What’s happening where you live...

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 be held on Monday January 9 at 3.30pm. Craftwork, a story, songs followed by a tea. Children with their parents/carers welcome. For information phone 01622 861382. Church meeting: The parochial church council will meet at St Nicholas Church on Tuesday, January 10. For details phone 01622 737117. Party for everyone: A tea party will take place at St Nicholas Church on Thursday, January 19 at 3pm. Everyone welcome. For details or if a lift will be needed phone Joan Palmer on 01622 202239. Correspondent: Linda Weeks Tel: 01622 762422 parkwoodkm@ gmail.com Weight Loss Group: A new weight loss and healthy eating group meets weekly at Fusion Cafe, 2 Cobb Way, on Tuesdays from 7.30pm-8.30pm. It is run by Aneka Booth, who can be contacted on 07742 199989 (after 6pm) for information. It costs £1 per week. Free hearing clinic: Hi Kent, the local charity that supports people with a hearing loss in Kent, will be holding more of its free aftercare clinics for NHS hearing aid users at Fusion Healthy Living Centre, 2-3 Cobb Way. The first one this year is on Monday, January 16 from 1pm-2.30pm. If you need help looking after your NHS hearing aid, go along and be provided with free batteries if needed, or clean and re-tube your aid to ensure that it works well for you. Advice is also available about Hi Kent’s extensive range of specialist equipment. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com British Sugarcraft Guild: The next meeting is on Saturday January 7 at St Paul’s Church Hall, Boxley Road, at 2.30. The demonstrations will be Quilling Workshop by Margaret Edwards. Admission charges for the meeting are Maidstone branch members £3, visitors £5. For details contact Mrs Carol carol.bunch@virgin.net If you have an item concerning Platts Heath, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com If you have an item concerning Sandling, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Linda Weeks Tel: 01622 762422 parkwoodkm@ gmail.com If you have an item concerning Senacre, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Andrew Watson, 9 Barn Meadow, Staplehurst, TN12 0SY Mob: 07715 572772 Tel: 01580 891986 staplehurst.report@ btinternet.com Surgeries: There will be a police surgery and a parish council surgery in the library on Saturday, January 7 from 10-11am. Parish council vice-chairman tom Burnham will be in attendance to discuss issues of local concern. Bridge club: Meets at Sobell Lodge,

High Street (at the rear of the village centre) every Friday at 7pm (aim to arrive by 6.50pm if you wish to play a game). Table money is £1.50 per guest per evening. Visitors coming on their own are always guaranteed a game - there is no need to find a partner. For information or if you would like to learn to play bridge and need some lessons contact Liz Mitchell on 01580 713856 or email lizmitchell987@gmail.com Photographic society: the next meeting is on Friday, January 6 in the Parish room, Cranbrook Road, and will be a social evening with fish and chip supper. Family and friends welcome. Entries are due for the PDI competition no2. For information phone Frank Page on 01580 891637 or visit www. staplehurstps.org.uk WI: The next meeting is at 7.30pm in the village centre south hall on Tuesday, January 10. Visitors are welcome paying £2. For information phone Gillian Stacey on 01580 892861 or Pam Payne on 892401. Correspondent: Claire Adams, Woodmancote, Rumstead Lane, Stockbury, ME9 7QL Tel: 01795 841140. foxgloveadams@ aol.com If you have an item concerning Stockbury, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Eileen Riden Tel: 01622 844953 riden887@ btinternet.com WI: The institute will meet on Tuesday, January 10 at 7.30pm in the village hall. Stewart Cook will be speaking about the history of Cornells, the jewellery shop in Maidstone. Visitors and new members are welcome. For information ring 01622 842034. Raise the song: The weather was cold but dry for the two evenings of carol singing around the village just before Christmas. This resulted in £480 for Christian Aid and a huge ‘thank you’ to all concerned. Epiphany: Friday, January 6 and Sunday, January 8 from 3.30pm6pm, when the church will be decorated and lit by candlelight. Epifest: Friday January 6 from

6.30pm. Take food to share. Children’s Church: Saturday, January 7 at 3.30pm, an Epiphany party with fun, games and food for the children. Open church: Join in on Tuesday, January 10 from 10am-noon and/ or 2-4pm, when coffee or tea will be served along with sandwiches and cakes along with conversations to suit everyone. Epiphany eucharist: Will be held on Friday, January 6 at 6.30pm when it will be taken by the Rev Nick Williams. If you have an item concerning Tovil, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Leila Ware Tel: 01622 842330 leilaware@ outlook.com Murder at the Panto: Tickets are on sale for the UDAS production on Friday and Saturday, February 17-18 at the village hall. The company have decided to combine their two favourite themes, panto and murder mystery into one theatrical experience, which will include the dame and a corpse and a chance for the audience to solve the mystery. Tickets priced £10, including one free drink are obtainable from Mimi on 01622 843592. Enjoying the Harrow: The Harrow was opened to Ulcombe residents, friends and relations but not the general public, several times over Christmas and New Year. A good time was had by all, with log fires, Christmas decorations and pub games. Beer. Wine, soft drinks and nibbles were provided without charge, augmented by contributions from people attending, Church service: There will be a celebration of Holy Communion at All Saints’ Church on Sunday, January 8 at 11am. Coffee and tea will be served afterwards. Correspondent: Jackie Nixon Mob: 07950 549887 jackie.kmlocal@ hotmail. com If you have an item concerning Vinters Park, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel: 01622 812023 Suffragettes: The WI’s first meeting of the new year is on Thursday, January 12. Ian Porter is the speaker and he will be talking about Suffragettes, which promises to be an interesting talk. The competition for members is to wear something in green/ purple and white, the suffragette colours. Visitors welcome. Best foot forward: Next local walk by our informal footpaths group is on Sunday January 8. Meet at the village hall carpark for a walk in the woods if not too wet. All welcome, leaving sharp at 2pm. Toddle along: Toddlers Praise returns after its Christmas break on Monday, January 9. All babies and pre-schoolers and their carers are welcome to join in the fun. The group meet in the Guide and Scout HQ, Glebe Meadow every Monday from 2-3pm. Details from 01622 812922. Craft and Chat: Many are enjoying the mornings in the Church and some are reviving their crafting skills, particularly knitting and crochet. By popular request the group will meet in January on every Wednesday in the church from 10.30-noon to add a bit of cheer into what for many is often a dreary month. For details phone 01622 814673 or 813076. Parish council meeting: Please note the change of date for the January council meeting which is one week later than usual on Tuesday January 10 in the village hall at 7.30pm, followed by the planning committee. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk WI: Art group: The group starts its new term on Thursday, January 12 at 10.15am-12.15pm at the Baptist hall. Newcomers are offered a free taster session. Information from Anne Telfer on 01622 813995 or June Chapman on 817324. Baptist service: On Sunday, January 8, at 10.30am the morning service will be accompanied by Treasure Seekers Sunday School. Men’s breakfast: The monthly men’s breakfast takes place on Saturday, January 7 at 8am in the church. Cooked breakfast at a nominal price will be accom- panied by a topical and no doubt controversial subject for discussion and opinion. Call Jeremy on 01892 730910 for information. Churchyard working party: The Churchyard Vandals will be meeting on Saturday, January 7 at 9.15am in the churchyard to continue their work to keep the churchyard and graveyard clear and tidy. WI meeting: The next WI meeting takes place on Tuesday January 10, with an interesting talk on No Holy Communion: There will be no Holy Communion service here in Yalding on Sunday January 8, due to Father Paul’s annual leave and no cover available. However, visitors to the 11am Communion service at Collier Street church will be most welcome.