The Registers July 2016 to October 2016

Baptisms - William Wood. Oliver Mercer. Ayla Carpenter. Oscar Pullen.

Weddings - Simon Shire and Claire O’Connell. Tom Goddings and Faith Gledhil

Funerals - Mr Raymond Blunden. Mr Tommy Kris Knight.

St James the Great - East Malling Warmly invites you all to a Baby and Toddlers Group Every Wednesday at 1.30pm In Church Lots of fun for all Children & Babies to school age Come along and catch up with Parents, Carers & Guardians. Singing & Dancing with Musical instruments, Refreshments & Parties, Stories & Puppets, Presents, Outings and lots lots more! Everyone is very Welcome!

Your Special Christmas Services St. James the Great, East Malling.

Sunday 4th December - Second Sunday of Advent 8am - Holy Communion 9.45am - Family Toy Service

Tuesday 6th December 8pm - Healing Praise

Thursday 8th December 9am - Holy Communion

Friday 9th December 7pm - East Malling Women`s Institute Carol Service

Sunday 11th December - Third Sunday of Advent 9.45am - Eucharist

Thursday 15th December 9am - Holy Communion

Sunday 18th December - Fourth Sunday of Advent 9.45am - Eucharist 4pm - Nine Lessons & Carols

Monday 19th December 2.15pm - School Christmas Service

Thursday 22nd December 9am - Holy Communion

Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve 4pm & 6pm - Christingle & Crib 11.30pm - Midnight Mass

Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day 9.45am - Family Eucharist

‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above’ James 1:17

Brothers and sisters in Christ, arriving in a new benefice, especially one as different from my old benefice as this one is, always gives rise to what the Chinese would doubtless term interesting times.

There are uncertainties and much tip-toeing around on all sides as we all get used to working with each other in the service of the gospel of Christ.

That being said, it’s a privilege to come to you as your new Vicar and a humbling experience to be called to minister in a benefice that has so many capable people who have worked hard demonstrating their skills and talents looking after the benefice for the year or so you have been in interregnum. It’s a privilege as well to take over from someone like Fr. Jim who accompanied you on your journey of faith for so many years and left the benefice in such good condition and Fr. Derek who has been ‘minding the shop’ together with all the other retired clergy during the interregnum. Having looked at the lists of people who have roles in the three parishes I am acutely aware of how many people there must be to thank, far too many to name individually. So please take this short message as a ‘thank you’ to all of you, with a particular and personal ‘thank you’ to all of those who have worked tirelessly in their spare time re-decorating the Vicarage. I can assure you that Mrs Williams will make good her promise to bring you cake at the very earliest opportunity! I’m sure however that there are many of you wondering how things will change. It is after all the habit of new Vicars to change things and whilst Fr Jim and I might have been members of your long line of vicars who were police officers I’m sure that we will both have our own unique and perhaps ‘individual’ ways of doing things. Well, let me provide those of you for whom this is a worry with a small amount of reassurance, I would really like to get to know you, the benefice and the wider parishes before even thinking of changing anything. I hope you will see me out and about in the benefice and will feel confident enough to come and talk to me about your hopes, aspirations and even the little things that niggle all of us. I don’t have a monopoly on good ideas and I’m willing to ‘borrow with pride’ from each and every one of you, so come and talk or even come and dream! It is however only fair to warn you that I do have an agenda. That agenda is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we possibly can. Everything that we do is subordinate to that one simple calling and it should be the lamp that lights the path to the decisions we make. There will be ‘interesting times’ ahead for all of us but together I am certain we can do great things in the service of Christ, and I look forward to accompanying each of you on our journey together into the future.

Yours in Christ

Fr Nick Williams

The Diocese of Rochester The Church of St James the Great, East Malling VICAR CHURCH WARDENS The Rev`d Nick Williams David Chambers The Vicarage, 2 The Grange, 01732 842582 East Malling, ME19 6AH 01732 843282 Sue Payne [email protected] 01732 841585

ORGANIST & CHOIR DIRECTOR For Baptisms, Weddings and Belinda Hunter other arrangements with the Vicar, 01732 843319 Please contact the Parish Office:- 01732 843282 READER [email protected] Alan Bramley 01732 846800

SECRETARY to the PCC TREASURER to the PCC Sue Payne - 01732 841585 Michael Rogers - 01622 718375

The beneficiaries of the St. James the Great`s Christmas Market 2016 are “Starfish Malawi Charity” who set up schools and Medical Centres in the poorest parts of Africa. The St. James the Great`s Events Committee and PCC would like to thank everyone for their generosity and support and would like to wish you a Very Happy Christmas-time and a Peaceful New Year! Starters and Puds with - King Henry VIII

The Friends of St. James the Great held another successful fundraising evening by way of `Starters and Puds’ with the very `true-to-life’ and all of 6ft-2 - ‘King Henry VIII’ It was the most `unique’ history lesson ever! And delivery by Henry VIII (Tony Harris) in such great timeless hilarity, you could`ve easily `lost your head` with laughter! Everyone agreed, It was a lovely way to share an evening with good friends, good food and a very good time being had by all.

(Pictured right with 6ft 2` Henry VIII is East Malling`s very own 5ft 3` Mrs Pat Gill, who very kindly donated the photographs)

Henry Tudor was born 28 June 1491 in Greenwich and died 28 January 1547 at Palace of Whitehall, London. He is buried in St. George`s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor. King Henry VIII was King of from 21 April 1509 until his death.

Henry VIII married six times; Catherine of Aragon 1509-1533 then divorced. Anne Boleyn 1533-1536 she was executed. Jane Seymour 1536-1537 she died. Anne of Cleves 1540 divorced 6 months later. Kathryn Howard 1540-1542 she was executed. Katherine Parr 1543-1547 widowed.

If you would like to hire Tony or for more information on the many historical and hysterical costumed talks to suit any occasion please contact : 07702 306670 or email [email protected]

Fundraising helps to maintain and preserve St. James the Great Church. If you would like to join The Friends and be kept up-to-date with all our activities or would like some more information, please contact: Alan Bramley - 01732 846800 [email protected]

St. James the Great www.stjames.eastmalling.net New Opening and Services Times St. James the Great is normally open to Visitors on Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am - 12noon From November to December & Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am - 12noon & 2pm - 4pm From March to October There are occasions when it is not possible for the Church to be open, therefore, please check with: Shaun Gurteen 01732 521831 Or the parish office 01732 843282

Service Times First Sunday in the month 9.45am - Family Service Second, Third & Fourth Sunday in the month 9.45am - Parish Eucharist - with Sunday School and Crèche First Sunday in the month 8.00am - Holy Communion - Book of Common Prayer (Provided a communion service is not planned for 9.45am that day) Wednesdays 1.30pm - Baby and Toddlers Group Thursdays 9.00am - Holy Communion When there is a Fifth Sunday in the month there is only one service within the Benefice of East Malling, Wateringbury & Teston. The service is always at 10.00am and rotates around the 3 parishes. For Baptisms, Weddings and other arrangements please contact the Parish Office at The Vicarage, t: 01732 843282 or [email protected]

Available from the Church `A Guide to the Parish Church of St. James the Great.` by Canon Derek Carpenter. A Comprehensive Guide to the History and beautiful Architecture of the Church with Superb Photography. Available for just £2.50 CAROL SINGING 2016 The St. James the Great Church Choir will be Carol Singing in East Malling. We will be in Rocks Close, Vigor Close, Middle Mill and The Grange on Monday 19th December and Bradbourne Fields on Tuesday 20th December. As usual we will be collecting for - The Children`s Society on both occasions. We would be delighted and you would be very welcome to come along and join in with us and support us. Carol singing has been an East Malling tradition for more 40 years and we hope with your help to keep it going for many more! We in St. James the Great Choir wish you all a very Joyous and Happy Christmas-time!

Do you enjoy singing? Could you sing in our St James` Church Choir? We practise every Friday at St James the Great church For more details please contact: Belinda 01732 843319

Bell ringing practice! The St. James the Great Campanologists (Bell Ringers) wish you all a very Peaceful and Happy Christmas-time! We practise every Thursday 8pm at St. James the Great Church Everyone is welcome to come along and join us. We look forward to meeting you. Please ask for Sue Payne

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light” - Aristotle Onassis Dates for your Diaries St. James the Great, East Malling Please see page 3 for your Christmas services.

Saturday 17th December 7.30pm - East Malling Singers Christmas Concert

St. John the Baptist, Wateringbury Wednesday 14th December - 8.00pm - Wateringbury Village Hall - Christmas Social Evening with the Wateringbury Local History Society. Visitors very welcome. Wednesday 18th January 2017 - 8.00pm - Wateringbury Village Hall Wateringbury Local History Society - Roy Ingleton talk on “Kent Disasters” Visitors very welcome.

The Pilsdon at Malling Community December 9th - 18th The Annual Bazaar will be held in the Barn Chapel. Open daily except Mon 12th Dec. Eucharist Service - Every Wednesday at noon - Every Sunday at 6pm For more details - 01732 870279 www.pilsdonatmalling.org.uk 27 Water Lane, West Malling, Kent. ME19 6HH

King and Queen Pub, New Road-East Malling Sunday 4th December from 3.30pm to 4.30 pm. There will be the switching on of Christmas Lights and Carols outside the King & Queen Pub. Please note: The road will be closed from 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm

Please feel free to come along to all of the services and events - everyone is very Welcome!

Dear Lord, please replace the anxiety and fear within me that I have for all my tomorrows and free me to bless those you`ve put in my life today. EDITORIAL NOTE Hi Everyone! My thanks to Michael, the volunteers for giving their time delivering your In Touch to more than 2,200 households throughout East Malling four times each year, to Jean and Clive for organising the advertising and to each of you for your fantastic support of St James the Great Church. The fundraising events couldn't happen without you. Please keep supporting your local East Malling businesses - thank you. We would love to hear from you if you have anything you would like to be considered for your magazine, all we ask is that you contact us before the print deadline below to save any disappointment. You can now read your magazine in colour, without advertisements and/or download it from :- stjames.eastmalling.net/intouch The In Touch magazine is also available FREE whilst stocks last, but there are also many other books for sale in St. James the Great Church. See page 7 for opening times.

The In Touch team, all our Contributors and Advertisers wish you all a very Peaceful and Happy Christmas-time!

Editor -Mark Francis - [email protected] Advertising -Jean Spinks - [email protected] Cover -Designed and Donated by Diane Brazier. www.dianebrazier.co.uk In Touch magazine printer :www.lefaprint.com 020 8302 2555

EDITION PRINT DEADLINES ADVERTISING COSTS ¼ page : £21 1st February 17 for Easter 2017 ½ page : £31 1st May 17 for Summer 2017 Full page : £50 1st August 17 for Harvest 2017 For inside covers, back page - please contact 1st November 17 for Christmas 2017 Jean - Advertising.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the PCC and its agents cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions, or subsequent alterations. The articles/advertising/ products featured in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of or are endorsed by the Vicar, the PCC or the Editor.

Christmas Opening / Closures 2016-2017 Monday 19th December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Tuesday 20th December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Wednesday 21st December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Thursday 22nd December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Friday 23rd December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Saturday 24th December 2016 Closed Sunday 25th December 2016 Closed Monday 26th December 2016 Closed Tuesday 27th December 2016 Closed Wednesday 28th December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Thursday 29th December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Friday 30th December 2016 8.00am - 6.00pm Saturday 31st December 2016 Closed Sunday 1st January 2017 Closed Monday 2nd January 2017 Closed

Tuesday 3rd January 2017 8.00am - 6.00pm

When the Practice is closed / Out of hours - for urgent medical assistance or for advice please contact NHS 111 out of hours service by dialing 111 Repeat Prescriptions - requests can take longer to process over busy periods so please ensure you send us your requests as soon as possible. Repeat prescription requests and other correspondence may be posted in the letterbox to the right hand side of the main entrance near the car park gates. Repeat prescription requests can also be requested online using your Patient Online Services account. Thornhills Medical Practice would like to wish all its Customers a very Healthy and Happy Christmas-time! www.thornhillsmedical.nhs.uk 01732 849980

Raymond Blunden 1923 - 2016

Raymond my brother, lived all his life in East Malling in Stickens Lane and went to school in what is now called Manningham House.

He was often ill as a child and his schooling was regularly interrupted. Measles affected his eyesight and he had to wear glasses from the age of eight. He then caught Scarlet Fever and spent many weeks at the isolation hospital now known as Four Acres. At about the age of eleven he had Rheumatic Fever which kept him at home in bed for many months. It was during this time that he grew tall - almost six foot by the time he was fourteen and he was allowed to go back to school wearing long trousers!

He became interested in stamps (Philately) during his convalescence when his doctor gave him a small unwanted stamp collection. This started him on his life-long hobby and he soon became a keen philatelist and a member of the Malling Stamp Club where he gave a number of talks on his specialist subject - collecting signatures and photographs of key figure portrayed on stamps from royalty to footballers.

Leaving school at fourteen he became a laboratory assistant at the East Malling Research Centre (EMRC), later joining the Home Guard and starting the East Malling Scout Group (now Blacklands Scouts) in which he kept a life-time interest. In 1942 he was called up and joined the Royal Army Pay Corps and spent the rest of the war in India, a country that he enjoyed and was able to return to for a brief visit in 2005. After demob he worked for the Kent County Council where he met Pamela. In 1951 they married and had three children - Richard, Julie and Cynthea, two grandchildren and a great grand daughter. He served as a churchwarden at St. James the Great church for many years, then some as a Verger, and supported all the church`s activities, attending church every Sunday without fail right up to his final days! He was also a trustee of the Elizabeth Smith Alms Houses in Mill Street for many years. He liked to organise the distribution of collection boxes and wreaths for The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and was preparing to do this again this year. He was always optimistic and determined and, this year at 92 years old achieved a long held ambition to visit the World War 1 Battlefields.

Driving, which he enjoyed, became essential to Raymond as, living in a remote location, it enabled him to remain independent and it is with sadness that the complications from a car accident caused his passing.

Raymond will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Adriane Norris

(Pictured right) Raymond and Pamela on their wedding day in 1951

(Below) Reading from Raymond`s Service held 21st October 2016

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8.

FOOD, PEACOCKS AND CARDBOARD ROLLS by Barbara Trimmer

It started with a request to the St. James Flower Arrangers from The Friends ‘Would you be prepared to get involved with another flower festival and do you have any suggestions for a theme’. A brainstorming session came up with the concept of Noah’s Ark. This floated The Friends’ boat and so the 2016 flower festival was launched. At this point we found ourselves in October 2015 and the long road to the festival opening in July 2016 began. Just one animal in flowers would send us over budget, we had to ‘suggest’ our animals. Thinking caps on we researched and held our first meeting the follow- ing January. Our remit was ‘Food’ and ‘Animals’, two separate areas so we divided into teams. You will have seen the beautiful swags in the Harvest issue of In Touch created for the festival by Elaine Welch, another of our arrangers. Elaine Gordon and Valerie Green took charge of the food section. Those who took on ‘Animals’, Marilyn Jennings, Jean Wilkinson, Sue Payne and Barbara Trimmer, came up with an alternative to flowers for their creatures, strong cardboard rolls. Commandeered from family who had new carpets laid, these were stored in a garage awaiting transformation. Metres of hessian were ordered; now we not only had animals but palm trees - with a little imagination. We were now eating into the budget, a fine pair of peacocks needed flowers for their plumage, we had to be more resourceful. So we turned to gardens – anyone’s. What natural habitat and vegetation could be begged, borrowed and well not exactly stolen. This produced a mass of grasses, allium heads, greenery and ferns, palms and exotic pot plants loaned from people’s homes. One arranger volunteers at a local charity and they were happy to help by supplying ready for sale potted grasses in return for a little promotion. We were not averse to a little bartering. We met again in April and chose our animals, we got quite carried away but it became obvious we could not represent all creatures who entered the ark. In most cases not even a pair, and went with artistic licence and a suggestive selection; peacocks, cheetahs (Sue using her classroom experience to make those masks), elephant, zebra, giraffe and a snake. Preparation for the peacock and peahen began. Their bodies were made by a friend of Pauline Raymond who with Mary Ann Colvile had taken on these beautiful creatures. They were made from papier mache over a frame of chicken wire and painted in oils. This took six weeks as papier mache is very slow drying. The paper layers were actually loo roll – and 13 toilet rolls were used in the process. Bodies complete, they were affectionately named George and Mildred by Amanda their creator. ‘Food’ had their plan - to use an old wine crate, wooden plant carrier and step ladder as their main props, focusing on flowers that had associations with food - with a few exceptions because they were nice flowers! The step ladder was to be home to herbs, trailing ivy and a small arrangement of gerberas and sunflowers, the wine box no longer contained bottles of wine (sadly not drunk by the flower arrang- ers) was to have a large profusion of flowers spilling over the side and by way of a contrast, the plant carrier was to house a modern arrangement of eremuras, sunflowers, gerberas and roses. Although plans for this section were not as complicated as ‘Animals’, it later transpired that a lot of work was required to follow through the scheme and the arrangers might have imbibed some of that wine during construction had it been available! Before the final few days, numerous emails and discussions followed - palm trees could be created by wrapping the cardboard rolls in hessian, topped with cut down plastic bottles, some oasis and fern leaves. What could go wrong? Siting plans were drawn for the animal display, ‘ trunks’ covered in hessian and topped with water receptacles. The week of the run up to the festival began. Two ladies spent two of the hottest days of the year in a garage painting the zebra, giraffe and elephant, adding an ear and eye to the latter. This required the use of saws to straighten wobbly stands, vices to aid painting and sawing. No room for delicate ladies here. The end results were pleasing - well we knew what they were. Next came the transportation to church. One arranger loaded her large vehicle with enough plants to stock a garden centre, another using her convertible to transport the very tall animals - the rolls sticking out of the open roof—must have amused passers by. Then began the long haul to set the scene, place our props and eventually arrange some flowers. Here, for those in the know, we subtly introduced more animals - Foxtail Lilies, Bear grass, Tiger grass/lilies, antirrhinums (bunny rabbits) and Birds of Paradise which were evident in many of the arrangements. We worked long and hard and went home exhausted. Day two of set up arrived and we joined the other visiting arrangers who had agreed to participate in the festival. Amid joy, frustration, excitement, admiration, general camaraderie and a few cups of coffee, we all finalised our displays. ‘For the Animals’ we add some small felted creatures and bugs - even these must have made it onto the ark. Just as we were ready to go home, we noticed a palm tree sinking to one side - ‘This can’t be happening, it’s not Chelsea’. But it was and it had to be dealt with. The plastic bottle end was not up to the job, it had leaked onto the cardboard tube, which had started to disintegrate. So we took it apart and put it out to dry over night. We would have to come back the next morning, and early, before the festival opened and salvage our tree if we could. And we did with minutes to spare. Our arrangements were now on show, the church in its entirety looked wonderful and we could RELAX ... just a little. The weather was hot, we still had to tend to the displays and keep them fresh over the weekend and beyond. There was to be a wedding the next weekend and the wedding party wanted us to retain and enjoy as much of the festival as possible and, that included not just the flowers but `all the animals` from the raven to the snake! Note: We have a ‘giraffe, zebra, elephant and palm trees’ in storage for now. If you have an event coming up, you are welcome to borrow them – they won’t need feeding. Contact 01732 521826

St. James` Flower Arrangers wish you all a very Peaceful Christmas-time! FOOD, PEACOCKS AND CARDBOARD ROLLS cont`d from pages 14 & 15 by Barbara Trimmer All photographs by courtesy of Barbara Trimmer & Jean Wilkinson There are more photographs of the Flower Festival in the Harvest 2016 edition of the In Touch

Its wonderful what a hug can do, a hug can cheer you when you`re blue. A hug can say “I love you so”, or, that I hate to see you go. A hug can soothe any pain, and bring a rainbow after rain. With a hug, there`s no doubt about it, we could scarcely survive without it. A hug delights, and warms and charms, it must be why God gave us arms. Kittens crave them, puppies love them, even heads-of-state are not above them. A hug can break the language barrier and make your travels so much merrier. So stretch out your arms without delay and give someone a hug today!!! Anon.

The East Malling Brownies Wish you all A Very Happy Christmas! For girls aged 7-10 years - Why not come along and join us for lots of fun and adventures! We meet every Tuesday during term-time Contact: Dawn Archer 01634 681606

Heavenly lights

Margaret Agnes Rope, born in 1882, produced stained-glass that can be found in churches and cathedrals on three continents - but she is now largely forgotten here in the UK and, even in her home town of . ‘Marga’, as she was called, was an instinctive rebel- known for smoking cheroot cigars, riding a motorbike and wearing her hair short - in an era when women were largely suppressed. Without backing from a patron, rich family or husband, she made her own way in her career, one of a new generation of artists as much at home in a workshop as in a drawing- studio. Her work - influenced by the ‘Later Arts & Crafts’ style, soon became well-known for its jewelled dazzling colours, its personal stamp, its startling modernism and, its sense of spiritual vibrancy. Yet, within barely a decade of her first success, she chose to become a Catholic nun, moving into an ‘enclosed’ convent. However, even now, shut away from the world, she continued to work, in a small studio provided by the other nuns. An intensely private person, she left barely any records behind her, and even asked that some of her remaining works be destroyed after her death. Art historians, perhaps frustrated by this lack of information, have since marginalised her achievements. Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “Margaret Rope was one of the greatest stained-glass artists of the early twentieth century, and her works can be seen all over the world.” The Rope family were prominent in Shrewsbury before the Second World War, and many local people may have knowledge, or even memories, of Doctor Rope and his wife and six children - of whom ‘Marga’ was one. The rebellious Victorian artist behind some of the world's most admired stained- glass was forgotten after she gave up motorbikes and cigars to become a nun. Although born in Shrewsbury in 1882, experts say her work shows "startling modernism", but she joined a convent, requesting her work be destroyed after her death, and her "genius" went uncelebrated. Margaret Rope died aged 71 in relative obscurity. Her colourful windows survive today in churches across the UK, Australia, South Africa and Rome - and in museums in Los Angeles and New York. "There's a story about her and her sister riding across England on their motorbikes at the beginning of the First World War," her cousin Arthur Rope said. "When they got to Suffolk they got arrested for being German spies because people couldn't imagine what two women were doing on motorbikes."

“Give light and people will find the way”- Ella Baker

Aged 18, Margaret enrolled at the Birmingham School of Arts where she learned to design and make stained-glass. Less than 10 years later, when she began to gain recognition for her art, Margaret became a devout Catholic and chose the harsh life of poverty and prayer as a Carmelite nun in the Carmelite Monastery, Quidenham, Norfolk and continued to create stained-glass in a small studio. Some of Marga's finest work can be found at: Shrewsbury Catholic Cathedral, Shropshire. The Church of the Holy Name, Oxton, Birkenhead, Lancashire. Our Lady of the Assumption, Latchford, Warrington, Cheshire. St. Peter & St. Paul , Newport, Shropshire. The Church of the Holy Family and St. Michael, , near Ipswich. Tyburn Convent, Marble Arch, London. Michaelhouse School Chapel, Balgowan, Pietermaritzburg, S. Africa To see Margaret`s work and more about her life please visit - www.arthur.rope.clara.net the flickr Margaret Rope gallery. or please click on this link List of works of Margaret Agnes Rope (Marga) An exhibition called Heavenly Lights and Shifting Shadowsof Margaret`s work and her untold story will be staged at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery from : 12 September 2016 to 15 January 2017. Despite her obvious genius, her name is hardly remembered at all, and it is hoped that this exhibition - the first dedicated solely to her work and times will give her reputation the true respect it deserves. For more information on the exhibition www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk/events/

Margaret Rope Margaret`s stamp

“Your talent is God's gift to you, what you do with it is your gift back to God” - Leo Buscaglia N G N I K S Y O J H J C H O S O O N E H R I H O O E A A P A S L G E V S A P U M S R R L M S D Y E V O E D R E U E P E T T A X R N A L V N G S H P S S I N X A A E E A E A A L T H I R G M B T M S H Y N L F A N R I E E Y I E L I M S I D C I H P L H S V R A T S G E E W S C S S E S I D R A S S N W O R C N M L M T U H E Y S F O R T Y E Y H U Y T W O E C W I H E G V R T H R O N E R A T G L L O E N E I N G N I N N I G E B D S A B S T A B L E L L O R C S

HOPE CARE SMILE LOVE GIFTS CROWN JOYS SNOW HARP KING STABLE BEGINNING DARK FORTY CHRISTMAS THRONE GENESIS NATIVITY SON SEVEN-SPIRITS JOURNEY JESUS ABYSS GOD NOAH MARY SCROLL HADES BETHLEHEM GOLD HEAVEN ANGEL LIGHT CRIB STAR BIRTH INCENSE SMYRNA ALPHA SARDIS OMEGA JOSEPH

“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad” - Miles Kington

MID-WINTER MUSINGS by Elaine Gordon

When we were living in Switzerland I remember learning that the only time the local vigneron could go on holiday was just after Christmas when there was very little work to be done in the vineyard. I would like to say the same is true in our garden, but there always seems to be something demand- ing our attention. Fortunately, not everything needs to be done outside. So when the wind is icy or the rain pouring down, here are a few jobs that can be done indoors and which can still give you a sense of having achieved something useful.

First of all, what about a winter tidy-up? There is often a tangle of netting lying in a jumble in a corner of the shed that can be usefully sorted into different lengths and then rolled up and tied so that when you do want to net the beans in the spring you don’t first have to untangle everything. Then there are all those seed trays lingering in a dark corner of the potting shed full of last season’s compost and spiders. Clean them now and you won’t have that annoying scramble to get them ready when you are full of enthusiasm for sowing the first lot of seeds in the spring. It’s a good idea too to give the greenhouse a good clean with horticultural disinfectant at this time of year. Not only will cleaner windows let in more light at a time when light levels are low, but it will also ensure a healthier environment for your plants next year. I used a lot of capillary matting during the year and I will be washing and disinfecting it over the winter so that it will be ready to use again in the spring.

Outside, when the weather allows, it’s a good time to prune the wisteria to 2 or 3 side shoots to encourage more flowering buds. It’s also a good time to prune fruit trees (except plums, cherries and other stone fruits) to maintain an open, balanced structure. Last year was a bad year for black spot on the roses, so I shall be spending time this winter gathering up all the fallen leaves from beneath the affected bushes to reduce the chance of infection next year.

In the vegetable garden my rhubarb plants are looking a bit tired, so I am going to dig one of them up and replant the outside clumps to re-invigorate the patch. I probably won’t do all of them as I intend to choose one for forcing again. I use an old plastic water-butt for this but any large bucket inverted over the plant would do. I’ve done this for a couple of years now, choosing a different plant to force each time as forcing does tend to weaken the plant, and each year I have been rewarded with loads of tender, pink shoots in late February early March. It’s something to look forward to when the days are still short and the weather miserable! However, I think one of the most satisfying winter jobs of all is planning what to grow next. My seed box is full of loads of opened packets, so I will be spending a bit of time going through them all to see which may still be viable. I don’t usually follow the ‘use by’ dates strictly but if a packet has been opened for about three years, it’s probably better to throw it away as the seed will probably not germinate, and there is nothing more frustrating than spending time and compost on a tray of seeds that do nothing! Once I’ve sorted the seeds, I will be spending even more time pleasurably leafing through all the catalogues that land on the doorstep with a satisfying thud at this time of year, making lists of what I want. This list is normally far too long, even for a garden twice the size of mine, resulting in much reviewing and editing before I can make my order. And of course, all of this can take place beside a roaring fire with a cup of tea and a biscuit! If you are a keen gardener, are there any other more pleasurable ways of spending a cold winter’s afternoon?

The recipe I am including here is for a moreish little biscuit that my aunt used to bake. It calls for a topping of a flaked almond and an egg wash. I often don’t bother and the end result is just as delicious. Also the quantities are for 12 biscuits - these are quite large, so you can easily make more by using a smaller cutter - or simply make more by doubling up the quantities. I usually opt for the latter!

DUTCH MOPPEN BISCUITS (makes 12) 100 g butter 75 g caster sugar 125 g self-raising flour, sifted Almond flakes or 6 blanched almonds 1 egg, beaten Method: Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Work in the flour. Knead on a floured board into a large ball, working in a little more flour if it becomes too greasy. Scoop off small pieces of the dough with a teaspoon and roll into walnut-size balls. Place on a greased baking sheet at least 5 cm apart to allow for spreading. Flatten the balls slightly. Split the almonds into two if using whole ones and press half into the centre of each biscuit - or place a couple of almond flakes in the centre of each biscuit. Brush the tops over with beaten egg. Bake in the centre of the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Lift the biscuits off the baking sheet with a palette knife and cool on a wire tray. Store in an airtight tin or plastic container.

Have a Wonderful Christmas and a very Peaceful New Year! A question of sport...by Stuart Millson

East Malling residents may have noticed a small structure, almost hiding away in the trees, at the edge of the South Ward Playing Field. The building in question - The sports pavilion - has seen better days, having been opened in a spirit of optimism in 1985 by the charitable trust which takes its name from the field. Originally, the pavilion was the preserve of the East Malling Cricket Club, and it was thanks to the efforts of the Club Secretary, the late Paul Lovering, that it was ever built at all. Yet over the years, cricket’s fortunes in the village appear to have declined - the Football Club (run by Paul Fincham - owner of the Rising Sun Pub) being the only significant sports organisation now operating in our locality. Determined that the pavilion should be rescued, various volunteers have united in order to raise funds and help with restoration work. So far, £500 has been donated - thanks to The Royal Society of St. George Charitable Trust - and it is hoped that this will be just the start of better things to come. Everyone involved (including the Parish Council) is very keen that the pavilion will, once again, see the return of the cricketers - but there are also other objectives. For example, there are ladies’ sports sides, youth groups and those who might just want to use the pavilion for a “fun day” or social event - many different people, in fact, who would benefit from a revival of this old and potentially very useful building. Its setting, looking out upon the green parkland at the edge of the village, is rural and attractive, and yet the facility is close to the estate and within convenient walking distance of the village hall. What better spot than this for sporting and other recreational events? In a year in which we have celebrated the efforts of our Olympic and Paralympic teams, surely now is the time for all of us to come to the aid of our local pavilion?

(Pictured from left to right) Cllr. Pam Ayrton, Chairman of the Allotments and Open Spaces Committee. Group Captain Patrick Tootal OBE President of The Royal Society of St. George - North Downs Branch presenting a £500 cheque and a certificate to Football Club Chairman - Paul Fincham and, East Malling Parish Councillor - Stuart Millson.

Have a Super Christmas-time with lots of good Cheer! Yours - Stuart

Sunrise Over The Somme by Karin Bucannan.

1st July 2016 marked 100 years since the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.

On the first day, 19,240 soldiers lost their lives. Thousands more were ‘slaughtered’ in the days that followed - a huge and tragic loss of courageous lives.

The event will never be forgotten. In 1917 in France, Paul Nash wrote: ‘Imagine a wide landscape flat and scantily wooded and, what trees remain blasted and torn, naked, scarred and riddled. The ground for miles around furrowed into trenches, pitted with yawning holes in which the water lies still and cold or heaped with mounds of earth, tangles of rusty wire, tin plates, stakes, sandbags and all the refuse of war In the midst of this strange country - men are living in their narrow ditches’.

Last year I was asked to run a workshop for the SE Regional Day for the Embroiderers’ Guild. The idea to create something for the community came to mind and with the Royal British Legion Village on our doorstep in Aylesford they seemed an obvious choice. I approached the manager in the Base Camp cafeteria with the idea of a poppy themed textile which they liked. A wall was allocated and dimensions taken, so that was stage one of this task. On the 1st July earlier this year I was watching the 10 o’clock news where the feature story was the anniversary of the first day of the Somme, I felt quite emotional listening to and seeing the images of the time which were so thought provoking that they cemented the idea to create the aforementioned textile specifically to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of The Somme, and so stage two, my sketching began. A few days later the SE Regional Day took place and many of the Embroiderers’ Guild members from the SE region took part in the poppy making workshop, some brought in previously made poppies and others arrived later in the post - I had dozens of poppies so plenty to work with of different shapes, sizes and techniques showing a wonderful variety of textile skills - Stage 3. For the design of the textile, I had studied the artwork of Paul Nash the WW1 Artist who witnessed the horrors of The Great War, capturing these scenes in his paintings(some of which now hang in the Imperial War Museum). I used his art to inspire my background with the dug-out trenches and scorched trees carefully stencilled and stitched under a brightly coloured morning sky with ripples of red to reflect the poppies on the disturbed earth below - Stage 4. I then started to stitch the poppies in place. Stage 5. In the left corner the silver braid represents the barbed wire that so many of our soldiers were caught up in.

Many nations were involved in the First World War including the French who also had thousands of casualties, hence my inclusion amidst the ‘river of red’ representing the loss of blood, a solo blue cornflower {the cornflower being the floral symbol for the French - The Bleuet de France, pictured left} and a cluster of cornflowers on the mid-ground on the right to remember our French allies.

Over 100 years ago, over 100 poppies stitched on and, the whole textile took over 100 hours to complete. I am very honoured that the textile will be on display in the Base Camp Cafeteria for all to see and to remember the brave soldiers who lost their lives 100 years ago. I chose the title “Sunrise Over The Somme” and embroidered that into the sky which I feel truly reflects the poignancy of the scene after the battle.

“Sunrise Over The Somme” was presented to the Royal British Legion in November 2016, in time for the Remembrance Sunday and on view at Base Camp soon after - it is on view at a lovely seated area to reflect and socialise and of course enjoy some of the lovely refreshments for sale.

For more information about the poppy textile or other commissioned works please contact me at: [email protected]

If you like to stitch or would like to learn, you are most welcome to join us every second Saturday at the Aylesford Community Centre in Forstal Road, it would be lovely to see more new members. For more details about joining The Embroiderers’ Guild please contact : [email protected]

‘War does not determine who is right - only who is left’ - Bertrand Russell YouCan Youth Cancer Support are a small local charity based at Bradbourne House, East Malling. We offer support to young people across Kent, East Sussex and South London, aged between 10 and 30 whose lives have been impacted by cancer. They may have cancer themselves or had a parent, relative or friend with the illness which has directly affected the young person. We provide a wide range of workshops where our young people can learn about nutrition and healthy eating, getting fit through sport, promoting wellness, and helping with self esteem which may have been lost from the impact of cancer. We encourage peer support through local groups across Kent to help young people face the future with increased confidence. We are also able to provide one to one counselling sessions, Reiki, Yoga and many other complementary therapies. From Autumn 2016 we will be opening our YouCan house by the sea in Thanet where young people impacted by cancer, their families and friends will be able to enjoy a seaside break. This can be a respite break or maybe a holiday to build memories with family on their cancer journey. We are currently fundraising to equip and renovate the house to get it ready for our first family. If you would like to know more about YouCan, please call :- Sarah on 01732 844874 - or email - [email protected] or please visit our website www.you-can.org.uk Charity No: 1125389 © 2016 Project by The Children’s Development Trust.

Malling District U3A is now approaching our 10th anniversary with 450 members so far. For those who do not already know about the work and scope of a U3A (University of the Third Age), we are a self-help educational body which runs for the benefit of the RETIRED and Semi-retired. We offer many activities; a monthly meeting with a speaker, an opportunity to meet friends away from the study groups, occasional visits, social events and study days; and most importantly many Interest Groups - with a wide range of subjects including; languages (Latin, Italian, German), local history, genealogy, discussion, gardening and walking to name a few. Interest groups are usually held during the day in participating members’ homes, each group organising its own study schedule and related visits. Our aim is to provide a forum for informed discussion, to develop practical skills, to enjoy leisure activities in the company of others - and to have fun! There are now 963 U3As in the UK serving 343,243 members and are proving to be a great success in communities throughout Kent, from Gravesend to Tenterden! For more details and to come along and utilise your talents and expand your interests, please contact Membership Secretary:- Carole Lawrence - 01622-717316 or please visit our website www.mallingdistrictu3a.org.uk Kent Community Warden Service

The Kent Community Warden Service is a Kent County Council scheme that has teams of Wardens across Kent working closely with partnership agencies. Tackling low-level crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) within the community. All on-duty Wardens are dressed in uniform - (Black Trousers, Green Jacket and Tie). Wardens can work every day providing a visible presence to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of other agencies. Our Wardens also provide reassurance and visits to vulnerable residents. Your Community Warden for East Malling is Mandy. If you have an issue that you would like to speak to Mandy about or would like to know more;- Please contact Mandy (pictured) 07813 713035 [email protected] alternatively Janet Greenroyd - (T&M) Area Supervisor - 07773 397131 [email protected] Courtesy of Kent Community Warden Area Manager Mr Mat Honeysett - 07740 184006 - 03000 413392

CRIME AND HATE CRIME REPORTING LINE 101 DOMESTIC ABUSE 0800 917 9948. `CHOICES` AGE UK 0800 1696 565. WWW. SAMARITANS 01622 674444

Your Kent Police - PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) For East Malling is Lia Bishop Simply telephone 101 to leave a message for Lia or email [email protected]

for all incidents call 101 Kent Police In all emergencies ALWAYS dial 999

Useful Numbers — CHILD LINE- 0800 1111.www.childline.org.uk KENT POLICE -101. TMBC - 01732 844522. RSPCA - 0300 1234999. PAYDENS CHEMIST - 01732 843203. AGE CONCERN 01732 873977 KENT TRADING STANDARDS - 03454 04 05 06 (Textphone 18001 03454 04 05 06)