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a lively and friendly group where new members are always made welcome to enjoy the speaker plus a table competition and of course enjoy a cuppa. For more information contact Mrs Mary Hart on 01795 539722 Correspondent: Gilly Hurley Tel: 01622 790734 AylesfordEccles@ aol.com Correspondent: Ron Stubbs Tel: 01622 726962 The fete of the hospital: Saturday, September 5 is the date of Maidstone Hospital’s annual fete. This will be held on its grounds immediately in front of the main building from noon until 4pm. Entry is 50p with those under 12 admitted free and car parking will also be free during the fete. A host of stalls offering a wide variety of items will be a feature of the event and Hospital Radio Maidstone will be present. Waste not: The Scouts and Guides

will be around from 9am on Satur- day, September 5 collecting your waste paper and cardboard. Please have this ready but preferably no left out overnight in case it rains or is windy. Many thanks. History Group: The new season for the Barming History Society will start at 7.45pm on Monday, September 14 in the Village Hall, Heath Road when Bob Ogley speaks about Kent during the 18th century. Mr Ogley is a former editor of the Sevenoaks Chronicle and author of books on Kent especially those concerned with the great storm of 1987. Ride n Stride: You may notice people cycling, walking or sitting in churches next Saturday, September 12 and wonder what they are doing. The answer is simply fund-raising with the cyclists and walkers being sponsored on the basis of the number of churches they visit on that day – the event has featured for more than 30 years now and lwys on the second Saturday in September. Those sitting in th church are also linked wih the event as they welcome the visitors. Planning the route helps enormously with some owns having a larger concentration of churches than others and the Romney Marsh area has always been popular with cyclists because of the flatter terrain. Half of he cash raised goes to the churches of the participants with remainder bound for a central funds where it is shared out to help those churches with smaller congregations. St Margaret’s and St Andrew’s will have representatives toiling away and both churches are eager for more walkers, cyclists, sitters and especially sponsors. Contact the Passmores (01622 726237) for St Margaret’s and the Sweetmans (728233) for St Andrew’s. A good reason to hope for nice weather: fairly sunny but not too hot and definitely little wind or rain!! Good luck. Rectory breakfasts: The series of breakfasts held in the rectory continue to be popular and, because hey are held in the rectory it rally is advisable o book your place early. Saturday, September 5 is the Men’s Breakfast while the Ladies must wait for their turn until Saturday, October 3. Both groups have an hour for breakfast from 8.30am and, after that, are asked to make their way the short distance to Church Cross House for a half-hour talk/ discussion with proceedings ending around 10am. A suggested donation of £2 on the day is recommended. Men should call Wil (sic) North and ladies need to contact Fliss North to reserve places. The rectory number is 01622 726263. Messy church: This series of meetings is designed to be friendly and relaxed to cater specifically for the needs of families and is intended to strip away the barriers that may make bringing the children to church difficult. Space has been left for children to move about and there are dramas, video clips,, songs crafts and games as well as a picnic supper. The next meetings will b on Sunday, September 13 (4pm – 5.15pm) in The Village Hall, Heath Road. How does your garden grow?: Flowers, fruit and vegetables grown by members of the Barming Horticultural Society will be on show in The Village Hall, Heath Road on Sunday, September 6 for an hour from 2.30pm when you are also invited to have a cup of tea and, although the show is limited to Society members, you will be able to marvel at their produce. There is also a handicraft section, which with photographs, paintings, embroidery and the domestic section covering cooking and preserves, will ensure thre is much to see and, of course, ask questions. Thanks for everything: Every organisation relies on its staff or volunteers and St Andrew’s wishes to thanks Rodney and Barbara Knight who have been forced to stand down because of ill health. Mr Knight was responsible for laying up th Altar ready for services while his wife was in charge of the cleaning rotas. Both volunteered for this essential work for many years and we wish them all the best. If you would like to replace them in these tasks please speak with Liz or Tony Deane or Jean or John Sweetman. Copy please: Copy in the form of recipes, anecdotes and meaningful stories plus, of course, details of approaching events are sought for th October edition of The Barming Link, the magazine of St Margaret’s Church.. Copy must be signed although anonymity will be honoured if requested. Either e-mail it to kab.barming@btinternet.com or drop it in at 13 Maryland Drive by noon on Tuesday, September 8. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Coffee For Charity: A coffee morning with a ‘bring and buy sale’ for charity will take place at Bearsted Methodist Church on Saturday September 5 at 10.15am. The charity this month is ‘Sense’ - in Kent. All Welcome. Bridge Players: Your local club is based at the WI Hall in The Street and is looking for ‘new blood’. Members play duplicate on Friday evenings in a pleasant, convivial atmosphere. Please contact Susan Hoddinott on 01622 747536 or email susan.hoddinott@btinternet.com for more information. Parish Council Meeting: Bearsted Parish Council will meet at the Memorial Hall in Manor Rise on Tuesday September 8 at 7.30pm. Members of the public are invited to attend. Messy Church: Holy Cross Church’s Messy Church for children will meet at the Memorial Hall in Manor Rise on Sunday September 13 at 9.45am. Bible Activity: Maidstone Christadelphians will meet at Madginford Hall on Sunday September 6 at 4.30pm for a Bible talk or a discussion or the showing of a DVD with a Bible theme. Everyone Very Welcome. Home Angels: A free community service for the elderly by the Holy Cross Church in partnership with the KCC Community Warden Scheme offers free labour to help keep homes safe, warm and dry. For small maintenance repair jobs for the elderly who cannot do the jobs phone 01622 737844 or 07970 122234. Peace Vigil: Bearsted Churches Together will hold a joint service to pray for peace in the world and in this country at St. Peter’s Church in Button Lane on Tuesday September 8 at 7.30pm. All Welcome. Fish and Chips: Eat fish and chips and help raise funds to build a school in Cambodia in memory of Matt Carapiet who was tragically lost in the Nepal earthquake in April. In his memory, his family is raising money for the Self Help Community Centre near Siem Reap, Cambodia, where Matt volunteered during his travels. Money raised will complete building work on the school and help it to improve the lives of children in a poor rural village. All fish and chips bought at Marino Fish Bar, Ashford Road, Bearsted will raise money for the charity. Sponsored Sleep Out: Alan Pinnegar, the curate at Holy Cross Church, will take part in a sponsored ‘Sleep Out’ in aid of Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter and Homeless Care, along with other local church leaders. All donations will be much appreciated. Donations can be made online via uk.virginmoneygiving. com/fund/maidstonechurchessleepout Drop-In: A social Drop-In Afternoon for a chat, refreshments and, if wanted, board games will take place at Bearsted Methodist Church on Thursday September 17 from 2.30pm to 4pm. Seekers: The Sunday School ‘Seekers’ for children in Year R to Year 4 will resume their meetings after the school holiday at the Memorial Hall in Manor Rise on Sunday September 6 at 9.30am. For further information contact children@ holycrosschurch.co.uk Treasure Hunt: Bearsted Treasure Hunt, with competitors meeting at St. Peter’s Church Hall in Button Lane, will take place on Sunday September 6 at noon. The Treasure Hunt will take the form of an afternoon ‘child-friendly’ treasure hunt, on foot, within easy walking distance of St. Peter’s Church, ending up back at the hall for a barbeque. One glass of squash, beer or wine will be included in the price of the ticket, but contributions will be requested for all further drinks. The price of tickets - £5 for adults, £3 for children and £12 for a family. Any profits will be donated to the Christmas Shelter for the Homeless. A small prize (e.g.chocolates) will be given to the winners. To reserve places text Bob Piggott on 07584 752297 with numbers of tickets required. Correspondent: Gilly Hurley Tel: 01622 790734 AylesfordEccles@ aol.com Correspondent: Robert Hanvik Mob: 07900 930824 robert.kentmessenger@ gmail.com WI Meeting Details: The next meeting of the local WI will be on Tuesday, September 8, at 7.30pm, in the village hall. The speaker will be Maureen Lairey, who will discuss wildlife gardening. Visitors are welcome. For details, contact Anne Norris on 01622 745115. Tour de Franc: The village will host its annual ‘Tour de Franc’ on Sunday, September 13, starting from the village hall at 2pm. Participants are invited to show up wearing French-themed fancy dress, and with any sort of wheels, from bicycles and tricycles, to roller blades and skateboards, even wheel barrows. People also can choose to walk. Proceeds will be divided between Boughton Monchelsea Scout Group and Dandelion Time, Kent’s charity for children and families fragmented by trauma, abuse and neglect. The route will follow Church Street and Green Lane to The Cock Inn before returning to the Slingsby Hut Scout HQ in Haste Hill Road. Barbecue food will be on sale from 4pm (bring your own drinks). For details, contact Karen Filmer on 01622 744292 or Robin Fuller on 07889 081028. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com PARISH COUNCIL: The next meeting of Boxley Parish Council will be held at European School of Osteopathy, Styles Lane, Boxley, ME14 3DZ on Friday September 11 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. Please note the change of day and time. Correspondent: Pam Merryweather, 13 Fir Tree Grove, Bredhurst, ME7 3LB Tel: 01634 610011 pamerry@ outlook.com If you have an item concerning Bredhurst, please contact the correspondent above. Bredhurst WI: Cup Cakes will be the subject of a talk/demonstration by Adele at the next meeting on Wednesday, 9 September, at 7.30pm in the village hall, visitors welcome. Correspondent: Simon Poulton, 9 Cayser Drive, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3QD kingswood-km@ live.co.uk Village Coffee Shop: The village coffee shop will be in the village hall Saturday 5th September10-12. Serving teas/coffees. Sausage and bacon rolls/sandwiches. PJ’s of Sutton Valance will be selling veg and fresh bread. East Sutton Park will be selling plants and meat. There will also be various craft stalls selling their wares. Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785974951 jscott@ cfsbroadband.co.uk Village Walking Group: A small group of walkers assembled last Saturday to follow the circular route from Sheephurst Lane along the route of the River Teise. The walk of just under 90 minutes through farmland on a warm and humid afternoon proved very pleasant. Anyone is welcome to join the walkers, and well behaved dogs can come too. Look out for details of the next walk. They take place on the last Saturday of each month and all start within the parish. Yalding Almshouse Trust: The trustees will be meeting on Monday September 7. Among the items for discussion are plans to redecorate some of the properties and a review of exterior property maintenance. The trustees represent Yalding and Laddingford parish as well as Collier Street. Macmillan Coffee Afternoon: Please try to attend the Macmillan Coffee Afternoon in the church on Wednesday September 16 from 2-4pm. Proceeds will support the funding of Macmillan Cancer Care Nurses. As usual, delicious homemade refreshments will accompany the coffee or tea. There is plenty of free parking in the adjacent parish car park. U3A meeting: The next U3A meeting takes place on Thursday September 10 at 2pm at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Paddock Wood. The talk will be about the Air Ambulance. Call Fred Lemont for details on 01892 833413. Coming at WI: The September meeting of the Yalding and District WI on Tuesday September 8 at 7.30 is the annual produce show. Then, coming up on Saturday October 24 is the 25th annual craft fair. For more details, including how to book your stall, please contact Mary on 01892 730344. Both events take place at Yalding village hall. The WI welcomes visitors and new members. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Church Fete.: Don’t forget that tomorrow (5th) there will be a Fete on the grassed area around the church, beginning at 1-30pm. Strawberry teas; BBQ; local produce; raffle; tombola; coconut shy and many more stalls and games. Admission free. Gardening Club.: Coxheath Gardening Club will be holding their next monthly meeting on Tuesday (8th) at 7-30pm in the scout hut in Westerhill Road. It doesn’t matter if you are new to gardening or more experienced - you are welcome. If you would like more information please contact Hillary Carter on 01622 746648 or 07904652070. £2 per meeting and £20 per year. Blood Donor Sessions.: The blood donor unit will be at the village hall on Thursday (10th) between 2 & 4-30pm and 5-30 and 8pm. Just walk in or, if you prefer to make an appointment, please phone 0300 123 23 23. PARISH COUNCIL: Planning - Additional details for change of use of land from agriculture (orchard and open grassland to tourism use for camping and caravanning with associated utility block and office/ store at Forstal Farm, Stockett Lane. It was noted that since the additional details amounted to an increase in the number of tent pitches and caravan bays and since Maidstone Borough Council has still not replied to concerns raised in December 2013, the parish council has re-emphasised its recommendation to refuse the application on a range of issues. PARISH COUNCIL: Erection of a single-storey detached two bedroom bungalow on land adjacent to 1 The