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of English country songs by John Rutter were greatly appreciated. The enjoyable evening concluded with a selection of German folk music from the Bavarian Highlands composed by Edward Elgar. The Autumn Concert will be on Saturday, November 12, and will feature coronation anthems by among others Handel, Purcell and Gibbons. Information about the society can be obtained from website www.bearstedchoral.org.uk Correspondent: Gilly Hurley Tel: 01622 790734 AylesfordEccles@ aol.com Correspondent: Robert Hanvik Mob: 07900 930824 robert.kentmessenger@ gmail.com South Maidstone Business Associaton: On Wednesday, August 31, the speaker is Alison King from King Associates. Alison will surprise the group with something different, always the star! Venue Boughton Monchelsea Village Hall. The event is free and visitors always welcome. Feel free to come with a friend. Arrive at 5.45pm for a 6pm start. The event finishes about 8pm. If you are attending for the first time register online www.maidstonebusinessassociation.co.uk/pleaseregister.html or by calling 01622 82084. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com Songs of Praise: There will be a Songs of Praise evening at Boxley Church, The Street, on Saturday, August 27 at 6pm. Join in for a selection of favourite hymns and music amidst this church’s beauti- ful surroundings and splendid flowers, admission free. Flower festival: Celebrating Food, Glorious Food being held at the church from August 27-29, Saturday 10.30am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm and Monday 10.30am-5pm.Admission £1 and there will be refreshments available. Correspondent: Pam Merryweather, 13 Fir Tree Grove, Bredhurst, ME7 3LB Tel: 01634 610011 pamerry@ outlook.com Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for Broomfield/Kingswood, please contact Debbie Edwards, email: dedwards@ thekmgroup.co.uk PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on August 15. Ward Cllr Gill Fort reported that following inquiries it seemed that the parish does not have enough people on the electoral role to increase the number of councillors to 11. it is short by 42. For nine councillors you need 701-1,350 (we have 1,309) and for 11 councillors there would need to be more than 1,351. Parishioners need to make sure that they have registered on the electoral role. Policing: Crime between July 15 and August 15. July 27, theft in Gravelly Bottom Road; July 19, burglary other than from a dwelling in Peter Pease Close; July 23, criminal damage to property in Lenham Road and July 16, criminal damage to property in Cayser Road. There were two cases of anti-social behavour. July 30 nuisance youths in Charlesford Avenue and August 8, nuisance youths in Copperfield Close. Community right to bid: Councillors requested that the Clerk write to the landowners of two parcels of land at the end of Charlesford Av- enue, advising of council’s interest to purchase should the landowners be minded to sell. Sports field: Clerk to obtain quotes for signage stating that dogs were not allowed around the play area. Cllr Friend reported how popular the sports field and its facilities had been this summer with some very positive comments from users, especially the provision of the permissive footpath and the improvements to the bridleway, which had improved safe access. Next meeting: Monday, September 19. Correspondent: Valerie Underdown Tel: 01622 843232 valerie95@ outlook.com If you have an item concerning Chart Sutton, please contact the correspondent above. Farmers’ market: Hunton musical extravaganza: On Sunday August 21 from 4-7pm on Hunton’s playing fields in West Street, a late summer’s afternoon of musical extravaganza takes place with music from all the shows, including Les Miserables, Mama Mia and Grease. There will be a barbecue and licensed bar with local ales. Should it rain, the whole event will move next door into the village hall. Advance Farewell service: The Rev Gary Colville, who has been interim vicar throughout the benefice since the Rev Paul Filmer retired due to ill health, will be leaving us this month, as the newly appointed Rev Paul Kish is to join us very soon. We are grateful for the way Gary has supported our churches, schools and many individuals throughout the community and wish him well in his future career. If you wish to say farewell, Gary’s last service in Collier Street will be on Sunday August 21 at 11am. PARISH COUNCIL: Flooding issues. The chairman and vice-chairman, ie Cllrs Grandi and Goff met with MP Helen Grant at her constituency office on August 11 in their mission to get solutions to the flooding issue. They discussed the disappointing Environment Agency recommendation that the previously promoted Flood Storage Area solutions will no longer be proposed for the Teise and Beult. The two councillors welcomed Helen Grant’s support and it became very clear that she is keen to find a solution for the affected parishes that the EA will recommend. Cllrs Goff and Grandi have organised a combined meeting, to be held this month, of all local councils in the Medway, Beult and Teise confluence area (Collier Street, Hunton, Marden and Yalding) in order to find a way forward together, that will be acceptable to the EA. Collier Street Parish Council will chair the meeting which will also be attended by MP Helen Grant and the MBT flood group. However, there are several councillors and members of the Medway Beult and Teise Flood Group, who strongly challenge the reasons for the EA’s withdrawal of support for Woodpeckers’ sunny barbecue: The Woodpeckers’ churchyard tidying group met for their annual barbecue on August 14. They enjoyed a lovely afternoon which turned into an informal farewell to the Rev Gary Colville who has been the interim vicar for 18 months. He will be very much missed across the parish as he now moves on to a new interim challenge in the Medway Towns, where we are sure he will be equally successful. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Hearing aid clinic: HiKent will be holding the monthly hearing aid clinic on Friday August 26 from 10-11.30am in Family Room at The Heathside Centre. This is your chance to have your aid re-tubed or just get new batteries. No appointment is necessary. You will, also, be able to find out about the free assessment service for the over 65s, lip reading, sign language and deaf awareness classes and tinnitus support groups. They can, also, be contacted on 01622 691151 or enquiries@hikent. org.uk Fun day: A Fun Day for all dog lovers will be held on Saturday August 27 from 10.30am-4pm at the village hall playing field. Afternoon dog show, side shows including crockery smash, face painting, refreshments, animal charities, etc. Short mat bowls: New members are being sought for sessions of short mat bowls, which are held every Tuesday, beginning at 7pm, in East Farleigh School. £2 per meeting, including tea and biscuits. If you require information, phone David