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at The Somme. Meet at Roundwell near the village pump. An Act of Remembrance will take place on Friday, November 18 at noon in respect of George Henry Cooper who was also killed at The Somme. Meet at Ware Street opposite the row of white weather boarded cottages. Bible thoughts: Maidstone Christadelphians will have an informal discussion on a Bible topic or be shown a DVD with a Bible theme at Madginford Hall on Sunday, November 13 at 4.30pm. Everyone welcome. Taize: A Taize Service will take place in Holy Cross Church on Sunday November 13 at 7pm. RSPB: The local group will be given an illustrated talk entitled Project Cuckoo by Paul Stancliffe at Grove Green Community Hall on Thursday, November 17 at 7.30pm. There will be free refreshments and opportunities to buy bird feed and sales goods. Group members £3.50, non-members £4.50. Easy car parking. 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. Correspondent: Sue Whiteoak Tel: 01634 660097 susanwhiteoak@ talktalk. net Kent Wildlife Trust: A study day at the local KWT centre at Tyland Barn, Sandling Road, and Mote Park will be held on Saturday, November 19 from 10am-4pm. Botanist Ros Bennett will talk about Getting to Know Conifers – an introduction to identifying foliage and cones of pine, spruce, larch, fir, cedar and redwood. Day fee £27 (concession £5 off), suitable for adults 18 plus. Phone 01622 682012 to book your place. Parish council meets: The next meeting of Aylesford Parish Council will be held on Tuesday, November 15 at 7.30pm in Tunbury Hall, Catkin Close, Walderslade. Residents who live within the boundaries of the parish are invited to attend to hear local business discussed. Correspondent: Robert Hanvik Mob: 07900 930824 robert.kentmessenger@ gmail.com Lenham Valley and South Maidstone Business Association: See Lenham. Messy fun: The next session of messy church at St Peter’s Church will be on Saturday, November 12 from 3-5pm. Messy Church is good for children from three years old, although younger siblings are welcome. The event will include activities, a story and conclude with tea. No booking is necessary. For details, phone Anne Norris on 01622 745115. Scouts’ quiz night: Reminder that the local Scout group is hosting a quiz night on Saturday, November 19 from 7pm at the village hall. Teams of six, paying £7.50 per person. This includes a ploughman’s supper, but take your own drinks and nibbles. For details or to book a table, contact Robin Fuller on 01622 609975 or rafuller@ blueyonder.co.uk Christmas fair: On Saturday,

november 12 from noon-4.30pm in the village hall. Craft stalls, seasonal entertainment, Santa’s grotto, mulled wine and refreshments. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com If you have an item concerning Boxley, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Pam Merryweather, 13 Fir Tree Grove, Bredhurst, ME7 3LB Tel: 01634 610011 pamerry@ outlook.com St Peter’s Church: The Service of Remembrance on Sunday, November 13, will start at 10.45am. Village hall: There is a wall plaque in the hall to commemorate events held there for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee (2002), Diamond Jubilee (2012) and 90th Birthday (2016). Do take advantage of having a look when using or hiring the hall. Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for Broomfield/Kingswood, please contact Debbie Edwards, email: dedwards@ thekmgroup.co.uk Parish council: The next meeting is on Monday November 21 at 7.30pm in the village hall, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood. Correspondent: Valerie Underdown Tel: 01622 843232 valerie95@ outlook.com If you have an item concerning Chart Sutton, please contact the correspondent above. Seniors’ tea party: On November 2, the monthly tea party was held at Cheryl’s lovely Collier Street home, where everyone had a good chat before tea. There were three cake stands full of little butterfly cakes, scones and flapjacks, as well as a chilli chocolate cake; all was served in a beautiful dining room with a log fire. The Woodpeckers: Eleven willing workers turned up to help tidy away some of the leaves in the churchyard on Saturday November 5. There will not be another Woodpeckers’ session until early next spring when the group might convene in February if the weather is suitable. Nevertheless, a smaller task force of Woodpeckers will plant out the extension to the hedge in Green Lane over the winter. Parish council: The next meeting is on Monday, November 14 at 7.30pm in the garden classroom at the village school. Any questions from the public must be submitted to the clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting. Email clerk. collstpc@btinternet.com School open day: The village school will be holding its Open Day on Wednesday, November 16 from 9-11.30am and from 1.30-3pm. During the morning session, there will be musical recitals from 10.30am and during the afternoon, two classes will perform dances from 2.30pm. Do go along and see the school at work. Remembrance Communion: Remembrance Communion takes place at St Margaret’s church on Sunday November 13 at 11am. Come for tea: The monthly tea afternoon on Wednesday November 16 from 2-4pm in the church, will feature a charity bring and buy stall, and a raffle, as well as the usual home baked cakes, washed down with a cuppa and lots of chat. This time the school open day will be on at the same time, so maybe some of the school visitors will drop in for a while. Everyone is welcome, and there is ample parking in the large parish car park just past the church. Well done, editors: KCC has awarded Collier Street News a grant which Jeannie applied for back in September on the recommendation of county Cllr Paulina Stockell, who thought the Collier Street parish magazine to be one of the best around. The money will be spent on a Mac programme to help with publishing and editing the mag and also to help with ongoing costs. Temporary road closures: Lughorse Lane in Hunton will continue to be closed until about Saturday, November 19, to enable electric cable works by UK Power Networks. Open weekend : On Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13, Jo Soar’s garden studio will be open to visitors from 11am-4pm each day. Go along and enjoy a drink while browsing at cards, paintings and the garden. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Church coffee: The monthly coffee morning, in aid of Holy Trinity Church, is on Saturday, November 12 from 10am-noon at the Scout Hut, Westerhill Road. Everybody is welcome. Ladies Friendly Circle: The next meeting is on Thursday November 17 at 7.30pm for a prompt 7.45pm start. This will be Christmas table decorations. If you want information, contact Sandra Baker on 01622 745264. Blood donor sessions.: The blood donor unit will be in the village hall on Friday, November 18 from 2-4.30pm and 5.30-8pm. You may just walk in but, if you prefer to make an appointment, phone 0300 123 23 23. Remembrance.: The Remembrance Day Service on Sunday November 13 will begin at 10-30am. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Defibrillator : On November 5, the old phonebox in the village was opened as a Defibrillator by the Mayor of Maidstone Derek Butler. Also in attendance was parish Cllr Janice Kennard, borough Cllr Nick de Wiggondene, county Cllr Jenny Whittle and the MP Helen Whately. After the official opening, the Cock Horse pub in the village opened up specially and served drinks and snacks on All Katana wants for Christmas is a new home and a loving family. The poor stray has had a tough time, having come into the RSPCA’s care when she was pregnant. Sadly all of her kittens have since died, leaving her heartbroken. The cat, who is thought to be