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dogs and babies in buggies! If children under 16 complete the mile in under eight minutes they will receive a wristband and £2 and if they complete it in 8-10 minutes a different wristband and £1. The event starts at 10am and is free but you do need to sign-up at www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mason-milemaidstone-sponsored-by-goldingvision-tickets-36750425512 raising much needed funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. See the Langley column for more information. Macmillan coffee: A coffee morning is being held in aid of Macmillan on Saturday October 14 at the library from 9.30am-noon. All are welcome Correspondent: Janet Burnett, The parish Office, Sutton Valence Village Hall, North Street, Sutton Valence, ME17 3HS Mob: 07759159552 Tel: 01622 844135 WI: The institute will meet on Tuesday, October 10 at 7.30pm in the village hall, for a fashion show by Bon Marche. Visitors and new members are welcome. For information ring 01622 842034. There will be a WI jumble sale on Saturday, October 14 at 11 am in the village hall. If you have items to donate take them to the hall on the morning or ring 01622 842034 for collection. PARISH COUNCIL: The council met on September 14. The clerk had received complaints about a football team’s behaviour and had contacted them stating that this behaviour would not be tolerated. The goal post at the Harbour field had been removed as it was rotten. A letter had been received from parishioner regarding a crossing on the A274 by entrance to the village hall and the school cricket ground. Clerk had asked for a meeting with Cllr Hotson, early morning date to be arranged. Police: Theft between 6.10pm September 8 and 7.15am on September 11 in North Street when a motor unit was stolen from an automatic gate at the school. Between 12.01am on August 20 and 1.30am on August 21, in School Lane, tractor shed on the cricket field broken into but it appeared nothing was taken. August 6 between 9.30 and 10pm in Warmlake Road, a heavy duty wooden gate was stolen. Volunteers are needed for Speedwatch. Date of next meeting: Thursday, October 12 at 7.15pm in the village hall committee room. Correspondent: Christine Byron Tel:

01622 812023 Poppy collectors wanted: Can you help? Once again in early November house-to-house collections are planned for the village. If you can help by collecting in your street or near-by contact our village organiser larry.collins@hotmail.co.uk Lost empires: The WI speaker on Thursday, October 12, is Wilf Lower who is coming along to tell about Lost Empires – the Last Days of Music Hall and Variety. Wilf will bring a light-hearted look at theatres, performers (in front and behind the curtains) and the very British ‘French Revues’ of the Fifties. Visitors welcome to the meeting in the village hall which starts at 2pm. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 WI: The next meeting of The Farleighs WI is on Wednesday, October 11, and will be the annual show where members display their projects from throughout the year. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start and meetings are held in the WI Hall. Forge Lane, East Farleigh on the second Wednesday in each month. Evergreens: At the next meeting, on Tuesday October 10 at 2.30pm in the WI Hall, Forge Lane, East Farleigh, Elaine Langton, the practice nurse at Yalding Surgery, will advise members whether to self medicate, go to the chemist for advice, make a GP appointment, go to A&E, ring 111 or 999. Afternoon tea will follow. For information or if you need a lift, phone Terry on 01622 814561 or Helen on 814445. Harvest Supper: The Harvest Supper has been arranged for Saturday October 7 but be aware that, despite every effort to accommodate more, all tickets have been sold. Harvest Festival: Harvest Festival at All Saints Church is on Sunday, October 8, and it will be collecting for Maidstone Food Banks. Easy open tinned goods are preferred. Leave in the Church. Advance notice: The annual Halloween party will be on Saturday, October 28 at The Good Intent. The village Fireworks Festival will be on Friday, November 3. Tickets are available from www.thefarleighs.co.uk, westfarleighsportsclub.com or 01622 720810 at £8.50 (£10 on the gate) or family ticket at £25 (not available on the gate). Donations are being requested for the popular tombola stall. Give any donations to Jack Martin or via the Sports Club by November 1. More details about both these events will be published nearer the event. Charity quiz: There are two quiz evenings planned for Friday, October 13, both in aid of the RNLI. One is at The Good Intent at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Peter and Den have been huddled in a darkened room for several weeks preparing fiendish questions. There will be a sumptious buffet featuring fish and other delicacies. Prizes for the top three tables. Tables of up to six at £9 per person and will be available from the bar on the day. Another one is taking place at Fant Community Hall, Fant Lane, Maidstone at 7.30pm. Maximum of eight per team. Tickets cost £10, which includes a fish and chips supper but take your own drinks and nibbles. To book a table and/or supper, phone John Ashbolt on 01622 725435 or Alan Cocks on 761004. Charity cards: The Heart of Kent Hospice has its Christmas cards and 2018 diaries on sale in their shops, the cafe at the Hospice and the Heart of Flavour cafe in King Street, Maidstone. They are also available on e-bay page (HOKHORG) or by using the order form available on the hospice website www.hokh.org Churchyard working party: The volunteer group will be back working in the churchyard on Saturday, October 7 from 9.15am for a few hours. Their efforts make such a difference. Anyone interested in helping should contact Paul Mahoney on 814420 or just turn up on the day. Men’s breakfast: The monthly breakfast takes place in the church on Saturday, October 7 from 7.30am, when a group of men with opinions they are keen to share, enjoy a good breakfast at a nominal price and discuss a matter of topical and controversial interest. Call Jeremy to book your place on 01892 730910. Kent Chamber Choir: On Saturday, October 7 at 7.30pm, Kent Chamber Choir presents Love Bode Me Welcome at St Peter & St Paul’s church. Tickets at £10 (£5 for children and students) will be available on the door or in advance from Richard Young on 01732 669782. School Gambia fundraising: A sponsored walk takes place at Bewl Water on Saturday, October 7 in aid of School Gambia. The route is 12.5 miles long and the start time from 9.30-10.30am. Any age or fitness level is welcome to take part. Information on 01622 814267 or email schoolgambiauk@gmail.com Surgery news: Yalding surgery will be closed for staff training on Thursday, October 12 from 1-5pm for staff training. Currently, patients of 65+, and younger ones with chronic illnesses are advised to go along this month to book an appointment with a nurse for a flu jab. The next fundraiser for the surgery will be the Carradine’s cockney sing-along on Saturday, October 28 at 7.30pm at the village hall. Tickets, from £8 are available from the surgery. Baptist services: The next Baptist service with junior church takes place on Sunday, October 8 at 10.30am. The all Age Harvest Service takes place on Sunday October 15 at 10.30am. Little Fishes: The Little Fishes group of pre-school aged youngsters with a parent or carer meets next on Monday October 9 from 1.45-3pm. The children will enjoy a Bible story, singing and dancing, an activity and a healthy snack, whilst the adults relax with a cup of tea or coffee. To find out more, call Rachel on 01622 817337. Village Pensioners’ Club: Retired residents will be getting together again on Tuesday, October 10 from 2-4pm at the village Social Club, for tea, chat and bingo. Call the club on 01622 814123 for information. WI: Helen Kendal-Bias will be the visiting speaker at the next WI meeting on Tuesday, October 10 at 7pm at the village hall. Her subject, Make-up for the Forever Women sounds most intriguing. The competition is for a favourite pair of earrings. There are still tickets for the Karen Carpenter tribute act on Tuesday, October 24 from 3-4pm at the village hall. Call 01622 813384 for tickets at £5 each. Three Choirs Concert: When Village Voices get together on Thursday, October 12 in the school hall, it will be to run through their well rehearsed items for the Three Choirs Concert which takes place in church on Friday, October 13 at 7pm. The other choirs performing there are the church choir and the Yalding junior choir. All three will be singing a selection of their favourite music. Admission is free, but donations towards choir funds and refreshments will be gratefully received. 100 club winners: The winners in the Friends of Yalding Church 100 club in the October draw were; first Martin Williams with number 84, second Ian Head with number 77, and third Peter Blackmore with number 2. The next draw will take place on Sunday, November 5. Call Richard Young for information on 01732 669782.