Lenham Focus | October '14 by Falcon

OCTOBER 2014 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 10 Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

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Welcome... to the October edition of the Lenham Focus It seems that the article on the expansion has caused some upset and not just because of the plans to almost double the size of the village. We have printed a response to the article along with another article on the proposed expansion. As always we welcome views from all sides.

Welcome

This month we also have a couple of charity nights. On the 18th there is the Hope Ball in support of Emilia’s Little Heart Charity. A very worthy cause and a great night out, if you haven’t been to one before I would recommend it. On the 24th is the Girls Charity Night at Victoria’s in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Another worthy

James Collett Focus Editor 01622 850608

editorialslf@gmail.com cause which I hope will be well supported. I would also like to draw your attention to the plans for the 2015 Family Festival. As its only a couple of lines I want to make sure it’s not missed. If you have anyone who would like to be involved please contact Tom Sams on 01622 859412. Finally just to remind everyone we are still on the lookout for a distribution manager to help get the Focus out. Anyone who would like more information or think they can help out please get in contact.

Lenham Focus Volume 16 Issue 10 | October 2014 Circulation 2000

OCT 14 Editorial: James Collett, Annie Drylie 07956629772 | editorialslf@gmail.com Advertising: Mark Dunbar, Chris Wood 07808863227 | advertslf@gmail.com Finance: Sue Marchant, Jenny Wood 01622 858511 | 07788163828 | lenhamfocusinvoices@gmail.com Distribution: Gez Clark 07784 447200 Proofing: Jayne Hewish, Katy Bennett Interviews: Jim Myers Social: Jemma Cockell, Liz Webb Printed by: Gemini Print

Copy Deadline: 5pm 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 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 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. Check out his Flickr Photostream! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ 35132157@N04/

Your Focus Team Hopefully everyone has noticed that the Focus has been out prior to the end of the month for the last few months. This has been thanks to the new team we now have in place and I am sure you will join me in congratulating them. I hope as they become more experienced in putting the Focus together it will get easier.

As always anyone with a suggestion to help us improve the Focus please let us know. And if you would like to contribute either an article or your time please also get in contact as we always appreciate your support. James Collett

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Race Night

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8.30pm Saturday 22 November Members £5 Guests £7 On Night £7 Members and Guests Only

At The Great British Kitchen, our aim is to cook the best traditional ingredients as simply as possible, letting the quality of the produce and the magnificent view across the Castle’s moat speak for themselves. The Great British Kitchen is open for bookings from 7pm. Free parking is available, please use the Broomfield Road entrance from the A20.

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Dates for Your Diary

OCT

Dates for Your Diary

Victoria’s Cabaret Girls’ Charity Night 2 course meal and charity raffle 7pm to 1am Cost £25 a ticket 01622 859331

OCT

Heart of Kent Hospice – Woofs and Wellies Kent Showground at Scragged Oak Lane This year the Riverside Rotary will be hosting this fabulous sponsored dog walking event in support of the HOKC. The 5 to 6 mile walk should take between 2 – 3 hours. Each dog will pay £10.00 to enter and then owners, family and friends will go free! Registration between 9am to 10am. The dog that raises the most sponsorship will be presented with a doggy hamper with goody bags being presented to all other entrants. For further information or to book a place please visit www.hokh.org e-mail us on fundraising@hokh.co.uk or phone 01622 790195.

Kent Plant Heritage Group invite you to come to a talk on ‘Sissinghurst Castle Gardens’ by Troy Scott-Smith Hollingbourne Village Hall ME17 1TR at 2pm Homemade teas, plant stall, seeds from members’ gardens Admission free. Information: Jude Lawton 01732 522317 judelawton@btinternet.com

OCT

Emma’s Fabric Studio open day and fabric sale Lenham Tithe Barn 10.30am to 3.30pm Lunch, cakes and afternoon teas available

Borough Council Corner Report from Councillor Janetta Sams I have been impressed with Lenham residents and the Parish Council rolling up their sleeves in protest of the additional 1500 houses in Lenham, this will be a long hard fight, however, I believe that with consistent pressure together, we can make a difference. This month I have been meeting with many residents on such issues as parking and trying to reinstate disabled bays, as well as environmental concerns.

During the summer there have been many community events that residents have enjoyed; the recent strawberry tea held at the Young at Heart club was a lovely afternoon for all involved and again, as every month, was made possible by all the volunteers. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to ring or email me on any borough matters. Janetta Sams Borough Councillor Harrietsham & Lenham ward. 01622 859412 Â janettasamscllr@ gmail.com

The Honywood & Douglas Charity Lenham (Registered Charity No.211272) The Trustees hereby give notice that the following almshouse accommodation is available:An upper floor bedsitting room with kitchen and bathroom at Douglas Court Almshouses, 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 24th October, 2014. Mrs. Pat Sutton, 18 Headcorn Road, Platts Heath, Lenham, ME17 2NH Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

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Clubs & Societies Lenham Gardening Society We started August with a club outing to Hatfield House. Again the weather was great; not too hot but dry. The house and gardens were very interesting and well worth the visit. Next was our monthly meeting at which our speaker was Dusty Miller whose talk on ‘What the Vegetable Judge Looks For’ was very appropriate and timely for the Show later in the month. We picked up a lot of good ideas and tips; also some of the tricks people get up to when exhibiting their vegetables (polishing onions etc.). All in all a very interesting and amusing talk enjoyed by our members. The main event this month was the Lenham Garden Show. This was our second year and it proved even better than last year. Despite the bad weather of late it was amazing how good the exhibits were in all classes. This year we added cake making to the list and we had over 20 entries in the various classes, definitely one to be kept in the programme for future years. Overall the entries were a third up on last year and it was pleasing to note an increase in the number of exhibitors who are not members of the LGS although we did recruit two of them!

These shows are hard work to arrange and thanks must go to Lesley Feakes, show Secretary, and her team for a brilliant job. Thanks also to the judges, who had some tough decisions to make but most of all thanks to the exhibitors and show visitors for making it such a success. Watch this space for news of next year’s show, likely to be 29th August 2015. By the way Brian Llong retained his title of grower of the heaviest marrow. Our October speaker will be Mr. Withnall who will talk about ‘Gardening for the over 70s’. This should be very interesting for those of us who have reached the milestone. Would all members please note that our AGM has been put back to Friday 21st, same time and place. The AGM will be followed by our Cheese and Wine evening. On the subject of the AGM don’t forget that we are looking for new committee members so if you are interested why not give us a call, likewise if you would like to take over as Chairman (it can be a lady) please let us know. Happy Gardening,Keith Varney Chair LGS Lenham Heritage (ALL “SaveLenham” people please read this !) It is August when I am writing this , many people are on holiday , but

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Continued...

as LAS is now Lenham Heritage I think I had better add thoughts on the new 1500 houses that the Government ‘says’ must grow like mushrooms in green fields. This theoretical and immense expansion has thrown a lot of village people into near panic! But don’t panic I say, for I was a teacher and the various governments kept saying to us do this; do that; teach this way only ; teach that; but I knew that a good teacher still follows their own good ways of teaching with minor changes and calmness works. Immense expansion will not work and valid reasons can be given as to why it will not …and besides ….by the time we have just a few more houses completed it may be a different government ….even the whole world might change to a completely different ball game. Don’t panic, I will try to explain a few facts.:The “SaveLenham” people fall into several groups from the Sandils to the Beeps, let me explain :Contraction might kill it , fewer residents , children moving away because they cannot find houses or jobs to support them, it is a recipe for disaster . Anachronisms are fun, we all know the Nimbys, Not-in-my-back-yard people.

Continued...

There are the SANDILs ….Stopall-new-development-in Lenham. They are the ones heading for contractual disaster. Quite the opposite are the BEEPs. Building-everywhere-easy-peasy supporters, who I think are rather silly and will rock the boat too much. But some of the best are the SWELs = small worthwhile expansion in Lenham Unfortunately they tend to shoot themselves in the foot by raising objections to some developments and thereby wiping very sound proposals straight off the map . The Maidstone Road housing was case in point. The cricketers hit a few sixes by saying it was ‘dangerous’ and would make their cricket ground ‘untenable’. But they omitted to say that a children’s’ playground already stood within the outline of the field and footpaths go around 3 sides of the field anyway! Please do not use spurious objections in cancelling out housing developments , yes spurious, as I can think of at least 3 Kent village cricket fields that have seats, roads, footpaths around them and they are not regarded as ‘dangerous’. Anyway the Maidstone Road development would work quite well if it included Parapet Field and discounted

the section down the east of the cricket field i.e. the development is not unreasonable it just needed trimming to fit better. “Oh but if we let them build there they will extend it tremendously!” Those are the panickers again … calm down you cannot presume that will happen. The best infill small development is the one behind Grove House and then comes the Highways veto “Oh you cannot have an access to the A20”. How weird is that? Only a few hundred metres east there are two lay-bys and four (yes 4) access entrances to the commercial development! Why such favouritism? With a 40 mph speed limit (long overdue) why would there be a problem? East and Southeast development around Tanyards I think is very bad. That is what makes us the Lenhamites= “The dwellers on the Leas”. Stumbles , Sutton Field and most of the low lying fields are the flood plain of the Stour = the old water meadows and watercress beds . We haven’t had our ration of rainfall as yet …imagine what happens with 8” of rain in six hours. It will show you then where the flood plain is! Development north of the A20 is out ANOB. But why do some people think the railway is a ‘natural’ boundary? Only built in 1884 and the sand quarry, the M20 and the CTRL are what interfered with and cut through any springs and water table! Apparently, so I am told,

houses on the brown fill site of the goods-yard was turned down on “water table” excuses !!! Build south of the railway is what I say and am in favour of. The railway station needs more commuters before they make it just a Halt. Most of those fields are scrubby and unfarmed, most people do not know that they actually exist at all! Access could be down Old Ham Lane (sufficient room to widen it) and traffic would then not come through the village. Oh, there is one group of people I forgot entirely; the OVIOs . Our view is ours. So think what you like I shall probably not be here in 2031 when it’s all supposed to be in place. Lesley Feakes Lenham W.I. As I write this. I am anticipating the return from our summer break. I will tell you about our September speaker in the November edition of Focus. In October, our speaker is Sir Jeremy Elwes, who will be telling us about ‘The Honours System’(not something I am ever likely to become familiar with !!) and in November Dennis Chambers will be talking about ‘Ghosts’, ( highly appropriate with Halloween having just been celebrated). Once again I invite any ladies to come along and see that W.I. is for all of you. 2nd Thursday of each month, 7.30 pm in the Community Hall. Gill Simes

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Christian Message There was a little girl who wandered through a dark forest and came upon an ancient castle deep in the heart of the woods. Attentively she climbed up to the attic, where she found an old lady spinning golden thread.

The old lady welcomed the child and gave her a golden ring, and told her: ‘I’m constantly here for you, spinning the golden thread of life. Wear this ring always. It joins you to the thread of life which can never be broken, that thread connects you eternally to me, and I love you unconditionally and will always hold you close to my heart.’ The child was delighted to have the ring but was dismayed to discover that the golden thread itself was invisible. She was going to have to trust what the old lady had told her was true, because she couldn’t see the thread that connected her to the golden spool of life. Well, that was a fairy tale – but our Christian living can sometimes feel like that too. We do know that we are eternally connected to God – but we can’t see the thread! And so we may sometimes lose heart. But Jesus is what makes

Christian Message

the invisible thread real; he was visible and we can live in bold confidence that this is the thread that can never be severed. The ways of life can be amazing but they can also sometimes be dark and winding. The words in the gospels give us a golden thread as we read about the life of Jesus. In the words printed below St Paul reminds us about the golden thread of life which is the unfailing access we have to God, because of Jesus. We truly can live in bold confidence that this thread can never be severed. The words that I finish with below are words we have reminded ourselves of in the Len Valley group of churches every week over the last few months. They are words that St Paul wrote when he was in prison and yet he was able to proclaim the very gateway of freedom. Prison bars come in different forms. I pray that you may find freedom from whatever you may feel trapped by today, that you may discover the golden thread of life. ‘through faith in Christ we can come to God with freedom and confidence.’ Ephesians 3:12 Millie Hart

St Mary’s Church Harvest Festival is on October 12th Wedding on October 25th Flowers for October October 4th/11th Mrs Greenwood

October 18th/25th Mrs Porter and Mrs Barr Brass cleaning for October Brass cleaning Mrs Hopkins

Heart of Kent Hospice – Woofs and Wellies Sunday 12th October Registration between 9am & 10am This year the Riverside Rotary will be hosting this fabulous sponsored dog walking event in support of the Heart of Kent Hospice. The walk should take between 2 – 3 hours commencing from the Kent Showground at Scragged Oak Lane, Detling ME14 3JF, which offers fantastic facilities both before and after the walk. The 5 or 6 mile circular walk will take you along the beautiful North Downs Way and it would be hard to find a better way for you, your family and friends including your four legged

ones to spend a Sunday morning. Each dog will pay £10.00 to enter and then owners, family and friends will go free! The dog that raises the most sponsorship will be presented with a doggy hamper with goody bags being presented to all other entrants. For further information or to book a place please visit www.hokh. org e-mail us on fundraising@ hokh.co.uk or phone 01622 790195. Thank you and kind regards, Dorothy HOKH Preston Hall, Aylesford

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Maidstone Riverside Rotary Club invite you and your loyal friend to a 5 or 6 mile circular walk along the beautiful North Downs Way in aid of Heart of Kent Hospice. The walk should take between 2-3 hours and starts from the Kent Showground at Detling, which offers fantastic facilities and refreshments both before and after the walk.

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Kent Showground, Scragged Oak Road, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF

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Focus on Nature SEED TIME AND HARVEST While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, and summer and winter, And day and night shall not cease. Genisis VII. 22.

The first section of my regular walking route takes me from Grovelands, past the Medical Centre, across the busy A20, then follows the peaceful footpath, gently uphill across the fields cultivated as far as the eye can see, up to the Pilgrims Way, all dominated by the white cross cut into the chalk subsoil, photographed dramatically on our September Focus cover. Ideally, I like to time the start of this walk at an early hour because the path climbs due east, straight towards the fiery globe of the rising sun, a truly exhilarating and inspiring experience. A truly bountiful (and possibly record?) wheat harvest was produced here earlier this summer and an even earlier harvest of oilseed rape in the fields to the distant south, which coloured the landscape in a startlingly brilliant

Focus on Nature

yellow colour. Along the extreme edges of the footpath, where the effect of the farmer’s regular applications of selective weed killer have been minimal. I have been pleased to see that some wild poppies managed to survive, both the Field Poppy ... Papaver rhoes, and the Pale Poppy ... Papaver argemone. A large supply of seeds develop within the capsules of each plant, and as they ripen, an upper ring of pores open up, scattering the seeds just like a pepper pot, whenever a breeze causes the stems to sway. The seeds are capable of remaining dormant in the soil for a number of years, before germinating when the ground is disturbed in the spring and rain falls. If the ripe seed capsules or other parts of the plant are cut, a sticky latex material exudes, containing various alkaloids which could prove toxic if a sufficient quantity were ingested. At one time, it was recorded for use in herbal medicine, including a recipe for syrup to treat infants who had sleeping difficulties. Local Kentish names include ‘Popples’, ‘Red Rags’ and ‘Red Petticoats’. Contemporary farmers presumably regard these colourful

wild flowers as unwanted weeds, but that was not the case in earlier days, when they were considered to be corn’s inseparable companion. The Assyrians gave the wild poppy the respectful name of ‘Daughter of the Field’, the Greeks treated it as the flower of Aphrodite, the goddess of vegetation, and there are Roman mosaics depicting the yellow-haired corn goddess Ceres, holding a flaming brand in one hand and a bunch of corn interlaced with wild poppies in the other. Also in earlier times were recorded several strange superstitions. Eg. In rural Ireland, women were said to dread even touching the flowers. Here in England it was thought that the poppies could induce headaches, with serious warnings to avoid staring at them for too long so as to avoid the risk of blindness, hence some other

local names from that period, e.g. ‘Blind Eyes’, ‘Blind Man’, and ‘Blindy Buffs’. One of the most common beliefs which persisted into more recent times, was that picking the flowers brought the onset of thunder, but if placed among the timbers of a house roof, lightning strikes could be avoided, hence many early ‘thunder’ names. Delving into murky folklore, one extraordinary use was as a test of the faithfulness of a loved one. The method is to place a poppy petal in the open palm of a hand and then strike it with a fist. If the result is ‘a snapping sound’, then the loved one is faithful. For any reader who may be motivated to try this out, please note that I cannot be responsible for the outcome!

DEREK BUDGE

Lenham Family Festival 2015 Next year’s Lenham Family Festival plans are starting to be formulated. Anyone wishing to get

involved can ring Tom Sams on 01622 859412

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Service Times NB, lots of new things going on! Changed times at Ulcombe and Harrietsham (first Sunday) and new service at Lenham. Come along and try us out!

Celebration Ulcombe 10.45am Holy Communion – 10.30 for coffee

Sat 4th Harrietsham Harvest Supper Sun 5th Boughton Malherbe 9.30am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) Harrietsham 3.30pm New service “Growing in Faith Together” (GIFT) and Harvest Celebration Lenham 9.30am Family Breakfast service 11am Holy Communion Ulcombe 10.45am Family Worship – 10.30 for coffee

Sat 18th 5pm Prayer & Praise at Harrietsham Church Ulcombe Harvest Supper Sun 19th Boughton Malherbe 9.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) Harrietsham 9.30am Morning Worship Lenham 9.30am Family Breakfast service 11am Holy Communion Ulcombe 10.45am Harvest Celebration – 10.30 for coffee

Sat 11th Lenham Harvest Supper Sun 12th Boughton Malherbe 3.30pm Harvest celebration and auction of produce Harrietsham 9.30am Holy Communion Lenham 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 9.30am Family Breakfast service 11am Harvest

Sat 25th 4pm Messy Church at Ulcombe Village Hall Sun 26th Bible Sunday Boughton Malherbe 9.30am Family Worship Harrietsham 9.30am Holy Communion Lenham 8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 11am Family Worship Ulcombe 10.45am Holy Communion – 10.30 for coffee

Service Times

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Follow-on item from Girl Guides interview with Julia Thomsett The Guides’ Reply – Last month’s Focus carried Julia Thomsett’s article on the Guides movement in Lenham. Two of the Guides, Zoe and Iona, describe what Guiding has done for them.

‘We have both been involved in Guides since we were both 10, when we moved up from Lenham Brownies into Lenham Guides. At Guides, Julia and Mary welcomed us both and got us involved straight away by the fun activities that they plan for us every week. At Guides they make us feel safe as well as part of a team which impacts our involvement with the community and environment. Julia has given us both lots of opportunity within Guiding, helping us create memories and develop our confidence and ability outside of our comfort zones. Julia always pushes us to do our best and encourages us to try different things. Mary is very

creative and caring, she always plans art activities for us sharing her knowledge and experience. She helps us achieve our best and is always there to share a laugh. As a unit of Guides, we vary our activities to help gain lifelong skills and independence such as going swimming, camping and cooking, as well as taking part in community projects such as the Gardening Society Annual meal, where Guides act as waitresses, and planting flowers around the village. Both of these women are inspiringly talented as well as being kindhearted and imaginative. Both Julia and Mary have impacted our lives and changed the way we respect our community and the people within as well as teaching us useful skills and knowledge.’ Iona and Zoe

Follow-on item from Girl Guides interview with Julia Thomsett

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 Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Union Pilates Classes Redback Explorer Scouts Royal British Legion St John Ambulance Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Steve Campbell 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

Vicar

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Lost and Found FREE CALL Ruth Lovering Brian Llong Kevin Fitzsimons Margaret Mitchell

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Regular Daily & Weekly Events Daily

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Wednesday

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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 10-11am Community Centre 7.00- 9.00pm Harrietsham Scout Hut 7.30- 9.30pm Community Centre 5.30- 8.30pm Community Centre 2.00- 3.30pm Swadelands Ham Lane 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

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2.00pm 8.pm 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. OďŹ&#x192;ce: 01622 850855 Mobile: 07850740637 paulgrant747@gmail.com www.paulgrantroofingcontractors.co.uk Card payments accepted 37

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Interview with Nell Weatherley, Psiron Art (02 Sept ’14)

Back in the early 1980s Nell Weatherley studied fine art (painting and sculpture) in London and then textile design at the University of Surrey. She had developed a strong interest in arts therapy and so she studied for five years, qualifying as a psychiatric nurse in the late 80s and later in counselling and psychotherapy. But art was always in the background. Nell had always created her own art and has had various commissions and exhibitions in the past, won a couple of design awards and worked with theatre groups designing and painting scenery. Nell has lived in the local area for the last eleven years and in Lenham since 2011. It was in that year that while recovering from a serious car accident, she reviewed her life and once again her interest in art came to the fore. She decided

Interview

to devote herself to her art full time and set up a studio at Church Farm in Ulcombe. Nell creates both her own textile art pieces and accepts commissions, working from customers’ photographs and memories to produce custom-tailored art. Nell’s textiles are made by layering sheer fabrics which are machine embroidered, and then cut back to reveal the layers beneath. This process is repeated over and over until the colour and design are complete. The piece is then hand embroidered and embellished. The finished pieces are usually between nine and fourteen layers when completed. Nell describes her work as ‘painting with fabric, fibre and thread’. She loves walking and finds inspiration for her own works on eight to ten mile walks in the Kent

countryside and in her travels with her campervan. She participates at various exhibitions, galleries and craft shows throughout the UK and was recently displaying her works at the launch of the Lenham and the Great War book on 2 August. She will also be exhibiting at the Pilgrims Way artists’ Cloth & Clay - Handmade Midwinter Market in the Tithe Barn on 22nd-23rd November.

and to find out more about how she constructs her landscape pieces and her custom made textile bunting for weddings, events, parties, etc. Nell has also recently started a new venture working in collaboration with a local upholsterer, Steve Hanson, in making bespoke embroidered textile coverings for traditionally restored antique chairs, sofas and daybeds.

Nell’s art certainly deserves to be better known both locally and beyond so have a look at Nell’s website – www.psironart.com – to view a gallery of her work

Interested? Come and meet Nell at the Tithe Barn in November. Text by Jim Myers

Lenham Cricket Club The penultimate round up of the 2014 season saw the Saturday side travel to Meopham for a league fixture. In what would prove to be a common occurrence throughout the month of August, Lenham were unable to field 11 players. The 10 men of Lenham were put into bat by Meopham and scored 152 off their allotted 45 overs. The pick of the Lenham batsman were Pete Humphries (66) and John Barrett (46). The modest total never looked to be enough to contain a strong Meopham side, and it proved to be the case; they knocked off the runs for the loss of 1 wicket inside

26 overs. Tom Curtis took the one wicket to fall. The following day the Sunday side travelled to Rainham to play Newington for the third time this season. Lenham were looking to avenge the two earlier defeats inflicted upon them by Newington. Heavy rain ahead of the game made it look likely that the game may be abandoned without a ball being bowled, but eventually a 30 over a side game was played. Lenham won the toss and chose to field first. They dismissed Newington in the 30th over of the

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Continued... game for 127. Tom Curtis, the pick of the bowlers, took 3 wickets for 29 runs.

Lenham got off to a flying start with Matt Revitt racing to 63 and Tom Curtis 26, the pair putting on 57 for the first wicket. Lenham chased down the target for the loss of 3 wickets inside 26 overs. The following Saturday, 9 Lenham players travelled to Headcorn for a league fixture. Headcorn batted first and scored 293 runs off their 45 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Dave Gardner and Tom Curtis each picked up 2 wickets. The target always looked beyond Lenham. Tom Curtis scored a powerful 83 including six sixes, the only other two Lenham Batsman to reach double figures being Adrian Longley and Nick Rutledge, each scoring 19 runs. Lenham were finally dismissed for 167. There was no friendly fixture on Sunday 24th August. The following weekend, the Saturday side travelled to Sheldwich, with the two teams propping up the division Lenham would have hoped to have been fairly evenly matched. Once again Lenham had just 9 players. Lenham won the toss and stand in skipper for the day Tony Ambrose

Continued...

put the 9 men of Lenham in the field, thank Tony! Lenham conceded 418 runs off 45 overs, yes four hundred and eighteen runs. The Sheldwich openers put on 291 runs for the first wicket with their number one batsman scoring 219 runs. Sheldwich lost just two wickets in posting their mammoth total, Dave Seaman and Adrian Longley picking up the 2 wickets to fall. Lenham were defeated before they had taken to the field for their innings but were determined to at least try and restore some pride. Adrian Longley (66) and Nick Rutledge (48 not out) put on 108 for the first wicket. Lenham reached 144 off their 45 overs losing 4 wickets in the process, defeated by 274 runs. The following day the Sunday side travelled to Detling. Once again Lenham had 9 players. Nick Rutledge skippered for the day and having won the toss, decided to bat first. Lenham got off to a good, but slow start, with Matt Revitt and Nick Rutledge putting on 53 for the first wicket. Matt Revitt eventually fell for 43 runs, and then the wickets fell at regular intervals. Tony Ambrose left the pitch injured having been

hit in the chest by a quick beamer. Nick Rutledge ended 43 not out. Lenham posted 118. Lenham bowled and fielded well. Special mention must go to Detling, and their skipper, Barry Town, for lending us 2 players whilst in the field, a very sporting gesture. It was not all plain sailing for the Detling batsman and it took them to the 35th over to reach their target. They lost 4 wickets in the process. John Bailey, a new recruit for the day took three excellent

catches at gully, Jack Ambrose also took a good catch. Hopefully there will be some positive results to update you with in next month’s final round up! By the time you’re reading this unfortunately the season will have ended for this year, but if you’re interested in joining the club for season 2015, please contact us at lenhamcc@gmail.com or call 07725 632955. Nick Rutledge

One Hundred Years Ago… Lenham was still reeling from the sudden change to its life after the outbreak of the First World War, and Lenham men in the Regular Army and the Reserves were already in France. At Rose Cottage in Lenham Heath, William Swaffer was breaking the news to his mother that he had just volunteered, and Lenham itself was preparing for hard times. The weekly budget for an average family for food was then £1 4s. 11d (£1.25p). That was going to change. By October the lst Battalion, the Queen’s Own Royal West Kents, including probably the locally

born Charles Bugden, had already faced the disasters at Mons and Le Cateau. The race for the Channel Ports had begun and the fighting moved to the Ypres area. At Neuve Chapelle the lst Battalion came into its own during the hard fighting. One old soldier (maybe even Charles?), seeing some units moving to the rear, is reputed to have stopped his comrade from doing so with: ‘None of that, my lad. We don’t do that in the Queen’s Own.’* Amy Myers *Quoted in The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment by Roger Holloway

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Lenham Parish Council

Report from the Lenham Parish Council Chairman – September 2014 We launched the Neighbourhood Plan Project in July 2014 & have now formed a steering group & four work teams. There are over 24 local residents either leading or working within these teams developing our understanding of; Housing; What’s needed, where, what type? Infrastructure; Can the current systems cope, how to expand, new services for the future? Village Life; Community life, what must be retained, what makes our community special? Economy; What businesses we have, how to protect jobs, working from home? Each team has at least 2 Parish councillors on them. The teams are led by; Lynn Keeley, Housing Simon Beaney, Infrastructure Brian Llong, Village Life Sandie MacKenzie, Economy Each team [delete have] held their first meeting in August which is great progress since we only launched the NHP project on 26th July & the steering group met on 3rd Sept 2014. It is aimed that these teams will

Lenham Parish Council

have a significant amount of data, facts & residents’ opinions in place by late 2014 to allow the draft Lenham NHP to be prepared in early 2015. If anyone has any input to the teams then please contact Margo McFarlane initially. One of the aims of the Lenham NHP project is to develop a communityled Neighbourhood Plan that is able to achieve referendum & ratification without redrafts, so it is important to get our work right first time. The progress to date is very encouraging, we have a very strong team structure & I have every confidence we can achieve our goals. The SaveLenham Campaign was launched independently to the NHP project. SaveLenham is a group that wishes to raise awareness, promote communication & ensure decision makers understand how 1745 houses will destroy the Lenham we know. Lenham Parish Council does support the SaveLenham campaign wholeheartedly but does not lead their campaign. The Parish Council next meets for full council meeting on Wednesday 1st October 2014, LCC, Osbourne room at 1930hrs. Colin Gillett

Lenham Valley Practice Summer Newsletter WELCOME We are pleased to announce that Dr Nik Kendrew is joining the team. His working days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Dr Andrew Taylor has reduced his surgeries to Monday mornings, Thursdays and Fridays. Two GP Registrars started with us in August: Dr Lee Welsh and Dr Stephen Brown. Dr Natalie Edwards returned in June and she will be with us until February 2016. All are fully qualified doctors. GOODBYE TO Two of our GP Registrars - Dr Patience Orororo and Dr Nandana Shetty. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK The CQC (Care Quality Commission) is the regulator for all health and social care services in England. They check that services meet the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards or rules to ensure that people get good, safe care. Please will you consider commenting on the care or services you receive at your surgery. Visit

the NHS Choices website http:// www.nhs.uk Alternatively, if there is any aspect of your care that you would like to comment on directly to the practice, please contact the practice manager by telephone, letter, or email: diane.anderson@ nhs.net FLU CLINICS We will be commencing our flu clinics in October â&#x20AC;&#x201C; please note the dates in your diary. Appointment not necessary. You are eligible for vaccination if you are: 65 years of age or above Or have: Asthma, Diabetes, COPD, Heart disease, Renal disease, Chronic liver disease Or if you have had a stroke or TIA Or if you are a carer Or if you are pregnant

Shingles Vaccination: If you are aged 70, 78 or 79 on 1st September 2014 you are eligible to have this. Just ask when you come in for your flu jab. (If you are aged 70 or 79 up to 31st August 2014 and have not been vaccinated but would like to be, please contact the surgery. You are ineligible after that date.)

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Continued... If you have never had a vaccination against pneumonia, you can have this at the same time (unless you are having a shingles vaccination). At Lenham Surgery: Saturday 11th October 8.30-11.30am At Harrietsham Surgery: Thursday 16th October 3-5pm Hopefully it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rain but the local Church has kindly booked the community centre at Harrietsham for patients to wait if they wish. 44

We will have plenty of vaccines so there is no need to arrive before the start. We will not be able to deal with any other clinical queries or prescriptions during the clinics. Refreshments will be available to purchase at both clinics. NEW SERVICES: Psychological Therapy Are you anxious, depressed or suffering with stress? Contact the Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust. Patients may self-refer by telephoning 0800 2799 500, or pick

Continued...

up a leaflet from reception. Walking for Health Like to take a walk but not keen on walking alone? Well help is at hand! For latest Newsletter see PPG Noticeboard in foyer or ask at Reception Short walks led by Jan Enever. Contact her on (01622) 851623 Longer walks led by Marjorie Darby (01622) 850657 Â REMINDERS Urine Samples Please drop these in to reception before 10.30am if possible. Test Results Please telephone after 3.30pm.

Friends of St Mary’s Lenham Presents A brass ensemble evening performed by

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Saturday 1st November 2014 St Mary’s Church Doors Open 7:00pm starts @ 7.30pm Tickets: £12.00 (Includes a glass of wine/soft drink plus nibbles) Tickets can be purchased from either:   

Len Valley Newsagent, High St, Lenham St Mary’s Church’s coffee morning 10.00am every Saturday Or, Contact Lyn Fuller on 01622 851538

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Lenham 2026 article complaint Re Lenham Focus page 39-40, September 2014. Dear Mr Collett I would just like to say how draconian the article printed in this month’s Focus is. As a nonKentish person who had lived here for nearly 10 years, I find the comments made in the article very offensive. Do you, as the editor, think these comments are acceptable? Having origins from outside Kent, my wife and I, this article implies that we are not welcome . 48

Our money is welcome in the shops in Lenham . It is articles like this which highlight the fact that a change in Lenham would be a good thing, as it might bring in more people less small minded than those currently writing articles like the one printed in your September issue. Could you please issue these comments in next month’s Focus, as both views should be aired. As I say, I am extremely annoyed by this article, as a non-Kentish person!! and an apology from the author, also printed next month would be a fair course of action. Regards Nick Gunn

Lenham 2026 article complaint

Reply from Editor Dear Nick, The Focus is a forum for all residents to express their views, we do not support any particular opinion and as I point out in my editorial we welcome all views, for and against. I will not request or expect an apology from the author for expressing their opinion. However, I would apologise for the oversight on our part for not including the author’s name Peter Bailey, which we should have done. I can also confirm we will print your response and if we do receive an apology we will print it. Regards James

The Localism Act and Local Housing:

Here is an extract from ‘A plain English guide to the Localism Act’ Final page, page 19. Reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally The Act: enables local authorities to make their own decisions to adapt housing provision to local needs, and make the system fairer and more effective gives local authorities more control over the funding of social housing, helping them to plan for the long term gives people who live in social housing new ways of holding their landlords to account, and make it easier for them to move This is, in sum, an Act with the potential to affect a significant change in national life, passing power to a local level, creating space for local authorities to lead and innovate, and giving people

the opportunity to take control of decisions that matter to them. Together with other, wider Government reforms, putting the Act into practice will represent a major milestone towards the transfer of power and control set out in the coalition agreement.

Above is the relevant Hearn report table showing housing needs: The ‘official’ Hearn report relates to an area identified as “Rural East” Comprising Lenham, Harriestsham, Headcorn, Ulcombe . These 4 villages had a combined population of 8,563 in 2011. Lenham Parish comprises about 40% of this total. Hence the Net need of 25 houses per annum shown in the table reflects in a level of 10 Houses per annum for Lenham alone! And my summary as it affects Lenham Parish:

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Continued...

The key wording relates to local needs! The local needs of Lenham, expressed in the 2007 Parish plan and ratified in the official Hearn report (grouped as Maidstone Rural East) are now clearly established as approximately 200 new houses from 2011 to 2031 or 10 p.a. Any higher figure constitutes an interference or manipulation to allow the ingress of non-local people into the Lenham parish, severely damaging the community

and interfering with the population trend of 150 years! We now have sufficient evidence to progress on this basis and be able to justify the figures at any level, Borough, County or M.P.! Social housing is the Parish need, clearly identified, not an imposed influx of those wising to move to the Kent countryside. Peter Bailey

Story Time Would you like to share more stories with your children? Storytime is on every Monday afternoon, 2.15-2.45, in the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corner at Lenham library. Following a recent re-launch Storytime is now run by the parents for all children, birth to pre-school, in Lenham and the surrounding villages. It remains free of charge.

Continued...

We would love to see you for half an hour of stories and nursery rhymes very soon. Why not take advantage and borrow some more stories to take home from the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent collection? Bookstart bear and the team look forward to meeting you! Karen Gambrell

LENHAM PARISH COUNCIL PLEASE JOIN US AT THE

ANNUAL AUTUMN CLEAN UP EVENT MEET AT THE CHURCH YARD SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 9am to 11am 52

We will tidy the church yard and it is hoped a team will be able to tidy the cemetery. (Depending on numbers of volunteers)

Gloves and bags supplied, please bring any gardening equipment you would like to use along with you. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! Full details from Margo McFarlane 01622 859682 hello@lenhamparish.org.uk

Clean up

Len Valley Practice Patient Participation Group Annual General Meeting Thursday 2 October 2014 6.30-7.30pm You are warmly invited to join us at our AGM. This is an open meeting so please do feel free to pass on this invitation to your local friends and colleagues. Len Valley PPG is made up of individuals interested in promoting engagement between the GP practice and its patients, ensuring that they are involved in ongoing planning and decision-making about the practice.

7.15pm General Question & Answer Session (Drs Graham Hagan and Andrew Taylor in attendance) 7.30pm Close. Followed by tea/ coffee and an opportunity to talk informally to PPG members and practice staff. We do hope you can join us. Sue Southon Len Valley PPG Chair 53

The agenda is as follows: 6.30pm Arrival 6.35 Presentations of Len Valley PPG Annual Report 6.40 Appointment of Chair/Vice Chair Reappointment of Members To consider the Terms of Reference and any proposed changes 6.45 Guest Speaker: Jane Reynolds Kent Community Health NHS Trust â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Expert Patient Programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Prize Crossword Please leave your completed crossword entry at Lenham Library on or before the 20th of October.

Across clues 1. Misery seed created for a very famous fourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. (10) 6. Could it be the cause of leaf decay? No! (4) 9. Lightly concealed as a bride might be. (4,6) 10. Performs in the Bible. (4) 12. Sorts of 19 tractors? (12) 15. An 19 sounds like one of a very famous four. (6) 16. What a lot of cricket followers are this year. (3,5) 18. Steal a handle? You may have one! (8) 19 A groupie creature surely? (6) 21. This sort of shark could cut you. (7,5) 24. See Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; python trapped! (4) 25. Known and served a winner cutely contained. (10 26. Stop at the edge. (4) 27. Starts at home with good man I stage for a change. (10)

Down clues 1.19 finds car examination hard. (4) 2. How gin can effect a mother. (4) 3. After reforming I ban even less this unworthy quality. (12) 4. 19 puts in the water again backwards. (6) 5. Animal enclosure sounds like an expensive place to leave your car. (4,4) 7. Essential requirements for detention. (4,3,3) 8. Helpers who could provide care by the sound of it. (10) 11. Nothalling is what nudists are! (3,2,7) 13. This meat would not be Keats variety. (1,4,5) 14. Vessel to cut short your afternoon break. (3,7) 17. He is the other side of the pond. (8) 20. 19 in a plague. (6) 22. Gallery returns French State. (4) 23. Not a day for a Caesarean! (4)

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Last months crossword solution Last months winner was: Roger Evans of Lenham.

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Lenham Surgery Tel: 858341 Mondays to Fridays 8:30am-6:30pm Closed 1-2pm Dispensary 8:30am-6:30pm Closed 12:30-2pm Urgent matters out of hours telephone. 0845 1450121 (6-6.30pm only) IC24. 111 (from 6.30pm) 64

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Networking is about . . . listening and making business easier. This is what a member said about Lenham Valley Business Association: “It is very useful to know LVBA people and have them ‘under your belt’. It is also very interesting to hear what everybody is doing, and you pick some useful tips from the speakers we have. Lastly, I love ‘going local’ and helping local business.” Andrew Barr, A&A Barr Farms, Leham As always we have informative speakers for our networking presentations, see below for who, when and where (you can attend up to two presentations without commitment to LVBA): • Tuesday 7 October at The White Horse, Sandway. Speaker Claire Bridger (right), Business Development, Mid Kent College. • Tuesday 4 November at The Holiday Inn. • Tuesday 2 December THE BIG ONE joint networking with South Maidstone Business Association at Chilston Park Hotel, Sandway, Lenham. Speaker Michaela Stewart-West (below right) presents “The Big Picture”. LVBA member or not you can come along for free, you just have to register online or phone 01622 820841 2015 is just a few months away. We will meet the first Tuesday of each month, except June. Make it a date and don’t miss out.

. t i e k i l t h g i m t s u Try it - you j 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

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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 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. Visit lenhamfocus.co.uk Follow us @lenhamfocus

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