What’s happening where you live...

Pizza Express: The Drawtones with special guest Derek Nash will be providing the entertainment on Thursday, August 10 from 7-11pm. Minimum age 18. The Drawtones are a fast rising East Sussex Hammond organ Jazz and Funk Band. Entry £15 on the door. There will be a charity music event to raise money for Anxiety UK on Saturday, August 19 from 8.30pm. Entry £5. At the museum: Summer fun activities for youngsters. On Thursday, August 10, create your own draughts game. What will you choose as your playing pieces? Tuesday to Thursday, August 15-17, is Tic Tac Toe. Have fun making character playing pieces for this traditional game. Sessions at 10.30am, 11.30am and 1pm. Suitable for ages four upwards. Tickets £3 or £5 for two. Fun day: Maidstone Children’s Centres invited you a free summer fun day at Mote Park on Friday, August 18 from 11am-3pm. Bouncy castle, craft and messy play, face painting and stalls with fun and games. Take a picnic and spend the day at the park. Fremlin Walk: Summer Festival every Saturday in august from noon-14pm. On August 12, it’s Sports Day. Hold your nerve in an egg and spoon race, jump for glory in the sack race or sprint to victory on the sports track. Keep your energy up with some food sampling from the retailers. August 19, welcomes the Summer Garden Party, which is a luxury event to showcase the best of Fremlin’s fashion and beauty. Expect style sessions with professional colour analysts, beauty demonstrations, chill-out zones, a seed potting workshop and a fashion frenzy competition for the chance to win prizes. at the Village Club on August 17 from 2pm-4pm. On August 23, there is a coach outing to Herne Bay, leaving the car park at 10am Walking Group: Wednesday, August 16, join the walkers for a three mile walk, 1.5 hours, from Copper Lane and Park Road. Meet at 9.45am outside the library Saturday August 12, walk meets at 2pm outside the library for one of two walks : Cricket pitch and South Road or the fishing lake. Correspondent: Tim Mumford Mob: 07736592918 Organ recital: There will be an recital in church on August 27 at 3pm in aid of The Friends of Otham Church. The organist has decided to do a ‘request’ programme so if there is anything you would like to hear do let him know and he will do his best to include it. Email trevorbrearley@ hotmail.com Free admission, retiring collection. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 Tyland Barn: On Wednesday August 16, Tyland Barn will be holding Feathers, Flying and Fun – all about birds from 11am-4pm. A great fun family event discovering lots of facts about our feathered friends. Join in lots of activities fall about birds - be a bird detective with trails and puzzles. Make some funky bird crafts and get up close and personal with live birds of prey from Kent Owl Academy. This event is suitable for all the family, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Price is £6 per person. Booking essential to book online go to www. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01622 662012 (Mon-Fri). Tyland Barn visitor centre has a small shop and a café where you can purchase drinks, snacks, light lunches and ice creams. notice boards for the agenda. Correspondent: Dawn Page Tel:

01622 812691 Festival concert: Tickets for the Flower Festival Concert are available from 01622 812691, at a cost of £8 or £10 on the door. The concert is on Saturday, August 26 at 8pm, and features The Testonites and The Apple Tree Singers from East Malling, in a programme of varied light music to complement the theme of the Flower Festival which is entitled Songs – Old and New. The festival runs from Saturday to Monday August 26-28. Kite weekend: Kent Kite Flyers invite you to participate in a weekend of kite flying at Teston Bridge Country Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 12-13 from 11am-5pm. Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel:

01622 812023 Learn to sew: If you are interested in sewing, knitting, crochet or embroidery; or have always wanted to learn any of these skills then Teston Sewing Bee group could be for you. Learn to cut patterns, etc. Take along your sewing machine and be guided in using it. There is room for 10 sewing machines. Refreshments provided. Enjoy the company of like-minded people in a fun atmosphere. There is a minimal charge towards the hire of the hall. Details from Valerie 01622 812948 The group meets monthly in Teston Village Hall between 9am-1pm and the next meeting is on Saturday August 12. Time for tea: Home-made scones and cakes will be available on Thursday, August 17 in the peaceful setting of our village church from 2-4pm. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 Tower tour: A big thank you to everybody who made the recent Tea for the Tower a great success. Three groups of people squeezed themselves round the very tight spiral staircase. In addition, more than 60 people enjoyed afternoon tea. This is a great start to the fundraising campaign to repair the tower. A profit of more than £700 was made. Open garden: The recent open garden attracted more than 300 visitors and raised £2,500 for NGS charities. Also, lots of tea, cake and plants were sold. Church for hire: Did you know that you can hire West Farleigh church for meetings, classes, concerts, etc? There is a servery with an urn, kettle, crockery, cutlery and, of course, tables and chairs. There is an outdoor toilet attached to the church so no spiders. For information contact Val Grainger on 01622 820305 or email to vgrainger38@btinternet.com Charity event: There are two forthcoming charity events which are looking for your support. Malling District Lions are holding a charity walk, in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, on Sunday August 20, starting from East Malling Research Station. There are walks to suit everyone and dogs are welcome. Registration is between 9 and 11am. For full details, email to mallinglionswalk@gmail.com The Heart of Kent Hospice is holding a Summer Superdraw, to be drawn on September 8. There is a top prize of £2,000 plus 22 other cash prizes. Tickets at £1 each are available at all HOKH shops, Hospice reception or the Heart of Flavour cafe/bar in King Street, Maidstone. For full details of shops, prizes, conditions, etc email to www.hokh.org Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785 974951 Landscape photography workshop: David Jenner, whose amazing photographs have been exhibited at the Riverside Gallery, is leading a workshop in landscape photography at the weekend. Local walk: Tonbridge and Malling Walkers are starting a ramble in Yalding on Sunday, August 13 at 10.30am. The five mile circular route is from The Anchor on Hampstead Lane to The Bush Blackbird and Thrush at East Peckham, and includes a pub stop if required. Dogs are welcome. For details, call Dave on 01732 851310. Baptist events: Morning service with Sunday School takes place on Sunday August 13 at 10.30 am at the Baptist church, On Thursday, August 17 from 10.30am-noon, Chat-a-While coffee and craft morning will be held at the baptist hall. A warm welcome is assured for all comers at both events. Village Pensioners’ Club: Retired residents are invited to join the Village Pensioners’ Club members on Tuesday, August 15 from 2-4pm at the Village Social Club when they get together for a social afternoon of tea, chat and bingo. Call Peter for information on 01622 814123. Free outdoor play: On Tuesday, August 15 from 10am-noon, free outdoor play activities for families will take place on the Lees car park. The venture is by Sure Start, and offers baby sensory play, messy play, dressing up, physical play and a book corner. Why not take your youngsters along for some fun? Art group: Throughout August the group will be meeting at Riverside Gallery on Thursday mornings and visitors are welcome to join them to paint or draw, or else to colour or make animal bunting for the gallery’s charity, Pukka Ponies. Packs at £1 each will be available. Accompanied children are most welcome to join in the activity. www,yaldingartgroup@ weebly.com