What’s happening where you live...

Cricket fixtures: The 2nd XI will play a friendly match at Eynsford on Saturday, September 10 at 1pm while the Sunday XI will play it’s last match of the season with a friendly away to The Mote on September 11 at 1pm. Parish council: The council will meet at Madginford Hall in Egremont Road on Tuesday, September 13 at 7.30pm. The public are invited. Availability of St Mary’s Church: If you would like information about using St Mary’s Church, Thurnham for an event, meetings or rehearsals, phone 01622 631747. We will remember them: A service in memory of Thomas Richard Simpson (no address known) who was killed in the First World War will take place at St Mary’s Church, Thurnham on Thursday, September 15 at noon. All welcome. Bible activity: Maidstone Christadelphians will have an informal discussion or be shown a DVD with a Bible theme at Madginford Hall on Sunday September 11 at 4.30pm. All welcome. Correspondent: Gilly Hurley Tel: 01622 790734 AylesfordEccles@ aol.com Forest Sunday School: Tuesday, September 13 at 7.30pm in the village hall. Maureen Rainey will talk about Wild Life Gardening. New members and visitors are welcome. For details, contact Anne Norris on 01622 745115. Messy fun: The next session of Messy Church will take place in St Peter’s Church on Saturday, September 10 from 3 -5pm. All pre-school and primary school children are welcome, accompanied by their parents or carers. The afternoon will feature crafts, songs and a story, culminating with tea. For details, contact Anne Norris on 01622 745115. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com Dr Jazz Concert: The Friends of Boxley Church invite you to listen to a top traditional jazz band, Dr Jazz featuring singer Lyn Falvey at St Mary and All Saints Church, The Street on Saturday September 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (first drink included with ticket) are available from Gill 01622 630231 and Jackie on 677121. Allotment: If you are interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables, there are vacant allotment plots available. Phone the parish office on 01634 861237 for information. PARISH COUNCIL: The date of the planning inquiry into the Gibraltar Farm planning application for 450 houses just the other side of the parish border will be October 4 at 10am at the Civic Suite, Medway Council, gun Whar, Chatham. Cllr Macklin reported to the parish council meeting that she had met two people keeping their small area of the community at Wildfell Close clean by voluntarily picking up litter. The parish council meeting thanked these two volunteers for their community spirit. Please do not drop litter and expect others to clean it up for you take it home and put it in your bin. A big thank you to the two people and also to the other residents who quietly contribute to their community by undertaking such work. You can request a litter pick from Maidstone Borough Council by going onto its website and the parish council’s Environment Committee is currently investigating the growing litter problem at its 12 September meeting /userfiles/files/ env1609b%281%29.pdf There will be a meeting of the environment committee on Monday, September 12 at Beechen Hall, Waldersalde and the finance and general purposes committee meets on Tuesday, September 13 at the same venue. Both meetings start at 7.30pm. Correspondent: Pam Merryweather, 13 Fir Tree Grove, Bredhurst, ME7 3LB Tel: 01634 610011 pamerry@ outlook.com WI: Louise will be talking about Age UK at the next meeting on Wednesday, September 14 at 7.30pm in the village hall. Visitors welcome. Adopt a cat: Did you know we have a cat adoption centre right on our doorstep? It is situated in Matts Hill Road and is open daily from 11am-3pm. Visitors are welcome to view the centre’s cats but you will first need to fill in an Adoption Questionnaire before you are able to book or take a cat home. All the cats are vaccinated, neutered and have a microchip before going to their new forever homes. If you would like to see some of the cats available for adoption or find out more about the centre, visit http:// www.bredhurst.cats.org.uk/ Ride and Stride: This is on Saturday, September 10. Max and Ann Bodimeade will be cycling between Whitstable and Canterbury and back after parkrun. Half of the funds raised goes to St Peter’s and half to the Friends of Kent churches. Any donations would be appreciated. Correspondent: Valerie Underdown Tel: 01622 843232 valerie95@ outlook.com Coffee morning: Friends of RBL Sutton Valence and District branch invite you to a community coffee morning on Friday, September 16 at the village hall from 10am12.30pm. A warm welcome awaits. PARISH COUNCIL: The council meets at the village school on Monday, September 12 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend the meeting, but anyone wishing to address the council on any matter should contact the clerk at least 24 hours ahead of the meeting on clerk.collstpcl@btopenworld.com or 01580 766249 Lorry Watch: The chairman of the parish council met with Sam Yates from KCC Highways to discuss the Lorry Watch initiative. This involves volunteer residents noting down lorry details to submit to freight@kent.gov.uk or 03000 412457. There are high vis waistcoats available for those who wish to run a roadside session and there are temporary signs around the parish. However, anyone can report a lorry that is illegally inside the 7.5 tonne weight limit zone. As much detail as possible is needed including the date and time of sighting, the full registration number, the lorry make and company name in order to prove the vehicle was in the zone. This initiative does not involve stopping the vehicle or speaking to the driver. WI produce show: The next meeting of Yalding and District WI is on Tuesday September 13 at 7pm at Yalding Village Hall. This month will be the annual produce show, with cups and prizes for vegetables, flowers, cookery, craft and flower arranging. There are still a few tables left for the WI Craft Fair on Saturday, October 26 from 10am-3pm in Yalding Village Hall. Call Mary Jakes on 01892 730344 if you are interested in having a stall. Arts/crafts: An art and craft afternoon takes place on Monday September 12 from 2-4pm at The Chequers marquee in Laddingford. Take your project along and enjoy a couple of hours with like minded folk over tea and cakes. Ladies at Laddingford: The Chequers at Laddingford starts its popular Ladies’ Nights again on Thursday, September 15 from 7-9.30pm. Escape for some ‘me time’ and enjoy a relaxing drink with friends along with canapes. Church fete: The grounds of Yalding church on Saturday, September 10, will be alive with the annual church fete and Ride ‘n’ Stride. The fete takes place from 1-4pm with fun for all the family, stalls, refreshments and a raffle. If you have a brave teddy, he may want to parachute from the church tower in aid of Yalding Church Preservation Society (YCPS). Sponsorship forms and details are available at Yalding Post Office or on the YCPS website. As well as St Peter & St Paul, the Baptist Church in Vicarage Road and St Mary’s at Laddingford will also be open that day from 10am6pm for Ride ‘n’ Stride whereby visitors arrange a ride or walk from church to church, raising Sponsorship money to aid Kent Churches. Call Pamela Curley for details on 01622 814159. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Church coffee morning: The monthly coffee morning in aid of Holy Trinity Church, is on Saturday, September 10 from 10am-noon in the Scout HQ, Westerhill Road. Everybody is welcome. Gardening club: The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 13 at 7.30pm in the Scout hut, Westerhill Road. Whether you are new to gardening or are more experienced, this is a small friendly club where you can exchange ideas, plants, tips and pick up advice. Membership is £20 per year and £2 per meeting, For information, contact Hillary Carter on 01622 746648 or 07904 652070. Ladies Friendly Circle: The next meeting is on Thursday September 15 at 7.30pm for a prompt 7.45pm start, in the committee room at the village hall. There will be a talk from our community warden, Adam McKinley. For information, contact Sandra Baker on 01622 745264. Coffee morning: Greensand Health Centre (formerly Stockett Lane Surgery) will be holding a coffee morning on Thursday September 15 from 11am-1pm. Lots of free health advice including GPs and specialists to offer support on health eating, exercise, quitting smoking, memory assessments and BP checks. No need to book - just turn up at the surgery in Stockett Lane. Flu clinics: I do have details of this year’s flu clinics at Stockett Lane surgery but will advise nearer the time. Date for diary: Are you interested in walks around the village? Beginning on Friday, September 23, then on-going, Greensand Health Centre is arranging Coxheath Walks. Each walk is approx 60 mins. Meet in the waiting room at 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start. Everybody is welcome. For information, phone Clare on 01622 742966. PARISH COUNCIL: The council is requesting feed back on the following items: Ambulance HQ: If closed, what next, possible NHS use. Additional recreation facilities: Funding is available. Public transport views. If you have any comments about the listed subjects contact any parish councillor, the parish clerk or the community warden. Charity event: The Heart of Kent Hospice is inviting you to take part in a Moon Walk on Saturday, September 17, beginning at the hospice. This is the annual eight mile sponsored walk under the stars to remember loved ones and to support its work. For details visit www.hokh.org Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail.co. uk Ride and Stride: On Saturday, September 10 the annual Ride and Stride will be held, raising funds for the Friends of Kent Churches. Every church in Kent will be open for this event. It is not too late to take part or help by acting as a steward in our village church. For further details phone Margaret On 01622 737987 or 07769 815403. Family Service: On Sunday, September 11, there will be the monthly Family Service in church at 10.30am. All ages are welcome, there are activities for the children with drinks and biscuits for everyone to enjoy afterwards. Special Service: On Monday, September 12, a celebration of life of Dr Gavin McLaggan will be held in church at 2.30pm. Cream teas: The tea party in August at St Martin of Tours was a great success, the sun shone and £500 was raised for the Friends of Detling Church. Coffee morning: On Wednesday, September 14, the church will be open from 10.30am-noon for coffee and biscuits. All welcome, drop in when you can. Detling Strollers: On Thursday, September 15, there will be a stroll based on Trottiscliffe. Anyone can join in, the walkers meet at 10am outside Detling Village Hall so that transport can be shared. The return should be by 1pm. For information contact John Munson on 01622 630231. Autumn: Celebrate Harvest with a Kentish ploughman’s lunch on Sunday, September 24 in church at 12.30pm. Tickets costing £5 can be reserved by signing the list in church or email Tim.cathcart@ btinternet.com Detling Showground: Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Any answers: A quiz will take place at St Nicholas Church on Wednesday, September 14 at 7.30pm. Take your own nibbles and drinks. For details phone 01622 737684 or 739129. Church tower: There will be a tower open morning hosted by the bell ringers at St Nicholas Church on Saturday, September 10 from 10am-noon. Go along and visit the ringing room, have a go at ringing under supervision and enjoy the refreshments on offer. Children wishing to ring a bell must be nine years or over and be accompanied by an adult. Contact Mal Williams, tower captain, on 01622 861143. Stoneacre open: This wonderful National Trust garden and 15th century timber-framed Yeoman’s House will be open in aid of The Heart of Kent Hospice on Sunday, September 11 from 2pm-5pm. The tenants will share their first year of tenancy and their future plans for Stoneacre. The garden includes sculpted lawns, herbaceous borders and a secret garden. Enjoy a cream tea with strawberry jam