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day, September 21 at 7.30pm in All Saints’ Church. Due to a change in programme, the group will revert to having its usual beetle drive that evening. For details, contact Ann Emery on 01622 741559. Parish meeting: The full parish council meets on Monday, September 19 at 7.30pm at the parish pavilion, King George V Playing Field, Walnut Tree Lane. A wide range of topics will be discussed, particularly as the council did not meet in August. The public are welcome to attend. Prior to the full Ccuncil meeting, the pPlanning committee will hold a closed meeting, as there is only one item on the agenda, and it is an enforcement issue. Agendas for meetings can be found at www. loosepc.kentparishes.gov.uk, or on one of the three noticeboards along the Loose/Linton Road (outside the primary school; top of Old Loose Hill, post office end and at the corner of Holmesdale Close). Correspondent: Hannah Qureshi Mob: 07527 449540 hannah.kmlocal@ hotmail. com Bowls open days: Mote Park Indoor Bowls Club based at Willow Way, (next to the leisure centre) is holding open days on Wednesday, September 28 and Sunday, October 30 from 10am-5pm each day. Try out the game of bowls. Tuition will be available. Bowls is a social as well as a competitive game and it will meet the needs of players of all ages and abilities. Each open day will be followed by four free sessions (either Monday evenings or Thursday afternoons) to give new bowlers the opportunity to make up their minds whether they wish to take up the game and join the club. Free tea/coffee will be provided on the open days - no equipment is required; just turn up in casual clothing and a pair of flat soled shoes such as trainers. Jumble sale: Maidstone Mencap is holding a jumble and nearly new sale on Saturday, October 15 from 2.30pm at Cobtree Hall, Willington Street. Contact: Lesley on 01622 892433 for information. Carriage foundation event: Enjoy a rewarding day of talks and tours at the Tyrwhitt-Drake Carriage Museum on Saturday, September 24 from 9.45am-4.30pm. With experts, enthusiasts, and scholars sharing their knowledge and passion for horse-drawn carriages, this enjoyable day will prove enlightening for all. Included during the day will be: An introduction to the TyrwhittDrake Museum by Samantha Harris, collections manager; a tour of the museum with chairman and project curator of The Carriage Foundation. Four weddings and a funeral – carriage studies past and future, a talk by Julian Munby. A talk by Fairbourne Carriages, conservators and restorers. For details and to book your place, contact Amy Bracey on 01793 976569 or email thecarriagefoundation@yahoo.co.uk Crime and punishment: Enjoy a talk by Mark Bateson of the Archive centre on a gruesome 19th Century murder John Any Bird Bell: A Story about Killing on Thursday, September 29 from 6pm-9pm with Museum Lates at the Maidstone Museum St Faith’s Street. Examine the evidence and judge for yourselves. Find out about the historic objects used to deal with the accused. The objects session is at 6.30pm and the talk is at 7.30pm. Cafe Culture: Free monthly drop-in sessions for those aged over 65 provide a great opportunity to learn more about the items held in the museum’s collections. Go along on the final Friday of the month (September 30) to the Maidstone Museum cafe on St Faith’s Street from 10.30am-11.30am for chats and object handling. For details visit www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk or call 01622 602838 Museum story time: Every Friday from 10.30am-11.30am in the Bentlif Gallery at the museum with storytelling and craft activities. Perfect for children aged under five. Reserve your place, or simply turn up on the day and pay at reception. Price is £2.50 per child.

The Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats 5km sponsored run, walk or crawl is a great day out and an opportunity to raise funds for the goats. The run is to be held at Mote Park on Saturday September 17 from 2pm. Ask friends and family to sponsor you for this great cause. If you are interested in taking part, contact us at enquiries@buttercups.org.uk to confirm your place and receive your official sponsorship form. Links Girl Guides: Are you 10-14 years of age and want to find out more about Guides (Girlguiding)? Or maybe you have thought of joining Guides but you are not able to make weekly meetings for some reason. A holiday Guiding group meets about three or four times a year during the school holidays. The next meeting is on Sunday September 18 from 10am-4pm. The full programme includes lots of outdoor activities so go along to have fun and find out more about Guides. Contact Ros Vaughan (the assistant leader of Links Guides) on rvaug@madasafish.com Correspondent: Mo Clayton Tel: 01622 831529 tillergirl2913@ aol.com Walking group: On Saturday, September 17, meet at 2pm outside the library for a local walk to view trees. On Wednesday, September 25, meet at 10am to share cars for a Hempstead Forest walk. Once again, meet outside the library, Flu immunisation: The Medical Centre is holding flu immunisation clinics on Wednesdays September 21 and 28. These will be open clinics from 2pm-6.30pm, no appointments needed. Surnames A-L on September 21 and M-Z on September 28. You can attend either clinic. Over 65s are recommended to have a pneumococcal (pneumonia) injection, which usually only needs to be given once. Cakes and books: There will be a cake and book sale in the Congregational Church in aid of Macmillan Nurses on Thursday September 22 from 10.30am-noon. Refreshments will be available. Patronal Festival: Showcase your talent at the Patronal Festival and Gift Day on Saturday, October 1 from 10am at St Michael and All Angels Church. Take your exhibits to the church so they can be sold by silent auction at 4pm for Church funds. Jewellery, paintings, photos, needlework, baking, woodwork, drawings and music. Details from Carol Walker on 01622 831132 or Graham Codling on 832622. Theatre group: It is the 400th centenary of William Shakespeare’s death and in celebration there will be A Bard Day’s Night on Friday September 23 in the West End Tavern. Songs, sketches, speeches by or about Shakespeare, starting at 7.30pm. No charge but a donation will be appreciated. A further evening will be in the memorial hall on Saturday, October 22. Marden Society: The society will kick off the autumn season on Wednesday, September 28 in the Vestry Hall at 8pm. Wilf Lower will talk about The Medway – A Divided River. Tales of courage and achievement along this important Kentish waterway. Coffee time: The annual Macmillan coffee morning will be held in the Vestry Hall on Friday, September 23 from 10am-11.45am. All welcome. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Concert: Rainham Ladies Choir under their conductor Simon Tatnall with accompanist Janet Stone will perform at St Nicholas Church on Sunday, September 25 at 3pm. Their singing is of the highest quality and they are highly regarded in the Medway Towns where they give frequent fundraising concerts. The programme will include some classical pieces and lighter music and songs from shows. Peal: A peal of the church bells will be rung at St Nicholas Church on Saturday, September 24 from 9.30am-1.30pm. For information phone 01622 861143. Service: A Family Worship Service for the whole church parish will be held in St Nicholas Church on Sunday September 18 at 10.30am. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com Maidstone Wind Symphony: St Paul’s Church, Boxley Road, is holding a recital concert by some talented musicians from Maidstone Wind Symphony on Saturday September 24 at 7.30pm. Free entry with a retiring collection towards the orchestra’s forthcoming recording project www.maidstonewindsymphony.org Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 Wildlife study: The next Wildlife Study Days will be on Friday, September 16. The topic will be Wake up your Garden for Wildlife. A friendly workshop suitable for gardeners of all abilities, whatever the size of your garden, from a balcony to a country estate. Take plans and photos of your garden and they will give you ideas to make it come alive. Includes a tour of the demonstration areas. Course fee is £16 for a half day session, run by Maureen Rainey who runs Kent Wildlife Gardening Awards. On Friday September 23, Water for Wildlife in Even the Smallest Plot. Water is essential to survival and no wildlife friendly garden is complete without it in some form

September 5 was the Friends’ volunteers day. While the weather was unfortunately overcast with drizzle on and off all morning, it did not stop a number of Friends from turning out. Work was undertaken edging the rose beds and the pavilion beds were weeded and dead-headed. A litter pick was also undertaken throughout most areas of the park. Discussions were held to progress the Rose Campaign, which is aimed at replacing all of the ageing roses in the pleasure gardens. All Friends are welcome at the next quarterly FofSP meeting to be held at the Maidstone Hockey Club at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 20. Correspondent: Andrew Watson, 9 Barn Meadow, Staplehurst, TN12 0SY Mob: 07715 572772 Tel: 01580 891986 staplehurst.report@ btinternet.com Junior cricket success: The juniors had another successful season with both the under 11s and under 16s finishing second in their respective leagues. The Under 16s reached the league cup final against Leeds and Broomfield. Martin Christopherson scored another valiant 50 in falling just short of a successful run chase. This success was celebrated with Junior Awards last Friday with awards for bowling, batting and most improved player at each age group handed out by Club President, Ray Jenkins. Well done to all our juniors this season! CC-Stalwarts win awards: The cricket club is proud to announce that groundsman Alan Reader has been recognised by Kent Cricket for his longstanding services to cricket with an Alan Albury award. He will receive the prestigious award at a special lunch at the Spitfire Ground, Canterbury, on September 20. This award is made to a only a small number of people each year for their exceptional contribution. Many of us are well aware of the considerable work that Alan undertakes all year-round to keep the club grounds looking as they do. That involves preparing pitches for around 80 matches this season including a number of Kent representative teams. Alan’s award is testament to the standard of the facilities he delivers and the part he plays in enabling all of us, including the many juniors, to enjoy a great cricket experience. At the same time, 1st XI umpire Alan Collard will be receiving an England & Wales Cricket Board OSCA award recognising more than 30 years as a umpire including his work with the Association of Cricket Officials in training new umpires. Alan will be presented with the county award at the lunch on September 20 and then his national award at an event at Lord’s in early October. September 20 is also Kent Cricket’s volunteer day and any member who would like to attend the event, which is also Day 1 of the County Championship Div 2 decider between Kent and Essex, should contact John Swannick via www. staplehurstcricket.com/contact. html for details on how to get free entry. 2nd XI win league: The Saturday 2nd XI are League Champions, in the Kent Regional Cricket League 2B Central Division title! It comes after an excellent year from the side with valuable contributions throughout the team. Well done to captain Gez Saunders for his excellent efforts in his first season T20-Cricket at Canterbury: The cricket season is set to end in style with the T20 team reaching the finals day in the Kent T20 Cup at Canterbury - The home of Kent County Cricket Club. Finals day takes place on Saturday September 17, and it would be great to have as much support there as possible. Semi final 1 starts at 9am between Littlebourne and New Ifield, and we will be facing Orpington or Dartfordians at noon. The final will start at around 3pm. Food will be served at the ground all day and the bar will be open. Paul Butcher dies: After a two-year struggle with cancer Parish Cllr Paul Butcher died on Sunday. He did a lot of work for the village over the years, particularly for young people, and the youth club was one of his central interests. However, he will be remembered by most for the many years he chaired our parish council’s planning committee, from which he stepped down only earlier this year. Our thoughts are with his family and close friends. Bye bye sunflowers: At the horticultural society’s Autumn Show last Saturday, organiser Clive Borer handed out the prizes for his popular Sunflower Challenge. Three years ago Clive was asked to introduce an event which would encourage children to become young gardeners and, with 11 entering the competition, his initiative has proved to be a great success. In his ultimate Oscars-style address, Clive thanked sponsors Bumbles before presenting the prizes, which totalled £100. First-prize winners included Grace Beard, Katherine Baldly and Reefe Nyohaou, who all defeated a wet spring, dry summer and a plague of slugs, to produce such magnificent specimens. Clive went on to reassure the young people that there would still be lots of prizes for them to grow for in the coming years. All the winning contestants attend Staplehurst School, and gardening club supervisor Chris Ralph received a special prize for the School Garden’s combined effort. Correspondent: Claire Adams, Woodmancote, Rumstead Lane, Stockbury, ME9 7QL Tel: 01795 841140 foxgloveadams@ aol.com Parish council: The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 21 in the village hall at 7pm. All are welcome to attend. Correspondent: Eileen Riden Tel: 01622 844953 riden887@ btinternet.com Gardeners association: The autumn show was successful. Despite the lack of rain, the gardeners displayed an abundance of vegetables and flowers. The tables looked stunning, full of colour and variety. The cookery section was well-supported and the judge commented on the quality of the exhibits. Jim Fleck presented the prizes and awards to the winners. Peter Smith, KM Trophy for collection of five vegetables and the Sutton Valence Gardeners’ Association Trophy for vegetables and fruit. Peter also won the Sinclair Trophy for his chrysanthemums and the Mick George Memorial Trophy for most points for veg/ fruit in the three shows. Well done Peter. Ron Foreman won the Allcars Trophy for onions; John Harris the Day Trophy for dahlias; Audrey Bishop and Brenda Donn shared the Martin Trophy for their beautiful floral art; June Bick won the Marchant Rose bowl for cookery and handicrafts; In the children’ section, Scarlette