Renaissance to pop art

A grandfather who has spent thousands of hours painting has had his own exhibition at Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery. Ernie Mirfin, 69, who is self-taught, was offered his own show after entering pieces in the museum’s Bentlif Open Art Prize a few years ago. His exhibition Across the Canvas features landscapes and portraits, many of celebrities, in oil, acrylic and mixed media. Mr Mirfin, who was an advertising manager at the Kent Messenger for 20 years, said: “I like most kinds of art, from Renaissance to pop art. People and faces are most interesting to me. Sometimes I’ll freeze a television programme while I sketch a celebrity. “I paint endlessly, I’ve never not got a painting on the go. There was probably thousands of hours’ work in the exhibition.” 10am-noon on Friday, December 23 in church? Offers of help will be greatly appreciated. Nativity: Children joining in for the Christingle Crib Service will be invited to share in creating a live Nativity tableaux. If you have any Nativity costumes or can make one (shepherds, angels, wise people, Mary and Joseph) let Jonathan know. Carol singing: Churches Together in Malling will be singing carols in aid of the Hospice on Saturday, December 10 at 11.30am outside Morrisons, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, and at 12.30am at Tesco, Larkfield. All welcome. ing will be in the form of Christmas cards. There are two designs; one shows a close-up of the church door while the other depicts the church in the snow. Offered in packs of five of one design with envelopes they cost £2.50 per pack – that means 20,000 packs need to be sold to cover the repair. It is an impossible task but it is a start and the cards are especially suitable if you have relatives or friends some distance away who may not know this area. Three local shops have them: Post Office (opposite The Bull), Family Funerals and Thyme at the Lemon Tree (both in Beverley Road) or from any church committee member (ask Joan on 01622 727114 for the nearest to you). The holly and the ivy: Will be available as part of the festive decorations for St Margaret’s. Volunteers helping to make the church look even more inviting, are asked if they have any suitable flowers to take them to augment the colour of the holly and the ivy. Saturday, December 17 will be the date of the transformation from 10am. Coffee and mince pies will appear around 11am. During the first hour emphasis will be on flower arranging. Doing the Lantern Walk: This annual event starts in the village hall, Heath Road (3.15pm) with making the lanterns walking down (4pm) to Church Cross House (junction of South Street and Church Lane). Meanwhile others will have gone directly to Church Cross House (3.30pm) to make their lanterns and both groups will (4.30pm) carry their lanterns to the church. Everyone is invited to join the throng especially if they make a lantern. Note that the times stated are approximate. Christmas everywhere: Popular

carols for the Maidstone Choral