Rotas for St Margaret’s Useful Names and Addresses Sidesmen/-women and Readers Church Warden 5 Oct Sides: L Notley & T Pierce Andrea Pierce, 1 Grenadier Cottages, Riding Lane, Readers: Gladys Brooke , TN11 9QH; 832408. Underriver Newssheet 12 Oct 8:00 Side: C Thornton Underriver Village Association Reader: tba Secretary: Robert Talbot, Weald Heights, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0SP; 761546. 18:00 Sides: A Rucker [email protected] OCTOBER 2014 Reader: tba Village Hall Reservations Helen Watson, 19 Oct Sides: J Fair & G Brooke 07973 215892 . [email protected] Reader: Sunday Club www.underriver-village.org.uk Robert Talbot 26 Oct Sides: J Rucker & E Shirtcliff via the website. Reader: tba 2 Nov Sides: P Payne Thursday Underriver Group Reader: tba Secretary: Pat Hope, 01732 833933. Horticultural Society Secretary: Mary Owlett, Absaloms Farm; 838716. Church Flowers Underriver Youth Group Charles Honnywill, 5 Oct Harvest Underriver Farm; 838036. Cricket Club Michael Tong, Hollandhurst; 832069. 12 Oct Jane Martineau Scotts Project Secretary: Jill Scott, 833498. 19 Oct Caroline Daveney Neigbourhood Watch Co-ordinator: Lorna Talbot 26 Oct Judy Hurrion [email protected] County Council Nick Chard, 42 High Street, 2 Nov Jennifer Fair , TN13 1JG; 07855 787511. [email protected] Church Brass Cleaning Council Ward Representatives Roderick Hogarth, 01732 760325 11 Oct Kit Thornton & Neil Fair [email protected] 15 Nov Robert Wells & Phillip Payne Julia Thornton, 07831 234449 [email protected] Church Cleaning Seal Parish Council www.sealparishcouncil.org.uk Robin Watson, The Old Vicarage, Underriver; 4 Oct F Brooks & E Shirtcliff 833930. [email protected] Clerk - Lorna Talbot; 01732 763488. 11 Oct R Hawker & A Martin [email protected] 18 Oct J Hurrion & H Medlam Sam Kirkaldy; 760702. [email protected] THIS MONTH… 25 Oct J Fair & B Tong Parish Administrative Assistant Tim Pierce 1 Nov B Leaf & L Notley [email protected]  Fireworks ……….. page 7 Newssheet Editor  Why we can’t be thankful? … page 9 Tim Pierce, 1 Grenadier Cottages, Riding Lane, Newssheet subscription: Hildenborough TN11 9QH  AGM’s ……… pages 7 & 8 £7.00, or £13.00 for postal subscribers (who 01732 832408 [email protected] should send cheques – payable to St Margaret’s  Book your Christmas dinner ……… page 7 Church, Underriver – to Neil Fair, Westover, All contributions should be submitted to the editor by Underriver, TN15 0SE ) 15th of the preceding month. 16 The Church of St Margaret, Underriver Vicar: The Reverend Carol Kitchener St Lawrence Vicarage, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LQ Telephone: 01732 761766 Email: [email protected] Church Calendar

OCTOBER 5 HARVEST Green 11:15 All-age Family service Reading: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 9 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 12 17th Sunday after Trinity Green 08:00 Holy Communion (BCP) Readings: Philippians 4:1-9 & Matthew21:1-14 18:00 Evensong (BCP) Readings: Philippians 4:1-9 & Matthew21:1-14 16 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 19 18th Sunday after Trinity Green 10:30 Sunday Club in the Village Hall 11:15 All-age Service Reading: Matthew 22:15-22 Services at St Lawrence, 23 08:30 Morning Prayer (CW) OCTOBER 26 Last Sunday after Trinity Green 5 Harvest 8:00 Holy Communion (BCP) 11:15 Parish Communion (CW) Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 & Matt 22:34-end 9:45 All-age Family Service 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 30 7 Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) NOVEMBER 12 17th after Trinity 9:45 Family Communion 2 ALL SAINTS DAY White 14 Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 11:15 All-age Family Service Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 19 18th after Trinity 9:45 Family Communion (CW) 3 20:00 All Soul’s Service 21 Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9 26 Last Sunday after Trinity 9:45 Matins (BCP) 6 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) 28 Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer (CW) Key: BCP = Book of Common Prayer - a service using traditional (17th C) language and form; NOVEMBER St Margaret’s Church Website 2 Harvest 8:00 Holy Communion (BCP) St Margaret’s now has its own website. To keep up to date about services and events please see 9:45 All-age Service www.stmargaretsunderriver.org.uk 2 15 *** Friday October 24th *** FROM THE VICAR In the Village Hall at 7.30pm a performance of The season of Harvest is upon us once again, 2014 seems to have flown granted because it is EYES FRONT by and it is autumn already. Some just so available? I IN AID OF THE SCOTT PROJECT people say that this is their favourite wonder if we had to wait for Cox’s apples Presented by Patrick King, a former drummer in the London Scottish Band and a pro- season and it is easy to see why. It is a ducer of films on a variety of subjects. time of richness, of colour, of good to ripen and we smells and good tastes! The air has a could only enjoy This show contains old newsreel footage from the early days of photography in action them for as long as we could store and an insight into how images sent home were first used as a morale booster or prop- sharpness in the morning and evening them, we might enjoy them more? aganda. and as the season goes on there are frosty mornings and evenings - people There are so many places in the Isla St Clair provides musical accompaniment with a selection of folk songs and music from the wars with as much audience participation as desired. So it all ends up on a who grow sprouts declare that world where people have no choice happy note sprouts need frost before being but to eat what is in season. Sadly picked. there are many other places where The tickets will be £5 with added donations for gift aid. I am sure you will really enjoy this. There might even be some other form of instrumental music! Harvest probably has more the harvest has failed and there is nothing to eat - people either starve, John Clemence meaning for us living in the countryside than it might if we lived in or are dependent upon food aid. the town. We can see fields being This autumn as we enjoy the harvested and new crops being sown, bounty of fruit and nuts in our gardens we can watch fruit ripen on bushes and fields and as we gather together and trees and see berries change for our harvest meals, let us colour as they ripen ready for the remember the people who will not birds to eat when the weather turns have enjoy the harvest this year. We colder. could give generously to the charities that our two churches are supporting UNDERRIVER CHRISTMAS MARKET But, like everyone else, we live with a perpetual harvest. We go to in the hope that others less fortunate SATURDAY 6th DECEMBER 2013 town to the supermarket and buy will be able to eat and live. anything we fancy, we do not need to We should also take time to enjoy 9.30 TO 11.00 be limited to what is in season. A what we have and take the time to say AT huge variety of foods are ready for us ‘thank you’ to God for the wonder of to buy because there is always creation and the joy of Harvest time. UNDERRIVER HOUSE, UNDERRIVER somewhere in the world that the item we desire is in season. I wonder if that IN AID OF Yours in the love of Christ makes us take what we have for HOSPICE IN THE WEALD Carol CHARITY NO 280276

COFFEE AND MINCE PIES

14 3 CHURCH NEWS spouses and live together in Amanda’s Paris flat. However, while they may still love one another, can they live together? This is not an easy play for an amateur Looking Forward: cast, but the Oast has a high reputation. Harvest Festival Service: 11.15 am on 5th October – come and join From Tuesday 21st to Saturday 25th October, Trinity will stage Nikolai Gogol’s with us as we celebrate the Harvest and all the good things God gives to The Government Inspector, adapted by Deborah McAndrew and moved to us. the modern-day Pennines. Where there’s muck there’s brass – including a brass band! The elite rules with bribery, extortion and a bit of GBH - until they hear Harvest Lunch – after the service in the Village Hall. To be followed by that a government inspector is coming, incognito. Or is he here already? Suspi- a sale of produce in aid of Christian Aid. (Contact: Andrea Pierce cion falls on a recently arrived stranger, who becomes the willing recipient of 832408) bribes and favours from the endangered Mayor and his Council. th Christmas card competition at Sunday Club on 19 October. Come On Friday 31st October, Trinity will have another Dickens adaptation – Cap- along and design a Christmas card, the winning card will be delivered to tain Murderer (a new one to me, I’m afraid). The well-to-do gentleman of the houses in Underriver this Christmas. (Information: Xanthe Veneziani title is a serial wooer – but all his brides come to a seriously sticky end. Then 832432) two twin sisters turn the tables on him in a fiendish act of revenge. Have fun! All Souls Service 3rd November at 8 pm at St Margaret’s Church. A Arthur Rucker joint service with St Lawrence to remember the people we have loved and lost – all will be welcome. Remembrance Sunday Service 9th November at 10.55 am.

Prayers: Underriver Christmas Market can you help? Young people off to college or university this autumn We would really appreciate it if you could look to see if you have any of the For all who are hungry this Harvest time, for the many charities who following items to donate for sale at the Christmas Market on the 6th Decem- work with them ber at Underriver House:- Unwanted gifts such as stationary, toiletries ,scarves, things for men, Giving God thanks for his generosity towards us jewellery, nice china or glass Good quality toys and games Christmas items Prayer Times Please come to our prayer group: NO BOOKS PLEASE Tuesday 14th October 10am The Vicarage Either leave the items in the box outside our gate or contact Jane Kildahl on Monday 27th October 10am The White House 01732 832123 and she will come and collect it. Thank you very much

4 13 LOCAL THEATRE LOAVES AND FISHES –2014–ANNUAL REPORT The foodbank is now supporting forty families on a weekly basis. Increasingly these fam- On Tuesday 2nd October, Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall ilies are being recommended by local government organisations and other agencies. Recipients are families with children. As in previous years several individuals and other Theatre (01892 530613) will stage Marie Jones’ comedy families have also been helped on a one-off emergency basis. Stones in His Pockets. A quiet Irish community is turned St John’s Church continues to allow free use of the hall on Thursday afternoons and upside down by the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot. Two provides a designated storeroom. There have been many occasions over the last year actors bring to life fifteen characters, ranging from a Hollywood when the store has overflowed into the meeting room and on to the back of the stage goddess to two cheeky lads intent on stardom. and the accommodation of this encroachment is much appreciated. As a consequence of the increased supply of food, and a continuing awareness of health and safety issues, On Friday 10th October, Tunbridge Wells’ Trinity Arts Theatre (01892 new storage shelves donated by a member of St John’s congregation have been placed 678678) will present Still the Beating of My Heart - “a uniquely creepy in the storeroom and other ways of improving the sorting, packing and storage of food are always under consideration. show” based on age-old ghost stories from the likes of H G Wells, Bram Stok- Our main regular source of food continues to be from local churches – now numbering er, Edgar Allen Poe and M R James, using full technicolour, electrical physical twenty-seven. Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter brought in many extra supplies theatre and blood-curdling storytelling techniques. Don’t say you haven’t been from the churches and from other sources including local charitable organisations, a warned! scout group and several schools and individuals. Many thanks are due for all this support which guarantees the supply of food for our families. th On Saturday 11 October, Sevenoaks’ Stag Theatre (01732 450175) will The foodbank does not encourage the giving of financial donations. Nevertheless there have Jane Austin’s much loved novel Pride and Prejudice, adapted for perfor- have been some generous gifts. Some individuals unable to deliver or carry food have mance by just two actors. The mind boggles. However, this show is on a UK also given money in lieu. Please see the record of accounts for details. tour and the Oxford Times found it highly entertaining. Presentations about the foodbank this year have been given to St Mary’s Church , St Luke’s Church Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Soroptomists, Trinity School, The On Thursday 16th October, also at the Stag, the Vienna Festival Ballet will re- New Beacon, Solefield School, Lambarde Scouts and St John’s Residents’ Association. turn to town to dance Tchaikovsky’s classic masterpiece The Nutcracker. The Drive Methodist Church has issued an invitation for September. Clara’s nutcracker doll is magically transformed into a princely soldier. The Loaves and Fishes Foodbank’s philosophy has remained simple – food in and food out. We prefer not to enter into debate on why foodbanks exist. Essentially Loaves and Prince and Clara then combat the Mouse King and join the Sugar Plum Fairy on Fishes can operate because local people are prepared to give generously to local fami- a wonderful trip to a kingdom made entirely of sweets. lies who are currently in need. Also on Thursday 16th October, Trinity will show a dramatization of Charles Thanks are due to Nicky Harvey, Lise Michaelides and Carol Cheeseman who have very kindly agreed to take responsibility for the foodbank on the few Thursdays during the Dickens’ Bleak House. When a dead body is discovered in Mr Krook’s rag- year when Francein and Carole are not available. Indeed we are very grateful for the and-bone shop, a web of mysteries starts to untangle with far-reaching conse- hard work and commitment of all our volunteers (some new this year) without whom quences. A company of five actor-musicians will bring the novel’s fifty-plus char- none of this would be possible. acters to life. Carole Bonner From Saturday 18th to Saturday 25th October, Tonbridge’s Oast Theatre (01732 363849) will stage their October production - Noel Coward’s Private Please leave donations in the boxes in St Margaret’s Church Porch Lives. Elyot and Amanda, a divorced couple, meet by accident on their second honeymoons. Realising they are still in love, they decide to leave their new

(Continued on page 13)

12 5 Underriver Village walking along the lanes and enjoyed all ticular Harriet who had a wonderful the wild flowers. Sadly a series of falls relationship with her. She never be- Village Association Chairman: Helen Watson meant that she had to go into Sunrise lieved she was 90 and always said we The Old Vicarage, Underriver, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0SB at Sevenoaks for the last four years of couldn’t add up. Telephone: 01732 833930 her life, but she took to this with great Underriver Village Association membership £10 per household per annum. She will be much missed by all her fam- enthusiasm and greatly enjoyed the ily and friends. food and company there. Jane Kildahl Pilates Classes BOOT CAMP Dorothy adored her family and in par- Mondays 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm Fast paced circuit based workout Tuesday 9:30 am Every Tuesday 7.30pm Contact: Zoe George 07950 494 335 Contact: Charles on 07759479179 or find us on www.facebook.com/ CharlesCrouchBootcamp

UNDERRIVER VILLAGE HALL – HIRE OPPORTUNITY After a long association with Underriver Village Hall the Underriver Under 5’s Nursery Absaloms Fun Dog Show will be closing it’s doors for the last time on July 18th. Our Dog Show was held on the 7th September. There were thirty dogs competing in This provides an opportunity for new clubs & businesses to hire the hall as daytimes on the eleven classes. Winners from our area were as follows:- a Monday, Wednesday & Friday will become available. Tess Crouch, best condition If you would like to discuss this further please contact Robert Talbot on 01732 833930 Bramble Mullick, scruffiest or email [email protected] Rosie Dixon, most appealing puppy Taffy Simpson, dog most like owner PILATES CLASS VACANCIES There are spare places in all classes on Monday nights and Tuesday mornings in the Taffy Simpson, Fancy dress village Hall. Contact Zoe George – Tel: 07950 494 335 Poppy Simpson, Best Veteran Tess Crouch, Overall Champion Underriver Produce Markets The sun shone all the afternoon, and we had a happy gathering of children and adults. Thank you Audrey for serving tea and cake non-stop for three hours. We have had another very successful year of Produce markets and thank you all for A cheque for £313 has been sent to the Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust coming buying helping and supplying items for sale. We have a Christmas market on 6th December 2014 at Underriver House see flyer and look forward to seeing many of Mary and Sarah Owlett you there. Thank you Jane Kildahl RBL Poppy Collection This year marks the 100th anniversary of the onset of the Great War. During November Poppy Collectors will once again be Underriver Village children's Christmas party selling poppies in Underriver . We need a couple of volunteers to take over the running of this year's party. It doesn't Please give generously. need two people but it is more fun that way! Please email if you are willing to be in- T.J.Tawney volved. Thank you, Stephanie Barton E: [email protected]

6 11 Dorothy Kildahl 1924 to 2014 UNDERRIVER FIREWORKS NIGHT Dorothy Kildahl, mother of Simon at when the Government finally recog- This year’s village fireworks night Underriver House died in hospital aged nised the work of the Women’s Land will take place on Army with a med- 90 years old on Friday 31st October al-one of her most the 28th June at 2014. treasured posses- sions. The White Rock. Dorothy was born Halloween Fancy Dress Competition in London, one of After the war, 9 children and was Dorothy, who Pumpkin Cutting Competition part of a very was very pretty, met and married Delicious Hot Dog’s & Burgers close family. Sadly will be available from 7.00pm. her father died Simon’s father St when she was John, a Solicitor, and after a few quite young. Entry is free; however there will be a collection during the evening to raise years Simon was born in Chislehurst, She and her sisters loved performing their only child. Dorothy believed in funds for the Village Hall & this year’s British Legion Poppy Appeal. shows in the local church hall and all fresh air so Simon spent much of his the family loved singing. One of her early life out of doors in the country- Underriver Christmas Dinner – Friday 12th December favourite songs was keep your sunny side or walking in the woods and side up which was played at her funer- watching steam trains! Our annual Christmas Dinner will take place on Friday 12th December at al. In her late years she sang a lot of The White Rock. Tickets for this 3 course extravaganza are the same as Dorothy loved walking, picnics , driv- little ditties much to the amusement of last year at £28 per head which includes a tip for the staff. the residents of her nursing home. ing, holidays all over the UK ,the sea- side and adventure and went to many Numbers are limited & last year this event sold out very early. To book During the war Dorothy was called up holidays places before they became please contact : [email protected]. to the Women’s Land Army and spent popular tourist attractions. She also Robert Talbot her life catching rats on the Kent loved buses including the Green Rover Farms. This was a horrid job but it did and when she arrived in Underriver have some benefits as she given an ex- the local bus to Tonbridge, which was NOTICE of UVA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING tra fuel ration for driving around, extra persuaded to stop at the Lodge just for rations because she was handling toxic her on the way back. She also loved The AGM of the Underriver Village Association will take place in the chemicals and she also met her lifelong food cooking and gardening. She was Village Hall on Wednesday 26th November at 8.00pm. Please send friend Louise. There were more rats an active and interested member of any application to become a new committee member of the Associa- than the human population and some- the WI and TUG and enjoyed partici- times 300 rats or more died in one go! pating in Underriver’s varied social tion, in writing to the Secretary (Robert Talbot, Weald Heights, th She has a bit of an incident one day in calendar. Fawke Common TN15 0SP) by Wednesday 12 November, i.e. 14 days Goudhurst when her vehicle was in- prior to the AGM. Applicants must be fully paid up members of the volved in an accident with a Bren Car- Dorothy loved living in the Lodge at UVA and must be proposed and seconded by other fully paid up mem- rier on the tight corner in Goudhurst Underriver House for ten years and High Street. Dorothy was very proud loved the pond and the ducks and bers. of her service and even more proud moorhens. She was often to be seen

10 7 UNDERRIVER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY UNDERRIVER IS NOT A THANKFUL VILLAGE No, this is not a slur on a pretty village lying below One Tree Hill. Sadly it denotes the fact that like thousands of other English villages, it did not AGM escape unscathed from the Great War. During the '14-'18 war many families were devastated by the loss of close relatives, not least for example a Gloucestershire Friday 10th October 2014 family which lost five sons. Meeting at 7.30 Barely a community across Britain escaped untouched by loss, except those which became known subsequently as “Thankful Villages.” Supper after the meeting It was in the Thirties that the British writer Arthur Mee coined the phrase, in his Bangers and Mash and Apple Pie guide to English counties, “King's ”. A Thankful Village was one which lost no men in the war, all who went out to the battlefields came back home. Not all were untouched _ for example of the village of Catwick in Yorkshire Mee wrote “ Thirty men went from Catwick to the Great War and thirty came back , Please let Mary Owlett numbers 01732 838716 though one left an arm behind...... ” The Lancashire village of Arkholme sent no less than 59 men to the war, and all returned. THURSDAY UNDERRIVER GROUP It has been estimated that there are about 53 Thankful Villages in England and Wales, although sadly none in Scotland or Ireland. As a consequence they have no memorial in the churchyard or on the village green to commemorate the dead. Happy birthday TUG! We celebrated our 10th anniversary at the beginning of September and what a lovely occasion it was. We had a blue and white theme We in Underriver do have our memorial, the names are engraved on the lych- and the village hall looked beautiful in the autumn sunshine. We started with a gate. glass of fizz followed by a buffet lunch. Brenda our treasurer, as well as being a So we cannot call ourselves a “Thankful Village”. financial whizz, is a budding contestant for 'Bake Off' and she made us a deli- cious birthday cake decorated in white and blue. During lunch we were entertained by a trio of musicians from one of the chari- ties we are supporting this year - the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. When Alice Yelf's first child was born he was suffering from liver disease and the prognosis was not good but I'm pleased to report that Bertie is now leading a normal life following a transplant. Alice and friends are all talented musicians and raise money to support the charity. Jill Scott, one of our founding members, cut the birthday cake and gave a vote of thanks. To summarise - 10 wonderful years, friendships forged, good food consumed and lots of money raised for mainly local charities. Here's to the next 10 years! Please do join us on the first Thursday of each month, full details of our meet- ings are on the Underriver village website. Jenny Thomas

8 9