The Village Magazine of the Chiddingstones

www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16937/benefice

75 Pence March 2021 USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS

Churches Associate Priest Bill MacDougall 01892 870442 Licensed Lay Minister Sally Musson 07713 352017 Churchwarden (St Mary’s Bob Golds 01892 870429 Village) Verger (St Mary’s) Christine Roberts 01892 870437 Churchwardens (St Luke’s Paul Allen 01732 463382 ) Vacancy Pastoral Assistant Carol Benton 01892 870483 Pastoral Help (Causeway) Helen Barnes 01732 838855 Pastoral Help (Hoath) Jane-Ann Golds 01892 870429 Safeguarding Officer Dennis Ward 01732 860505 Bell Ringers Stella Wooldridge 01892 870323 Choir Paul Allen 01732 463382 Parochial Parish Administrator Louise Sanders Ch urch 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 Res. Assoc. Trust Steen Carndorf 01732 700585

Youth Youth Club Chris Pounds 07725 563636 Organisations 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 07500 061229

Parish Councils Chiddingstone - Chairman Jonathan Roper 07798 734271 - Clerk Louise Kleinschmidt 01892 740753 Leigh - Chairman Joe Kaye 01732 835897 - Clerk Louise Kleinschmidt 01892 740753

Magazine Editor and ‘’For Sale ads’’ Jenny Chettle 01342 850827 [email protected] Commercial advertising Robert Hunt and advertising copy [email protected] A17 A18 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]

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A4 MARCH 2021 Forthcoming Events Tuesday 2nd March Chiddingstone WI meeting via Zoom see page 9 Friday 5th March ‘Queen by Right’ – a talk by Janie Ramsay see page 12 Deadline for applications for Parish Council Grants Saturday 6th March Farmers’ Market see page 14 Monday 8th March Deadline for comments on the Draft Pastoral Scheme see page 3 Tuesday 16th March Parish Council Meeting see page 8 Wednesday 17th March MAGAZINE COPY BY 12 NOON PLEASE see page 8 Saturday 20th or Thursday 25th March ‘The Lifestyle of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’ – a talk by Janie Ramsay see page 13 Sunday 21st March Census Day see page 7 Wednesday 31st March Completion date for projects under the Tree Council’s Grant Scheme

FROM THE RECTORY Dear Friends, It is incredible to think that when we woke up on the morning of 1st March 2020, we probably imagined that our lives would continue more-or-less as before despite the BBC news that day stating that Public Health has said “Widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is now highly likely”. March 2020 was the month when our life did not continue as before, and here we are again in a period of lockdown. This third lockdown has been much harder for many people. Parents and carers are juggling work, school at home, care of the home, etc; other people are working from home; others are essential key workers; and all of us separated from our families and friends at this time. So how have we been coping? My mind is drawn to a popular American proverb, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Despite the hardship we are facing, I am struck by the resilience of so many people, finding ways to support each other and harness strength to keep going. Volunteers from all walks of life have joined the ranks of workers in test centres, vaccine centres, food banks and community larders across the country. And the successful roll out of vaccines is great news – hitting the UK target for the first 4 groups on 14th February 2021. (Isobel and I had our first Pfizer jab in January!) Over the last couple of months, I have enjoyed seeing the snowdrops, crocuses and hellebores emerging in the garden, and we took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch delighting in the variety of birds that come to feed and call from the trees in the strong winds. Cont/…. 1 The robin cheered me on as I cleared twigs fallen from the trees in the strong winds. As the snow came and the temperature dropped, the patterns of ice on the pond, the tracks of birds, squirrels and deer across the snow in our garden and the crunching of the snow underfoot as we went for walks added a different dimension to the familiar routine of a lockdown day. And so, we enter March again, one year on – with Spring around the corner. John Clare, born in 1793 and working as an agricultural labourer, is now regarded as one of the most important poets of the natural world. This poem sums up something of what we can look forward to throughout this month as we enjoy the countryside around us and continue to take our daily walks. Young Lambs The spring is coming by a many signs; The trays are up, the hedges broken down, That fenced the haystack, and the remnant shines Like some old antique fragment weathered brown. And where suns peep, in every sheltered place, The little early buttercups unfold A glittering star or two--till many trace The edges of the blackthorn clumps in gold. And then a little lamb bolts up behind The hill and wags his tail to meet the yoe, And then another, sheltered from the wind, Lies all his length as dead--and lets me go Close bye and never stirs but baking lies, With legs stretched out as though he could not rise. At the time of writing, we are waiting to find out what the ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown will be, whether we can book holidays for the summer, and whether we can socialise with families and friends. But whatever that roadmap is, we can be certain that the natural world will continue to open up to Spring with the promise of Summer to follow. As Genesis 8: 22 says: While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” May God strengthen us all to persevere and emerge out of this testing season ready to flourish once again! God bless, Bill CHRIS BELL It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Chris Bell, who died on Thursday 18th February in the Cottage Hospice at Mayfield after being diagnosed with cancer in December. Our thoughts and prayers go out for her husband Peter, who was with her at the Hospice, and we will try to let people know about her funeral at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone in due course. Chris was a much loved and valued churchwarden and was known for her sincere faith and loving care for others.

2 Please see Notice below from Rex Andrew from the Church Commissioners’ Office. Any representations need to be made directly to Rex (contact details below) no later than midnight on Monday 8th March 2021.

Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 Draft Pastoral Scheme (dated 25th January 2021) The Church Commissioners have prepared a draft Scheme in respect of proposals sent to them by the Bishop of Rochester for the union of the benefice of Penshurst and and the benefice of Chiddingstone with Chiddingstone Causeway, (together with the union of the two parishes of Chiddingstone; and Chiddingstone Causeway) in the diocese of Rochester, for the selection of the first incumbent of the new benefice and for his/her parsonage house to be that of the benefice of Penshurst and Fordcombe, for the transfer of the parsonage house of the benefice of Chiddingstone with Chiddingstone Causeway to the Rochester Diocesan Board of Finance for diocesan purposes and for the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice. The draft Scheme is on our website www.churchofengland.org/consultation or you may obtain a copy from me. Large print and/or audio copies are available on request. Anyone may make representations for or against all or any part of the draft Scheme (please include the reasons for your views) by post or, preferably by email, to reach me no later than midnight on Monday 8th March 2021. If I have not acknowledged its receipt, please ring or e-mail me. For administrative purposes, a petition will be classed as a single representation and we will only correspond with the sender of the petition, if known, or otherwise the first signatory for whom we can identify an address – “the primary petitioner”. • When making a representation, please indicate the nature of your interest in the proposals (e.g. parishioner, member of parochial church council, etc) and whether you would like an opportunity to speak to the Commissioners regarding your representation if they decide a hearing should be held regarding the case. • If we receive representations against the draft Scheme, we will send them, and any representations supporting the draft Scheme, to the Bishop whose views will be sought. Individual representors and the primary petitioner will then receive copies of the correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the representations) and will be told whether a hearing is to be held. They and individual petitioners may comment further to the Commissioners. Copies of all of the representations received and associated correspondence will be published on the Commissioners’ website if the matter needs to be considered by the Commissioners. • If a hearing is held, anyone may attend the meeting of the Commissioners’ Committee that considers the case and representors may have an opportunity to speak to it. Otherwise, if a hearing is not to be held, the case will be considered in private and you will be informed accordingly. Cont/…. 3 • When we acknowledge representations, we will let individual representors (and the primary petitioner) know the next few dates of our Committee’s meetings. We will confirm the actual date if a hearing is to be held nearer the time. • The Committee will decide if the draft Scheme should proceed when it considers all the representations on the basis of a paper prepared by the Commissioners’ staff and any points raised at the meeting. The Commissioners will notify all representors of their decision and give a statement of the reasons for it. • Please see www.churchofengland.org/consultation for further information about the procedure. Rex Andrew Email address: [email protected] Tel: 0207 898 1743 Postal address: Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, SW1P 3AZ

SCHOOL NEWS I am writing this whilst looking out of the window at a blanket of snow. The arrival of heavy snow and freezing temperatures has caused us a certain level of disruption but I think it has been a very welcome distraction for some from the challenges of recent times. Some of the children on site this week enjoyed a snowball fight with Mr Rowland and we have been sent lots of photos of the remote learners having fun in the snow. Pictures of sledging, snowmen/women/angels, and Chiddingstone looking even more picturesque in the snow has been the tonic that everyone needed. We have been continuing with our mix of remote learning for most and on-site provision for children of Critical Workers. Here is what the classes have been getting up to in the last month: Reception class has been investigating dark and light by using large boxes to create dark dens. They have also been finding out about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and how they were the first humans to set foot on the Moon. This in turn prompting thoughts about how it would feel to travel into space and what the Earth would look like from the Moon. The Year 1 children have been busy writing reviews about their favourite books, telling us who the author is and what happens in their favourite part of the story. The children have also been learning how to use punctuation, such as question marks and exclamation marks, and using them to write interesting captions. They have compared weather themed paintings and using them to hunt for clues to identify seasons. Cont/…

4 Year 2 have rounded off their learning of the topic, ‘Coastline’, with a superb presentation by the RNLI this month. We were treated to a very informative zoom session which explained not just the fantastic work of the RNLI, but also the importance of safety at the coast. The children enjoyed it so much that they have since created beach huts (using recycled materials at home), RNLI posters and their own comic strip story of a RNLI rescue. It has been wonderful to see how engaged they have been with their home learning this term, especially our topic work. The children in class 3 have become volcanologists this term and are now experts in volcanoes and earthquakes. Despite not being in the classroom, we have had an exciting term learning about natural disasters and we were very lucky to have had some experts talk to us via zoom. We even had the opportunity to become engineers, looking at how to create an earthquake proof structure. All the children have been working hard at home on many literacy activities too including poetry, letter writing, stories, book covers... the list goes on! Y4’s study of the human digestion system reached its messy culmination as children created models of our internal workings in their kitchens by churning biscuits and bananas in a plastic bag before squeezing the resulting pulp along the length of a pair of tights! In a slightly more genteel project, many members of the class are taking up water colour painting to while away the long, locked-down winter nights thanks to the encouragement of an ardent member of our staff. Year 5 have spent the term looking up at the skies for their Stargazers topic. We’ve spent quite a lot of time in the International Space Station watching astronauts play water ping pong, clean their teeth and take terrifying Space walks; hooked onto the ISS with flimsy looking climbing clips. The children have researched Sir Isaac Newton, created home-made rockets and studied the way the Earth and moon move in the Solar System. We’re looking forward to more science experiments next term in our new topic ‘Sow, Grow and Farm’. Year 6 has been reading Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman to complement their Blood Heart topic. Here is a piece of narrative by George G, who has written a daydream for Cam, our protagonist - a boy with a serious heart condition. Cam's Daydream I love to daydream on my way home from school. I have a wild imagination and sometimes it takes me off to incredible places, like being at the top of the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest skyscraper). I would abseil down, sucking up the breath-taking view of Dubai. Cont/…

5 My friends bring me back to reality, "Cam, Cam, are you listening?" However, then the roar of the bus engine takes me off on another adventure... and now I am looking at a tremendous waterfall in the distance. I know immediately that it is the Niagra Falls. I jump in, letting the soothing sprays of water ripple onto my body. My head is totally in command and, for once, my heart does not give in. The bus then pulls to a halt and the sudden jerk brings me back to life. My daydream is over, but I enjoyed every single second of it! Year 6's topic culminated in their Zoom debate on Xenotransplantation. I was blown away by the quality of argument, delivery, and skills of those debating both for and against the use of animal organs for human transplant. The children had researched their arguments so well and the speakers presented with an excellent balance of opinion backed up by science, facts and statistics. Children spoke confidently, passionately and were able to think on their feet to ask questions and field responses to the arguments made. Year 5 joined the debate audience and also asked some pertinent and challenging questions. The final vote favoured the motion 'For Xenotransplantation' by 33 to 29 votes! This close margin, illustrates the quality of debate on both sides. We certainly have some natural public speakers among Year 6 and maybe some future journalists or politicians! Reflecting on the past 6 weeks, I wish to thank all parents for supporting the children's remote learning this term. We are very aware of how challenging this is in terms of their own work commitments, often juggling more than one child's online lessons and work, as well as keeping the children motivated and positive. The Chiddingstone School 'can do' spirit is really quite remarkable. The staff are hugely appreciative of all that parents and children at home are doing. At the time of writing, we know that we will need to continue with remote learning provision for the majority of our children for at least 2 weeks the other side of the half term break. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the Government's announcement on 22nd February will confirm a return to school for more children on 8th March.

6 CHIDDINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL 1. Planning: the following applications have been determined by District Council: - SE/20/03398/FUL: Spokeshave Cottage, Hoath Corner, - change of use of part of garage barn to provide ancillary residential and tourist accommodation. Application approved. - SE/20/02671/LBCALT: Triangle Oast, Hampkins Hill Road, Chiddingstone - demolition and replacement raised terrace and external ladder, installation of new timber fence and gates, new and replacement doors, windows and roof lights, associated internal alterations and landscaping. Listed building consent given. 2. Public Rights of Way: a plea from our parish farmers, please keep to the footpaths, even if they are muddy! We have many more people using our paths during the lockdown, this is encouraged but please don’t stray from the paths which have become widened by footfall causing crops to be ruined. 3. Footpath Stiles and Gates: If you have a footpath crossing your land with a stile, you may like to consider changing the stile for a more user-friendly gate. County Council is offering footpath gates for sale at £35, if you are able to install it yourself. See https://www.kent.gov.uk/environment-waste-and- planning/public-rights-of-way/managing-public-rights-of-way/landowner- responsibilities-and-assistance or call 03000 417171. 4. Kent County Council’s Helping Hands Scheme: if you are vulnerable and need urgent support that cannot be met through existing support networks, you may be able to get support from the Kent Together scheme. The scheme can help ensure you have enough food and supplies, pick up your prescriptions and make sure you have someone to talk to. Please see www.kent.gov.uk/kenttogether or call 03000 419292. 5. West Kent Partnership’s Kickstart Scheme hosted by Council: this initiative is working with local businesses to offer entry-level positions for young people. Kickstart placements are for a period of 6 months and are available through Job Centres to young people claiming universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The initiative will give businesses a boost in recovery and a chance to make a difference in a young person’s life. See https://kickstartwestkent.co.uk 6. Census Day 2021 is Sunday 21st March. The census happens every 10 years and gives the Office for National Statistics a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. It will help plan and fund services in the area. This year the census will be mainly online - you will receive a code from the ONS to access the survey. If you cannot access the survey online, there will be other ways to do it. Cont/… 7 7. Parish Council meetings: the Parish Council continues 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, or if you need any help or advice, please contact the Clerk who will send you an invitation to the meeting. The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 16th March at 7.30pm remotely via Zoom.

Louise Kleinschmidt, Parish Clerk Salehurst Barn, Oak Lane, , Kent. TN3 9UB. Tel: 01892 740753. Email: [email protected] www.chiddingstone.org

NEXT EDITION All contributions for the April edition of the magazine by 12 noon on WEDNESDAY 17th March. 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, , Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7JB or: [email protected]

NURSERY NEWS

The children made two different types of bird feeders out of apples and fir cones with seeds, some were taken home and some were put outside in our Nursery garden. We also made binoculars out of tubes to watch the birds feeding. The Nursery celebrated ‘On-Line Safety Day’ a little late due to Nursery closure because of the bad weather. We read the children a story about ‘Digi Duck’ before making duck masks out of paper plates. We also printed a question wall asking who keeps you safe online. For our letter sound ‘O’ we discovered how we can switch things on and off and enjoyed operating our Bee Bot and remote-control cars using directional clues of under and over with brick constructions. We will celebrate World Book Day and the children will talk about their favourite stories and rhymes to share. Mrs J McCoy, Chiddingstone Nursery Tel: 01892 871315 8 CHIDDINGSTONE WI Another month has flown by and the weather has been as unpredictable as ever! With the snowy weather we have just experienced we have been very grateful to have so many of our members able to join us via technology as it meant we were able to stay warm and toasty indoors. Whilst Zoom meetings are never as nice as meeting up in person, it is, at least, a way that a few of us are able to get together and catch up with each other’s news. At the February Zoom meeting we had a very enjoyable and informative talk by the ‘The Pearl Lady’ who joined us all the way from France! The wonders of technology does mean we can have speakers from further afield and many of those that were able to join in, did so. We had a brief chat and a catch up beforehand and were able to share some news amongst ourselves and a chance to welcome our visitors. We were then told all about pearls, their origins, the difference between types of pearls, colours and even dispelled some myths surrounding them, all very interesting, if somewhat surprising in parts. If only we had been able to see them in real life! We do miss our regular meetings and we are saddened that some of our members aren’t able to be a part of the Zoom as it is the only way we can ‘get together’ at present. With the ever increasing numbers of people having the vaccine, we cannot wait for the day when we can all meet up again in person. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 2nd March at 7pm and we have another speaker, this time all about Burlesque! Another WI President will give us what is reported to be a fabulously funny and heart-warming talk that covers how she discovered burlesque, and then the WI, and brought the two worlds together. This promises a humorous talk that illustrates how even the most diverse topics can epitomise the Fun, Friendship and Education ethos of the WI. If you would like to join us, as a guest or as a potential member, do get in touch and we would welcome you to our group. We look forward to hearing from you. *********************************************** For your information 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 , Langton Green, Groombridge, Mark Beech, 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

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MARCH Spring is coming in our grounds Post your cards and letters in our Victorian post box, spot the snowdrops and daffodils as they start to appear, and take a walk through our grounds and enchanted woodlands. We respectfully request that COVID-19 government guidelines are followed in our grounds at all times. Our house and grounds are the perfect spot for your celebrations in 2021 - contact [email protected] for a chat. What are we planning? This year the team at Chiddingstone Castle are working hard to re-launch our usual programme of fairs, literary events, classic car days, arts and crafts, and cultural performances, whilst adhering to government regulations. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates. Treats for friends and family Purchase gift vouchers for yourself, your friends and family. Try a traditional Afternoon Tea, explore the Castle's collections and the intriguing life of Denys Eyre Bower, and relax by the lake with a day of fishing. The Castle and Tea Room open in April subject to government guidelines. www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/gift-vouchers/ Things to discover online Read more about the artworks and artefacts displayed at the Castle on our website, Object of the Month blog. Watch out for virtual learning opportunities from Kent museums as Wheels of Time gets ready to unveil e-badges to earn online. https://www.facebook.com/WheelsOfTime/ Join our friendly team of volunteers Volunteer with us for photography, collections care, events, woodland days, and more! Whether you are an expert or you wish to learn and gain experience, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Email us to arrange an informal chat at [email protected] Support the Castle Chiddingstone Castle and the collections of Denys Eyre Bower are cared for by a charitable trust. All donations help towards the maintenance of the historic buildings, collections, grounds and our education and events programme. We need your support more than ever to continue our work to share the centuries of history and stories preserved within the Castle's walls and grounds. Visit the ‘Support Us’ page on our website to donate. https://events.liveit.io/chiddingstone- castle/donate-to-chiddingstone-castle/

Local history | Japanese, Egyptian, Buddhist and Jacobite collections | Tudor origins Victorian rooms | 35 acres of woodland, lawns and fishing lake | Take away Tea Room

Year-round availability for weddings, parties, corporate events, groups and school visits. We follow COVID-19 government guidelines to respect visitor and staff well-being.

www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Chiddingstone, Kent TN8 7AD - 01892 870347 - [email protected]

10 THE TULIP TREE The Tea room is now open every day from 9am – 5pm, so brush off the cobwebs, enjoy a stroll to the village and reward yourself for the effort with a hot chocolate and a bacon and sausage sandwich. Delicious! You can also collect a ‘cake away’ 6” cake to share with the family. We normally have them available in coffee and walnut, Victoria sandwich and lemon but, if you want to be sure, call or email us at least the day before and we’ll bake it ready for you to collect. After a great success with our very popular takeaway Valentine’s afternoon tea, we have decided to go all out for Mother’s Day. Why wouldn’t we? They certainly deserve it with all the home schooling, extra catering, cleaning and in house entertainment that they have had to provide during these seemingly endless lock downs. We are offering a choice of a brunch box for 2, lunch box for 4 (with plenty of cakes) and a luxury afternoon tea for 2....of course! Please check out our website or Facebook for more information. We look forward to seeing you soon. Nicoletta and team Shop 01892 870326 Tea Room 01892 871504 [email protected] www.thetuliptree.biz T: @TheTulipTreeTea I:@thetuliptreetea F:facebook.com/thetuliptreetea

SUE LARKEN Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Sue Larken and Age UK are still here if you need us. If you need some motivation to keep yourself mobile during these difficult times and the weather is either too cold, wet or icy to chance going out – to keep moving, click on the link below to join in with Sue, a qualified falls prevention and rehabilitation instructor for some mobility, strength and balance. https://youtu.be/7y3_r8RbpvU seated Exercise https://youtu.be/tEa4yKeoU3U seated and standing Exercise https://youtu.be/b297EdtndL8 seated to music For more information, email: [email protected] or call Tel: 07867 648667

11 ST LUKE’S TOWER ROOF FUND As many of you know at the last quinquennial inspection, we were advised to replace the lead on the Tower Roof, with an increased pitch to improve drainage, particularly as leakage had caused a beam in the bell tower to need replacing. Due to the splendid efforts of Helen Barnes and the contribution of Rebecca Day through her lovely Christmas and Greeting cards and everyone who has generously donated, we have raised over £5,000 so far. There is still some way to go but a further £5,000 should see us approaching our target. Paul Allen Churchwarden

QUEEN BY RIGHT A talk by Janie Ramsay via ZOOM in aid of Breast Cancer Charities A look at our five Queen Regnants - Queen by Right rather than being the wife of a King. From Mary Tudor through to our present queen, Elizabeth II. Their passions, loves and legacies; their differences and what they had in common; and the impact they had on firstly English Law, and later the UK, Empire and Commonwealth. At different points in their lives, none of them were expected to be crowned and yet they have played a major part in shaping not only Great Britain, but Europe and the wider world. If you would like to hear this talk, there is an option on dates of either Saturday 27th February at 2.30pm or Friday 5th March at 7.30pm. Donations are entirely voluntary and will be split between Breast Cancer Research and MacMillan Nurses. To take part, please send me your email and choice of date. Details of how to donate will be sent with the Zoom link. Email: [email protected] Phone: 01892 531033

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Following on from the Duchess of Windsor’s Jewels, and Queen by Right, my third talk in aid of: BREAST CANCER CHARITIES will take you into the extraordinary world of this glamorous couple, detailing their homes, friends, possessions, passions and endless travels.

The Lifestyle of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor

This will be a fully illustrated talk via ZOOM and there is an option on dates:

SATURDAY 20TH MARCH @ 2.30pm or THURSDAY 25TH MARCH @ 7.30pm

Donations are completely voluntary and proceeds will be divided between Macmillan Nurses and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

If you would like to hear this talk, please send me your email address, and which date you prefer. I will send you the link nearer the date and details of how to donate, should you wish to.

Janie Ramsay : [email protected] 01892 531033. Flat 54, Chancellor House, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8BT

13 THE CAUSEWAY HALL Still following Government guidelines, the hall will be closed but we wish you all a Happy Easter and look forward to opening the hall as restrictions are lifted over the coming months. We hope to be up and running, offering a wide range of classes and available for hire for events, parties and weddings as soon as we are able to. To keep up to date with when we can open and what is going on at the hall, please take a look at our Facebook page, The Causeway Hall or website www.causewayhall.co.uk

Don’t miss Penshurst Farmers Market in March for the very best local seasonal food and drink around Saturday 6th March 9.30am – 12pm Penshurst Place Visitor Car Park Spring steps up a gear this month and hopefully with the increasing light levels, we should be all be feeling a bit more cheerful. It’s the perfect time to get out and about to Penshurst and discover the wonderful seasonal produce on offer from our talented producers from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. With 21 stalls there’s plenty of choice. Don’t miss Rye Bay scallops, now at the height of their short season and try another early spring treat, hogget, the much-prized tender and tasty meat from last year’s mature lambs. Don’t forget to bring your kitchen knives and garden tools to be sharpened by our Knife Ninja ready for the new season in the garden; buy new season’s flowering spring bulbs and shrubs from Low Wood Nursery to get into the ground now. To ensure we keep everyone safe during lockdown, our Covid - ready one-way system will be in place and we ask you to come prepared to shop alone and queue to enter. We encourage you to wear a mask if appropriate. Parking is plentiful, free and close by. Facebook PenshurstFarmersMarket Follow us on Twitter@PenshurstFmMrkt www.kfma.org.uk/Penshurst

BLACKHAM VILLAGE MARKET Suspended until further notice

14 Farmers’ Market is held every Tuesday 9am - 11am at St John’s Church Centre, Hildenborough. 402 bus stops outside. Contact: Janet Richardson, Manager Tel: 01732 838903. www.hildenboroughfarmersmarket.co.uk Find us on Facebook and Twitter too.

THE CHIDDINGSTONE CRANDALL TRUST In 1924 Richard Crandall made a will setting up a trust fund, with a direction that its income should be spent by the trustees (at their discretion) to benefit residents of the parish who are in severe financial need and need assistance because of illness, age, physical capacity or other infirmity. In the past, this has, for example, allowed the trustees to contribute to the energy bills of individuals who fit the criteria. The trustees are now: Helen Barnes, Sue Coleman, Sue Hewlett, Helen Vicary and myself. In order to try and ensure that we reach all potential beneficiaries, we have decided to advertise the trust’s existence through this item in the magazine. So, if you think you might qualify for a benefit, or think you know someone else who might, please contact me (on the email address or mobile phone number below) or any of the other trustees whom you may know. I should stress that all communications with the trustees will be treated in the strictest confidence. Jonathan Roper [email protected] Mobile: 07798 734271

A NOTE FROM YOUR MP I am delighted that both and Sevenoaks Primary Care Networks were set up so quickly, providing vaccinations to us all at either Tonbridge Baptist Church, Sevenoaks Medical Centre or Edenbridge Surgery. It was testament to their organisation and also dedication to vaccinating the most vulnerable members of the community as quickly as possible. For anyone who has been vaccinated already, I hope you found the process safe when you attended. We are lucky to be served by such wonderful heroes who are dedicated to helping us all stay safe. For many, it has been the first time out of the home in nearly a year. Cont/….

15 A key part of our vaccination process is the mass vaccination centres. We can’t rely on our GPs to vaccinate everyone – they have normal appointments as well – and we need to make sure we all get our vaccinations as quickly as we can. As soon as it was confirmed that around four mass vaccination centres would be planned for Kent, I pushed strongly for one to be in our area. Tonbridge, the largest town with the most available space, made perfect sense for this. I am delighted that we successfully promoted the Angel Centre. At the time of writing the Angel Centre is about to open for vaccinations. I hope you find it a good location too. It certainly will make sure it is as easy as possible for us to access our vaccinations. For many of us, we will have to wait a while yet, but progress so far is exceptionally good and we must focus all our efforts on making sure we have our doses quickly. Throughout the pandemic I’ve tried to keep everyone as updated as possible, and in recent weeks I hope you’ve found the information about the vaccine useful. Please visit my website, www.tomtugendhat.org/covid19-vaccine which I keep updated regularly, if you want any further information on the rollout locally. [email protected] Matt Boughton Office of Tom Tugendhat, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling 130 Vale Road Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1SP Tel: 01732 441563/07795 192042

THE SNOWDROP STORY Perhaps some of the readers of the Parish magazine, on walking down Oakenden Lane (the Old Coach Road to Penshurst), will invariably be pleased to see all the snowdrops on the banks of the lane especially opposite Oakenden Farmhouse and wonder how they all got there. Well, it all goes back to around 1950 when my parents left the Blacksmiths Arms Public House, at the junction of Grove Road, and took up farming at Oakenden. The early years there were hard work, with two small children to care for, and a large old cold house, water from the well, paraffin lamps and an outdoor toilet to contend with. My mother found the winters difficult and she sought solace walking the woods when time was available. Cont/….. 16 One day in Stonewall woods, near the site of the old boathouse, she unexpectedly came across a large carpet of snowdrops in full bloom. Seeing this amazing sight lifted her spirits and after asking Fred Gower, the Head Gardener of the Estate, if she could have some bulbs after they had flowered, she moves a few to the bank in front of the farmhouse. With each year, after flowering, she would divide the clumps and plant them separately. Over the years, the numbers increased as she continued to replant them, to the degree that they are all as you see them today. I have taken over the task of spreading them and have moved them further down the lane to Skipreed. Other lane residents have done likewise up the lane. I now find that the sight of these each year makes you realise that the days are slowly getting longer and Spring is not that far away and in this very difficult time for all of us, they provide an assurance that something so small can give us all such pleasure. Brodie R T Hall

We offer social and therapeutic horticulture to members of the local community with learning difficulties and/or mental health issues SPRING UPDATE 2021 Hello from Stone Ness Walled Garden (well, actually, from indoors, cos it's bitterly cold outside). As you read this in early March, I hope that most, if not all our Walled Gardeners will have returned. I am really looking forward to seeing them. Last year this may have been the only activity they were able to do away from home, and even that had to be abandoned for long periods due to lockdowns or people testing positive. Now, we are thrilled to welcome them back – and we will be very careful not to put anyone at risk. The weather will have to be kind to us (Don't you agree, we are overdue some good weather?). A highlight of our gardening sessions at this time of year should be tea break in the Potting Shed, with the wood burning stove to warm us, tins of Christmas biscuits to be enjoyed, and any excuse for cake! Cont/…. 17 Instead, we shall wear extra layers and sit at the outside table in the fresh air – but there can still be tea, biscuits and cake. Seed sowing is easiest in the Potting Shed but that too will be best avoided – and, in any case, we probably often start sowing too early – so we'll wait ‘til the ground warms up. Instead, we can do other things like wildlife walks and meeting up with the ponies, Rosie and Oscar. Apologies to Oscar, who is most definitely a horse, of the carthorse type. After this long winter, I'm sure they are both looking forward to seeing someone else other than me. It would be lovely to welcome a few newcomers to the garden, but we will start this year with people who all live or work in the same bubble. Later on, who knows, we may be able to invite others, and I do hope we can have an Open Day in July. As ever, I would love to hear from anyone local who has learning difficulties or mental health issues and is interested to find out about us. Jean Burgess – Tel: 01892 740305 (not after 8pm please) DONATION A large kiln and pottery wheel that I would like to find a home for. A donation to St Catherine’s Hospice, Crawley would be lovely. Pam Tel: 07807 750212

FOR SALE 1 Single vertical wall bed (with mattress if required). Very good condition. £25 for church funds. 2 Four drawer filing cabinets. £10 for church funds. Liz Tel: 01732 921763

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 3rd to Sunday 4th July Festival of Endurance at Hever Castle Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th September Hever Castle Triathlon

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!

Physiotherapy & Pilates Emma Roper BSc PgDip MCSP HPC Daren Wood Experienced Chartered Physiotherapist Sports injuries, neck and back pain, Chimney ante / postnatal, arthritis and mobility problems, post-op rehab Pilates classes, small groups and 1-2-1 Sweep 4 Pipers Green Road, Chart 07771 925346 , Kent TN16 1ND [email protected] Telephone: 01959 564263

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Please call 01892 871139

or 07926 379522 E-mail: [email protected]

David James 9 Dukes Meadow, Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, TN11 8LW

A5 Accident Repairs Mechanical, Servicing, Annual Checks & MOT’s Insurance Work For a free estimate or quotation Please call Nick on 01892 870673 www.charcottgarage.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 SR INVESTMENT ASSOCIATES LTD Independent Financial Advisers Chiddingstone Hoath

DIRECTOR : STEPHEN RUDGE

MA MPHIL DipFA AwPETR MLIBF Investment and Pensions Specialist

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SR Investment Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

A8 A9 A10 Traditional

Mole, Rabbit, Mice and Squirrel Catcher (No poisons used)

Traditional methods only

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07432 813614 [email protected]

A11 Lorna Galbraith Hairdressing

All aspects of hairdressing carried out in the comfort of your own home. L’Oreal and Vidal Sassoon trained, with over 27 years experience. 07989 587931 01732 700397

Edenbridge Osteopaths 127 High Street Edenbridge TN8 5AX 01732 865444

ROBERT J. McCOY MSc, Bsc (Hons), D.O.

www.registered-osteopath.org.uk

A12 A13 [email protected]

A14 A15 A16