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ficult as they had experienced trouble trying to open the double doors of the building for wheelchairs. Cllr M Bedwell had repaired the door so that it opened and closed easily. Cllr D Ardley was concerned that the gates to the Lance Memorial Field and the Cardwell Pavilion were left unlocked by hirers. It is really important that the area is kept secure and the parish council ask that hirers do not leave without locking the gate. The clerk would contact the landlords initially, and then the licensees of the village pubs to see if they would be willing to have a defibrillator installed on the outside of their buildings. Cllr S Hulme asked whether we have justified having defibrillator(s) in the village and that the parish council asks for a Freedom of Information Request from the NHS to see about figures and its success in using the defibrillators. Cllr Bedwell recommended that the parish council also contact St John Ambulance, or The Red Cross to see what they would recommend for a village like Hollingbourne. They would also be able to give information about defibrillator success rate, etc. Also, the parish council needed a population analysis for Hollingbourne and reassurance that the local population wanted the defibrillators. This was an ongoing issue and information was needed before a decision was made. Fete report: Cllr D Ardley was glad to report that the Meadows Trust charity had made £530 at the fete. Unfortunately, one of the stallholders struggled with collapsing the gazebo they had borrowed, forced it shut and broke it. An invoice for the replacement of the gazebo would be forwarded to them as the stallholders declined help in closing it safely. Date of next meeting: Monday July 10 at 7.30pm in the Cardwell Pavilion. Correspondent: Tim Mumford Mob: 07736592918 Friends of Otham Church: There will be a Summer Concert on Saturday, July 15 at 7.30pm at St Nicholas Church. The Detling Singers will be performing, conducted by Ian Perry. Tickets £10, including wine and light refreshments, available from 01622 861245 or on the door. Flower festival: Flower arrangers from Leeds and Broomfield are taking part in the Flower Festival to be held in the Church of St Peter & St Paul, East Sutton. From Friday to Sunday, July 7-9, the church will be open from 10.30am-4.30pm with refreshments, home-made cakes, cream teas and ploughman’s lunches available all day. Local produce stall. Admission free. Music for a summer evening: On Friday, July 7, the Lunaire Quartet will be giving a concert in SS Peter and Paul Church at 7.30pm offering a chance to enjoy wonderful music surrounded by beautiful flower displays. Tickets cost £10, and cold refreshments will be available. For information on these two events call 01622 844973. Correspondent: Margo McFarlane, 13 Mercer Drive, Harrietsham, ME17 1AY Tel: 01622 859682 Meadows Trust: The first meeting of the newly formed Lenham Meadows Trust will be held on Tuesday, July 18 at 7.30pm in the community centre. If you are interested in protecting the green open spaces in the parish and would like to find out details and consider joining the trustees, go along on the evening, your support will be vital to the success of the trust. Save the date: The primary school and the Neighbourhood Plan Group are working together to stage a Harvest Fair at the school on Saturday, September 16 from noon-3.30pm. More details to follow. Knole Park: The gardening society is organising an outing to Knole Park on Wednesday, July 26 departing 9.30am. Details and tickets available on 859084 New members are welcome to join the popular club. Heritage group: The medieval architectural features of St Mary’s church will be studied at a meeting on Friday, July 28 at 7.30 inside the church. A talk and guided tour will be presented by David Carder. Details from Lesley Feakes on 850275 Garden party: The Royal British Legion Women’s section will meet on Thursday, July 27 at 2.30pm at the community centre for the annual garden party themed meeting. Talk time: If you are interested in the history of capital punishment, join the members of the WI on Thursday, July 13 at 7.30pm at the community centre to listen to a talk by John Mills. Good weather needed: Fingers crossed the weather will be kinder to the cricket club members who are organising the Family Fun Day. In the past the popular annual event has been postponed, so hopefully this year it will go ahead on Sunday, July 11 from 11.30am at the cricket field, Ham Lane. BBQ, refreshments, bouncy castle, raffle and sports for all the family to enjoy. Lights on: If you enjoy the Christmas lights switching on day held in the Square during November and could offer to help organise the event, the lighting committee Well done: Congratulations to Kristian Samwell-Nash, Year 9 student at the Lenham school, who has been selected to compete in the under 15 team at the national track and field championships at Birmingham during July. Following Kristian’s personal best time of 36.41 seconds for the 300m race he will compete as a seeded runner in the event at the championships. Open air performance: Take along your chairs and rugs for the special performance by the Changeling Theatre of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet to mark the company’s 20th anniversary. The Changeling Theatre are regular performers at the Tithe Barn so join the event on Saturday, July 9 at 5pm. Tickets available on 01634 338 338 or cash payments only at the door on the day of the performance. Amenities association: There were 12 people at the work party on June 24, including some committee members. Hard ground prevented fencing work so about eight people (after rescuing oak trees from the drought) concentrated on clearing vegetation on parts of the bank. Some members strimmed, raked and cleared the short grass dry bank near Kirkdale path to encourage more interesting flora than the stunted briars and brambles that keep trying to grow there. In parallel with this, another group was clearing the public footpath by Little Ivy and also strimmed the ride path that runs along the base of the wood. Next work party is Sunday, July 16. A big thank you to all the volunteers. Parish council: There will be a Stamp fair: On Saturday, July 15, Maidstone & Mid Kent Philatelic Society will be hosting the Kent Federation Summer Fair at Aylesford Community Centre, Forstal Road, Aylesford, from 10am-4pm. Fifteen dealers will be present and valuations can be given. Refreshments will be available, including home made cakes, sandwiches made to order and tea/coffee. Free entry and parking adjacent. Contact 01622 675784 for details. Art society: Meets on Fridays at 7.30pm in Madgingford Hall, Egremont Road. July 14 will be a practical evening for members. Visit www.maidstoneartsociety. com/ for information on the society and its programme. At the museum: Story time is held every Friday from 10.30-11am for children under the age of five. A fun time of storytelling and crafts. The cost is £2.50, pay at reception. From July 19 to August 13, there will be an exhibition of a selection of works by artists Jane Mason and Janneane Drew. Jane’s work includes landscapes and wildlife, whereas Janneane works both in contemporary and traditional styles. She has recently been