The Village Magazine of the Chiddingstones
www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16937/benefice/
60 Pence June 2020 USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS
Churches Associate Priest Bill MacDougall 01892 870442 Churchwardens (St Mary’s Bob Golds 01892 870429 Chiddingstone Village) Chris Bell 01732 866222 Verger (St Mary’s) Christine Roberts 01892 870437 Churchwardens (St Luke’s Paul Allen 01732 463382 Chiddingstone Causeway) Vacancy Pastoral Assistant Carol Benton 01892 870483 Pastoral Help (Causeway) Helen Barnes 01732 838855 Pastoral Help (Hoath) Jane-Ann Golds 01892 870429 Bell Ringers Stella Wooldridge 01892 870323 Choir Paul Allen 01732 463382 Parochial Parish Administrator Louise Sanders Church Council [email protected]
Local Chiddingstone Sports Assoc Martin Keeler 01732 700516 Organisations Chiddingstone Football Club Martin Keeler 01732 700516 Chiddingstone Cricket Club Mark Streatfeild 01892 870851 Stonewall Park Cricket Club Andy Batchelder 07903 830142 Causeway Stoolball Club Rosa Gower 01892 870644 Stonewall Park Stoolball Club Pauline Hodge 01892 524783 Chiddingstones Tennis Club Richard Sinclair 07771 912108 Chiddingstone Real Football Katie Ashworth 07730 331800 Chiddingstone W.I. Elaine King 01892 871536 Chiddingstone Causeway W.I Carol Benton 01892 870483 Chiddingstone Over 60’s Elizabeth Fleming 01892 870224 Alice Peterkin 01892 870503 Tuesday Group (pre-school) Sam Day 01892 871570 Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service 01732 865353 Chiddingstone Castle 01892 870347 CHAPS Kenton Ward 07881 957800 Bough Beech Res. Assoc. Trust Steen Carndorf 01732 700585
Youth Youth Club Chris Pounds 07725 563636 Organisations Ide Hill Scout Group Lorna Baker 01732 750178
School Head teacher Rachel Streatfeild 01892 870339 Nursery School Leader Jill McCoy 01892 871315
Village Hall Chiddingstone Jane Ann Golds 01892 870429 Bookings Chiddingstone Causeway Elaine Ewer 07597 271974 St. Luke’s Parish Room Diane Heasman 01892 870794
Sevenoaks District Council Councillors James Osborne-Jackson 01732 227000 Sue Coleman 01892 870435
Parish Councils Chiddingstone - Chairman Richard Streatfeild 07973 842139 - Clerk Louise Kleinschmidt 01892 740753 Leigh - Chairman Colin Stratton-Brown 01732 832714 - Clerk Louise Kleinschmidt 01892 740753
Magazine Editor and ‘’For Sale ads’’ Jenny Chettle 01342 850827 [email protected] Commercial advertising Stuart Notholt [email protected] Advertising copy Robert Hunt [email protected] SR INVESTMENT ASSOCIATES LTD Independent Financial Advisers Chiddingstone Hoath
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A12 A13 JUNE 2020 Forthcoming Events Sunday 14th June Penshurst Choral Society concert has been cancelled see page 17 Wednesday 17th June MAGAZINE COPY BY 12 NOON PLEASE! see page 8 Parish Council Meeting via Zoom see page 8 Friday 26th to Monday 29th June Run Wild Fest at Penshurst Place has been cancelled FROM THE RECTORY I have been encouraged by all the messages of hope that I have heard and read in recent weeks – stories of people’s experiences expressed through television, radio and newspaper reports. At a time like this, when we have no certainty about the future of this invasive virus, no certain deadline when lockdown will end, no certainty about a vaccine and for some, no certainty about future employment, hope for the future is so important. As a society, we have become so used to absolute deadlines – completion of work, sale of house, payment of bills – and now we have an open-ended global crisis. Recently I watched and listened to a group of children from a school singing this message of hope for everyone, freely available on the internet. As this magazine comes out to us online, we can hear it here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/hundreds-schools-sing- virtual-thank-you-song-goes-viral Most people will have seen the image of the rainbow in paintings, drawings, chalking as representations to express our gratitude to medical staff and carers for the hope that they bring to us, helping to beat the virus through medical intervention in hospitals, care-homes and private homes. We can also share this symbol of a rainbow, used in the story of Noah to express God’s promise not to destroy the world, as a sign for hope for ourselves, our families, our friends, our community, our country and our world. Earlier this month, over 65 churches worked together while being separated through lockdown to share a blessing for all people. It is great to hear of communities coming together, caring for each other, supporting each other and finding ways to give hope to others – through humour, laughter, songs, music etc, and through sharing the stories giving hope to others who may be finding these times hard. Perhaps you are like me, wondering when I will be able to spend time with my family, especially my grandchildren again. Some of you reading this letter may be facing returning to school, already returning to the workplace, or facing unemployment, loss of businesses and continued separation from loved ones. For all of you, I would like to share this blessing with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfmfrlrqS8Q&app=desktop May God bless you, Bill 1 Dear parishioner, Responding to the financial challenge of Covid-19 As I mentioned in a recent sermon during one of my ‘virtual’ Eucharist services (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5151bnkQQ0&t=2s), I want to update you on the state of our churches’ finances, and to put these into the context of the Coronavirus lockdown and its implications. 2019 was an expensive year Between 2018 and 2019 our ‘core income’ (i.e. excluding grants for building works) fell from £101k to £83k. Our largest outgoing was the £44k Parish Offer we send to the Diocese for them to pay clergy, clergy housing and mission costs, which includes an element of subsidy for poorer parishes. In 2019 our repairs expenditure across our two churches was £60k, mainly related to the St Mary’s quinquennial works, whilst our grants and specific donations towards those expenses were £20k. Meeting the balance, which we have had to find from our own reserves, led to an overall loss last year of nearly £50k, compared to a small surplus in 2018. Within this ‘big picture’ there are some longer-term trends apparent. As you may have read in the national press, income from wedding fees is falling (in our case down by £3k between 2018 and 2019) and although our covenanted/collection income and magazine income have remained the same, they haven’t grown with inflation in the way our running expenses have. 2020 presents even greater financial challenges Overall we entered 2020 with a challenging financial position but a manageable one, with only one major expense overhanging us (repairs to St Luke’s roof which are likely to cost in excess of £50k - for which we anticipated a specific fundraising effort). A major comfort was our investment portfolio, which stood at £57k on 31st December 2019, and our savings for future repair expenditure of £35k. Sadly, with the drop in stock market values, our investments are now worth 15-20% less than they were and our repair savings will be wiped out by the St Luke’s costs, so our finances are more precarious. Then along came Coronavirus! We anticipate that most, if not all, of our wedding fee income will be lost (prospectively £7-8k this year) and our collection income at St Mary’s will be wiped out too (assuming that by Harvest Festival we should be back to normal at St Luke’s) representing a further shortfall of c £8k. Finally, our room hire income for the St Luke’s parish room, which brings in £5k each year, is also likely to be severely restricted. In aggregate, our income is likely to fall by £20k. Of course, thanks to the generosity of our regular covenanted donors, that source of income has been maintained - which is a major blessing, representing as it does about £24k of our overall income (including reclaimed Gift Aid). Cont/… 2 At the same time, our costs of running ‘virtually’ have remained the same, if anything with minor extras. We are still required to pay fixed costs such as buildings insurance and maintenance, and Parish Offer continues to be as relevant as ever, as Tom Holme in Penshurst and I here continue to work and need housing. Although it may not feel like it now, we are also mindful of the fact that eventually this storm will pass, and we need a financially viable church in our community that is able to continue to be a worshipping presence once again. We have accelerated our Gift Aid reclaims and drawn down £10k of our savings to protect our cashflow; but still we anticipate cash will become tight over the summer if we do nothing else, which is where you can come in! Our treasurer, Ian Coleman, has worked out that if all adult parish residents (you are all parishioners whether or not you attend church regularly!), of which we have approximately 600, were all to give, on average, £25 each then we can replace the wedding and letting income we are going to be losing. This is not simply an appeal to the wider community for them to sort out our problems however, it is important that you know that I have written separately to our congregation asking them to make (rather larger) donations than they would otherwise have put into the collections made at our regular services, so that we can protect our savings for the St Luke’s roof repairs as they were intended for. Rising to the challenge The financial challenges being faced by our church are obviously replicated in every parish across the county. The Diocese is doing all it can to support churches during this turbulent time, but they are very reliant on the Parish Offer, their main source of income. A material drop in this income source across the diocese will impact its ability to pay for ministry during the crisis, and once this crisis has ended. It is also worth noting that although our routine church activities have stopped, and the building is out of bounds, the living church is certainly not ‘closed’. It is very much alive and seeking to be at the frontline of responding to this crisis: we are doing everything we can to support our local community during this crisis. Whilst some parishioners will no doubt be impacted in their own level of income, others may not be so affected, and there may be some who would wish to support the local church through this challenging time even if not regular churchgoers. So I know and fully understand that there will be some of us who will find it hard to respond financially to this appeal, but others of us who may feel able to give a larger donation or freewill offering! At key moments in our lives I think we all would like to know our local church can be there to support us, and if you feel this way too, then this really is the time where individuals and parish communities, as well as dioceses and the national church can work together to preserve this vital role. Cont/…
3 We are very grateful for the generosity with which you may have given in the past but, with Covid-19 raising some very particular financial challenges for our church, I urge you to continue your relationship with the church with the same enthusiasm now. Prayerfully I encourage you to consider if you can help us rise to this challenge using any of the methods below. Yours sincerely and God Bless, Bill MacDougall, Priest How can you help at this time? If you wish to give a donation - Here are the two accounts to which you may wish to send your gift: Account Name: Chiddingstone Parochial Church Council (St Mary’s) Sort code: 40-20-35 Account number: 21079220 and Account Name: Parochial Church Council of Chiddingstone Causeway (St Luke’s) Sort code: 60-21-28 Account number: 71344950 Please put your name in the payment reference so we know the gift is from you. This is particularly important if we have a signed Gift Aid mandate from you. If you wish to send a cheque, please make it payable to either Chiddingstone PCC (St Mary’s) or PCC of Chiddingstone Causeway (St Luke’s); cheques can be posted to Ian Coleman at: The Old Rectory, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge Kent TN8 7AH. Any gift you make, however large or small, will be greatly appreciated, and if you were able to Gift Aid your donation, we would be very grateful. Donations via our online fundraising page Ian, our treasurer, has also set up a new online fundraising page which can be viewed here: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/a277edc2-1382-4fb3-8d02-ecf9059d9c86 Donations made via this page come directly to us, and Gift Aid can be collected on these donations. Gifts can be recurring and if so, the fundraising page will prompt you to set up a stewardship account. All the above details and a link straight through to the online giving page are available from our ‘Donating to our churches’ page of our website: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16936/page/59220/view/
4 SCHOOL NEWS School continues to be open for key worker children, whilst the majority are engaging in remote learning. Here is what each class have been getting up to: In Reception we have been continuing with our online learning every day. A regular highlight is our weekly baking lesson with Mrs Scott and to date we have made bread rolls, honey and banana cakes and raspberry muffins. We will be finishing the term off with cheese scones next week. We have also enjoyed an online tour of Miss Skinner's Farm and regular craft activities including making musical instruments, painting along to the music of Swan Lake and making party hats to celebrate the many birthdays we have in YR this month. Class 1 have had a busy, few weeks embracing the opportunities that working from home has opened up. The class have completed some brilliant Forest School activities during our Forest School themed week including Hapa Zome printing, scavenger hunts and shadow experiments. We have also been able to utilise our online learning tool to bake scones, pizzas and rolls, paint along to the Blue Danube and read stories. Class 2 have been really busy at home getting stuck in with the nature, art and music themed work set from school. It has been a learning experience for us all doing baking sessions, art tutorials and music quizzes for the class over virtual video chat online! We are very grateful for technology in class 2 to be able to say hello to each other every day and have a little catch up. It’s been so wonderful hearing all that class 2 are up to at home from long walks to bike rides and lots of Forest School fun! Hugo, from Class 2, decided to undertake the Ultra Challenge for May to run/walk 100km with his family and he has already completed it! Hugo said, “It was really hard but we found lots of different routes we could do and I really enjoyed it”. Class 2 are very proud of him and he’s been raising money for Kent Baby Matters. Well done Hugo! Over the past few weeks, Class 3 has been very creative with their home learning. We have been baking galore during our online lessons making pretzels and bagels, flapjacks and dough balls. The children really enjoyed all the outside learning during Forest School week and even learnt their spellings by using nature to help them. We learnt about the forest creatures, wrote stories and made origami fox bookmarks together online. During art week, we were very busy creating masterpieces at home and learning about famous artists and paintings. We all learnt to paint in the style of Van Gogh and produced our own version of his Sunflowers during our online teaching session. We also made our own homemade bunting to celebrate VE Day. Most recently, during music week we have been using our own bodies to create body percussion, completing a music quiz and playing ‘name that tune’ in our online sessions together. At home, we have been writing biographies and making our own instruments. Several weeks in and home-schooling has become the new norm. Art week was a big hit for Class 4 with many ingenious re-creations of famous paintings from the Pre- Raphaelites all the way to Banksy. The children also wrote some beautiful poetry, imagining colours as though they could taste, smell, feel and hear them. Cont/… 5 Here are a couple of examples: POEM OF COLOUR BY ETHAN I closed my eyes and dreamt up a rainbow, This is what I thought about the colours I know… Turquoise like the sound of water trickling in the pound, The lavender is the smell of violet, I feel the glisten of the windchimes on my golden skin, I smell the brownness from the bark of the trees, I sense the roots growing in the black deep ground, I can taste the greenness of the newly cut grass, I smell the bonfires with smoke as grey as a rainy day, The pink blossom lands on my skin as light as a feather, Yellow is as bright as the bumblebees I hear buzzing, I hear the trains zoom past like a red racing car, I lay still like a statue in my garden chair, As I dream of all the magical rainbow colours here with me.
COLOUR POEM BY CHARLIE Black is the colour of the boy's dark dorm; white is the colour of a snow-filled storm. The fish are silver in the turquoise river, deserts are yellow, with not many a fellow. While the sky is light blue, the sea is a much darker hue. In the field under the dull green grass there is dried out dull gold brass.
Class 5 have been fully engaged during our online learning sessions. I write this currently wearing a full Welsh rugby kit for our ‘Fancy Dress Friday’ sessions. Last week was “What I want to be when I grow up” and next week the plan is to dress as someone in our family. The children have sent in some amazing written work over the past couple of weeks and a number of incredible family pictures to do with our family learning projects. Cont/…
6 Class 6’s report has been written by Max: In Class 6 this week, we were really lucky to have a virtual class call from 12,000km away with a Marine Biologist on Mabul Island in Malaysia. They run a turtle sanctuary called Scuba Junkie SEAS and help protect turtle nests and injured or ill sea turtles. We learnt that their faces are like fingerprints and the sanctuary has underwater cameras with a kind of facial recognition software to track how many different turtles are living in and around the Island. We also learnt that the temperature of the nest determines whether the babies will hatch as male or female, the higher the temperature more girls and the lower the temperature more boys. It was really cool to hear about what the marine biologist, Dave, and his team do and to learn how interesting turtles are. Mabul Island looked amazing with lots of houses on stilts out in the sea and it only takes half an hour to walk around the whole island! I really want to go and visit now and see them for myself, and I think that this has made me possibly want to be a Marine Biologist when I am older. We would like to thank all our parents and carers for their support, both for their children’s learning and for the staff during these challenging times.
CHIDDINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL 1. Coronavirus: a reminder that there is a group of local volunteers who are ready to help you if you are self-isolating or in need of some assistance. If you need help, or are willing to help, please ring Sue Coleman on 01892 870435 or email her at cllr.coleman@sevenoaks.gov.uk If you have any queries please contact the Clerk. A huge thank you to Sue and all the volunteers for your help and hard work during this crisis period. 2. Volunteers needed to make face masks: if you are a keen sewer or have some fabric to donate, please contact Nicoletta at The Tulip Tree in Chiddingstone who is coordinating a project to make and sell face masks in aid of the church. Masks are available to purchase for £5 each from the shop. 3. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair: at the Annual Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday 13th May, Cllr Jonathan Roper was elected as Chairman of the Parish Council for the year 2020/21, and Cllr Paul Myers was elected as Vice- Chairman. Cllr Mitzi Quirk was re-elected as Chairman of the Planning Committee. Many thanks to Cllr Richard Streatfeild for serving as Chairman for the past five years. Cont/…
7 4. Planning: the following applications have been approved by Sevenoaks District Council: - SE/19/02757/FUL: Three Horseshoes Lodge, Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone - demolition of dwelling and erection of one dwelling, landscaping works. - SE/20/00578/HOUSE: Lockskinners Farmhouse, Chiddingstone TN8 7NA - internal demolition work/alterations, removal of modern chimney, demolition of modern garden wall. - SE/20/00611/LBCALT: Lockskinners Farmhouse, Chiddingstone TN8 - 7NA - strengthening of structural frame at first floor, trimming of supporting joists at first floor landing and the insertion of steel at ground floor. Remedial repair to existing joist and roof rafter where chimney had been previously inserted in the c.1950s. 5. Neverworld: the premises licence application was submitted to Sevenoaks District Council but has since been withdrawn due to coronavirus related restrictions this year. 6. Household Waste and Recycling Centres: are now open but booking is essential. Please book your slot at www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and- land/rubbish-and-recycling/visiting-a-hwrc-during-coronavirus 7. Garden Waste sacks: are available by contacting the Clerk. There will be a charge as normal. 8. Parish Council: the Parish Council is continuing to meet remotely via Zoom. All meetings are listed on our website, together with agendas and minutes. If you would like to remotely attend a Parish Council meeting during the lockdown period, please contact the Clerk who will send you an invitation. If you need any help or advice regarding remotely attending a meeting, please contact the Clerk. The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th June at 7.30pm remotely via Zoom. These are extraordinary times and we wish to assure you that the Parish Council is here to help in any way it can. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Louise Kleinschmidt, Parish Clerk Salehurst Barn, Oak Lane, Blackham, Kent. TN3 9UB. Tel: 01892-740753. Email: [email protected] www.chiddingstone.org
NEXT EDITION All contributions for the July edition of the magazine by 12 noon on WEDNESDAY 17th June. Please put the date in your diaries immediately so that I don't have to chase people! Copy can be left in Chiddingstone Village Shop, posted to me at 6a High Street, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7JB or: [email protected] 8 A BIG THANK YOU! I don't know how much longer we won't be free to move because I feel we should all be saying thank you to our amazing village and farm shops. We must all give them an ‘ENORMOUS Thank You’. Please continue to use them - it's good for them, it's good for you, and absolutely brilliant for the environment. It is also so good that we can all walk in this lovely weather. All love and prayers, Chloe A MESSAGE FROM LOUISE I just wanted to share with you some useful websites for those of you with children at home in case any of them are of interest and use to you: 1. Young Minds, the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health, have a wealth of information on their website including advice and resources for people struggling during this time. Click here to access the site. 2. Messy Church: Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. It's a fun way of exploring church for people at all stages of their faith journey and of any age. Many churches offer a Messy Church session on a monthly basis where people of all ages come together to be, to make, to eat and to celebrate God. During this period of lockdown, Messy Church founders are providing a weekly scheduled ‘Messy Church at home’ session. Click here to find out more and to access the sessions. 3. The Church of England have published some helpful pages packed with information from explaining the current situation to children through to ideas of games, activities and resources for you to while away the time. Click here to take you to those pages. 4. High Hopes is a local charity which aims to share the Good News of the Gospel with children in West Kent. You can find out more on their website by clicking here. All this information is also available on our website on the ‘Children and Families’ page: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16936/page/55392/view/ I hope you are all staying safe and well and that those of you trying to ‘home school’ are getting on ok – I think my children are hoping for a better teacher next year Best wishes, Louise
9 DR SALLY MUSSON We are pleased to welcome Dr Sally Musson as a Licensed Lay Minister to minister in the Parishes of Chiddingstone and Chiddingstone Causeway. Sally is on the staff of St Peter & St Paul Parish, Tonbridge but has been licensed to help in our parishes for the foreseeable future. Sally is a governor of Chiddingstone Primary School and is part of the team that has been running our monthly Family Service. Her address and contact details: Evenlode, 95A Tonbridge Road Hildenborough, TN11 9HL Tel: 01732 838411/07713 352017 [email protected] THE TULIP TREE I'm really delighted to tell you that some amazing local 'sewers' have been making beautiful cloth masks which we are selling in the shop at £5 each. 100% of the money raised is going locally to a charity (to be decided). This could be the church, Hospice in the Weald or a local in need. We've raised over £250 so far which is wonderful. We do however need some more elastic and cotton fabric for them, so please have a look to see if you have any spare - just drop it off at the shop. We could also really do with another couple of people to help with sewing as they are selling well and it's hard to keep up with the demand. Thank you for your generous support with this. We are really excited that the Tea Room is now open Friday to Sunday (for Takeaways only), 9.30am - 3pm. We're doing our usual range of teas, coffees, breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as cakes and our fresh scones. On top of that, we are also doing takeaway afternoon teas for £12. These must be pre booked and can be done by emailing us [email protected], calling the shop on 01892 870326 or via our website. Perfect for a treat at home or to have on a picnic. Don't forget, we have over 800 items online now, so you can order your greeting cards from your back garden, arrange a 'collect in' store and pop in to pick it up when it's convenient. We have some wonderful plants in at the moment, so you could cheer your garden up at the same time! We're selling a lot of eggs also and are constantly low on egg boxes, so if you have any at home, please do drop them off. We will quarantine them before use. Stay safe everyone and thank you for all the support and encouragement you've given to The Tulip Tree. Nicoletta Shop 01892 870326 Tea Room 01892 871504 [email protected] www.thetuliptree.biz T: @TheTulipTreeTea I:@thetuliptreetea F:facebook.com/thetuliptreetea
10 A reminder! FRAN AND RICH AT THE GREYHOUND CHARCOTT Don’t forget to try, if you haven’t done already, their wonderful homemade take away pizzas, cooked in their wood fired oven where they can offer contactless collection. They are absolutely delicious! They fire up the oven on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to serve between 5pm - 8pm and Sunday 4pm - 6pm. Orders are taken over the phone on 01892 870275 so just call to place one and they will be happy to give you a night off home cooking! Menus can be found on their website, Facebook and Instagram pages. Jenny
THE CAUSEWAY STORES AND POSTOFFICE Tel: 01892 871527 We would like to start by wishing Trish goodbye and good luck after serving the community for over 30 years. We hope she enjoys her retirement. We took over a couple of weeks ago and have many ideas going forward and are excited for the future. We would like to say a massive thank you to all who have shown us huge support throughout these unusual times and have been overwhelmed by the amount of positive feedback we have received. We look forward to sharing hopefully the next 30 plus years with you all. Please feel free to pop in if only for a chat as we are currently always here! Best wishes Jodie and Vickie xx
FALCONHURST FARM SHOP We continue to be open Monday - Saturday from 10am - 3pm and we continue to practice safe shopping in a pleasant environment. Fresh fruit and veg arrives every day - local whenever possible. Plenty of exciting new products added to the shelves and we continue to source the best local cheeses for our counter. Come in for the best cappuccino, latte or flat white around and, for the gardeners, we have a wonderful selection of locally grown plants. Visit our facebook and instagram for the very latest.
11 Chiddingstone Castle’s VIRTUAL Literary Festival 2020 PODCAST SERIES Launched on Saturday 9th May 2020 Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Victoria Henderson, Artistic Director of Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival announces their first ever virtual literary festival podcast series, launched online on Saturday 9th May 2020. “When we were forced to cancel this year’s festival due to the coronavirus outbreak, we felt compelled to find a way to bring some of the superb events from this year’s planned line up to our loyal audience. With the help of some technically minded friends, willing publicists and big-hearted authors, we have been able to record a number of our speakers in conversation for you to listen to free of charge, as if they were with us as planned at this year’s festival. These include: MICHAEL MORPURGO, CLARE MULLEY, MAGGIE O’FARRELL, CATHY RENTZENBRINK, PETER JAMES, JOHN SUTHERLAND, ANGELA CLARKE, SUE STUART-SMITH, MARIAN BOSWALL, EMILY BRAND, ROBERT SACKVILLE-WEST, ASA BENNETT, ANDY BELL, ALEXANDRA SHULMAN, LOUISE CHUNN, PAUL CONROY, JULIA WHEELER, ANDREW LOWNIE, JAMES LEE, OLIVIA WILLIAMS, GEOFFREY STREATFEILD, JOANNA TROLLOPE, ROWAN PELLING, ANDREW ZIMINSKI, CHRISTOPHER SOMERVILLE, LINDA PORTER, PAUL LAY, NEIL MACGREGOR, ANDREW ROBERTS, DAVID WALSH with more to follow… Our podcast series launched on Saturday 9th May – on our original festival Bank Holiday weekend. To listen just visit our website: https://www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/literary_festival/ and click on the events you’d like to hear; bringing you some of the many and varied talks, discussions, and performances we had organised for this year’s festival.” Sevenoaks Bookshop have set up a special Literary Festival page on their online bookshop to take orders for books featured in our podcasts https://www.sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/chiddingstone-castle-literary-festival- 2020/ We’d like to thank our generous Sponsors, Patrons and Friends of the Festival for their continued support, especially Baillie Gifford. For further information contact: Victoria Henderson on: [email protected] or call 01892 870625/07712 103121 CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, HILL HOATH ROAD, CHIDDINGSTONE, KENT TN8 7AD 12 CHIDDINGSTONE WI Our May meeting was, of course, cancelled but it didn’t stop some of our members getting together, virtually, via Zoom. Where there is a will there is a way and several of us gathered together to have a good time catching up and sharing stories of what we have all been up to during this pandemic. We have been gardening, crafting, painting, baking and cooking amongst so many other pastimes and some us have even used this time to brush up on our ancestry and have been researching our family trees. You certainly can’t say we haven’t been industrious! Along with the more frivolous side of this lockdown, we were sad to say goodbye to our joint Presidents Brenda Bishop and Alison Savage who have now stood down for a well deserved rest from the committee. Thank you both for all you have done. We are also pleased to announce that Elaine King has been voted in as our new President and we shall look forward to seeing what her leadership will bring. She is joined by Carol Bowern as Secretary and Jacqui Wilcox as Treasurer. We also said goodbye to Christine Grainger on the committee and she will be greatly missed although we are pleased to say we shall be still be seeing her in the group. Whilst both our June and July meetings have now also been cancelled, we are, optimistically, hoping that we will be allowed to gather for our garden party in August which will be held in a member’s garden. Sadly, this event will be for members only but if we can tempt you to join us we hope to meet again in September, if we are allowed to mingle again by then of course! Until then, stay safe and positive and we look forward to a time when we can once again meet. *********************************************** If you would like to join us, we usually meet in Chiddingstone Village Hall, every first Tuesday, at 7pm for 7.30pm. and have a variety of speakers, workshops and demonstrations, as well as social evenings. You will receive a warm welcome and have the opportunity to socialise and make new friends, especially if you are new to the Village although it should be said you do not have to reside in Chiddingstone to join. We have members from Speldhurst, Langton Green, Groombridge, Markbeech, Hever, Cowden and many more so please do not be shy in coming to meet us if you live further afield than Chiddingstone itself. Interested? Do contact our President Elaine King (Tel: 01892 871536) or just come on the day! You can also follow us on Facebook to see what we have been involved with. Details are: www.facebook.com/chiddingstoneWI *********************************************** 13
Suspended until further notice
BLACKHAM VILLAGE MARKET Suspended until further notice
HILDENBOROUGH FARMERS’ MARKET is held EVERY Tuesday 9am-11am at THE HALF MOON PUB, 144 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough, TN11 9HJ with just a few stalls, mostly taking orders only Info. Janet Richardson, Manager 01732 838903 or Email: [email protected]
THE CAUSEWAY HALL Dear All, As you know, the hall is closed to all events and bookings until further notice from the Government. Further updates will be on our facebook page and website, or for any questions regarding bookings please contact [email protected] or phone 07597 271974 www.causewayhall.co.uk. We look forward to taking future bookings and resuming a full calendar of events and classes at your local village hall as soon as is possible. For all of our classes please contact our groups for details of their classes going forward. Table Tennis for All - Contact Gary Longley on 01892 871285 or email: [email protected] Colliewobbles Dog Training - Dog and Puppy Training - Please contact Sandra on 01732 351178 for further information. Zumba Fitness - Contact Kim Fowler at [email protected] Karate Classes - Contact Adel at [email protected] Still-Yoga - www.still-yoga.com [email protected] Forthcoming music events will be resumed on future Government advice.
14 SUE’S COLUMN Another month, another world! Last month I updated you on Sevenoaks District Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic whilst we were all ‘confined to barracks’. This month we are all planning furiously to slowly restart our lives. The gradual easing of lockdown measures is to be welcomed and SDC has been playing its part to help local businesses ‘bounce back’. At the time of writing, SDC has paid out £21.1m under the small business grant schemes, benefiting 1,720 local businesses. A further £1m has been allocated for discretionary grants to small organisations that fell outside these schemes; such as those sharing premises, charities and B & B’s – if you think this might apply to you, please apply via the SDC website. The council has also launched a Sevenoaks District Business Board, combining local business leaders and civic officials in collaborative local action planning to accelerate economic recovery, particularly in the town centre/retail, rural businesses and tourism (when allowed!) sectors. As part of this drive SDC has committed to sustaining its capital investment to build private sector confidence and is willing to use its statutory powers (planning, licencing etc) to the fullest extent possible to promote our local economy. In this regard, all planning applications are continuing to be considered digitally even though site visits are suspended. A quick reminder that the volunteer service continues to operate: across the district we have 4,614 shielded residents, of whom 762 have requested and are receiving food parcels, and a further 1,342 vulnerable residents (or those self-isolating with symptoms) have been receiving help with shopping and prescriptions. Government advice that we must continue to self-isolate if we have a fever or dry cough means that the local volunteer networks will continue, so as before, if you need help, do please contact your Coordinator (me for Chiddingstone/Bough Beech Tel: 01892 870435). I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 84 Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone residents who volunteered – you really are the best. Thank you on behalf of everyone you’ve helped and thank you from me for showing how caring our villages are! Continuing this caring theme, I would like to draw attention to a local NHS/Kent County Council development of a new Help to Care app which offers guidance, advice, and training videos to make people even more effective carers. It is available to download via the App Store on your Apple or Android phone and I commend it to you. In closing, as we have heard a thousand times before I know, I encourage you all to ‘stay alert’, ‘stay apart’ and spend money, locally!! Sue Coleman District Councillor for Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone 15 A NOTE FROM YOUR MP I hope that everyone is staying safe and well in these difficult times. I know how many in our parishes are supporting each other and the strength of the community this is showing. The Government has published its latest guidance on the next stage of our response to the virus. Because of the care people have taken in recent weeks, we are able to look at how we can all reach out more and try to get back to work. The social distancing measures that we have all been through in the past few weeks have brought down the infection rate and given us the ability to look for ways out. That’s what we’ve all got to think about now - taking reasonable steps to get back to normal but staying alert throughout. The new restrictions give us greater freedom and flexibility about the steps we can take to protect ourselves and others. The message to ‘Stay Alert’ is being used in France and elsewhere to ensure we all remain aware of the dangers but start to help people get back to work. We know the cost of the lockdown to individuals across our country. We need it to end, to re-open our economy as quickly as possible, and to do it in a way that doesn’t risk the infection rate rising too high. If you have any concerns about the guidance or questions about what you may, or may not be recommended to do, then please get in touch. Though my office in Tonbridge is understandably closed to visitors and I am working at home, I can still answer e-mails on [email protected] or pick up the phone, where the best number is 01732 441563. Over the past few weeks, so many people have gone to extraordinary lengths to help protect our communities. I’d like to thank everyone, and especially our key workers. Whether it be doctors or nurses working in the NHS, the waste collectors who continue to empty our bins, or supermarket workers making sure we have all the food we need, thank you. The past few weeks have seen our communities pull together like never before, and the street parties for VE Day showed just how united we can be. I hope this continues once the pandemic is over. But in the meantime, please stay safe.
Matt Boughton Office of Tom Tugendhat, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling 130 Vale Road Tonbridge Kent TN9 1SP 01732 441563/07795 192042
16 MOBILITY STRENGTH AND BALANCE EXERCISES Due to the current circumstances, many people who are vulnerable are unable to get out and be as active as they are usually. Being less active leads to loss of muscle strength and mobility, and can affect balance which can lead to a fall. As the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator for Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge (known to some of you already in the village as Pop Up Sue). I have made two videos, accessible from clicking on the links below. They contain basic seated exercises for mobility strength and balance. If you would like an exercise sheet, please email me and I will send one to you. I look forward to the day of seeing everyone again (new people are always welcome) at Chiddingstone Village with Cllr Sue Coleman for a cup of tea / coffee and exercises on Thursdays or Chiddingstone Causeway at The Causeway Hall on Tuesdays as soon as it is safe to do so in the future. Links to video: https://youtu.be/ta_6suz_ApU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRglwSWDD_c For more information please contact Sue Larken Tel: 07867 648667 or email: [email protected] You can also access the videos from our website (new videos will be added here too) www.ageuksevenoaksandtonbridge.org.uk Stay safe, Sue
PENSHURST CHORAL SOCIETY We are sorry to say that we have had to cancel our concert on Sunday 14th June. We are hoping to be back singing again in September under our new conductor, Joe Tobin (www.joetobin.co.uk). If you would like to join us (we are non-audition), please do go to: www.penshurstchoralsociety.co.uk and get in touch. We would love to hear from you. 17 F.E.A.S.T Food Bank Donation Collection Due to COVID-19 I needed to rethink my Duke of Edinburgh award volunteering and chose to support F.E.A.S.T (Families Eating and Sharing Together) a small local organisation in Tonbridge who have changed themselves to provide food for local families by way of a food bank. So now every week I collect food donations and deliver to F.E.A.S.T every Friday. Drop-off is what was my egg for sale stall outside Charcott Garage, so if you feel you can make a contribution, they would be very grateful. If you would like further information: www.feast.org.uk James Grantham Many thanks and stay safe! Kate Grantham Tel: 07787 507508 [email protected] FOR SALE Bicycle - Moulin (W) 19L. Ridgeback 7 speed. Dual SIS - £60. Tel: 07973 841979 PORTLAND PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC An online service We provide a professional online physiotherapy service that allows us to assess you via video link and develop management strategies to help ease your pain and discomfort. Following each consultation, you will receive an email summarising our advice with videos from our extensive exercise libraries. To find out more email: [email protected] or call: 01342 327246 www.portland-physio.co.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Sunday 5th July Festival of Endurance at Hever Castle Vintage Fair at Chiddingstone Castle Sunday 12th July Chiddingstone Causeway Fete Sunday 16th August Japan Festival Day at Chiddingstone Castle Sunday 13th September Country Fair at Chiddingstone Castle Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September Hever Castle Triathlon Saturday 10th October New date for Chiddingstone Sports Association Quiz HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE HAPPENINGS WILL STILL GO AHEAD! WE WILL HAVE TO SEE!
18 If any organisation has any further dates to add to this diary, please contact the editor. Hopefully, by publishing and keeping an ongoing list of planned events, we can avoid a clash of interests! MAYBE ONE DAY!
SOMETHING TO FILL THE PAGES! ‘THE VALUE OF CLOSING THE BOOK’ From the Wall Street Journal A reticent traveller on a walking holiday in Kent, England, discovers the rewards of engaging the locals byJeff Bush For years I was uncomfortable eating in a restaurant or having a drink in a bar alone. I needed something to occupy myself at the table. Like so many other solo diners, I always resorted to that old standby, the book. Nothing says, “I am eating alone because I choose to” like a thick book in your hands. It wasn’t until my visit to a village in Kent, England, that I discovered what I had been missing. I was in England for a walking holiday in the countryside. It was also an experiment in personal engagement. I had left all of the planning for my holiday to chance, with no accommodations and only a vague idea of where I was going. The object was to make as many of my plans as I could by talking to the locals. A colleague who had done some walking in England suggested I go to Kent. After talking to the ticket agent at the rail station, I set off for the tiny village of Penshurst. The train reached the village at 2.21pm, exactly on schedule. During the winter in England, it’s usually totally dark by 4, so I needed to find accommodation quickly. Asking Around Engagement Test No 1: Go to the nearest pub and ask about the closest, least- expensive place to stay. I entered the pub across the street from the station, the Little Brown Jug, and was not disappointed, although I did have to order a drink and a little food before I had the gumption to make my inquiry. My waitress turned to the few regulars standing at the bar and posed my question. A flurry of discussion began on what I was looking for, how much I wanted to pay, etc. It finally was decided that I should contact Barbara Avery in a nearby village, Chiddingstone. Then, before I could even ask, the bartender had her on the phone because, he explained, “sometimes your mobile won’t work ‘round’ere”. Cont/…
19 With Mrs Avery’s directions scribbled on a beer coaster clutched in my hand, I set out for Chiddingstone, not really knowing how far it was, but deciding it didn’t matter because I had to get there. Twenty minutes later, with the road getting narrower and narrower, a cold drizzle began to fall and I started to think maybe I had made a mistake not planning ahead. Still, I had my sleeping bag in my back pack and knew that I could always bivouac in a barn if I had to. Then as I topped a hill, I was met with a wonderful sight. At the base of the slope was a village with a single street, a stone church and a row of exposed- beam buildings ending at the Castle Inn pub, with warm amber light pouring from its Tudor-style, leaded-glass windows. It was not hard to find Mrs Avery’s house, right up the alley from the pub. “I had no idea you didn’t have a car,” she chastised, as she welcomed me inside. “No wonder it took you so long.” She offered me a cup of tea. Engagement Test No 2: Normally I would have made my excuses and gone to my room. I was tired, frustrated, and just wanted to hit the pub. But I took her up on her offer. Over tea, I explained that I had come to walk the footpaths and possibly do a video about them. Mrs Avery then told me a little about herself. She had come to the village about 40 years ago with her husband, now deceased. She loved to ride horses and she has a few antiques that she sells by commission. She also rent out two rooms. Afterward I made my way to the pub, hoping to grab a bite to eat. I met Nigel, a tall burly man with a full head of white hair, a tie and dress shirt. “So you made it,” he said. At first, I thought he was mistaking me for someone else. “Barbara was getting a bit worried. She told us to keep an eye out for you.” Introductions were made, and he motioned for me to have a stool at the bar, explaining that dinner service did not begin until “about 7-ish”. Engagement Test No 3: Most of the time, I would have sat away from the locals and just listened (and read). Nigel, the proprietor, insisted that I sit at the bar and try the local beers for free. So I accepted. Again, I explained the purpose of my visit. Everyone in the pub began chiming in about footpaths and walking. Cont/… 20 Nigel brought out information and maps for the best walks in the area. This was the start of a long, enjoyable evening of pint-buying, joke-telling and political pontification. By the time dinner was over, I had met Ewan, the landscaper, Bob, the brewer whose beer I was drinking, and both of Nigel’s sons, who work in the pub along with a fellow named Chris. First-Name Basis For the rest of my stay, I was greeted by first name every time I passed someone, whether they had met or not. One evening in the restaurant, I asked Chris if all visitors were treated this way. He said no. It had been a combination of things. First, the entire village had been on the lookout for me that first night, thinking I was lost. “Everyone around here will lift a hand for anyone in trouble,” he said. More important, he said, I had not been standoffish in the pub the first night. I engaged each person and liked listening to what they had to say. To some, asking for help from strangers, joining in with the locals at the pub and listening to your landlady might seem like simple things. For me, it was a big step. I owe it all to putting down the book.
THE EDENBRIDGE STROLLERS Missing everything! Oh, how I miss our weekly walk To catch a glimpse of heron or hawk. Whatever weather most took part Enjoyed good company and nature’s art. Route's end - drink? Convivial talk, Oh how I miss our weekly walk. Oh how I miss our weekly walk 'Cross harvest fields with fresh young stalks. Thro' bluebell woods, stiles testing posed, Perhaps some gossip those ‘in the know’? Route's end - pint of best, some lively talk, Oh how I miss our weekly walk. Oh how I miss our weekly walk It's not dear mother nature's fault. I'm staying home for NHS To beat this virus' awfulness. So it's no route's end again today - no beer nor jokey 'pubby' talk. Oh how I miss our weekly walk!
A14 A15 A16 CAUSEWAY STORES & POST OFFICE Jodie and Vickie 01892 871527 [email protected]
Freshly filled rolls and mixed platters to order Local cheeses, ham, greengrocery, traditional family bakery. Why not ask about delivery Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-6pm Saturday 8:00-2pm Sunday 9:00-1pm
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To advertise in the Village Magazine please contact Stuart Notholt [email protected]
A17 Professional Foot Care Julie Jones-Ellis MCFHP MAFHP Member of The British Chiropody & Podiatry Association Ingrown nails, Nail cutting, Nail thinning, Corn removal, Hard skin removal. Home Visits Chiddingstone Causeway 01892 870931
BEAUTIFUL ANDALUCIAN VILLA Secluded position. Sleeps 6, 3 beds, 3 baths, private pool. Ideal walkers, golfers, bird watching etc. 10 mins drive to coast of Mojacar beach with it’s café’s, bars and restaurants. For more information visit: www.lavillamargarita.com or contact [email protected]
A3 G. R. WOOD Oil aga & boiler maintenance No call-out charge, no VAT Routine servicing/breakdown Over 40 years experience Oftec reg C7069 tel: 01959 524818 mob: 0781 8086431
STEPHEN POTTER PAINTING & DECORATING
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DECORATING WORK, ALSO WALLPAPERING AND SPECIAL PAINT EFFECTS I.E. MARBLING, RAGGING, DRAGGING ETC ALL WORK CARRIED OUT TO A HIGH STANDARD
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE REFERENCES AVAILABLE
PHONE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
[email protected] 07903 299 608
A4 Physiotherapy & Pilates Daren Wood Emma Roper BSc PgDip MCSP HPC Experienced Chartered Physiotherapist Sports injuries, neck and back pain, Chimney ante/ postnatal, arthritis and mobility problems, post-op rehab Sweep Pilates classes, small groups and 1-2-1 4 Pipers Green Road, Brasted Chart Westerham, Kent TN16 1ND 07771 925346 Telephone: 01959 564263 [email protected] Mobile: 07885 059023 www.homephysioandpilates.co.uk A member of the Independent Affiliation of Chimney Sweeps
Accountancy Service Local, Professional and Friendly Company Accounts Self Assessment tax returns Payroll/PAYE VAT
No matter how big or small, with over 20 years experience, I can provide you with a local service tailored to your needs.
Please call 01892 871139
or 07926 379522 E-mail: [email protected]
David James 9 Dukes Meadow, Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, TN11 8LW
A5 LEE WITCHELL AGRICULTURAL, PLANT & FORESTRY SERVICES Accident Repairs Mechanical, Servicing, Annual Checks Plant & Machinery & MOT’s Buy – Sell – Hire – Trade Insurance Work For a free estimate or quotation Lake Construction, Restoration Earth Works & Landscaping Please call Nick on 01892 870673 www.charcottgarage.co.uk
Steel Framed Buildings Farm Construction Work
New Tyehurst Farm Chiddingstone Hoath Kent TN8 7DA
Office: 01342 851 138 Mobile: 07831 544721 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.leewitchell.co.uk
KEITH BRADFORD Heating and Plumbing ∙Heating Installations ∙Bathroom Specialist ∙Boilers ∙Showers & Wet Rooms ∙Radiators ∙All Aspects of Plumbing ∙Heating Controls ∙NO JOB TOO SMALL 01732 865 517 07786 328 223 [email protected]
A6 COOPER’S ROOFING Specialising in all roofing problems New roofs, Flat roofs, Repairs, Guttering, Lead work, facias & Soffits For free no obligation quotes please ring John Cooper on 07968-004462
A7