Correspondent’s Picture
April 1, meet outside the library at 2pm for a walk to Clapper Farm Lane. On Sunday, April 2, meet outside the library at 10am for the Bridgehurst Wood walk with Diane Fisher. On Wednesday, April 5, meet outside the library at 9.45am for the Revised PLUTO walk. Correspondent: Andrew Watson, 9 Barn Meadow, Staplehurst, TN12 0SY Mob: 07715 572772 Tel: 01580 891986 Hearing aid clinic: There will be a free Hi Kent clinic at the McCabe Centre on Thursday, April 6 from 2pm-3pm. No appointment is needed. As well as care of NHS hearing aids (including free replacement batteries and tubes), advice is available about their range of specialist equipment, free assessment service for the over 65s and lipreading, sign language and deaf awareness classes, and their tinnitus support groups. Inquiries to 01622 691151 or enquiries@hikent.org.uk Marden Bowls Club: The spring meeting is to be held in the clubhouse on Wednesday, April 5 at 8pm. New members would be welcome to attend. The new outdoor season will start with an open day on Saturday, April 29 at 2pm. Horticultural show: The horticultural society show will be held in the village centre north hall on Saturday, April 1 from 2-4pm. Anyone wishing to enter the show (even at this late stage) and is not a member, can collect an entry form from the library. Children’s entries are especially welcome! Health centre: At the AGM of the Friends of our Health Centre last week, Rory Silkin continues as chairman and Robin Oakley as secretary and treasurer. The aim of the Friends is to assist our health centre by raising money for improved facilities, support services and equipment not necessarily provided by the statutory authorities. They organise useful talks on health matters such as advice to carers, and publish a newsletter four times a year. The secretary and treasurer is Robin Oakley (phone 01580 891516). Help team: At last week’s AGM, our village’s Emergency Help Team changed direction. While the team will continue to meet every three months, and to run an annual training exercise, the key objective will be to maintain the interest of those residents who have provided their contact details. These residents would turn out in the event of an emergency situation arising, if they are available, to assist with the running of a shelter for example. A major achievement this year has been the development of a register of residents who would welcome either a telephone call or a knock on the door, in the event of prolonged serious difficulties – such as a freezing winter like that in 1963, or the power cuts of Christmas three years ago. If you know anyone who would like their names to be added, contact either myself (details above) or Mira Martin, our community warden (who can be contacted via the library) who has done a great deal of work in contacting the village groups. One conclusion drawn from the exercise last October was that some residents who had provided their details when the team was first assembled, had little or no recollection of having ever done so. So contact will be made with all the latest ‘recruits’ at intervals (at least once a year); but, while they will be more than welcome at the meetings, it is recognised that it is just the original group volunteers who will attend. Sue Bassett, an active member of the team, has recently retired from the parish office so, while the parish office will remain the repository of the team’s information, the management of the documentation and data bases, its updating in particular, will now be the responsibility of the team. Jason Bardell and Sam Lain-Rose agreed to redesign the system for contacting volunteers at an earlier meeting, it was a natural extension of this process to include the way documentation changes are communicated to the parish office. Because of the parish council’s link with the parish office, chairman Rory Silkin will be involved with this development. The chairman thanked Sue Bassett for all the effort she had made in the setting up of the Emergency Help Team, the development of our Emergency Plan, and for acting as secretary. Our village is regarded by KCC as the best prepared in Kent so, if anyone would like to be involved, contact me (details above) for information. Residents fly high: Seven residents, six from Sobell Lodge (the Leonard Cheshire Home in our village which cares for physically disabled adults, many in wheelchairs) and a client from Laney’s Farm (which provides day care for adults with learning difficulties) will be flying in an aircraft from Blackbushe Airport April 29 (weather permitting). What a life-time opportunity this will be for them. The project is organised by the Lions in conjunction with Aerobility. Last year Aerobilty gave trial flights to more than 350 disabled people of all ages and with every conceivable disabling condition, from spinal injury, amputation and MS, through to learning and sensory disabilities. A great deal more beyond flying is planned, and it is hoped that Have a rummage: There will be a WI jumble sale on Saturday, April 1 at 11am in the village hall. Go and find a bargain. If you have any items to donate take to the hall on the day or ring 01622 842034 for collection. Community coffee morning: Thursday April 6 from 9am-11.30am in the village hall. Everyone is welcome to find out what is going on in the neighbourhood. Community warden Dawn Riach-Brown and our PCSO John Boyd will be popping in for a coffee. Exhibitions: Michael Beaman’s local history exhibitions starts on Saturday, April 1, and as in previous years each exhibition at St Mary’s Church will be on the first Saturday of the month from 10am-noon. At the first exhibition, Michael will present material which will show how the parish of Sutton Valence has changed over the years. Tea and coffee will be available. If you have not attended Michael’s exhibitions before you are in for a special treat. Gardeners’ association: The Spring Show is on Sunday, April 2 in the village hall. If you wish to enter the show phone Pat Raffill, the show secretary on 01622 840193. Pat needs to know the name and number of the classes you wish to enter. The show opens to the public at 2.15pm. Go along and browse and admire the flowers and produce and the talent of members. There will be floral art, cookery, photography and handicrafts. Tea and home made cakes will be available and, of course, there will be a raffle. The Sutton Strollers: This walking group has existed for more than 30 years and continues to informally meet and explore the local footpaths of the Three Suttons area. They also occasionally venture out of area, but not too far. The established routine is to gather in a car park at 1.30pm on the third Sunday of a month and to gently walk for a maximum of two hours trough the lovely Greensand countryside. If you are interested in joining them give Chris Webb a ring on 01622 842629 to be part of the monthly email circulation. Jumble sale: The WI is holding a jumble sale on Saturday, April 1 from 11am in the village hall. Why not go, have a rummage and find a bargain. If you have any items to donate take them to the hall on the morning or ring 01622 842034 for collection. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on March 13. A representative from Carbon Smart made a presentation on renewable energy feasibility studies. The council decided to set up a separate working group of Cllrs Eagle, Fowle and Poole to progress this further. Queens Head Odd Fellows slide event: The clerk had received three emails complaining about Roadworks: Coldblow Lane will be closed on Monday, April 3 for eight days from Coldblow Farm to the wireless transmission station to enable a new electric supply to be carried out by UK Power Networks. The alternative route will be via Rumstead Lane, Hook Lane, Church Road, Broad Street Hill, Pilgrims Way and vice versa. Correspondent: Leila Ware Tel: 01622 842330 PARISH COUNCIL: At the meeting