Charing Mar 2014

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The Delivered by

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Delivered FREE to 4,000 homes in TN27

March 2014

Spring Grove School

Spring Grove School A great place to grow

Open Morning

including musical activities in our new Music Room

Saturday 22nd March 9.30am - 12.00pm • • • • • •

Small classes - ensuring 1:1 attention and support A family atmosphere - we know every child and their family A rich programme of Music, French, Art, PE and Science Outstanding Results in our National assessment exams Exceptional Kent Test Results The production of charming, motivated and happy children

Spring Grove School, Harville Road, Wye, TN25 5EZ Tel: 01233 812337 Email: office@springgroveschool.co.uk www.springgroveschool.co.uk

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In the Heart of our Designs are Beautiful Gardens We create inspirational garden designs that will stand the test of time, and provide year round enjoyment for the whole family.

Let our team of highly experienced, professionally qualified landscape architects, designers and horticulturalists plan and construct your garden. www.openviewlandscapes.co.uk Tel: 01580 764 090 Email: enquiries@openviewlandscapes.co.uk

Welcome to the village directory Hi everyone, welcome to the March Edition, I hope you are all well. As I write I’m looking out of the window across our flooded garden and thanking God that the flood water has not reached our house.

My heart goes out to anyone attempting to pick up the pieces following flood damage to their home. I’ve been there myself on more than one occasion, it’s heart breaking. Once it’s happened you face each new year with the fear of it happening again, no matter what protection you’ve put in place. Following this winter maybe Ark Construction will be revived as a viable business idea, we’ve certainly had more than 40 days and 40 nights worth of rain!

I sincerely hope that by the time you read this we are able to say that spring is on the way. If not, we will all develop webbed feet!

www.alistbeauty.co.uk Pluckley Salon

Georgina Bourne Tel: 07584 297707

Please don’t forget Mother’s Day this month, as if you would! It’s a little later in the month this year, on the 30th, so don’t be caught out.They say there’s nothing like a woman’s scorn, and if she happens to be your mum you will be left with some serious making up to do for the rest of the year! It doesn’t take much, chocolate does the trick for me, and as my husband has the job of checking this magazine every month, I know the message will be transmitted to my son, even if it has to be by carrier pigeon - the only thing that’s likely to want to venture into his bedroom!

Until next time have a great month.

~ Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk April Issue Deadline 1st March

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the garden

Garden of Delights How tech can take the grunt out of gardening

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It’s that time of year again: spring has sprung and the grass has started to rise. While robot lawnmowers haven’t quite reached bargain basement prices just yet - a robo-mower such as Husquvarna’s Automower 305G has an RRP of £1,399, and even the cheapest online shops charge around £850 - technology can still help: firms such as Bosch, Greenworks and Mountfield all offer batterypowered lawnmowers that offer the convenience of cable-free mowing without the noise, smell and hassleof petrol engines. Prices range from just over £200 to around £500.

What’s even easier than a cordless mower? That’s right: grass that you don’t have to mow in the first place. Hi-tech turf (www.hitechturf. co.uk) looks like grass and feels like grass, but it’s entirely artificial - and if you have terrible memories of plasticky, jaggy artificial turf you’ll be relieved to discover that this is a very different proposition. For around £29 per square metre (for HT Luxury) you can lay a lawn that looks just like the real thing without any of the work. If your budget’s a bit more limited then there are more affordable options including a budget artificial turf at £7.99 per square metre.

Lawns aren’t the only places where technology can make life easier.

Battery power has reached the point where it’s good enough for

seriously demanding garden tasks. tools made by Radius Garden, Black & Decker will happily sell whose slogan is “Garden more. you battery-powered chainsaws, Hurt less.” The odd-looking pruning saws and loppers. The tools have been designed with batteries deliver plenty of oomph ergonomic grips to make them - the chainsaw will power through more comfortable and less likely to up to 150 3.5cm branches before it aggravate repetitive strain injuries, runs out of puff - but boffins have and the range includes trowels, yet to invent a device that ensures forks, transplanters, weeders and we remember to charge the power cultivators. Expect to pay around £9 tools before we actually need them. for each individual tool or around More modest gardening can benefit £30 for a set of four. from gadgetry too. Hozelock’s auto- If taking the grunting out of watering system sticks a timer onto gardening sounds like something your tap, turning it on and off at the you’d like to do, you might also times you program, and options want to consider a device such range from a simple sprinkler to as Fiskar’s Weed Puller (currently an entire micro-irrigation system. £25), which is designed to remove Some timers even have rain sensors weeds without using chemicals that mean they won’t turn on the or wrecking your lower back: it’s tap if the weather forecast turned a long L-shaped stick containing out to be overly optimistic. deep-reaching stainless steel claws Not all gardening gadgets need that effortlessly grab weeds by the electricity to function. The iconic roots. It might not be an exciting Leatherman multi-tool isn’t exactly robot mower but anything that cheap, but its products - and their helps with a hard day’s weeding many imitators - offer a huge range sounds like a great gadget to us. of tools in one handy gadget. For example the Leatherman Charge Images left to right: Black & Decker AL includes two kinds of pliers, a Cordless Lopper, WORX cordless lawn knife, a saw and a serrated knife, a mower, Hozelock auto watering system wood and metal file, wire cutters with rain sensor, Radius ergonomic gardening tools and wire strippers.

If you find gardening is, literally, a & KINDLING pain, it’s worth Oak, Ash & Chestnut taking a look at the range Kindling Wood - 100% Recycled of gardening M:07872 904151 / T:01303 256142

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GARDENS • GROUNDS MAINTENANCE • COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING WE HAVE BEEN CREATING BEAUTIFUL GARDENS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. FROM WATER FEATURES TO PATIOS, POOLS TO PAGODAS, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU TO TURN YOUR IDEAS INTO REALITY. 5

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Pastures New When I first set out to study veterinary medicine, the thought of 5 years at university sounded like an impossibly long period of time but I happily settled in for the ride. They say, “Time flies when you’re having fun” and that certainly was the case. Before I knew it I was packing my bags, boarding a plane and off to begin my first job in Lady Dane Veterinary Centre.

For those of you I have not yet met, I’m the one with the funny accent. I joined the team at Lady Dane in November 2013, moving over from Ireland, originally from Belfast and having completed my training in University College Dublin.

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Day one as a Veterinary Surgeon was daunting, taking a few days to become accustomed to answering questions rather than asking them.

With the coming weeks I settled into my new role, which has been immensely rewarding.

Finally putting into practice what I spent so long working towards.

Whilst life in practice generally has been what I expected, in this job you never can be quite sure what might come through the door next. I must confess being confronted with a chameleon did catch me a little by surprise. Luckily I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by an experienced team of vets

Ruth with her Irish Setter pup Rua

and nurses always on hand to give me advice on those slightly tricky and complicated cases.

My transition to Kent has been so smooth and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.

I eagerly wait to see what new challenges spring has to offer. I look forward to meeting more owners and their charming pets in the coming year.

Ruth Fogarty, MVB MRCVS.

The local alternative to kennelling, family, friends or house sitting.

Let us arrange for your dog/s to stay with one of our local, carefully selected, very special families.

Because we believe dogs deserve a holiday too!

Trish Feely Tel: 01303 812902 www.barkingmad.uk.com

Email: trish.feely@barkingmad.uk.com

the garden Caring vets for all your pets, horses and farm animals

Veterinary Centre ~ Faversham ~ Graveney Road, Faversham, ME13 8UR

01795 532180 New

Charing New

The Old Pumping Station, Pluckley Road, Charing TN27 08H

01233 714796 www.ladydanevets.com

y o j n e d n a e m o C The Kent Police Male Voice Choir

Saturday 29th March 2014 at 7.30 pm at The Vine Church, Boughton Lane, Loose ME15 9QF Tickets £8.00 Contact Paul Rodman 07966 424945 or Mike FitzGerald 01622 743270 or Maidstone Day Centre 01622 674064 Event organised by Friends of Maidstone Day Centre in support of homeless and vulnerable people @MaidstoneDayCtr

Maidstone Homeless Caree e Day Centre

Maidstone Day Centre

Food For Thought

Goodsell House

maidstonedaycentre.org.uk Maidstone Christian Care

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You can give online through our website www.maidstonedaycentre.org.uk or text MDCC33 £2 / £5 / £10 to 70070 to donate now eg MDCC33 £10 Gift Aid support - via our newsletter Homeless Care Limited Registered Company Number 08414392 Registered office: 15 Knightrider Street Maidstone Kent ME15 6LP Registered Charity Number 1151412

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7

Life Begins When did you last do something impulsive?

It sometimes pays to follow your instincts.

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Author JK Rowling reportedly decided to write the first Harry Potter novel after an idea for the story occurred to her when she was travelling on a train.

She completed the book as a struggling single mum on state benefits, becoming a multimillionaire within five years.

Japanese engineer Yusuke Funaki saw a performance by the world-famous circus company Cirque du Soleil and was so inspired that he decided to learn the rope-skipping techniques he had seen in the show. After a few years of practice he abandoned engineering and literally ran away to join the circus. He is still working with Cirque du Soleil as a performer at their Florida base.

The link between these two individuals is their willingness to follow an impulse, taking up new activities that – given their backgrounds and relative inexperience in their chosen fields - were far from guaranteed to result in success.

It takes a certain kind of courage to risk everything in order to follow a dream, especially when we know it might fail. Most of us, at some stage in our lives, have done things that we have regretted at a later date. Sometimes our spur-of-themoment choices seem so out of character it’s almost as though someone else has taken over our minds.

A study of the brain shows why we feel this way. While the primitive, emotional part of our brain (found in the limbic system) makes rapidfire decisions about things we like, dislike, hate, love, fear or want, the intellectual and more logical mind (located in prefrontal cortex) is geared to making deliberate and rational conclusions at a slightly slower pace. Allow your emotional brain to guide your actions and you’re likely to end up doing something impulsive.

We tend to associate impulsivity with youth. As they age, people often reject these youthful emotional responses: instead mature people use the knowledge they have acquired, backed up by logic and reason, to cope with new challenges or solve problems.

While no-one would doubt the benefits that knowledge and experience can bring,

by Kate McLelland

something is perhaps lost in this process. Impulse and risk-taking are closely linked with creativity, and there’s a danger that we may ignore creative impulses that have the power to change the course of our lives.

By middle-age, many of us have ceased to follow our instincts completely, relying on tried and trusted methods that we have learned in our formative years to see us through. But does sticking with what we know actually inhibit brain development?

When individuals settle into routines that are repeated automatically from day to day, the brain activity required for those activities decreases. That means that we tend to carry out familiar actions on autopilot and consequently our minds receive very little stimulation.

The good news is that older people can reactivate their brains by undertaking new activities, or by approaching established routines in different ways.

Whether you decide to join a choir, take up a musical instrument or volunteer for a local charity, it’s not really about the activity – it’s about rekindling the youthful spark that encouraged you to experiment and try new things.

At the very least it will give your brain some exercise, at best it might be the key to a whole new life.

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JMINTERIORS Fine hand crafted kitchens and bespoke furniture

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Showroom: Park Farm, Frittenden Road, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8LJ

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Reclaimed

10 Ways To Save On Renovating Your Home Building work can be expensive, but if you’re canny you can keep costs down, says Katherine Sorrell

By Katherine Sorrell

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1. Use trade suppliers: they’re much cheaper than their highstreet equivalents. Open an account with your local builders merchant, or else try specialists such as Screwfix or Plumbase.

Do your research beforehand, wear appropriate clothing and act confident. If you need to ask advice, though, do – these guys are the specialists and will probably be only too happy to help.

2. Borrow rather than buy expensive tools that you’re unlikely to use very often. Ask friends or try a local hire shop.

Before you start, though, make sure you know exactly how to use the tool safely.

3. Do as much work as you can yourself, and ask friends and family to help. You may be able to improve your DIY skills by studying a good manual, taking an evening class or even attending a specialist course.

Only tackle jobs you can manage safely, however. Complex or tricky jobs should be left to the professionals, as should anything that involves electricity, gas or working at a height.

4. Try to design fitted furniture such as shelves or cupboards with the dimensions of standard materials in mind. This will allow you to either buy off the shelf or will save on cutting-waste, and therefore cost you less.

5. Grab the best bargains in sales and clearances, and at factory outlets, seconds shops and discount warehouses. This may mean planning your decorating around a one-off sale, or waiting until you have acquired just the right discounted item, but your patience will pay off.

6. How about second-hand?

You never know what you might find if you scour the right places, from auctions and junk shops to salvage yards. The golden rule is to be prepared – if you’re out and about, write out a list of relevant dimensions and keep it, together with a mini tape measure. If you do buy second-hand radiators, taps or electrical items, have them fitted by someone who’s qualified to check that they’re totally safe and functioning correctly.

7. Something for nothing? Some people swear by the fine art of ‘skip dipping’. If you’re going to try this, never trespass, and ask the owner’s permission first. Much easier, though, is to sign up to an internet-based network such as Freecycle, which connects people who are giving things away with people who will happily take them off their hands.

8. Buy wallpaper and fabric from ends-of-line and discount suppliers. And avoid paying extra for special colours from expensive paint companies –

have your chosen colour mixed for you, in whatever finish you require. Johnstone’s and Dulux both offer this service.

9. Use decorating tricks to save money. If you can’t afford carpet, for example, either sand your floorboards or paint them, and add a simple rug for a clean, contemporary look. Instead of bespoke curtains, choose Roman or roller blinds, which use much less fabric and are correspondingly a great deal cheaper. Can’t afford to have the glass in an overlooked window beautifully etched?

Then buy some stick-on window film, which is easy to use and inexpensive.

10. Think laterally. You can completely transform a bathroom by changing the taps, loo seat, bath panel, window treatment and shower curtain.

In a kitchen, consider replacing either the cupboard doors and drawer fronts, or carefully repainting them.

Image: Roller blinds are smart and simple – and much less expensive than curtains. These rich brown blinds with an on-trend print start at £50 (60x60cm), Luxaflex Sunway (0800 652 7799; www.sunwayblinds.co.uk).

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LOCAL MARKETS CHALLOCK Challock Memorial Hall, Blind Lane.

1st & 3rd Friday of each month 1pm to 4pm Contact Pauline Hickson 01233 740979

THE BARN SHOP TRADITIONAL MARKET Challock - 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month 10am – 2pm Contact 01233 740237

CHARING FARMER’S MARKET Charing Church Barn 9 -11.30 every Thurs 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 (12pm Oct - April)

RYE MARKET Every Thursday at the Cattle Market Car Park.

Early till around 3pm (depending on the weather)

RYE COUNTRY MARKET • • • • • • • •

Professional unique intensive valet process Range & AGA specialist All ovens, hobs, extractor fans & microwaves Environmentally friendly, no toxic chemicals, no fumes See ZZZ ovenu.co.uk for a video of the valet process Ovenu Ashford is approved by Trading Standards Contact Richard at Ovenu Ashford 01233 380023 or 0800 1409800

Formerly WI Market Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill.

Every Friday 10am -11.30am

TENTERDEN COUNTRY MARKET Every Friday 9.30am -11.30am St Mildred’s Church Hall, Church road.

WITTERSHAM MARKET Every Tuesday Village Hall 9am. - 11am Tel: 01797 270757

WYE - 07804 652156 First and third Saturday of every month on the Village Green in Wye. Tel: 07804 652156 www.wyefarmersmarket.co.uk

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Easy Lamb Rogan Dhansak Serves 4-6

Ready in 4 hours This recipe does use fresh ingredients but ‘cheats’ a little by using a jar of sauce rather than creating it from scratch which saves time, but still produces a delicious and authentic dish.

Unlike many curry type dishes, the lentils make this very thick so there’s no need for rice. It reheats perfectly and so can be cooked the day before ready to eat at short notice the next day.

Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas Mark 2. Add a splash of olive oil to a frying pan and cook the onions, carrot and celery until they take on a bit of colour, then put these into a large casserole pot.

Ingredients: 14

• 800g diced leg of lamb or

In the same pan put about half the diced lamb and fry until sealed, then put into casserole pot, repeat with the rest of the lamb.

lamb steaks

• 3 whole peppers, red, green, yellow, sliced.

Fry the peppers for a couple of minutes, then put them into casserole pot with a pinch of salt and a good grind of pepper. Add the chillies to taste – 4 chillies will give a medium heat but use fewer chillies and remove the seeds if you don’t like it too hot.

• 1 chopped and diced onion • 2 carrots peeled and finely diced

• 2 sticks of celery chopped and

Pour in the two jars of Rogan Josh, then add a bit of water to the jars, put the lid back on and shake.

Chop half the coriander and add to the pot with the liquid from the jars and stir thoroughly. You need the casserole pot filled to near the top, so add water if necessary. Don’t worry if it looks a bit watery, the lentils at the end will thicken it all up.

finely diced

• 2 jars of Rogan Josh sauce (recommend Loyd Grosman)

• Half a teacup of dried red lentils

Put into the oven, giving it a stir after about 2 hours.

• 2 – 4 whole red chillies sliced

After 3.5 hours sprinkle over lentils and stir in. Put back into the oven for another 40 minutes.

• Bunch of fresh coriander • Olive oil • Salt and pepper • For serving, naan bread and sour cream

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Just before serving sprinkle the rest of the fresh coriander on top and then serve with naan bread, and sour cream.

Reassuringly tasty, nutritious and dependable.

Now that’s a recipe for an easier life.

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business Brookhurst Risk Solutions Rural and Equestrian Insurance Specialists

Brookhurst Risk Solutions Rural and Equestrian Insurance Specialists

Have You Got the Right Cover and Sums Insured?

16

During the Christmas storms and floods thousands of people will have had to make a claim under their home or business insurance policy. Many will have received a nasty shock when they discovered that their claim payments were significantly reduced because they did not have the correct Insured values stated on their proposal form and policy schedule. This is because of a basic principle of insurance law known as ‘Average’.

The Average clause is a condition which is written into virtually every insurance policy covering personal or business property issued in the UK. In essence it means that property insurers are entitled to reduce the amount paid under a legitimate claim if any item on the policy has not been insured to its correct value. In the event that the average clause is triggered any reduction is calculated on a pro—rata basis reflecting the amount by which the item is under -insured for in relation to its true replacement value.

Here is a working example. A customer asks to insure their house for a rebuild value of £250,000 for which the Insurer charges a premium of £500. In the event of a fire causing minor damage the Insurer discovers that the cost of rebuilding the property would in fact be £300,000. This would mean that , had he had the correct values to hand originally , the Insurer would have charged £600.00.

WeWecater trades: caterfor foraavariety variety ofoftrades: Commercial Farms CommercialBusinesses Businesses including including Farms Equestrianproperties properties including Yards, Equestrian includingLivery Livery Yards ShowCentres Centresand and Riding Riding Schools.

Show Schools.

Horse and Rider Horse and Rider - Equine and Farm Transport Equine and Farm Transport Tack Tack Shops Shops Rural Motor Trade Rural Motor Trade and Many more. and Many more.

For the right cover at the right price call For the right cover at the right price call 01233 770802 310029 01233 770802or or 07815 07815310029 www.brookhurstrisk.com www.brookhurstrisk.com Brookhurst Risk a trading GSI Commercial Services LLP Brookhurst RiskSolutions Solutions isis a trading style style of GSI of Commercial Services LLP Authorised by the Conduct Authority 301055 Authorised and andregulated regulated byFinancial the Financial Conductreference Authority ref 301055

The Insurer will then be entitled to reduce the amount paid under the claim by 20% regardless of the size or severity of the claim.

The shortfall is then the responsibility of the policyholder.

It is vital that you check your Insurance contract carefully. Home and business owners have huge amounts of their personal assets tied up in property which is insured under a legal contract. In fact it is one of the most significant contracts many of us will ever sign up for – particularly if it goes wrong.

The good news is that help is at hand.

Brookhurst Risk Solutions is a specialist Rural and Equestrian Insurance advisor with huge experience of personal and business insurances with a rural flavour. Let us help and guide you through the insurance maze making sure that your assets are properly protected at a price which makes real sense.

We have a number of exclusive market facilities and offer a no obligation completely free review of your current arrangements.

Call 01233 770802 or 07815310029 see www.Brookhurstrisk.com

health & beauty See Events Page for Details

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01233 714030 Open Tuesday to Friday 9-30 to 5-30pm Saturday 9-00 to 5-00pm Late Night Appointments Available

17

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L i v e Ja z z Events March Ma r c h T h e Fo l k e s t o n e J a z z C l u b A t T h e To w e r T: 0 1 3 0 3 2 6 0 3 3 0 Thursday February 27th Modern Jazz at its Swinging Best ALEX GARNETT World class Saxophonist MARK NIGHTINGALE Trombone - The UKs No1 LEON GREENING Fantastic modern Pianist PAUL MORGAN Double Bass -None better. MATT SKELTON Drums -Amazing drummer from Jazz to the classics Thur March 6th THE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ VOCALIST & MULTI AWARD WINNER IAN SHAW with BARRY GREEN piano & MICK HUTTON double bass Thur March 13th THE CLARK TRACEY QUINTET The return of the young guns - lead by Europes No1 Jazz Drummer CLARK TRACEY Plus HENRY ARMBOUG- JENNINGS Trumpet - voted 2013 rising star CHRIS MADDOCK Alto / Tenor Sax RUEBEN JAMES Piano DANIEL CASIMIR Double Bass Thur March 20th This really is bringing Ronnie Scotts to The FJC THE LEGACY BAND - RONNIE SCOTT REMEMBERED ( With some members of Scotts own outfit - - & John Critchinson filling the history & the jokes ) MORNINGTON LOCKETT Storming saxophonist DICK PEARCE - Trumpet & Flgl Horn - With Scott for 13yrs JOHN CRITCHINSON - Piano & Scotts right hand man TIM WELLS Double Bass from Baltimore USA TRVOR TOMKINS Drums - The architect of modern drumming Thur March 27th THE BEST OF BRITISH JAZZ THE CURRENT HOLDERS OF THE BRITISH JAZZ AWARDS & Previous Years ! ! !

ALAN BARNES clarinet & alto sax ENRICO TOMASSO trumpet TED BEAMENT Piano - Ex Humphrey Littleton MIKE PORTER-WARD Double Bass - Top man ROD BROWN Drums Quality The Folkestone Jazz Club is non profit making & is run by & for those with a like minded interest in our kind of music. DERICK WOODLAND 01303 260330

Monday 10th March - ASHFORD MUSIC SOCIETY - VILLIERS QUARTET - James Dickenson & Tamaki Higashi (violins) Carmen Flores (viola); Nick Stringfellow (cello). The Villiers Quartet is regarded at the forefront of innovation and creativity in music. The VQ is the Quartet-in-Association with the Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra and created their groundbreaking music residency and concert series at St. Andrew’s Church in London. The Quartet made its New York debut in March 2013 and is supported by the Delius and Bush Trusts. When they visit Ashford they will be playing string quartets by Haydn, Philip Glass and Mendelssohn. Venue: The Norton Knatchbull School, Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0QJ Time: 7.30 p.m. Tickets: £12 (Adults) and £3 (Students) Contact: Brenda McCormack on 01233 622971 or Hilary Pittock on 01233 623700.

Thursday 13th March - Tenterden and District National Trust Association Tenterden Junior School, Recreation Ground Road. 7.30 pm “Natural Wonders and Wildlife of Iceland” Ralph and Brenda Todd Visitors welcome. Further information 01580 764791.

Wednesday 19th March The Weald of Kent Computer Club will meet in Biddenden New Village Hall at 7.30 pm.The topic this evening will be:“Backing up your data, locally or on the cloud”. Annual membership is £10 plus £2 per meeting. Non-members are welcome (£3, but first visit is free) Full details: http:// www.wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk/Enquiries: secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 20th March at 8pm Smarden Local History Society EAST KENT PLACE NAMES by Anthony Poulton Smith.. Smarden Heritage Centre is open on Friday mornings from 9:30am to 12 :30pm at Smarden Charter Hall.All enquiries to The Secretary SLHS Yvonne Bonham Miller 01233 770425. email y.bonham@ btinternet.com

Pilgrims Hospices Events: Quiz Night Saturday 1st March 7pm for 7.30pm St Simon Church, Brookfield Road, Ashford TN23 4EU Cost: £5 per person (Teams up to 8 poeple) Contact tel: 01233 504111 Contact email: ashfordpilgrimsfundvols@gmail.com

Cycle Challenge training ride Saturday 15th March 9:30am Meet at Pilgrims Hospices Ashford, Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24 0NE Cost: Free, donations welcome Steve Auty email: steve.auty@pilgrimshospices.org Get ready for the Cycle Challenge with our training rides. All rides are approximately 25 miles long unless otherwise stated.We hope you will join us.

what’s on Charity Variety Show Friday 21st March 7.30 pm Sinden Theatre, Homewood School, Tenterden TN30 6LT Cost: £10 Contact Tenterden Lions tel: Box Office 01797 270378 email: peterb.b@btinternet.com

Sat 22 March 9.30am-12.30pm Meditation & Surgery.

Mindfulness Workshop At Charing Surgery.

Develop a calmer, more relaxed mind and way of being. In this workshop you’ll get to try different techniques and learn more about these practices so you can incorporate them into your own life. This workshop is run by Yvonne Fernando, certified NLP Master Practitioner & Life Coach. Cost £35.00 per person. Call Yvonne on 01233 878474 to book or see www.yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk

INTRODUCING OUR NEW “ELITE” WINDOW

Rainbow Ride & Stride Sunday 23rd March 10:30am Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, 56 London Road, Canterbury, CT2 8JA Cost: £5 in advance Deborah Kellond Contact tel: 01227 812621 email: Deborah.Kellond@Pilgrimshospices.org A brand new event for 2014! Join us for a springtime cycle ride, dog walk or ramble along the scenic Great Stour Way from the Pilgrims Hospices in Canterbury to Chartham village hall and back. The route is 8 miles in total but you can just do half! Decorate yourself, your dog, your bike, scooter or pushchair in your brightest rainbow • Traditional Appearance • Maintainance Free • Hand Crafted Assembly • Double & Triplecolours. Prizes will be given for the best fancy dress.

• Composite Construction

Glazed Options

Wednesday, 26th March The Biddenden • New Standards Of Energy • lndustry Leading Horticultural Society meets in the Village Hall Lifetime Guarantees Efficiency (7:15pm for 7:30pm start). Malcolm Withnall will be giving a talk on “How to improve your fruit and vegetable growing’. Contact Irene on 01580291777 Complimenting Our Established Range of EVEREST Products: or Lesley on 01580291931.

Members £1.50, Non Members £2.50. Annual membership £5. New • PVCU Windows & Doors members always welcome.

Friday 28th March - 7.30pm in Bethersden Church A Concert by “The King’s Men” (The Choral scholars and Organ scholar of King’s College Cambridge).

Tickets £12 from: Hon Secretary, 27 Chester Avenue, Bethersden TN26 3BW. Send SAE and cheque payable to “The Friends of St Margaret’s Church”.

Call 01233820989/820527 or e mail brushwood1@ hotmail.co.uk . 26th consecutive year!

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Saturday 5th April 2014 at 7.30pm - Colyer• Garage Doors Fergusson Hall, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB ASHFORD CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS VAUGHAN WILLIAMS & ELGAR With soloists Wilke te For Your FREE No Obligation Quotation Call Your Local EVEREST Consultant Brummelstroete, mezzo, Kathryn Jenkin, soprano, and David Stout, baritone. Mark Deller conducts. Tickets £20, £16, £10 (children half-price all tickets). Available from: Gulbenkian Theatre Box Office on 01227 769075 or online at www.thegulbenkian.co.uk Saturday April 6th. Charity Run My name is

David Smith W: 01233 758474 M: 07710 090932

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what’s on

CLUBS & SOCIETIES The Weald of Kent Computer Club does not meet in December

The Biddenden Horticultural Society Annual membership £5. New members welcome. Contact Irene Orsborne on 01580 291777 or Lesley Lidgett on 01580 291931.

Little Chart Bridge Club

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Friendly duplicate bridge every Tuesday afternoon at Little Chart Village Hall. For more information please contact Carmen Gunther on 01233 840 395.

Kennington Badminton Club, play at the Norton Knatchbull School on a Wed evening from 7.30 p.m.-10.00 p.m. Contact Mark Feeney on 01233 663030 or Shirley Mountford on 01233 610134.

Smarden Heritage Centre - Smarden Charter Hall, Smarden. Open every Friday 9:30am to 1:30pm visit: www.smardenheritagecentre.synthasite.com Biddenden Squash Club 01580 291130 Gordon Jones Playing Field, Biddenden. Friendly club with 2 courts and a bar. email: info@biddendensquash.co.uk www.biddendensquash.co.uk Biddenden Junior Football Club - Always looking for new players 7 -18, for fun and enjoyable football. Contact Steve on 07958 447948.

Charing Scottish Dancing Beginners Club Friday evenings, Charing Parish Hall, 7.30pm. We guarantee a relaxed and enjoyable evening. But we desperately need a few younger members who might eventually with training form a small demonstration team for pub events or fetes . Do come along and bring a friend. Ring Evelyn or John Voller on 01233 713758.

Smarden Short Mat Bowls Club We welcome new novice or experienced bowlers of all ages. We meet every Thurs. morning at 9.45am and the first Tues. of month at 7.15pm, in

the Charter Hall Smarden. Contact Malcolm 01233 770572.

Egerton Over 60’s Club We still have a few vacancies for our Club, any age and any area. We are a friendly group who enjoy stimulating speakers and outings. We meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at 2pm in the Egerton Millennium Hall.Speaker’s subjects include ”And so we raised the Mary Rose”, “Old Ashford” -”Policing in Kent” “Stoneacre” “Public timekeeping in Kent” “The tale of Beatrix Potter” “Windmills in Kent” to name but a few. Outings to-Blue Town Heritage, Kent Life, Dover Transport Museum, Stoneacre, Wingham Wildlife Park, and a Mystery Tour with cream tea. Meetings end with endless cups of tea , sandwiches, savouries and cakes. Contact David on 756544, Graham on 756260 or Sheila on 756294.

Pilates Classes. Westwell Village Hall. Thursdays 915am. £36 per 6 week block. Contact Victoria 07543543373/vsaker@hotmail.co.uk Headcorn Flea & Collectors Market held at Headcorn Methodist Church Hall. 9th of the month.

9.30am to 2.30pm Free Entry 01622-890735

Headcorn Modern Sequence Dance Club, meet every Monday 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm in the Andred Hall in Headcorn Village Hall. If you enjoy Ballroom dancing, bring your partner or friend along and learn more. We are a friendly little club, nice music- social evening- tea and biscuits - all for £3.00 per person. Call Rita on 01580 852289.

Clandestine Cake Club is a great way to meet new people, catch up with friends and the perfect excuse to eat cake! We meet approximately every six weeks with a different theme for each meeting to make things even more interesting! It’s a social thing - not a cake competition, so everyone from complete novices to professional bakers are welcome. The idea is to share your cake and have some fun! For more information, contact Zarina Hawkins on zjbm1965@gmail.com

Weald Of Kent Computer Club Feel alone with your computer?

Feel your computer does not love you?

Feel technology is rushing away from you?

Come and join our Club, meet like minded, friendly people where we try to sort out members problems and keep you updated on some of the recent computer and tablet developments. Try us free for one evening. Biddenden New Village Hall, third Wednesday of every month, except in August and December, at 7.30 pm.

More details at: www.wealdofkentcomputerclub.co.uk or email: secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk

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business

Tax Free!

The Government do not often provide taxfree incentives, however, since 1991 they have tried to encourage people to save money by offering tax-free savings and investments. For some reason, not all savers are taking advantage of their Individual Savings Account (ISA). There are a lot of misconceptions about ISAs which is why I believe many savers are missing out on this opportunity. With the ISA season approaching, I thought I would clarify some of the common errors.

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You can have an ISA every tax year because it is an annual allowance. The money within an ISA does not have to be locked away and you can have access to the capital. Furthermore, your money does not have to be invested in Stocks and Shares.

You can invest a lump sum but also you can make payments on a regular basis. Saving each month can be incredibly effective as you will soon start to build up a valuable pot of money for your future.

The total ISA allowance for 2014/15 will be £11,880. This is the maximum amount that an individual (over the age of 18) can put into an ISA during the tax year. The allowance can be split into two components – a Cash ISA and an Investment ISA (often referred to as a Stocks and Shares ISA).

In 2014/15, the maximum contribution into a Cash ISA is £5,940. As we approach the beginning of the new tax year, we should see an increase in Cash ISA rates as the banks and building societies compete to attract your savings.

Reviewing the interest rate on your Cash ISA is really important because often the rate will drop after a fixed period. When this happens, transfer your existing ISA to a new account which pays a higher rate of interest. March and April are usually the best time to do this exercise as rates are generally higher. Try to make sure that you are always getting a competitive rate. The banks will happily leave your money earning just 0.5% unless you take action!

If you would like to invest your money over the longer term, an Investment ISA may be appropriate. Your capital can be invested in lots of different assets such as property, corporate bonds and company shares which could potentially offer greater growth when compared to a deposit account. Again, regular reviews are important.

If you already have Investment ISAs, we can help you to check where your capital is invested and if those investments remain competitive.

In 2014/15, the maximum contribution for an Investment ISA is £11,880 although this will be reduced if you decide to utilise your Cash ISA. Another tax-free allowance to consider is the Junior ISA. These accounts were introduced in November 2011 and they are a great way for Parents and Grandparents to save for their children’s future.

Furthermore, the usual restrictions for parental gifts to minor children do not apply which means they are incredibly tax efficient. The allowance for 2014/15 will be increasing to £3,840.

To discuss the features of ISAs in more detail and for help with managing your existing plans, contact us on 01233 621066.

Louise Pepper APFS, BA Hons Chartered Financial Planner

IIndependent d d t Fi Financial i l Ad Advice i Helping you to feel informed and in control of your financial affairs.

We provide support and guidance for: Retirement and Pension Planning Savings and Investments Health and Life Assurance Mortgage Advice Call: 01233 621066 Website: www.bespokefinancialplan.co.uk Email: louise@bespokefinancialplan.co.uk Louise Pepper T/A Bespoke Financial Planning is an appointed representative of Financial Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA number 605539

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Puzzle Time Sudoku

Hidato

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition! That’s all there is to it, you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic there’s no maths involved and no adding up.

It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s addictive!

Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go. Some numbers are already given.

49

46

29 30

44

1

32

43

38

25 2

34 13

7

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8

21

11

18 ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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Quick Crossword Across 1.

3.

9.

10.

11.

14.

16.

17.

18.

21.

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Money (4) Used in board game (5,3) Scold severely (7) Electronic post (5) Young cabbage plants (6,6) To allow (3) Type of drum (5) Joint (3) Seen in a rink (6-6) Violent disturbances (5) Stabbing weapon (7) Supporting column (8) Popular sport (4)

Down 1.

2.

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Advises (8) Serious (5) Stowed away (3) Lock picks (8,4) Loyal (7) Story (4) Eats its own kind (12) Doomed (5) Alcoholic appetiser (8)

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15. Twice as much (7) 19. South American dance (5)

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20. Hold tightly (4) 22. Type of snake (3)

Is it possible to divorce amicably?

In the latest in a regular series on legal matters, Laura Hails, Head of the Family Department at Pengelly & Rylands, talks about divorce.

It is a sad truth that this time of year sees an increase in the number of couples considering divorce or separation. If divorce seems to be the only option, we believe that it is in the best interests of all concerned to try to go about it as amicably as possible, especially if there are children involved.

Either party to the marriage can petition for divorce, and there is only one ground on which to base a petition and that is ‘the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage’. This must be supported by a more detailed reason, known as a ‘fact’. To divorce immediately, there must be some allegation of fault by one party (the Petitioner) against the other (the Respondent), such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour.

Often clients are reluctant to make allegations of fault, preferring to try to sort matters out as amicably as possible. The only way to avoid the issue of fault is to separate and then wait for two years before petitioning for a divorce, as long as the other party agrees to it. Financial issues and matters relating to children can, however, be resolved upon separation, without having to wait for the two years to expire.

Not everyone wishes to wait for two years for a divorce, in which case an allegation of fault is the only way to progress. However, the Law Society and the family law organisation Resolution, are keen to try to avoid unnecessary hostility between parties, by suggesting that the Petitioner should try to keep the allegations as mild as possible and to allow the Respondent to see the allegations and, if they wish, take legal advice.

As a member of Resolution, we are committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes, considering the needs of the whole family. We believe that by encouraging communication between parties from the outset and trying to establish a reasonable level of compromise, it is more likely that a mutually acceptable

Laura Hails– Chartered Legal Executive outcome can be reached for both parties, both financially and, most importantly, for any children of the family.

If you are concerned about the costs of getting advice, we offer no obligation, fixed fee appointments for new clients. This could be helpful if you just want to know where you stand and what your options are.

We understand that, sometimes, that first step can seem daunting, but we are here to help.

So if you would like some initial, independent legal advice about divorce and separation, please feel free to call Amy, secretary to the family department, for more information, on 01580 762248

Pengelly & Rylands FAMILY SOLICITORS For friendly advice in times of need • Family, Children & Divorce (Fixed Fee appointments available) • Elderly Client Care • House Sales & Purchases • Equity Release • Wills & Probate • Commercial

Please call us on 01580 762248 39/41 High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BJ www.pengelly-rylands.co.uk

Making Music Last November I was fortunate to be able to sing in Canterbury’s new Colyer-Fergusson Music Building at the University of Kent. This magnificent new facility is accessible to both University members and the local community offering a purpose-built, flexible performance space that can accommodate a wide range of musical activities.

On a more modest but no less musically ambitious scale, Spring Grove is about to complete a new Music Room Development that will be accessible to both our own pupils and our local community.

The log cabin design will provide a large performance space ideal for orchestral, drama and dance performances. In addition, two new individual teaching rooms will ease the pressure on the rest of the school buildings.

In recent years, Spring Grove has developed a well-earned reputation for exciting, innovative and joyous music-making. The philosophy is that everyone sings and everyone can play. We believe that our choir is the whole school and as such we have tremendous fun singing community songs, hymns and some challenging pieces such as Britten’s Psalm 150 which was performed by children, teachers and parents on the composer’s 100th Birthday.

About 80% of our children in the top years choose to learn an instrument and there are ensembles and opportunities to perform aplenty. Last summer’s big concert included an orchestra of 40 young musicians, players are increasingly involved in community events and winning musical awards to senior schools.

Music is good for you Music comes out of the woodwork and lessons can be heard all over the school. This is not a distraction but a positive asset and conducive to good work and progress in all areas of school life. We believe that our arts programme adds an important dimension to those preparing for 11+ or exam entry to senior schools. We have numerous examples of talented musicians who are equally skilful on the sports field or are scholars in the classroom.

Singing or playing music is definitely good for the brain; it is also a marvellous therapy for troubled souls.

Later this year there will be two visiting groups that will offer direct support to our Music Appeal: The Crypt Choir from King’s School Canterbury will give a special concert in Wye Church on Saturday, 26th April. On Wednesday, 21st May, will be the grand opening of the new music room and our special guest will be Dutch violinist and jazz musician, Tim Kliphuis. He will lead some spectacular workshops through the day followed by a concert in the evening. Both concerts are open to the public and ticket details will be published shortly.

Affording a dedicated rehearsal and performance space on the Spring Grove campus, the new music room will also be available to hire as a venue for rehearsals and workshops which will appeal to a range of local organisations. (contact 01233 812337 / office@springgroveschool.co.uk ) Bill Jones - Headmaster, Spring Grove School www.springgroveschool.co.uk 01233 812337 / 07732329163

The History of Trench Watches

by Ryan at www.fullywound.co.uk This is the second of a two part article.

While German troops at this time were largely issued the more primitive “pocket watch” design, Allied troops had a wide range of new models to choose from. Many examples featured small silver pocket watch cases fitted with leather straps and displayed radiumilluminated porcelain dials protected by the aforementioned shrapnel guards.

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Wristwatches were no longer considered a novelty but were now a wartime necessity, and companies were scrambling to keep up with the demand. One company that enjoyed success during this time was Wilsdorf & Davis, Ltd., founded in 1905, and later renamed The Rolex Watch Company, Ltd., in 1915.

Hans Wilsdorf, the founder and director of Rolex, was a strong proponent of wristwatches since the turn of the century. While others scoffed at them, Wilsdorf continued to experiment with their accuracy and reliability.

Thus, some would argue that he did more for their advancement than anyone in history. In fact, he is even credited with sending the first wristwatches to the Neuchatel Observatory (Switzerland), for accuracy testing. They all passed the rigorous battery of tests, which encouraged Wilsdorf to push them even further.

Rolex subsequently received the very first wristwatch Chronometer awards from the School of Horology in Bienne (1910), and the Class “A” Certificate of Precision from the Kew Observatory in England (1914). To this day, Rolex watches consistently receive more Chronometer Certificates from the Contrôle

Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), than every other watch company in the world, combined.

After the Great War, many soldiers returned home with souvenir trench watches - so named for the trench warfare in which they were used. When these war heroes were seen wearing them, the public’s perception quickly changed, and wristwatches were no longer deemed as feminine. After all, no one would dare consider these brave men as being anything but.

In the final years of the war, wristwatches began to see numerous improvements. Case makers like Francis Baumgartner, Borgel and Dennison introduced revolutionary designs, which aided in making them more resistant to water and dust. These designs were later improved on when Rolex introduced the first truly waterproof wristwatch, the Oyster, in 1926.

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Oil Heating & Oil Cookers R-OAK Services M. Oakley & O.Stanley - Oil-fired Specialists Breakdowns & Servicing • Boiler Installation • Power Flushing AGA, Rayburn, Alpha, Stanley, Worcester, Tel: 01233 770138 www.ohoc.co.uk Grant, Boulter, Potterton, Trianco and more...

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Bathroom Suites Blockages & Burst Pipes Ball Valves Hot & Cold Tanks Taps

Installations Repairs Pumps & Radiators Specialist Power flushing and De-scaling Service

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useful information Emergency Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden Crimestoppers

101 0800 555 111

Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

0845 4349655 01233 633331

Samaritans www.samaritans.org

08457 90 90 90

Electricity: Southern Electric EDF Energy Gas: Natural LPG

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999

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

Doctors Surgery The Charing Surgery Headcorn Surgery Parish Councils: Biddenden: Charing: Egerton: Headcorn: Pluckley: Smarden: Ashford Borough Council www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway info:ashfordgateway.co.uk www.ashfordgateway.co.uk Citizens Advice Bureau CPRE Kent Veterinary Surgeons Barrow Hill Vets Pierson Stewart & Partners Charing Business Association www.charingkent.co.uk

01233 714 490 01622 890294 01580 890750 01233 713599 01622 853558 01622 892496 01622 890596 07752 395412 01233 637311

Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age Concern 01233 620 635 www.ageconcern.org.uk CARM E: Carmromneymarsh@supanet.com www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support www.forget-me-nots.co.uk Parkinson’s UK, Ashford Branch Contact Robert Gurney 01233 666577 Royal British Legion 01233 620 167 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611 414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc. 07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com NSPCC: Tenterden & District Mrs J Coombs 01580 763733 Pregnancy Sickness Support Kent and Sussex www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ Contact: Denise Clifford deniseclifford@btinternet. com Bus Enquiries Arriva Bus Enquiries 0871 200 22 33 (Timetable) 08456 00 22 99 (Customer Services) National Train Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk Wealden Wheels: 01233 840000 Village Halls:

0845 8 247 247

01233 626185 01233 714540 01233 624687 01580 713381

Biddenden Charing Charing Heath Egerton Headcorn Little Chart Pluckley Smarden Charter Hall

01580 291320 01233 713599 01233 713317 01233 756416 01622 890708 01233 840 590 or 01233 840 395 01622 890596 01233 770258

Plumbing & Heating Services All plumbing work undertaken no job too smallӔ Burst pipes, Blockages, Taps, Pumps, Radiators & Drainage work. Bathroom & Shower Installation

Call: Michael on 01233 733779 or 07515 651 717 NO CALL OUT CHARGE. 24HR SERVICE

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Industrial • Commercial • Domestic New Installations • Energy Saving Advice Showers / Extractor Fans • Solar Panels Emergency Lighting • Inspection and PAT testing CCTV • Full and part rewires Garden Electrics • General electrical repairs • Under floor heating

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E: jacqueline@tbelectrical.org.uk FREE Quotations!

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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TENTERDEN

Supply Any Make of Vehicle Both New and Used Arrange All Types of Vehicle Finance & Leasing Provide Service, Repairs & MOT Testing Dent Removal, Accident Damage Repairs & Bodywork Restoration arranged Spares, Accessories, Exhausts & Batteries Tyres at Competitive Prices - 4 Wheel Laser Alignment Sඎඇ Eඊඎංඉඉൾൽ Aංඋ Cඈඇൽංඍංඈඇංඇ඀ Sൾඋඏංർൾ Cൾඇඍඋൾ

MOTABILITY GRADE A QUALITY END OF CONTRACT CARS

NOW

G N I Y L SUPP

• • • • •

2-3 Yrs Old 1 Owner Low Mileage Main Dealer Serviced No Modifications

We have direct access to Motability’s website where we can view cars offered to us. Typically Motability have over 1500 cars for sale, all one owner, main dealer serviced with low mileage.

The cars we supply are prepared to the very highest standards. When you visit our showroom we are able to log on to the Motability website and using our customer friendly dual screen, show full details including pictures and service history.

Each car is carefully inspected inside and out by experienced staff to ensure they are supplied in as perfect condition as possible. Here our customers are able to order the model and colour they want with an anticipated delivery time of 21 days.

As you would expect from a family business established for 48 years, all dealer facilities are available, including part exchange and competitive finance. We encourage you to visit our showroom where Sales Manager Phil Cunningham looks forward to assisting you.

“For a friendly service from a family business” Rൾൺඋ ඈൿ Hඌൻർ Bൺඇ඄ - Hං඀ඁ Sඍඋൾൾඍ, Tൾඇඍൾඋൽൾඇ, Kൾඇඍ TN30 6BD

Telephone: (01580)

764444

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Private Care Service at Bedtimes

Our Private Care Service carers can come to your house and assist you ďŹ rst thing in the morning and / or last thing at night. This help can form part of a tailored package of care that could help you stay in your own home for longer, rather than going into a care home before its really needed. We can assist those who need help due to frailty, disability or illness to live as independently as possible, with comfort and dignity, in their own home. Overnight Sleep-in Care is also available from 10pm to 7am.

www.townandcountryhomecare.co.uk

Domestic Care

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For a free assessment of your care needs or to receive your brochure Call us on 01580 762244

Town & Country Homecare Limited 102a High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HT