The Village Magazine of the Chiddingstones

www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16937/benefice/

60 Pence October 2020 USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS

Churches Associate Priest Bill MacDougall 01892 870442 Licensed Lay Minister Sally Musson 07713 352017 Churchwardens (St Mary’s Bob Golds 01892 870429 Village) Chris Bell 01732 866222 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 Bell Ringers Stella Wooldridge 01892 870323 Choir Paul Allen 01732 463382 Parochial Parish Administrator Louise Sanders Church Council [email protected]

Local Chiddingstone Sports Assoc Martin Keeler 01732 700516 Organisations Chiddingstone Football Club Martin Keeler 01732 700516 Chiddingstone Cricket Club Mark Streatfeild 01892 870851 Stonewall Park Cricket Club Andy Batchelder 07903 830142 Causeway Stoolball Club Rosa Gower 01892 870644 Stonewall Park Stoolball Club Pauline Hodge 01892 524783 Chiddingstones Tennis Club Richard Sinclair 07771 912108 Chiddingstone Real Football Katie Ashworth 07730 331800 Chiddingstone W.I. Elaine King 01892 871536 Chiddingstone Causeway W.I Carol Benton 01892 870483 Chiddingstone Over 60’s Elizabeth Fleming 01892 870224 Alice Peterkin 01892 870503 Tuesday Group (pre-school) Sam Day 01892 871570 Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service 01732 865353 Chiddingstone Castle 01892 870347 CHAPS Kenton Ward 07881 957800 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 01892 870435

Parish Councils Chiddingstone - Chairman Richard Streatfeild 07973 842139 - 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 Stuart Notholt [email protected] Advertising copy Robert Hunt [email protected] 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.

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A12 A13 [email protected]

A14 A15 OCTOBER 2020 Forthcoming Events Saturday 3rd October Farmers’ Market see page11 End of Season work party at Stonewall Park Cricket Ground see page 16 Sunday 4th October Harvest Festival Service see page 10 Tuesday 20th October Parish Council Meeting by Zoom see page 5 Wednesday 21st October MAGAZINE COPY BY 12 NOON PLEASE see page 5 Saturday 24th October St Mary’s Churchyard Annual Working Party see page 3 Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th October Autumn programme of events at Bore Place see page 9

FROM THE RECTORY Do you enjoy a surprise? I guess it depends on whether it’s a pleasant surprise or not. For the last few weeks, I have been involved in detail planning with my adult children to give my wife a happy surprise for her birthday. All my grandchildren were involved in this, and even Thea, aged 3, managed to keep quiet, albeit with a few checks from her siblings! To Izzie’s great delight, led blindfolded by the children and spun round, we surprised her with a beautiful chicken house and run. She then had the pleasure of researching chickens in order to buy three bantams. As a family, we all enjoyed the planning and the anticipation of Izzie’s response, and Izzie will enjoy the pleasure of keeping chickens again after several years without them. With the continuing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions on social activity and uncertainty about the months ahead, it is important that we plan for positive experiences. It has been so good to be part of such a caring community here in the Chiddingstones. We have so much to be thankful for. On Sunday 4th October, we will be celebrating our annual Harvest Festival in St Luke’s Church, Chiddingstone Causeway. Harvest festivals are celebrated throughout the world from Australia to Sweden to India, with celebrations that date back to ancient times. This custom is thought to have originated in China where they offered a sacrifice to the moon as a symbol of harmony and abundance. Today, some families celebrate by eating traditional moon cakes. In Britain, harvest is one of the oldest traditional festivals, taking place at the time of the harvest moon. Originally it was a pagan custom which was adopted in 1843 by Rev. Robert Stephen Hawker. He invited his parishioners in Morwenstow, Cornwall to come to a special harvest thanksgiving service. Since then, harvest thanksgiving services have become an annual event in churches and schools. Cont/… 1 As we look around the world, with so many displaced people, we have so much to be thankful for, despite living through hard times. Being thankful or choosing to give pleasure to others is good for our mental health and well- being. Paul records a saying of Jesus that does not appear in the Gospels: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35), and some of the major festivals recorded in the Old Testament were harvest festivals: Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost and Tabernacles. It was a reminder to the Israelites that they were dependent on the land for survival, and also to be thankful to God for the provision of the sustenance that makes life possible. All this is so important as we face the global effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events and, as David Attenborough’s BBC1 programme of 13th September noted, the destruction of habitats, the development of monocultures and the unwise use of chemicals have led to some species being wiped out. Please pray for our farmers, threatened by Brexit and increased competition from around the world, and pray for our government in all their critical negotiations. God bless, Bill

DENYS KILLINGBECK On Monday 7th September our father, Denys, passed away peacefully in his sleep. Following time spent in both Pembury and Maidstone hospitals where he received excellent treatment, he was eventually told that medically there was nothing more that could be done for him. He came home at the end of August. He was so pleased to be back at Chiddingstone and to be in his own home with memories of all of his family and in particular our mother. Mum and Dad have loved their time in Chiddingstone and made lots of very good friends. In particular, the ‘lane’ was such a source of great friends and friendships. Both of us know that my father is now back with mum, something that he had wanted for some time. The current Covid 19 restrictions mean that the funeral arrangements are not as straightforward as we would have liked. The actual funeral and cremation will be on Friday 2nd October at 11am. I am afraid that due to the restrictions of numbers, only family and close friends will be able to attend in person but we know that your thoughts will be with us at this time. Richard and Tim Killingbeck

2 ST MARY`S CHURCHYARD ANNUAL WORKING PARTY on Saturday 24th October We need to cut or strim the long grass and tidy the churchyard for the winter. Everyone is welcome so please bring a strimmer, large mower, rake or just your personal energy. We will meet at the church at 10am. Bob Golds

SCHOOL NEWS Welcome back to our new normal! In September, we welcomed all pupils back to school after a very extended break for some classes. It has been wonderful to see how well they have adapted to all the preventative measures that we have put in place to keep everyone safe. We have had an unusual Roald Dahl day as for the first time, pupils and teachers were not able to dress up (much to some parents’ relief I am sure!). The children did however do a variety of literacy and craft activities and we had parents reading to the class virtually, which the children thoroughly enjoyed. We also raised money for the day via a just giving link on our website, which will go to purchasing new books for the classrooms, as we were not able to have our usual Book fair fundraiser. Year 6 also delivered their Head Boy and Head Girl speeches virtually and came up with a wide variety of interesting and sometimes amusing ideas. At the time of writing, the results are still to be announced… The new Reception class have been very busy settling into our school. They have been exploring our classroom and outdoor area, playing in the mud kitchen, riding the bikes around the race track and making new friends. This term our topic is ‘Autumn’; however, the weather so far has been anything but autumnal! The Year 1 children are very pleased to be back at school and are enjoying the new topic ‘Paws, Claws and Whiskers’, which enhances their learning about animals in the wild as well as their experiences of their own pets. Using pictures to explore patterns from animals such as the zebra, giraffe and tortoise, the children applied a mixture of colour and lines to create their own artworks for the class display. Year 2 have been learning about mini beasts. Here are some fascinating snippets of information from their fact files that you might not know: Peggy: Ladybirds smell with their legs! Flo: Ladybirds make a yellow liquid that tastes horrible to their predators. Jacob: They play dead to avoid their predators. Cont/…

3 It has been wonderful to welcome all the children back to Class 3 this term - smiles all around. We have been busy with lots of literacy and numeracy and loving the class book Charlie and the Chocolate factory. For Roald Dahl day this week we made Willy Wonka top hats and designed and made our own Wonka bars. Our topic this term is ‘Heroes and Villains’ which has created lots of fun and interesting chat in class so far! Year 4 pupils have settled into the routine of school with enthusiasm and maturity. The classroom is already festooned with eye-catching artwork and imaginative pieces of writing and the house point total is mounting steadily. Resplendent in their orange caps, the children have enjoyed working and playing together in the September sunshine on their designated patch of lawn at the front of the school. Year 5 have had a wonderful start to the year. The children have started running a daily mile with an aim to improve their fitness and to get them mentally ready for their work. They have started their topic of “Fallen Fields” which is about World War One. On Monday they spent the afternoon re-enacting the Christmas Truce ….. in 25 degree heat! Year 6 has been learning about WWII and have written stories about air raids. This is an excerpt from Amelie's: I was walking back from school fighting against the hostile wind when it came. I threw myself to the ground and dived under a cafe table just as the bomb hit. The dust stung my eyes - shards of glass flying everywhere. Gasping for breath, I felt as though I would pass out. Then I did... When I woke up, I was in a warm hospital bed with a nurse standing over me. "You've had a rough night, lass," she told me gently.

CHIDDINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL 1. Chiddingstone Causeway Post Office: as many of you will be aware, the Post Office temporarily closed on 8th September but I’m pleased to say that, by the time you read this, it will be open again. Such a huge relief for everyone as the post office is a much needed local amenity. See www.post officeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/chiddingstone- causeway-tn11-8jp-153948 2. Traffic speeds in Chiddingstone Causeway: the Parish Council has been pushing Highways for a speed reduction in Chiddingstone Causeway from 40mph to 30mph. Unfortunately, Highways has refused to accept our argument that the road is too fast and too dangerous. People have to cross the road to use Penshurst Station and the bus stops, many of whom are school children. The busy thriving village shop is a hub of activity and people cross the road in order to visit the shop. Cont/… 4 The same goes for the pub, church, village hall and sports field. Our county councillor, Peter Lake, has been battling with KCC members and officers to no avail, so we have now written to our MP, Tom Tugendhat, and asked him to intervene. 3. : Matthew Scott, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, has commissioned a Road Safety and Enforcement Survey in order to gauge your views on road safety across Kent and how you would like to see traffic law enforcement changed in future. See www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/apcc saferoads 4. Garden Waste sacks: are available by contacting the Clerk. The bags cost 55p each as normal. 5. Bulk Refuse Freighter: unfortunately, District Council has advised that it is not able to operate the freighter until 2021. Your items can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Dunbrik but please remember to book a slot, see www.kent.gov.uk 6. Parish Council meetings: the Parish Council is following the advice of the National Association of Local Councils and 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 20th October at 7.30pm remotely via Zoom.

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

NEXT EDITION All contributions for the November edition of the magazine by 12 noon on WEDNESDAY 14th October. I KNOW IT IS EARLY SO 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]

5 NURSERY NEWS

We are pleased to welcome all the new children and their families who have joined us for the September term. We are looking forward to hearing how the children that have left us at the end of July are settling into their new primary schools. The children are enjoying themselves playing in the Nursery and making new friends. We are talking about ourselves and those things and people that we treasure and are dear to us. For our letter sound ‘s’ we have read the story ‘The Gotcha smile’. We looked in the mirror to look at our own smiley faces and passed these happy faces onto each other. On Woods Wednesday we read the story ‘Owl Babies’ and then made our own owl out of clay, feathers and twigs that we collected. Mrs J McCoy, Chiddingstone Nursery 01892 871315

SUE LARKEN The Pop Up Coffee mornings will be hoping to restart again in Chiddingstone as soon as Government guidelines allow. Sue has made a mobility video with SDC that will be advertised in the October edition of ‘In Shape’ magazine. For any more information on mobility, strength or balance or health and wellness advice, please contact Sue Larken: Tel: 07867 648667 or email: [email protected] Links to all Sue’s videos or any other help and advice can be found on the Age UK website: www.agesevenoaksandtonbridge.org.uk

LARKINS THANKS THE HOP-PICKERS Bob Dockerty would like to thank all those who helped on the hand-picking day and the two days of machine picking. We very much appreciate all the hard work so generously volunteered in the hop field, on the machine and in the kitchen. A brew of Green Hop Beer is already maturing in the cold room and we have a good supply of pressed hops for the year ahead.

6 CHIDDINGSTONE WI In spite of the Coronavirus, our September meeting was able to go ahead (after a fashion) and around 15 of us managed to get together on the Chiddingstone Sports recreation ground as meeting up inside was still out of the question. We all met up, in a socially distanced way, bringing our own refreshments and seating and we each exchanged stories of what we have been up to during the summer. We have all been very busy it seems - some have been gardening, writing, crafting, painting and learning new things too whilst some of us have been trying to make the best of working from home and dealing with very trying circumstances. Needless to say, we were pleased to be able to see one another again as many good friendships have been formed through the WI. The weather was kind to us and, although it wasn’t exactly sunny, it was dry and fine and it seemed so much warmer as we were enjoying ourselves so much. It was sad when we had to disassemble. Since then the Rule of 6 has been implemented throughout and we have had to change our plans again for our October meeting. It had been planned for a larger indoor venue but as this is now not possible, we hope we shall be able to host several smaller meetings, of no more than 6 of course. It looks as though this will be the case during most of Winter and maybe even into Spring but hopefully, one day, in 2021 we will get back to the way things were once more. Sadly, our monthly Crafternoons have also been cancelled but we are still being as creative as we can at home for now. ********************************************** 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. Although these are cancelled for the foreseeable future, if you would like to know more about us, please contact Elaine King Tel: 01892 871536.

THE TULIP TREE I know it seems premature, especially with the glorious weather we’ve been having, but Christmas stock is coming into the shop over the next few weeks. Do also pop into ‘the attic’ as there will be some great displays up there. If you haven’t looked before, please do look at the catalogues in the attic as there are some fabulous pieces of furniture and other items that I can help you source. Please always ask as I like to help if I can. We’re looking for another member of staff to join the Tea Room. This would ideally suit someone as a first job, maybe a gap year student. Full training will be given. However, you must have a courteous helpful attitude and always wear a smile! Thank you for your support Nicoletta and team Shop 01892 870326 Tea Room 01892 871504 [email protected] www.thetuliptree.biz T: @TheTulipTreeTea I:@thetuliptreetea F:facebook.com/thetuliptreetea 7

OCTOBER What’s Coming Up in October Bring a Friend for Free! During October, bring a friend or family member and your copy of the village magazine with you to the Castle for buy one get one free entry! Discover the home of the eccentric Denys Eyre Bower and his collection of curiosities. Finish your visit with a delicious homemade cream tea or cake from our Tea Room takeaway. Explore the Castle and Collections Plan a day at the Castle on Sundays and Mondays during October. Entry from 11am to 4.15pm (close at 5pm). Tickets £9.50 adult. £4.50 children. We are operating a one-way system inside the Castle. It is now a requirement to wear a face covering and to fill out an NHS Test and Trace form. More details https://www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Tea Room Treats Hot drinks, locally-made cakes, fresh cream teas, and more are still being served from our takeaway Tea Room during our opening hours. Enjoy the Grounds. Fish the Lake On any day of the week, the grounds are a perfect place for an autumn walk. Enjoy the woodland, lake, lawns, and beautiful Victorian Orangery. It is also possible to fish the lake for £10 per two rods. More details at https://www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Celebrate! Our virtual viewing for weddings and celebrations has helped many continue their planning whatever the situation. For a quick view of opportunities, take a look at our Instagram page @chiddingstonecastlewedding and our Pinterest boards. www.pinterest.co.uk/chiddingstoneca/boards/ Do share with friends and family who may be thinking ahead. Note from our Curator Naomi We are very grateful for your continued support, donations, and visits. Whilst closed, we installed new displays in the Japanese Room. They tell the story of Denys’ remarkable collecting and showcase some of the highlights. From samurai armour and iron dragons, to gold-lacquered picnic sets and ancient tomb figures, Denys was captivated by the skill of Japanese craftsmen. Artefacts which have been in storage are now back on display, including the Chiddingstone Casket, a rare 17th-century lacquer jewel box.

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 & 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] 8 THE CAUSEWAY HALL The Causeway Hall is following advice and information from the Government and will be available to hire for organised groups and smaller bookings, within the restrictions set. For further information please contact [email protected] or phone 07597 271974. Updates will be posted on our Facebook page and website: www.causewayhall.co.uk Some of our classes have resumed and are being run in a safe and secure way. To keep up to date with everything that is going on, please follow us on Facebook or take a look at our online calendar on our website. Colliewobbles Dog Training - Dog and Puppy Training - Please contact Sandra Tel: 01732 351178 for further information and to book in. Classes are running on Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Pre booking essential. Still-Yoga - www.still-yoga.com [email protected] Classes on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Pre booking is essential. Angel Dance Company - Adult Dance Fitness Classes, After School Dance and Jazz/Commercial Classes - Contact Ellie Tel: 07818 170557. And looking to return in the coming year, Table Tennis for all - Contact Gary Longley Tel: 01892 871285 or email [email protected] Karate Classes - For information contact Adel: [email protected] Forthcoming music events will be decided on future Government advice. Age UK - Pop in Coffee morning and Health and Wellbeing Classes - a message from Sue Larken, Health and Wellbeing Coordinator: Exercise videos are available on our facebook page. If you need any support or help, please call Age UK Sevenoaks and Tel: 01732 454108 or Sue Larken Tel: 07867 648667.

AUTUMN PROGRAMME OF EVENTS AT BORE PLACE

Den Building and Campfire Fun – Tuesday 27th October Autumn Arts and Crafts – Wednesday 28th October Halloween on the Farm – Thursday 29th October

These are all drop-off sessions for children aged 6-11 years and you can find out the full info on each event here: https://www.boreplace.org/whats-on

9 A NOTE FROM YOUR MP Like many industries, our train operating companies have not been immune from the challenges of the pandemic. The increase in the number of people working from home has caused challenges for them in getting us back on the trains. The Government took swift and decisive action to help the companies running our trains. Many operators, including GTR, were put under what is called ‘Management Contracts’. In short, it was a part-nationalisation of our railways which happened right at the start of the pandemic. This continues to be the case now, as companies rebuild their timetables. On 7th September, we saw the latest timetable changes published. Although there is a need to ensure that empty trains do not run and burn money, there is also a need to make sure that we all have the connections we need. For GTR, that meant running an upgraded version of their Saturday timetable still. The problem with this is that it does not cater for the connections that commuters and especially children travelling to school by train need. We see that most clearly in the issues with the timing of the Edenbridge- Tonbridge train in the morning. For this to work for the 5 Secondary Schools at the south of town, the train needs to arrive at around 8am. The planned 7.34am arrival or 8.23am were just too early and too late. I worked with GTR to ask them to put a train on, in this interim period. This wasn’t possible due to delays at Redhill, where the train turns. In finding a gap in the Brighton Mainline which it had to cross, GTR did kindly offer a bus which, although not perfect, was an alternative form of transport which doesn’t arrive too early or too late. The longer-term solution is to get the trains running back to their normal timetable again. That is the aim for December should we be able to return to a form of normality. Matt Boughton Office of Tom Tugendhat, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling 130 Vale Road Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1SP 01732 441563/07795 192042

10

Saturday 3rd October 9.30am – 12pm Visitor Car Park The leaves are turning, the summer is over and it’s time to enjoy the many delights of autumn at the market. Cooler days send us back into the kitchen and where better to buy the best quality ingredients than in the glorious natural surroundings at Penshurst? We’re back at Penshurst for our October market with the finest local, seasonal food and drink around. Vegetables are sweet and tasty from summer sunshine so look out for golden squashes and pumpkins, onions, beetroot and apples all full of flavour. Pair with new season’s game, locally raised beef or lamb, or maybe a fine sea bass. Seafood is excellent now as the seas start to get colder so buy mussels and oysters. Pick up some craft cider to drink with or why not try mussels cooked in cider? Don’t miss wonderful home- made jams and chutneys, breads, cakes, cobnuts, cheeses and more from our 24 stalls. The Knife Ninja will be on site so bring your kitchen knives and garden tools for sharpening. Our one-way system and social distancing will be in operation. We ask that you come prepared to queue, ideally shop alone or in pairs, keep your distance and pay by card where possible. There is space to queue safely and plenty of free parking. Facebook PenshurstFarmersMarket Follow us on Twitter@PenshurstFmMrkt www.kfma.org.uk/Penshurst

BLACKHAM VILLAGE MARKET Suspended until further notice

HARVEST GIFTS Harvest Festival will be on Sunday 4th October at 10am in St Luke’s Church Last year you were very generous with your gifts and I’m sure you will continue this year. Can I please remind you that gifts need to be in DATE? I do check them all. The gifts will be going to the Salvation Army in Tunbridge Wells. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Carol

11 SERVICES FOR OCTOBER 2020 Sunday 4th October – 17th Sunday after Trinity 10am Harvest Festival Service St Luke’s Readers: Paul Allen and Chris Bell Intercessor – Izzie MacDougall 4pm Family Service St Mary’s Sunday 11th October – 18th Sunday after Trinity 9am Discoverers Online 10am Holy Communion St Luke’s Readers: Jo Allwood and Mark Streatfeild Intercessor – Dennis Ward Sunday 18th October – 19th Sunday after Trinity 10am Morning Prayer (BCP) St Luke’s Readers: Heidi Freeman and Fiona Leathers Intercessor – Logan Rich Sunday 25th October – Last Sunday after Trinity 9am Discoverers Online 10am Holy Communion St Luke’s Readers: Izzie MacDougall and Chloe Phillips Intercessor – Paul Allen

HARVEST LUNCH Unfortunately, due to the new “rule of six” we will not be able to have our Harvest Lunch and not even our intended picnic lunch this year. However, all is not lost as I have approached Jenny Dalton (a member of my church sewing group) who is a great quiz enthusiast and she has kindly agreed to put together a Harvest Quiz. My aim is, with the help of Louise, that it can be circulated on line as well as some paper copies and participants in any group of 6 or under could make a donation of £10, to be divided equally between the church and a farming charity. Obviously, we will trust people to be honest but mainly it is to have fun and support the charities and remember the vital work of our farmers. We may not have food on our plates collectively but can all raise a glass as we tackle the quiz. Answers will be announced a week later and people can mark their own. There are no prizes as this is about participating and giving money. Hilary Allen

12 DISCOVERERS ONLINE Discoverers Online is continuing into the autumn with a new theme. We are now exploring some of the stories that Jesus told, along with the usual quizzes, activities and craft ideas. Discoverers Online is now available from 6am for early risers on the second and fourth Sunday each month on a Church near You, St Mary’s facebook page and the Chiddingstone Churches on youtube. Until we can meet face-to-face, I look forward to being with you over the internet. Izzie MacDougall

SUE’S COLUMN I am writing this as we enjoy an Indian summer heatwave, thinking it’s a pity our Council finances are not as good! The impact of Covid reaches everywhere so to get a better idea of where we stand, SDC have accelerated the normal budget cycle by four months – and the numbers are not pretty. Parking income alone is going to be down £2.5m this year and we don’t expect this to be fully reimbursed by central government so we are dipping into our reserves….which in turn will mean less investment income in the future (but at least we are not having to borrow). Even when we spread the impact over several years, we are going to have to find savings, or new revenue streams, of nearly £1m pa if we are to maintain our 10 year balanced budget and I worry that, as we are already one of the most efficient councils in the country, this will inevitably hit services. More positively, residents will be pleased that there are no plans to solve this conundrum with a ‘Covid increase’ on Council Tax. There has been a huge increase in fly tipping nationally during the lockdown (as people have had clear-outs just when tips have been restricting numbers) and locally I’m working to keep waste disposal charges down, because if they become a revenue raising target, the disfigurement of our landscape is only going to get worse. We also need much heavier fly tipping fines (stick as well as carrot) and SDC is lobbying magistrates on this. Last month I mentioned the Planning White Paper, to which SDC will be responding in October, but you may have read also that already the government has greatly extended permitted development rights and made changes of use easier. Fortunately, from my perspective, these relaxations don’t apply within AONBs - so Penshurst, and Chiddingstone are not going to see a rash of ugly upward extensions being built without planning permission! Cont/…

13 Whilst on the topic of housing (which we do need as SDC is still looking for permanent accommodation for 26 rough sleepers for instance), the Council have applied for funding from a £11.5bn government fund created to support new affordable housing – fingers crossed. Ending on a positive note, I have been involved in my People and Places role in planning a new ‘place making’ brand image for the district and am also exploring with colleagues the possibility of creating a co-working hub in our area (for people who can’t go into the office but want to have an option not to work from home – sound familiar?!). As always, do get in touch if you need help. Sue Coleman District Councillor for Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone

CHIDDINGSTONE CRICKET CLUB This truncated season may be winding down but Chiddingstone have been on top form of late. Currently the club is on a five game unbeaten streak. Unfortunately, only two games remain. It has been tremendous to see the passion and commitment of all our players during these unsettled times. Well done to all. Our month commenced with a rare defeat for Chidd. Against a strong Emperors XI side, we wilted beneath a batting onslaught that carried them to a formidable 313. Skipper Alex Rayner’s 5 wicket haul was the sole highlight. In reply, the run rate proved a constant struggle to cope with. In spite of Jamie Leppard’s 20 ball fifty, we subsided to 194 all out. The Sunday saw an immediate reversal of fortunes as Chidd annihilated Pembury by 8 wickets. We restricted them to 104, before Dan Holmes blasted a fifty to see us home comfortably. The following week we faced off against the wonderfully named Kebab King Crusaders. Our batting misfired, with the Crusaders restricting us to 204. Anyone who has played at Chidd knows that sort of score is tricky to defend, and so it proved. The opposition opener batted through for 85*, and despite a mini-collapse, the Crusaders got over the line with three wickets in hand. Congratulations to Richard Mayes on his first 50 of the summer. On the Sunday, Chidd clawed themselves back into the game after Bells Yew Green murdered the opening bowling, keeping them to 217 from 36 overs. Tony Baldwin (59) and Graham Cooper (63) anchored the chase, and Steve Ellis finished off the game with a lovely square drive in the final over. An impressive three wicket win. Cont/…

14 To begin September, Chidd faced off against old foes GT’s. Alex Rayner’s first ton for the club, supported by fifties from Will Denny and Alex Hanwell got us to a monumental 315. Billy Leppard then span circles around the GT’s batsmen, picking up a richly deserved five wicket haul. A comprehensive 152 run victory. The Sunday saw show more grit with the bat, as they blasted their way to 245 off 36 overs. The returning Gary Cooper demonstrated his class with a magnificent 131, and Tony Cooper chipped in with 32* to complete a superb run chase. The rearranged Presidents Game took place last Saturday. Chidd fielded only nine players, but still managed to get to 215. John Balean and Doug Gower bolstered the innings with some eye-catching stroke play. The Presidents were cruising in reply at 180-2, then suffered a spectacular Chidd out, crumbling to 208. Richard Mayes and JB turned the screw with six wickets between them. The following day saw a long drive to Newington. Batting first, a lot of players chipped in to get us to 225. Similarly, wickets were shared evenly with the ball in dismissing the opposition for 153. So, Chidd are white hot in September. The remaining games are Stonewall Park this Saturday and Falconhurst the following Sunday. They will be all over by the time everyone gets their magazines, I am afraid (editor’s note)! Until next time, stay safe and enjoy what remains of the summer. AH

STONEWALL PARK CRICKET CLUB The truncated cricket season is almost over but we have been fortunate with some amazing weather over the last few weeks and we still hope to have a few more games before the light goes and this Indian summer ends. Looking at the stats there are some who may wish the season finished a while ago and others who may wonder why they even started but there are a minority who might be wishing we could continue playing in October. One such player is Jo Bradley who has shown promise with the bat this season and notched his first men's half century (60 not out) against Cowden. Sadly for Jo there was no real support from the others as we mustered only 130 which Cowden knocked off in fairly quick time despite the best efforts of Ben Harper who, by all accounts, bowled a Warne- esque delivery to claim one of the wickets taken in the Cowden innings. We were comprehensively beaten by a strong Shipbourne team and, for the second time this season, found ourselves on the end of a hammering from Chiddingstone. The less said about both games the better and we have vowed to do all we can to retain some local pride in 2021. Luckily, it's not all doom and gloom. In the hastily arranged inter-club friendly against the AT Invitational XI there was something not seen at SPCC for some time, with the visiting skipper, Alan Treacy, excelling with both bat and ball. Cont/… 15 After cutting and driving his way to 93 not out, Alan enjoyed his homemade sandwich and a can (or two) of sparkling apple juice before bamboozling several batsmen to claim his maiden 5 wicket haul at the Park. This included the prized wicket of Marc Harvey, given out LBW by his own captain Sean Robertson! There was much post-match discussion about the LBW rule and the chance of said delivery going on to hit the stumps. We lost a thriller to in the last over. Fred Quirk made 90 not out in our total of 185 and Amos Kemp claimed his second 5 wicket haul of the season (5-26) but four expensive overs from Alan and three even-more-expensive overs from Fred saw Fordcombe overcome the total with two balls to spare. Finally, away at Penshurst, we were cruising to victory when Charlie Overton- Fox had a pang of guilt. Having seen the Penshurst opener retire at 50, he duly felt obliged to 'walk-in' when he too reached his half century. After wickets had tumbled, Charlie was invited back to the crease with 30 runs needed. One run later he had a massive swipe and was bowled. Jack Overton-Fox (3-31) opening the bowling and Kieran Daley (4-25) closing the innings, both bowled well. As I type, the final Sunday game is underway against OD Cuaco. If the weather holds we are due to play on Saturday 26th September before putting the ground to rest for the winter. It's been a strange old season but two victories would be a great way to finish. Members please note that the end of season work party is scheduled for the first weekend of October. FQ

STEWARDING AT THE EDEN VALLEY MUSEUM Eden Valley Museum is something of a hidden treasure of the Eden Valley, a social history museum covering the rich history of the towns and villages. Largely run by Volunteers, our Stewards are the heart of the Museum. If you can give a few hours of your time each month as a Steward you can be part of a friendly, welcoming team. Now we have re-opened, we are in more need than ever of volunteers. We’ve implemented changes to the Museum to keep both our Stewards and the public safe and new Stewards will be given full guidance and training by the House Manager. If you feel you can give your time, please get in touch via email: [email protected] We asked one of our long-standing Stewards to give some feedback on his experience of the role and what it means to him, have a read of his thoughts and see if helping the Museum as a Steward might be for you. I look forward to hearing from some of you soon. Martin Frost, House Manager, Eden Valley Museum Cont/… 16 Richard Johnson, Steward: My mantra has always been “you get out of something that which you put in.” My wife and I really enjoy our time there, giving something back to the community and would urge anyone with some time to spare, to volunteer as a steward to enable this excellent tourist attraction to open as frequently as possible. It really is something that the local area should be proud of. Unsurprisingly, the more volunteers there are, the easier it is to fill the times when the museum can open. For many years now my wife and I have covered a Saturday morning (10am-1pm) once a month. The visitors range from a quick look lasting for 5 minutes to those that stay for a couple of hours showing real interest and deriving real pleasure from the exhibitions. Those that can be given information regarding a relative or a property connected with same are always grateful. I am helped by the fact that my wife happens to be 5th generation Edenbridge but the museum also offers an excellent research service if the stewards are unable to help on the day. To keep up to date with other Museum business find us at our website: www.evmt.org.uk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/edenvalleymuseum Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenMuseumKent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evmtrust/ SERVICE SCRAPBOOKS: Nursing, Storytelling and the First World War Poetry comes from human experience. As a nurse we encounter people at their most vulnerable, people experiencing times that are traumatic, life-changing, life-affirming, and memorable. We look after people all over the world, in hospitals, in their homes, in prisons and mental health settings. We meet people that have experienced the rawest layers of human experience and all with a story to tell. Writing poetry can improve mood, reduce stress, help people to explore life events, express and resolve painful feelings or simply act as a distraction to the mundanity or worries of daily life. In my role as writer in residence, I have been running a poetry workshop for nurses, the public and children exploring the theme of ‘Place’. In the workshop we examined places that meant something to us. Using the familiar nursing assessment, ABCDE, we used all our senses and skills in examination, Look, Listen and Feel, to bring to life homes we had known, places we had passed through and landscapes that have meant something to us, taking time to craft them into poems. The Service Scrap books we have at the RCN speak of home, both the nurses and the soldiers long for familiarity and draw on memories and anecdotes from places they hold close in their hearts. Molly Case

17 HERE ARE SOME OF THE POEMS For Brave Deeds and Doing you get the V.C. For brave deeds and doing you get the V.C. To be worn on the left breast so that all may see But there’s thousands of brave lads and thousands to be, Whose reward for brave deeds is just R.I.P. When this you see remember me And bear me in your mind Let all the world say what they will Speak of us only as they find. Best wishes from Pte. J.S. Booke 202063 2nd West Yorks Regt. 5A Ward, 4th M.G.H. Lincoln It May Be ‘For Sometime’, It May Be ‘For Ever’ Shall we be here another year, will there never be an end? Shall we stay on till we’re old and grey and there’s not a man to mend Must we be called at 20 to 6, the rest of our life on earth? Twenty to five it really is, not my idea of mirth. How long shall we wear the scarlet and there’s not the slightest doubt; We’d pack it away in lavender, were the Matron not about I should think the folks of Lincoln, will see red for evermore For the streets are red with tippets and there’s one at every door. Must we ever climb the Lindum, or the Steep’es more giddy heights? Forbidden our coats unbuttoned, a most unseemly sight; We love the ancient city, that sitteth on a hill We’d love it with a greater love if it passed a Tramway Bill. Despite our little worries, we’ve a very happy time These really are not grumbles, it’s just to make it rhyme. We’d do it again dear England, we’d do far more for thee. But if we stay here another year, we deserve the R.R.C. Elsie Dakin Lincoln 21st July 1916 18 Bed Queen Alexandra Military Hospital for Officers, Highgate, 1915 We are rickety and old, When night comes cold bed-post moonlight falls tucked-in bed-linen in far corners of the room, all neat at the folds. open wounds, poppies in bloom, Rolled skin and fractured limbs sheets now red straight and steady lying stained in the gloom. before the wash begins This soldier wakes too soon; In here the light is dimmed wet with fever, sunlight splits against the rim dreaming of a girl back home of a glass, flowers and cards; who he told he’d never leave her get well soon soldier, Believe her when she writes, we’ll see you soon. she’ll be waiting for you.

And sketch her in scrapbooks, When we’re all washed clean draw memories of home, and this war is done, leave scribbled pages and we can be left to dry outside on my sheets when you go. in the warmth of the sun. Molly Case

WELCOME We welcome Will and Lucy Gelling and their children Rufus and Flora to Cherry Cottage near the Rock, . We wish them all every happiness in their new home. We also welcome James and Alecia Morton and their daughter Amelia to Hale Oak Farmhouse, Hale Oak Lane. We wish them all every happiness in their new home too!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY For the first time ever, I do not have any future dates for your diary!

If any organisation has any dates for this diary, please contact the editor. Hopefully, by publishing and keeping an ongoing list of planned events, we can avoid a clash of interests!

A16 CAUSEWAY STORES & POST OFFICE Jodie and Vickie 01892 871527 [email protected]

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A4

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A8 A9 A10

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