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and fete committee, and so the proceeds will remain in the village – go to www.staplehurstvillage.org.uk/carnival_fete.aspx for information. Business networking: On Tuesday, December 1, there will be a combined meeting with LVBA at Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham. See the Maidstone column for details. Meet the police: The mobile police station will be at the Parde from 1.45-2.45pm on Monday, Nov ember 23. Meet the councillors: There will be a borough and parish councillor surger at the library from 10amnoon on Saturday, November 28. Go along and discuss any matters you wish councillors to address. Parish council: The next meeting of the full council is on December 7 at 7pm in the village centre south hall. Christmas fair: Staplehurst Manor, Frittenden Road, will be holding its Christmas Fair on Friday, November 27 from 2-5pm. Go along and enjoy a complimentary glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Lots of stalls for all your Christmas shopping needs. Free entry, all welcome. Correspondent: Claire Adams, Woodmancote, Rumstead Lane, Stockbury, ME9 7QL Tel: 01795 841140 foxgloveadams@ aol.com Roadworks: M2 junction 3 Chatham to junction 5 Stockbury. The coastbound entry and exit slip roads at junction 4 will be closed overnight from 9pm-5am on Friday, November 20. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 5. The coastbound carriageway from the junction 3 entry slip road to the junction 4 exit slip road including the main carriageway will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 5am, from Saturday November 21 for two nights. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A229 and the A249 to rejoin the M2. Correspondent: Eileen Riden Tel: 01622 844953 riden887@ btinternet.com St Marys Church: Welcomes the Archdeacon of Maidstone, the Ven Stephen Taylor to celebrate the Parish Communion Service for Christ the King at 10am on Sunday morning, November 22. Everyone is welcome to the service. Music society: On Friday November 20 at 7pm (note change of time) we welcome back after four years the Piatti Quartet. They are amongst the UK’s foremost young ensembles with a host of awards and critically acclaimed recordings to its name. They have performed at all the major venues around the country and this year were joint second prize winners in the 2015 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. Their programme on Friday will be Shubert, Quartettsatz; Ravel, String Quartet in F major and Brahms, Quartet No 2 in A minor. Tickets on the door £12, full time students £6, under 18 free, refreshments in the interval. If you have not been to one of our concerts, you will be very welcome and have an opportunity to hear these wonderful young musicians. For information, phone 863002. Christmas Carol Concert: Sunday, November 29 at 2pm in the village hall. Tickets costing £7 are on sale in the Post Office or you can pay at the door; phone Eileen on 01622 844953 for information. We are delighted that the Kent Police Band will be with us again, this is the 15th year the Band have come to Sutton Valence and it is a pleasure to listen to these wonderful musicians, as usual there will be plenty of audience participation. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the interval. St Mary’s Christmas Fair: Is on Saturday, November 28 from noon-2.30pm. Homemade lunch will be served. Father Christmas arrives at 1pm with a free gift for every child. Donations for the fair can be left at the back of the church. Annual meeting: The village hall management committee is holding its AGM on Wednesday, December 9 at 7.30pm, everyone welcome. Missed: Everyone missed John Partridge on Remembrance Sunday, as president of the Sutton Valence and District Branch of the British Legion, he has led us every year. We wish you well John. Business networking: On Tuesday, December 1, there will be a combined meeting with LVBA at Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham. See the Maidstone column for details. Correspondent: Ron Stubbs Tel: 01622 726962 All the fun of the fair: Home-made cakes, crafts. Christmas gifts and goodies will be among the items available at the Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 21, 2.30pm start, in the village hall. Entry is 50p (children free) and even though it is a busy time Father Christmas has promised to be present. Proceeds are in aid of the church. All those memories: A service of personal thanksgiving and remembrance will be held at 6.30pm on Sunday, November 22 in the church when those who are no longer with us are remembered and their names read out. If you have someone who you would like remembered give their name(s) to the churchwardens. Sometimes: Occasionally we all wish we have more time got certain things so a peaceful period of the week when all you need do is eat, drink, talk and listen would be handy in which to unwind. Fortunately such an oasis exists in the form of Open Church so make use of it. See you in Teston church on Tuesdays from 10amnoon and/or 2-4pm. Garden party: You are invited to a garden party on Saturday, November 28 from 9.30am in Teston churchyard and there is no need to dress in your best clothes. In fact, wear old ones but do oil your secateurs and loppers. Take those gardening tools if you can and gardening gloves would be useful before you are let loose on tidying the churchyard’s many plants. They benefit from a good trim making the area look better as well as safer – some branches do get in the way and need to be cut back. As well as the sound of cutting tools you will hear the clink of cups holding the gallons of tea and coffee for the noble grafters. Join them; you’ll be welcome. Advent Sunday: December 29 at 6.30pm is the time for a service of Advent in Teston Church with all of your favourite carols and readings. A really emotional time – make sure you are part of it. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Correspondent: Leila Ware Tel: 01622 842330 leilaware@ outlook.com Wine ships and pirates: There will be meeting of the history society on Tuesday November 24 in the village hall at 7.30pm. Ms FraserHayes will be speaking about Wine, ships and pirates – the medieval trade with Gascony. Refreshments will be served and guests are always welcome. Holy Communion: There will be a service of Holy Communion at All Saints’ Church on Sunday November 22 at 10.45am. Coffee and tea will be served afterwards. Business networking: On Tuesday, December 1, there will be a combined meeting with LVBA at Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham. See the Maidstone column for details. Correspondent: Jackie Nixon Mob: 07527 449540 jackie.kmlocal@ hotmail. com Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel: 01622 812023 Knit and Natter: Go along to the church for coffee and cake and optional craft activities on Wednesday November 25 from 10.30am-noon. Everyone is most welcome. The group’s winter projects are hats for the homeless in Maidstone; teddy bears and blankets from knitted squares for an orphanage in Africa; tiny blankets and teddies for premature and still-born babies and knitted angels for the church Angels and Cribs event at the church on December 12-13. Watch Club meeting: The club is

for young people aged 10 and over