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ard, and the prizewinners were: Show Cup (Jim English Memorial Trophy for overall Show Winner) - 1st Susan Shears, 2nd John Stannard, 3rd Valerie Shears. Art Cup ( Ursula Brown Memorial Trophy) - Kay Stanley; WI Silver Rose Bowl - Susan Shears; Brian Williams Shield - Valerie Shears and Parish Council’s People’s Choice - Ann Puhalo. Children (eight and under) James Walker, and Children (nine12) Aimee Walker. Many thanks go to all who supported the Show, the entrants, helpers, and those who provided the judges’ lunches and afternoon refreshments. Correspondent: Valerie Underdown Tel: 01622 843232 valerie95@ outlook.com Coffee: On Friday, September 30 in aid of Macmillian Cancer Support, once again Valerie will be hosting an event to raise money for this cause. Go along to the village hall from 10am-noon and let’s see if we can have another record breaking year of donations. Thank you: The Friends of Sutton Valence and District Branch RBL community coffee morning last week realised £182 after expenses. The organisers where delighted with the large number of people attending and the branch chairman Mike FitzGerald would like to thank everyone who attended and an extra special thank you to all the helpers, because without them the event would not be possible. Jumble sale: At the village hall on Saturday. October 1 from 11amnoon. Jumble to be taken to the hall from 9am-10am. Entrance 50p to include tea or coffee. PARISH COUNCIL: The council has signed up to the Lorry Watch Scheme with KCC Highways. This involves the installation of signs around the parish warning lorry drivers that they are in a restricted zone. Anyone in the parish can report a lorry over 7.5 tonnes to the authorities via Tim Middleton 0n 03000 412457 or by email to freight@ kent.gov.uk All you need is the date, time, registration and any company name and logo. HGVs are permitted in the zone if they are based within it or delivering to a location within it or involved in agricultural trades in the area. However, it is up to companies to prove that their lorries have reason for being there. You should not approach the lorry drivers at all, but photographs can be helpful to the enforcement team. The October parish magazine will have full details of the scheme. Overgrown hedges: Residents are to be reminded that KCC Highways are not responsible for the cutting of hedges and overgrown trees. This is the responsibility of adjacent land or property owners. Residents should also cut around any road signs that could be hidden by overgrown vegetation. KCC Highways will only trim the width of a flail cutter along the verges. If they end up cutting overgrown hedges etc, they will send a bill to the landowners. Highways will only be cutting verges once a year in future. Joint flood group: The recently formed Parish Joint Flood Group (JPFG) will meet on Friday September 30 at Collier Street. Surrounding parishes will be represented, as will the Medway, Teise and Beult flood group. MP Helen Grant will attend, and the agenda items will include feedback from the JPFG chairman David Goff on his recent meetings with the Environment Agency’s Mark Douche about finding alternative solutions for flood protection in the catchment. Walks from Marden: Meet at Marden library on Saturday, September 24 at 2pm for a local walk, during which there will be opportunities to pick blackberries. On Sunday, September 25 at 10am, meet at Marden library to share cars for a drive to Hempstead Forest and then join an interesting walk there. The Rev Paul Kish: Following his service of induction in Yalding Church on September 21, when the Bishop of Rochester and the Archdeacon of Tonbridge put him into post, the Rev Paul Kish will lead his first service at Collier Street Church on Sunday, September 25 at 11am. New school term: Children at the village school achieved well in the last academic year, with results better than the national average in phonics testing in year 1, Key Stage 1 SATs and Key Stage 2 SATs. A really great achievement and a proud time for pupils and staff. Head teacher Paul Ryan starts the new school year by stating that the school wants pupils to strive for excellence in their work, conduct and appearance in the year ahead. Help for students: Students starting their first or subsequent years at university or college, and who attended one of Collier Street, Yalding or Laddingford primary schools for a minimum of two years may be eligible for a scholarship from the Yalding Educational Foundation. Details appeared in the July/August parish magazine and will reappear in the October issue. If you cannot access them, email jscott@cfsbroadband.co.uk for a copy. Ideally applications are required by October 1, but due to the item being missed out of the September magazine, a few days grace will be applied. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Walks: Everyone is welcome to join in walks, which start on Friday, September 23. Meet in the waiting room at Greensand Health Centre (previously Stockett Lane Surgery) at 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start. For information call Clare on 01622 742966. Flu clinics: Greensand Health Centre will be holding flu clinics from Tuesday to Thursday, September 27-29 from 7.30-11am. be aware that there may be rush at 7.30am, so attend later if you can. Also, as these are walk in clinics and the car park will be closed, consider walking. Parish council: The next meeting is on Tuesday September 27 at 7.30pm in the village hall small hall. The public are invited to attend and individuals may speak for up to three minutes at the discretion of the chairman before the start of the meeting. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk The Larches: On Saturday, September 24, there will be a nature walk around The Larches with the Kent Wildlife Trust. Meet at 2pm at the entrance. Parking is along the roadside on Pilgrims way at the top of Harple Lane. Call the office for details on 01622 662012. Harvest Festival: On Sunday, September 25, the special service in church to celebrate Harvest will start later than usual at 11am. Admire the specially decorated church. After the service there will be refreshments for all. Coffee morning: On Wednesday, September 28, the village church will be open from 10.30am-noon, serving coffee etc. All welcome to pop in when passing, there is no charge. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Motown revisited: It’s Motown Night with the Mo-Sound Sisters in the community centre on Saturday, October 1. Doors open at 8pm with music from 8.30pm. Tickets cost £10, available from the parish office, phone 01732 844749, or email clerk@dittonparishcouncil.gov.uk Quiz: The next Kilnbarn quiz is on Sunday, September 25 at 8pm. Teams of six to eight at £2 per head. There will also be a meat raffle. Council date: The parish council meets in the community centre on Monday, Otober 3 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Concert: Rainham Ladies Choir under conductor Simon Tatnall with accompanist Janet Stone, will perform at St Nicholas Church on Sunday, September 25 at 3pm. The programme will include some classical pieces and lighter music and songs from shows. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Roadworks: Dean Street will be closed on Monday, September 26 for four nights from 9pm-6am between the junctions with Forge Lane and Workhouse Lane, to enable a new connection to be carried out by BT Openreach. The alternative route is via B2010 Lower Road, B2163 Ewell Lane/Heath Road. Coffee time: The Farleighs WI will be holding a coffee morning, in aid of Macmillan, on Thursday September 29 from 11.30am-1pm in the WI Hall, Forge Lane. Go along for coffee and cake. Farleighs WI: At their September meeting, members were given a fascinating talk from Susan Shaw on exhibiting for NAFAS at the Chelsea Flower Show. Her experience in being part of the team that designed, built and produced such a fantastic display was really interesting and the photographic display gave them an insight into the amount of hard work and hours that were involved. The institute meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and welcomes new members. For information phone Diane Scott on 01622 814476. Church coffee: The next coffee morning, in aid of church funds, is on Saturday October 1 from 11amnoon in the Old School Hall. Raffle, cakes, handmade cards, aprons, preserves, etc. PARISH COUNCIL: At the recent meeting, three crimes were reported; burglary other than a dwelling in Forge Lane; dangerous dog out of control causing injury in Forge Lane and damage to a vehicle in Station Hill. No response had been received from TripleM to its small claim so it was agreed to ask for payment in full by September 30. After discussing the matter of re-painting the bays in the car park, it was agreed to buy a line painting machine to enable the job to be done regularly because doing it manually is both back breaking and time consuming. A copy of the KCC report on the improvement of the junctions of Lower Road with The Green/Vicarage Lane and Station Hill, along with traffic calming options for Lower Road had been received. As the options listed required either street lighting or a 20mph speed limit, the parish council felt that the report didn’t offer any real solution. It was agreed that average speed cameras would be a better option. KCC was to be asked about the possibilities and county Cllr Paulina Stockell agreed to request a meeting with Roger Wilkins. Bridge working party: A meeting was recently held with other parish chairmen and KCC to discuss the problem of HGVs using the medieval bridges. Lack of resources to enforce and the number of exemptions was making enforcement difficult, though it was agreed that there is technology available to record and identify suspect vehicles. If was felt necessary to quantify the problem which KCC Highways would do but was not prepared to pay for. A launch for the East Farleigh – A Brief History booklet is to be held on a date and in a location to be confirmed. It is hoped that Ann Widdecombe will be able to attend. Speedwatch. There has been 59 new observations resulting in 24 letters of advice, six for second detection of mid-range speeding and 17 for high end (+ 50%) speeding. A new site near the Montessori School in Lower Road had been applied for. Work was underway for the rota for September 2016 to February 2017. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Free advice: The Citizen Advice Bureau will be at Heacorn library on Friday, October 7 for an open surgery from 10am-noon. Correspondent: Joan Drury, Weirton Villa, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, ME17 2AP Tel: 01622 853766 jdrury23@ btinternet.com Charity concert: On Saturday, October 8 in Egerton Village Hall. Military Wives Choir plus guest vocalist Holly chambers. Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £10, phone 01622 858100 to book. Last service: Goodbyes will be said to the retiring priest-in-charge of the Len Valley churches at a special service for all four churches. It will be held in Lenham church at 11am on Sunday, September 25. The Rev Dr Dick Venn, who is also the local Area Dean, will retire at the end of the month. The service will be followed by a lunch in Lenham Community Centre. Prayer time: St Nicholas church Boughton Malherbe will be the venue for the regular Tuesday prayer meeting on September 27 at 9.30am. GP to Canon: The Rev Canon Dr Steve Lillicrap will be the speaker at the Men’s Breakfast in the Dog and Bear Lenham on Saturday September 24 at 8am. Mr Lillicrap has been the vicar of the Creekside group of churches for eight years. Previously he was a GP. Contact the Rev Dick Venn on 01622 858195 for details. Harvest supper: It will be held in Grafty Green Village Hall on Saturday, October 15. Full details will be found in the October issue of the Malherbe Monthly. Correspondent: Jackie Nixon Mob: 07527 449540 jackie.kmlocal@ hotmail. com Parish not church: Do you care about roads, parks and playgrounds? Do you want to see them improved? This is just some of the business of the “parish” council. It is elected, and works with the borough council. So do not miss the parish council meeting on Monday, October 3 at 7.30pm, at St John’s CofE Primary School, Provender Way, Weavering. Correspondent: Rosa Sams, Uplands Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham, Maidstone, ME17 1NZ Tel: 01622 859412 rosa.sams@ googlemail.com Charity concert: See Grafty Green

column. Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for Headcorn, please contact Debbie Edwards, email: Charity concert: See the Grafty Green column. Correspondent: Liz Willy , 108 Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, ME17 1UA Mob: 07928668924 elizabethwilly@ btinternet.com Village fete: If you feel that you could help organise next year’s village fete contact Vicki Smith, parish clerk on 880526 or email at pchollingbourne@gmail.com Planning usually starts for the fete with occasional meetings from October or November. Mobile library: In the village on Wednesday, September 28 from 11.55am-12.25pm at the village hall. PARISH COUNCIL: Cllr M Bedwell reported that fly-tipping was a real problem in the village; in Eyhorne Street and around the recycling area. Greenway Court Road had a settee, building debris and a sink dumped in it. Cllr M Bedwell had been contacted in August by aman who had brought a property, and while working on it found the 1967/68 approved drawing of the village hall. The drawings have subsequently been given to John Holley so that they can be displayed at the village hall. Crime report –PCSO Ryan Waring. Crime figures July 9 to September 9: July 10, theft from motor vehicle in Eyhorne Street, July 12, criminal damage in Greenway Court Road, July 15, criminal damage in Eyhorne Street, August 31, theft from motor vehicle, A20 and September 1, vehicle interference in Station Approach (down the lane from the Station). The clerk would chase up the letter sent to Network Rail regarding the works required to the security camera at the station. It would be