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The Monthly Paper By the Community News For the Community Volume 5 No. 5 May2014 Hothfield Resident is Business Woman of the Year Clare Singleton, Hothfield resident and owner of The Granary Spa just over the border in in , walked away as Kent Business Woman of the Year at the Kent Women in Business Awards. Miss Singleton was nominated by one of her clients for her determination, business growth and consistent focus on cus- tomer service since the Granary Spa opened its doors in Sep- tember 2012. She employs five local people and regularly holds and partici- pates in charity fundraising events. She said: "I was flabbergasted. "I didn't for a second think that being shortlisted would lead to actually winning the award. "I was sure that we would have a lovely time at the awards ceremony but we wouldn't take home a runners-up accolade, let alone being crowned Kent Business Woman of the Year. "My team has been wonderful, as have all of our customers. I couldn't do this without them and this really has been a dream come true for me. "I have learnt so much in the last few years and I can't wait for the Granary Spa to start the next chapter."

Wednesday 11th June 2014 at The Granary Spa, Worten Lane (on the way to Great Chart)

All proceeds are being raised for Pilgrims Hospice

We hope this event will be our biggest and we are aiming to raise £3000!! Please tell all your friends and family.

We are being supported by the beauty and holistic department at College, which is providing 13 students who will be offering mini manicures/ Indian head massage / foot massage/ facial massages in our relaxation lounge.

In the treatment rooms downstairs we will be offering the following: Aromatherapy Back Neck and Shoulder massage, Reflexology, Bamboo Massage, Thai foot and lower leg massage Facial Massage and Indian Head Massage.

We are delighted to also welcome our dear friends from DONTEV hairdressing who are providing a team led by Director Donna Liddle. They will be offering wet haircuts (please wash your hair in the morning) and blow dries.

We will have a large marquee in our garden where you will be able to enjoy refreshments and enter our raffle. Pilgrims Hospices are bringing a number of holistic therapists who volunteer at the hospice as well to spoil you all.

We need to fill 300 spaces for this day and I know you will help us achieve this huge aim! So don’t delay, call today – we will take your bookings, then you just need to go to the hospice website to pay. It couldn’t be more simple.

Please bring some extra money so you can win our wonderful prizes in our raffle and enjoy refreshments and home-made cakes!

2 Hothfield History Society

Public meeting and AGM: 30th May, Village Hall, 7pm Melody has kindly agreed More mystery photos nise the building then please tage’. He then built ‘The to be our guest speaker at from New Zealand: let me know via: hothfield- Danes’ behind his store. this year’s AGM. After our can you help? [email protected] or Melody recalls dancing brief annual report and ac- You may recall that last call: (01233) 624105. around the Maypole as well counts you can ask questions month I said that we’d had as egg and spoon races and a about the History Society’s some photographs from Village Memories sack race; she also remem- activities and then we’ll hear New Zealand taken by a Sisters Madeline and Mel- bers a birthday party with fascinating stories from Mel- soldier who was in the 7th ody Foreman have posted Diane Nicholls. Melody and ody. Melody will tell us anti-tank regiment and was their memories of Hothfield her dad emigrated to Aus- more about her life and in- in between June and onto the website together tralia but she came back two terests and there may be a September 1940. Thank you with some lovely photo- years later and is in Hoth- chance to buy one of her to Fiona who thinks that the graphs. They were at Hoth- field once again. books. The meeting is free mystery farmhouse and field school in the late 1960s Similarly to Diane, Melody to attend, so we look for- oasts is possibly Dane Court and their dad, Dave Fore- has written her own books. ward to seeing you at the at . man, ran the Stores in the Melody is a historian and has Hall on Friday 30th from I attach another of the old NAAFI hut on The published books on Canter- 7pm. mystery photos taken by the Street after Messrs Sains- bury and social history in the New Zealander which is bury moved across the road war years. I’m grateful to Please visit thought to be somewhere in to the ‘new’ stores and Post the two ladies for adding www.hothfieldmemories.org.uk the UK. It’s another big Office. Mr Foreman’s shop their stories to the website to read stories from past country house probably used was demolished a few years and for contributing their residents and to add your as a billet. I had wondered if ago and a new brick garage personal photos to the vil- own story, or to add a com- it is Kempton Manor stands on the same spot. Mr lage’s archive for everyone ment. (Cowlees) now known as Foreman also built a bunga- to enjoy. Chris Rogers the ‘Hop Pickers’ on the low on West Street which Maidstone Road – but I he called ‘Villa Nova’ but it’s don’t think so. If you recog- now known as ‘West Cot-

A proud Dave Foreman outside his shop in the NAAFI hut in 1958

3 For and Against the Solar Farm What, that again? Yes, that again. As you will know by now, the developers have submitted a revised application to ABC, and you can still send in your opinion, whether for or against, either by writing to the Planning depart- ment or on the ABC website – go to Ashford.gov.uk, select Planning and building Control, then View Applications Online, Planning Applications and Application number 14/00326/AS. Meanwhile, the Editor has received two letters which may help you to make up your mind. Dear Sir, approved) and also someone I am sure that you will worried that it was going to have other readers who like get approved anyway, I had me, have had to think about nothing to lose by talking to their attitude towards the the developer to see what latest solar park proposal at they could/would do to Oaklands Farm. Life never make it better. I’m actually seems to offer us black and glad I did (I wasn’t alone) as white choices, which is just a number of improvements as well because although it have been agreed and I am might make for an easier life, now able to support the Dear Editor, tions from Hothfield resi- it would certainly be more scheme and in so doing, live The controversy over so- dents and from farther afield boring. I felt that the first a little easier with my con- lar farms in open country- are flooding in. scheme was so extreme and science. side rolls on. The developers appear to would have such a detrimen- The latest planting plan expect that there will be tal effect on me and my fam- (which is still open to sug- has refused planning applica- fewer objections to a smaller ily that the decision to ob- gestions for improvement) tions for large-scale solar site; but there is little doubt ject was an easy one to isn’t a matter of a few two farms in , Kenarding- that, if the first application reach. However, on this foot high sticks but consists ton and Hothfield; but now had been for this 23 acres of occasion I found my decision of a substantial belt of trees Hothfield is in the line of fire land, the volume of objec- being confused by a number with a secondary belt of again. tion would have been little of factors, not least that the semi-mature trees (probably The proposal which was different. It is, after all, not proposal was likely to get poplars) to screen the higher rejected was for a solar farm much smaller than the site at approved (I felt) and so I ground. The panels will still covering 49 acres in fields which has al- started to really look at be visible on day one but I close to the village of Hoth- ready been refused permis- what was being put forward. am pretty confident that field. The same area is now sion. Once you start to look, you after the first season the the site of a revised plan for And it still represents a are soon in the position screening will start to be- just over 23 acres; half the large area of the Garden of where you have to ask your- come effective and within 2- size of the former proposal, England disappearing under self, is this reasonable, and 3 years the site should not but still a sizeable area of industrial apparatus. It is even what is reasonable? be visible. If I didn’t think agricultural land. hard to see why, after three Some people seem to think that I wouldn’t support it, In recent speeches, Greg refusals, the developers that the only reasonable it’s as simple as that. What is Barker, Minister of State for hope that a fourth will be proposal is for there to be true for me would also be Energy and Climate Change, any more successful. nothing, in other words they true (or more so) for the has been emphasising that Let’s be clear. Most objec- are against it in principal, and byway. The second big thing solar farms should ideally be tors at Hothfield and else- I can’t see that. I’ve got chil- to come out of the discus- on brownfield land or in where do not oppose solar dren and hope to have sions is the protection of the industrial areas. 'Where so- farms per se. Far from it. grandchildren, and we are surrounding fields from any lar farms are not on brown- Most of the community ac- told that some form of re- expansion of the site. This is field land', he said, ' you must tively support renewable newable energy is necessary particularly important to me be looking at low-grade agri- energy initiatives IN THE to secure their futures and I but equally important to cultural land.' RIGHT PLACE, NOT THE do believe that, so it must be users of the byway. The land at Hothfield is WRONG PLACE. a matter of balance? As one There are numerous other not low-grade; it is of the In Hothfield and else- of the few people who will points (obviously not all in grade described as 'the best where, developers have be able to see it from day favour) on which people can and most productive'. This sought to ignore Govern- one, on a daily basis (if it’s make a reasoned judgement was one of the many reasons ment guidance, which now about this pro- why the previous application actively opposes large scale posal, I really was refused. solar farms in rural areas, hope they will Mr. Barker also emphasised and especially in areas with look at it with an that the views of local com- protected character status, open mind rather munities must be taken into as in Hothfield. The grounds than just say: it’s account. The original appli- for refusing the Hothfield a solar farm so it cation attracted over 130 solar farm proposal were must be wrong. objection comments to the WRONG LAST TIME and ABC planning department's are WRONG THIS TIME. Mike Chandler website, an astonishingly Hall Farm high number. Already, objec- Peter Patten

4 Village Hall The Village Hall

Regular Activities Annual General

Mondays Dance Class 8-10pm Meeting Tuesdays Bowls 7-9.30pm. Come and join us! is on 23 May at Wednesdays Dog Training 6.30-9.30pm Fridays Youth Club 6-8.30pm. 7pm in the Saturdays Rugby Tots 9-10.45am.

To book the Village Hall for your Parties, Hall. Get-togethers, etc., please ring Diane on 01233 329824. All welcome.

Tennis Now that the better weather is hopefully coming, there have been a few enquiries about playing tennis on the MUGA next to the Children’s Centre. The net is kept in the locked section at the end of the MUGA, and the key is available from either Malcolm Cook on 627323 or Penny Sutcliffe on 634191. Friends of Saint Margaret’s Ashford Lions Club This new club is now well under way and is already planning new events. This is your chance to join other like-minded people to put something back into your commu- nity and have fun at the same time. Why not give us a try? We meet on the second Monday of each month at 7.30pm at the Press Rooms, Park Street, Ashford. Contact: 07957246676 or e-mail [email protected].'

Saturday 31 May 2014 In the Village Hall, 7.00 for 7.30pm April Draw

Teams of 6-8; Tickets £10 1st prize £25.00 no. 86 From Hothfield Post Office 2nd prize £15.00 no. 71 3rd prize £10.00 no. 46 MAY FUNNY Man goes into a bar, orders six whiskies and drinks them straight down, one after the other. ‘Why drink them so quickly?’ asks the landlord. ‘You’d drink quickly if you had what I have.’ ‘Why, what have you got? ‘50p.’

5 Annual Reports Supplement ‘story’ that a HGV parking lot for thousands of lorries was Hothfield Parish Council planned for land beside the village hall. There is and never All are welcome to the Annual Hothfield Parish Meeting was any truth to these stories, so please ignore them which is the opportunity for Hothfield Parishioners to find out and those people that seem to delight in telling falsehoods! what has been happening in their parish over the past year. April Fool’s Day is but once a year despite some people’s This year due to the way the dates fell, the Annual Parish desire to want to start rumours purely to confuse others all Council Meeting will be held on May 7th. year round. The biggest news is that which our Ward Member, David So once again could I please ask people to not speculate, it Robey, touched on in his report, being the redevelopment of makes you look silly! the area around the public toilets in Cades Road. Plans to The Parish Council continues to meet regularly at the replace this building are now well advanced, with an architect Bluebells Children’s Centre on the first Wednesday of most being appointed to design the new building and surrounds; the months. There are still vacancies on the Council, so if you new building would most likely occupy a different part of the would like to help by serving your community with the Parish site. As David mentions, incorporated into the design ‘wants’ is Council please contact the Clerk, Judith Batt. In 2015 a way in which HGV parking can be reduced or eliminated at combined with the Local and General elections all Parish the site. The final plans are not yet drawn but one of the uses Councillors are required to stand for re-election and I would for the new building is a commercially viable café serving ask you to support those people who are volunteering to freshly prepared food which will also have enough seating to assist their and our community. host small meetings or groups. On behalf of the Parish Council I would urge all parishioners Another part of the regeneration of this area that has been to work together to enhance what we have in our rural idyll. suggested is for the junction of Cades Road and the A20 to be Hothfield has much to offer, and with your help, together we made safer and less of a ‘high speed’ turn. This might involve can make sure everyone enjoys the benefits of living here. the junction being made ‘squarer’ to stop those drivers that What Hothfield has is admired by many outsiders; some are feel the need to take the turn at break-neck speed. Hopefully even jealous of our fantastic community lifestyle and spirit. So this would then see a further reduction in speed on Cades if you have ideas as to how to enhance the lifestyle found here Road especially for those crossing the road with children and then please do contact the Parish Council – all ideas gratefully dogs to enjoy our fantastic Hothfield Heathlands (the accepted. Common). Many thanks for your attendance and for your ongoing Recently in conjunction with David Robey and the Hothfield support for our parish. Regeneration Group we (David & I) have been trying to Larry Krause convince those with the ability to make it happen that Chair, Hothfield Parish Council Hothfield needs faster Broadband. There has been confirmation that a couple of commercial interests in the Hothfield News parish have indeed received fibre optic broadband but that these entities have had to pay large amounts of money for the This has been a busy year, at times a problematic one, and privilege. David and I are currently working with KCC, ABC recently a rather difficult one. and Openreach to try and expedite the rollout of the faster The biggest problem for a village newspaper is shortage of service to residents in Hothfield. The outcomes are slow but news. There’s plenty going on in the village, but people don’t there is hope that it may well be sooner rather than sometime think to tell the local rag about things. We need help with this. in the future, especially for the village itself. Those living For example, the Parish Council meets once a month, but outside of the central village may not get the same speed but somebody needs to send a report of the meetings to the Edi- will be that much closer to a fibre optic cabinet so, fingers tor. The Parish Council minutes are published, but they are crossed, should receive a better service/speed. If you want the purely formal and tell very little of what is going on. The same full technical specifications of how it might come about, then can be said of the Hothfield Regeneration Group. Read the come and see me; but be warned, it is a long tedious saga. first page of this supplement and you’ll be surprised at what’s Plan-it continues slowly as the Planning Department of ABC going on. Would anybody like to volunteer as a reporter? and the Hothfield Regeneration Group want to make sure all You might say that the Editor could attend a few meetings opinions taken at the meeting are reflected in the ideas that and do his own report. But he already does his own collection, will eventually be put before another meeting. editing, layout, design, printing, collation, stapling and delivery. ABSOLUTELY NO decisions will be made before the He is, however, deeply grateful to those contributors – nota- people of Hothfield are consulted with regard to any changes bly Hothfield Heathlands and the History Society – who send to the village housing or streets or surrounding land areas; in their pieces every month, without fail and on time. Deep dismiss the rumours as untrue! gratitude, also, to our faithful band of distributors, without Throughout the year there was an abundance of rumours whom the production would be pointless. and false stories put about on various incidents and of people On the bright side, we are now in colour thanks to generous being sacked from their highly valued positions of trust with grants from the Hothfield Educational Foundation and David the parish. I would again like to stress that these types of Robey’s Community Grant, and the Parish Council’s agree- fictitious rumour do nothing for anyone or Hothfield’s ment to extra money in future years. For this, many thanks. reputation in the wider community. Despite speaking directly to some of the spreaders of these and to the persons named, it seems they persisted out of pure meanness. HOTHFIELD NEWS is published by HGB Services. If you listened to the rumours you would think Boris Johnson Contact us at [email protected] or on was going to build an airport on the shop. Not to mention the 01233 629568. Deadline for the June issue is 20 May.

6 DAVID ROBEY, Ward Member for Hothfield Heathlands

Downs West, Ashford Borough Council Butterflies: With awful weather in Spring 2013, it was a

A lot has been happening at ABC over the last year. surprise to discover that we had the second highest number of Our new arrangements for Household Waste Collection are butterflies ever recorded at Hothfield Heathlands. That was a now fully up and running, and have already resulted in Ashford total of 1615 individuals, with 22 different species. Butterflies achieving recycling rates of over 50%, which are amongst the are very much weather dependant. During the very cold, wet best in the country. April, May and June of 2013 we only saw 41 butterflies on our Ashford has a strong and improving local economy, with surveys. The remaining 1574 turned up in July, August and statistics for jobs, apprenticeships and economic growth ahead of September. Kent, the South East and the UK as a whole. In order to keep Birds: Super numbers of yellowhammers, linnets and willow things like this, the Council has identified eight big strategic warblers could be heard all over the reserve last year. We projects, the delivery of which is vital for the future of Ashford. also had our regular lesser spotted woodpecker, nightingales These are a new Further Education College, the development and nuthatches making a real racket. Some more subtle birds of Elwick Road, the development of the Commercial Quarter, the expansion of the Outlet Centre, the Jasmin Vardimon International Dance Academy, J10A on the M20, , a new Garden Suburb of Ashford, and upgrading the signalling at the International Station, to enable the new generation of international trains to stop there, as well as looking to improve the frequency of the international service. We are undertaking a review of our Local Plan, in order to ensure that we will be able to cater for Ashford’s Housing and Employment needs up to 2030, and we expect this process to be complete by the latter part of 2015. Small Yellowhammer Photo: Amy Lewis All Local Councils are going to have to be more self-sufficient financially in the future, as the level of direct National Government funding drops, but Ashford is well advanced with included a pair of grey wagtails living near one of the sluices planning for this, and is looking to become more commercial in a and spotted fly catchers in the Triangle. There were a number number of ways. of birds of prey hunting over the reserve, including a family of The heavy rain and flooding at the end of 2013 and the barn owls, buzzards, kestrels and occasional records of beginning of this year caused a lot of serious problems in many peregrine falcon too! parts of the country, but owing to the policies that we have put Plant life: We counted over 2,600 heath spotted-orchids last in place in Ashford, especially with regard to having Sustainable year, and in places the carpet of orchids was quite spectacular. Urban Drainage Systems in all of our new developments, and The other bog plants continued to thrive, and a botanist various other measures, no properties or businesses in the turned up a rare species Borough were flooded or damaged. of grass (Nardusstricta) On a more local level, plans are well advanced to demolish the which hadn’t been seen toilets on the Hothfield Heathlands, and replace them with a for 15 years. The Café/Visitor Centre, and, as part of this, we also hope to remove heather continues to the lorries that park in the Cades Road Lay-by. spread slowly, but so We are also looking at various measures to reduce the extent does the bracken and of Overnight Lorry Parking in unsuitable locations across the birch, with which we whole Borough, and thus to start to elimate the many problems are constantly battling. that this causes for large numbers of residents and businesses. Volunteers: This As part of the Local Plan Review Process, we are running brings us to the workshops with over thirty Villages under the Aegis of Plan- It reserves most Ashford 2030, and the initial Hothfield Worksop took place in important inhabitant – October 2013. This was the first of what is likely to be a number OUR VOLUNTEERS!! of consultations, and we hope to develop some plans for Over the 2013 period Hothfield that will alleviate some of the problems in the central local people donated triangle area, particularly parking, and also bring a modest level of 662 days of their time, market housing to the village. This is an ongoing process, and will to help us to: eventually feed into our new Local Plan.  Create new areas of heathland, Each Borough Councillor has a small budget called the Ward Member Community Grant, which he or she can use for projects  Scythe 20 acres of bracken, to benefit the local community, and I was delighted, as part of  Tackle 8 acres of birch scrub this, to be able to assist with the Hothfield Village Summer Party,  Build and repair 1.5 miles of fence and also to help get a colour printer for the Hothfield News.  Remove 50+ sacks of rubbish So, in summary, there is a lot going on in both Hothfield, and  And generally get wet, muddy, achy and happy in the the Borough as a whole. I think that the outlook for both is very name of nature conservation positive, and that we should all face the future with confidence. THANK YOU ! Ian Rickards

Thanet Charities Once again the Trustees of Thanet Charities have continued their work in the village. The financial situation of the Charity has remained stable allowing the Trustees to continue paying their pensioners, together with a small amount of hardship payments. The Trustees are also prepared to continue paying the rental of the village hall for the monthly Coffee Mornings. Pat Guy

7 attracted many visitors who brought more stories, pictures Hothfield History Society and the occasional artefact including a piece of the former stables from Hothfield Manor which was kindly donated. We have now completed the second year, of three, of our Our Family History workshops continue with an ‘advanced’ Heritage Lottery Funded project. The small band of hard- class laid on for some who had been to the previous sessions. working Committee and volunteers have continued to scan We also produced a glossy calendar of historic scenes of and describe each document, picture and item for the village’s Hothfield which have sold well, alongside further sales of our on-line archive. ‘20th Century’ book and CDs of the Reverend Russell’s In October we launched two websites: extensive research. www.hothfieldmemories.org.uk tells the story of Hothfield and I’m very grateful to the volunteers and Committee for their the other is the on-line catalogue of the pictures, photos, continuing hard work and for giving up personal time. I was reports and artefacts. These websites are still in their early also pleased to welcome new volunteers who came forward days with much more yet to be displayed on them. Many last year. The Society is grateful to Hedley for printing our pictures and stories can now be viewed, but we still need to updates in the village newsletter and to the Parish Council, and clear copyright for many more so that we can release even Clive Stanley for promoting our events. more on the internet. In the year ahead we will be running local history workshops These websites have already generated interest, and on researching properties or buildings and carrying out compliments, from around the world with more stories and interviews of residents and past residents. Our Lottery- family photographs being e-mailed to us or loaded on-line by funded project also requires that we involve younger people. former residents. Many of the stories that have come in relate We had planned a task with the former Youth Project. to the Nissen huts camp, and also touching on other aspects of However, following personnel changes in the Youth Project’s Hothfield life. leadership and the eventual demise of that Project we have not Last year we also held two public meetings with interesting yet been able to progress that element of our own speakers, including direct descendants of the past Bourne programme. family of Hothfield who visited from America. We held Chris Rogers another one-day exhibition of old images of the village. This Chairman, Hothfield History Society

I have mentioned no names in this report, as I realised that, Saint Margaret’s Church were I to do so, I would have to list the entire Electoral Roll. Our Church life in Hothfield has again been full and As churchwardens, we are intensely grateful to the corporate productive. Thanks to regular Churchwardens' Meetings, we effort made by every single member. have been able to enter more fully into the corporate life of After the Easter Eucharist, two teenage boys came into the G7 Benefice. This has been encouraged by a full the church. After a thorough tour, one of them said, ˜Isn't this complement of staff and a dedicated team of lay workers. a lovely, warm, friendly, homely place? And so it is, because Our pattern of services has remained the same. The bell- our church is loved and filled with love. This material ringers now ring for the first Sunday of the month, when we expression of the love of God is as much a part of our Mission have a Common Worship Eucharist, as we do on the third as the services themselves. Sunday. On the second Sunday we have Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer. This service is not well attended, especially in the winter, and its future is under Hothfield Village Hall discussion. On the fourth Sunday we have a Family Service, We Still have Rugby Tots on Saturday morning They have mostly lay-led, in the morning, and in the afternoon Messy increased their hours and re-signed for next term. We also Church at the Bluebells Centre. Messy Church extends our have the dance classes on Mondays, and they are well ahead mission into the wider community, and is attended by families with their bookings from around the G7. When there is a fifth Sunday in the Short Mat bowls is still going but the club is desperate for month, G7 services are held in one of the seven churches of new members. They have had 2 tournaments, which I was the Benefice. pleased to be part of. One was for Air Ambulance and raised Our Pastoral Group continues to run the Coffee Morning on £400. The second was a new tournament called Hothfield the first Tuesday of each month in the Village Hall, and to visit Open Bowl. where 16 teams from all areas came. This raised and help sick and elderly parishioners. The church is cleaned £500. once a month by dedicated volunteers, and our flower On the minus side, we also held an equestrian table sale arrangers go from strength to strength. Lay people read the which attracted twelvetables, but alas not many buyers and no lessons, help with the Chalice and offer prayers of intercession support from the village at every service. The Friends of Saint Margaret's have had a I have also tried to organise a Sunday lunch club, but only a most productive year, arranging social and fund-raising events few friends I have made in the village said yes. I also tried a such as the Curry and Quiz Night and the Harvest Supper, trip to Lathe Barn for cream teas, but did not receive a single culminating in 2013 with a splendid and well-attended answer. Christmas Tree Festival, resulting in the raising of more money The bookings are there from our regulars but quiet from than ever for the fabric of the church. outsiders. The fabric itself has had a quiet year. The re-tiling of the I would really like to know what the people of the village south aisle roof has been postponed again and again, and is want to have put on. When we ask in the magazine, no-one now (and we hope finally) scheduled for late Summer. Once comes forward, with the splendid exception of Holly’s that is done, we can look at other necessary work, such as the Strawberry Tea, which raised a great deal of money for plaster in the baptistery and the renovation of the south Cancer Research. porch. It is to be hoped that we will also be able, at last, to lay The accounts look fine and we have made the hall a place to a proper path from the gate to the porch, Meanwhile, in the be proud of. The question now is: what can we do to fill it? near future we will have new carpet in the chancel. Carol Vaughan

8 Hothfield 6 Educational Foundation

Since the amendment to our Constitution in 2009 we have made slow progress. The main aim of the Foundation is to promote education for all East Dean Kennels residents of the village. Road, Headcorn We have seen the Kent TN27 9HP benefit of widening the scope in terms of grants 01622 892305 being made. In the last [email protected] year of the old Constitution, sixteen grants were awarded. Last year, 2012, this had risen to twenty-seven grants to Hothfield residents of all ages totalling over £9,000. The range of grants is wide: £10 for a school trip to £1,500 for advanced training. If you know of anyone in this village who we might be able to support please ask them to c o n t a c t M a r i a n n e Highwood, our secretary. She can be contacted either by email (hothfieldeducation@gma il.com) or writing to alder House, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1EN. Our Chairman, Peter Patten, can also be contacted for information on how to apply for funding. His number is 01233 620880.

9 Hothfield

Gardeners’ Competition Sat 12th July 2014

Plans continue to go ahead for our Gardeners’ Competition Our new which will be judged by Viv Hunt and Alan Hubbard opening times from the Garden Team at House. Gardens open daily from Categories this year will include; 1pm until 6pm, the house is  Best small village garden, now open for the season to  Best large village garden, the public on Fri, Sat, Sun  Best container planting, and Bank Holidays, with the  Best rural garden, and first tour at 1.30pm and the  Best fruit/veg. last at 4pm. We would also welcome entries from children and young people, and there will be a prize for the most unusual plant seen by the judges on the day. MAY 3

Application forms will be included in next month's Hothfield News. PLANT SUPPORT WORKSHOP 9.30am to 3pm and District Local History Society Viv Hunt, Head Gardener, will Outing to Faversham, 17 May. demonstrate various different A guided tour visiting the Church, Old Grammar School, Fleur de Lis Museum methods of plant support in the and the centre of the historic town, gardens, then make your own followed by a WI cream tea in Painter’s Forstall. Cost: £21 members; willow obelisk or frame with £23.50 non-members. Lunch is not provided. local craftsman, Alan Sage. Pickup: School Road, Charing 9am. Return: approx. 6pm. To book, ring 01233 713971 or 713357 ONLY A COUPLE OF

Exhibition on Charing in the First World War PLACES AVAILABLE From 14 June to 23 July Charing and District Local History Society will hold a major exhibition, sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Ashford Borough MAY 18 Council among others, about Charing during the First World War. It was probably typical of many larger Kent parishes near a railway station, in that it ran two VAD PLANT FAIR, hospitals and frequently billeted troops. As well as telling the story of the 280 men HARDY PLANT (and occasionally women) who served, it will also look at how the village coped and how lives were affected. SOCIETY The exhibition will be staged in 14 venues across the parish, each displaying 11am to 4pm relevant material – e.g. the churches will concentre on the fallen, the school will Adults £5, entry to plant fair and have details of the schools and the lives of children. garden, children under 16 free. There will be two open weekends – 14/15 June and 5/6 July when all the material will be available to view (Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 2-5pm), and there will be various Purchase a variety of plants extra events. Please see the website www.charinghistory.co.uk, local paper etc., for details. Admission is free. from local nurseries.

10 Saint Margaret’S ChurCh Greetings from the Rector Services for May One of my favourite narratives in the New Testament is the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24 : 13 – 35), the reading that will be Sunday 4th Third Sunday of Easter used in our churches on the first Sunday in May. The disciples 11am The Eucharist are downhearted, trudging their way back to their homes after the bottom had fallen out of their world. The popular leader, th their friend, their master, the person in whom they had put all Sunday 11 Fourth Sunday of Easter their trust, had been crucified. For them, it seemed like the 11am Holy Communion end. All that was left for them to do was to return to their former professions. The stranger that joins them on their jour- Sunday 18th Fifth Sunday of Easter ney to Emmaus listens to their story and engages with their 11am The Eucharist experience. Night falls and they invite him to stay with them. It is only as he takes the bread, blesses it and breaks it that they th realise that this stranger is indeed Jesus, their Saviour and their Sunday 25 Sixth Sunday of Easter master. They were so engrossed in their own sorrow, their 11am Family Service own story, that they had failed to recognise him in their midst. As he sat with them and spoke to them, they began to see EVERY TUESDAY things in a new way. Easter is a time of newness. Creation speaks its own message 9am Charing – The Eucharist with the abundant blossom, the bluebells making carpets of 7pm Charing Heath – Prayer and Bible Study colour in the woodlands, the lambs in the fields. It is a time of newness because we celebrate the resurrection, the founda- Thursday 29th Ascension Day tion upon which the Christian faith is built. “He is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia” we all chorus on Easter Sunday. Mary, coming early to the tomb on that first Easter Day CHARING found the stone rolled away. A voice spoke to her, “Mary”, it 10am Benefice Eucharist said. This sounded just like Jesus, but everyone knew he had been crucified only days before. “Master?” she said and the ASHFORD ST MARY voice repeated her name. Now she was sure the voice be- 7.30pm Deanery Eucharist longed to Jesus so she, the first evangelist, ran off to tell the disciples “He is risen”. Like the companions on the road to Emmaus, she had seen and understood Jesus differently. One way in which people begin to see things differently is in an Alpha Course. The G7 Benefice is running an Alpha Course beginning on April 28th, 7pm in Charing School. Even if you have missed the first session, it may not be too late to sign up. Please contact me if you would like to be part of this course. One of the ways in which the national church has seen things differently in recent years is in the debate over Women Bish- ops. As I write, over half of the dioceses in the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the legislation that will en- able women to be bishops. What a landmark this will be in the year in which we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordina- tion of women to the priesthood. Do come, if you are able, to the celebration in the Cathedral at 11am on May 10th. Sheila

This month’s COFFEE MORNING will be held on Tuesday 6 May

In the Village Hall from 10.00am ALL WELCOME

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Pre-Schools Bluebells Group Place Session Times Contact Children’s Charing Pre-school Victorian Hall, School Road, Charing, 9.00am-3.30pm 01233 2yrs - 5yrs TN27 0JN Mon-Fri 714000

Centre Pluckley Pre-school Pluckley Church of England Primary 9.00am-12.00pm 01233 Over 3’s only School, The Street, Pluckley, Ashford, Mon-Fri 840422 School Road TN27 0QS Hothfield Ashford Kent Egerton Pre-school Millennium Hall, Elm Close, Ashford, 9.00am-12.00pm 07773 2.5yrs - 4yrs TN27 9DS Mon-Fri 600982 TN26 1HA 01233 622296 Pre-school Church Lane, Challock, Ashford, TN25 9.00am-12.00pm 01233 Play Group 4BU Mon-Fri 740504 Open: 2.5yrs - 5yrs Term Time

Monday-Friday Bethersden Primary School, School Mon, Tues, Weds, 01233 8.30am-5.00pm Playschool Road, Ashford, TN26 3AH Thurs: 820823 2yrs - 5yrs 9.00am-3.00pm Fri: Have you ever thought of 9.00am-12.30pm volunteering? Godinton Playschool Godinton Village Hall, Loudon Way, 9.00am-12.00pm 01233 Children's centres are 2yrs - 5yrs Ashford, TN23 3JJ Mon-Fri 612703 always looking for Extended ses- volunteers to help with sions until 1.30pm Weds, Thurs, Fri running and planning centre (for over 3s only) services. For more information please contact the centre on 01233 622296. Baby and Toddler Groups Day/Time Group Place Contact Mondays Tiddlers Baby & Toddler Lenham Health & Charing Heath Jo Greenwell 9.30am - 11.30am Group Memorial Hall, Church Hill, Charing 07803 272625 (term time only) Heath, Ashford, TN27 0OB

Tuesdays Baby & Toddler Group Egerton Millennium Hall, Elm Close Kimmy 1.15pm - 3.00pm £2.00 per family Egerton TN27 9DS Burbridge (Term Time Only) 01233 756261

Wednesday Pebbles Baby & Toddler Challock Methodist Chapel, The Emma Jones 9.30am-11.30am Group Lees, Challock, Ashford TN25 4DE 07779165979 (Term Time Only) £1.00 donation per person over 6 months

Wednesday Baby &Toddler Group Union Chapel, The Street, Mary Oliver 9.30am - 11.00am Bethersden TN26 3AD 01233 820572 (Term Time Only)

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Photo of the Month

Spring at Godinton House is never anything less than spectacular

If you work too hard, there is never any time to If you make a decision without consulting her, attend to her. you're a control freak. If you don't work enough, you're a good-for- If she makes a decision without consulting you, nothing layabout. she's a liberated woman.

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