What’s happening where you live...
on 01622 737471. The sale is on Saturday, May 21, and there will also be coffee and cake on sale in the church. Volunteers will be delivering envelopes for a house-to-house collection during Christian Aid Week starting on Sunday, May 15. Please give generously. Family Worship: On Sunday, May 8, there will be a service for all ages, led by church members at 10.30am at St Martins of Tours. Refreshments served at the end of the service. Choir practice: On Tuesday, May 10, there will be music practice in church at 7pm for church choirs of Detling and Boxley. Coffee morning: On Wednesday, May 11, the church will be open from 10.30am-noon for hot drinks and biscuits. Everybody is welcome and there is no charge. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Council date: The community centre committee meets at the centre on Monday, May 9 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Kilnbarn quiz: The next Kilnbarn quiz will be on Sunday, May 29 at 8pm with teams of up to eight at £2 per head. Cash prizes and a meat raffle. All welcome. Annual meeting: The Ditton Twinning Association holds its annual meeting in the Acorn Room at the community centre on Tuesday, May 17 at 7.30pm. Residents, clubs and associations etc are welcome to attend. Race night: A race night in aid of diabetes charities will be held in the Kilnbarn on Saturday, May 7 from 6pm. Residents are invited to bring their children to the fun evening which runs until 9pm. Oasis invite: The Oasis Tea Room, opposite the village green, is sponsored by St Peter’s Church and is a Fairtrade venture offering home made cakes and tea or coffee in pleasant surroundings. It is open every Monday from 2.30-4.30pm with proceeds given to charities. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com RSPB outing: The local group will have a Marquenterre coach trip on Saturday, May 7. There are still a few spaces available. Go to website maidstone.localrspb.org.uk for details. Any answers: A quiz will take place at St Nicholas Church on Wednesday, May 11 at 7.30pm. Take your own nibbles and drinks. For details phone 01622 737684 or 739129. It was not only the Queen who celebrated her 90th birthday in style. Sylvia Luckhurst, who is the same age as Her Majesty, and her family were treated to a free meal at the Poppy Fields pub and restaurant in St Laurence Avenue, Allington. Mrs Luckhurst lives at a nursing home in Frittenden. Her daughter Lisa Silk thanked the pub for the lunches. She said that her mother used to live in Ash Grove, just along the road. The pub also raised funds for Age UK with a cake sale as well as holding a free arts and crafts group for children. Messy Church: The next session at St Nicholas Church will take place on Monday, May 9 from 3.30pm5.30pm. Children with their parents/carers welcome. Craftwork, songs and a story will be followed by a tea. For details phone 01622 862793 or 861382. Health Walks: Kent Community NHS Health Walks take place from Holy Cross Church Car Park, Bearsted on Tuesdays at 10.15am for a 10.30am start. Option 1 is a gentle 30 minute walk suitable for people that are newly active or those that are recuperating from illness while option 2 is a 60 minute walk. Everybody welcome to join these friendly walks. Party for everyone: A tea party will take place at St Nicholas Church on Thursday, May 19 at 3pm. Everyone invited. For details or if a lift is needed phone Joan Palmer on 01622 202239. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on April 5. There was one reported crime, attempted burglary in Pennine Way. There were two calls of anti-social behaviour concerning a group of youths causing nuisance in the area of Longham Copse. MCSO Gurr to investigate whether the cars for sale in Willington Street layby were being sold by a business. County Cllr Cook advised that yellow lines had been reinstated on the corner of Chiltern Close. Despite extensive investigation being carried out on the road surface at Mallards Way, no fault could be found. Cllr Cook to obtain a quotation for an anti-skid surface. Drivers should take extra care on that particular stretch of road. Problems continue with parking issues for Mallards open space. Yasmin Gordine offered to investigate and report back on ownership of strip of land between The Spot and the Mallards Park and whether it could be used for parking? Concerns had been raised that the gravel path at the community centre was proving to be intrusive for neighbouring properties. Planning: 16/502635 17 Kings Acre, two storey side extension with alterations to rear fenestration. No objection. Amended 16/500201/ FULL 10 Frithwood Close, alterations to first floor side elevation window and provision of first floor front elevation window. Play areas: Cllr Newton had been advised that new play equipment would be installed at Foxden Drive prior to the summer holidays. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Who Let the Dads Out: A great event aimed at dads, or any male carers, to have fun together with their children. See the Coxheath column for more. Farmers market: A beautiful morning on May 1 made the farmers’ market a popular venue. Stallholders all reported brisk trade. In fact, Teston Bakery had sold out by 11.30am so baker Per Nevrin has promised to bring a larger supply in June. The Kent Bilting Company from West Farleigh attracted many customers, as did Knife Ninjas proprietor Paul, who was kept extremely busy sharpening blades for the whole three hours. Visitors were entertained by Kits Coty Morris as they celebrated May Day with music and dance, so thanks go to them and all the visi-