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Correspondent: Jean Watson Mob: 07966 361434 Tel: 01622 687053 Maidstone Flower Club: The club will be holding the AGM and workshop on Thursday, February 9 at Allington Baptist Church. The AGM will start earlier than usual at 7pm and doors will be open at 6.30pm. Note that the meeting for January has been cancelled due to refurbishment of the church. Pantomime: The community association presents the pantomime Cinderella on Saturday, January 7. Doors open at 1:30pm for a 2pm show. Adults £2, children £4. Get Together: Meetings at the Baptist Church will resume on Wednesday, February 1 at 2.30pm, due to refurbishment work on the church throughout January. Behind the scenes: At the next Mid Kent Fuchsia Group meeting on Thursday, January 12, Wilf Lower will give a talk entitled Behind the Scenes of Television’s Golden Years. Starts at 7.30pm in St Nicholas Church Hall. Public meeting: Bull Lane Safety Group is holding a public meeting with presentation on Thursday, January 19 at 7pm to discuss the Bull Lane/Pilgrims Way junction. The group need your support as KCC, Tracey Crouch MP and local councillors will be attending. The meeting will be held at St Marks CofE school, Eccles Row. There is also a petition, visit the group’s Facebook page. The Friars: The Epiphany of the Lord (the feast of the coming of the Kings), January 8, Masses at 8am and 10.15am. Fant Farm: The farm’s future is in the balance while a public inquiry has been set up. The farm overlooks the Medway with Farleigh Lane, Gatland Lane and the roads behind forming boundaries. Originally the inquiry was to have been held in Oakwood House but that is not possible now and so the venue has been switched to the Hilton Hotel (near the Chiltern Hundreds and junction 7 of the M20). Four days have been allocated (Tuesday to Friday, January 17-20) with provision for an extra two days (if required) later in the month at the Great Danes Hotel. About a fifth of the farm’s land is wanted for 225 homes. Opposition comes from many residents as well as the borough council, which cites poor infrastructure, especially the narrow lanes, as a reason. Anyone with anything they wish to be included is asked to make every effort to be present at the Inquiry. Ever wondered: Thursday, January 12, marks the first of six consecutive Thursdays during which a short course of puzzling questions will be discussed. Such matters as What is God like, who am I, How can I be happy are just a few of the topics. The rectory in Church Lane will be the venue; call 01622 726263 to book your place by speaking with the Rev Wil North. Messy times ahead: The series of fun and informality known as the Messy Church will resume again on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, that means January 8 and 20 for this month. Being called the Messy Church it will be held in the village hall, Heath Road. Breakfasts: Saturday, January 28 is the date for the Men’s breakfast from 8.30am–10am in The Rectory, Church Lane. Bacon/sausage butties and a continental option will take the first hour with a short discussion following in nearby Church Cross House. Suggested donations of £2; space is limited so call 01622 726263 and ask Wil to reserve a place for you. On Saturday February 4, a similar programme will be in force for the Ladies’ Breakfast. Those wishing to attend should contact Fliss North on 01622 726263. A Winter’s Tale: You are invited to join the activities forming a winter festival at St Andrew’s Church from Saturday to Friday, January 14 -20 from 1.30pm-3.30pm. Included will be games, pool and crafts with free teas, coffees and cakes served. There will also be a quiz with prizes. Give it a try. Any old paper: Waste paper and cardboard will be collected on Saturday January 7 from 9am by the local Scouts and Guides (not forgetting their friends and relatives). Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Coffee for charity: A coffee morning with bric-a-brac, cake and book stalls will take place at the Methodist Church on Saturday Janu- ary 7 from 10.15am-11.30am. The charity this month is Maidstone Homeless Centre. All welcome. Christingle amount: The Christingle Services at Holy Cross Church on December 4 raised more than £300 for the Children’s Society. Drop-In: A social Drop-In Afternoon for a chat, refreshments and board games will take place at the Methodist Church on Thursday January 19 from 2.30pm-4pm. Coffee and Chat: A coffee morning will take place in the room at Holy Cross Church on Friday January 6 from 10am-11.45am. Cost - £1. Details on 07444 539171. Correspondent: Sue Whiteoak Tel: 01634 660097 susanwhiteoak@ talktalk. net Quiz night: Notice of a quiz night being held in the village hall at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start on Sat- Botany evening classes: Starting on Tuesday, January 10 2017 at Tyland Barn, Maidstone, is a 10-week two hourly course from 6.30-8.30pm on how to identify and record plants, and what to do with botanical records. There is a charge for this course. To book phone 01622 662012 or fill in the on-line booking form on www. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com