Floral glory in the aisles

Correspondent: Gilly Hurley Tel: 01622 790734 HOKH Moonlit Walk: Have you always wanted to do a Moonlit Walk? Do you have someone you’d like to remember? On Saturday September 17, The Heart of Kent Hospice is hosting a walk and you’re welcome to join in. It starts at 9pm from at Preston Hall, Aylesford and is an 8-mile circular family friendly, sponsored walk under the stars to remember loved ones or simply to support your local Hospice. For full details please visit www.hokh.org Like Cycling?: Heart of Kent Hospice has added a short Fun Cycle on the closed private roads around East Malling Research Centre as part of its annual Cyclo Sportive Event on Sunday October 2. All ages are welcome to complete one or more circuits of 4.5 km each. The fun cycle costs £5 per person and starts at 10.00am. For full details please visit www.hokh.org. The more adventurous can take part in either a 100km, 65km or 38mm chip-timed circular route – see website for details. Correspondent: Ron Stubbs Tel: 01622 532097 Paper please: and cardboard will be wanted again on Saturday, September 2 when the local scouts and guides aided by parents and friends make their monthly collection on Saturday, September 3. Please have yours ready by 9am bagged, boxed or bumdled/ Thanks )a bindle). What, where, who...?: With the international Olympics over for another four years it is the time of the local mental equivalents, First to shake your brains will tested by the Kettle Bridge Clogs with its annual quiz night on Saturday, September 17 (7.15pm for a prompt 7.30pm start). Not everyone can win medals but they can all have a fun-packed evening. Tables of eight maximum and six minimum; bring your own food and drink (some nibbles will be provided) and the £6 entry charge.Call Val (07876 194375 or Phil (07876 256235). Saddle up for a good cycle ride or walk: The ride’n’stride is back. Riders and walkers are asked to visit as many churches as they can on Satutday September 10 with each confirmed appearance contributing to the total which will be rewarded by an agreed sponsorship fee per place. Money raised is split equally between the church the rider/ walker represents and the Kent Association which then uses its part for those churches with a small congregation. The key to a good amount is to work out a realistic route in advance and to ensure your cycle and foorwear are in good shape. Breakfast time; the Rev Matthew Buchan will draw upon his experiences as an as an auxiliary RAF chaplain when he speaks at the men’s breakfast on Satutday, September 17 in the Rectory, Church Lane (9.30-10am) of His talk follows a breakfast choice of bacon/sausage butties or a continental option (8.30-10am). A £2 donation tp church funds is suggested. As space is restricted it is advisable to ‘phone 01622 726263 and speak with the Rev Wil or Fliss North first. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Coffee For Charity: A coffee morning with a ‘bring and buy’ sale for charity will take place at Bearsted Methodist Church on Saturday September 3 at 10.15am. All Welcome. Drop-In: A social ‘Drop-In Afternoon’

for a chat, refreshments and board St Peter & St Paul, Teston, was brought alive by an explosion of colour over the weekend. This year’s village flower festival had a theme of anniversaries and there were displays in honour of children’s author Beatrix Potter, who would have been 150 years old this year, William Shakespeare, who died 400 years ago, and the Queen, who turned 90 in April. Visitors to the three-day event were also treated to a range of refreshments and could look around craft stalls in the Church Street grounds. games if wanted will take place at Bearsted Methodist Church on Thursday September 15 from 2.30pm to 4pm. All Welcome. Bearsted Green W.I.: This WI will meet at the WI Hall in The Street on Wednesday September 7 at 7.45pm. Visitors Welcome. For details phone 01622 739190 or 01622 736391. Mothers Meeting : The Mothers’ Union will meet in the room at Holy Cross Church on Tuesday September 6 at 2.15pm. Cricket Fixtures: Bearsted Cricket Club’s 1st XI will play their final match of the season away to Shipbourne in the league on Saturday September 3 at 1pm while at the same time, the 2nd XI will play their last league match of the season at home to Shoreham. The Sunday XI will play their final league match of the season at home to Frindsbury on Sunday September 4 at 1.30pm. Parish Council Meeting: Bearsted Parish Council will meet at Madginford Hall in Egremont Road on Tuesday September 13 at 7.30pm. Members of the public are invited to attend. Bible Activities: Maidstone Christadelphians will have an informal discussion or be shown a DVD with a Bible theme at Madginford Hall in Bearsted on Sunday September 4 at 4.30pm. Everyone Very Welcome. Coffee and Chat: A coffee morning will take place in the room at Holy Cross Church on Friday September 2 from 10am to 11.45am. Cost - £1. For details phone Debbie on 07444 539171. Correspondent: Robert Hanvik Mob: 07900 930824 robert.kentmessenger@ gmail.com Monthly Walk Schedule: Linton

Walkers have announced details of their September walks. Their Thursday morning walks all start at 11am. On the 8th, they will cover West Malling; on the 15th, Leeds Village; on the 22nd, Eyhorne; and on the 29th, West Farleigh. Church Friends AGM: The Friends of St Peter’s Church will host its annual general meeting on Monday, September 19, at 7.30pm, in the village hall Committee Room. The primary agenda item is the election of new officers and committee members, though the group welcomes members of the public to attend as well. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com PARISH COUNCIL: The next meet-