PARISH of COBHAM & LUDDESDOWNE with DODE

Rev Angela Walker Church Office (01474) 813495 The Vicarage, Battle Street, Cobham, DAl2 3DB (01474) 814332 Pastoral Assistant Janet Weaver, 36 Highview, Vigo Village, DA13 ORR (01732) 823936

SUBMISSIONS Cobham and Luddesdowne News is a community magazine that is produced by and for the residents of Cobham, Sole Street and . We welcome all contributions of local interest.

Please send material for inclusion by the 15th of the month preceding publication to [email protected]

Happy June everyone.

As I write this item the rain is hitting the window and the wind is blowing a gale! For those of us looking at a staycation this year it is not looking very promising, let’s hope things improve soon.

Adrian has, once again, produced a brilliant photograph for the front cover. I don’t know about you, but I can see the face of an old man and an owl in the gnarly old tree trunk, apparently this is quite a common phenomena and I understand it is called pareidolia, and explains how some people can see the face of Elvis in a piece of toast!

You will see in this month’s magazine that I have included the dates for some of the local historical walks and tours that are starting up again. Many of the local clubs and societies are also looking forward to meeting up in person. Thankfully life is gradually and safely starting to open up.

Hope you enjoy the June magazine. Tina Services during June

Sunday 6th June 10:30am Family service with Baptism, Cobham

Sunday 13th June 10:30am Holy Communion, Luddesdowne

Sunday 20th June 10:30am Holy Communion, Cobham

Sunday 27th June 10:30am Holy Communion, Luddesdowne

Cobham church open for private prayer Wednesdays 10am to 12 noon Need a Plumber?

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What do you think will happen after Covid?

You can take your choice: a recent survey has found that a third of us think that society may never go back to the old ways, a third of us think we will go back to exactly as we were before, and a third of us think that we will be keener than ever to stay together.

The Together Coalition, chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury, has been working for the past year on a piece of research to track just what has hap- pened to communities during lockdown.

The new research has found that “people feel a stronger sense of connec- tion to their neighbours and community. …We found a clear public appe- tite for a society in which we are more connected to each other, and the community spirit of 2020 is kept alive.”

It also found that around 12.4million people have volunteered during the pandemic, 4.6million of them for the first time. And 75 per cent of those volunteers would be happy to do so again.

It is like driving on the moon (As a former parish clerk– the men- tion of potholes brings me out in a cold sweat!)

Some of our British roads are beginning to resemble “the surface of the moon”, according to the RAC. It has recently reported that an average of 52 drivers a day are breaking their cars on potholes and needing to be res- cued.

More than 4,000 drivers have needed assistance since January, despite the fact that lockdown has meant many fewer cars on the road.

After years of underfunding and patch-up repair jobs, and despite the fact that councils are currently filling a pothole every 19 seconds, the RAC says that the Government and local councils face an ‘enormous task’ to get our roads “anything like reasonable” again.

Potholes are nasty to cars. They can break your suspension springs, distort your wheels, and damage your shock absorbers, among other woes. SOLE STREE T WI

Sole Street WI’s 37th Year was celebrat- ed by members at a Grand Reunion Lunch on 25th May in President Yvonne’s lovely spa- cious garden. This pretty home-produced invitation heralded the long awaited occasion. Asparagus salad, strawberry pavlova & prosecco were the lunch order of the day.

Weekly Tuesday walks at Jeskyns have happily moved back from one-on- one to groups of six. We are planning to re-open our Book Clubs and new Craft Group meetings are anticipated in the summer in line with re- strictions. The home made glass jewellery necklets were a very popular choice last year. My favourite photo on our Sole Street WI 2020 calendar shows some of our ladies’ creations. There is also a dazzlingly colourful pic- ture of knitted children’s jumpers which members in isolation created for ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) to send to orphanag- es in Africa.

Impatient to re-connect with our village community, we are planning a “Pop -Up” WI Produce Stall in June. (The “Pop-Up” element arises out of the necessity for dry weather as it will be held outside St Mary’s Church Room). Look out for the announcement locally on Parish notice boards etc .....!

For information on this and other Sole Street WI activities, please contact our President, Yvonne tel 01474 813455.

Molly Isaacs

I am unable to bring you a report from the Cobham and Luddesdown WI this month, but I hope they will be back next month.

We have all heard the saying- ’If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all’ Well it isn’t always that easy, but the article below does make a point…..

Give a compliment By Colin Hammacott

We all like to receive a compliment from time to time. As Robert Orben, former script writer for President Gerald R. Ford once said, “A compli- ment is verbal sunshine.”

Another American, Leo Buscaglia once observed: “Too often we underes- timate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn someone’s life around.”

At a funeral service, nice things are usually said of the deceased. While these comments are comforting for the relatives, did the same folks ever bother to say these kind things to the person themselves, when they were alive, to show them how much they were appreciated?

Sadly, not everyone seems able to compliment others. Perhaps they never received compliments when they were young, or perhaps they feel that to compliment someone else is to somehow put themselves down. For what- ever reason, such people miss out on a whole lot of pleasure in life.

Whenever we see something that is worthy of a compliment, why not give it, and bring ‘a little verbal sunshine’ into someone else’s life!

LUDDESDOWN PARISH COUNCIL

Proposed Meeting Dates for 2021-2022

Monday 19th July 2021

Monday 20th September 2021

Monday 18th October 2021 – Budget Meeting

Monday 15th November 2021

Monday 17th January 2022

Monday 21st March 2022 - APM

COBHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES 2021

All starting at 7.30pm Clerk@cobham--pc.gov.uk

Monday 7th June 2021 Monday 5th July 2021 Monday 6th September 2021 Monday 4th October 2021 Monday 8th November 2021 Monday 6th December 2021

Currently held on Zoom. If you wish to attend a meeting please contact the clerk for joining instructions.

Future meetings will depend on Covid 19 restrictions and the availability of venues.

BRITAIN IN BLOOM COBHAM PARISH COUNCIL FRONT OF HOUSE GARDEN COMPETITION 2021

Dear Parishioners, We hope that the Covid restrictions have kept you well and you are now ready to exert extra energies into your gardens. Gardening has certainly been an even more popular hobby during the lockdown. The theme this year is Ride and Stride with the colour theme of mauve (purple) and yellow, so let’s see how you can incorporate a bicycle or boot into your display! We hope you have admired the mauve and yellow pansies that are looking magnificent at the moment in the village troughs. There are two periods for judging this year, Britain in Bloom - that involves you all – is 28th June to 16th July. Front of House to judge your front garden, flower troughs, baskets and if you have included them -boot and bicycle- will be in the week beginning 19th July. Please contact Rosemary Dymond if you intend to enter the Front of House competition; phone 01474 814143 or email [email protected] or complete and deliver the application form below to 25 The Street, Cobham. DA12 3BX

Name………………………………….. Tel no……………………………………. Address………………………………………………………………………..… Email…………………………………………………………………………….

Remember we won Silver Gilt last year so let’s go for Gold this year!

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Neighbourhood Watch

In one small rural village the local vet also led the local Neighbourhood Watch group. Late one night the phone rang, and his wife answered. An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?"

"He is, but tell me, do you need him as the vet or the Neighbourhood Watch?" the wife asked.

"Both!" was the reply. "We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it!"

Friend?

Arriving at church to attend a wedding, a formidable looking lady in a large hat was greeted by the usher. “Are you a friend of the groom?” he ventured.

“Certainly not,” she said indignantly. “I’m the bride’s mother.”

Out to graze

A group of elderly British tourists were touring Holland by bus. They stopped at a cheese farm where a young guide led them through the process of making cheese from goat’s milk. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.

“These,” she explained, “are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.” She then asked, “What do you do in Britain with your old goats?”

A spry old gentleman answered: “They send us on bus tours!” THE MEADOW ROOM For Hire COBHAM AVAILABLE FOR HIRE Hire rates start at £36.50 for a session St Mary’s Contact us or visit the website for full details Church Room Discount for parish residents Sole Street For bookings, call Debbie on £6 per hour Use of 01474 814879, leave a message and she will get back to you. small Kitchen Or email [email protected] www.meadowroom.org.uk Bookings and Enquiries Registered Charity No 228007 01474 814560 North Kent Embroiderers Hello Everyone, By the time you read this we should have had our first meeting of the new group via Zoom. Meanwhile we have continued to stay busy and in touch via the internet. Unfortunately our last planned speaker event with Zara Day had to be cancelled as it coincided with the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, however we hope it will now take place in August instead. Our recent Zoom chat meeting revealed that our members have not lost their zest for embroidery and all things stitch related. Sue D has been on a course for Danish Whitework and has produced a beautiful piece using white linen thread on white linen fabric- not easy to do at all! By contrast Blackwork has been popular – Sue B, Anita have been doing it and Wendy has made a lovely blackwork pincushion. Other ladies have been dressmaking: Josie has made a dress for her granddaughter, Mary P is making a blouse, Kathleen and Eileen have been dressmaking too. Evelyn has used different stitches to embroider a design of sycamore wings. Several of our members have been working on the same challenge online. Veronica says “I'm following Anne Brooke on YouTube with #52tagshannemade where she has a different project each week. Each project goes onto a luggage label, so is small but very challenging! Various themes have included buttons, knots, Suffolk puffs, rings, couching and tiny ‘scapes. On back of the label I add a blessing that has hap- pened that week.” Jill T has enjoyed completing some cross stitch kits that she has had for some time, Val has finally completed her stumpwork garden, and I have add- ed the binding to my first proper quilt, started before lockdown one. I have also produced a second sample as part of my ‘Japanese Mending Matters’ course with Zara Day. Veronica has been working on a new design for a hanging which is to become our group’s September challenge. As lockdown begins to ease we are looking forward to a socially distanced outside coffee morning. How nice it will be to see everyone in person and not just on the screen! If you are would like to join us or just find out a bit more about us then please look at our website https://northkentembroiderers.co.uk/ or email us at: [email protected] or contact our Chairman, Eileen Tuff on 01474 324734 Happy stitching, Karen (All links and photographs used with permission)

June - Summer arrives June 21 is the longest day of the year, and the extra light and warmth en- courages the garden to put on an exuberant burst of growth. But this extra light and warmth also means weeds will sprout up from seemingly no- where. Keep on top of them by hoeing regularly in dry conditions. Here’s the RHS Top 10 Jobs for this month.

1 Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds 2 Be water-wise, especially in drought-affected areas 3 Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes 4 Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes 5 Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside 6 Mow lawns at least once a week 7 Plant out summer bedding 8 Stake tall or floppy plants 9 Prune many spring-flowering shrubs 10 Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch For your Diary – Saturday 26th June 2021 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm at the Meadow Room, The Street, Cobham, Kent DA12 3BZ the Gar- deners hold their Summer Show & Plant Sale. Entrance to view the adult & junior members’ entries in the various show categories (Flowers, Vegetables, Preserves & Photographic) during the af- ternoon is free to the general public. And there’s more! To make it an afternoon out, there’s a Plant Sale, expert members on hand to answer your gardening questions and afternoon tea & cake on sale You’ll be able to sign up for Membership on the day. It’s only a modest £8 for the year – money you get back from free entry into all Gardeners’ expert speaker talks and massive savings of up to 50% on quality plants at local garden centres. For further details of all Gardeners’ activities visit http:// cobhamgardeners.com COBHAM TREE SURGERY IT Solutions Kent Ltd All aspects of work undertaken Tall & Dangerous Trees IT Support – Hedge trimming £5 million Public liability insurance CCTV - Networking Most waste organically recycled 0333 050 2446 Call for a free quotation: 07789261474 [email protected] [email protected]

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KCC TRADING STANDARDS APPROVED We are hoping that COVID restrictions will be lifted over this and next month. In this hope, Christoph offers some public events for people to enjoy after such a long hibernation.

Guided historical walk of Swanscombe peninsula and Marshes (Guided Walk) Discover our area’s latest SSSI and the story of the industrial revolution and English Civil War Speaker/Guide: Christoph Bull On: Sunday 27th June 2021 Meet: 2.30pm outside George & Dragon public house, Galley Hill, SwanscombeCost: Free - but donations welcomed No need to book, just turn up (unless Covid restrictions still apply). Sensi- ble footwear will be needed, Historical Society Footpath Com- mittee walk. Information: Christoph Bull 07702287147 Gravesend in the 1920s (illustrated talk & Fish-Chip supper)to cel- ebrate 101 years of the Reliance Restaurant. Come and find out what happened in Gravesend a century ago. Speaker: Christoph Bull On: Monday 21st June 2021 At: Reliance Fish Res- taurant, Queen Street, Gravesend. Begins: 6pm for the meal, talk to follow Cost: £18 (includes talk and award winning fish and chips supper) Booking essential: Reliance Restaurant 01474 533593-need to pay before the day. Book early as spaces limited. Swanscombe Peninsula: Cement, paper & poo (Illustrated talk) For those who want to know more about the Swanscombe Peninsula and Northfleet but without having to walk. Speaker: Christoph Bull On: Friday 2nd July 2021 At: Church Centre, Swanscombe Street, Swanscombe Begins: 7.15pm Cost: £4 for visitors (£2 for members of Swanscombe & Greenhithe Local History Group) Pay at the door, no need to book This is an open public meeting of Swanscombe & Greenhithe Local History Group. Light refreshments are available (subject to any Covid restrictions). Gravesend’s Victorian Dream-How Gravesend’s future suddenly changed (Guided historical walk, includes a visit to the Zoar Chap- el) On: Friday 23rd July 2021 Guide/speaker: Christoph Bull Meet: 11.30am opposite Clock Tower on corner of The Grove, Gravesend Cost: £4 per person-pay on the day No need to book. Information- Christoph Bull 07702287147 Guided historical tour of Old Northfleet-if you think Northfleet is just a suburb-THINK AGAIN On: Friday 11th June 2021 Meet: 11am by The Veterans’ Club, The Hill, Northfleet Guide: Christoph Bull (Local His- torian) Part of the Estuary Arts Festival. Sensible walking shoes needed.Free – but booking essential via Mandi Knight on 07956178909 or email - [email protected]. Book early as numbers are restricted.

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Rita Hayward and family would like to thank all those concerned for their kind messages of sympathy and generous donations to the Dar- ent Valley Hospital Charity, in Brian’s memory.

Brian was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He has left a huge void in the lives of all the members of our very close family.

Cobham's Register

Interment of Ashes Avril Florence LINEHAM died on the 24th November 2020 aged 89 years old. Her ashes were interred at Cobham churchyard on the 28th April 2021.

Beware Japanese knotweed this summer This month (June) could see a sudden bumper appearance of the notorious garden pest, Japanese knotweed. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) experts have warned that the April frosts either delayed or killed other plants who would have helped keep it in check. Unfortunately, the pest is very hardy, and will not have been killed off. The plant grows up to 2.1 metres (7ft) tall and can destroy the foundations of houses and run riot in gardens. It can even devalue property, and lead to the refusal of mortgages on the land. LUDDESDOWN VILLAGE HALL

"The hire charges are as follows: from £40 per session (please visit our website for full details Concessions for parishioners and members of LUDDESDOWN SOCIETY For bookings and enquiries please contact: Colin Dickens 01474 814155 or email [email protected]

The Ancient Church

Sometimes I sit within my pew And gaze upon an ancient view Of stones, which, set by mason’s line Have stood through centuries of time; Of glass, whose colours, vivid, bright Have told their wondrous tales of light And filtered sunshine’s timeless rays To countless eyes through countless days.

The pulpit where, through long past years God’s servants preached to faithful ears; The lectern and its Bible read Aloud to both the quick and dead; The feet, which down that aisle have trod To worship everlasting God; The angels, as they downward gaze Have heard ten thousand songs of praise!

Songs of joy, and infant cries As they gathered to baptize, Songs of love and celebrations In marriages and confirmations, Songs of sadness and of loss Sung before the Saviour’s cross. So many lives have come, then flown Within this ancient house of stone.

So, as I sit and wonder how Such history should guide me now? Such faithful worship through the years May move me to shed humble tears. These ghosts bring me joy, not fear I know I’m just a tenant here And in one way they are my guide – They keep me free from pompous pride!

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Office 01474 815150 Mobile 07766 681151 I have a loose tooth!

I don’t have many teeth because when I first went to live at Batter- sea I had quite a few removed be- cause they were either broken or infected, so to have a loose tooth now is a little bit worrying, it doesn’t hurt or stop me eating so the editor mentioned it to the vet when I went for my yearly booster jab; it will probably fall out on its own.

The editor helps me to look after the teeth I have by giving me a special chew that not only cleans my teeth but is a lovely treat too, she also has a blue gel that she squirts along my teeth (not such a treat -urgh). It is important that you look after your teeth so that they last you into old age and you can give big smiles and enjoy lots of yummy treats! So don’t forget to brush your teeth!

Love and licks

Harvey

St Alban - the first British martyr

Persecution of Christians worldwide is rising fast, so it is worth remem- bering St Alban, the first British martyr. Alban was a Roman citizen living in when the Roman emperor, Diocletian, began a fierce persecu- tion. Soon Alban found a desperate priest on his doorstep, hunted by local soldiers. Alban gave the priest shelter, and within days was converted. When the soldiers arrived, Alban took the priest’s place, refused to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods, and was condemned to death. Alban went to his execution on 22nd June 250AD with such serenity that one of the exe- cutioners was converted. He died on the site of the Hertfordshire town that now bears his name.

ALBAN MARTYR PERSECUTION ROMAN EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN PRIEST CONVERTED SOLDIERS SACRIFICE GODS CONDEMNED DEATH EXECUTION SERENITY DIED SITE TOWN NAME DOORSTEP