Aldington October 2018

The

Village Directory October 2018 Edition • Issue 142 • Royal Mail

Aldington Area

BENSKO Chimney Sweeping Services Brush and Vac Friendly, Clean, Reliable Service Every Type of Flue Swept Pots, Cowls & Bird Guards Fitted Bird Deterrent Solutions for Solar Panels NAC’s Certificates Issued Fully Insured Local Family Run Business All Areas Covered

Call 01303 487401 Mobile: 07857 344770 www.benskoservices.co.uk

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A CLEAN CHIMNEY IS A SAFE CHIMNEY

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Welcome Hi everyone, welcome to the October edition, a month that signals the onset of winter and bids a fond farewell to British Summer Time, it will soon be time to set those clocks BACK again! The dark evenings are already beginning to creep back in and the problem is, as soon as it starts to get dark my brain tells me it’s time to close up the office and cosy up by the fire, even though I’ve got a good couple of hours work left to do. But with just two more editions to complete for 2018 I’ll soon be able to do just that, forgive me for saying it but it will be Christmas before we know it!

In our house it’s time for our routine annual tasks, for instance ordering fire wood, emptying the septic tank and topping up the gas tank for the central heating, typical tasks that go hand in hand with living in a rural location. There are also the more common tasks to consider too, like checking that your boiler is up to the task of keeping your hot water and central heating running through the winter, there’s nothing worse than experiencing problems when it’s particularly cold. For all these things and more you’ll find a man that can, or a woman in fact, within these pages, so don’t put off until tomorrow those things that can be done today.

There are still a good number of local events being sent in for the coming months, it’s so good to know we have such an active and sociable community. Do keep them coming, they are also posted on our website at www. thevillagedirectory.co.uk.

Until next time, have a great month, I’ll see you next time.

Debbie T: 01233 720488 e: info@thevillagedirectory.co.uk e: events@thevillagedirectory.co.uk w: www.thevillagedirectory.co.uk November Edition Deadline 10th Oct

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Home & Interiors Are You Thinking About a New Kitchen But Don’t Know Where to Start?

Maybe you need building works or just some inspiration. If this is the case, why not come along to our open day at our fabulous showroom near you. This will give you the opportunity to talk to one of my designers who will be able to guide you through your project. Here at Alon Interiors we can take care of your complete project be it building works, flooring or simply supply only. Whatever your situation we can meet your requirements as every client has different needs.

very proud of. The Company must go through rigorous tests to meet the requirements of CheckaTrade. This will give you the opportunity to read about our previous customers experiences.

Don’t forget to send back your RSVP which will give you an instant entry into our prize draw. We look forward to seeing you.

Sarah

At Alon I have a very experienced design team who will listen to your requirements and work alongside you to achieve your dream project. They will also liaise with your builder, if you are already working with one, to meet their schedules too. Designs can be produced from either Architect’s plan or from a home visit, to obtain your measurements and to get a feel from your home. From here we can start work on your designs and produce photorealistic images to give you a true feel for how your room will look.

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with the most up to date trends. During our 27th27th October October event my team will also be able to inform 11am - 4pm 11am11am - 4pm you of the new ranges which are being - 4pm 27th October launched for 2019, with photographs of the Ash Business Centre, Hanover Close, Cobbs 11am - 4pm newly refurbished showroom in Germany. Ash Business Centre, Hanover Close, Cobbs Wood, Ashford, TN23 1EH Ash Business Centre, Hanover Close, Cobbs Why not pop in and see our professional Wood, Ashford, TN23 1EH Wood, Ashford, TN23 1EH chef demonstrating our Neff appliances Ash Business Centre, Hanover Close, Cobbs Special Offers, Cookery Demonstrations, Prize and producing tasty nibbles for you to Special Offers, Cookery Demonstrations, Prize 1EH Wood, Ashford, TN23 Draws, Freebies & more!

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The Home

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The Home

Ruckinge

Sellindge

Evegate

Impressive five bed detached house built in the mid-1990s, extending to in excess of 3100 sq ft and set in just under one acre of garden. Occupying a wonderful rural location with surrounding farmland it is not isolated and is only just over 4 miles to Ashford Int. Station.

Renovated and improved detached Grade II listed property, retaining wonderful features such as the water wheel and weather boarding, with accommodation over four floors with three double bedrooms.

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£700,000

Ashford

Desirable four bed detached property set in the heart of the village. A substantial size property with spacious rooms set in an extremely generous plot with far reaching views across the village to the rear.

Brabourne Lees

This property stands in a plot of around 1/4 acre and offers excellent family accommodation.

£550,000

Mersham

Attractive three bedroom Grade II listed cottage, situated on the outskirts of Mersham with far reaching views to front and rear. NO ONWARD CHAIN

Reduced to £375,000

This stunning four bed detached bungalow sitting in 0.3 acre has just undergone complete remodelling to create a contemporary home of the highest quality. This property must be viewed to fully appreciate the workmanship and luxury finish designed by the current owners.

£699,995

Sellindge

Attractive four bed detached chalet bungalow, meticulously maintained throughout, set in a very generous plot. Detached garage & parking for up to four cars, backing onto open countryside.

£449,995

£525,000

Lenham

Desirable three bed period property offering practical, spacious open plan living, whilst still retaining a number of attractive original features creating a really appealing family home. NO ONWARD CHAIN.

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Smeeth

This charming terraced two bedroom cottage is situated in the heart of the village of Smeeth. The cottage has been vastly improved and updated whilst retaining some period features making a modern attractive home.

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Mowgli

by Montgomery Vets

H W

ello everyone, Mowgli here. I can’t believe that the summer is pretty much over!

e have been having quite a bit of fun in our house with a family of wood mice. We seem to have had a litter of them born in a wall near the kitchen and once a week for the last 3 weeks a single baby mouse has come out to play in the night. Ebony and I have always had an agreement to do mouse watch in shifts. The plan is that Ebony always takes the first shift (ladies first…..) and I then get up and take over. Is it my fault if I sleep so deeply on the bed that I fail to wake up? Even when she chirrups at me and licks me? I am sure any highly bred cat will agree that a feather duvet covered with a soft fluffy blanket will induce very deep sleep. Anyway, Ebony has been cross with me because I have slept through all my shifts. What has happened is that Ebony has identified all three mice. Mouse one was in Joshua’s bedroom. Jane woke up and heard what sounded like Ebony playing with Joshua’s wooden trains that are always all over the floor.

Clive got up to investigate (you see the pattern here- us boys get a tough deal…..) and found her tapping the trains to try and corner the mouse for us. I didn’t even wake up to catch that one but Clive soon had it in a box and out he went and took it to the bottom of the garden.

M

ouse 2 was under the wood-burner in the snug the following week. Ebony was heard tapping the logs that time. Clive again put the mouse in a box and they went to the bottom of the garden.

M

ouse 3 was where I showed how fantastic I am at mouse catching when I actually get the chance to wake up! This time Ebony was heard tapping the cups and toy food in Joshua’s toy kitchen. This mouse was hard to catch so Jane and I got up as reinforcements. Jane carefully pulled the toy kitchen away from the wall and Clive was about to scoop the mouse into a box when I saw my chance- I leapt between the

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kitchen and the wall and scooped the mouse carefully in my mouth. I was of course planning on gently putting the mouse in the box but it made a series or rather indignant squeaks that put me off so I decided that for its own safety I should put it down. Clive is very unkindly saying that I got the fright of my life when I actually caught the mouse and dropped it in horror when it started protesting. Anyway, the mouse was soon scooped up and joined its friends at the bottom of the garden. I went back to bed but kept waking up the humans so I could be praised again for catching the mouse. Praise should always be given where it is due!

H

ope you all have a good month and I will report any more mouse heroics next month!

Mowgli

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08/08/2018 14:41:58

The Garden

Gardening Beautiful Bulbs

by Pippa Greenwood special compost formulated for indoor bulb planting. It’s more expensive than multi-purpose compost, but performs better in bulb bowls or other containers without drainage.

Ornaments on your windowsills and shelves are pretty enough, but why not make your house all the more special this winter with some bowls of bulbs that are really brimful of colour, perhaps with gorgeous perfume too? You can buy ready-planted bowls of bulbs later in the year, but act now and you could soon have a stunning display at a fraction of the price.

The best bulbs are those described as ‘prepared’, which basically means they have been put through a carefully planned sequence of conditions to ensure that they flower well, reliably and uniformly indoors.

Prepared bulbs are often a bit pricier but are still great value.

You can also use standard bulbs but the results may be unpredictable. I like to use some prepared hyacinths, but 10

just cannot help creating more bowls of non-prepared bulbs too.

Visit your local garden centre now and you should see a good array of bulbs for sale, plus all the other things you need.

Special bulb bowls are a good buy, and are available in just about every colour imaginable.

They’re rather like huge soup bowls, but in plastic or china.

Unlike standard pots they have no drainage holes, which is better for your furniture! You can use normal flower pots, but do make sure you put a fully waterproof container or saucer beneath each pot – or watering will prove messy later on.

You can use standard multipurpose compost for indoor bulb displays, but better still buy yourself some bulb fibre or

Hyacinths for forcing are available in just about every shade imaginable – red, pink, white, cream, yellow and blue.

It is best to use a single colour in any one container as there is often some variation in flowering times between the colours, and ideally you want all the flowers out simultaneously.

Specially prepared crocus, paperwhite narcissus and some other daffodil types are also available. If you want to make some seriously low-cost bowls, then do as I do and buy a large bag of inexpensive dwarf narcissus, such as the cheerful, often multi-headed ‘Tete-aTete’. They work very well, as do crocuses.

Fill your bowl about one third full of compost for larger bulbs to one half full for smaller bulbs.

Firm the compost gently, but don’t compact it or the roots of the bulbs will not penetrate it well and you’ll end up with bulbs popping out of the top of the bowl. Position the bulbs pointed end uppermost – you can put them quite close to each other but not so close that they are touching their neighbours,

The Garden and make sure they are not in contact with the sides of the bowl either. Nestle the bulbs gently into the compost and then top up with compost so that just the noses (the pointed end from which the shoots will appear) are poking out. Water the compost lightly, making sure it is moist but not waterlogged. Then cover the bowls loosely with a black bin liner and put them in a cool, dark place – a cool shed, garage or cupboard under the stairs is ideal. It needs to be both dark and cool or the bulbs will not form good root systems.

Check the bowls every week or so and apply a little more water if necessary. It is time to bring the bowls out into the daylight once the shoots are about 2-3cm tall, which usually takes 3-5 weeks.

Put them in a cool spot with plenty of natural daylight – a cool but frost-free greenhouse or a spare room window sill for instance. The shoots will continue to grow and develop a healthy green colour; they will now need a little more water.

Once the flower buds just start to colour up you can put your bulb bowl in a warmer room, where you will soon be able to enjoy its perfume and good looks. If you want to give the bowl a really smart look, cover the compost with some moss or tie a seasonal ribbon around the bowl.

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items: stylish cloches, tunnels, the fantastic SpeedHoe, plant supports, raised bed kits, EasyTunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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The Garden

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Don’t drink the Coffee Tales of a Chimney Sweep by Bensko The most memorable coffee we (nearly) drank was offered to us last year. We accept gratefully when coffee is offed, but nowadays it can be with trepidation.

We were greeted by two large excitable dogs, once they had smothered us in love & kisses they were put away in the kitchen. Coffee was offered and gratefully accepted.

Whilst Bruce swept the chimney, I wandered to the kitchen to start the paperwork, both dogs were so excited they both had accidents on the floor, and no ordinary accident, this can only be described as a small lake running through the kitchen. The customer proceeded to grab handfuls of kitchen towel and began the mammoth task of mopping up (with kitchen towel!), remember this was no ordinary tiddle.

I glanced over and noticed our hot coffee waiting on the side, the customer apologised whilst continuing to put handfuls of sopping wet, peesoaked kitchen towel in her bin. “Please, please wash your hands” I prayed in my mind, as wee dripped through her fingers. No such luck, she wiped her hands down her jeans and lifted our coffee cups from the top (not by the handles) and handed them to me with a smile! Horrified I smiled graciously and turned to take the coffee to Bruce, as he started to lift it to his lips I gently moved in and whispered ‘DO NOT DRINK THE COFFEE’, he frowned and returned the coffee cup to me without a word.

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Very discreetly we lost the coffee outside. “How was the coffee” we were asked, “Delicious” We replied! Manners cost nothing…

As for sweep season this year, it started early.

We swept our way through the heatwave so the chilly days can’t come quick enough for us.

Now is the time to get ready for those darker evenings, where the best place to be is snuggled up beside the fire, with a glass of something scrummy, in our case it’s homemade Sloe Gin yummy!

Do remember to check that your carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly, this could save your life, and be sure to check that a bird didn’t take up residence in your flue over spring and has been nesting in your chimney, so light cautiously. Wet wood will cause tar which could inevitably catch your chimney alight.

Remember a clean chimney is a safe chimney!!

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The Garden

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The Garden

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The Garden

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Twisted Fairy Tales If you like your fairy tales more Brothers Grimm than Disney, you’re in for a treat with this lot…

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories – Angela Carter Angela Carter is often seen as the queen of the reimagined fairy tale. In this collection, the stories are as dark, twisted and brilliantly written as they come.

The main story, The Bloody Chamber, is a retelling of the French folk tale Bluebeard, which sees a young wife make a gruesome discovery in a locked room at her new husband’s house. The collection also includes retellings of Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Red Riding Hood.

Grimm Tales for Old and Young – Philip Pullman Pullman has reworked 50 of the Grimm brothers’ tales. He’s kept most of the content the same, but updated the language and ‘tidied them up’. The collection includes well-known tales, such as Rapunzel, Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin, along with lesser-known stories such as Hans-My-Hedgehog and The Musicians of Bremen.

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Revolting Rhymes – Roald Dahl Dahl’s childhood classic is more than 35 years old but still just as funny today. Six well-known fairy stories are reimagined in rhyme, with various twists to the tales and extra helpings of gore. Cinderella’s stepsister has her head chopped off, Red Riding Hood turns out to be a crack shot with a pistol and Jack’s mum gets eaten when she climbs the beanstalk. Great fun for kids and parents alike.

Kissing the Witch – Emma Donoghue Donoghue wrote Kissing the Witch long before her bestselling Room. It’s a collection of 13 rewritten well-known tales, including Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White. Whether it’s Cinderella choosing the Fairy Godmother over the prince, or Beauty discovering an entirely unexpected Beast, the tales are original and well-written. They’re also very short – perfect for enjoying over a coffee break.

The Surface Breaks – Louise O’Neill The Surface Breaks is a feminist reimagining of The Little Mermaid. In Gaia’s world, mermaids are supposed to look good, entertain the mermen and stay subservient. Gaia’s father, the king, rules with an iron fist.

Gaia swaps her life underwater, her tail and her voice for a chance with the man she saves from a shipwreck. But is he really worth it? An intriguing, thoughtprovoking tale.

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel – Louise Murphy In Nazi-occupied Poland, two Jewish children take on new identities – Hansel and Gretel. Pursued by soldiers, the children’s father and stepmother urge the children to seek safety in the forest while they try to draw the danger away. Deep in the woods lives an old woman who may be the children’s only hope. A harrowing read, but a memorable one.

The Garden

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What’s On

L i v e Ja z z 2018

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 1 3 0 3 2 7 7 1 7 5 All gigs start at 8pm ~ All gigs £12 admission Seat Bookings: 01303 277175 Email: twinklewood49@gmail.com Website: www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk

Oct 4th Musicians from The World Famous John Wilson Orchestra SKELTON / SKINNER ALL STAR SEPTET Oct 11th It’s The Tenor Feast from The 606 Mornington Lockett & Art Themen Quintet Oct 18th The Star of Broadway & The London Stage is back at The FJC Elaine Delmar & her trio Oct 25th Not one, Not two, But Three Tremendous Tenors Tenor Madness Derek Nash, Alan Barnes, Vasilis X, Plus all star Rhythm Nov 1st The swinging music of The American Jazz Giant Dave Pell Nov 6th Direct from Ronnie Scotts - The return of this exciting quartet Artie Zaitz Quartet Nov 15th The Battle of The Baritones is a Must See Mick Foster & Karen Sharp Quintet Nov 22nd From The USA ~ The professor of The Jazz Piano Phil DeGreg with the Alan Barnes Quintet Nov 29th The Best of British Jazz The Jazz All Star 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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October

October 1st Woodchurch Local History Society meets on the first Monday of the month at the village Memorial Hall at 7:30pm. This meeting sees the Woodchurch Ancestry Group provide three speakers who will each deliver a short talk on the following subjects. Jon Chaplin explains why William the Conqueror came close to visiting the village in 1066, Josie Mackie will recall a 19th century riot in Woodchurch during a time of severe hardship and, finally, Gary Samson tells us how the parish housed a number POW camps in WW2. The society welcomes new members as well as visitors (£2 at the door). For information ring Geoff Turner, 01233 860393.

October 4th St Margarets Church Bethersden are holding a free Antiques Valuation day with Clive Attrell in the church on Thursday 4th October 1pm4pm.Come along with your antiques and collectables and Clive will value them for you. Tea and cake will be available while you wait. Contact no 01233 820 728 October 6th The Return of Canterbury Cathedral Choristers with Director of Music Dr David Flood at Charing Church. Admission at the door is £8 and the evening will commence at 7pm. They were so brilliant we just had to invite them back October 12th Woodchurch Film Society will be showing ‘Murder on The Orient Express’. Doors will be open 7pm for 7.30pm screening Tickets: £4 (members), £5 (non-members). All available at the door. Venue: The Memorial Hall, The Green, Woodchurch TN26 3PF. Hot & cold drinks plus our usual delicious home-made cakes will be for sale during the interval.

October 13th Sewing Room Sale and Craftroom Clearance at the Victory Hall, Hamstreet 10am -12noon. Lots of bargains and refreshments will be supplied. Raising funds for the Canterbury Oast Trust.

October 13/14th Art Exhibition & Sale of Work to be held in Heysham Hall, Lydd on Sea, TN29 9PA.10am 4pm both days. Come and meet some of the Artists at work. Paintings framed and unframed, wood carvings, ceramics, cards and other sundry items on sale at reasonable prices. Free entry with easy wheelchair access. For further information contact Anita Waden 01797 367734.

October 16th Ashford Flower Club’s October Meeting will be a floral art demonstration entitled ‘Solo Plastic,’ by Jean Plaskett from Sussex. It will take place at Furley Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford TN24 8TX, starting at 7.30pm. All demonstrated arrangements will be raffled at the end of the evening.

You could be one of the winners, so come along and meet us- visitors £4.00 at the door.

October 17th The Weald of Kent Computer Club will meet on in Biddenden New Village Hall at 7.30 pm. This evening the subject will be “Using online banking and its security”. Annual membership is £10.00. Non-members are welcome at £2 a visit.

Full details: http://www.wealdofkentcomputerclub. co.uk/ Enquiries: secretarywkcc@yahoo.co.uk October 20th/21st Exhibition & Sale of Work at Stubbs Cross Mission Hall, Shadoxhurst TN26 1HE. Artists Peggy Curzons, Liz Jemmett, Jane Ohay, Janet East and David East are taking part. Free Entry 10am – 5pm, refreshments available.

October 24th The Biddenden Horticultural Society meets in the New Village Hall (7:15pm for 7:30pm start) Melvin Smith’s talk is entitled “Yesterdays Gardener” and there will be a display of old gardening tools as well. Members fees are £2, Non Members £3. Annual membership £5. New members always welcome. Contact Irene on 01580 291777 or Lesley on 01580 291931 October 25th The Annual Elham Christmas Market is being held 6.00pm – 9.00pm (Special preview for disabled visitors from 5.30pm-6.00pm) at the Elham Village Hall. Festive atmosphere, Lovely Christmas Gifts, Quality market stalls including: Jewellery, Chocolates, Teddy Bears, Garden Crafts, Christmas Gifts and decorations, arts and crafts, candles, ceramics, knitted and crocheted items, homeware and much more. Refreshments will be available on the night including delicious homemade mince pies and festive mulled wine. Fabulous raffle prizes! Entry: £1.00 (Children under 12 free) Please park in field opposite down Park Lane (bring a torch!) or in the village itself. Any enquiries to Carol on 01303 840430 It’s a festive, fun evening out for all the family. We hope to see you there!

October 26th Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society will hold their AGM in the village hall commencing 7.15 for 7.30 pm followed by a glass of wine and nibbles. For further enquiries please contact Wendy Sanders on 01303 813 451 or email brabournewendy@gmail.com. Visitors will always be made welcome.

October 27th Smarden Christmas Fair 10:00 a.m.

– 2:30 p.m. Smarden Charter Hall, Chessenden Lane TN27 8NF. Lots of charities plus craft , jams, jellies and chutneys and delicious refreshments made by the ladies of Smarden W.I. Start your Christmas shopping and nab some bargains in a lovely village setting. Gill Bromley gillbrom57@btinternet.com 01233 770451 October 27th Fun Race Night with Hot & Hearty Supper at Hothfield Village Hall 7pm for 7.30 start.

What’s On

Art in Bridge 2018 Exhibition Bridge Village Hall, High Street, Bridge

Saturday 6th October 11am – 5pm

Sunday 7th October 11am – 4pm

Hostas and Bergenia - Barry Kirk (2018)

Entrance FREE Refreshments available Exhibitor entry form from the web site, The Bourne Gallery, Bekesbourne and in September from Colebrook Sturrock & Co, Estate Agents, High Street, Bridge Exhibits to the Hall 5.00 – 6.00 pm Friday 5th October For further information please go to www.artinbridge.org.uk or telephone John Corfield on 01227 830976

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What’s On

Tickets cost £6, available from Hothfield Post Office. Please purchase tickets by October 20th for catering purposes. Supper will comprise a choice of homemade tasty dishes including a vegetarian option. Please bring your own drinks and glasses.

You or your business can also sponsor a race for £20, and your name will appear as a sponsor in the programme, you will also be able to name the race. Proceeds shared between Hothfield Village Hall and Hothfield History Society. If you would like to sponsor a race, reserve tickets or make an enquiry, please call 01233 625 942 or visit www. hothfieldmemories.org.uk November 3rd Hamstreet & District Branch of The Royal British Legion Annual Coffee Morning from 10am - 12pm in the Victory Hall, Hamstreet. Please come along to support this noble cause, to enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, a cake, a chat and to buy your poppies & Royal British Legion promotional items.

There will be a small raffle. Any donations of raffle prizes and/or cakes would be most welcome. We look forward to seeing you. Peter Gostling 01233 732318 November 3rd Hamstreet Bowling Club Craft Fair at Bilsington Village Hall 12.00 to 16.00.

Refreshments and Raffle, Crafts including cards, coasters, cushions, furniture, jewellery, knitted/ crocheted items, needlecraft, paintings, pottery, stained glass, wooden plaques. To book a table/stall call Gwen 01303 872603 or Denise 01233 733340 November 5th Woodchurch Local History Society meets at the Memorial Hall, Woodchurch at 7:30pm.

Emma Hanna will give a presentation entitled ‘Great Chart Soldiers’ Letters of WW!’. This is the story of how a group of Great Chart women got together under the leadership of Elizabeth Strout to write letters and send parcels to soldiers serving in the trenches. These letters served to keep the soldiers in contact with village news and to assure them that they were not forgotten. Many letters survive to make a very moving story, especially on the 100th year after the 1914-18 war. We welcome new members and visitors pay £2 at the door. For information, ring Geoff Turner 01233 860393.

November 20th Ashford Flower Club will be hosting a Christmas flower demonstration by Annette Urquhart entitled ‘pickle My Walnuts’. It will take place at Hothfield Village Hall, Park Drive, Hothfield TN26 1EQ. Really open at 6.30 pm for a 7.30 pm start. Sales table, flower raffle, and Christmas charity raffle in aid of the Ashford branch of the International Glaucoma Association.Tickets £.8.00, in advance contact 01233 628278 or 01233 820585.

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October 8th Smeeth W.I. will meet at Brabourne and Smeeth Village Hall at 7.30pm and their Speaker Paul Butt will enlighten them on the extensive work of the Air Ambulance for Kent, Surrey and Sussex and the lives this service saves. Any lady visitor is most welcome and should you need further information please do contact Joy Taylor 01303 812165 or Margaret Garrett 01303 813932.

November 12th Smeeth W.I. will meet at Brabourne and Smeeth Village Hall at 7.30pm for their Annual Meeting. Following completion of the business we look forward to a jolly Social Time when we shall all be able to enjoy genial company and catch up with one another. A warm welcome awaits any lady visitor and should you need any further information please do contact Joy Taylor 01303 812165 or Margaret Garrett 01303 813932.

Bilsington Art Group annual Art Exhibition held in the Bilsington Village Hall for the weekend of October 20th and 21st - 10a.m to 4p.m. It is free and everyone is welcome.

High Halden Horticultural Society (Growers, bakers and makers!) We will be holding our AGM in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 13 th October at 7 pm for 7.30 pm start. The evening will include a Speaker and presentation of awards for the year. Entry is £5 which includes a buffet supper”

Sewing Room Sale …

Craft Room Clearance Saturday 27th October 10am – 12 noon Victory Hall, Hamstreet We’ve been clearing out our cupboards and making room for more!

Lots of fabrics, yarns, trims & more

Huge range of card-making materials all at bargain prices Refreshments

Contact 01233 732684 Raising funds for

Canterbury Oast Trust A local charity supporting adults with a learning disability Charity no 291662

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21

CINNAMON

Receive Prestigious Prestigious Award and Launch Awards Launch Vegan Menu Menu New Vegan Cinnamon Spice in Ashford, has been awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the fifth consecutive year. “I am truly honored and delighted to achieve such tremendous recognition from Trip Advisor.

This is a clear indication of our mission to providing a world class dining experience to whoever walks through our doors.” – Ash Miah, General Manager of Cinnamon Spice.

Not only did they receive the Certificate of Excellence this year, but they have also been awarded with the exclusive Hall of Fame Certificate for their success over the past five years. The Hall of Fame Award is a prestigious award that is

22

awarded only to restaurants that have earned a 4.5 star and above average for five years in a row. The team believes this to be ‘A true reflection of a business that does not compromise its ethos and values and ensures that every single customer leaves our restaurant feeling genuinely satisfied every time they visit.’

The mayor visited the restaurant and congratulated the Cinnamon Spice team for their excellent achievement.

She was extremely impressed with the high standards of food and service delivered by the restaurant.

“We are all immensely proud to have received both of these awards. We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our staff and all our loyal customers who have supported us,” – Ash Miah.

At the same event Cinnamon Spice also launched their new Vegan menu, why not check out their website for further details w w w.cinnamonspicekent. co.uk. In celebration of this momentous occasion they are offering readers a £20 Gift Voucher (conditions apply) when dining in the restaurant this month. Enjoy!

Leisure CINNAMON

01233 668 731 Unit 4 Eureka Place, Trinity Road,Ashford, Kent TN25 4BY

WWW.CINNAMONSPICEKENT.CO.UK

£20 Gift Voucher

2018

With Complements when Dining In During October 2018

PROMOTIONAL KIT

Conditions Apply: Min spend £45, 1 voucher per table - max. 10 persons.

Valid from the 1st to the 31st October 2018 from Sunday to Thursday.

Exludes Drinks, Lamb and Seafoood dishes. Not in conjunction with any other offer

£20

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Food & Domestic Services

ONE PAN LEMON AND HERB CHICKEN ROAST A quick and easy roast for midweek or Sunday lunch with hardly any washing up!

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ gas mark 6. Place the butter in a bowl and beat in the garlic, mixed herbs and the zest and 1 tbsp juice from one of the lemons. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serves 4 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes • 50g butter, softened • 2 garlic cloves,

crushed • 3 tbsp fresh chopped

mixed herbs (see Tip) • 2 lemons • Salt and freshly

ground black pepper • 8 chicken thigh

portions • 500g baby potatoes,

halved • 2 tbsp virgin olive oil • 4 sprigs fresh

rosemary, broken into small sprigs 24

Ease the skin away from the chicken thigh portions and gently push about 1 tsp of the herb and garlic butter under the skin of each portion then smooth the skin back down. Place all the chicken portions in a large roasting tin.

Toss the potatoes in half the olive oil and season. Scatter around the chicken along with the rosemary sprigs. Cut the second lemon into thin wedges and nestle them in between then chicken and potatoes.

Drizzle over the rest of the olive oil.

Roast in the pre-heated oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes until the chicken is golden and cooked though and the potatoes are crisp and tender, turning the potatoes and basting the chicken with the pan juices once or twice.

Serve from the roasting tin with steamed green vegetables, if liked.

You can use any combination of mixed TIP herbs for the garlic and herb butter – thyme, parsley and oregano all go particularly well with chicken. Or just choose one strongly flavoured herb such as tarragon.

Food & Domestic Services

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Food & Domestic Services

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

26

In Season:

October

Fruit

Salad

Apples Blackberries Greengages Grapes Melons Nuts Pears Plums Raspberries

Lettuce Purslaine Pak Choi Spinach Tomatoes Watercress

Vegetables Artichoke Beetroot Beans Broccoli Brussels sprouts Butternut Squash Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celeriac Celery Chard Chillies Courgettes Cucumber Garlic Greens Kale Kohirabi Leeks Marrow Onions Parsnips Peppers Potatoes Radishes Rocket Salsify Shallots Swede Seetcorn Turnips

Fish Clams Cockles Crab Grey Mullet Haddock Halibut John Dory Lemon Sole Lobster Mackerel Monkfish Mussels Oysters Plaice Sea Bass Scallops Turbot

Meat & Game Beef Duck Goose Grey Squirrel Grouse Guinea Fowl Hare Lamb Mutton Partridge Pheasant Pork Rabbit Teal & Mallard Veal Venison Wood Pigeon

The Home

Repairs to...

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

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27

Kid’s Corner

28

Becoming a Foster Carer

by Kate Duggan kateduggan.co.uk

Tens of thousands of children enter the care system in the UK every year. If you think you could help, read on to find out more about fostering, including how to go about it and how much you could earn.

WHO CAN FOSTER? Foster carers come from a range of backgrounds. You’ll need to: • Be at least 21.

• Have the right to live in the UK permanently.

• Have a spare bedroom.

• Have enough time to look after a child.

You don’t need to be in a relationship or own your own home, and you can have a job.

You don’t need any qualifications, but previous experience with children is beneficial.

WHAT TYPES OF FOSTERING ARE THERE? There are lots of different types of foster care. Some children only need a short-term placement.

Others need a long-term home.

You could even just offer emergency, overnight, weekend or respite care if you prefer. You could also choose to foster a young parent and their child.

Both would live with you and you’d help the parent to develop their skills until they were able to care for the child independently.

WHAT KIND OF CHILDREN

NEED FOSTERING? Children from all backgrounds, and of all abilities and ages, find themselves in foster care.

Many end up returning to their birth families or going on to be adopted. Some children have complex emotional or physical needs.

Sometimes, foster carers specialise in a particular age group, whether it’s babies and toddlers, primary school children or teenagers. Some people focus on caring for disabled children or children seeking asylum. Your case worker will talk to you about what type of placement would be best for you.

HOW MUCH COULD I EARN? The minimum weekly allowance per foster child starts from £127.

Older children have greater allowances, as do children with special needs. So, for example, if you fostered a nine year old and a 15 year old, you’d receive at least £302 for each week you looked after them. That money would need to cover the child’s food, clothes, toys and other expenses.

Foster carers are sometimes paid a fee on top of the allowance.

The amount you’ll receive will depend on the foster service you go through, and the needs of the child you foster. Many foster carers earn more than £500 a week for each child they foster.

Foster carers get considerable tax relief on the money they earn from fostering. Foster payments also don’t usually have an effect on welfare benefits.

WHAT SUPPORT WOULD I GET? You’d attend training programmes and be matched with your own social worker, who would be there to support you. Some services also have additional support available, such as a 24-hour helpline.

HOW DO I APPLY? You can foster through your local council, or through an independent fostering service.

The application and assessment process usually takes around six to eight months.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE? For more information about fostering, contact your local council or visit: www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk www.gov.uk/foster-carers

29

Health

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

Achieving A Better Work-Life Balance in the role). Flexible working can become particularly important if you’re a parent or carer, but before you go looking for more flexible employment, be brave: approach your current employer. Discuss your requirements and possible solutions, such as more flexible working, changing work times, reducing your hours or working fully or partially from home.

1st – 5th October is National Work Life Week, an event run by the Working Families charity and focusing on how employees and employers can improve work-life balance. The charity wants to create a society in which everyone can fully meet their work and caring responsibilities and has “real choice in balancing the interdependent demands of family, work and community at different life stages.”

However, this vision seems a long way from being realised. In research undertaken by Working Families, half of parents said their work-life balance was a source of stress and one in ten said they were ready to resign without another job to go to. It also revealed that seven out of ten parents worked at home in the evenings and at weekends, due to increasing workloads, lack of time for planning, organisational culture, and manager attitudes.

But working long hours is bad for our health. Research published

30

in 2015 by Public Health expert Prof Mika Kivimäki showed that people working 55 hours or more per week have a 33% higher risk of stroke and a 13% higher risk of coronary heart disease than those who work a 35 to 40-hour week.

While his study didn’t look at the potential reasons behind this link, experts have suggested that these increased risks are probably due to prolonged sitting, stress, less time for exercise and less time for relaxation and healthy eating.

Working long hours can mean not enough time looking after your health and wellbeing.

So, what can employees do to achieve a better work-life balance, and what can employers do to help their staff achieve it?

Employees: Think Flexibility The Working Families study showed that half of people in the UK want to work flexibly but currently, fewer than one in ten jobs advertised offer flexible working (even though it may be available

You could also consider selfemployment but be warned: this comes with its own downsides and doesn’t suit everyone. Finding and retaining work, selling your skills, doing your own bookkeeping and admin, taking sole responsibility for the quality and completion of projects and having nobody else to motivate you can be overwhelming and stressful – not to mention lonely. If you work by yourself from home, you also need to think about where you will work and how you will avoid distractions, including family and friends. Some are inclined to see working from home as not quite real work, failing to appreciate that you still have deadlines to meet.

• Whether you’re employed or self-employed, know when to say no and when to down tools.

• Leave work behind when your hours are finished and don’t be tempted to open those workrelated emails.

• Get enough sleep. Working into the night is ultimately counter-productive as your memory, response time and concentration will all suffer.

You’re also putting yourself at great risk of mental and physical

Health & Lifestyle

health issues.

• Prioritise tasks and break them down into smaller steps so that you stay on track, avoid being overwhelmed and have a feeling of achievement.

CARE AND SUPPORT IN YOUR OWN HOME

Employers: Listen to Your Employees Some employers panic when employees ask for more flexibility, changes to working times, reduced hours or to work from home, but there’s no need to.

It could be a positive change.

To become a more flexible employer: • Investigate how technology could help your employees work from home or while travelling for work. Cloud-based apps and services can allow workers to access real-time financial data, message colleagues and collaborate on projects online.

• If an employee requests a change to their working practice, listen to what they want with an open mind, but also express any concerns you have so that they have the chance to address them. Offer a trial period so that both of you can see how this new way of working performs in practice before making any commitment.

• Consider job-share options for both existing and new roles.

You should also consider the well-being of your employees and ensure you’re meeting your legal obligations to them.

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

Bluebird Care strive to do more than meeting your physical needs and keeping you safe. We want to provide you a service that enriches your life and gives you the fulfilment that you deserve.

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

HOUSEKEEPING ●MOBILITY HELP● COMPANIONSHIP● PERSONAL CARE

BluebirdRESPITE CARE● LIVE-IN CARE● SHOPPING ASSISTANCE Care strive to do more than meeting your physical needs and keeping you safe. We want to provide you a service that CONTACT US TODAY enriches your life and gives you the fulfilment that you deserve.

Bluebird Care (Ashford)

HOUSEKEEPING • MOBILITY HELP • COMPANIONSHIP 01233 501222 PERSONAL CARE • RESPITE CARE • LIVE-IN CARE • SHOPPING ASSISTANCE

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• Do your employees get the breaks they’re entitled to in a place away from their workstation – and your queries?

• Do you signpost or offer mental and physical health services, such as counselling or lunchtime exercise activities?

• Do you ensure that the equipment they use is positioned correctly to avoid physical strain and fatigue?

• Are employees encouraged to speak up if they feel the demands placed on them are too great?

REF

CHAR05-002 (Bluebird Care)

SIZE

• Do you encourage working smart, not working long?

NOTES Research shows that happier, healthier employees are more productive and likely to stick around and that millennials are increasingly looking for more flexible employers, so practising flexibility and caring about employee wellbeing is not just altruistic – it makes good business as well. any amendments, Should yousense require

IMPORTANT

63 x 93

PLEASE NOTE

please indicate them To find out more, clearly onvisitthe copy and return it to us together with this form www.workingfamilies.org.uk. within the next 5 working days Thank you

DAT

APP SIGNED DATE

31 While every effort will be made to follow up and contact you about your advertisement, it is ultimately t feedback regarding any artwork, either by email, telephone or post. In the event we do not hear from you

Clubs & Societies Aldington Ladies Gentle Exercise Club Wednesday afternoon 2-4.30pm at Aldington Village Hall. Fee £4 per session . Wear comfy clothes and non-slip socks if possible. Contact Anne Warrener 01303 812703. looking forward to seeing you!

Aldington & Bonnington Gardening Society We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month in the Aldington Village Hall at 7.45 pm for 8.00. We have a varied programme of talks, shows and social events. Visitors and new members are always welcome. For further details please contact Jean Evans on 01233 720618 or colin.e123@btinternet.com Aldington Corner Quilters is a long established group of friendly ladies meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at Aldington Village Hall, 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

We have a mix of beginners and experienced ladies who share their latest projects and ideas. We always welcome new members so if you are interested come along one evening and meet us. For more details contact Julie Coney - quirkyjules@gmail.com or 01303 813944 (eve).

Aldington Tennis Club We are a social / family Tennis Club encouraging all ages and abilities to play. Flood lights and coaching enable us to play all year with our members from around the local villages. All the information is listed on our web site www.aldingtontennisclub.co.uk

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Aldington WI on 3rd Mon every month. All ladies welcome, 7 for 7.30 at The Walnut Tree, Aldington.

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 Decorative & Fine Arts Society (part of NADFAS). A great way to expand your knowledge of the arts, with inspiring monthly lectures given by some of the countries top experts, together with days of special interest and arts visits. All lectures are in Aldington Village Hall, usually on the third Tuesday of each month, from September to June. Membership is open to all. www.ashforddfas.org.uk The Brabourne and Smeeth Branch of the Royal British Legion meet every first Tuesday in the month at the Brabourne Baptist Church at 7.30 pm. New Members area always welcome, please contact George Taylor 01303 812165 or Ron Cooper 01303 813330 Brabourne & Smeeth Gardeners’ Society We meet on the last Friday of the month at Brabourne & Smeeth Village Hall, 7.15 for 7.30pm. (No meeting in December) New members and visitors will be made very welcome.

For further info call Wendy Sanders 01303 813451 brabournewendy@gmail.com.

East Kent Morris Men Do you like dancing, beer, socialising, music, having fun? Why not try Morris Dancing? We are recruiting for new members. Weekly Wednesday dance practices at Mersham Village Hall,

8pm to 10pm; afterwards we practise drinking in the pub opposite! No experience required. Why not give it a try? Details from www.ekmm.org.uk or 01795 536 262 Quilting Group held in the Oak Room, Smeeth TN25 6SA. If you are interested in quilting or patchwork why not come along and learn new skills and share your expertise with like minded people. Beginners and advanced levels are welcome. Bi-monthly meetings, for further information contact Marion on 01233 750319 Sellindge Gardening Association With effect from Jan ‘18 meetings will take place on Friday afternoon.

The change will begin 19th Jan 1.45pm for 2pm. Our programme includes speakers, a summer show, social events, day trips and an annual holiday. For further details contact Linda on 01303 813288.

Sellindge Table Top Sale the 1st Saturday of each month in the village hall Sellindge. Tables booked in advance are £5. 00 Each and on the day (If available) £8. 00. Telephone for more information 01303 813475.

Refreshments are available and home made cakes.

Smeeth W.I. We meet on the second Monday of the Month at 7.30 pm in the Brabourne & Smeeth village hall for further information do contact Joy Taylor 01303 813932 or Margaret Garret 01303 813932.

Stanford & Postling WI meet in the committee room at the rear of Lympne Village Hall on the 3rd monday of every month. we are a small but friendly group who would love to wlecome new members. For any further information please contact Elaine on 01303 863096 or Iona on 01303 238390.

The Get Together Club meet second Wednesday of the month in the Durling Hall, Sellindge from 2pm to 4pm. new members welcome.

Lympne Short Mat Bowling Club meets every Mon & Thurs 7 00 pm to 9 30 pm September to May in Lympne Village Hall. It is a small, friendly, sociable club. Do come along and try your hand at an enjoyable, skilful game. Do come along you will be made most welcome. For further details call Joyce Groom - Match Secretary on 01303 230983/0750 652 5971 trevor_groom@sky.com Sellindge Linedancing Club We are your local line dance club. We meet every Tuesday & Thursday. Are you interested in joining us? You don’t need a partner to line dance! We are starting a NEW BEGINNERS CLASS on 5th September 6.00pm until 7.00pm Entry fee is only £2.50.

If you need to know more or even to reserve your place, please ring Maureen for further details. 07989 210449 Ashford Model Railway Club - We meet on Wednesday evenings at the barn café at Willesborough Windmill. between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, and the club would welcome new members. Club members are currently building a model of Rye in 00 gauge in the SR period.

Contact John White on 01233 733416 for more details.

Pop in Centre, for the over 60s, open every Weds. 1.45. pm & Table Top Sale 1st Sunday every month. Lower Road, Woodchurch.

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33

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.

L E

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TARGET Excellent 40 or more words Good: 34 words Fair: 30 words 34

U M T S R H 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: 5 4 letters: 13 5 letters: 3 6 letters: 1 THUS TUSH 5 Letters HURTS STRUM THRUM 6 Letters THRUMS

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P A I N

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Across 7. Moscow’s country (6) 8. Clears throat (6) 9. Continent (4) 10. Extra (8) 11. Picture houses (7) 13. Head organ (5) 15. Wooden barrier (5) 17. Go backwards (7) 20. Fell (8) 21. Limit, boundary (4) 23. Event, incident (6) 24. Idea (6) Down 1. Pet name for cat (4) 2. Property, manor (6) 3. Yellow fruits (7) 4. Corrosive liquids (5) 5. Six-string (6) 6. Explanations, hypotheses (8) 12. Recognize (8) 16. Fighting (6) 14. Title (7) 18. Occurrences (6)

19. Warn (5) 22. Enlarge, develop (4) 35

BRABOURNE BAPTIST CHURCH

Plain Road, Brabourne Lees, Kent TN25 6QN Enquiries; Geoff Thorpe; 01303 813152 or Babs Ruck; 01303 813743 New Minister In Training at Brabourne Baptist Church: We have great pleasure in welcoming Paul Muir, our new Minister in Training. He says getting to know people is vital to being involved and so just meeting and chatting to the residents of the village is very important. Paul can be contacted on; 07929269777 or email; pjm436@hotmail.co.uk. Paul’s Induction will be on Saturday 20th October Sunday Services: There is a regular service at 10.30am every week. Morning Worship is followed by free refreshments in the side hall.

Messy Church: Saturday, October 6 from 3 -5pm. Come and celebrate Messy Church’s First birthday with cake, games, stories, songs, crafts, food and fun!

It’s Harvest Time! Find out what you can do with water and apples! How did Biblical characters sow wheat?

Bring the whole family and come and join the party. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Contact Kathleen MacPhee 01303 812536 Art Club Our next meeting is on Tuesday October 9 from 10am – 12noon. Further details from Mike on 01303 812484. New members will be made very welcome!

Bicentenary Timeline; Anybody can view the timeline in the church which dates from 1814 until the present day. There are many photos & lots of interesting information. Please contact Val Thorpe 01303813152 or email val_geoff@btopenworld. com to visit outside church times Bicentenary Celebrations! Thanksgiving Service Saturday 13th October at 3pm followed by afternoon tea.

Morning Service Sunday 14th October at 10.30am.

Guest preacher Rev. Prof. Philip McCormack MBE. Please contact; Corinne Herrick Tel: 01303 812603 or Email: cch65@hotmail.com Café Wednesday The Café is open every Wednesday from 10- 11.30am. Drop in for coffee, biscuits, company and a good natter. Choice of books available. Everybody welcome First Wednesday of the month: A free clinic is held on behalf of Hi-Kent, to service and provide batteries for hearing aids.

MP’S Surgery: Our MP Damian Collins, will be holding his monthly surgery from 3.45pm to 4.30pm on Friday October 19th. If you have any questions, complaints or comments, please book an appointment by e-mailing your name, post code, subject and message to: shepwayconservatives@btconnect.com or telephone 01303 253 524 Meeting Point: Please phone Cathy 01303 814132 for further details.

36

Report of Parish Council Meeting, 10 Sept.

The Parish Council held no meeting in August, but individual councillors and the Clerk continued its work throughout the summer: Speed Indicator Device The Parish Council’s survey of all residents in 2017 revealed that installation of a speed indicator device ranked among peoples’ top two wishes for projects. KCC Member, Clair Bell kindly provided financing from her Member’s Grant, and during this summer three new posts were installed at key locations around the village; delivery would be taken of the device itself within a week, and the speed indicator device should be operative immediately.

Skatepark The Parish Council has prepared and sent out tender documentation for contractors wishing to quote for building a skatepark near the play area at Aldington Meadows. A decision will be taken on this project once the responses have been received.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) Local Plan ABC is now preparing the main modifications to its Local Plan. This will soon be the subject of a 6-week public consultation. Residents are entitled to submit their responses. The Parish Council will, as usual, consider the revised Local Plan and submit its comments.

Next meeting: Mon. 8 Oct., 7.30pm, at Aldington Eco Centre, Goldwell Lane.

Full minutes of parish council meetings are available on the website:

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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...

37

Important Information Emergency 999 Police Neighbhd Team Ashford & Tenterden

Crimestoppers

101 0800 555 111

Out of Hours Doctor William Harvey Hospital

0845 4349655 01233 633331

Samaritans

116 123

www.samaritans.org Electricity:

Southern Electric

EDF Energy Gas:

Natural

LPG

Doctors Surgery Hamstreet Surgery Sellindge Surgery Veterinary Surgeons Montgomery Vets

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

01233 730190 01303 812180 01303 813756

Parish Councils: Aldington & Bonnington 01233 721757 E: clerk@ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk www.ald-bonnpc.kentparishes.gov.uk Brabourne & Smeeth 01233 623902 Mersham & Sevington 01233 750415 Sellindge 01303 813 271 Ashford Borough Council 01233 331111 W: www.ashford.gov.uk Ashford Gateway 0845 8 247 247 Citizens Advice Bureau 01233 626185 Brabourne and Smeeth Community Warden: Graham Kingston 07813 712805 Ashford Volunteer Centre 01233 665 535 Age UK Ashford 01233 668 765 www.ageuk.org/ashford ageukashford.org@gmail.com Ashford Counselling Service 01233 610083 info@ashfordcounselling.org.uk www.kentcounselling.co.uk CARM 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 St. John Ambulance Brigade 01233 611414 East Kent Strokes 01233 840448 www.eastkentstrokes.org SE Kent Multiple Sclerosis Soc.

07767326138 email: mssoutheast@gmail.com Royal British Legion CPRE Kent

01233 620 167 01233 714540

Royal Mail Residential Customer Services

08457 740740 Travel www.arrivabus.co.uk www.stagecoachbus.com www.nationalrail.co.uk Village Halls Aldington 01233 720213 Brabourne & Smeeth 01303 813746 David Smith, keen.smith@btinternet.com Bilsington 01233 720818 Hamstreet 01233 732568 Mersham 01233 503192 Smeeth 01303 814977 Stowting 01303 862819 Sellindge 01303 813250 Sellindge Spts & Soc. Club 01303 812437

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

01233 840624

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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