Hothfield News Volume 2 No. 2 July 2010

The Monthly Newsletter by the Community, for the Community

Work begins on Church After a considerable period of planning, design work and plan- ning and building control appli- cations, work began on 11 June on the improvements inside the West end of St. Margaret’s church. The space under the tower will now be in two storeys, with a toilet (suitable for disabled peo- ple) on the ground floor and a spiral staircase leading to a new bell-ringing gallery. Local craftsmen are involved in the work, which will greatly im- prove the appearance and func- tionality of our ancient building. This is by no means the first time improvement works have been carried out at St. Marga- ret’s. The 13th-century church was rebuilt in 1603 after a fire, and further work was done in the 18th century and in 1876. Damage had to be repaired after the Second World War, and the whole interior was redecorated in 1964.

village hall to flourish for the Support our Village Hall! good of Hothfield so it seems to me that we should all make What a pleasant surprise to from outside Hothfield. Many an effort to get behind them meet so many people at the people were angry especially and support the work they Village Hall Annual General those living close to the hall are doing on our behalf. Meeting. During that meeting itself. However the outcome Thank you to all the new there was clearly an issue of this anger was really posi- committee and I for one wish about a very recent distur- tive and as a result a larger you good luck with your ex- bance at the village hall management committee has citing new ideas. which had been let to a group been elected. We need our Shirley Whittington 2 Village Hall news

At the Village Hall Manage- ment Committee’s Annual Gen- eral Meeting in May we heard that the Village Hall made a modest profit, compared with hiring the Hall for an event then losses in previous years. The costs of running the Hall, how- book early to avoid the possible ContraDance increase. Contact Sharon on ever, were not covered by the 661237 to check availability of hire charges from people using special events coming up: your Hall. it and so the difference had to

be made up from fund-raising As well as dancing every Village Fête, Boot Fair and Monday evening in the Hall events and contributions from Dog Show 19th September the Parish Council. This had We are now concentrating our from 8pm, ContraFusion are only been realised through the thoughts on arranging the Fête. holding monthly dances: dedication and huge amount of We have a number of displays, time from the previous small sideshows and events lined up Saturday July 17: Skylark Committee. already but there’s still lots to The meeting was well attended with John Meechan do. If you would like to have a and I’m pleased to say that Boot stall at the event for £5 Saturday September 25: many more residents of Hoth- these can be booked through me field, including myself, offered or through John Nicholls on English Contra Dance Band to join the Committee and be- 620537; if you would like to have with Andrew Swaine come Trustees of the Charity. your own side-show or other I’d like to thank everyone who stall then again talk to me or The dances are from 8pm to came to the meeting for sup- John. Any support for running 11pm, but get there at 7:30 porting the Hall and for nomi- this event and making it a suc- nating and agreeing to the new for a free introductory lesson. cess for the village will be Workshops are also held on Committee. In an unusual move greatly appreciated. it was also decided to elect the these days from 2pm. Tina Marden Chairman (myself) and Vice- Chairman (Kay Pender) at the th AGM. On Sunday 25 July 2010 We now have a much larger Committee to share the work- The Hothfield World Cinema Film Club load and responsibilities. Since proudly presents the Meeting many more of you have offered to help and sup- Black Cat, White Cat port events, which is also great. You don’t have to be a formal Set within a community of gypsy people, this film tells a story of dodgy deals, family ties, young love and magical occurrences. Zare is in love with beautiful Ida but his Committee member to lend a crooked father Matko, having botched up a black market deal, intends to marry him hand with work at the Hall or off to the sister of a powerful gangster - a woman so tiny that her nickname is fundraising. If any other resi- Ladybird. Beautifully filmed on the banks of the Danube this is a riotous mix of dents would like to support us comedy, romance and crime, with the powerful music of director Emir Kusturica's from time to time, in any small famous travelling gypsy band. (in Serbo-Croat with English subtitles) way, then please don’t hesitate Hothfield Village Hall Tickets: £5 (£2 unemployed/students) to chat to me or any of the Com- Park Drive doors open 6.30pm - 7pm start mittee. Hothfield TN26 1EG (ends approx.9pm) We hope to be able to keep the No children under 15; No alcohol to be consumed on the premises Hall’s finances in the black by The Hothfield World Cinema Film club is a non-profit organisation founded continued fund-raising, but we with the aim of providing community entertainment and promoting awareness may also need to look at in- and appreciation of other countries and cultures, and is run entirely by volun- creasing the hire charges for the teers. Any funds collected go towards the costs for hiring and heating the Vil- Hall. If you are thinking of lage Hall & film license fees, with any surplus donated to the Village Hall. Hothfield Heathlands 3

torial display Broad-bodied Chaser male) where it launches into the sky, and then parachutes back again calling more and more intensely until landing back on its perch. Other birds include the Willow War- bler, Yellow Hammer and Reed Bunting, who all nest in dense vegetation and then feed across the heath and bog.

Wild Flowers The bog nearest the Lakeside Village is probably the most col- ourful spot, heavy flows of I know there are many regular visi- spring water means that it re- tors that read this newsletter, However the rarest, the Keeled however if you have never visited Skimmer, is found nowhere mains wetter than the other before, this month is one of the else in Kent. bogs, and has different vegeta- best times of year to do so. tion too. As well as the impres- Birds sive Greater Tussock Sedge, Over a number of years we After a long absence, the re- with its 5 foot giant tussocks, have been removing encroach- stored heathland is now attract- there area also hundreds of ing trees and scrub, and endeav- ing Tree-Pipits. This little bird Southern-marsh Orchids, ouring to keep water levels as carries out an impressive terri- pinker and more sturdy than high as possible. The the Heath-spotted Orchids. effects of this work can Heath Spotted Orchid There are also plenty of Ragged really be appreciated in Robin, Water Mint and Birds- June and July. If you foot Trefoil with their pinks, walk across one of the purple and yellow flowers. This bogs you will see masses bog can be teaming with am- of white fluffy Cotton- phibians, Toads, Frogs and grass, scattered with Newts – often being hunted by the yellow star flowers hungry Grass-snakes. of Bog Asphodel and Ian Rickards the fly eating Round- leaved-sundew. But also look out for the Heath Spotted-orchids, Guided Walk with pink flowers and If anyone would like to find spotty leaves. out more about the wonder- ful wildlife of Hothfield Wet Pools Heathlands, there will be a The wet pools should guided walk on 10th July be buzzing with dragon- from 10.00am to 12.00. flies, there are 14 regu- Please join us at the Main lar species that can be Cade road car park. seen, one of the most For further information impressive will be the contact me on bright blue Broad- [email protected] bodied Chaser. or 01622 662012 4 HEALTH WALKS share art/craft and active move- We run pushchair/pram/ ment sessions. No need to book. toddler friendly Health Family donation of £1 per ses- Walks from the centre sion. each week over the com- Every Wednesday mon. Anyone with a 1.30 - 3pm Bluebells first-time child up to the age of 5 parents meet. If you are a new is very welcome to join parent with a baby under 9 us. Dates are displayed months come along and join us on the notice board at for an informal chat with other the centre. Just turn parents of young babies. Breast- up and explore the lo- feeding advice also available. cal nature reserve. For Every Wednesday more information 3.15 - 5pm Stay and Play, This please call Emma/ is a drop-in session for parents

Dawn 01233 622296. with children under 5 years old

Courses to come and use the facilities at Various courses run at the centre. This is a free session Bluebells Children's Cen- with no need to book. 01233 622296 tre. For more information Every Thursday on up and coming courses 10 - 11.45am a Parent and tod- please contact Bluebells Chil- dler session is held at the chil- dren's Centre. dren's centre. All parents with a child/children up to the age of 5 MOBILE FARM are welcome to join us. Regular Events The children's centre will be Every Friday holding a farm-based fun day on Every Monday 10 - 12.00 am is the meeting Friday 9th July between 10am 10 - 11.45am a sign and time for the Ashford Twins Club and 3pm. This event is open to rhyme/messy play session for at the centre. families who currently attend under 2 years old is held at the This is followed by a Chill with the centre and also to any fami- children's centre. Dad session open to all dads/ lies living in Hothfield, West- Alternate Mondays male carers on the 2nd Friday well, Charing or Pluckley with 1.15 - 2.45pm Charing under of every month . Please call children up to the age of 5. 3's meet at The Old Barn for art/ Emma at the centre for more There will be activities based craft and active movement ses- details. around farm animals including sions. All welcome. Donation £1 badge making, sock puppets, a per family. No need to book. For mobile farm and helping to dates please contact Dawn or build a scarecrow for the new Emma at the children's centre. sensory garden. For more de- Every Tuesday tails contact Emma/Dawn 01233 10 - 12am Pluckley under 5's

622296 meet in Pluckley village hall to

Hair and Beauty Here in Hothfield! You don’t have to go into town to get pretty! Chris Taylor, the Manager at Lakeside Village in Chapel Road, is only too happy to share the facilities there with Hothfield residents. If you would like to know more or make an appointment, just contact: Jean Boorman (Hairdresser) Esme Tully (Beautician) 01233 758219 01233 861396. Hothfield History Society 5

Currently the nation is gripped by Football fever which re- minded me that, in times past, Hothfield had its own adult football team, cricket team, darts team and much more (many of which, I’m told, had their regular meetings in the pub!).

The cricket pitch was on Hoth- field Place just to the south of the old Manor. The iron railing around the pitch is still in place but the ground is far from flat these days, and the pavilion is long gone. A few residents of the village can just recall when Lord Hothfield was wheeled out to Photo courtesy Jamie Willis watch matches after the war, just before the family sold the can be seen here from the 1960s. land’s current goalkeeper? Manor and moved away. As well as this stripy kit the team Who knows, maybe some of once sported a bright red strip. Hothfield’s young football talent Jamie Willis has kindly showed Coincidentally, in 1953, the may go on to international star- me some of his photos of his team’s Goalkeeper was a B dom. footballing days, one of which Green – was he related to Eng- Chris Rogers Hothfield Fly Tipping

Much of the discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting was about illegal News rubbish disposal. The Parish Council hired a skip last year and a major July 2010 clear-up was undertaken in the area around Coach Drive and Beech Drive. Sadly rubbish is once again being dumped in the woods and Hothfield News is printed by CASE complaints were received from the local residents regarding this. This Kent, and edited and published by issue was highlighted in the Village Appraisal. Hedley Grenfell-Banks. It was suggested that the owner of the land in question should erect a Telephone 07746 994076. fence to stop people dumping rubbish in the wood. The landowner, who Email address: was present at the meeting, said he had tried this in the past, but the [email protected]. fence had always been broken down. Other suggestions included mounds of earth to block access, and the If you have information to share, occasional hire of a skip in which people could dump their rubbish. The or an opinion to express, please landowner offered to help with the cost of a skip. When this was done write to the Editor. Try and keep last year, however, the skip cost £224 for a weekend. It would not be your comments positive, but note that if you do express criticism of economical to repeat this at monthly or even quarterly intervals. any person or body, they will have At the Annual Parish Council Meeting a few days later, councillors the right to reply in the same issue. unanimously agreed that Mrs Whittington should liaise with Commu- Hothfield News could not survive nity Payback and ask them to come to Hothfield to help with a Village without the assistance of the gallant Clean Up. If they are able to she will arrange for a skip to be brought in band of helpers who deliver it mi- at the same time. It was also agreed that Mrs Whittington should con- raculously rain or shine, in time for tact the KCC Youth Worker and ask her whether she could arrange for the first day of every month. some of the young people she works with to help with the clean-up. They deserve our thanks. HGB (taken from APM and APCM minutes) 6 A SPECIAL THANKYOU Saint Margaret’s Church this month to the anonymous donor for our shiny new hymn- books, now in use in St. Marga- G7 Evensong at Little Chart ‘Cathedral’ Evensong at ret’s. An extremely generous ges- Our first-Sunday G7 Evensong Westwell ture which is deeply appreciated. will be at Little Chart at 6pm on On Wednesday 18th August, Sunday 4th July. Kent Chorale is coming to West- GIFT Hothfield Coffee Morning well to sing 'cathedral’ Even- is our ladies-only Christian The monthly free coffee and song at 7.30pm. This service is group. We meet on the first cake (and company too) will be open to everyone. Tuesday of each month in vari- served in Hothfield Village Hall Gluten Free Wafers ous venues and a friendlier on Tuesday 6th July between Please let the minister or bunch it would be hard to find. 10.30 and 11.30am. Why not pop sidesperson know before Com- Each meeting begins at 7.45pm along? munion if you need a gluten free and concludes with Compline at Monday Evening Group wafer. 9.30pm. For further information The next meeting will be on G7Teen please contact Dawn Stamper on Monday 12th July to tackle the Our youth group for 11 - 14 01233 714028. fourth session on the New Tes- year olds. meets every Sunday In Memoriam Phyllis Stone tament entitled ‘Introducing in term-time 6.30—8pm in Char- Phyllis died on Monday 19th Paul’s Letters’. Come to West- ing Barn. On the last Sunday of April 2010 aged 69. well Vicarage at 7.30pm, but the month we go on an outing. Her funeral took place at please get in touch with Lindsay For more information please get Charing Crematorium on first to let him know that you in touch with Mim Oliver Thursday 6th May 2010. are coming. ([email protected]).

Summer is here! Or at least we hope it is as we function, nothing would grow protect and defend us. God does are now into July. Although the and we would perish, for we not sleep, so He is never ‘off- weather at the time of writing need its light and warmth. Of duty’ in His care of his. He does has been typical of that of a course, too much sun can be bad not doze off, but instead de- British summer (sunshine and in certain circumstances. It can fends us on every side. In a ref- showers), it is nonetheless good lead to skin cancers, and we are erence to the sun and moon, to see the benefits of sun and still to learn the full effects of God is our shade from the worst the warmth that it brings, all the increase in global tempera- of the sun, protecting us from around us, particularly in the tures. Of course, this is not the the worst of its effects. light of the long winter we had sun’s doing. It is the build-up of This then is the meaning of to endure. greenhouse gases in the atmos- that wonderful Psalm; that God The sun is essential for life. phere, illustrative of how inter- defends us from the worst of Without it the planet cannot connected all of life is. when things go wrong. How ‘The Sun’ is used many times does he do this? The answer lies St. Margaret Toulouse 15th Century to illustrate aspects of our rela- in the mystery of how ‘faith’, tionship with God. In Psalm 108, ‘trust’ and ‘hope’ interlock. God the Psalmist is so certain of his raised Jesus from the dead, so confidence in God; of how reli- that faith is not a blind faith, able God is, that he desires that but one based on solid evidence. his worship will ‘wake up the God calls us therefore to trust sun’, such is his joy at God’s Him and to live our lives in the work in his life. light of that truth, that Jesus is In Psalm 121, one of my fa- alive. This then leads us to hope, vourite psalms, the psalmist re- for a life of trust is one that sees cords the words of God to us his and hears God all around, for people; that whilst God cannot God so loves His people. prevent difficult and challeng- With warmest best wishes to ing moments coming along in you, for a lovely summer — our lives, he will nonetheless whatever the weather! Richard G7 CHURCH SERVICES SUNDAY 18th JULY: FRIDAY 2nd JULY: 7 FOR JULY 2010 SEVENTH SUNDAY Westwell: Iona Communion AFTER TRINITY 10am , followed by coffee in Charing: Holy Communion 8am; SUNDAY 4th JULY: The Wheel Inn FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Family Eucharist 9.30am Charing: The Eucharist 9.30am Re:fresh All-Age Worship (Barn) WEDNESDAY 7th JULY: Re:fresh All-Age Worship 11am 11am Charing Heath: Charing H: Holy Communion Charing Heath: Open Doors All- Holy Communion 10.30am 8am; Age Service 9.30am followed by coffee Open Doors All-Age Service Egerton: The Eucharist 9.30am in The Red Lion 9.30am Pluckley: The Eucharist 9.30am Egerton: The Eucharist 9.30am Hothfield: Patronal Festival Hothfield: The Eucharist All-Age Worship and Lunch 9.30am 11am This Newsletter is designed by Little Chart: G7 Evensong 6pm Westwell: Holy Communion 8am Hedley Grenfell-Banks for Pluckley: Family Eucharist 11am SUNDAY 25th JULY: Westwell: Family Service ST JAMES THE APOSTLE and Lunch 11am Charing: Holy Communion 8am;

SUNDAY 11th JULY: The Eucharist 9.30am SIXTH SUNDAY Re:fresh All-Age Worship 11am AFTER TRINITY (Barn) Charing: Holy Communion 8am; Charing Heath: Open Doors All- The Eucharist 9.30am age Service 9.30am Re:fresh All-Age Worship (Barn) Egerton: Patronal Festival 11am Eucharist 11am Charing Heath: Open Doors All- Hothfield: Holy Communion Age Service 9.30am 9.30am Egerton: Holy Communion 8am; Pluckley: Iona Eucharist 11am If you need a booklet, brochure, flyer, invitation, letterhead, logo, Family Service 11am Westwell: The Eucharist 9.30am advertisement or website design, Hothfield: The Eucharist 11am contact me at Westwell: The Eucharist 9.30am [email protected] Pluckley: Holy Communion 8am; EVERY TUESDAY IN JULY: or telephone 07746994076. Family Service 11am Charing: Holy Communion 9am

Jumble Sale

3rd July in the Village Hall 2.00 to 4.00pm. PRIVATE HIRE CARS COME AND BUY! Sort out your Jumble And contact Rose Harris AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS 52 Beech Drive 07891 340145 THEATRES AND EVENTS LOCAL AND DISTANCE RUNS ADVANCE BOOKING REQUIRED

To book, call LES on 01233 630512 or mobile 07894 716007 Local Bus Services Hothfield to Ashford

510 523 510 510 523 523 510 510 510 523 510 523 510 523 510 510 Mon- Satur- Mon- Mon- Mon- Mon- Satur- Mon- Mon-Fri Fri day Fri Fri Fri Fri day Fri Hothfield School 0812 1052 1047 1422 1507 1728 Hothfield School Road 0809 0955 1052 1147 1247 1347 1447 1655 1816 1934 Ashford (Sainsbury's) 1005 1157 Ashford (Park Street) 0828 0824 1012 1104 1104 1059 1204 1259 1359 1434 1459 1519 1710 1737 1830 1944 Ashford (Station) 0827* 1017 1107 1102 1209 1304 1404 1437 1504 1522 1715 1834 1949

Hosp.0844

* School Holidays only; in term time, Mabledon Ave. 0836

Ashford to Hothfield

510 510 510 523 523 510 510 510 510 523 523 510 510 523 523 510 Mon- Mon- Satur- Mon- Mon- Mon- Satur- Mon- Mon- Fri Fri day Fri Fri Fri day Fri Fri Ashford (Norton Knatchbull) Schooldays only 1600 Ashford (Hythe Road) Schooldays only 1550 Ashford (Station) 0620 0710 0900 0903 0938 0950 1050 1140 1240 1248 1338 1430 1558 1613 1748 1755 Ashford (Park Street) 0624 0714 0904 0900 0935 0954 1054 1144 1244 1245 1335 1439 1604 1610 1745 1759 Ashford (Sainsbury's) 1250 1445 Hothfield School Road 0633 0723 0916 1006 1106 1156 1301 1456 1616 1811 Hothfield School 0914 0949 1259 1349 1624 1759

Information compiled from the most recent timetables. Hothfield News, while taking the utmost care to get the times right, accepts no responsibility for inconvenience caused by possible inaccuracies.