What’s happening where you live...

Everybody is welcome. Ladies Friendly Circle: There will be no meeting in August. Usual meetings will resume in September. In the meantime, if you would like to know more about forthcoming events and speakers, phone Sandra Baker on 01622 745264. Date for diary: Dogstatic, a fun day for all dog lovers, will be taking place at the village hall playing field on Saturday August 27 from 10.30am-4pm. Afternoon dog show and side shows including crockery smash, face painting, refreshments, animal charities, etc. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Public consultation: On Thursday, August 18 from 5pm-8pm in the village hall, there will be a public exhibition to give residents an opportunity to see and discuss plans for a mixed use development at Bimbury Lane on land adjacent to Detling Aerodrome Industrial Estate. Although this proposal is sited actually in Stockbury, the implications for users of the A249 are impossible to contemplate. This is a massive development including nearly 1,500 houses as well as commercial development, a hotel etc. The effects on local infrastructures and traffic will be horrendous. Find out more from the developer www. guin-estates.com or ring 01227 831212. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Charity walk: Support the Malling District Lions’ charity walk in aid of Prostate Cancer on Sunday, August 21 starting at the East Malling Research Centre. Walks to suits everyone and dogs are welcome. Registration from 9-11am. For details call 01732 841078 or email mallinglionswalk@gmail.com Fuschia show: Mid Kent Fuchsia Group is holding its annual show at the community centre on Saturday, August 13. It will be open to the public from 2.15pm for plant sales, tea and cake, raffle and tombola. Admission is £1. The prize giving is at 4.15pm. Fresh produce: Communigrow, the community food growing charity, will have its barrow on The Green on Saturday, August 20 from 12.152pm. Taste local fresh vegetables grown on our field as well as bread, honey, jams and chutneys. If you would like produce at other times contact Richenda on 07940069266. Kilnbarn quiz: The next quiz will be on Sunday, August 26 at 8pm. Teams of up to eight at £2 per head. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Party: A tea party will take place at St Nicholas Church on Thursday August 25 at 3pm and NOT August 18. Everyone invited. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk The Grapevine: July 6 to August 3, there were nine calls to the police including an abandoned motor bike, which was found to have been stolen and an abandoned car outside the church. Highways: Cllr Ireland to contact KCC to complain about the poor swathe cut recently undertaken and to report the condition of Morry Lane. Planning: 16/503978 Noahs Ark Oasthouse, East Sutton Road, single storey lean-to extension to outhouse, approved. 16/504250 Stream Farm, Friday Street, replacement of conservatory with timber framed orangery, approved. 16/504716 Great Oak Farm, Friday Street,below ground swimming pool and re-location of house curtilage, no comment. 16/505325 Highlands Boarding Kennels, Chartway Street, outline application for the demolition of building, removal of hard surfacing and for the erection of four detached dwellings and associated access, garaging and parking, a SUDS lake proposed along with an ecologically enhanced area (access being sought), recommended for refusal due to unsustainability and loss of green fields. 16/505822 Upper Lodge Pleasure House Lane, erection of two storey rear extension and a porch with alterations to a section of the roof, approval recommended. Next meeting: September 7. Correspondent: Fran Smith, 14 Pitt Road, Maidstone, ME16 8PA Mob: 07791 650955 Tel: 01622 720623 fransmith@ talktalk.net Wildlife Group: The next work day takes place on Saturday, August 13 from 10am-noon, and there will be another opportunity for spotting butterflies, bumblebees, grasshoppers and crickets on Saturday, August 20. Meet at the Roseholme entrance. You may want to start thinking about and gathering ingredients for entries to the Harvest Home competition, which will be judged in October. Details on the website: www.fantwildlifegroup. org.uk Correspondent: Joan Drury, Weirton Villa, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, ME17 2AP Tel: 01622 853766 jdrury23@ btinternet.com Family fun day: Grafty Green Village Hall Committee is planning an event with a difference on Saturday, September 3 from 2pm-5pm. Animal Antics is the title. There are many dogs in Grafty Green so their owners are spoiled for choice when choosing an event to enter. Is your dog like its owner or would the judge like to take your dog homw. Full details of the competitions are in the current issue of the Malherbe Monthly. It’s not all about dogs. There will be ferret racing and an opportunity to meet meerkats, racoons and skunks among other animals. The Field, Church Road, Grafty Green is the venue. Evening worship: There will be a service of choral evensong in St Nicholas church, Boughton Malherbe on Sunday, August 14 at 6.30pm. More scones: The 2016 series of cream teas is drawing to a close. There will be another opportunity to relax in the grounds of St Nicholas Church, Boughton Malherbe from 2pm on Sunday, August 14. The usual scones with home made jam will be on offer. Correspondent: Jackie Nixon Mob: 07527 449540 jackie.kmlocal@ hotmail. com Correspondent: Rosa Sams, Uplands Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham, Maidstone, ME17 1NZ Tel: 01622 859412 rosa.sams@ googlemail.com Parish council: The council is seeking tenders for its open spaces maintenance contracts. In the first instance, potential bidders Summer holiday fun club: Join in the fun at the village hall this month. On Tuesday, August 16, it is Disney Day from 9am-4pm. Dress as your favourite Disney character and take part in the parade. There will also be a quiz and a sing-along. Thursday, August 18 is sports day from 9am-4pm. Try out tennis cricket, athletics, football, rounders, table tennis and more. Friday, August 19, is film club, starting at 5.30pm. All places must be booked; the cost is £10 per day. Phone 07812 555585 or 07770 407127 for a registration form. Congratulations: Judging of the first annual Basket Competition took place on July 29 and Carole and Tony Bell won first prize with Peter Brown and Annette Whiley in second and third. The parish council thanks all who entered and hopes that many more residents will enter the competition next year. All the baskets looked amazing. The winners will be presented with the engraved salver at the Gardening Show on Saturday, September 3. Correspondent: Mike Bennett Mob: 07470 362801 Tel: 01580 761943 mikebennettkm@ tiscali. co.uk Boot fair: Gates will open at 6am at Headcorn Aerodrome on Sunday, August 28, when Headcorn Group Scouts hold their annual fundraising boot fair. For details contact Joyce Vidler on 07887 501526. Model railways: The village model railway club is holding an open day with exhibition layouts on show at The Baptist Church from 10am-4pm on Saturday, September 10. For details contact 01622 891178 or email yvonnechapman1954@ outlook.com Produce show: Members of the WI will hold the popular annual produce show on Wednesday, August 17 in the village hall, and members are being asked to enter as many classes as possible. Family fun: The Children’s Centre will be holding a family fun event on Parsonage Meadow next to the village hall from 2-3.30pm on Wednesday, August 24. For details contact Karen Coppen on 01622 892189. Seaside trip: Members of Headcorn Active Retirement Association are planning a trip to Goring-by-Sea on Friday, August 19, where they will visit a church where an artist has painted a replica of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The tour will be followed by tea in local gardens. For details about this and the many other club activities contact Jane Stone on 01622 891475. Farmers’ market: All the freshest fruit, flowers and vegetables, plus rural arts and crafts, will be available at the monthly farmers’ market at the village hall from 9.30am-2pm on Saturday, August 13. Airshow plans: A variety of vintage and modern aircraft displays both in the air and on the ground will be the highlight of the two-day Combined Op’s military vehicle show this Saturday and Sunday, August 13-14 on the village airfield. The family event will include re-enactment groups and arena events. Local history: The village local history society has finalised its autumn programme of illustrated talks with Mark Bathurst talking about The Medway Queen on September 28; Wilf Lower the Lost Empires the last days of the Music Hall, on October 26; and Tim Thomas telling tales of Indian Hill Railways on November 30. All start at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church hall in the High Street. New members welcome. For detail contact 01622 890270. Footpath group: The village footpaths group has arranged its autumn programme of Sunday walks. On September 4, they will be walking to Tonge for a 5.5 mile stroll; on October 2 they will travel by car to Leeds and Broomfield for a five Correspondent: Liz Willy , 108 Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, ME17 1UA Mob: 07928668924 elizabethwilly@ btinternet.com Susan Hoare funeral: This will take place on Saturday, August 20 at noon in Saint Margaret’s Church in Hucking. Susan Hoare (Susi) died in Maidstone Hospital in the early hours of August 4 after a short illness. Her brother, the Rev Robin Gill is a member of the Leeds and Hollingbourne Benefice clergy team who also conducts services at Hucking, which has the only churchyard in the Benefice which is open for burials. Susi, who was in her early 70s, was an active member of the All Saints’ congregation and all are welcome to attend. Susi lived in Hadley Gardens and was often seen around the village with her dog called Bendy. The annual All Saints’ annual church barbecue in Broad Street scheduled for August 20 has been cancelled as a mark of respect. Correspondent: Helen Ward Tel: 01622 820810 herald@hunton.org.uk Service: At St Mary’s Church on Sunday, August 14, there will be a service of Holy Communion at 9.30am taken by Rev David Jones. Musical extravaganza: The West End comes to West Street on Sunday, August 21 from 4-7pm, with Musicals on the Green. Talented soloists will be joined by children from Hunton School and village singing group, The Huntones, performing music from the shows including Les Miserables, Grease, Mamma Mia and many more. BBQ and licensed bar with local ales. The event will be held on the King George V Playing Field in West Street or in the village hall next door if it rains. Proceeds to the British Lung Foundation and the Friends of St Mary’s. Tickets cost £3 for adults, £2 for under 13s from www.huntonevents.com or from Sharon on 07794 457426 or Neil on 07941 880845. Tickets will also be available on the day £4 adult £3 under 13. Olympic festivities: Get in the Olympic spirit at Hunton Club on Saturday, August 13. There’ll be a host of silly team games such as drinking straw javelin, sock put, indoor rowing, random relay, 10m hurdles, froggy long jump, balloon volleyball and many more as well as an opening ceremony with torch relay, live action and scores on the hi-tech digital scoreboard, plus medals for the winners. The club will be opening early at 7pm sharp with Olympic themed refreshments for all competitors and the bar will open early too. Join a team at the club or take your own, choose your country (first in gets GB) and go for gold! Bus timetable changes: