Ashford December 2019

The

Village Directory

VOTED BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN

For Ashford

Dec/Jan 2020 Edition • Issue 54 • Royal Mail

01233 668 731

CINNA MO N

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Seasons Greetings

Ch

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2020 is on the horizon and for The Village Directory it represents big changes, the first since its inception in 2005. From February 2020 all of the magazines will be published every two months, so those of you involved with events and charity promotions will need to think ahead in order to avoid missing print deadlines. I’ve received some wonderful comments regarding the importance of the magazine for promoting fund raising events, I’m immensly proud of this and would hate anyone to miss out as a result of change. As Ashford and the surrounding areas continue to grow it’s inevitable that some change will occur.

As this magazine is already bi-monthly the only change is to coverage, from the new year it will return to focusing on TN24, Park Farm and Kingsnorth will be covered by The Villages South magazine, which already includes Bridgefield and Finberry. A new area map can be found on the inside back cover for reference. Wherever possible events will be published across all of the magazines, unless otherwise requested.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for your continued support of this magazine, and of all the local businesses that advertise with us. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. I’m now off to put my feet up with a glass of wine (after all it is Sunday!) and write my letter to Santa!

Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk Feb/Mar Edition Deadline 10th Jan 2020

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The Illuminites events have been organised by Ashford Borough Council and Loveashford, in partnership with Emergency Exit Arts, We Make Stuff Happen, LM Productions, and supported by local Ashford businesses.

An incredible, never-seen-before series of events will dazzle and amaze Ashford this December.

On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December, you will be able to enjoy a five minute digital mapping projection on the side of International House, Dover Place, celebrating Ashford’s rich heritage and history. Watch in wonder as the building transforms before your eyes, falling away and reappearing in a kaleidoscope of imagery.

The newly-opened Coachworks in Dover Place will be serving up a range of food and drink, working with Rebel Farmer to provide tasty, local and sustainable food, and there will be a small market of local traders.

The shows will be at 4.30, 5.30 and 6.30pm. The car park at Dover Place will be closed for viewers to watch safely.

For two nights only, on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December you can experience Ashford’s enchanting and magical Winter Forest, made up of a trail of illuminated trees dotted around the town centre and Elwick Place. The trees are Ashford-themed, showcasing the town’s rich history, famous landmarks, and illustrious residents for a striking installation that evokes a wintery woodland walk.

The following weekend, on Saturday 14 December, you can enjoy the Carnival of the Baubles. Starting at Elwick Place from 5.30pm, a procession of giant, illuminated baubles, decorated by children from six Ashford primary schools will make its way down Bank Street to the Lower High Street, where it will all end with a bang. There will be a night market selling hot food and drink, making it the perfect family evening.

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Anyone who wants to get involved with Illuminites can drop in to the Illumination Station which gives you the opportunity to decorate your very own Christmas bauble. These will be hung from one of the trees in the Winter Forest, contributing your artwork to this incredible installation. For more information on dates and location for the Illumination Station, please visit www.loveashford.com.

Emergency Exit Arts, We Make Stuff Happen and LM Productions have all worked on huge prestigious national and international projects individually before, including Universal Studios Florida, the Lord Mayor’s Show and the Regent Street Christmas lights switch on, but never on a joint series of events like this.

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “We are quite excited to be hosting these events in Ashford. We have not had these companies come together in a series like this. We very much look forward to seeing lots of people in the town centre to start our Christmas celebrations.

These events should showcase Ashford borough at its best, and I hope everyone attending will feel pleased to be part of it.”

Fraser MacAndrew and JD Bracknell of We Make Stuff Happen, said: “We Make Stuff Happen is thrilled to be working with Ashford Borough Council on Illuminites. The area’s rich history and heritage has provided lots of inspiration for the Winter Forest and the result will be a celebration of Ashford’s cultural contribution. We’re looking forward to lighting up the town for residents and sharing some festive spirit.”

The Creative Department of LM Productions said: “We are delighted to be working with Ashford Borough Council on this Illuminites project, to bring new and exciting experiences to the Ashford community.”

Amaya Dent, Creative Producer at Emergency Exit Arts, said: “Emergency Exit Arts is one of the leading lights in outdoor arts and has been producing celebrations at the heart of communities for 40 years. We are currently delivering an exciting two year programme of cultural events in Ashford. We are delighted to be bringing the Carnival of the Baubles to the town centre. We hope that lots of people get involved with the lantern making workshops to join in this fantastic occasion.”

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bud (so that the new growth produced from that bud grows outwards). Secateurs are good for removing dead and dying stems as well as for formative pruning (where you are helping to ensure the plant grows in the direction you want it to), and for pruning to encourage flowering. If you are pruning out dead and dying material, bin it or burn it in case it carries infection.

Pruning Perfection Winter is perfect for pruning and cutting back woody plants, so take advantage of the fact that deciduous trees, shrubs, hedges and climbers are now bare of leaves and get stuck in. It is only in really icy or frosty weather that you need to hold back.

Remember that for your pruning to really benefit the plant, you need the right tools.

For a relatively small expanse of hedge or a shrub that needs roughly reshaping, a good, sharp pair of well-oiled shears should do the job. When cutting along a hedge top, a guide line – such as a taut string – will help you get a neat, level surface.

For larger hedges a powered hedge cutter or hedge trimmer is preferable, though make sure it is not too heavy and you can use it safely.

For removal of stems at various heights and of varying thicknesses it is worth using ‘loppers’. These are available with various handle lengths

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(some even have telescopic handles), so that you can reach up higher without having to use a ladder or platform. They are much better at cutting through relatively thick stems than shears or secateurs and yet also allow for accurate positioning of the cut. Wear goggles and ideally protective headgear if you have to cut back branches above your head.

Everybody with even just a single shrub in their garden

Create sloping cuts whenever you can so that rain and moisture runs off needs a pair of secateurs for pruning of smaller woody stems, and the better their quality the better the job you can do.

Provided they are good and sharp, you can make a perfectly clean, neat and accurate cut.

Always cut to an outward-facing

A proper pruning saw is necessary for pruning out or tidying up larger branches on trees and shrubs. If you choose one with one (or better still two) parallel lines of teeth you can create a very accurate and clean cut with relatively little effort. This is the perfect tool if you have fruit trees to prune. Use a sawing action for best results and again, if cutting above your head, wear goggles to protect your eyes from falling sawdust and debris. Make the pruning cut a few millimetres or so away from the main stem from which the branch you are removing is joined.

A cut like this will heal over much more quickly and the wound size will be smaller and so less prone to fungal rotting.

MORE PRUNING TIPS Before you get carried away, check the best pruning time for the plants you have in mind. Most hedges and many shrubs can be cut back now, but for a good display of flowers make sure that you prune at the correct time or

The Garden else you may end up pruning out the plant’s flowering potential.

Some trees, mainly those in the Prunus family – such as edible and ornamental cherries, plums, apricots, damsons, peaches and nectarines – are very prone to a potentially fatal fungal infection known as ‘silver leaf’. This is less likely to cause problems if these trees are pruned in the summer months, so don’t prune them now unless there is no alternative and you are prepared to take the risk!

Always make sure that pruning tools are really sharp. If they are in the slightest bit blunt then the job will not only take more effort, but you may end up with the plant being damaged as the cut made will be jagged or stems may be crushed.

Create sloping cuts whenever you can so that rain and moisture runs off and does not accumulate (wetness encourages wood rotting), and cut close to but not on top of a bud to allow new growth without dieback. When you are using shears or large

scale trimmers you cannot do this, but always do so with secateurs, loppers and saws.

Stand back from time to time when you are pruning to check the overall appearance of the plant and to help decide where you should prune next – if you are close up it is harder to see how you are affecting the overall shape of the plant.

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glowing display.

Candles, candles everywhere Nothing says Christmas like warm, flickering candlelight – even better when the candles are scented. Stay safe and keep them away from decorations, though, and always remember to extinguish them before going to bed or leaving the house.

Better still, use battery-operated candles, LED for low energy usage and very little heat, in the form of tea lights, pillars or bridge decorations.

Traditional Christmas style Our top tips for festive decorating to create a warm and welcoming look.

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A wreath on the front door A decorative essential for the Christmas season, a front-door wreath provides a wonderful festive welcome for visitors. There is an enormous variety of ready-made wreaths to choose from: classic or contemporary, heart-shaped or circular, small or large, utterly simple or lavish and complex… or why not make your own, using leaves, flowers and seed heads from the garden?

trim away any low-down or interior branches that you don’t need, and position your tree away from sunny windows and radiators. Wind with an even distribution of lights and garlands (use a stepladder if necessary, and stand back regularly to assess), then add baubles and other ornaments, making sure to hang some in the centre of branches as well as at the tips, to create a sense of depth and interest.

An impressive tree Britain’s most popular Christmas tree is the Nordmann fir, which will stay fresh for ages provided it gets enough water. The Norway spruce is less expensive, but tends to drop needles unless watered frequently. When buying a cut tree, ask the seller to saw half an inch off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb water. Before decorating,

Mantelpieces, balustrades and pictures Drape generous armfuls of fir, ivy, holly and lush green foliage along mantelpieces and wind among balustrades – you could even add them along the tops of pictures.

Where appropriate, add pine cones, baubles, strings of tiny LED lights and maybe some small, batteryoperated candles for a gorgeous,

Piles of presents Presents under the tree look so much better when colourcoordinated and criss-crossed with ribbons and bows.

Inexpensive paper – even brown paper or newsprint – looks lovely if adorned with a home-made label, and avoiding metallic papers, which can’t be recycled, is good for the planet, too. You could even consider wrapping in fabric or employing a reusable box. For a finishing touch, add a tiny pine cone, small bauble or home-made iced biscuit.

Setting the table Laying the table can be a pleasing ritual that results in an eye-catching display. Start by setting out a special runner and your best crockery, perhaps with plates that layer in colour or that include edgings of gold.

Carefully position glassware and cutlery, and finish with greenery, pine cones, candles, baubles and other small-scale decorations, plus hand-written place settings.

Hang up some stockings Children especially love to hang a stocking for Santa, but there’s no reason why adults can’t get in on the act, too – the effect is so charming, after all. If you don’t have a handy mantelpiece, try a

peg rail, branch, coat hooks, along the banisters or specially bought stocking hooks.

bauble or pine cone) or perhaps from rows of string using mini wooden pegs.

Arrangements of cards Don’t Christmas cards seem to arrive earlier each year?

Despite the emergence of digital alternatives, they are still a lovely way both to keep in touch with friends and family and to decorate your home. Give some thought as to how best to display them, whether it be neat rows on a shelf or mantelpiece (tall at the back, small at the front), tucked into mirrors and picture frames, stapled to ribbons and hung alongside the staircase (weight the end of the ribbon with a

Decorative displays As the festive season gets under way, additional decorative flourishes will start to signal the countdown to Christmas. Go to town with illuminated ornaments or keep it simple with a few poinsettias in pots, some bowls of clove-studded oranges and a few baubles or fairy lights bundled into a glass bowl or vase for a pretty, sparkly effect.

The Home

By Katherine Sorrell

Image left: These metallic Christmas stockings feature a Moroccan-inspired design in gold foil. They are available in white or grey and can be personalised. Gold metallic Moroccan-print Christmas stockings, £59 each, Penelope Hope: 01481 721 410; www.penelopehope.com.

Image above: This beautiful door wreath weaves red berries with foliage in greens and silver-grey to welcome Christmas guests over the threshold. Foliage and berry wreath, £85, The Real Flower Company: 01730 818 300; www.realflowers.co.uk.

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The Gift of Reading

Whether you’re buying for someone else, looking for ideas for yourself, or plan to buy a book, read it and then wrap it up (we won’t tell), there’s plenty to choose from this month.

Banksy You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat – Gary Shove & Patrick Potter This is so much more than just a coffee-table-worthy photography collection. For a start, it’s snort-out-loud funny.

It’s been updated for 2019 and now spans Banky’s career, from the early 90s to 2018.

There are anecdotes, irreverent biographical references and a few hundred photos to pore over.

The Testaments – Margaret Atwood The Testaments picks up a few years after The Handmaid’s Tale ended. It weaves together the stories of three women – Daisy, born in Gilead but raised in Canada; Agnes Jemima, who’s desperate to escape the life set out for her by her step-parents; and the infamous Aunt Lydia.

We won’t spoil it by giving away too much of the storyline, but it’s fair to say that it’s everything you hoped for and more. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale (book or TV series).

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The Corset – Laura Purcell Ruth Butterham is on trial for

murdering her mistress. She confessed to the crime, but is she guilty or delusional?

The more that wealthy prison visitor Dorothea Truelove hears of the beaten and broken Ruth’s tale, the less sure she is of who the real villain is in the story. Is Ruth the killer, is there another murderer at large or, as Ruth seems to believe, is the real culprit something far more unlikely? Gripping historical crime fiction sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Waters.

Burn After Writing (Teen Edition) – Rhiannon Shove A journal with a difference, Burn after Writing invites teens to answer a series of questions to paint a picture of who they are, from ‘The song that makes me want to dance’ to ‘If I had a brainwashing machine, I would use it to’ and ‘Something I do that makes me feel proud of myself’. Perfect for 11 to 14 year olds. (The adult’s version is worth a look too.)

Little Robin Red Vest – Jan Fearnley This classic picture book is now 20 years old. It tells the story of

how the robin got his red vest.

(Spoiler: Father Christmas gave it to him as a reward for the robin giving away his own woolly vests.) A great story, beautiful illustrations and a feel-good message to top it all off. What more could a young child want from a book on Christmas morning?

Veg – Jamie Oliver Buying for a vegetarian? Or just someone who enjoys healthy food that tastes great and doesn’t take hours to prepare?

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17

Welcome to Montfort Manor At Montfort Manor, Care UK’s purposebuilt luxury care home in Ashford, we offer a complete range of high quality care services for older people, including residential and respite care, nursing and dementia care.

Living at Montfort Manor is all about luxury and comfort. As well as providing superb round-the-clock care, the home has a café, hair and beauty salon, cinema plus lovely landscaped gardens – all of which you can use whenever you wish.

All the comfort of home Our home has been designed entirely to support you to continue to enjoy a fulfilling, varied and comfortable lifestyle, featuring fully-furnished and beautifully decorated rooms complete with private en-suite facilities.

Throughout the home you’ll find a range of spacious lounge and dining rooms, activity spaces and quiet areas to relax in. What’s more, the home is built to the latest dementia-friendly design standards, enabling all residents to maintain their independence in a calm, supportive setting.

A unique and personal approach We deliver person-centred care, which 18

means we put residents at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, we will take the time to get to know you so that we can develop a care and lifestyle plan that is tailored to your unique needs and interests. Our chef-led catering team will also ensure that your individual preferences are catered for.

One big family We’re passionate about providing all-round care and support for you and your family. Your friends and relatives can visit at any time and stay for as long as they wish. We’re here to answer their questions or simply provide a listening ear and a cup of tea whenever they need us.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to Montfort Manor very soon.

For more information or to book a visit please call 01233 884131 or email michael.kenny@careuk.com Montfort Manor care home Kennington Road, Willesborough , Ashford, Kent TN24 0YS (For Sat Nav, use TN24 0LZ) careuk.com/montfort-manor

Professional Services

We’re passionate about

fulfilling

Charing lives residents’

1st Floor · 6-7 Cecil

Magazine

ema

At Montfort Manor, we support you to live each day the way you want: being pampered in the hair salon, growing veg in the gardens, watching a film in the cinema or chatting to friends in the coffee shop.

Home now open

COPY FOR YOUR APPROVAL

To find out more about living in Montfort Manor please call us on 01233 884131 or email michael.kenny@careuk.com

Montfort Manor care home Kennington Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent TN24 0YS (Sat Nav TN24 0LZ) careuk.com/montfort-manor

5+

CARE AND SUPPORT IN YOUR OWN HOME

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Our aim is to make your Homecare experience not just good but great!

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19

What’s On

L i v e Ja z z 2019 / 2020

T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b At T h e To we r To B o o k C a l l : 0 7 3 8 8 1 2 7 2 2 9 All gigs start at 8pm ~ All gigs £12 admission Seat Bookings: 01303 277175 Email: folkestonejazz@gmail.com Website: www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk December 5th

Alex & Willie Garnett Quintet

December 10th The Jazz Christmas Party January 2nd

Derek Nash with PICANTE’

January 9th

Robert Fowler / Mark Nightingale Quintet .

January 16th

The Liane Carroll Trio

January 23rd

Matt Skelton Quintet

January 30th HEXAGONAL February 6th

Nat Steele Quintet

February 13th

Mick Foster / Karen Sharp Quintet

T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b i s a n o n p r o f i t m a k i n g j a z z c l u b. R u n b y & fo r p e o p l e w i t h a l i k e m i n d e d i n t e re s t i n OUR KIND OF MUSIC D e r i c k Wo o d l a n d 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 0 3 3 0

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December

December 2nd Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the village Memorial Hall. December’s meeting is labelled ‘Members Evening’ and on this occasion a member will give a short presentation to be followed by wine and Christmas fare. New society members are welcome as are visitors paying £3 at the door.

Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

December 6th Biddenden Neighbourhood Watch monthly surgery at the Tiny Teapot. NHW can be contacted on 01580291931, speak to Adrian Lidgett, who is also one of your Parish Councillors December 6th-7th Bethersden WI Pantomime Group Presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Bethersden Village Hall on Friday 6th December 7.30 pm and Saturday 7th December 3pm and 8pm.

Tickets £4.00 each available from the Bethersden post office or by calling 01233 820650 December 7th Warm Up for Christmas St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Ruckinge from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hot homemade soup, bread and butter pudding, coffees, teas, cakes and a gift stall. Everyone welcome December 7th Spiritualist Meetings held every Saturday evening at Highbury Hall, Highbury Lane, Tenterden, TN30 6LE. Doors open at 6pm, for 6.30pm start, refreshments afterwards. December 7th - Sue Hawkins. Evening of Clairvoyance. 14th candle light service with Paul Broadway. 21st & 28th closed.

Reopen in January 18th 2020 with John King, Evening of Clairvoyance. £4. All are welcomed, we also have a page on Facebook - Tenterden Spiritualist Centre December 11th The Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Egerton’s Millennium Hall at 2:30pm. The talk today is ‘The Story of Wine’ by David Wright. Wine has been part of our global society for over 7,000 years. Drawings, paintings, engravings, buildings, pottery and wine labels all contribute to the story. David Wright has been a wine retailer, importer and distributor for 30 years and talks to the trade and to private audiences.

New society members are always welcome as are visitors paying £5 at the door. Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

December 19th Ashford Concert Band Christmas Concert Join Ashford’s community band in our end of season Christmas concert for an evening of festive musical entertainment, show tunes and sing-a-longs.

Doors opens 6.30pm for a 7pm start at Revelation St Mary’s, The Churchyard, Ashford. Visit www. ashfordconcertband.co.uk for more information and ticket details.

What’s On

ce Remembran services with carols

Saturday 7 December Ashford Canterbury Thanet outdoor services at Pilgrims Hospices Saturday 1 December All Souls Church, Cheriton Barham

Friday 13 December Charing Crematoriums

Saturday 14 December Assembly Rooms, New Romney Dover St Peter and St Paul Church

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Join Pilgrims Hospices this December to remember family and friends by dedicating a dove on our Trees of Love and come together for a remembrance service with carols.

www.pilgrimshospices.org/treesoflove | 01227 782062 21

What’s On December 21st Lees Court Singers will be returning to Smeeth Church for an Evening of Christmas music with carols starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 on the door, to include seasonal refreshments.

A lovely way to celebrate the Christmas January 8th Try Tai Chi for Free Wednesday 2pm Willesborough WI Hall. Call 07587 167756.

January 8th The Arts Society, Egerton meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Egerton’s Millennium Hall at 2:30pm. This session will hear a talk by Colin Davies entitled ‘Zaha Hadid Architectural Superstar’. This lecture tells the story of Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the most important architects of the early 21st century. Colin Davies is a Professor of Architectural Theory, a former editor of Architects Journal and an author. New society members are very welcome as are visitors who pay £5 at the door. Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

January 15th The Weald of Kent Computer Club meets at 7.30pm in the New Village Hall Biddenden. At the time of going to print we were still awaiting confirmation from our speaker.

Please check the website for details - http://www. wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk Membership is £10 per year for 10 meetings but visitors are

most welcome (£2 per meeting) Enquiries to secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk or contact Adrian Lidgett 01580 291931 January 18th-19th Woodchurch Players present their 2020 Pantomime ‘Sherlock Holmes the Panto’ a traditional pantomime featuring the famous sleuth. Booking now open on line www. woodchurchplayers.com – Performances Saturday 18th January (matinee & evening), Sunday 19th (matinee) Friday 24th and Saturday 25th (matinee and evening).

January 25th the Evington Village Hall, Hastingleigh will be holding their annual Jumble Sale from 2pm.

Entry 20p. All proceeds will go to the Hall funds.

TN25 5HR. January 31st Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society’s meeting will be in the village hall commencing 7.15 for 7.30pm when there will be a presentation entitled “The Story of Cheese” by George Ward, retail manager for Cheesemakers of Canterbury. The evening will include tasting of local cheeses, followed by tea and coffee. For any enquiries please contact Wendy Sanders on 01303 813 451, email brabournewendy@gmail.com. Or visit our website at www.basgs.com Christmas Fair and Santas.pdf 1 19/09/2019 16:08:01

Christmas comes early in our festive family fun run in a town near you.

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Join your local fun run or challenge yourself to do all 3 and join our tri-series!

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Santas on the Bay! Sunday 1 December Herne Bay, CT6 5JN

Santas on the Harbour!

Sunday 8 December Folkestone, CT20 1QQ

Santas on the Seashore!

Sunday 15 December Margate, CT9 1HX

Santa suit included for everyone who registers in advance!

Sign up now at www.pilgrimshospices.org/santa or 01227 812609 Proudly supported by

www.pilgrimshospices.org fundraising@pilgrimshospices.org Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent is a company limited by guarantee Registered office 56 London Road, Canterbury CT2 8JA. Registered charity no 293968 and as a company in England no 2000560

22

What’s On

AshfordFRelelfoowr med ship Baptist All are

Welcome!

When?

Where?

Sunday Morning 9.30am to 10.30am Sunday School and all age Bible Class Sunday Evening Service at 6.30pm Ashford Reformed Baptist Fellowship Repton Manor Primary School, Repton Ave, Ashford, TN23 3RX

arbfellowship@outlook.com • 07340 228 446 www.ashfordreformedbaptist.org.uk

23

R O C K I T S the original community rock and pop choir have been singing together for over 10 years firstly in Tenterden and for 1 year in Hawkhurst . Great news they are now coming to The Village Hall, Aldington. Ashford. on Wednesday 8th January . The group will be led by the ROCKITS own Wayne Bridle. Wayne is a talented musician and a local music teacher.

ROCKITS are known for their enthusiastic, fun, approach to singing and socialising. New singers are warmly welcomed and will quickly feel part of a great team. Go and meet them and give it a go!

Everyone can sing. We are born with all the tools we need to do this .You may be worried that your voice is not up to it but. Never Fear! They have an open door policy with no auditions and all abilities welcome. They guarantee that you will go home with a big smile on your face!.

What makes them rather different from other groups is that they are a non-profit choir. Every penny raised from events big or small goes to local and national charities.In particular The Pilgrims Hospice an Breast Cancer Now. This year they have performed their Beatlemania concerts in St Mildreds Church Tenterden and Rochester Cathedral. The Wealden Times Summer Fair, Tractorfest and their unique outselling Think Pink Weald Tour for Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In total they have raised over ÂŁ12,000 this year.

In October 2020 they will be producing and performing an even bigger and better Think Pink Tour combining Breast and Prostate Cancer charities. On July 3rd to 5th Tentertainment . On 1st August Godmersham Park and on 16th October Elvis Philharmonic at Rochester Cathedral,to name only a few!

They divide the year into 3 terms but you can join them at any time. The wonderful music and

24

lyrics produced and arranged by Max Wilson the Musical Director are available to all ROCKITS to download from their website. www.rockitchoir. co.uk .

Monday 6th January 2020 at 7.15pm The Sports Pavilion. The Moor . Hawkhurst TN18 4PG Tuesday 7th Janaury 2020 at 7.15pm St Mildred’s Hall Church Road. Tenterden TN30 6AT Wednesday 8th January 2020 at 7.15pm The Village Hall Aldington Ashford TN25 7DS

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Food & Domestic Services

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

This soup is packed with flavour and makes a great winter-warming lunch served with crusty bread.

Makes 6

Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes | Serves 4

Ingredients 750g large ripe tomatoes 4 red peppers 4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 garlic cloves 2 tbsp virgin olive oil 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 400ml vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar

TIP

Crème fraiche, roasted pumpkin seeds and shredded fresh basil leaves, to serve

26

Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Score a cross in the top and base of each tomato and place in the roasting tin with the peppers, shallots, garlic cloves, olive oil and Italian herbs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 25-30 minutes until the tomatoes are soft with charred, peeling skins and the peppers have blistered and blackened skins.

Carefully place the hot peppers in a large freezer bag and leave until cool enough to handle (this will help to make peeling them easier).

Leave the tomatoes and shallots to cool in the roasting tin.

Peel the peppers, discarding the seeds and pith, and remove the skins and any tough core from the tomatoes. Place both in a food processor or blender with the shallots and any juices from the roasting tin. Process until very smooth – you may need to do this in two batches.

Transfer the pepper and tomato mixture to a large pan and stir in the sun-dried tomato puree, vegetable stock and sugar. Slowly bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, to taste.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, top with a swirl of crème fraiche and some pumpkin seeds and basil.

To make crunchy roast pumpkin seeds, spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven with the tomatoes and peppers for 7-8 minutes.

Food & Domestic Services

5+

Local Markets Ashford Farmer’s Market First Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm in the lower High Street.

Charing Farmer’s Market Charing Church Barn 9 -11.30 every Thursday morning. Contact 01233 740176 Egerton Every Friday 2 - 4.30pm Millennium Hall Rolvenden - 01580 240763 Every Thursday 10am -12 noon St Mary’s Church and the Village Hall Rye Farmers Market Every Wednesday at Strand Quay 10am - 1 pm (From Midday Oct - April) Rye Market Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park. Early till around 3pm (depending on the

5+

Repairs to...

Washing Machines Cookers (Electric) Tumble Driers Dyson Vacuum Specialist Call Garry on 07958 640152 01233 632329

5+

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weather)

Rye Country Market Formerly WI Market Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill.

Every Friday 10am -11.30am Tenterden Country Market Every Friday 9.30am -11.00am St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church road.

Tenterden High Street Market Friday’s – 0830 – 1400 Wittersham Market Every Tuesday Village Hall 9am. - 11am Tel: 01580 753062

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27

term gym passes, exercise DVDs or buying your own exercise bike or weights.

Check out www.nhs.uk/ live-well/exercise and click on ‘fitness guides’ for free ten-minute workouts, or www. nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitnessstudio for online exercise videos, including yoga, Pilates, strength exercises, aerobic workouts and more.

Six Tips for a Healthy Winter The shorter, darker, colder, wetter days of winter can leave even the fittest and chirpiest people feeling run-down. To feel better through the winter: 1: Reduce infection risk While being cold cannot give you a cold or the flu (only viruses can do that), it can stress your body and lower your immunity.

Practise good hygiene and take antibacterial hand gel out with you.

If you’re recommended to have a flu vaccine or are eligible for a free one, get it early, before flu season starts. Rest assured it can’t give you flu, as it contains no live viruses. People who get flu after vaccination may have a rarer flu

strain not covered by the vaccine or a strain contracted before it became fully active.

Being too cold puts stress on your body 2: Keep exercising Exercise can warm you up, boost your immune system and release endorphins that make you feel good. If you’re exercising outdoors, bundle up, avoid exercising when it’s icy and wear bright, reflective clothes if it’s dark. Consider indoor alternatives: swimming, indoor climbing, exercise classes, short-

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3: Get enough daylight, fresh air and vitamin D Your body uses sunlight to regulate your body clock and create vitamin D, essential for strong teeth, muscles and bones, so don’t hibernate!

However, in the UK, there’s not enough sunlight between October and early March to make sufficient vitamin D, nor can you get enough by eating vitamin D-rich foods, so the NHS recommends a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement.

4: Stay warm When the temperature drops below 8°C, those who are over 65, disabled or pregnant, or have children under school age, or have a mental or long-term health condition are more vulnerable to illness.

Low temperatures increase vulnerability to heart attacks, stroke, flu, pneumonia, hypothermia, falls and injuries, and can worsen depression,

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Health & Lifestyle

dementia and Raynaud’s Disease (which interrupts blood supply to the extremities, causing pain, numbness, stiffness or tingling, most commonly in the fingers).

Keep your home heated to at least 18°C and use hot water bottles, heat packs or electric blankets if necessary. Try a hot bath before bed, and have hot meals and drinks. Pre-warm clothes on radiators or in your airing cupboard. When outdoors, wear warm gloves and a hat, and use hand dryers for a warmth top-up while you’re out.

5: Eat healthy comfort food Choose healthy comfort foods like stews and soups (but watch your fat and salt intake and include plenty of vegetables). Homemade soups are easily made with a simple blender, and cooked fruit with low-fat custard makes a great winter pudding. Visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well and click on recipes to find healthy, warming dishes.

6: Finally… look after your mental health Stay active, warm and sociable: exercise, time spent outdoors and the company of others can all help stave off winter blues. However, if you think you may have full-blown SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), see your GP for help.

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Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

S I

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TARGET Excellent 22 or more words Good: 19 words Fair: 17 words 30

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You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 10 4 letters: 14 5 letters: 4 6 letters: 1

RACK RAKE RANK 5 Letters CRANE CRANK CREAK 6 Letters CANKER

WORD WHEEL

TWO MINUTE TRIAL

4 Letters ACNE ACRE CAKE CARE EARN NARC NARK NEAR NECK RACE

G U N S

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

3 Letters ACE ARK ARE CAN CAR EAR ERA PAD KEN RAN

WORD LADDER

S H O T

SUDOKU

Puzzle Page

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Clubs & Societies Breathe Easy Club- Breathe Easy is a voluntary you along of course! Contact : David Styles, General

Secretary on secretary@ashfordastro.org.uk.

Ashford Board Games Club Come to a session of the Board Games Club to play card, tile and board games of every kind: Carcassonne, Pandemic, Dominion, Small World, Agricola, Settlers of Catan or anything else. Every Sunday evening at 7pm at The Rose Inn, Faversham Road, Ashford TN24 9AJ Games players of every kind welcome. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/31085029201 01233 625 362 Ashford and District HEART Support Group, now Ashford Active Retirement Association (AARA). in our 10th Year, affiliated to the British Heart General club meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of each Foundation. This group is run by past and present month. We meet at Centrepiece, Bank Street, Ashford cardiac patients and their partners for their mutual from 2 - 4 pm. Other activities we include walking club support. New members can be assured of a friendly on 2nd Friday of each month, also darts and games welcome. Evening meetings, usually include a topical afternoons and lunch club. The club also organises speaker are held on the 1st THURSDAY of the month outings and holidays. For over 50’s and retired or semi (excluding Jan and Aug) at the Meeting Room, Stour retired, contact 07930357680 for more information.

Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1ET at 7.30 Ashford Rotary Club is part of one of the World’s pm unless stated otherwise. Car parking is free after largest and most successful global membership and 6pm. Meetings last about an hour, followed by light humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million refreshments and a raffle. Newcomers are welcome members in over 200 contries. The Ashford Club to just come along and enjoy the evening, and find out has been supporting and assisting organisations and what the group is all about. There is no membership people in need in the local community for 96 years fee, just a small admission charge per meeting towards and welcomes enquiries from anyone who would like the hire of the room. If transport is needed we will do to join. We meet Mondays 6.30 until 9pm at the Elwick our best to arrange it. For further details, find us on Club in Church Road. We arrange interesting speakers Facebook or call Tony Westgate 01303 260282 tony. and outings to learn more about the area in which westgate45@gmil.com or Liz Williams 01233 732560 we live. If you would like to contribute to the local eawilltn26@aol.com community, make new friends and have fun whilst Ashford Birdwatchers’ Club: Meets on the 2nd doing so, have a look at our website on www.ashford- Wednesday monthly, Sept to Apr incl. from 7.30 to kent-rotary.club or email us at ashford.rotary.1120@ 9.30 pm at the WI Hall, Faversham Road, Kennington. gmail.com All welcome to a friendly club; it doesn’t matter if you Ashford Reformed Baptist Fellowship Meets every can’t identify many birds! Admission £3 including tea/ Sunday at Repton Manor Primary School TN23 3RX coffee & biscuits. For information tel 01233 637067.

9.30am (All ages and Sunday School) and 6.30pm Arts Society, Ashford (part of the Arts Society). A 07340 228 446 e:arbfellowship@outlook.com www. great way to expand your knowledge of the arts, ashfordreformedbaptist.org.uk with inspiring monthly lectures given by some of the Ashford Art Society welcomes new members. All countries top experts, together with days of special ages & standards. A friendly group with a wide variety interest and arts visits. All lectures are in Aldington of events and meetings. Call 01233 630293 and 01303 Village Hall, usually on the third Tuesday of the month, from September to June. Membership is open to all.

850429 for details.

Ashford Astronomical Society - Have you ever looked See www.ashforddfas.org.uk up at the night sky and thought ‘Wow!’, but wished Ashford & District Young Farmers’ Club meets every you knew a bit more about it? Have you ever bought Wed. evening in and around the Ashford area. The or been given a telescope and found it too difficult club is always keen to see new faces and welcomes to setup and use? Astronomy is a fascinating and anyone aged 16 - 26 looking for a lively social life and rewarding hobby, but it’s all to easy to be put off by a variety of activities and events to take part in. You obscure technical jargon, the enormous price of some don’t have to be a farmer to be a Young Farmer! Call of the equipment on sale and the sheer difficulty of Charlie on 07753381718, e: ashfordyfc@gmail.com or knowing where to start. All you need to start with is find us on Facebook. www.ashfordyfc.co.uk. an interest in looking up at the night sky and a wish Ashford Flower Club meets in St Simon Stock Catholic to know more about it. What else do you need? A Church, Brookfield Road, Ashford on the third Tuesday welcoming and friendly Astronomy Society to guide of each month.For any details or further information support Club for people living with a lung condition, their carers and adult family. Breathe Easy is affiliated to the British Lung Foundation. We are a friendly and welcoming mixed group of adults. Speakers, Games, Raffle and the odd quiz are enjoyed. There will also be refreshments available. We would love you to come and join us at the Ashford Railway Club Kent. Beaver Road, Ashford Kent TN23 7RR . Our meetings are in the last Wednesday of the month February to November.

From 2pm to 4pm. There is parking on site.

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Clubs & Societies about Ashford Flower Club, please contact: K.M Williams (Chairman) 07840 164011 or Mary Wiggins (Secretary) 01233 628278 Ashford Folk Dance Club meet every Wednesday at Kingsnorth Village Hall, Church Hill, Kingsnorth TN23 3EF from 8 - 10pm. We promote English and American traditional folk dancing. New or experienced dancers with or without a partner are all very welcome to our friendly club. Contact Edna 01233 627 121 or email ejbone@tiscali.co.uk Ashford Mediation Service is a small local charity who offers a mediation service to the community of Ashford which is open to all. Ashford Mediation Service helps to build happier more productive communities by using mediation to resolve disputes.

Over the past 17 years we have helped 1000s of people find peaceful resolutions to disputes. If you are interested in using the service to resolve a dispute, or if you would like to train with us to become a volunteer mediator, please call 01233 896237 or visit www.ashfordmediation.co.uk for more information.

Ashford Photographic Society meets at Givaudan Sports Centre every Friday from September to May. Check www.ashfordps.org.uk for full details.

Ashford Radio Aeromodellers, we have a field at Sellindge for flying seven days a week, and fly indoors in Ashford Market on various Thursday evenings during the Autumn, Winter, & Spring, please visit www.araclub.co.uk for more details, or phone Iain on 07956501510, or myself (Roger) 01233 627694 Ashford Sinfonia Community Orchestra meets on Monday evenings 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m St Mary the Virgin Church in Willesborough during term time. Players should be over Grade 3. We are an enthusiastic group of people who have either played since young, taken up an instrument in later life but who enjoy making music under the guidance of a very keen professional musician. We do have a website www.ashfordsinfonia.com and all contact numbers can be found there. New members are welcome to join us at 7.30pm to play classical and popular orchestral music. We welcome everyone.

Coffee, Craft and Chat – at Kennington United Reformed/Methodist Church, 265 Faversham Road, Kennington. We meet on Wednesday mornings, 9am to 11.45am. Members have experience of a range of craft activities. Bring your favourite or learn to knit, crochet, etc. Bring and buy of unused materials and home made items. Board games are also available or just come for a chat. We have recently discovered a shared interest in jigsaw puzzles and have a small collection to lend. All welcome. Contact Jane@kurc. org.uk for more information or just come along.

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Da Base Ashford Town Youth Centre, 5-7 Park Street, Ashford TN24 8LR (back of Iceland, opp.

Wilkinson’s) contact us on 01233 631 472 or visit www.dabaseyouthcentre.com.

East Kent Walking Group walk every Sunday and walks tend to be circular starting and finishing at a pub so there is the option to stay and have lunch at the end. We welcome you to try our walks up to three times free of charge and then if you enjoy them and would like to walk more regularly with us then the only payment we request is membership to the Ramblers Organisation (currently only £35.85 for a whole year). See www.ekwg.co.uk for details of walks and our social calendar.

Invicta Ukulele Club meet on 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at The Albion, Albion Place, South Willesborough, Ashford, TN24 0BU where you can learn to play the Ukelele, develop your playing and performing skills or just come along for a sing song.

Admission £2 www.invictaukeleleclub.co.uk.

Kennington Badminton Club, play at the Norton Knatchbull School on a Wed evening from 7.30 p.m.10 p.m. Call Shirley Mountford on 01233 610134.

Kennington W.I. meet at 7.00pm on the second Monday of the month at their hall in the Faversham Road. Besides the Monthly Meeting we run smaller groups covering everything from Darts & Table Tennis to Art, Handicrafts, Gardening & Caligraphy.We also have a Book Club & Writers Group.Our Drama Group are a happy band and their annual Pantomime is always well received. We now have a Choir and have just set up a Photography club.Outings & Special Events are also a regular part of our calendar.Do come along & give us a try-we would love to see you. For further details contact Gill Tel: 01233 633550 or www. kenningtonwi.com or on facebook.

Willesborough Ladies Club: Held every fourth Wednesday of the Month at the W.I.Hall, Church Road, Willesborough. A thriving Club open to all. Ladies of any age even if you live outside of the Willesborough area. We have interesting speakers, demonstrations and outings and there is plenty of time during the evening to socialise and catch up with friends. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Come along, give us a try we will be happy to see you. For more information call Ann on 01233 627894 Willesborough Women’s Institute has been going strong for over 90 years and today our members enjoy the same kind of camaraderie and friendships that the ladies did all those years ago. However, these days we are much more aware of the world about us and get involved in many issues of the day. At our

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Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden 101 Crimestoppers

0800 555 111 Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

0845 4349655 01233 633331

Samaritans www.samaritans.org Electricity: Southern Electric

EDF Energy Gas:

Natural

LPG

116 123 0845 770 8090 0800 783 8866 0800 111 999 Details on tank

Doctors Surgeries

CARM

01233 758122 E: office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk W: Www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support

W: www.forget-me-nots.co.uk

Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Mike Wharrad

01233 623520

SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767 326138 Royal British Legion 01233 620 167 British Red Cross 0800 0280 831 Ashford Youth Forum Trust Youth Projects Coordinator

National Train Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk Bus Enquiries Arriva Bus Enquiries Stage Coach East Kent

Willesborough Health Centre Bentley Road Willesborough Ashford TN24 0HZ Tel: 01233 621626

01233 330290

0844 800 44 11 0871 200 22 33 08456 00 22 99

(Customer Services)

Parish Councils

New Hayesbank Surgery Bybrook Kennington Ashford TN24 9JZ 01233 624642

Kingsnorth - Parish Clerk: Len Bunn 01233 502 969 w: kingsnorthparishcouncil.co.uk Parish Office: Kingsnorth Recreation Centre.

Great Chart with Singleton Parish Clerk: Aniko Szocs 01233 616923 Parish Office: Singleton Village Hall

Veterinary Clinics

Village Halls

Barrow Hill Veterinary Hospital 01233 624687 Brookland Godinton (Loudon Way) 24 Hour Emergency Care on site. www.godintonvillagehall.com Kennington WI Hall Bookings: Ashford Borough Council - Civic Centre or KWIHall@yahoo.co.uk Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 1PL Singleton (Hoxton Close) Tel: 01233 331111 Singleton Environment Centre Ashford Rural Trust 01233 624 544 Centre Mngr: John Alexander

Ashford Dyslexia Centre

The Annexe, Braethorpe, Canterbury Road TN24 8QF Citizens Advice Bureau

07474 040968 07887 575647 07951 343885

centremanager@singletonenvironmentcentre.org.uk

01233 750248 01233 626185

Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 7697555 Ashford Volunteer Centre 01233 647 422 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com

01797 342075 07854 038066

High Pressure Jetting Service & Repair to Sewage treatment plants Soakaway Testing Cesspool Emptying Service

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Disclaimer: Every care is taken to ensure this directory is as accurate as possible but the publishers do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions.

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Rye

The Marsh 10,675 Camber

Lydd Dungeness

Puzzle Solutions Kid’s Page

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Cranberry Sauce Roast Potatoes Stuffing Christmas Pudding Brussel Sprouts Turkey Extra word - ‘Turnip’.

20 Snowmen.

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Please note, this map is provided as a guide, it does not include all villages

Crossword

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