NEWS SEPTEMBER 2019

PARISH COUNCIL from the road. You can contact the clerk for Parish Council business on 7876221580 Thirwell Farm: The Environment or [email protected]. Agency is aware of activity there but Full copies of the approved minutes for need evidence. Anyone seeing such meetings are available on the Parish activity should report it immediately to Council website. the ‘24 hour Environment Agency hot- line’. You may not get a response back The regular meeting of the Parish but your call will be logged. Council was held on Wednesday 28th August and attended by six Parish Councillors one County Councillor and Neighbourhood Plan:. It was agreed seven members of the public. that the Parish Council will formally write to Swale Borough Council and Allotments: The annual inspection request that the whole of the Parish be took place on Saturday 17th August a Neighbourhood Area. A six week and Councillors were satisfied that the consultation period will then follow. allotments are being used effectively. This is the first step to take in develop- There is one half allotment vacant at ing a Neighbourhood Plan. the moment and a full allotment will become available soon. This can be Planning: Demolition of existing build- split into two halves if necessary. Con- ings and erection of a single story holi- tact the Clerk if you are interested. day let - change of roof, The Parish Council objected on the grounds that Neighbourhood Watch: Nothing to the proposed roofing is not in keeping report. with the surrounding properties.

Autumn Litter Pick: This will take place on Saturday 28th September and Road Closures: Brenley Roundabout. it is hope that at least as many people Overnight lane closures (8.00pm - as before will support it. Meet at the 6.00am) will take place Wednesday Village Hall at 2.00pm. Equipment will 28th to Friday 30th August, Monday be provided but please wear sensible 2nd September to Friday 6th Septem- shoes and clothing that is easily visible ber, Wednesday 11th September to Chairman:Jill Geliot 01227 750974 [email protected] Clerk: Rebecca Parr 07876 221580 e-mail [email protected] KCC Representative: Andrew Bowles Friday 13th September The next Parish Council will be held on Full weekend closure of coast bound Wednesday 25th September at 8.00pm traffic from Friday 30th August at in the Village Hall. 8.00pm to Monday 2nd September at Members of the public are welcome to 6.00am. Full closure of London bound attend. If members of the public wish traffic from Friday 13th September to to speak on a subject at the meeting Monday 16th September. There will they should contact the Clerk before aolso be closure of Lane Friday 13th September so that rele- to allow the Victory Wood event on vant items can be placed on the agen- Saturday 21st September, 11.00am to da for discussion. 5.00pm.

SWALE BOROUGH COUNCIL working with partner agencies to help This month we report on the work of them move towards a more positive the new administration at Swale Bor- future. The Council is already putting ough Council to support some of the together plans with community groups most vulnerable people in the borough. to provide a night shelter in winter to make sure rough sleepers have a safe, Two initiatives are being developed. warm place to stay on the coldest One is to help rough-sleepers to a nights. more positive future, and another to help foodbanks in , Sitting- Support for foodbanks. bourne and reach more lo- Plans are being put together by Swale cal people (including families with Borough Council to help local food- children) who would otherwise go hun- banks support more local families. gry. Councillors have been meeting with groups, such as ‘Children and Fami- Support for rough-sleepers. lies’, ‘Faversham Foodbank’ and ‘Sit- Swale Borough Council is investing tingbourne Foodbank’, that run local £150,000 in a more proactive ap- projects to get a better understanding proach to help rough-sleepers. The of the need and take up of the service. council is working with charities and These meetings also gave Councillors voluntary groups to help identify and the chance to see how the foodbanks support rough-sleepers, and help them work with other agencies, and helped back into suitable housing. identify ways in which the Council A new rough-sleeping coordinator has could support them to become more been appointed who is working with effective. The plans to support local local charities and voluntary groups, foodbanks are being finalised but will such as food banks and soup kitchens, include funding to help with distribution to identify and support those sleeping and advice. on the streets. The Council has also Tim Valentine brought in specialist outreach workers ([email protected]) 01227 from the homeless charity ‘Porchlight’. 752802 These workers support people living Alastair Gould on the streets by assessing their hous- ([email protected]) ing, social and healthcare needs, and

2 SUMMER SERENADE Ellen Pearson will be known to anyone Sunday 15th September who has heard her beautiful voice at previous concerts given by ‘Canter- Come along to St Peter and St Paul’s bury Voices’; she will be performing a Church in Boughton at 4.00pm for an wide variety of classical vocal reper- afternoon filled with young local musi- toire from German Lieder to Opera. cal talent. They include exceptionally talented Join us in support of the musicians from Simon Langton Girls’ Vocals Scholarship Fund which helps School; Elsa (violin) and Alice to support young women in their pur- Harrison (saxophone). As well, there suit of music! is a young mezzo soprano from the Royal Northern College of Music; Ellen Admission is free; donations will be in- Pearson. vited to the scholarship fund. Elsa Kent will be performing De Falla’s Danse Espanole, and Alice Harrison will be performing a piece by Bach. Refreshments will be served. TEDDY BEAR PARACHUTE JUMP certificate. Sunday 15th September 3.00pm at Hernhill Church If your Teddy should be injured Furst Aid will be on paw from Have you got a brave bear? the Paratedics and Teddymed- Would you like to see your Ted- ics in the Tedical Centre. dy Bear parachute from the top of St Michael’s church tower? All brave bears will be asked to pay £2.00 for their very daring Last year many brave bears jump, or £5.00 per family. The from far and wide rose to the fee is in aid of St Michael’s challenge and took part. Only one or Church, Hernhill. two got stuck in a tree! There is no need to enter in advance, Teddies will be taken aloft in the teddy just turn up on the day. The parachute bear basket and launched by organis- jumps start at 3.00pm, (weather per- ers from the tower roof. mitting.) There are few rules; A) Teddies must be securely har- All Teddies and their owners are wel- nessed in their home-made para- come. Teddy must come wearing a chutes. parachute so that s/he is all ready to B) Teddies will be timed during their jump. descent, the slowest descent wins. C) In the event of a tie, the Teddies will If you need any have to jump again. more information D) There will be prizes for the slowest please apply to recorded jump-times. the Jump-master E) Every Teddy that completes a jump Revd Jean will receive Super Ted status and a 01227 751410

3 MESSY CHURCH Now Messy Church is changing. A Our final Messy Church was on Sat- brand new monthly programme for urday 20th July. We had a lovely families is starting on Saturday 12th time outside in the sunshine. Thank October in St B’s Church in Boughton. you to everyone who has been part We will be outside part of the time, of Messy Church over the past seven please bring wet weather clothes if years. Thank you to all our lovely necessary. families and our amazing helpers, we You are very welcome to come along couldn’t have done it without you. whether you’ve been part of Messy We’ve enjoyed every session and Church or not. laughed and learnt together. 3.30 to 4.30pm followed by refresh- ments. SCHOOL NEWS This year it will be held on Saturday 21st September, In July, we ended the school year 12.30-3.30pm, with lots to reflect on and celebrate. at the School. Like last year, it will offer fun in the Our Year 6 class produced and per- creative zone and retro zones; great formed a fantastic school play, all the refreshments and entertainment children did brilliantly at our annual from pupils and ‘Cloud Nine Jazz’; a sports day and the Year 4 class took chance to win prizes in the ‘try-your- part in the first 'Hernhill sleep-over' luck’ zone and to run off some steam on the school field raising over £700 in the sporting zone. There will be a for the Porchlight Charity in the proc- great variety of refreshments and en- ess. We also said thank you and tertainments on offer and along with good bye to our deputy head, Jean the bar, cake stall, teas and coffees Clapp, who retired after 18 years of and ice creams, we will be running dedication to Hernhill School. We another BBQ. The money the PTA- wish her all the very best for the fu- FA raise at the fete allows them to ture. We also wish the Year 6 chil- make big donations to the school and dren who left us in July lots of luck this year they’re working to fund the for their start at secondary school. creation of our outdoor classroom. It is our biggest fundraiser and a really A new school year now beckons and lovely event. with it we look forward to welcoming our new Reception children and their Everyone is welcome to come along families. There is lots already to support us and have a lovely after- planned in our calendar and we will noon. There is a mix of indoor and make sure to keep you updated outdoor activities so don’t be de- through the ‘Hernhill News’ during terred if the weather is wet! There will the year. be things to see, do, watch and eat throughout the afternoon so we’d Our first important event is our fete. love to see you there! As most of you will know, the annual Sarah Alexander school fete is held in September. Headteacher 4 BARN DANCE Saturday 19th October Hernhill Village Hall 7.30pm to 10.30pm Tickets £10.00 (Juniors £5.00) obtainable from Sally Bryce 01227 750300 Profits in aid of St Michael's Church FROM THE VICAR The Bible neither condemns nor con- It was decriminalized in 1961 but people dones suicide and suicide is not an often talk about it as if it is a crime. unforgivable sin. Christian teaching is clear that we help those who are suf- I heard it on the radio today, ‘Someone fering and being aware of the signs committed suicide.’ People don’t commit and being prepared to talk to some- suicide but, tragically, they do take their one who has suicidal thoughts are own lives. In an average week in the UK good starting points. We want such 112 people will complete a suicide at- people to know there is hope and they tempt. The latest statistics for Kent and can come through tough times, talking Medway show that 141 suicides were really does help. There are a number completed last year which is higher than of helplines available. Most people the South East Area and the national know about the ‘Samaritans’ who are averages. Even more worrying for us is always there to listen. In Kent, ‘Re- that Swale and Thanet have the highest lease the Pressure’ is a free 24/7 hel- suicide rates. pline with trained professionals talk to,

Tuesday 10th September is World Sui- 0800 1070160, cide Prevention Day, one person dies of or go to suicide around the world every 40 sec- releasethepressure.co.uk. onds. The effects of suicide spread far and wide and impact family, friends and ‘Stay Alive’ is a free phone app which the wider community. Days such as provides support, guidance and re- World Suicide Prevention Day raise sources to individuals who may be awareness about suicide, what help can experiencing suicidal thoughts or feel- be given and how we can to break the ings with the aim of putting elements taboos. such as safety plans in place.

Suicide has always existed but sadly not Every suicide we hear about is heart- talked about, especially by men who are breaking. We all need to know we are at the highest risk of taking their own life. loved and valued and there is always Suicide is the biggest killer of men under someone who will listen to us, howev- 45 in Kent. Talking about it doesn’t in- er we’re feeling. We can all play a part crease the risk of someone having sui- in that, in our homes, churches, cidal thoughts or encourage them to groups and villages. There is also free attempt suicide. In fact talking about it is training available about suicide pre- the best thing that can happen. vention and awareness, given by the charity ‘Mind’, which I can highly rec-

5 ommend. If you are interested please speak to me. Rev Jean Burrows

DECISION No muscle needed, use the tide I stood on Folly Bridge, To find your goal of wisdom's leaned on the parapet richness. And gazed on Isis' flow slipping Think not to pull against stream, seaward and wondered, For though this may at first yield rich Should I turn my back on Oxford's reward dreaming spires for ever Time at last will weary you Join the hurrying throng crossing And bring you down again to Folly southwards, Bridge. Use my last coin on fare at further So, make your choice; pull hard point of no return. against the flow, Just then a gleam reflected from a Then rest and watch the rat race on sunburst the bridge. Caught my eye with its same wistful That way you cannot lose message. The vision once vouched safe to you Of wood and trees that some call "Chose rather me the river than the common-sense." footpath or the road. R. S. Hills Take the boat and downward glide. BITS AND PIECES The church was full for Barbara's funer- As far as Village events are concerned al and, despite the days either side, the August is always a quiet month. The weather could not have been better. So school is closed and many families many have said that the Service was have taken the opportunity to go away moving and beautiful. Over £700 has on holiday. Well, they did as long as the been donated and shared between Bar- striking pilots would allow. bara's favourite charities, The dogs Trust and Shelterbox which provides a However, there are now some things to rapid response to disaster areas. Thank look forward to in September. The very you. And again, thank you for all the successful ‘Teddy Jump’ from the tower cards and letters of condolence. they of Hernhill Church at 3.00pm and the have been a great help. concert ‘Summer Serenade’ in Boughton Church at 4.00pm, both on And now the World moves on and the Sunday 15th. And then on Saturday garden needs to be tended and the 21st there is the School Fete. Another grass needs to be cut whilst it is dry and event not to be missed. before the rains start again. ADT

T o book the V illage Hall go to www.hernhill-bookings.net

Alan D. Taylor Articles by Yew Tree House, Dargate Monday near Faversham, Kent ME13 9HG 01227 751293 23rd e-mail [email protected] Sept 6 Sun 1 Sep 8.00am Boughton Church Holy Communion 10.00am Hernhill Church Sung Communion 6.00pm Goodnestone Ch Evening Worship Tues 3 ------Green Bin Collection Sun 8 8.00am Hernhill Church Holy Communion 10.00am Boughton Church Morning Worship 10.30am Church Harvest Festival Tues 10 ------Blue Bin Collection Sat 14 ------Ride and stride for Kent churches Sun 15 8.00am Hernhill Church Holy Communion 10.00am Boughton Church Holy Communion 10.30am Graveney Church Morning Worship 3 00pm Hernhill Church Teddy Bear parachute jump 4 00pm Boughton Church Summer serenade Tues 17 ------Green Bin Collection Sun 22 10.00am Hernhill Church Patronal festival & Benefice Service 12 45pm St B’s Boughton Harvest lunch Tues 24 ------Blue Bin Collection Wed 25 8.00pm Village Hall Parish Council Meeting Sun 29 10.00am Hernhill Church Morning Worship 10.30am Graveney Church Holy Communion 4.30pm St B’s Boughton Time to remember Tues 1 Oct ------Green Bin Collection Sun 6 8.00am Boughton Church Holy Communion 10.00am Hernhill Church Harvest Festival 10.30am Graveney Church Morning Worship Tues 8 ------Blue Bin Collection Sun 13 8.00am Boughton Church Holy Communion 10.00am Hernhill Church Morning Worship 10.30am Graveney Church Holy Communion Tues 15 ------Green Bin Collection Sat 19 7 30pm Village Hall Barn Dance Sun 20 8.00am Hernhill Church Holy Communion 10.00am Boughton Church Harvest Festival Tues 22 ------Blue Bin Collection Sun 27 10.30am Graveney Church Patronal festival & Benefice Service Tues 29 ------Green Bin Collection Wed 30 8.00pm Village Hall Parish Council Meeting Thurs 31 6 00pm Hernhill Church Spooky stories 7