest of the year to provide stickers, certificates and art and craft materials to all the hospitals we already support. We are about to meet with the play specialist team at Pembury and Maidstone, and we hope very soon to be supporting the children who have to visit these hospitals too. The Intensive Care App is still in the throes of being created and we hope to launch this towards the end of the year, look out for information on how to download, as it can be used by children visiting the local hospitals too. Kent and Canterbury have their new outdoor play area, and next edition we should have some photos of the opening. QEQM Rainbow Ward have had some soft play equipment, a sensory tent and a dvd player, and William Harvey has had a dvd player for their
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Continued... assessment bay. Upcoming events for the diary! You may have already seen if you follow us on facebook and twitter that Victoria’s Cabaret Club are hosting a night on Friday 19th September with entertainment, a two course dinner and raffle for only £25.00 per head. Also the big annual event of the year The Hope Ball will be advertised soon, and the date for your diary is Saturday 18th October 2014. If you have been before you will know that it is the charity’s way of thanking their supporters, having fun with a live band, guest
speaker, auction and raffle, and a great way to raise money for a specific project. It is held at the Mercure Hotel, Hollingbourne, and people who book early to come to the event can make a weekend of it by getting a discount on the hotel room too. emiliaslittleheart.org.uk 07727274288 @emiliaslitheart Registered charity: 1145863 Registered address 33 Ham Lane, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 2LL
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Saturday Freighter Service The free freighter service is for items of rubbish that cannot be put in your bins. For example bikes, broken washing lines, fitness equipment, carpet and underlay, home furnishings and bric-a-brac, broken tiles, plumbing, radiators, small items of furniture and plastic items such as garden chairs and toys. Please do not bring bulky items, commercial waste, electrical items, garden waste, glass, hazardous waste, household waste, paint tins and oil, plasterboard or windows. The freighter will be calling on Continued...
SATURDAY 21st JUNE 12pm until 12.40pm at Douglas Road Lenham 12.50pm until 1.30pm Cherry Orchard Estate – Ham Lane Lenham 1.40pm until 2.20pm Honywood Road Lenham 2.30pm until 3.10pm Green Lane Platts Heath SATURDAY 28TH JUNE 8.45am until 9.15am Warren Street Lenham This service is provided by Maidstone Borough Council Full details available 01622 602000 or www.maidstone.gov.uk
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Lottery • Tobacco • Off-Licence • Groceries
For a warm welcome come and see us at the square! Mon - Thurs 8am - 6 pm Fri & Sat 8am - 9pm Sunday 10am - 6pm lenhamvillagestore.co.uk
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Cup Final On Good Friday, Lenhams 1st Team met Eccles in the Express Cabs Maidstone League Challenge Cup Final, at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium. They got off to a great start when Joe Walker’s pace beat the Eccles defence to give Lenham an early lead, but Eccles pressure rewarded them with an equalizer, worse was to come when Eccles were awarded a penalty which they duly scored from at the 2nd attempt to give them a half time lead of 2-1. 32
Lenham responded well early in the 2nd half when Joe Walker
once again showed too much pace for the Eccles defence, when he scored his 2nd goal of the game & Lenham’s equalizer to make it 2-2. With only minutes to go Eccles got the all important 3rd goal which secured their victory. Our thanks go out to Maz from the Chequers Fish Bar for his sponsorship of this event to the tune of a new Playing Strip, we would also like to thank all who have given support to the Club over the season & not least of all the supporters who turned up on the night.
Lenham Church needs a new treasurer! Could you be the person to help us out? We need someone to organise our finances, keep track of our income and expenditure and deal with our
Cup Final
gift aid scheme, 3 or 4 hours a month. Training available. Please ring Rev Dick on 858195 or email at dickvenn@gmail.com
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 & Lenham Beavers Harrietsham and Lenham Scouts Harrietsham and Lenham Cubs Mother’s Union Pilates Classes Redback Explorer Scouts Royal British Legion St John Ambulance Women’s Institute St Edmunds Platts Heath Country Ways Quilters and stitchers Lenham Valley Business Association
Lesley Feakes Mrs Manley Linda Bird Lyn Fuller Andrea French Gail Kelly Keith Varney Mrs J Thomsett Mrs Pat Abson Ami Rathmill Janet Moll Alf Smith Club Events Duncan Keenan Nick Still Mrs A Seales Mrs J Thomsett Vivien Elcomb Mark Horlock Mr W Peter Mrs Bond Mrs C Toner Karen Yardley Jan Haines Alan Reading
Borough Councillors: Kent Highway Services Dog Warden Cat Protection Drugs Helpline Heaths Countryside Corridor Lenham Enhancement Ass. Lenham Country Market Lenham Community Centre
John Barned (Roads, Pavements)
Lenham Heath Parish Hall LenValley Practice Non-Emergency NHS Care Member of Parliament Parish Council Clerk Parish Police PCSO Police Constable Rural Community Warden
Sharon Reed Doctors Surgery NHS Hugh Robertson MP Margo McFarlane Dave Rowley Brian Waghorne Martin Sherwood
Lost and Found FREE CALL Ruth Lovering Brian Llong Kevin Fitzsimons Margaret Mitchell
01622 850275 01622 842603 01233 756762 01622 851538 01622 851646 01622 850671 01622 850228 01622 859009 01622 858561 07967 128056 01622 850747 01622 859802 01622 858890 07768 926654 01622 859789 01622 859829 01622 859009 01622 853887 07789 226516 01622 850520 01622 205452 01622 850048 01622 858208 01233 714699 01622 820841 01622 851142 03000 418181 01622 602117 01732 847572 0800 776600 01622 842257 01622 859733 01622 679709 01622 853800 (am) 01622 858581 (pm) 01233 713317 01622 858341/859204 111 01622 851616 01622 859682 07772 226097 07870 252317 07977 981993
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Accounting & Business Services Air Conditioners Alarm Systems Architectural Services Barbers Builders/decorators
Businss Consultant Butchers/Meat Carpentry Carpets/Flooring Caterers Catteries 34
Charted Surveyor Childminder Chimney Sweep Chiropody Cleaning/Housekeeping Computer Services
Cosmetic Clinic Counselling Service Dance Dressmaking/alterations Electricians/Gas fitters
Estate Agents Fitness
Contact Numbers
Stonebridge Associates 851542 RB Air 07751466536 Cybereye Security 858612 Kent Design Studio 01580 230413 Sweeney Todd 07734950329 Alpha 762164 Andy and Paul 850437 Apollo 07808414965 Elwood (Painter/decorators) 01634308933 KRS Building/decorating 851126 KSE Home Improvements 851400 Lenham Decorating Services 858565 SR Interiors (painters/decorators) 737225 Stuttle Dyer (painters/decorators) 01233 840004 Nick Posener 851931 G B Lister 858220 Snoad Farm 01795890700 Carpentry and General Building 850364 P Humpries 858719 Carpets direct 01233714999 Beaubray Caterers 763269 Little Dene Boarding Cattery 858510 Inkstand cattery 859469 James Collett 850608 Debbie Brett 01233714247 Invicta Chimney Sweep 01622 632641 Afeneh Smith (mobile service) 853640 Heathers Chiropody Surgery 850376 Amy McLaughlin 07813030527 Phynix Domestic cleaning 880028 A.C. Computers 850462 Harrietsham Computers 859442 Lynn 745654 MS Computer services 859969 The LenValley Cosmetic Clinic 852905 Prism 07554336626 Lenham Ballet School 850329 Pam Hills 858827 AD Pink Electrics 884774 Barrie Weston Contractor 01233712663 Electrical Solutions 858794 Invicta Power Services/ Gas Fitters 850930 MGI Electrical 850055 Philip Jarvis 858241 Activate Body and Soul 853750
Funeral Directors Gardeners
Garages Greetings Cards Grocers Glass and Glazing Hairdressers Hall Hire Handbags and Jewellery Holiday Let Landscaping Locksmiths Logs Newsagents Osteopathy Pest Control Pet Food Pharmacy Plumbers Pool Services Pubs Restaurant Roofing Schools Solicitors Taxi Tree Surgeons TV Ariels Veterinary Surgery Will Services
A W Court 850840 Just a Mow 859940 The Big Mow 07871088119 Mower Repairs 07989333145 Belmont Gardens 01795 590243 Gowers Garage 858210 Tricia Oliver 859226 Lenham Village Store 858255 Glass n glaze 01233840768 Phase Hairdressing 850001 Smarty’s 851150 Lenham Comm Centre 853800 Charing Heath Hall 01233 713317 Immyblingy 298129 Dorset Cottage 851766 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 Natural Instinct 07905928247 Saxon Warrior 858287 All Fix Plumbing 851186 Epic Plumbimg 210298 Pure Plumbing 769722 J W Engineering Services 851713 The White Horse 859511 Lenham Social Club 858890 Leeds Castle 767777 Carter Roofing 01795886084 R and D Roofing 858291 Paul Grant Roofing 850855 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 01580 292320
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Regular Daily & Weekly Events Daily
Activate Fitness Facilites
Monday Tuesday
Wednesday
St Johns Ambulance Badminton (Feathers) Parent & Toddlers Group Harr & Lenham Cubs Lenham Badminton Club Lenham Youth Club H/sham&Lenham Beavers St Johns Ambulance Lenham Youth Club Pilates classes
Messy Mums Babies + Toddlers Line Dancing LenARA Thursday Brownies 2nd Lenham Pilates classes Line Dancing Redbacks Explorer Scouts Friday
Guides 1st Lenham H/sham&Lenham Scouts Judo Club LenARA Keep Fit Lenham Youth Club
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Saturday Sunday
Activate Fitness Facilites French Books for Children Tea/Coffee/Cakes Sunday Schools
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 Community Centre 8.pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Harrietsham Scout Hut 5.45- 7.15.pm Cadets (10-18) 6.00-8.00pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Community Centre 7.00pm-8.00pm 8.30 -9.30pm St Mary’s Church 10.30-12 Term 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 Kingswood Scout Hut 7.15-9.15pm Community Centre Harrietsham Scout Hut Community Centre Community Centre Swadelands Ham Lane
7.00- 9.00pm 7.30- 9.30pm 5.30- 8.30pm 2.00- 3.30pm 7.30-10.00pm
Activate Sports Hall Swadelands 8am- 5pm Harrietsham Primary School 9.30-11.30am St Mary’s Church 10.00-12.00noon see separate church services page
Monthly Events 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 2nd Tuesday 1st Tuesday 1st Wednesday 4th Wednesday Last Wednesday 1st Thursday 2nd Thursday 3rd Thursday Last Saturday 2nd Sunday
Derby & Joan Royal British Legion Citizens Advice Bureau Lenham Valley Parish Council Meeting LenARA (active retired) Archaeology Club Reading Group Women’s Institute Lenham Gardening Soc. Len&Har. Disability Grp 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
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
Paul Grant Roofing Contractors All aspects of roofing work undertaken. Listed Building Specialist Strip / Re-tile / Kent Peg / Slating / Leadwork 35 years experience All work fully guaranteed For a free quotation and friendly advice on any roofing matter. OďŹƒce: 01622 850855 Mobile: 07850740637 paulgrant747@gmail.com www.paulgrantroofingcontractors.co.uk Card payments accepted 37
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Lenham Cricket Club
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After a thoroughly wet winter the 2014 cricket season is finally upon us, or well and truly under way by the time you read this! As I write this, the first report of 2014, the first friendly fixture of the season against Pluckley, scheduled to take place on 27/04/2014 has succumbed to the weather! Hopefully we will be up and running on the 04/05/2014 against East Sutton, I will update you on the outcome of this fixture, and hopefully a few others in next month’s update. During the winter months LCC held Monday night net sessions at Sutton Valence School which were well attended and hopefully the practice will pay dividends when the season gets underway. As always a special thanks to all those who’ve helped prepare the ground for the new season; as always it’s the same familiar faces! There is always plenty to do so it would be great if you could find time in your busy schedules to lend a hand throughout the season! There was a good turnout at the AGM held in January - thanks to all who contributed to the evening, thank you also to Lenham Social Club for hosting the evening. Following the success of the Saturday side in 2013, and their resulting promotion, they will
Lenham Cricket Club
be playing a higher standard of cricket this year, hopefully with the same success as last year! The Saturday side will be led once again by Tom Curtis, and supported by Allan Barr as vice captain. No changes in leadership for the Sunday side either with Dan Russell skippering the side and Nick Rutledge continuing as vice captain. The management/selection committee has seen a few changes. Matt Revitt has replaced Ken Obbard as the club secretary, thanks to Ken for his commitment to the role over the last few years and good luck to Matt! Danny Matthews, Jack Ambrose and Mike Rickner have joined the committee. Thanks to those who have, up to this year, been on the committee and supported the club. We have been lucky enough to secure some sponsorship for the 2014 season! The Dog & Bear Hotel Lenham and the White Horse Public House Sandway! The Dog & Bear will be sponsoring our playing shirts and the White Horse our cricket balls. The Dog & Bear, courtesy of Brian & Ann Hogg, have looked after the Saturday league side for the last couple of years, supplying teas and a watering hole at the end of a hard day’s cricket!
We look forward to frequenting the Dog & Bear throughout the season and hope we can replace the league winners trophy from 2013, which sits proudly behind the bar, with a 2014 winners trophy! Tony Jansen, the landlord at The White Horse Sandway, is the proud sponsor of the Lenham Cricket Club Cricket Balls. Located at the crossroads of Lenham Heath Road and Boughton Road, this traditional public house aims to serve fresh, locally sourced food. Our menu changes often, using ingredients that are in season. As a freehouse, we are not tied to one specific brewery, leaving us able to rotate which real ales appear on our pumps. We have a large spacious garden with an area for children to play. We have recently cornered off an area of our garden for riders to tether their horses and pop in for a spot of lunch. A fully operational function hall is attached to the public house which can be hired for birthday parties, christening, weddings, wakes or any other occasions. With our own outside catering equipment we are able to offer services for Outside bars, Hog Roasts and Barbecues. We’re open Tuesday to Friday from 12pm 3pm 5pm - 11.30pm Saturday from 12pm - 11.30pm
Sunday 12pm - 10.30pm Join us from Tuesday to Saturday for a special lunch offer one course £7.50, two courses £10.50, three courses £13.50. Traditional Sunday Lunch served from 12 - 8pm every Sunday. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Http://www.whitehorsesandway. com We look forward to sharing a drink or two with Brian, Ann and Tony in 2014, cheers! Some of our first few fixtures; Saturday 7th June away at Milstead, Sunday 8th June away to Kennington, Saturday 14th June Marden at home, Sunday 15th June Priory at home, Saturday 21st June Meopham at home, Sunday 22nd June Willesborough away, Saturday 28th June Stowting at home, Sunday 29th June Newington at home, Saturday 5th July Marden at home, Sunday 6th July Egerton at home. Hopefully I will be able to update you in July with a positive string of early results! If you’re interested in joining the club, please contact us at lenhamcc@gmail.com or call 07725 632955, and remember, visitors are always welcome on match days!
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1st Harrietsham Guides a Final Plea!
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As you are probably aware 1st Harrietsham Guides is in desperate need of new members for its leadership team. If no one comes forward before the end of July then I am afraid that the Guide Unit will consider closing after the summer holidays. COULD YOU HELP SAVE HARRIETSHAM GUIDES FROM CLOSURE? All we need to save the unit is some extra pairs of hands to share the work load. Can you commit to helping out on a Tuesday evening weekly, fortnightly or even once a month and also share with the planning and programme delivery? It can be very rewarding giving the Guides the opportunity to develop friendships and try out new experiences and as they grow you share those memories with them, creating your own in the process. Previous experience is not needed, we can provide all the training you need, just enthusiasm. Please consider if you could help in any way to prevent the worst, us
1st Harrietsham Guides a Final Plea!
having to close 1st Harrietsham Guides, a unit that is very much part of Harrietsham and the surrounding villages which gives girls a safe environment to grow, develop and challenge themselves. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you feel you can offer help or would like more information we can be contacted on. Sue Mor r is 016228 5094 8 /07740822244 Kate Davies 0162285056 3 (Evenings Only)
The Honywood & Douglas Charity LENHAM (Registered Charity No.211272) The Trustees hereby give notice that the following Alms-house accommodation is available:A one bedroom bungalow comprising sitting room, kitchen and bathroom at Douglas Court Alms-house, Faversham Road, Lenham. Applicants must be 60 years of
age or more, able to look after themselves and have lived in the Parishes of Lenham or Boughton Malherbe for at least two years. Applications should be made in writing to the Secretary, as below, to reach her no later than 27th June, 2014. Mrs. Pat Sutton, 18 Headcorn Road, Platts Heath, Lenham, Kent. ME17 2NH
Thank You Since joining the Lenham Parish Council as Clerk I have been fortunate enough to work with Nigel Godfrey, who recently stepped down as Chairman of the Parish Council after seven years in the position and sixteen years total service to date. I was made to feel welcome, and the support from the chairman and indeed the other councillors is much appreciated. Nigel was and is always helpful, his vast knowledge of the parish proved invaluable. If I had a query or problem I was uncertain of, Nigel always pointed me in the right direction to find the answer. He happily shares his information gathered over the
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years he has served the village and somehow could remember the most obscure details, which often involved him travelling down memory lane, a journey accompanied by Cllrs. Barr and Greenwood! Nigel’s commitment to his post often saw him attending many meetings throughout Kent and I personally will always remember his famous ‘brief reports’ which were often longer than the minutes of the meeting. A true gentleman, we shared many laughs and a common interest in our lovely village. Thank you Nigel, it has been an education! Margo McFarlane Lenham Parish Clerk Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus
Home Safety Event
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PCSO Dave Rowley and Community Warden Martin Sherwood working with the Lenham Parish Council presented a successful Home Safety Event on Saturday May 3rd at the Community Centre 10am to 1pm. Attendees’ were able to discuss personal safety issues and property security for home, garden and outbuildings. Information was available covering trading standard alerts, scams, rogue traders and fraud. The importance of fire prevention and safety, was covered by volunteers from Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The benefits of having CCTV at your property and the latest technology available was on show
and professional advice available. The Neighbourhood Watch team handed out information and offered ongoing support for those interested in setting up a scheme in their area. It is hoped a future home safety event will take place later in the year. We are always interested in your ideas and welcome contributions from parishioners, or indeed, help towards organising the event. If you have any concerns relating to the above or would like more information please call; PCSO Dave Rowley on 0777 222 6097 or Martin Sherwood on 0797 7981 993. Thank you.
Vacancy Lenham Parish Council have a vacancy for a member to join the council. The position is voluntary and involves the minimum attendance at one monthly meeting. The LPC meet on the first Wednesday of each month in the Osborne room at the Lenham Community Centre, Groom Way, Lenham, ME17 2QT. Applicants should reside within the parish and be on the electoral Home Safety Event
register. We are interested in meeting people able to commit to regular meetings which may include sitting on committees responsible for planning, finance and general purposes and neighbourhood planning. If you require more details please contact the Clerk Margo McFarlane on 859682 hello@lenhamparish.gov.uk Thank you
Lenham Parish Council Brief report on the LPC meeting held on 7th May 2014 Cllr. Godfrey opened the meeting and carried on as Chairman until the election of the new Chairman, Cllr. Gillett. Cllr. Gillett chaired the meeting and completed the agenda items relating to the election of the Vice Chairman, Cllr. Drylie and Planning Committee Chairman, Cllr. Godfrey. Formation of committees followed with the Finance and General Purposes and Planning committee members being elected. Following the completion of the above business Cllr. Gillett closed the AGM and opened the LPC meeting at 8.22pm During the Public Participation section a presentation of proposed improvements to the Texaco garage were discussed. PCSO Dave Rowley reported on crime figures for April being 14 in total. The home safety event organised on Saturday 3rd May at the Community Centre was a successful morning. Martin Sherwood the Community Warden highlighted trading standard alerts concerning rogue traders operating several scams. Janetta Sams is organising a petition concerning the proposed
housing numbers for the parish. Ongoing repairs and general maintenance matters were discussed. It was agreed Landscape Services would undertake the grass cutting contract. The future of the Neighbourhood Plan was discussed at length and it was agreed to move on to phase two. A meeting will be organised to decide on strategy options and budget. Following the resignation of Cllr. Bradshaw there are now three vacancies on the LPC.
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If you would like details contact the Clerk. 01622 859682. hello@ lenhamparish.org.uk
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Church Services Sunday 1st June – 7th Sunday of Easter 8am at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham: BCP Holy Communion 9.30am at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham: Family Worship 9.30am at St. Nicholas, Boughton Malherbe: Holy Communion 11am at St. Mary’s, Lenham: Holy Communion 11.15am at All Saints, Ulcombe: Family Worship
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Sunday 8th June – Day of Pentecost 8am at St. Mary’s, Lenham: BCP Holy Communion 9.30am at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham: Holy Communion 11.00am at St. Mary’s, Lenham: Morning Worship 11.15am at All Saint’s, Ulcombe: Holy Communion 6.30pm at St. Nicholas Boughton Malherbe: Choral Evensong Sunday 15th June: Trinity Sunday 10am Benefice Service with Holy Communion in St. Mary’s, Lenham
Church Services
Sunday 22nd June: 1st Sunday after Trinity 8am at St. Mary’s, Lenham: BCP Holy Communion 9.30am at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham: Holy Communion 9.30am at St. Nicholas, Boughton Malherbe: Family Worship 11am at St. Mary’s, Lenham: Family Worship 11.15am at All Saints, Ulcombe: Holy Communion Sunday 29th June – St. John the Baptist 10.00am at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham: Benefice Service with Holy Communion 6.30pm Informal Service at St. John the Baptist, Harrietsham
Lenham Village Store We hope that you all enjoyed the bank holidays last month and the start of the warm weather. This month Matthew and Jemma are celebrating their second wedding anniversary so Happy Anniversary to both of them!
With the World Cup getting well under way this month we will be stocking everything needed for those football parties, we will keep well stocked with cold beer, cider, wine, ice and all the nibbly bits that go with it.
The Little Country Garden is now the proud stockist of Le Chameau Wellington Boots, which they are selling alongside Hunter Boots. Another new brand which will be joining them soon is Beretta Clothing, with lots of clay shooting clothing and many shooting vests to choose from. They are offering 20% off Le Chameau products and all Beretta clothing for the month of June as an introductory offer especially for Lenham Focus readers, simply mention this offer in store to take advantage of the discount.
Lastly, a few weeks ago someone very kindly donated us a couple of copies of old pictures of our store from many many years ago for us to display which we have and it’s made quite a talking point....we would love it if anyone else has anything similar from the square? We would love to display a little showcase of the square through history for all to admire.
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Have a wonderful month and don’t forget to pop in and see us.
At Lenham Village store, all ready for the summer season we have local charcoal ready for the BBQ season and we are now stockists of Calor Gas for those with gas BBQs and patio heaters etc. Kent strawberries and raspberries are now in full supply from one of the local Maidstone farms, very well priced, and with very low food miles.
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Lenham Players
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Our St. Georges Day Revue production on Saturday 3rd May was a great success and a fun evening. It was good to see so many new faces from Lenham. Thank you all for your support. We shall be performing a one act short sketch at the Lenham Festival in June and will also be involved in the commemoration of the 1st World War day on the 3rd August with a few bits taken from our production on Saturday. We are always looking for new members, whether on stage or behind the scenes, so whether you are interested in acting or in helping to build or paint a set/ find the right piece of furniture or prop/make a costume – or any of the many other things which go to make a successful production, please contact our Chairman, Mary Tapsfield on 01622 880448 or Secretary Jan Moll on 01622 850747 for more information. Better still, come along to our AGM at Lenham Community Centre in September; meet other Lenham Players over a glass of wine/ cheese and biscuits, and find out about the events we plan for the year ahead. Please let me know if you would like to join us at the AGM. Jan Moll
Lenham Players
St George’s Day Revue About a hundred people enjoyed the Lenham Players’ production of St George’s Day Revue held at the Community Centre on Saturday May 3rd. The hall was decorated in a sea of the iconic red and white colours of the St George’s standard. Each table had more than enough flags for everyone to wave enthusiastically during the audience participation. The sing along raised the roof, especially when the all time favourites such as the patriotic songs, There will always be an England and of course Land of hope and glory, were sung, all accompanied by song sheets, so there was no excuse not to know the words! The players’ comprised of a pleasing mix of gender and age groups, performing with some very comic (not always intentional) episodes. All the hard work and effort put in by the actors and the very important musical, stage and set up team, along with the busy prompter (hence some of the extra laughs!) ensured a very pleasant experience for the audience. Well done Lenham Players and thank you for a very enjoyable evening, look forward to your next production. Margo McFarlane
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Lenham Primary School www.lenham.kent.sch.uk Life in school has been extremely busy so we are delighted to now have a regular page in the Lenham Focus to let our community know just some of the things that have been happening. FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
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On Saturday 26th April we had our Football Tournament where we welcomed a number of local schools for the day. Many congratulations to Harrietsham 1st team who won the Years 3 and 4 competition and to the Headcorn A team who won the Years 5 and 6 competition. The Referees’ Team of the Day was award jointly to Harrietsham and Platts Heath. We received a lovely email from some parents of children from Egerton C of E Primary: “We just wanted to say thank you for such a well organised tournament. There was a lovely atmosphere and all our boys really enjoyed participating. Please pass on our thanks to all those involved”. The tournament raised approximately £1000 which will go towards the purchase of outside
Lenham Primary School
table tennis tables. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible. LACROSSE After a master class from Joe Burnett, South East Development Officer of the English Lacrosse Association, we took part in our first tournament at Swadelands this month. We took two year 5 & 6 teams and are pleased to say that one of our teams has reached the regional finals! We will keep you posted as to how we get on. SRI GURU GURDWARA
NANAK DARBAR
In March the year 6 pupils represented LPS on an educational visit to the Gurdwara in Gravesend, as they are studying Sikhism at the moment. Here is their report. We travelled in our two recently purchased mini buses; it took 45 minutes to get there. We were chauffeured by Ms Travis and Mrs Lawrence. As soon as we got there we admired the Gurdwara’s beautiful features, however it was foggy so we couldn’t see as much as we had hoped for. We entered the Gurdwara in
awe; a lady with the name of Mrs Deepinder Kaur greeted us politely and led us to a section of the Gurdwara. There were a few rules which we had to obey in respect for other people’s religion. The first rule was to take your shoes off as the Sikhs believe that you leave your cares and worries outside. The second rule is to cover your head so that your mind can’t wander, so we all put scarves on. The final rule was to wash your hands as there is free food provided in the Gurdwara, so when you eat your hands will be clean. We stepped cautiously up the flight of stairs covered in a beautiful velvet carpet. Once we reached the top we were led into a large meditation room. We saw a bed under a canopy where their religious book Guru Granth Sahib was laid, and then sat in silence on the carpet to observe what was going on. After a few minutes we were taken to an empty meditation room where Mrs Kaur talked about what we had seen, Sikh symbols and the religion in general. We also asked her lots of questions!
to accept it with overlapped hands and eat it like that too. The Khanda hall was where the Sikhs ate their food, and Mrs Kaur kindly let us try some. There was vegetable curry, chapatis, lentil dhal and rice pudding. It was a really enjoyable and interesting day for all of us. Written by Elle, Millie and Charlie H, Year 6 RELIEF MIDDAY SUPERVISOR REQUIRED We are looking for a relief midday supervisor to call on at short notice if one our usual workers is absent.
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Days Monday to Friday Time 1 hour 15 mins each day (12 noon until 1:15p.m.) Please contact the school office on 01622 858260 for more information. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Summer Fayre – 28th June 2014
We headed next to the Pashad stall where a special religious food was being given out. Pashad is made from sugar, milk and flour. We had
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Thoughts & Reports Christian Message June 2014
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As I write there are a number of major items in the news that are making me think seriously and deeply about the job that I do. It’s not that my job is particularly unusual or that it is rare to hear about it in the media. In fact, it is almost constantly that what I do is commented on. In fact, it is one of those topics that is almost constantly in the spotlight for one reason or another. I work in a school. It is a Church of England secondary school, closely linked to two Church of England Primary schools by being part of a Multi Academy Trust of around 1700 children from age 4 to 18. We share a common Board of Directors, as well as a wide range of organisational matters and all 250 or so adults are employed by the same Trust. In the last week the violent death of Ann Maguire in a school in Leeds has rocked us all. A much loved and respected career teacher who was killed with only a few months to go before her much deserved retirement in the school where she had spent decades making positive contributions to the lives of generations of young people. This tragic event at Corpus Christi Catholic College brought such a
Thoughts & Reports
profound sense of sadness on so many levels that has been almost impossible to shake. The second major news item has been the comments of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, defending faith schools. He said, “People seem to choose these schools in large numbers. They are often in the poorest parts of the country, we seek to love and serve people, as we should, through these schools - and have done for hundreds of years.” For me, his comments go to the very heart of the mission of Church of England schools and of our belief, particularly his phrase ‘we seek to love and serve the people’. Christ’s message of loving one another, especially his love of children, is lived out every day in schools up and down the country. What exactly does that mean in our schools? It would be wonderful to be able to say that every child and adult had a strong Christian faith. They don’t. It would be comforting to say that there were no quarrels, no lying or deceit. It isn’t true, far from it. Our faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ makes our job more, not less, difficult. To manage conflict by love, to treat wrong doing with forgiveness and to live by a
commitment to giving not one last chance but 7 x70 chances isn’t easy! What is essential though, is that everything we say and in everything we do the Christian values of the school are there for all to see. The crosses on the wall of every classroom and office are not just pieces of wood but symbols of the strong spiritual dimension in all aspects of school life. Ideally, all students would embrace Christ as Lord and know Him in their heart. Just as important, perhaps, is that they understand that there is a spiritual part within each of them and that they can, when they are ready to, explore and come to faith. In a practical sense, this means that Baptism and Confirmation take place in school for those ready to take those momentous steps. For others? I want to make certain that a church is not a place to be afraid of – that when they go to a wedding, Christening or funeral they understand the services. More than anything, when Christ does knock on the door of their heart when they are 26 or 56 – whenever – I want them to know where to look, to whom they can turn to begin the journey. So, to return to the Archbishop, the Church of England may be in conflict with itself over a range of
issues, find it difficult to reconcile different views of its priests and might seem on the decline to some outsiders. All I can say is that up and down the country there are committed Christians trying to do God’s work in the corridors and classrooms of our schools. And Ann Maguire was a wonderful example of just that. May she Rest in Peace. Ian Collins ST MARY’S CHURCH FLOWERS FOR June Flowers June 7th - Mrs Jones June 13th and 21st - Mrs Humphrey June 28th and July 5th - Mrs Nahab June Brass cleaning - Mrs Hopkin
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Sue Greenwood 01622 858475
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Lenham Family Festival 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th June 2014 Community Centre Lenham The annual Festival is a weekend of music, drama, dance and entertainment in and around Lenham with the main event day on Saturday 7th June at the Lenham Community Centre. The event promotes a family
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ethos in which locals have the opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy the events; therefore prices throughout the event will also have this in mind. Please go to our website http:// lenhamfamilyfestival.co.uk/ for further updates on acts & times nearer to the event.
Thursday 5 Social Club 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Community Hub with Entertainment
Friday 6
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Social Club 7.30pm For the Kicks
Start the weekend with a high energy performance -‐ this locally based 3 piece Rock band brings a mixture of covers and original songs to warm you up for the Saturday music extravaganza.
Saturday 7 Community Centre 10.30am to 4.00pm Inside the hall
Outside Main stage
Outside Support stage
11am Fred Turnham Light Organ Music
10.30am Fred Clark An exciKng Maidstone based singer / songwriter, performing his own surf influenced emoKve acousKc music
11.30am Jamie Middleton & friend A newly formed guitar duo
11.15am GDC School of Dancing perform tap & ballet
11.50am Drive In Similar Techniques This Rock quartet based in Maidstone have a great Indie Pop/Rock and Metal set list lined up for the show
12.20pm Two and Tuppence A specially formed group for today with cleverly produced covers
11.45am Coffee House Quartet 12.35pm Ukulele band 1.05pm Youngsters open mic Easy listening tangos from A lively band producing a A chance for youngsters to show flute, oboe, cello and fantasKc sound off their talents Lenham Family Festival keyboards 12.10pm GDC School of
1.25pm For the Kicks
2.25pm Andrea Turner
in Maidstone have a great Indie Pop/Rock and Metal set list lined up for the show
covers
11.45am Coffee House Quartet 12.35pm Ukulele band 1.05pm Youngsters open mic Easy listening tangos from A lively band producing a A chance for youngsters to show flute, oboe, cello and fantasKc sound off their talents keyboards 12.10pm GDC School of Dancing perform and give a lesson
1.25pm For the Kicks 2.25pm Andrea Turner Prepare for some more sings favourites from the 80s and great Rock music from 90s this local 3 piece band, following their Friday set at the Social Club
1.30pm Karate with Nathan Marsh
3.00pm Junc7on 7 An alterna7ve Rock 3 piece band playing well known covers and their own material
2.00pm Lenham Ballet School 2.30pm Community singing in commemora7on of First World War 2.50pm More from Lenham Ballet School 3.20pm Lenham Players perform the sketch ‘Dinner for One’
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4pm Raffle
St Marys Church 4.00pm
Pulling Strings…..A harp quintet playing mixture of various styles for Cel7c harps
Community Centre 7.00pm to 9.00pm
7pm Vita La Groove-‐ A highly talented, mul7-‐genre, mul7-‐flavoured, seriously funky band that is full of life. Expect a concoc7on of Funk, Soul, Jazz and Rock to start our evening’s entertainment
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8pm Blackshot 21-‐Enjoy rocking with this young, talented vibrant rock/metal band as they bring a close to the evening with their fresh and vibrant sound -‐ putting their own twist on a range of covers
Sunday 8 The square 9.15am onwards Sixpenny Piece
St Marys Church 7.00pm Andrea Turner and pianist
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Prize Crossword Please leave your completed crossword entry at LENHAM LIBRARY on or before the 20th of the month
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Across clues 1. Disappointing, for example, G & S unpleasant people. (6,4) 6. Does book five. (4) 9. Sign of a potential change in direction. (10) 10. Entrance to redo orange partly. (4) 12. Source of light unlikely to keep still. (5,7) 15. Tresco, perhaps, can be seen as one’s territory. (6) 16. Break a lung. (8) 18. The needy sound a bit tied up! (4,4) 19. Clear away quiet love for a change. (6) 21. Change rids his weeks of hairiness. (4,8) 24. Give out that time can go backwards. (4) 25. Essential transmitter of images. (5,5) 26. Looked for a catch. One third of it got rid of in outhouse. (4) 27. Agitated stars left angry at first- after this? (5,5)
Down clues 1. Bad weather control, I hear. (4) 2. Check up what the moon controls. (4) 3. Something potentially good and thrilling in all points. (8,4) 4. Hospital department anger is complete. (6) 5. They are frozen and partly submerged angry dogs. (8) 7. A narrow escape is what those with 21 might do with. (5,5) 8. Chinese food for an early lawn treatment? (6,4) 11. Harvests as the grain sign changes. (12) 13. A flighty lady?! (3,7) 14. Force servant to tee off. (5,5) 17. In this country, for starters, extra talks have indicated our position in action. (8) 20. Flocks provide lengths of wool. (6) 22. A major collection of stars. (4) 23. Come together on the radio for food. (4)
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Success comes from working together.
Networking is about . . . Getting more This is what a member said about LVBA: “We have been attending the monthly LVBA meetings for nearly 2 years now. In that time, I have found the guest speaker presentations extremely informative and useful for my business. In addition, we have also secured a number of new clients, either fellow members or their contacts, which we simply would not have secured without being a member of the association. All in all, I consider LVBA to be one of our key partners.” Simon Hammond The Hammond Consultancy. If you’d like to know when some of the wonderful specialists on the right are going to be presenting check below: • Tuesday 1 July speaker Emily Chapman (top right) from Loud Monkey Social network update. • Tuesday 5 August at The Oak in Charing. Speaker to be confirmed. • Tuesday 2 September at The Dog & Bear, Lenham. Our speaker is Deborah Turner from You - Image Consultancy, (middle right) telling us we only get 7 seconds to make a first impression. • Tuesday 7 October at The White Horse. Speaker Helen Topliss (bottom right), Business Advisor at Mid Kent College.
. t i e k i l t h g i m t s u j Try it - you
LVBA member or not you can come along for free . . . you just have to register.
New members and one off visitors welcome or you can try it out for free we are sure you’ll like networking with LVBA. Please register on our website, on the online registration page. Events are organised and presented by Alan Reading who has been networking from before it was called networking! Keep up to date (& to join) www.lenhambusiness.co.uk or call 01622 820841 Advertisers
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Last months crossword solution Last months winner was Mrs. Joan Smith 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. 67 Every 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 ‘Out of Town’ Readers Distribution Natwest Bank Lenham, Chequers Fish Bar, Lenham Post Office, Len Valley Newsagents and Harrietsham Post Office. Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus
My only love sprung from my only hate
+ Juliet
Did my heart love till now ?
William Shakespeare’s
Romeo + The Tithe Barn Lenham, ME17 2QD
Friday 18 July, 7:30pm Doors open from 5:30pm
Tickets from the Hazlitt Box Office changeling-theatre.com
01622 758 611