What’s happening where you live...
that Cllr Wilson wants the EA to come up with some positive solutions, and will be asking EA consultants to scrutinise the EA modelling process which has led to their promotion of individual property protection, rather than a way of reducing water levels during flood situations. On the same day, Cllr Goff and Grandi met with the Joint Parish Flood Group. There all parish representatives discussed the recent Environment Agency exhibitions held in the churches of Collier Street and Yalding, and the public response to them. The vast majority of attendees, who gave feedback here, councillors that they felt abandoned, worried and scared by the EA proposals. They certainly felt that they were not being offered help other than property level measures which would not be suitable for many of the local properties of the parish. School road safety: Although KCC Cllr Paulina Stockell has pledged money to help the school and the parish council to fund the much needed road safety measures outside the school, it seems there is still a gap between the funding available and the cost. It is also proving frustratingly difficult to obtain a predicted final cost from KCC Highways. Weekend walk: Marden walking group will be meeting outside the library on Saturday, November 5 at 2pm, for a walk in Bridgehurst Wood and the cemetery. WI: Almost 100 people attended the WI craft fair in Yalding village hall last month. The hall was packed with stalls of all types of hand crafted goods of a high standard and trade appeared to be brisk. The home made refresh- ments and the tombola stall were popular too. On Tuesday, November 8 at 7pm, members will hold their monthly meeting at Yalding Village Hall. Peter Van Dongan will be speaking on the subject of his expedition to Antarctica. The competition is for anything penguins! New members and visitors are welcome. Surgery quiz: Tickets are available at Yalding surgery for the Friends of Yalding Surgery annual quiz, which will be held at Yalding Village Hall on Saturday, November 19 from 7pm. The £8 ticket price includes a ploughman’s supper, and participants are invited to take their own drinks and glasses. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Gardening club: The next meeting of the club is on Tuesday November 8) at the Scout hut in Westerhill Road, beginning at 7.30pm. Whether you are new to gardening or have more experience, this is a chance to meet like minded people, get advice, exchange plants, etc. The cost is £2 per meeting including refreshments and £20 per year. If you would like information, contact Hillary Carter on 01622 746648 or 07904 652070. Blood donors: The blood donor unit will be in the village hall on Friday, November 18 from 2-4.30pm and 5.30-8pm. Just walk in or, if you prefer to book an appointment, phone 0300 123 23 23. Library: The library hold a Lads Book Group on the second Thursday in each month, beginning at 2.30pm. Why not go along to find out more? Refreshments are available. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Official opening: The unveiling of the defibrillator in the telephone kiosk in The Street, is on Saturday, November 5 at 10am by the Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Butler and Mary Butler. Hay Fever: Thursday, November 10, is opening night of this comedy by Noel Coward performed by the Detling Players in the village hall. The performance starts at 7.30pm and there is a matinee on Saturday, November 12 at 2pm and the final performance is that evening at 7.30pm. Phone the box office for tickets on 07842 169725. Coffee time: Wednesday, November 9, is the next coffee morning in St Martin church. All are welcome, drop in from 10.30am-noon. There is no charge. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Christmas fair: The Twinning Association holds its Christmas fair at the community centre on Sunday, November 6 from 1-4pm. Lots of stalls plus Father Christmas on his sleigh. Entry is £1 for adults, children free. All welcome. Book now: Tickets are on sale for this year’s seasonal events at the community centre. On Friday, December 9, it’s Back to the Eighties live band, tickets cost £10. On Saturday, December 17, dance to Todd Miller with the Joe Loss Orchestra, tickets £17 and see in the New Year with the Peter Elligate Showband, tickets £17. Tickets are available from the parish office. Call 01732 844749 or email clerk@dittonparishcouncil. gov.uk Kilnbarn attractions: There will be a Children in Need charity race night in the Kilnbarn on Saturday, November 19. All welcome. There will also be a Christmas Eve disco and karaoke and live entertainment with singer Ryan Damant on New Year’s Eve. Remembrance services: This year’s Remembrance services are on Friday, November 11, when there will be a short service at the war memorial from 10.50am and on Sunday, November 13, when there will be the full Remembrance Service at the community centre at 9.45am followed by the parade down to the memorial where there will be another short service and the laying of wreaths. The Scouts will be serving refreshments in the Scout Hut following the parade. All welcome. Council date: The parish council meets in the community centre on Monday, November 7 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Quilters: Hearty Quilters of Maidstone is holding a show in the community centre, Kilnbarn Road, on Saturday, November 5 from 10.30am-4pm, in support of the Heart of Kent Hospice. There will be various stalls, raffle, tombola and crafts plus refreshments. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Any answers: A quiz will take place at St Nicholas Church on Wednesday November 9 at 7.30pm. Take your own nibbles and drinks. For details phone 01622 737684 or 739129. Messy fun: The next meeting of Messy Church at St Nicholas Church will take place on Monday November 14 at 3.30pm. Children with their parents/carers welcome. Craftwork, a story and songs followed by a tea. For details phone 01622 861382. Drop-In: A social Drop-In afternoon for a chat, refreshments and board games will take place at the Methodist Church on Thursday November 17 from 2.30pm-4pm. All Welcome. Party for everyone: A tea party will take place at St Nicholas Church on Thursday, November 17 at 3pm. Everyone welcome. For details or if a lift is needed phone Joan Palmer on 01622 202239. Theatre visit: The Willington Players will present Alan Bennett’s much loved 1970s comedy entitled Habeas Corpus at The Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone on Thursday, November 10. From every ticket ordered costing £14 through the bell ringers at St Nicholas Church, £5.90 will be donated to the funds of the bells repair project. Tickets can be ordered by phoning 01622 862515 or emailing elizabethpiercey@ btinternet.com Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Farmers’ market: The next market is on Sunday November 6 from 10am-1pm in the Old School Hall. There will no longer be pet food sales available from Trophy Pet Foods due to lack of customers and Mike Goddard Pottery will not be there this month but will be back in December. There will be another new stall, Sunnyside Bakes, offering home made soup, meat and vegetarian lasagnes, almond and ham/cheese croissants. There will various other stalls and you can place orders with Sutton Park for your Christmas meats and with Steve the Fish for special seafood requirements. Ride and Stride: As a result of the efforts of those taking part in the Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride event, it was possible for £1,910 to be sent to the charity plus another £60 via the Just Giving website. Thanks are due to everybody who took part and/or supported the riders, in various positions. Church coffee morning: Despite the inclement weather, the recent coffee meeting raised £205 for church funds. This included framed tapestries worked by the late Vera Crockett. Everybody worked hard on the day and thanks are given to you all. Date of next coffee morning November 26. WI: The next meeting of The Farleighs WI is on Wednesday November 9 at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday in each month in the WI Hall, Forge Lane. If you would like to know more, phone Diane Scott on 01622 814476. The institute will be holding its annual table top sale on Saturday November 12 from noon-4pm. There will be a large variety of stalls. The cost is £10 per table for charities and £15 for others. If you would like to book a table, phone Jacky on 01622 236421/07788 433835. Craft Fair: There is to be a Vintage Collectables, Craft and Hand Made Fair in the Old School Hall, on Sunday, November 27 from 1-4pm. Entry £1. For information including booking tables phone Cally on 07812 436361, Mandy on 07703 525138 or Gary on 07985 377585 or amandashoward@ hotmail.com Railway: East Farleigh station has
a machine where tickets for all Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Helpful advice: Members from the Citizen Advice Bureau will be at Heacorn library on Friday, November 4 from 10am-noon for an open surgery. For the diary: The Christmas Fair will be held on Friday, December 2 in the Filmer Hall. Correspondent: Fran Smith, 14 Pitt Road, Maidstone, ME16 8PA Mob: 07791 650955 Tel: 01622 720623 fransmith@ talktalk.net Wildlife group: The next monthly activity session will take place on Saturday, November 12, 10amnoon. Details on the website: www.fantwildlifegroup.org.uk Correspondent: Joan Drury, Weirton Villa, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, ME17 2AP Tel: 01622 853766 jdrury23@ btinternet.com Parish council: The council will meet in Grafty Green Village Hall on Monday, November 7 at 7.30pm. www.boughtonmalherbe. co.uk is the council’s new website. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed on the website. Sunday worship: Holy Communion will be celebrated in St Nicholas church Boughton Malherbe on Sunday November 6 at 9.30am. Tuesday prayers will be held in Ulcombe church at 9.30am on November 8. Coffee cancelled: The organisers of the monthly coffee morning regret that they have had to cancel the get-together on Wednesday, November 9. If you would like to help at this event in future phone Joan Davidson on 01622 50210. Tickets on sale: Tickets (£8) for the ever popular pre-Christmas quiz are on sale in Grafty village shop. The event will take place on Saturday, December 3 at 7.30pm for 8pm. As in previous years the quiz is organised by the village hall committee. Teams may consist of up to eight players. Ready for 2017: The Boughton