January 2008 - West Peckham Parish Council

Transcription

MEREWORTH & WEST PECKHAM
RECORD
THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW
FOUR PARISH BOUNDARY STONE
January 2008
Mereworth & West Peckham Record
Editor:
Mark Simpson
Black Lion House, 79 The Street, Mereworth, Kent ME18 5LZ
tel: 01622 812528
e-mail: jmarksimpson@aol.com
December 2007
Number 232
COVER PICTURE:
THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW FOUR PARISH BOUNDARY STONE (pp 22-25)
(See also pictures 1 - 3 on page 25
and picture 4 on right)
VACANCY FOR
NEW PARISH MAGAZINE EDITOR
When I volunteered to take over from
Mark Siggers as Editor of this Parish
Magazine I stated that I was not
sufficiently computer-literate to do the
job, and I have found out that this is the
truth. I am prepared to carry on as far
as the December 2008 issue, but no
further. If anyone is interested in taking
Ed.
over, I will be glad to hand over.
4. The new Boundary Stone, WP and M
faces in view: canine ceremonial.
Advertising
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Quarter page:
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Record
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must reach the Editor before:
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12 NOON, SATURDAY
19 JANUARY 2008
Note: All cheques in payment for advertising, or in payment of voluntary ‘subscriptions’, should
be made payable to ‘M & WP Record’ and sent, in advance, to
Mike Darbyshire at ‘Libbits’, 239 Seven Mile Lane, Mereworth, ME18 5NE
(tel: 01622 812797
e-mail: miked.libbits@btinternet.com)
All material for publication, and criticism (preferably constructive),
should be addressed to the Editor, Mark Simpson (contact details above).
CIRCULATION 750 COPIES
January 2008
2
Letters to the Editor
I had six cars behind me and the
nearest passing place behind me
was about fifty metres away. So I
reversed her car for her, and
advised her to go and practice
reversing.
Two days later the same thing
happened again at the same place.
This time it was a Citroen C4. The
woman driver refused to reverse
four metres, so I volunteered to do
it for her.
She told me that I
should reverse as I had a smaller
car, that I was ignorant, and that I
hadn’t got as licence to drive her
car. Now, with a few cars behind
me, she had no alternative but to
let me reverse her car, with three
screaming children, into the layby.
I also advised her to go for a
driving refresher course and
practice reversing.
Yours etc.,
MAT (name and address supplied).
FARMERS’ DIARY
Sir,
Harry Wooldridge asked (page 17
December 2007 Record) whether a
Farmers’ Diary would be of interest
in The Record. I think it would, and
I would like to read it.
Yours etc.,
Andy Gibb
intrepidofdover@yahoo.co.uk
REVERSING
Sir,
A big thank you to Sarah Pascoe
for writing in (December Record)
about drivers who can not reverse
their cars in narrow lanes. I myself
have experienced this problem in
Beech Road twice this month.
I was driving slowly and came
head-to-head with a ‘P’ reg.
Mitsubishi. The driver would not
reverse to a passing place only four
metres back - she said she couldn’t.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE
CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED
No matter how hard
you try, you can’t baptise cats.
When your mother is mad at your
father, don’t let her brush your hair.
If your sister hits you, don’t hit
her back: they always catch the
second person.
Never ask your 3-year-old
brother to hold a tomato.
You can’t trust dogs
to watch your food.
Don’t sneeze when
someone is cutting your hair.
Never hold a dust-buster
and a cat at the same time.
You can’t hide a piece of
broccoli in a glass of milk.
Don’t wear polka-dot underwear
with white shorts.
10. The best place to be
when you’re sad is Grandpa’s lap.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
GREAT TRUTHS
THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED
Raising teenagers is
like nailing jelly to a tree.
Wrinkles don’t hurt.
Families are like fudge:
mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
Today’s mighty oak is just
yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
Laughing is good exercise:
it’s like jogging on the inside.
Middle age is when you choose
your cereal for the fibre, not the toy.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
3
January 2008
January 2008
4
From the Rectory
“Happy New Year” to everyone. However, if this was
1750 instead of 2008, I would not be wishing this until three months
hence. In England, up to 1751, the year began on March 25th which,
generally, was near Easter or Passover. And, being the Feast of the
Annunciation, it was more appropriate for a new beginning.
Be that as it may, January 1st sees the start of another new year, with its fresh
hopes and expectations allied to old fears and disappointments. In Christian terms,
every day of every year is a new beginning, and each day brings an opportunity to put
right old wrongs, to try and heal old hurts (real or imagined), to cast aside negative
feelings, and to embark upon a more positive course. And sometimes this is just not
easy, or seems impossible, particularly as problems seem to come in cascades.
But if the Christian faith is anything it is a faith based on hope, as St Peter writes to
a troubled people: “But, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all Grace
who calls you to share His eternal glory in common with Christ will Himself perfect you
and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.” (1 Peter 5: 10 - Good News
Bible).
As people of hope, we can live in expectation of better things to come, so it is that
we can face with confidence whatever the new year may bring.
“The word ‘hope’ I take for “faith”;
and, indeed, hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.”
- John Calvin
Fr Noel
CHURCH DIARY FOR JANUARY 2007
Sunday, 6th January EPIPHANY SUNDAY
8.00 am
Holy Communion in West Peckham Church.
10.00 am
Matins/ Holy Communion in Mereworth Church.
Sunday, 13th January
9.00 am
10.00 am
11.15 am
Holy Communion in Mereworth Church.
Family Service in Mereworth Church.
Family Service and Holy Communion in West Peckham Church.
8.00 am
10.00 am
9.00 am
10.00 am
11.15 am
5
January 2008
THE NEW PARISH WEBSITES
Both West Peckham Parish Council and Mereworth Parish Council
have now set up Parish Websites which are still being developed.
The Mereworth Parish Council Website is:
www.mereworthpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
and the West Peckham Parish Council Website is:
www.westpeckhampc.kentparishes.gov.uk
The West Peckham website has posted an excellent video on
‘The Unveiling of the New Four Parish Boundary Stone’ (see pp 20-23)
and another video showing ‘St Dunstan’s Church decked out for Christmas’.
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January 2008
6
POST OFFICE CLOSURES
AND THE KCC’S CAMPAIGN
TO PROTECT KENT’S POST OFFICES
T
he Post Office is losing a lot of
public money and has been ordered
by the Government to reduce its
subsidies. However, perhaps because of
Union pressure, the Post Office (and the
Government) are reluctant to close or
restructure the ‘Crown’ (i.e. directly
owned and managed) Post Offices which
lose of the money. For more admirable
reasons they are also not proposing to
close Post Offices in very sparsely
populated rural communities where
residents would then have to travel
many miles to another Post Office.
The axe has therefore fallen on
franchised suburban Post Offices in
places like Tonbridge, and on Post
Offices in villages where there are other
Post Offices within three miles, despite
the fact that these Post Offices are
popular and may even be profitable
(certainly they are not the ones losing
most of the money).
Kent County Council (KCC) has
vigorously opposed this whole process
for several reasons:
1. It is entirely the Government’s own
fault that many Post Offices lose
money:
they withdraw pension,
benefit, vehicle licence, and other
valuable business from them
without
thought
for
the
consequences.
2. The closures are being carried out
without real thought to the social
consequences for the communities
which lose their Post Offices. Many
Post Offices are now the only retail
outlet in their community. If the
Post Office is withdrawn, the
community (village or part of a
town) may lose its last shop.
The Consultation Process has been
a farce right from the beginning.
The six-week consultation period
was too short, it was further
reduced by postal strikes, and they
then gave themselves just three
weeks to review and evaluate the
information supplied to them. We
know that well over 5,000 people
sent evidence and responses to
Post Offices, and I don’t believe
that three weeks gave them enough
time to digest properly and take on
board that data. The fact that only
two Post Office branches have been
reprieved suggests to me that they
haven’t looked at the evidence
properly, if at all.
The situation now (December 2007) is
that two Post Office branches are saved
from closure out of a list of 58, but two
additional branches have now been put
at risk.
As KCC Lead Member for
Regeneration, I have been closely
involved with the campaign to defend
Kent Post Offices. We are now looking
at other, more formal options for
opposing this destructive process.
If you would like to support Kent Post
Offices, please:
a) use your local Post Office; and
b) Write to Gary Herbert, Post Office
‘Network Change Manager’, and let
him know your views.
Richard Long
KCC Member for Malling Rural East
and KCC Lead Member for Regeneration.
E-mail: Richard.long1@kent.gov.uk
[POST OFFICE LTD, (Tel: 08457 223344)
or FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM]
3.
7
January 2008
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January 2008
8
MEREWORTH PARISH COUNCIL
Chairman: Tessa Wells
Vice-Chairman: Dennis Styles
Members: Nancy Olden, Jon Regan, Stephen Reynolds, Mike Setford, Peta Tiptaft
Please address all correspondence to: Mrs Gillian Kirby,
Clerk to the Mereworth Parish Council, 31 Cottenham Close, East Malling ME19 6BY
(tel: 01732 846192
e-mail: gill.kirby@talktalk.net)
Planning Committee and Parish Council Meetings are held in Mereworth Village
Hall at 7.30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of every month, and additional Planning
Committee Meetings are held at 7.30 pm on the second Tuesday of every month.
The Council would like to remind residents that all meetings are open to the public.
NOTES FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL (PC) MEETING
HELD ON 27 NOVEMBER 2007
(subject to ratification at the next Meeting)
Following the Planning Committee
Meeting , the full PC met on 27 November
2007 with Tessa Wells in the Chair. The
following matters were discussed:
DEATH OF MRS VAL EXLEY
The PC expressed its condolences on
hearing of the death of Mrs Val Exley who
for many years had played an active part
in village affairs. The Chairman would
write to her family.
COMMUNITY POLICING
Police Constable Andy Sargent reported
that seven crimes had been committed in
the village during the previous month:
theft, burglary, criminal damage, and the
taking of lead from the church roof. The
Police and the Parish Council hope that
everyone will remain vigilant and report
any suspicious activity. PC Sargent was
still monitoring the parking situation
outside Mereworth School. He and a
Parking Warden would visit the site again
shortly. Consideration was being given to
holding a Police surgery at Mereworth’s
Airfield Estate.
BUS SHELTER IN THE STREET
The PC were pleased to have received
confirmation that a grant had been
secured from the Borough Council towards
the provision of a Bus Shelter in The
Street. It was hoped plans would be
formalised shortly so that the shelter would
be of benefit to residents during the winter
months.
RECREATION GROUND PAVILION
Plans were being considered in
conjunction with Mereworth Village Hall
committee, to repair the security lighting
outside the Pavilion in the Recreation
Ground.
SPEED WATCH
It was agreed that two “SPEED WATCH
AREA” signs would be purchased and
placed at either end of The Street.
SpeedWatch sessions continue on a
regular basis, and vehicles speeding
through the village have been reported to
the Police. More volunteers are required to
give just a couple of hours a month to help
run this scheme.
AUDIT
Audits of the PC’s books had been
satisfactorily concluded, and the
recommendations made would be
acted upon. A Notice of Completion
for the 2006 Audit can be seen on the
Village Hall Notice Board. The Parish
Precept for 2008/2009 would be
debated at the December meeting.
Application forms had been sent to the
Land Registry to allow the Recreation
Ground to be registered.
9
January 2008
BEECH ROAD: OVERSIZE VEHICLES
All measures to ease the problem of
Heavy Goods Vehicles using Beech Road
are being explored urgently.
ALLOTMENTS
Allotments are still available. Anyone
interested should contact our Clerk.
FREE TREES
Borough Councillor Janet Sergison
informed the PC that free trees were
available under a Kent County Council
scheme.
It was agreed that some
should be applied for, to plant near the
Children’s Play Area in the Recreation
Ground.
BOUNDARY STONE
It was agreed that Mereworth PC would
be represented at the unveiling of a
replacement four parish Boundary Stone in
Hurst Woods.
PARISH WEBSITE
The PC thanked the Clerk for setting up
a PC website:
www.mereworthpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
NOTES FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL (PC) MEETING
HELD ON 18 DECEMBER 2007
(subject to ratification at the next Meeting)
The following Planning Applications
were discussed when the Planning
Committee met on 18 December 2007:
1. Stable Block on land east of
Horns Lane - no objection;
2. Change of Planning Condition for
Composting Plant at Blaise Farm
Quarry - no objection on the basis
of no increase in lorry movements
and no vehicles passing through the
village; and
3. Demolition of Farm House and
new development on land in Bull
Lane - opposed with the suggestion
that the applicant might retain the
present building with suitable
extensions and refurbishment.
Following this meeting the full PC met
with Tessa Wells in the Chair, and the
following were amongst the matters
discussed:
CRIME
Three crimes in the village had been
reported to the Police in the past month.
PARKING AT THE SCHOOL
Parking at the school was still being
monitored by the Police, and it was
hoped that further visits would be made
by both Police and Parking Attendants.
GRANT TO BOROUGH COUNCIL
Borough Councillor (B Cllr) Jill Anderson
January 2008
reported that the Government grant to
the Borough Council for the next three
years was very small and this was
causing concern as budgets were being
prepared.
BUS PASSES
B Cllr Jill Anderson gave further details
on the new bus passes which would be
issued in 2008 and would allow
pensioners to travel longer distances.
TMBC STANDARDS COMMITTEE
It was agreed that the Parish Council
would be represented on the Tonbridge
& Malling Borough Council (TMBC)
Standards Committee.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
It was agreed that an increase of £500
would be made to the Parish Precept for
2008 - 2009 to cover increased costs of
services.
Small donations had been
made on behalf of the village to Age
Concern Malling and to Victim Support
Kent. A grant application had been
accepted for consideration by TMBC to
help with work on the Recreation Ground
Pavilion. Ground maintenance contracts
for work to be carried out by Kent
Landscape Services would be passed
subject to there not being an increase
exceeding 5% on current financial year
[continued on page 13]
10
prices.
NEW BUS SHELTER IN ‘THE STREET’
The PC had received a report from
Kent Highways that certain rules and
regulations stipulated that more work
was required on the site for the
proposed new bus shelter in ‘The Street’
opposite Black Lion House, and this
would also mean entering into
negotiations with landowners. It was
agreed that the PC would go ahead with
this matter as quickly as it could.
PROBLEMS WITH LARGE VEHICLES
A report was made on the ongoing
problem of heavy vehicles using Beech
Road and wide lorries using Butcher’s
Lane and Willow Wents. The PC were
pleased to learn that Kent Highways had
published an official notice for a Traffic
Regulation Order for vehicle weight
restrictions in the village.
CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA
It was agreed that remedial work on
the Children’s Play Area, mainly on the
safety surface surrounding the swings
and infant rides, would go ahead.
ALLOTMENTS
Allotments are still available, and
anyone interested should contact the
Clerk.
It was agreed that broken
boundary markers on the allotments
would be replaced.
DAMAGE TO RECREATION GROUND
The PC were concerned that, although
clubs had been asked not to use the
ground when it was water-logged, a
match had been played and serious
damage had been done. It was agreed
that a new Hire Agreement would be
drawn up and would include a clause
stating that any further such incidents
would result in action being taken
against the parties involved. In the
meantime, no games would be played on
the ground until a report had been
received from Kent Landscape Services
and necessary remedial work had been
carried out. Kent Landscape Services
would also be asked to look at heavy
tractor wheel marks left in the
Recreation Ground after hedge-cutting.
A number of trees had been obtained
free of charge, and would be planted in
the Recreation Ground in due course.
LEYBOURNE GRANGE
RIDING CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED
The PC agreed to support the
Leybourne Grange Riding Centre for the
Disabled (Birling Road, West Malling) in
their efforts to stop some of the land
they use being taken for development
purposes.
Dennis Styles
Parish Councillor
Another successful year of fund-raising
(House-to-House Collection in April 2007,
House Boxes in October 2007,
the Annual Supper and profits from
Christmas Cards, and the
Christingle Service, in December 2007)
raising a grand total of £2,186.
The Children’s Society helps
over 50,000 families a year,
and this money will help support
vulnerable youngsters including
runaways, the homeless, refugees,
and the disabled.
Thank you for your support.
Claire Simpson
Parish Coordinator
01622 812528
11
January 2008
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also
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(DAILY OR ODD DAYS)
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DOREEN:
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Also available for paddock maintenance,
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We also supply good quality hay.
January 2008
12
WEST PECKHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Chairman: Kathryn Ritchie
Vice-Chairman: Mark Freed
Members: Jonathan Cannon, Michael Corfe, Sarah Gracey,
Jim Simpson, Harry Wooldridge
Please address all correspondence to
Mrs Susan Canning, Clerk to West Peckham Parish Council,
Cobtree House, The Green, West Peckham, Kent ME18 5JW
(e-mail: susancanning@yahoo.com)
Council Meetings are held on the third Monday of every month at 7.30 pm
at the West Peckham Village Hall, and are open to all.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
HELD ON MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2007
The monthly Parish Council Meeting took
place on Monday 17th December 2007.
Among matters discussed were:
BOROUGH COUNCILLOR’S INPUT
Borough Councillor Mrs J Anderson
thanked Mr K Ritchie for her hard work
and said she was sorry she was
standing down.
Mrs Anderson
reported she had put in good work for
the Church Wall Grant and the decision
will be taken in January. As there is
still no movement on the Boundary
Signs, Mrs Anderson said she will look
into the problem.
ROADS
• Weeds along the road and raised
path outside the Church have been
cleared.
• Three Counties have been asked to
trim the hedge beyond Parson’s
Corner.
• Swanton Lane will be closed for five
days in February for tree-cutting to
clear power lines. The dates of the
closure are to be confirmed.
• Salt Bins were discussed and are to
be checked on.
• The Rag Stone for the triangle at the
bottom of Stan Lane will be acquired
by Mr H Wooldridge.
• A quote will be acquired for
repainting the village gates.
DEEDS OF EASEMENT
The Deeds for the north residents are
now with the solicitors. The Deeds for
the south residents will be dealt with by
a small committee. The north access
road will be repaired during the year,
and the cost will be shared as agreed.
BOUNDARY STONE
The unveiling ceremony was reported
as being a great success and much
enjoyed by those that took part. Cecil
Williams’ stories of times gone by and
mulled wine provided by Clive Selby of
‘The Swan’ were greatly appreciated.
There is a video film of the occasion on
the web site. (See also pages 22 - 25 of
this issue of The Record’).
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
The Kent County Council have started
a Trading Standards Service Scheme.
The web site is:
www.buywithconfidence.info
and the telephone number is:
01233 652385
RESIGNATION
Mrs K Ritchie handed in her letter of
resignation. Mr M Corfe gave a vote of
thanks to Mrs Ritchie for all her hard
work over the years, saying how much
she would be missed. Mrs S Canning
gave notice that she would be standing
down in the near future.
13
January 2008
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January 2008
14
BOROUGH
COUNCILLORS’
SURGERY
We believe in life before death
HUNGER LUNCHES
FOR CHRISTIAN AID
Your
Borough Councillors,
Jill Anderson and
Janet Sergison,
will hold a
Borough Councillor’s
Surgery
in the Choir Vestry,
St Mary’s Church, Hadlow
on
Saturday 19 January
from 10.00 to 11.30 am.
F
rom all the lunchers, a Happy
New Year. May it be a blessed
and bright one for us all.
This is the opportunity for us to say a
big “Thank you” to all our hostesses
who have welcomed us throughout the
year: Rachel, Enid, Jenny D, Jenny T
and Rene, Sue, and Ann. As a result of
their efforts, we have, with your help,
been able to send £556.07p to
Christian Aid, and, because of a kind
donation from friends in the village, we
can add £300 to this total. Well done.
When we began these lunches in 1994
the first amount we raised was
£151.54p Not only have our donations
increased, but the monthly meetings
have been a source of friendship and
pleasure to us all.
There will be another on
15 March 2008
again the third Saturday
in the month, the same
day as the
St Mary’s Church
Market Stall.
And so it is on this note of thanks and
pleasure that we finally say:
“Thank You All and God Bless”.
Enid & Ken.
WEST PECKHAM
VILLAGE FETE
Do drop in
to discuss anything
that concerns you.
If we can’t help,
we generally know
someone who can!
5 JULY 2008
Meetings will be held in the Village Hall at
7.30pm on:
13 FEBRUARY
9 APRIL 9TH
and 11 JUNE
Everyone is welcome to attend. Please
come along if you wish to be involved.
Jim Simpson
15
January 2008
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January 2008
16
MEREWORTH VILLAGE HALL
TOTE RESULTS
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
POPPY APPEAL
NOVEMBER 2007
L5
MR D ALLAWAY
£50
C1
MR G EPPS
£25
T5
MR & MRS O’GORMAN
£25
G10 MR & MRS COLLINS
£25
W2
MR & MRS TYE
£20
G6
MRS T REYNOLDS
£20
The Poppy Appeal at
Remembrancetide in Mereworth
raised £701.79
from donations
at static collection points,
house-to-house collections,
and offerings in Church
on Remembrance Sunday,
as well as the sale of wreaths.
CHRISTMAS DRAW
A5
MISS S PASCOE
£20
F6
MR A JEFFORD
£20
S5
MRS H CARD
£20
Z5
MRS D WILLIAMS
£20
Many thanks to all who
contributed so generously to help
the British Legion continue their
vital welfare and benevolent work.
Tessa Wells
SATURDAY BULKY REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICES
12 January
0930 - 1030
Beaufighter Road, Airfield Estate, Mereworth,
(dead end junction with Spitfire Road).
12 January
1100 - 1200
West Peckham Village Hall,
Church Road, West Peckham.
19 January
0800 - 0900
The Street, Mereworth,
(layby outside Mereworth School).
1100 - 1200
Beaufighter Road, Airfield Estate, Mereworth,
(dead end junction with Spitfire Road).
26 January
FRIDGE AND FREEZER COLLECTION SERVICE
& BULKY WAST COLLECTION SERVICE
The T&MBC operates a FREE collection service to dispose of old fridges or freezers.
You may also request collection of up to 12 bulky items from your property. There
is a charge of £22.50 for this service, but it is free to residents receiving certain
means-tested benefits.
To arrange, or make further enquiries about, these two services, please contact the
Waste Services Team on 01732 876147 or e-mail waste.services@tmbc.gov.uk
17
January 2008
VALERIE EXLEY (1938 - 2007)
A TRIBUTE FROM HER NEPHEW, SEAN RUSTRICK
Aunty Val was born in
Chilham, Kent, and moved
to Mereworth in September
1941 at the age of 3. She
attended Mereworth Primary
School and, later, Maidstone
Girls’ Grammar School.
After working for a while as
a secretary with the
engineering company, Tilling
and Stevens, she moved to
Canada where she joined the
Royal Canadian Air Force.
She eventually returned to
Mereworth and, in October
1962, she married JB with
whom she had two
daughters, Pauline and
Shelagh.
When I was asked to give this tribute at
Aunty Val’s funeral in St Lawrence’s
Church, Mereworth on Friday 7th
December, I took a little time to contact
other members of the family and friends
about their thoughts and memories. Many
spoke of her “no nonsense” approach to
life, with one or two nephews and nieces
confessing to being more than a little
scared of her when they were younger!
My brother, Bill, has a recollection which I
think illustrates this perfectly, that “not
long after we moved to Mereworth and I,
then only 6 years old, was being obstinate
about going to my new school. I was
giving Mum a hard time with lots of tears
as far as I can remember. Aunty Valerie
duly arrived, assessed the scene, gave me
one of her fixed looks, produced a
handkerchief, and said: ‘now, come along,
Billy, you are a big boy now, blow your
nose - a really big blow’, and, after a
sufficient pause, continued, saying: ‘now,
that’s better, you see - you can’t blow your
January 2008
nose and cry at the same
time, come along …” Crying
stopped, Auntie then firmly
gripped my hand and walked
me to school, telling me all
about her school days at the
same primary school! This
was my Aunt who, although
she “didn’t stand for any
nonsense”, was there to
help or share her thoughts
openly and get me involved,
whenever we met. There
was always plenty going on
when Aunty Val was around.
Her arrival always meant
something was sure to
happen, be it a picnic, a
jumble sale, banger racing,
or simply a family gathering. She would
take the time to get people involved, and
she always had plenty of news and
activities to brighten up the day. You
didn’t seem to have to wait long when
she was around before there was
something to get involved in. Whether it
was projects or work ideas, there was
always plenty to do: helping with the
milk-round, farm work, restaurant work,
fund-raising, youth club, taking her pet
Labradors Dan and Sally for walks,
helping to move chickens or turkeys, or
chopping wood - the list goes on. I
know I am not alone when I say I’ll miss
the person with whom I’ve shared all
those memories, the person who gave so
much colour, help and conviction in
those early years in Mereworth.
I think that Aunty Val will be
particularly remembered by most of you
here as the local milk and egg lady. This
started when the dairy that was
delivering to Mereworth decided to stop
18
its Sunday round. This upset a lot of the
villagers, so Aunty took up their cause
and wrote to the Kent Messenger on
their behalf. Her letter was read by Ken
Goodwin. He got in touch, and decided
to include Mereworth in his delivery
rounds. Aunty Val had her milk round,
with her very own, somewhat unreliable
milk van. I often helped out on this milk
round, and, I have to say, Aunty Val was
certainly a force to be reckoned with as
she zoomed around the very narrow
lanes. More than this though, she was a
great help to all those she came in
contact with. The truck was used for
many things other than delivering milk:
from furniture to chicken runs - you
name it - if it needed delivering, it was
on the back of that milk van! Aunty Val
would complete her daily round
whatever the weather and despite her
not so trusty van. She always kept a
watchful eye to make sure all was well
with her customers, and she kept their
dogs fed from the supply of dog biscuits
she carried in her pocket and van. My
most enduring memory of my time with
Aunty Val on her milk round is of the
carpets of bluebells in the woods at
Swanton. I know that this was one of
her favourite routes, and we would often
detour just to see the sight. Aunty Val
passed her love of this special place on
to me, and I have continued to visit this
place every year with my own family.
Aunty Val was very much part of
Mereworth village life. She raised money
for the new sports pavilion by completing
the Mereworth mini-marathon in 1984,
and she was involved with the Village
Fête for a number of years.
More
recently, she was Booking Secretary for
the Village Hall which is the venue for
the monthly pensioners’ Lunch Club
where, I’m told, her famous mashed
potato will be sorely missed. Her homemade trifle should also be mentioned,
along with her raspberry jam which was
often made from locally produced
supplied with no questions asked!. All
this produce was made in Aunty Val’s
kitchen at 182 Butchers Lane, and gladly
distributed throughout the family and
village.
I know that everyone who was at her
funeral will have there own special
memories of Aunty Val, and it has been
difficult to include the many tales and
recollections that have been shared with
me over the last week or so. I had
intended to tell more of her love for her
many animals; of hair-raising trips in
cars with doors that had to be held shut
and a hole in the footplate through
which you could see the road flying by;
and of the time when
her false teeth went
missing on a flight to
Canada. However, I
would now like to
finish by reading a few
words from an old
friend of Valerie’s who
lives in the village.
She says “Val was a
dear friend and a
lovely person and will
be so missed by
relatives, friends and
acquaintances,
and
indeed by people who
didn’t know her, but
were helped by the
many things she did
for us all.”
THANK YOU
We would like to thank everybody for
their support and kindness. It was lovely
to see so many friends and neighbours
attending Mum’s funeral, and a big thank
you to everyone who contributed to the
Mereworth Church Tower and Spire Fund
a total of £383.
Shelagh and Pauline Bell
19
January 2008
THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW FOUR PARISH
BOUNDARY STONE
B
done by pick and shovel. No machinery
at all. And they had traction engines
which used to come through and take
the stone away, and horses and carts.
Now most of the pathways you know of
today were roadways where the traction
engines and horses and carts came.
Every road on this hill top has got a
name. This is ‘Lost Fields Road’. The
one straight up there, the third to the
left, is called ‘The Straight Road’, and so
on. There’s one called ‘The Engine
Road’. They dug it out for the traction
engines. All the roads go somewhere.
There’s one important road which I
filled: most of it is in Plaxtol parish, and
it leads up to ‘The Keepers Cottage’.
Now that one over there is called ‘The
Coach Road’. That is where the coaches
used to go, right out to Platt, across the
bottom of Wrotham Hill, and on, all the
way to London. And that’s were Jack
Diamond, the Highwayman, done his
business. Jack Diamond actually lived in
the house where I was born. The place
was haunted. I found a ‘Monk’s Pistol’ in
the cellar, and I’ve still got it - that’s
what the ladies used to carry to look
after themselves in their muffs.
ack in the days of yore there
used to stand in Hurst Woods a tree
and a nearby stone to mark the spot
where the four parishes of Crouch (now
part of Platt), Plaxtol, Mereworth and
West Peckham met. Regular meetings
took place at the stone so that
differences between the parishes could
be sorted out. The tree and the stone
have recently been replaced.
On the morning of Saturday 1st
December 2007 forty people from the
four parishes walked into Hurst Woods
to attend the unveiling of the
replacement Boundary Stone.
The ceremony commenced with a
short talk on the history of the area by
former West Peckham Parish Council
(PC) Chairman Cecil Williams of which
the following is a rough transcription:
I was born on this hill in Diamond’s
Cottage and spent forty years of my
youth here in West Peckham, apart from
when I served Her Majesty in The Berlin
Airlift. I have never really left the area.
Now, as you know, the ‘Hurst’ means
‘the wood on the hill’. You probably
noticed the contours of the land and the
holes on your way through. I brought
the WI up here recently and two of the
ladies said they thought the holes were
bomb craters, but they weren’t. They
were digging up stone. There was a
very large industry going on here in the
1800s. They didn’t have to smash it up
like they do in a quarry: surface mining,
I think they called it. You just dug it up.
There were seams of it: thousands and
thousands of tons. Nearly every road
around this area was built with stone
that came from ‘The Hurst’. At one time
there were up to 400 people working on
‘The Hurst’ digging stone. It was all
January 2008
Diamond’s Cottage, West Peckham,
was the house where the
Highwayman, Jack Diamond, lived.
It was here, one Friday 13th, that he
was burned to death. His ghost has
reportedly been seen here on many
occasions, but only on that
supposedly unluckiest of days,
Friday 13th.
Now there were ‘Boundary Marks’ in
the woods here years ago, marked out
mainly with trees and roads. There’s a
20
fine example behind you. That is called
a Beech Gowell (phonetic). They were
cut off. That must be 400 years old.
They were mainly Beech trees because,
being stony soil, Beech seems to survive
better than most trees, Beech and Yew.
And that used to mark the boundary. If
you look there, there’s another nice
Beech tree. Linked up with that. And
that’s how the parishes are split up.
With roadways and those trees. Now
this to the right here is West Peckham,
to the left is Mereworth. Across the left
hand side is that roadway: there is
Plaxtol, and you have Crouch here. Now
that’s something - to get four parishes to
link in one spot.
Now there used to be four to five
estates which used to own the woods.
There was Oxenhoath: Sir William Geary
used to have that, and that was West
Peckham.
You had Lord Falmouth,
which was Mereworth. You had Squire
Dannison (phonetic), which was Plaxtol.
And you had the Right Honourable
Sammy Little for Crouch. And that’s how
the boundaries were all demarcated: by
the roads and the trees. And I think I
walked with Ken (Ken Gunn, also a
former Chairman of West Peckham PC)
the other day; it’s quite easy to walk the
boundary - just follow the trees.
The woodlands over there used to be
called ‘Oxenhoath Woods’, and if you
look on the old maps you will see
‘Oxenhoath Woods’. In 2003 the new
maps came out:
instead of being
‘Oxenhoath Woods’ it is now ‘Shipbourne
Forest’. I think that is so sad; and how
the PCs allowed people to get away with
it I shall never, ever know. I haven’t
forgiven them. I never will.
You’ve probably been up ‘The Coach
Road’ to ‘The Keeper’s Cottage’. It used
to belong to Sammy Little of Crouch. I
remember them with two brothers, Sam
and Isaac. They were very friendly
when I worked in the woods here, and it
was Isaac who taught me to call the
cuckoo. And I brought my grandchildren
up here with my wife, Sheila, to call the
cuckoo - this is going back a few years there don’t seem to be so many here
now. But straight down there, there is a
nice bush. We would go down to this
tree and call the cuckoo. It would come
and land in the bush, and the children
were so excited.
During the war, here, around this
area, they used to put Bofors Guns (ackack guns, they called them, to protect
West Malling Airfield which was straight
through there, and this was one of the
sites where one of the guns used to
stand, and they used to move around.
They never stayed in one spot. And I
think, then, that is the time that the old
‘Boundary Stone’ disappeared.
They
must have taken it out. At the beginning
of the war all the signposts were taken
down, and I think some of the boundary
stones were removed at the same time
so that the enemy would not know
where they were.
Down in ‘Lost Fields’ my father used to
rent from Lord Falmouth. We used to
have fruit trees and various things down
there. During the war my father, who
was a ‘tough nut’, came back from
France luckily. We would take the horse
and cart, because, when we were boys,
we had to work, it was something to do we never had toys - so it was much
easier to get an axe in your hands, or a
saw, and do something useful in the
woods. So we used to come down here.
My father put some corrugated iron in
the bottom of the cart so that, if there
was any shrapnel flying around we could
get under the cart. Well, this Saturday
morning we were in ‘Lost Fields’, my
brother and I, and a German aircraft
came through here, very low, and the
ack-ack guns from around the woods
21
January 2008
fired full blast. We got under the cart and the poor horse, we never gave it a
thought. We were under the cart , and
the shrapnel, absolutely true, was
coming down and cutting the branches
off the trees and landing red hot and
burning the leaves. That was quite an
experience, but it seemed that people
who lived on ‘The Hurst’ were never
afraid. Because, of a night-time, there
were no lights. If you wanted to go out,
you had to go out in the dark. You had
to go through the woods, and we never
seemed to be afraid. We just took it in
our stride - the horse too.
Now, I suppose I’d better get onto this
stone, hadn’t I. Anyway, now what set
the ball rolling about this stone, and the
Beech tree, it’s unfortunate that Mr Earl
from Mereworth is not here today
because he wrote a lovely letter in ‘The
Record’, the parish magazine, about
‘Mark Beech’, and he wanted to know
what ‘Mark Beech’ was about and how it
got its name. He wrote a lovely letter,
but everything he wrote wasn’t true. He
thought ‘Mark Beech’ was up there.
There’s an old tree which is falling down.
But ‘Mark Beech’ used to be in line with
that one (pointing) and the one there
you can see which is in the road. Now
it’s altered.
The road’s got wider
because of the tractors and the various
vehicles, and, when I was about 6 years
old ‘Mark Beech’ was there (pointing),
and it had been struck by lightning and
was rotting away. So ‘Mark Beech’
wasn’t up there. It was here. I had to
explain that to him. ‘Mark Beech’ was
called ‘Mark Beech’ because it marked
where the four parishes met. Hence
‘Mark Beech’ and the ‘Boundary Stone’.
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Friday & Saturday
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Monday - Sunday
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RACE NIGHT (PLACE YOUR BETS): Thursday 17 January
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January 2008
22
Telephone: 01622 812534
So it’s really thanks to Mr Earl that this
thing was set going. Now what I did
suggest when I wrote the letter is that
the PC might get interested in replacing
‘Mark Beech’ with ‘Mark Beech II’ and
the ‘Boundary Stone’. Well, this was
about two years ago, and at that time I
met Ken (Gunn) on the Village Green. I
didn’t know who he was, and he didn’t
know who I was. We got talking, and
we’ve been good friends ever since. But
it was Ken who showed a lot of interest
and we went on from there. Ken’s going
to say a few words later on, so I won’t
steal his thunder. And that’s about it
really regarding the stone. But not
stealing your thunder, Kathryn, I would
like to propose a vote of thanks to Roy
Keeler, the Wood Reeve for Lord
Falmouth, and Roy’s son, David., who
unfortunately are not here. They have
been so helpful in this. Roy Keeler
actually grew that tree from seed, and
thought it out, and planted it from a pot
in his own garden. He also helped with
bringing the stone here because it’s
heavy, and he helped me cement it in.
And so I would like you to put your
hands together. That’s just about it.
Please enjoy Hurst Woods.
1. Boundary Stone veil secured by ribbon.
Kathryn Ritchie, Chair of West
Peckham PC then thanked Cecil Williams,
and introduced Ken Gunn. Ken agreed
that there had originally been some
confusion. He and Tessa Wells, Chair of
Mereworth PC had looked for ‘Mark
Beech’, but it had turned out to be ‘Table
Beech’. Tessa Wells then thanked West
Peckham PC on behalf of Mereworth PC,
remarking that, although the initiative
had come from Mereworth, West
Peckham had done all the work.
This is a rough transcription taken
from an excellent video recording
produced by West Peckham’s “Young
Reporters”, video by Joshua Freed,
and stills by Charlie Fox.
2. Ribbon removed. Stone still veiled.
3. Boundary Stone unveiled.
23
January 2008
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January 2008
24
THE HEART OF KENT HOSPICE
The Heart of Kent Hospice serves the
community of Maidstone and the
surrounding villages. It provides care for
400 - 500 patients in any one year, and
comprises inpatient and day therapy
units, family support services, and a
community team who visit patients in
their own homes.
The Hospice is a charity: we need to
raise approximately £2.9 million a year in
order to provide this care.
CUBA CHARITY CYCLE RIDE
In November 2006 two members of
the Hospice staff wished to celebrate the
Hospice’s 15th Year anniversary by
taking part in a charity challenge. The
challenge was to cycle across Cuba. It
was an ambitious challenge for two
people who had little cycling experience.
We allowed ourselves almost a year to
get fit enough, and the training began.
In total we raised almost £15,000. This
challenge not only provided much
needed funds for the Hospice but also
gave us a fascinating insight into the
country and its culture, and it improved
our personal fitness.
We found our trip to Cuba an amazing
experience:
cycling is certainly a
wonderful way to see a country and its
people. We particularly valued:
• Meeting the Cuban people, with their
warmth and ingenuity - it was a
humbling experience.
• The Friendship and camaraderie of
the group helping each other achieve
such an amazing goal.
• The Cuban bicycles were the greatest
challenge for the group; they were
very basic and made the 100km a
day extremely tough.
• The dancing in the streets of Trinidad
will be remembered forever:
the
skill, the colourful costumes and the
music brought Salsa alive.
•
The opportunity to swim with
dolphins was an unexpected bonus.
RAJASTHAN CHARITY CYCLE RIDE
In fact our 2006 Cuba Charity Cycle
Ride was such a great experience that
we are planning another challenge cycle
ride soon. This time it will be across
Rajasthan (the largest
State in the Republic of
India) in
February
2008. We plan to cycle
from the Taj Mahal to
the city of Jaipur
(500km), through two
national parks.
This is where you can help by
supporting local fundraising events or by
donating on
www.justgiving.com/kateandjoan
If you would like to sponsor us offline,
please ring
the Hospice’s fundraising team on
01622 790195
Staff will be happy to help you. We are
fully funding the cost of the trip
ourselves so that all money donated
goes directly to the Hospice to support
patients and their families.
Richard and Sue Jones are holding a
Coffee Morning at Herne House,
Butchers Lane, Mereworth on Thursday
7th February from 10.30am to 12.30 to
support the event. If you would like to
attend, please come along. We plan to
be there to tell you all about our trips.
We are always looking for people to
undertake challenges such as these.
Would you be interested in doing
something similar for the Hospice? Visit
www.charitychallenge.com
or ring the Hospice’s fundraising team on
01622 790195
for more information.
Kate Bosley and Joan Poynter
18 December 2007
25
January 2008
January 2008
26
WEST PECKHAM W I
arranged for the last Tuesday morning in
the month (i.e. 29 January). Further
information will be given out at our
January Monthly Meeting, and you can
also ‘phone Carole Ross nearer the time.
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
A tree was decorated and placed in St
Lawrence’s Church, Mereworth on behalf
of the WI for the Christmas Tree
Festival. We hope it went well and had
plenty of visitors.
CONTINUED SUPPORT NEEDED
Don’t forget. We need your continued
support to keep our Meetings
“humming”: think about inviting a friend
or neighbour to one of our Meetings
during the coming year - they might like
to join us.
Looking forward to 2008.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Candlelight, charades, poems,
readings, hand-bell ringing, Rosemary’s
fun piano recital, cards.
What a
wonderful way to spend an evening with
friends. Whilst also enjoying mulled
wine, nibbles and mince pies.
The Bell Ringing team of our WI
members had some seven or eight
rehearsals under the watchful eye (and
ear) of Sheila Dobbie, performing “Away
in a Manger”, “Good King Wenceslas”
and “Jingle Bells”, to which we were able
to sing-along - well done, team! Sheila
will be continuing with the group in
February and would like to enlist two or
three more ringers - give it some
thought over the holiday period!
JANUARY MEETING
The January Meeting will be held, as
usual, on the second Monday of the
Month, (i.e. 14 January), in the West
Peckham Village Hall, starting at 7.30 pm.
An evening of games, quizzes, and
chat. Don’t forget it’s subscription time.
We need bits and pieces for the “Bring
and Buy” stall”, and the “Flower of the
Month” competition will be resuming.
WALK WITH CAROLE
Weather permitting, a walk will be
Beryl Knight
Press Officer
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE
1. You believe in
Father Christmas.
2. You don’t believe
in Father Christmas.
3. You are Father Christmas.
4. You look like Father Christmas.
27
January 2008
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January 2008
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28
MOVES TO STEER LORRIES AWAY FROM
COUNTRY ROADS AND VILLAGES
Readers may have missed the
following article which was published in
the Daily Telegraph on Monday 17
December 2007:
Department of Transport, goods vehicle
traffic has risen by 11 per cent over the
past decade.
According to the Road Haulage
Association, a typical truck driver covers
about 100,000 miles each year, often
visiting destinations for the first time.
Navigation is particularly tricky for the
increasing numbers of foreign drivers,
many of whom might not speak fluent
English.
According to recent figures, three
quarters of all lorries crossing The
Channel last year were registered
overseas.
Under the new scheme, every local
authority will create freight route maps
which highlight the council-recommended
roads for hauliers.
Staff from Ordnance Survey will then
feed that data into existing maps.
The move should cut congestion,
improve safety, and save the hauliers
money. But hauliers’ groups gave the
report a cautious welcome.
Geoff Dunnage, of the Road Haulage
Association, said it was a step in the
right direction, but it could take years to
set up the system.
He said, “The majority of satnav errors
on the UK’s roads are from foreign
vehicles, and it’s going to take even
longer to persuade them to adopt the
new technology.”
The national mapping agency is to redraw its satellite navigation routes to
steer lorries away from country roads
and villages.
Ordnance Survey, which provides the
road network data to the satnav
industry, is asking local councils to
submit “preferred routes” for heavy
goods vehicles.
The information will be programmed
into satnav units for lorry drivers, who
will be diverted away from unsuitable
roads.
It is hoped that the initiative will end
the farce of lorries getting stuck in
narrow country lanes and clogginbg up
village high streets.
Tom Satterthwaite, Ordnance Survey’s
transport manager, said faulty satnav
directions caused problems for freight
firms, residents and councils.
“We hope to give hauliers the full
picture of Britain’s roads, highlighting the
best recommended routes from local
authorities as well as the roads to avoid,”
he said.
Each day 12,000 foreign and 95,000
British lorries are using the transport
network.
According to figures from the
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
Forget the health food; you need all the preservatives you can get.
When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do when you’re there.
You’re getting old when you get the same sensation
from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller-coaster.
Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.
Wisdom sometime comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
29
January 2008
Safe & Sound
House-Sitting Services
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT GOING AWAY AND
LEAVING YOUR HOME UNATTENDED?
DO YOUR PETS SUFFER WHEN THEIR
ROUTINE IS CHANGED?
If you answer “Yes”, then let us take over
and move in as you move out.
We are a mature, non-smoking and non-drinking couple
who have experience in caring for dogs,
cats and horses. We have been house-sitting
for 11 years and can provide references.
We are not an agency.
We can stay for a day or a month.
We will care for your pets as you do.
We will give you peace of mind to enjoy your time away.
Phone Tony or Barbara and arrange an
appointment to discuss how we can help you.
01634 244529
January 2008
30
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (NhW)
MEREWORTH
WEST PECKHAM
Mike Setford
Phil Canning
Area Coordinator
Area Coordinator
Tel: 01622 814808
E-mail:
mike.setford@globalnet.co.uk
Tel: 01622 812135
E-Mail:
philcanning@yahoo.com
District Inspector for Tonbridge & Malling: Inspector Glan Chahal
(responsible for delivery of neighbourhood policing)
POLICE CONTACT NUMBERS
Crime in progress, Police attendance required urgently:
999
Non-urgent matters:
Central switchboard (can put you through to any Police department):
01732 771055
Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer: Leila Hughes
01892 502159
Neighbourhood Policing Team (Mereworth & West Peckham):
PC Andy Sergeant and PCSO Holly Wilkes)
01732 379232
E-mail: tonbridge.neighbourhood@kent.pnn.police.uk
MEREWORTH
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT
In December 2007 the spare wheel
and wheel cover were stolen from a
vehicle parked in Kent Street; a vehicle
parked in The Street had its rear
windscreen smashed and its paintwork
damaged; and a digger was stolen from
Seven Mile Lane.
If you have any
information that might interest the
Police, please ring the Police Control
Desk - 01732 771055.
Also in December there was a
respectable-looking middle-aged man
knocking on doors and asking if the
occupants had any old books to sell.
This is a scam to gain entry to the house
and steal property, or to come back later
to steal. Never let anyone into your
property unless they have proof of
identity to read meters, etc., or unless
they are well-known to you.
As a general reminder, villagers should
be particularly vigilant at this time of
year. Always lock up when leaving your
house, and keep vehicles on driveways
locked with any valuables removed or
well-hidden.
A number of SpeedWatch sessions
were held in late December and the
number of people found to be speeding
through the village were very few. This
is encouraging and shows that the
scheme is working for us.
WEST PECKHAM
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT
Between 9.00am and 9.50pm on
Monday 3 December the door of a motor
vehicle parked in Beech was levered
open and a black Apple iPod was stolen.
If you have any information that might
assist the Police in their enquiries, please
contact your local Police Station,
telephone number 01732 771055
quoting Crime Reference Number
BZ2088407 or contact your local
Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator.
31
January 2008
Hadlow College
Innovation. Experience. Excellence.
Hadlow
Further Education:
College
Full and Part-Time Courses in Agriculture, Animal Management,
Countryside Management, Equine Management, Fisheries,
Floristry, Horticulture, and Training for Business.
Higher Education: as above, plus Garden Design, Landscapes, and Sustainability.
Events: Sunday 13 Jan:
Equine Dressage Show (1st Dip/LBS).
Sun 17, Thu 21, Sat 23, Sun 24 Feb: Hellebore Days.
Sun 24 Feb:
Equine Show Jumping Competition.
Well worth visiting at Hadlow College:
Broadview Gardens, Garden Centre, Tea Room, and Kent Produce Shop.
ENROL NOW ! FREEPHONE 0500 551434
Address: Hadlow College, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0AL Tel: 0500 551434
E-mail: enquiries@hadlow.ac.uk
Web: www.hadlow.ac.uk
RESIDENTIAL
Independent Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents
selling property for over 100 years
WITH LOCAL OFFICES AT WEST MALLING AND TONBRIDGE
ALSO AT SEVENOAKS, MAIDSTONE, AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS
AND WITH 14 OFFICES IN KENT, SURREY AND LONDON
Whether Buying or Selling
For All Property Matters
Contact Your Local Branch
WEST MALLING 01732 842668 or TONBRIDGE 01732 770588
January 2008
32
T
MAIDSTONE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
he
M a i d s to n e
S ym ph o n y
Orchestra - Conductor: Brian
Wright - will perform on Saturday 2nd
February 2008, commencing at 7.30pm,
at Mote Hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre,
Mote Park, Maidstone.
The programme consists of three
works:
• Bizet
Carmen Suite
• Weber
Clarinet Concerto No. 2
(Soloist: Mark Simpson)
• Rachmaninov
Symphony No. 2
This concert has a programme for every
taste, with the current BBC Young
Musician, Clarinettist Mark Simpson,
joining the MSO in Weber’s delightful
2nd Concerto. Elsewhere, Rachmaninov
expansively exploits both sumptuous
harmonies and lyrical, romantic melodies
in his 2nd Symphony, and there’s the
evergreen suite from Bizet’s Carmen.
Concert Tickets: £10, £16, and £20,
seats for children and
students with a student card: £5,
are available from
BBC Young Musician,
Clarinettist Mark Simpson
Membership Secretaries on
01622 736392
paid for and collected on the concert
evening at Mote Hall,
or from Maidstone Leisure Centre on
0845 1552277
when payment can be made
by credit card.
David Bramley
Maidstone Orchestral Society
WEST PECKHAM PARISH COUNCIL VACANCIES FOR
NEW PARISH COUNCILLOR AND NEW PARISH CLERK
Are you interested in getting more involved in the workings of the Parish? The
Council are eager to find replacements for Councillor Kathy Ritchie and Clerk Susan
Canning following their recent resignations. Both have made major contributions to
the village, and we are paying tribute to them elsewhere. We do however need to find
replacements urgently.
The Councillor’s role requires a minimum commitment of one evening a month.
The Clerk’s role is paid and is expected to take approximately 8 hours a week.
Whilst more details will be posted in The Record and on the Notice Boards, if you
want any more information about either vacancy, then please do not hesitate to
contact me or one of the other Councillors.
Mark Freed
E2W Limited
DDI: 01732 897722
Mobile: 07711 164145
33
January 2008
THE GARDEN IN JANUARY
T
GROWING AN AMARYLLIS
IF YOU were given an Amaryllis
(sometimes called a Hippeastrum) as a
Christmas present you will be surprised
at how simple it is to grow these
colourful bulbous plants - and, better
still, how easy it is to ensure a show of
these striking flowers in years to come.
The outsize bulbs can be started into
growth from this month until March.
Use one bulb to a 15-18cm (6-7in clay
or ceramic pot,
and allow a space
of about 2.5cm
(1in) between the
bulb and the sides
of the pot. Use
any
houseplant
soil and let the
upper third of the
bulb stand above
the soil line. Put
it in a cool, shady
place and keep
almost dry until
the flower bud is
about 15cm (6in)
tall, then move it
into a sunny window and water heavily.
The huge, showy flowers, which come
in white, pink, red, orange, rose or
violet, are borne on stalks up to 65cm
(26in) tall, and appear before the
strap-like leaves. It will usually take
about 3 weeks or more from planting to
blooming.
After your Amaryllis has bloomed,
keep it growing so that the leaves can
make food for next year’s flowers,
feeding after flowering until the
leaves die down. When the foliage
goes brown let the soil go dry for at
least 12 weeks, or until you see new
buds appearing, then replant in fresh
soil.
HE CHRISTMAS festivities are a
distant memory and the garden
looks far from inviting, but there are still
some benefits to be had from wrapping
up warmly and getting out there - not
least of which is working off the effects
of a surfeit of Christmas pudding and
mince pies!
Now is a good time to reshape unruly
trees while they are in their dormant
winter state and when the absence of
leaves makes it easier to spot crossing or
damaged branches Using a sharp saw,
make a pruning cut on the underside of
the branch to be removed - about 30cm
(1ft) from the trunk; move further out
and saw down from the top. If the
branch drops it will not tear beyond the
original cut. You can easily prune off the
remaining piece close to the trunk.
Trim off the top growth of perennials
that have died down. Some will already
have green shoots appearing round the
base, so a light mulch of compost or
bark will help protect these.
Very congested old perennials that
were not tackled in autumn can still be
lifted and divided. However, if your soil
is wet and heavy, leave this until spring
when the plants can start growing away.
In the greenhouse check over
wintering plants for signs of greenfly and
other pests, and treat if necessary. Also
bring potted strawberries under cover
this month.
No apology for appealing again for
your help in feeding our feathered
friends during the winter months. Blue
tits and many other garden favourites
are down in numbers after last year’s
wet summer, and need cherishing with
regular supplies of nuts, bird seed and
water. The recipients will reward you by
helping keep greenfly and other nasties
at bay in the spring and summer.
VC
January 2008
34
Village Diary
See also Page 5 for Church Diary.
JANUARY
Tue 8 12 - 2pm
7.30pm
Sat 12 11-12 noon
9.30 - 10.30
Mon 14 7.30pm
Thu 17
evening
Sat 19 8am - 9am
10 - 11.30
12 noon
Mon 21 7.30pm
Tue 22
7.30pm
Sat 26 11-12 noon
Tue 29 morning
Thu 31 evening
Mereworth Lunch Club, Mereworth Village Hall.
Mereworth Planning Committee meeting, Mereworth Village Hall.
Bulky Refuse Collection, West Peckham Village Hall.
Bulky Refuse Collection, Beaufighter Road, Airfield Estate.
West Peckham WI Monthly Meeting (p. 27).
Race Night, Queen’s Head (p. 22, or tel 01622 812534).
Bulky Refuse Collection, The Street, Mereworth (o/s school).
Borough Councillors’ Surgery, St Mary’s Church, Hadlow (p. 15).
Deadline for copy and advertisements for The Record.
West Peckham Parish Council Meeting, W P Village Hall.
Mereworth Planning Committee and Parish Council Meeting.
Bulky Refuse Collection, Beaufighter Road, Airfield Estate.
West Peckham WI Walk with Carole (p. 27).
Quiz Night, Queen’s Head (p. 22, or tel 01622 812534).
FEBRUARY
Sat 2
7.30pm
Maidstone Symphony Orchestra Concert, Mote Hall (p. 33).
Thu 7 10.30-12.30 Heart of Kent Hospice Coffee Morning, Herne House (p. 25).
Wed 13 7.30pm
West Peckham Village Fete Meeting, W P Village Hall (p. 15).
LOGS
Finest seasoned local hardwoods, split to size and delivered.
North Star Farm
Tel: 01622 813794
Mob: 078 999 46860
from
Design to Despatch
a complete reprographic service
from budget priced duplicating
to full colour lithographic and
screen process printing.
Tel/Fax: 01732 865380
Mobile: 0774 806 6636
E-mail: anmar_uk@yahoo.co.uk
35
January 2008
VILLAGE INFORMATION
THE RECTOR
CHURCH WARDENS
Mereworth
West Peckham
SUNDAY SCHOOL
POLICE CONTACTS
Rev R N McConachie
01622 812214
Mr A Wells 01622 814608
Mrs Mair Kellett 01732 843006
Mr P Spensley 01732 810041
Mrs P Hamilton 01622 817255
Margaret Collins
01622 812660
Mereworth & ) PC Andy Sargeant
01732 379232
West Peckham: ) & PCSO Holly Wilkes
01732 379232
LOCAL COUNCILLORS
Jill Anderson 01732 850445
Janet Sergison 01732 851663
MEREWORTH PARISH COUNCIL - meetings 4th Tue in month, 7.30pm M Village Hall
Chairman:
Tessa Wells
01622 814608
Clerk:
Gill Kirby
gill.kirby@talktalk.net
01732 846192
WEST PECKHAM PARISH COUNCIL - meetings 3rd Mon in month, 7.30 pm WP Village Hall
Chairman:
Kathy Ritchie
kathyritchie@kathyritchie.co.uk 01622 812888
Clerk:
Susan Canning susancanning@yahoo.com
01622 812135
MEREWORTH VILLAGE HALL AND SPORTS PAVILION
Chairman:
René Bennet
01732 872892
Secretary:
Helen Card
01622 812495
Bookings:
Bill Piper
01622 812777
WEST PECKHAM VILLAGE HALL
Bookings:
Mrs Jacqui Wooldridge
01622 813241
MEREWORTH & KINGS HILL SCOUT GROUP, BEAVERS AND CUBS
Mike Darbyshire
01622 812797
WEST PECKHAM WOMEN’S INSTITUTE - meetings 2nd Mon/mth, 7.30pm, WP Village Hall
President:
Kim Kuwertz
01732 852131
Secretary:
Cathy Perry
01622 817736
MEREWORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Headteacher:
Mrs Sue Greenaway
01622 812569
Secretary:
Mrs Chris Grehan
01622 812569
Chmn Govs:
Dr A Jefford
01622 812734
Chairperson PTA: Therese Camporeale camporealet@yahoo.co.uk 01622 812985
Secretary PTA:
Helen Sigward
01622 871227
MEREWORTH PRE-SCHOOL - sessions 9.15 - 12pm Mon-Fri, pm Mon & Thu, Village Hall
Contact:
Julia Mayhew
01732 870456
MEREWORTH LUNCH CLUB - meetings 2nd Tuesday, Mereworth Village Hall
Contact:
Sue Darbyshire
01622 812797
TELSTON & MEREWORTH CRICKET CLUB - Captain: David Keeler
01622-817836
WEST PECKHAM CRICKET CLUB
Secretary:
René Bennet
01732 872892
KATE REED WOOD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Chairman:
René Bennet
01732 872892
ANIMAL WELFARE CHARITY
Contact:
Brenda Johnson, New Pounds, New Pounds Lane 01622 812195
DOG WARDEN
Alison Cooper
dog.warden@tmbc.gov.uk
01732 876181
KENT MESSENGER
Joyce Styles (Copy by 9am Monday please)
01622 812741
BBC RADIO KENT
Jenny Thorogood
01622 812937
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Mereworth:
Mike Setford (mike.setford@globalnet.co.uk)
01622 814808
West Peckham
Phil Canning (philcanning@yahoo.com)
01622 812135
Kings Hill
David Murray
01732 874685
TAXI SERVICE
T S Private Hire and Courier Service
01732 846515
Mobile: 07713 702937
January 2008
36

January 2008 - West Peckham Parish Council

Transcription

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