Lenham Focus | February '17

February 2017

Messy Stables Thank You

Lenham Parish Council Update

The History of St Valentine’s Day

Page 24

Page 45

Page 54

1

Thorneloe & Co. Solicitors

Michael and Harriet Thorneloe An independent family practice providing a friendly, high quality personal service tailored to your specific needs. Specialists in:

St Mary’s House, The Square, Lenham, Kent ME17 2PH

01622 859 416 www.thorneloe.co.uk thorneloe@thorneloe.co.uk

Wills Estate Administration Trusts & Taxation Lasting Powers of Attorney Court of Protection Residential Conveyancing Commercial Conveyancing Re-mortgaging Equity Release Buy-to-Let

         

Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Registered Number 70429

2

PC or Laptop running slowly?

Slow startups?

Think you have a virus?

Give me a call rs

30xper

a Ye

E

e

nc

ie

Troubleshooting, Repair & Virus Removal

Installation, Setup & Networking Upgrades & Maintenance Need some advice? Get in touch!

Fast & Friendly Service No Call-Out Fee Lenham Based

£20 per ½ hour Call Mark 01622 859969 07867 905522 mark@mscompserv.com

3

(min 1 hour)

FEBRUARY

Editorial It seems to be a quiet month this

please get in touch as we are usually

month. We don’t seem to have a lot

happy to include you in the ‘Clubs’

to put in the ‘Dates for Your Diary’,

section.

remember if you have any local community events plans please let us

Finally if you have any ideas or

know and we will be happy to include

suggestions to help make the Focus

them in the magazine.

better please get in touch.

The local clubs also seem to be taking a break and again if you to run a local club and want to publicise your meetings or look for new members

By James Collett

4

Editorial: James Collett 07927 308740 | editorialslf@gmail.com

Proofing: Jayne Hewish, Katy B

Advertising: Katy B, Jim Myers 07593 340744 | advertslf@gmail.com

Interviews: Jim Myers

Finance: Mark Dunbar 07808863227 | lenhamfocusinvoices@ gmail.com

Social Media: Georgia Hewish Printed by: Mike Kingsman, Gemini Print

Distribution: Gez Clark 07784 447200

Advertising Rates (September 2012)

Advert Sizes (HxW)

1/8 Page 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page Inside Cover 1/2 Page Inside Cover Full Page Outside Back Cover

£13 £21 £38 £69 £58 £79 £88

Front Cover (available once a year per advertiser)

£120

45x61mm 92x61mm 92x123mm 185x123mm

Advert Formats We require adverts to be submitted in high resolution (300dpi) PDF format in the appropriate size. If artwork is not supplied as a PDF we cannot guarantee the correct reproduction.

Print & Deliver Single Sided A5 Insert Double Sided A5 Insert

£250 £275

Photography: Andy Flood

Design: FALCON

Andy has been providing photography to the focus since the launch of the new design. Consistently he has provided amazing shots, especially the front covers.

Falcon is an award winning design and digital agency based in Kent. They build websites and brands for companies big and small.

Check out his website! www.andyfloodphotography.co.uk

Check out their website! www.madebyfalcon.co.uk

5

Selecta House | Charing Hill | TN27 0NL Open Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm | Saturday 9am - 5pm Proudly rated 9.9 out of 10 by our customers

www.charingcarpets.co.uk

01233 714999

Call Now For Your Free Measurement Service & Free Quote 6

DECORATING

ELECTRICAL

FIXINGS

GARDEN

IRONMONGERY

METALWORK

NUTS & BOLTS

SCREWS

SEALANTS

TOOLS

WOODCARE

WORK CLOTHING

Harris Platinum Brush Set

EDGE Masking Tape

3.2M Telescopic Ladder

£4.95

From £1.95

Only

£89.95 - Telescopic design for easy transportation and storage.

- Automatic locking mechanism for convenience and security - Anti-trap treads for safe fingers - Lightweight but strong aluminium construction - Large slip-resistant feet - Suitable for domestic or professional use

- 24mm & 36mm available.

- Treated to eliminate paint bleed, ensuring sharp paint lines. Use on painted walls, wood, glass or metal.

Alaska Boots

Half Price!

- Superior quality brushes - Fine finish on paints - Traditional wooden handles - Includes 2 x 1", 2 x 1½", 1 x 2"

Gorilla Tough And Wide Tape

Heavy Duty Tarpaulin

From £9.95

£69.95 £10 Off

£13.75 - Proven to withstand the toughest abuse and the harshest environment with extra winter lining in synthetic wool to keep you warm.

- Oil and heat resistant.

- Sizes Available: 8,9,10,11

- Tough All weather shell - Strong reinforced Backing - Double thick adhesive - Can be used indoor or outdoor - Nearly 3 inch wide for really tough jobs

- Comes complete with 12mm aluminium eyelets spaced at 50cm intervals in rope reinforced hems.

- Sturdy 3-rivet reinforcements sited at each corner.

- Available in 2.5m x 4m & 3.5m x 5m

Find us on Facebook! /FixingsWarehouse

CHARING TN27 ONL ASHFORD TN24 OHB SELECTA HOUSE CHARING HILL

NEW ASHFORD MARKET ORBITAL PARK

All items shown in advert exclude VAT

AYLESFORD ME20 7BT 2M TRADE PARK BEDDOW WAY

7

0870 760 6378 Mon-Fri: 7am - 6pm Sat: 8am - 5pm

Dates for your Diary 17 March St Patrick’s Night Ceilidh To help raise funds for the Guides to attend the international camp – Community Centre 7:30pm.

Don’t forget to let us know if you have an event coming up that you would like us to include.

8

Dog Waste Bins

I

be sufficient? (They were hardly sufficient now!)

am dismayed at Maidstone

I wonder if Maidstone Borough

Borough Council’s decision to

Council would consider reintroducing

remove all the dog waste bins

a Dog Licence system, obviously on

in Lenham. Is this a common policy

a local basis. The income generated

throughout the borough? When other

could be spent on waste disposal, as

councils are making life easier and

well as going a long way to ensuring

better for their residents, MBC seem

that all dog lovers (I don’t like the

intent on upsetting theirs!

term “dog owners” – we don’t own kids

I can recall from the early 1970s the

or friends, do we?!) take responsibility

most unpleasant task of removing

for their beloved pets.

dog poo from my shoes on a regular basis, as I am sure there were no bins

I urge all Lenham residents – whether

in Lenham then, and dog mess on

dog lovers or not – to write to or

the pavements was commonplace. I

email Maidstone Borough Council to

don’t remember when the bins were

insist that the bins are reinstated or

introduced, and I wonder what the

replaced as soon as possible, as the

reaction from the local residents was

general litter bins in the village will

to them.

soon become extremely unpleasant to be near!

What is the reason for this decision?

Could it be that nobody at MBC is

And to all dog lovers – please continue

willing to undertake the (admittedly

to clear up after your pet, and take

unpleasant) task of emptying the bins?

your bags home with you; surely it’s

Could it be a cost cutting exercise?

not too much to ask?

Or could it be that with an extra 1,500 homes in the village it would

Gez Clark

soon become more than obvious that the 7 bins in Lenham would not

9

Forthcoming Events

28 Jan

Quiz with Chinese Bingo

18 Feb

Rod Stewart Tribute 9pm to late.

Starts 7.30pm

Ticket only. Members £7 Guests £9

Bingo: every Tuesday and Sunday Night 8pm Quiz Night: first Tuesday of every month Whist Drive: every Friday 7.30pm Summer Beer Garden, Monthly Sea Angling Club Outside Bar, Marque, BBQ & Bouncy Castle for Hire

Members and Guests Only. All eventsand start at 8pm.

Private Hire. very Tuesday Sunday Night Private Hire. veryTuesday Tuesday and Sunday Night

10

BALLROOM & LATIN CLASSES WEEKLY GROUP CLASSES £5/person

Monday 5.45 - 6.45 : Children’s Ballroom & Latin (8-16yrs) 7.30 - 8.15 : Adult’s Ballroom & Latin (Beginners)

GDC School of Dancing Lenham Dance Studios 8 Faversham Road Lenham Kent ME17 2PN Tel: 01622 850 800 Mob: 07831 718 628 Follow us: Twitter@GDCdancing Facebook/GDCSchoolofDancing www.gdcschoolofdancing.co.uk

8.15 - 9.00 : Adult’s Ballroom & Latin (Intermediate) Wednesday 4.30 - 5.15 : Under 8’s Ballroom & Latin (4-8yrs)

PLUS Wednesday Zumba Classes £5/person 8.15 - 9.00 : Zumba Fitness (12yrs+ only) Private lessons also available for individuals and couples, please contact the Studio for more information

11

+ + + + + +

Residential Extensions Loft & Garage Conversions Self Build Projects Residential Housing Developments Building Refurbishment CAD Drafting

Socialise with the Focus + Code for Sustainable Homes + SAP Assessments

Follow us on Twitter:

+ CALL OR EMAIL FOR A QUOTE OR A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

@LenhamFocus

+ TEL: 01580 230 413 + EMAIL: info@kentdesignstudio.co.uk

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/LenhamFocus

All this from one plumber!

Bathroom Installations Drains & toilets serviced General domestic plumbing Leaking pipes Replacement taps Kitchen installations Repairs and installation Power Flushing

Tiling Painting Decorating Odd jobs No job too small Fully insured FREE quotes No call out cost

and friendly professional advice 12/02/2017 & 12/03/2017

T: 01622 851186 M: 0791 438 0521 info@allfixplumbing.co.uk www.allfixplumbing.co.uk

12

Clubs & Societies

to Nepal and in February, we have a talk

Royal British Legion Women’s Section

Christmas meal at the Dog and Bear on

from local artist, Alan Colledge, on his life as an artist.

Our members enjoyed our usual postJanuary 16th, and we are looking forward to another year of interesting and

We meet this month on the 23rd at

inspiring speakers

2:30pm in the Community Centre.

Gill Simes

This month is Jan’s Quiz, so get the grey matter in working order.

Young At Heart 60+

There will be the usual raffle and tea and biscuits.

See you there.

The first meeting is February 16th at the

Enid LaPlain

Community centre 2.00-4.00pm. We look forward to seeing you all again.

Thank you to the many helpers. Without

Lenham WI

them we would not be able to hold these We rounded off 2016 with a thoroughly

meetings.

enjoyable visit from Marian Martin

Olive, Sue, Kath, Jackie, Ann, Jacky,

who had us in tears of laughter with

Martin, Fred, Jenny and Nina

her stories, jokes and anecdotes! We finished the meeting with mulled wine

Len Valley Community Hub Club

and assorted seasonal food. For several years now, we have asked members to bring along a gift of food for Maidstone Christian Care, thanks to all of you for

Our first meeting of the year is February

your donations. Some of our members

2nd at the Social club 2.00-4.00pm. We

enjoyed a Federation trip to Amiens

hope to see you all then.

for the Christmas Market after our

A big thank you to all the people that help.

December meeting.

Martin, Fred, Jenny and Nina

In January, our President, Barbara Kyprianou gave a talk on her recent trip

13

Winter is ending

F

and nutritious vegetable in your diet.

Cauliflower can be used as a substitute for carbs, try Cauliflower pizzas or pilaf, it’s

ebruary, the last month of

the “superfood” for 2017!

winter, a time when we all need to wage war on the cold with

Purple sprouting broccoli

tasty tagines, hearty stews and comfort

Full of antioxidants & vitamin C. It’s only

food. We are very lucky to still have a

38 calories in 90g portion. Some believe

choice of fresh produce to help us keep fit

that it can help combat cancer, high blood

& healthy! Cauliflower, purple sprouting

pressure, cardiovascular disease and

broccoli, leek, rhubarb, Guinea Fowl and

diabetes. Simply boil for 5-7 minutes, fry

Goose are all in season this month.

for 6 minutes or roast for 10-15minutes with a light coating of olive oil. We like

Cauliflower

it with garlic and sesame, sautéed with

Cauliflower will provide you with

mushrooms and stilton.

plenty of Vitamin B6 & over 70% of the recommended adult intake of Vitamin C.

Rhubarb

At a tiny 31 calories per 100g serving you

Like cranberries most people do find

know it makes sense to include this tasty

14

rhubarb needs sweetness to make it more

older birds are good to casserole as

palatable. In some recipes honey, orange

this helps keep the flesh moist – try

or apple juice can be used to sweeten as

casseroling in red wine with chestnuts.

an alternative to sugar, as can adding a

One bird will serve two people. Flavours

sweeter fruit such as strawberries. At

such as chestnuts, apples, herbs, bacon,

only 21 calories per 100g you gain a

cider or brandy pair well.

decent amount of Vitamins A & C. Why not try making a quick chutney, or

Goose

Persian-style lamb & rhubarb stew.

Goose meat is darker (including the breast), fuller bodied, and more intensely

Leek

flavoured than turkey. It is fatter and

Containing anti-oxidants, vitamins

gamier than duck.

and minerals, leeks are not just to add a

You can stuff geese with dried fruits

pleasant, delicate, sweet flavour. Boiling

(raisins, figs, or prunes, marinated in

turns them soft and mild in taste; frying

Armagnac, Cognac or rum) - the stuffing

leaves it crunchier and preserves the

can be cooked separately and passed

taste. Alternatively, try raw leeks in

around. Rye or black bread is more

salads.

suitable than regular white bread. The bird would smell more appealing if

In Turkish cuisine, leeks are chopped into

stuffed with apples, onion, celery, orange

thick slices then boiled and separated

or lemon.

into leaves, finally filled with a filling

Roast and serve with apples or cider, or

usually containing rice, herbs (generally

make a simple casserole. Goose meat can

parsley and dill), onion and black pepper.

be served without sauce but a chutney is

We like all-in-one leek & pork pot roast or

great!

cheese, leek and potato tortilla.

Have you tried our online shop?

Guinea Fowl

Traditional, local, fresh meat at your

Offering vitamin B6, E and potassium,

convenience!

low in calories and rich in essential fatty acids, guinea fowl has a flavour

All the recipes mentioned in this article

somewhere between chicken and

can be found in our online cook book,

pheasant. A young bird has tasty flesh;

www.lenham-butchers.co.uk

15

Lenham Family Festival

School has been busy working with the

he Lenham Family Festival

ideas were put forward by the pupils. It

Committee did not meet in

was a difficult decision to make but the

December so it was a quiet

idea that has been decided upon is the

T

school council to come up with ideas for spending their half of the monies raised.

The school reports that some amazing

month in terms of news. One piece

development of a quiet area on the school

of news received in early December

field. They would like to purchase some

however was very welcome and the

picnic benches for one corner of the field

committee would like to extend their

and maybe some parasols too so the area

thanks to the Hatch Charity for the

could also be used for outdoor learning.

generous donation they have made to the Festival funds this year.

If you would like to help us raise funds for these two deserving causes, you are

Just to remind you that the main day of

very welcome to come along to one of our

the 2017 festival is Saturday 10 June 2017

Festival Committee meetings which take

with all the usual stalls, refreshments,

place on the last Monday of each month

music and dance. Other events taking

at 7.15pm in the Appleton Room at the

place over the weekend have yet to be

Community Centre.

confirmed but The City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra will be holding a

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

concert in the Tithe Barn the following weekend on Saturday 17 June 2017. This

If you are not able to join the Committee

will also be in support of the Festival.

but would like to be involved in a smaller way, we always need volunteers to help

As reported previously, the monies raised

out on the main day of the Festival with

from the 2017 Festival will be split equally

a variety of tasks, none of which are

between The Katie Piper Foundation,

particularly onerous. Even if you can only

which helps people with burns and scars

volunteer an hour of your time, it will be

to reconnect with their lives and their

much appreciated and it is always great

communities, and Lenham Primary

fun and very rewarding being part of a

School. Mrs Martin of Lenham Primary

community event such as this. You will

16

probably find you get much more out of it than you need to put in! If you would like to be involved in this way, please contact Gail on 01622 850126. She will be compiling a list of names and contact details of willing helpers to be contacted nearer the time.

Look out for further news from the Lenham Family Festival Committee in each month’s edition of the Lenham Focus.

l

17

S W E E N E Y TO D D BARBER SHOP OAPS BOYS TO 16 MEN

£6 £7 £8

MON-FRI WEDNESDAY SATURDAY

9-6 CLOSED 8-3

2 nd SUNDAY

10-1

OF THE MONTH

SPARKLES

Pure Hot Water Fed Pole Technology

TRADITIONAL & MODERN HAIRSTYLES

Domestic & Commercial Window Cleaning

THE CORNERHOUSE, LENHAM VILLAGE SQUARE

Conservatory Cleaning - Fascia/Cladding Cleaning Solar Panels • Gutter Cleaning System

Tel: 07856 110682 Web: www.sparkles-kent.co.uk www.facebook.com/sparkleskent

07734950329 NOW WITH 3 BARBERS

Heather’s for men & women

Heather’s Chiropody Surgery Complete Grooming Service

Kerry Dunbar

Professional Qualified Dog Groomer

Offered for all breeds of dogs Bathing Scissoring Clipping Handstripping Nail Clipping De-matting www.cutsformutts.co.uk kerry_dunbar@hotmail.co.uk Based at Sandway nr Lenham

18

HPC Registered G.C.S.Ch., M.Inst.Ch.P., M.F.S.Ch.

01622 850376 The Brown Barn, Bull Hill, Lenham Heath, Kent, ME17 2JA off the A20.

www.heatherschiropody.co.uk retreat@heatherschiropody.co.uk

Village & Country Homes Specialists Residential Sales & Lettings

Make the future happen T: 01622 858241 | E: homes@philipjarvis.co.uk | A: 1 The Square, Lenham ME17 2PH | W: philipjarvis.co.uk

19

Socialise with the Focus Follow us on Twitter: @LenhamFocus Find us on Facebook facebook.com/LenhamFocus

GB LISTER Produce you can trust Lenham’s Traditional Family Butcher & Greengrocer

Locally sourced meat which hasn’t had to travel thousands of miles before it reaches you.

10% DISCOUNT and FREE DELIVERY for senior citizens on Tuesdays.

Tel: 01622 858220 Email: gblister@live.com 13 The Square, Lenham, Maidstone, ME17 2PQ

www.lenham-butchers.co.uk

20

Beaubray Caterers

Maidstone for quality catering anywhere Beaubray Caterers cater for all styles of Call for a FREE brochure or quote on

weddings as well as private and corporate

01622 763269

functions, dinners, carverys, bbq’s, hot and

or download a copy at

www.beaubraycaterers.co.uk

cold buffets and afternoon tea.

No function too large or too small

FOOT CLINIC Mrs. Afstaneh Smith Foot Health Professional MCFHP MAFHP Flexible surgery hours Home visits undertaken Hubbards Farm, Lenham Heath, ME17 2BX

Tel: 01622 853640 Mob: 07506376264

Domestic Cleaning We clean so you don’t have to!

Yours from as little as £13 per month.

Competitive Pricing Fully Insured Reliable Professional Trustworthy Available to do: Household Cleans End of Tenancy Cleans New Builds phynixcleaning.co.uk

Office: Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Kent

01622 880028 21

L

W REST A

AT

LE

LE

ANT

CAST

V IE

UR

E

EDS CAST

At Castle View Restaurant, our aim is to cook the best traditional ingredients as simply as possible and let the quality of the produce and the magnificent views across the Castle's moat speak for themselves.

The oak-beamed 17th Century setting, offers diners a relaxed atmosphere and spectacular views from the terrace of the 900 year old Leeds Castle beautifully lit at night.

To book a table call 01622 767766 or visit leeds-castle.com/restaurant

22

Family Breakfast Service

Upcoming Events Valentine’s Dinner Menu Tuesday 14th February 2017

SHORT INFORMAL SERVICE SUNDAYS AT 9.30am

Sumptuous 4 courses meal served all day from noon till 9.30pm including a rose. £40 per person or £100 per couple including a bottle of Prosecco Brut.

St Mary’s Church, Lenham

St Patrick’s Day

Friday 17th March 2017

Live music with “Gentlemen of few” & plenty of Guinness

Mother’s Day

FOR EVERYONE! WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

Sunday 26th March 2017 Served from noon till 9.00pm

3 course menu packed with seasonal delights, including a present for Mum. Sunday roast set lunch menu for £29pp; children up to 12 years pay £14.

Booking & pre order essential THE

D I R T Y H A B I T

Upper Street, Hollingbourne, Kent ME17 1UW 01622 880 880 www.thedirtyhabit.net

23

Messy Stables Thank Yous

T

and ready stable.

hanks to all who helped our Messy Stable event

Christ coming to earth wasn’t tidy

on the 17th December at

Harrietsham Church. Some have asked

- it was fraught with issues, stress,

‘ why is it called Messy? ‘ Surely that

family breakdown, financial worries,

goes against our respectable, tidy,

tiredness, and more. The tidy images

village church image?

we see on Christmas cards are often misleading.

All of our lives are touched by mess whether it’s the messy state of our

The sometimes messy truth of real life

world, or more personal mess.

shouldn’t be swept under the carpet

Let’s have a look at the event itself.

but in humility brought to God who is

Mary mingled with the crowds there

more than ready to rescue, heal, and

holding a newborn baby that wasn’t

give us a new start.

her husband’s. Joseph sat by the fire wondering whether he could trust God

Thanks to the team on the Messy

with the new responsibilities dumped

Cafe, to Denwood Fencing for building

on him.

the stable, for Gemma bringing the beautiful pony, for the kindness of

Children built a cardboard manger

the church members at St Johns

and filled it with messy straw because

for supporting us prayerfully and

there was only a shed to shelter the

practically.

young family.

Liz, Gill, Mair, Katherine and Kay Heather from Maidstone Winter Shelter told us about the homeless mess on the streets of the town, Children listened to the retelling of the Nativity whist sitting inside the rough

24

Would you like to be a member of Maidstone Friends of Music?

You could travel by coach from Maidstone (Grove Green or Castle Road Allington) to venues in London & the Southeast for Orchestral Concerts, Ballet, Opera & Theatres.

Recent outings have included: Royal Festival Hall, London Coliseum & the Barbican.

Forthcoming outings: Thursday 16th March Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor Ashkenazy Schubert, Mozart & Elgar. Royal Festival Hall, 7.30 pm Tuesday 18th April: Orchestra of Age of Enlightenment, Director Matthew Truscott: .Hayden Mozart, CPE Bach.

Royal Festival Hall 7.00 pm Annual membership for 2017 - ÂŁ10 Members are sent a newsletter giving details of the outings with an invitation to apply for tickets.

The outing cost includes tickets and coach travel.

Application forms available from: The Secretary: Jean Talboys Tel: 01622 880349, email jtalboys@btinternet.com

25

Fire & Ice Walk

F

requirement of £80.00. Enter both for a fee of £35.00 with a minimum sponsorship requirement of £150.00 You must register in advance for this

riday 3rd March from 6pm

event and be over 18 years of age.

Jubilee Square, High Street,

For full details please visit www.hokh.

Maidstone Town Centre

org or contact fundraising on 01622

ME14 1SA. Walk 15ft over smouldering

790195.

hot coals or razor sharp broken glass – you can walk as many times as you like

Heart of Kent Hospice

and full training is given to ensure that

www.hokh.org

you safely complete these once- in- a -lifetime challenges.

Heart of Kent Hospice. We are an independent charity providing

Entry is £25.00 for the Fire Walk with

specialist end of life care for people

a minimum sponsorship requirement

facing the challenge of a terminal

of £100 and £20.00 for the Ice

illness.

Walk with a minimum sponsorship

Focus Distribution

Sandway area (around 40 copies),

Help! Again!

can help please email me – gez.clark@

We are in need of distributors to keep

hotmail.com – also if you live in an

Focus available to all in Lenham.

area which does not get Focus through

We need one or two people to take

your door please let me know.

delivery of around 2,000 copies and

Thanks, Gez

West Street (c20 copies), Warren Street, and more.

If you live in one of these areas and

deliver them (100 here, 50 there etc.) to the foot distributors for final delivery through the doors. We also need volunteers to take on the

26

“Save the Date” – Friday 17th March In July 2017 a group of Harrietsham Guides & Leaders, together with Guides and a Leader from Bearsted and Maidstone, are going to an International camp in Southern Ireland.

To help raise funds towards our trip costs we are holding a

St Patrick’s Night Ceilidh at Lenham Community Centre on Friday 17th March starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets – Adults £15, Under 18’s £12.50

Dancing to a Live Band Hot Supper – Raffle

Bring your own drinks and glasses For more Information or to buy your tickets please text or ring Sue 07740 822244 Kate 01622 850563 Andrea 07901 667018

We look forward to seeing you then

27

The Red Lion - Lenham 01622 858531 www.redlionlenham.co.uk

A Traditional 14th Century Inn located in the Medieval Village of Lenham Home Cooked food served daily.

Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm & 6-9pm Sat & Sun 12-9pm including bank holidays Senior Citizens Specials Hot Stone Dining Experience Traditional Log Fires Cask Marque Awarded Real Ales Function Room Available Monthly Quiz & Theme Nights Mobile Bars & Catering service available for hire

28

Advertise to 2000 people from ÂŁ13pm.

Contact: advertslf@gmail.com

29

Visit Our Showroom 4 Ashmill Business Park, Ashford Road (A20), Lenham ME17 2GQ

Bi-folds Doors Roof Lanterns Composite Doors

Established 25 Years, Family Business.

01622 851400 | 07973 669590

KSEHomeImprovementsWT175.indd 1

30

09/08/2016 14:34

Regular Daily & Weekly Events Daily

Activate Fitness Facilites

Monday

Badminton (Feathers) Bell Ring Monday Music Mayhem Parent & Toddlers Group Len ARA Short Mat Bowls Harr & Lenham Cubs Lenham Badminton Club Lenham Youth Club H/sham & Lenham Cubs H/sham & Lenham Beavers Lenham Youth Club Pilates classes

Activate Sports Swadelands

Sunday

Messy Mums Babies + Toddlers Line Dancing LenARA Bridge Club Brownies 2nd Lenham Pilates classes Line Dancing Redbacks Explorer Scouts Guides 1st Lenham H/sham&Lenham Scouts Judo Club Lenham Youth Club Activate Fitness Facilites French Books for Children Tea/Coffee/Cakes Sunday Schools

7am-8.30am & 5pm-9pm Community Centre 8-10.00pm St Mary’s Church 7:30pm Community Centre 10-11am Community Centre 9.30-11.30am Community Centre 1.45pm-4.30pm (8-11 years) 6.30-8pm Community Centre 8pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Lenham Primary School 6:30-8:00pm Harrietsham Scout Hut 5:45-7:15pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.00-9.30pm Community Centre 7.00pm-8.00pm 8.30-9.30pm St Mary’s Church 10.30-12 Term Community Centre 7.30-9.00pm Community Centre 1.30-4.30pm Lenham Primary Sch 6.15-7.45pm Community Centre 11.30-12.30pm St Edmunds Platts Hth 8pm Kingswood Scout Hut 7.15-9.15pm Community Centre 7.00-9.00pm Harrietsham Scout Hut 7.30-9.30pm Community Centre 5.30-8.30pm Swadelands Ham Lane 7.30-10.00pm Activate Sports Hall Swadelands 8am-5pm Harrietsham Primary School 9.30-11.30am St Mary’s Church 10.00-12.00 see separate church services page

2nd Tuesday 1st Tuesday 1st Wednesday 4th Wednesday Last Wednesday 1st Thursday 2nd Thursday 3rd Thursday 2nd Sunday

Royal British Legion Lenham Valley Parish Council Meeting LenARA (active retired) Archaeology Club Reading Group Women’s Institute Lenham Gardening Soc. Lenham Country Market

Lenham Social Club Business Association Community Centre Community Centre Community Centre Lenham Library Community Centre Community Centre The Village Square

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

31

8pm 6-8pm 7.30pm 2pm 7.30pm 4.45-5.45pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 9-1.00pm

Advertiser Numbers Accounting & Business Services Alarm Systems Architectural Services Barbers Builders/decorators

Butchers/Meat Carpentry Carpets/Flooring Caterers Catteries Chartered Surveyor Childminder Chimney Sweep Chiropody Cleaning/Housekeeping Coal Merchant Computer Services Dance Dog Grooming Dressmaking & Alterations Electricians/Gas fitters Estate Agents Fitness Foot Practitioner Funeral Directors Garages

Stonebridge Associates Cybereye Security Kent Design Studio Sweeney Todd Andy and Paul Apollo Elwood (Painter/decorators) KRS Building/decorating KSE Home Improvements Stuttle Dyer (painters/decorators) G B Lister Carpentry and General Building P Humpries Carpets direct Beaubray Caterers Little Dene Boarding Cattery Inkstand cattery James Collett Debbie Brett Invicta Chimney Sweep Heather’s Chiropody Surgery Amy McLaughlin Phynix Domestic cleaning Edmed Coal Harrietsham Computers Lynn MS Computer services Lenham Ballet School GDC School of Dancing Cuts for Mutts Pam Barrie Weston Contractor MGI Electrical Philip Jarvis Activate Body and Soul Mrs Afsaneh Smith Kristina Smith A W Court Gowers Garage

32

851542 858612 01580 230413 07734950329 850437 07808414965 01634308933 851126 851400 01233 840004 858220 850364 858719 01233714999 763269 858510 859469 850608 01233714247 01622 632641 850376 07813030527 880028 260515 859442 745654 859969 850329 850800 07738 088169 858827 01233712663 850055 01622 858241 853750 01622 853640 07882 170231 850840 858210

Grocers Hairdressers Hall Hire Locksmiths Logs Nail Technician Osteopathy Parish Council Pest Control Photographer Plumbers Pool Services Pubs Restaurant Riding School Schools Solar Panel Installation Solicitors Takeaway Taxi TV Aerials Veterinary Surgery Will Services Window Cleaning

Lenham Village Store Phase Hairdressing Smarty’s Lenham Comm Centre Charing Heath Hall A Short Seasoned Logs Beauty Nails Chris Tempest D.O. M.Ost GOsc Reg Lenham Parish Council Pest Purge Andy Flood Photography All Fix Plumbing Epic Plumbimg Pure Plumbing J W Engineering Services Dirty Habit Lenham Social Club Red Lion Leeds Castle Uplands Riding School Lorenden Greenman Solar Setfords Solicitors Thorneloe & Co. Chequers Fish Bar Arshed Mahmood Gez Clark R & P TV Aerial services Harrietsham Vets Maidstone Wills and trusts Sparkles

33

858255 850001 851150 853800 01233 713317 07738658751 07733328715 07460 393777 07749 980096 01622 859682 842481 07443 633385 851186 210298 769722 851713 880880 858890 858531 767777 01233 712289 01795590030 01233 612082 01622 231784 859416 859878 07770725129 07784447200 631717 858666 01580 292320 07856 110682

General / Social Numbers Badminton Badminton Club Feathers Bowling Club Bridge Club Brownies (2nd Lenham) Drama Gardening Society Guides (1st Lenham) LenARA Lenham Badminton Club Lenham Heritage Lenham Nursery School Lenham Players Lenham Wanderers Lenham Social Club Harrietsham & Lenham Beavers Harrietsham and Lenham Scouts Harrietsham and Lenham Cubs Mothers’ Union Pilates Classes Redback Explorer Scouts Royal British Legion Women’s Institute St Edmunds Platts Heath Country Ways Quilters Lenham Valley Business Association Borough Councillors: Kent Highway Services Dog Warden Cat Protection Drugs Helpline Heaths Countryside Corridor Lenham Country Market Lenham Community Centre Lenham Heath Parish Hall LenValley Practice Non-Emergency NHS Care Member of Parliament Parish Council Clerk Parish Police PCSO Rural Community Warden Vicar

Linda Bird Neil Rouse Lyn Fuller Keith Rylands Andrea French Gail Kelly Keith Varney Mrs J Thomsett Christine Godden Mrs Pat Abson Lesley Feakes Sarah Siddons Janet Moll Russell Young Club Events Duncan Keenan Nick Still Mrs A Seales Mrs J Thomsett Vivien Elcomb Mark Horlock Mr W Peter Mrs C Toner Karen Yardley Rosemary Waldron Alan Reading Tom Sams Janetta Sams (Roads, Pavements) Lost and Found FREE CALL Ruth Lovering Kevin Fitzsimons Margaret Mitchell Sharon Reed Doctors Surgery NHS Helen Whately MP Margo McFarlane John Boyd Martin Sherwood Rev Millie Hart Church Office

34

01233 756762 01622 840207 01622 851538 01622 891964 01622 851646 01622 850671 01622 850228 01622 859009 01622 858658 01622 858561 01622 850275 07967 128056 01622 850747 07594 206818 01622 858890 07768 926654 01622 859789 01622 859829 01622 859009 01622 853887 07789 226516 01622 850520 01622 850048 01622 858208 01233 622271 01622 820841 01622 859412 07891901831 / 859412 03000 418181 01622 602117 01732 847572 0800 776600 01622 842257 01622 679709 01622 853800 (am) 01622 858581 (pm) 01233 713317 01622 858341/859204 111 helenwhately.co.uk 01622 859682 07870 252421 07977 981993 297296 850604

Lenham Ballet School

LENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

R.A.D. Ballet I.S.T.D. Tap & Modern 3 years to senior level

Meetings are held at the Lenham Community Centre at 7.30pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Planning Committee first Monday of the month (except bank holiday)

Adult Tap & Street Dance

01622 850329

more than a ballet school

www.lenhamballetschool.co.uk

Parish Council first Wednesday of the month (except September) Finance & General Purposes Committee third Wednesday of the month followed by the Planning Committee.

LenhamBalletSchoolWT168.indd 1

20/01/2016 09:32

For more details contact the Parish Clerk 01622 859682 (between 9am and 1pm)

Advertise to 2000 people from £13pm.

hello@lenhamparish.org.uk lenhamparish.org.uk

EDMED LTD WARMING HOMES THROUGHOUT KENT SINCE 1917 WOOD BURNING STOVES, SUPPLY ONLY OR INSTALLATION. BESPOKE SERVICE PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED FROM DESIGN TO COMPLETION. CHIMNEY SWEEPING

01622 260515 | 07976 688437 edmecltd@edmedcoal.co.uk www.edmedcoal.co.uk

35

Visit our showroom Newington Ind Est, Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7NU

NEED HELP TO CHANGE LIFE FOR THE BETTER ?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Can Help

Advertise to 2000 people

Common problems CBT can help with:

from £13pm.

Anxiety Depression Anger Panic Attacks Stress Management Low Self-Confidence

Contact:

Step by step to help you work through your concerns and bring about the change you desire.

advertslf@gmail.com

T: 07711 945897 or 01233 714059 PRACTICES IN EGERTON, CHARING & ASHFORD

lynn@counsellingashford.org.uk www.counsellingashford.org.uk

Lenham Community Centre Card Craft Class Every Friday fortnight from 14th October.

The class is £10 which includes all materials etc., plus tea/coffee and biscuits, sometimes cake!

For more information call Irene on 07341 343518 or Pauline on 07766 768180 or just pop in for a chat Everyone welcome.

36

Success comes from working together.

Some great success stories.

Why not make business networking a success for you?

“I joined LVBA to advertise my local self-storage business and horse liveries, but as I am a farmer and own other properties it soon became clear that other LVBA members would be very useful to my business as well. Look at this list of tradesmen/businesses I have used, all from LVBA, since I joined:plumbers (2), electricians (2), solicitor, hostelries (4), estate agent, boilerman, shops (3), archaeologist, chartered surveyor, ecology expert, taxi, ironmongers, restaurants (2), accountant, tree surgeon, chiropodist. Oh, and not forgetting ‘A Short Locksmith‘! Over the years I have met all these local people at our meetings and make a point of using them. It is very useful to know these people and have them ‘under your belt’. It is also very interesting to hear what everybody is doing, and you pick some useful tips from the speakers we have. Lastly, I love ‘going local’ and helping local business.”

Andrew Barr, A&A Barr Farms, Lenham

easier le tt li a s s e in s u b g in Mak R.O.A.R. Right of admission reserved.

Keep up to date & to join www.lenhambusiness.co.uk or call 01622 820841

37

Friends of St Mary’s, Lenham The Friends of St Mary’s, Lenham is now nearly four years old and during this time it has carried out vital restoration projects for the beautiful listed building that is St Mary’s Church (the Friends is a separate Registered Charity No 1160993).

Thanks to the local support received so far, major projects completed include refurbishment and cleaning of the clock (£5700), major repair and restoration of several stained-glass windows (£26,000), stonework repairs (£5800), tablet cleaning (£400) and installation of information paddles (£300).

The East Window As for events, the Friends have in recent months presented a military wives' choir concert, an autumn barn dance and social coffee mornings at Grovelands and Atwater Court. In the coming months, the Friends will be helping with further restoration projects ranging from comprehensive roof repairs and the renewal of the lighting system to wall repairs and decoration. They will also be holding social events including a Garden Party in June and other events currently in the planning stages." Why not come along and get to know this active local group? The Friends are working hard to increase membership to 100!

Do you care about our heritage and the preservation of an ancient and beautiful building?

By joining The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Lenham you can make a difference by helping the Trustees to maintain our heritage for future generations.

Please contact our Membership Secretary: John Arthur Boyd Court Lodge Farm High Street Lenham ME17 2QD Phone: 01622 858403

Email: jarthurboyd@aol.com

Text by Jim Myers

38

Lenham Surgery Tel: 858341 Mondays to Fridays 8:30am6:30pm. Closed 1-2pm Dispensary 8:30am-6:30pm Closed 12:30-2pm Urgent matters out of hours telephone. 0845 1450121 (66.30pm only) IC24. 111 (from 6.30pm)

39

Tai Chi with the

StuttleDyer

TesliaTai TaiChi Chi Academy Suitable all ages Suitable for for all ages, adaptable for most abilities.

Adaptable for most abilities.

Decorating

“Mentally and physically grounding. and physically groundin The “Mentally perfect antidote to the pace set by the digital world” The perfect antidote to

also

Bathrooms Kitchens Tiling

Lenham community centre

the pace set by the digital world”

Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm Classes starting in Lenham Formore moreinformation information visit For

Find us on Facebook

www.telisataichi.co.uk Call Theresa : 07734108683

stuttledyer.wordpress.com

Call Dan to arrange a FREE Quotation

Or Contact Theresa Telisataichi@gmail.com

01233 650 726

07734108683

07837 04 66 41

Security and Electrical Services l Alarm systems l CCTV l PAT testing l Fire alarms l Automated gates l Video/audio entry systems l Existing systems maintained & repaired l All electrical work undertaken l Domestic & Commercial installations

V AM A

LL

EY

LE N H

l Part P certified l Free quotes l Fully insured l 24 hr Call out

s

in

es

ti

Bu

on

MEMBER s Assoc

ia

Cybereye Security Marcus Shephard 01622 858 612 or 07821 776 334

40

41

Christian Message

I

real relationship with God and my life was changed.

Dreams are often described as ‘night

was interested to see an article last

parables’, and are a bit like the stories

year about dreams and what they

Jesus told to help us understand things.

might mean. I have always been an

As that well known dreamer, Joseph, of

avid dreamer, and in my childhood days

‘technicolour dreamcoat’ fame, once said,

I used to sleep-walk occasionally. One

“Do not interpretations belong to God?”

time when I was a student I dreamt that

(Genesis 40:8). So often a dream carries

I climbed out of the window to the room

the hope that something can be changed

above me. Although I did not really do

in order for us to live a more fulfilled

this, it was so vivid that I actually ran

life. For example, a dream of being lost

downstairs to the room below thinking I

could be an invitation from our Heavenly

was going back to my room, whereupon

Father to seek His help to find our way

I surprised a male student who was

forward.

working late at night! Needless to say I quickly left and had a difficult task

As I write, it is the start of 2017; a time

explaining it the next day.

when many of us reflect and set goals for the new year. I have found that thinking

Ten years ago I had the privilege of

and praying about my dreams helps me

hearing the late John Paul Jackson

get to know my Creator better, discover

speak at Detling. He was a humble man

His purposes and priorities for my life,

with an internationally respected gift

and find true direction.

of interpreting dreams from a Christian perspective. Realising that God might

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and

be speaking to me, I undertook some

lean not on your own understanding; In

training. Once I was open to the

all your ways acknowledge Him, and He

possibility that dreams might be coming

shall direct your paths.’ Proverbs 3:5-6

from God and not just my own mind, I discovered that He was continuously

Jenny Needham

communicating with me through them.

For the first time ever I felt that I had a

42

Church Services Sunday 19th February

Wednesday 1st February

9.30am Lenham: Breakfast Service

9.30 am Lenham: Holy Communion

9.30am Harrietsham: Morning Worship

Sunday 5th February

9.30am Boughton Malherbe: Holy

9.30 am Lenham: Breakfast service

Communion

9.30 am Boughton Malherbe: Holy

11.00am Ulcombe: Morning Worship

Communion (Prayer Book)

11.00am Lenham: Holy Communion

11.00 am Ulcombe: Family Worship

Saturday 25th February

11.00 am Lenham: Holy Communion

8.00am Dog & Bear, Lenham: Men’s

3.30 pm Harrietsham: GIFT family

breakfast

worship

Sunday 26th February

Saturday 11th February

8.00am Lenham: Holy Communion

4.00pm Ulcombe Church: Messy Church

(Prayer Book)

Sunday 12th February

9.30am Harrietsham: Holy Communion

8.00am Lenham: Holy Communion

9.30am Boughton Malherbe: Family

(Prayer Book)

Worship

9.30am Lenham: Breakfast Service

10.45am Ulcombe: Holy Communion

9.30am Harrietsham: Holy Communion

11.00am Lenham: Family Worship

11.00am Ulcombe: Holy Communion

Pathways Church

11.00am Lenham: Morning Worship

Service Times February 2017

3.30pm Boughton Malherbe: Choral Evensong

1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at

Wednesday 15th February

10h30 in Lenham Community Centre

10.30am Holy Communion:

Wednesdays and Thursdays in homes in

Chippendayle Lodge

Harrietsham and Lenham. http://www.pathwayschurch.org.uk/

43

DO YOU NEED A FAMILY LAWYER? Fixed fee appointment available at times and venues convenient to you.

• Collaboratively trained practitioner • Divorce & separation • Pre nuptial agreements • Financial settlements • Children • Cohabitation Please contact our local specialist Rebecca Bell on 01622 231 784 or email rbell@setfords.co.uk

44

Lenham Parish Council

railway) would mean allocating sites

LENHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE

ten-year period at a rate of 100 per

for a further 1,350 dwellings. The Inspector recommends the allocation be reduced to 1,000 dwellings over a annum between 2021 and 2031.

The independent examination of

The protection of the Kent Downs

the Maidstone Local Plan interim

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

findings has now been made public and

(AONB) which borders the north

formally published by Robert Mellor

side of the village is an important

the Inspector appointed by the

consideration when investigating

Secretary of State for Communities

site options. The NHP team have an

and Local Government. The report is

opportunity to determine what sites

available on both the Lenham Parish

should be allocated. Areas south

Council web-site lenhamparish.org.

of the railway, previously opposed

uk and maidstone.gov.uk. The full

by MBC can now be included in the

document can be found as a pdf.

scope. It is vital the NHP team work

ED110 20161222 Interim Findings

to identify the allocation of suitable

on Maidstone Borough Council Local

sites, if not, it would fall to a review

Plan. The report pages specific to

of the Local Plan to do so. The

Lenham are 21 to 24. The submitted

NHP team will use the findings of

Local Plan proposed Lenham as

the report as a template to align the

a Broad Location to deliver 1,500

Lenham Neighbourhood Plan with the

dwellings between 2026 and the end

MBC Local Plan and the Inspector’s

of the plan period in 2031 at a rate

recommendations.

of 300 per annum. Such a rate of construction is improbable; therefore,

Moving forward, with a proactive

the delivery date will be from 2021.

approach and a coordinated relationship, meetings will be

Deducting the existing permissions

organised by NHP team members with

at Ham Lane and the Old Goods Yard

MBC Planning officers. Changes will

(south of the

need to be made to the plan and public

45

consultations will offer an opportunity

A joint initiative to fund the

for parishioners to study the reasons

installation costs between the LPC, A

for the changes and make their views

& A Barr Farms, and the Community

known.

Centre trustees, ensured the project was completed. An agreement was

We will endeavour to keep residents

entered that the amount received

informed of progress. The parish

from the feed in tariff would be

council have agreed to continue

divided equally between the Lenham

funding this initiative and working

Community Centre, St Edmunds Hall

with the team to finalise the plan in a

at Platts Heath and the Memorial Hall

timely manner. Cllr. Cockett applied

at Lenham Heath. We are pleased to

and successfully received a grant of

report that the amount received from

ÂŁ9000 towards the cost of engaging a

1st January 2016 to 31st December

consultant to take the plan forward.

2016 exceeded three thousand pounds,

We would like to take this opportunity

the Community Centre was

to thank the NHP team who have

repaid two thousand pounds (their

worked extremely hard to produce

initial investment) the remainder

a professional draft plan which is

being divided equally between the

a strong building block to the final

three halls. The agreement is for

edi-tion. Thank you also to the

twenty years, (the expected life span

parishioners who have supported us in

of the panels) so the halls can rely on

the past, we may be call-ing for your

payments being made quarterly to help

help and continued support soon!

with the running costs of providing vital community social assets. Thank

SOLAR PANELS

you to the Community Centre trustees who have taken the

A unilateral undertaking between

responsibility of the daily running and

the Lenham Parish Council and

maintenance of the

Lightsource, (the company responsible

installation.

for the installation of the Sandway

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS

solar farm) provided the panels at no cost to the parish, which were installed at the Community Centre.

The ongoing projects to enhance the

46

facilities in and around the square

PARISH COUNCIL LOGO

are gaining pace. The new finger posts was installed mid-January and

Cllr. Smith-Essex provided several

the site in the High Street for a new

choices of logo, the chosen design will

large litter bin agreed. Thank you to

be used as a letter heading and on the

County Councillor Jenny Whittle

web site. The new public signage in

who organised the funding from her

the car park and play parks will al-so

Members Grant allocation for the

use the logo. Other designs submitted

post and bin and to Cllr. Scrivens for

by parishioners will be used on the

overseeing the project.

Lenham tour-ism web-site currently being progressed by Cllr. Nye.

The village handyman will be refurbishing the bus stop opposite

VICE CHAIRMAN

the church. The roof will need minor repair, so if any local roof tilers could

Cllr. Walmsley was nominated at

sponsor the work, it would be much

the January parish council meeting

appreciated. The varnishing of the

to become the Vice Chairman, he

benches in the square and at the

will serve on both the Planning

Glebe pond along with the small fence

and Finance and General Purposes

at the pond will be repaired and the

Commit-tee. The Chairman Cllr.

information map replaced. A local tree

Greenwood is grateful for the support

surgeon will pollard the Lime trees in

a Vice Chairman can offer the council,

early February.

at what is a very busy time for members.

The village sign at the Maidstone Road triangle and the sign at the Old

WELCOME BACK

Ashford Road triangle, will be removed for repainting. The sign posts will be

We are pleased to welcome back to the

treated along with the raised flower

parish PCSO Dave Rowley who with

bed units. It is hoped the repainting of

Community Warden Martin Sherwood

the sign can be undertaken by a local

will be our local point of contact.

artist.

Thank you to PCSO John Boyd who previously supported the parish

47

council.

Maidstone Borough Council. The parish council will take responsibility

MISSING ARTIST

for the bins throughout the parish.

Seven bins were removed and only one

The tea towel depicting the favourite

comingled bin installed at Ham Lane

places in Lenham designed from

by the borough council. The Clerk

drawings produced by local children,

negotiated ten bins for the parish at no

who attended the Neighbourhood Plan

cost, we will reinstall the bins and the

public consultation day in October

extra bins will be placed in Sandway,

2015, has proved extremely popular

Platts Heath and Lenham Heath,

and can be purchased from the Village

subject to finding suitable positions.

Store or Len

Thank you to the parishioner who

Valley Newsagents. All the children

kindly collected the bins from

were thanked for their excellent work

Maidstone. The bins will be emptied

and presented with a tea towel; only

weekly, some dog owners have offered

one child could not be contacted,

to make a small donation to the

Mathew, when aged six, drew a picture

initial expense of providing posts and

of the play park and we used his

installation costs. If you would like to

drawing of the slide, on the tea towel.

contribute towards these unexpected

If you know who Mathew is or how

costs we would appreciate your

we can contact him to make sure he

donation. Please contact the Clerk.

receives his tea towel, please let the Clerk know.

Margo McFarlane 01622 859682 (Mon – Friday 9am to 1pm) hello@

DOG BINS

lenhamparish.org.uk

We are pleased to be able to replace the dog bins recently removed by

48

THE TITHE BARN AT LENHAM

EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY 2017 FRIDAY, 19TH TO MONDAY, 29TH MAY ART EXHIBITION PILGRIMS WAY ARTISTS SATURDAY, 17TH JUNE CITY OF ROCHESTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PART OF LENHAM FAMILY FESTIVAL SATURDAY, 24TH JUNE CHARITY MASKED BALL IN AID OF THE KATIE PIPER FOUNDATION SUNDAY, 9TH JULY (5PM) HAMLET THE CHANGELING THEATRE (OPEN AIR) SATURDAY, 23RD SEPTEMBER ANNUAL BARN DANCE FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S 49

50

L����� V������ S����

Lottery • Tobacco • Off-Licence • Groceries

For a warm welcome come and see us at the square!

Mon - Thurs 8am - 6 pm Fri & Sat 8am - 9pm Sunday 10am - 6pm lenhamvillagestore.co.uk

OSTEOPATH

Helping relieve symptoms of: Back,Hip & Neck Pain Arthritis Sciatica Frozen shoulder Headaches Fibromyalgia & More…

MR C. R. TEMPEST D.O. M.Ost. GOsC Registered Osteopath Late appointments available & Free parking

No.8 The Square,Lenham, ME17 2PQ

07749 980096 www.chris-tempest.com

51

30th February

believed it stole 11 days of their lives.

T

The Soviet Revolutionary Calendar oday, the month of February

February 30 existed from 1930–1931

has 28 days in common years

after the Soviet Union introduced a

and 29 days in leap years. But

revolutionary calendar in 1929. This

February 30 has been a real date at

calendar featured five-day weeks, 30-

least twice in history.

day months for every working month,

February 30 happened in Sweden in

and the remaining five or six days were

1712.

“monthless” holidays. The abolition of the seven-day week in favour of a

In 1700, Sweden, which included

five-day week was intended to improve

Finland at the time, planned to convert

industrial efficiency by avoiding the

from the Julian calendar to the

regular interruption of a non-working

Gregorian calendar. Therefore 1700,

day.

which should have been a leap year in the Julian calendar, was not a leap

However, the Gregorian calendar

year in Sweden. However, 1704 and

continued to be used in the Soviet

1708 became leap years by error. This

Union during this period. This is

left Sweden out of synchronisation

confirmed by successive dates found

with both the Julian and the Gregorian

in daily issues of Pravda, the official

calendars, so the country reverted

newspaper of the Communist Party,

back to the Julian calendar.

in which February had 28 days in

February 30, 1712, came into

1930 and 1931, in accordance with

existence in Sweden when the Julian

the Gregorian calendar. The Soviet

calendar was restored and 2 leap

revolutionary calendar was discarded

days were added that year. Sweden’s

as it was difficult to eliminate the

final conversion to the Gregorian

Sunday rest tradition. The original

calendar occurred in 1753, when an

seven-day week was restored in 1940.

11-day correction was applied so that

St Valentine

February 17 was succeeded by March 1 that year. Not everyone was pleased

Flowers, candy, red hearts and

with the calendar reform. Some people

52

romance. That’s what Valentine’s

about this. The idea of encouraging

day is all about, right? Well, maybe

them to marry within the Christian

not. The origin of this day for the

church was what Valentine was about.

expression of love really isn’t romantic

And he secretly married them because

at all -- at least not in the traditional

of the edict.”

sense. Father Frank O’Gara of Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin,

Valentine was eventually caught,

Ireland, tells the real story of the man

imprisoned and tortured for

behind the holiday -- St. Valentine.

performing marriage ceremonies

“He was a Roman Priest at a time

against command of Emperor Claudius

when there was an emperor called

the second. There are legends

Claudias who persecuted the church,”

surrounding Valentine’s actions while

Father O’Gara explains. “ He also had

in prison.

an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on

“One of the men who was to judge

the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers

him in line with the Roman law at the

fought better than married soldiers

time was a man called Asterius, whose

because married soldiers might be

daughter was blind. He was supposed

afraid of what might happen to them

to have prayed with and healed the

or their wives or families if they died

young girl with such astonishing

I think we must bear in mind that it

effect that Asterius himself became

was a very permissive society in which

Christian as a result.”

Valentine lived. Polygamy would have been much more popular than just one

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was

woman and one man living together.

sentenced to a three part execution

And yet some of them seemed to

of a beating, stoning, and finally

be attracted to Christian faith. But

decapitation all because of his stand

obviously the church thought that

for Christian marriage. The story goes

marriage was sacred between one

that the last words he wrote were in a

man and one woman for their life and

note to Asterius’ daughter. He inspired

that it was to be encouraged. And so

today’s romantic missives by signing it,

it immediately presented the problem

“from your Valentine.”

to the Christian church of what to do

53

The History of Saint Valentine’s Day

V

Lupercalia’. The festival of Lupercalia was celebrated to honor the Gods Lupercus and Faunus - the Roman God of Agriculture besides the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

alentine’s Day - the popular

An interesting custom was followed

festival of love and romances

in the Feast of Lupercalia to bring

traces its origin to ancient

together young boys and girls who

Roman festival and has not been

otherwise were strictly separated. On

created by card companies as some

the eve of the festival names of young

people believe it to be. There are

Roman girls were written on a slip of

various legends associated with the

paper and placed into jars. Each young

festival along with the belief that

man drew out a girl’s name from the

birds began to mate from this day.

jar and was paired with the girl for

Popularity of the Valentine’s Day

the duration of Lupercalia. Sometime

festival stems from the combined

pairing lasted for a year until next

effects of all these legends, beliefs

year’s celebration. Quite often, the

and of course the wish to glorify the

couple would fall in love with each

unparalleled feeling of love.

other and later marry. The custom lasted for a long time until people felt

Feast of Lupercalia

that the custom was un-Christian and Historians trace the origin of

that mates should be chosen by sight,

Valentine’s Day to ancient Roman

not luck.

Empire. It is said that in the Rome

Defiance by Saint Valentine

of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor

The pairing of young boys and girls

Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods

did set the mood of the Valentine’s

and Goddesses. The Romans also

Day Festival as we know today. But

regarded Juno as the Goddess

it was actually due to the efforts and

of Women and Marriage. On the

daring of a priest St Valentine that

following day, February 15th began

the festival got its name and clearer

the fertility festival called ‘Feast of

54

meaning. The story goes that during

By the Middle Ages, Valentine

the reign of Emperor Claudius II

assumed the image of heroic and

Rome was involved in several bloody

romantic figure amongst the masses

and unpopular campaigns. Claudius

in England and France. Later, when

found it tough to get soldiers and felt

Christianity spread through Rome,

the reason was men did not join army

the priests moved Lupercalia from

because they did not wish to leave

February 15 to February 14. Around

their wives and families. As a result

498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared

Claudius cancelled all marriages and

February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day to

engagements in Rome. A romantic at

honor the martyr Valentinus and to

heart priest of Rome Saint Valentine

end the pagan celebration.

defied Claudius’s unjustified order.

Beginning of Birds Mating Season

Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his

During the Middle Ages, people in

defiance was discovered, Valentine

England and France held a belief that

was brutally beaten and put to death

birds started to look for their mate

on February 14, about 270 AD. After

from February 14. This popular notion

his death Valentine was named a Saint.

further helped to link Valentine’s

According to another version of

Day - celebrated in the middle of the

legend Valentine was killed because

February, with love and romance.

he attempted to help Christians

Over the period of time, St Valentine

escape from the Roman prison as

became the patron saint of lovers and

they were being tortured and beaten

they began to celebrate Valentine’s

there. Yet another popular version of

Day as a day of romance by exchanging

the legend states that while in prison

love notes and simple gifts such as

Valentine or Valentinus fell in love

flower.

with jailer’s daughter who visited him during confinement. Before his death

Popularity of St Valentines Day

Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed

Valentine’s Day festival gradually grew

‘From your Valentine’. The expression

in popularity amongst the masses due

became quite popular amongst love

to the combined effect of all the above

struck and is still very much in vogue.

said reasons. To mark the day lovers

55

began to exchange love notes called

For you have touched my heart

‘Valentines’ with their sweethearts. In the beginning the trend was to send handmade cards but this was changed

Taken from http://www.

in the beginning of 19th century and

stvalentinesday.org/

mass-produced greeting cards caught the fancy of the people. In the course

Whose fault is it, anyway?

of time, Valentine’s day came to be

In a small town a businessman put

regarded as the festival that celebrates

in planning permission to build a

love and not just romantic love. Today,

nightclub complete with dancing girls.

Valentine’s Day cards are gifted to

The local church started a vigorous

teachers, parents, friends, siblings and

campaign to block it from opening.

sweethearts. Popularity of Valentine’s

The church launched a petition

Day has spread in countries across the

and held prayers in public. Work

seven continents and is still increasing

progressed, however, right up until

by the year.

the week before opening. Then one night a bolt of lightning strike hit the nightclub and it burned to the ground.

You’ve Touched My Heart

The church members were rather

You’ve given me a reason

smug after that, until the nightclub

For smiling once again,

owner sued them all -on the grounds

You’ve filled my life with peaceful

that they were responsible for the fire.

dreams

Loudly protesting their total non-

and you’ve become my closest friend.

involvement and innocence, the church members were all taken to court.

You’ve shared your heartfelt secrets

As the case began, the judge looked

And your trust you’ve given me,

over the paperwork and observed: “I

You showed me how to feel again

don’t know how I’m going to decide

To laugh, and love, and see.

this. It appears that we have a nightclub owner who believes in the

If life should end tomorrow

power of prayer, and an entire church

And from this world I should part,

congregation that doesn’t!”

I shall be forever young

56

Petrol

Let’s face it - English is a crazy language

An AA man answered the distress call

There is no egg in plant, nor ham in

of a motorist whose car had stopped.

hamburger; neither apple nor pine in

He made an examination and informed

pineapple. English muffins weren’t

him he was out of petrol. “Well, will it

invented in England or French fries in

hurt”, he asked, “if I drive it home with

France . Sweetmeats are candies while

the petrol tank empty?”

sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.

How to get children to eat more vegetables

We take English for granted but if we

Children and vegetables don’t

quicksand can work slowly, boxing

explore its paradoxes, we find that

always seem to get along. But if you

rings are square and a guinea pig is

encourage them to grow their own

neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

fruit and veg, you will have much

If teachers taught, why didn’t

better success.

preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats

The Natianal Trust poll of 1,000

vegetables, what does a humanitarian

children found that 42 percent of 8 to

eat? In what language do people

12 year-olds try to hide the vegetables

recite at a play and play at a recital or

under other food on their plates.

ship by truck and send cargo by ship

Almost a third throw them in the bin

or have noses that run and feet that

when their parents are not looking. A

smell? How can a slim chance and a

fifth feed greens to the family dog.

fat chance be the same, while a wise

But it seems that more than half of

man and a wise guy are opposites?

children would indeed risk actually

You have to marvel at the unique

eating a vegetable – if they had grown

lunacy of a language in which your

it themselves. And nearly three

house can burn up as it burns down, in

quarters of youngster would like to have their own growing space.

which you fill in a form by filling it out

So,

and in which an alarm goes off after

think about it this month. Spring is at

it’s been switched on. English was

hand!

invented by people, not computers and it reflects the creativity of the human

57

race, which, of course, is not a race at

flip their pancakes into the air before

all. That is why, when the stars are out,

crossing the finish line. Points are

they are visible, but when the lights

awarded for time, for number and

are out, they are invisible.

height of flips, and number of times the pancake turns over.

History of Pancake Day

It is believed that the tradition of pancake races was born out of women

Shrove Tuesday is part of the Christian

rushing to church to confess their sins

calendar which commemorates the eve

before the noon cut off time, clutching

of Lent (40 days and nights of fasting

their half finished pancakes.

and prayers before Easter).

Today, people tend to give up less vital

It is also known as Mardi Gras

dietary ingredients such as chocolate.

(literally “fat Tuesday” in French),

From bbc.co.uk

Carnival (from the Latin for “farewell to the flesh”), and Fasnacht (the

Dinner

Germanic “night of the fast”).

The word Shrove comes from the Old

Interviewer: “If you could have dinner

English word, Shrive - to confess one’s

with any person, living or dead, who

sins. Shrove Tuesday is a day where

would it be?”

one confesses their sins and asks God

Applicant: “The living one.”

for absolution.

Whose fault is it, anyway?

Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in many different ways around the world; the

In a small town a businessman put

Brazilians samba in Rio and the people

in planning permission to build a

of New Orleans throw their most

nightclub complete with dancing girls.

famous party of the year - Mardi Gras.

The local church started a vigorous

In England the day is also called

campaign to block it from opening.

Pancake Tuesday.

The church launched a petition

Eggs and butter were among food that

and held prayers in public. Work

used to be forbidden during Lent, so

progressed, however, right up until

they were often used up in pancakes.

the week before opening. Then one

Pancake races are also held where

night a bolt of lightning strike hit the

people must successfully toss and

58

nightclub and it burned to the ground.

arresting them.

The church members were rather

Then the local Vicar had an idea. With

smug after that, until the nightclub

the help of some take-away pizzas he

owner sued them all -on the grounds

lured the gang into his church one

that they were responsible for the fire.

Saturday evening and shut the door

Loudly protesting their total non-

on them. Early next morning he and

involvement and innocence, the church

the bishop went in, and together

members were all taken to court.

they baptised and confirmed the lot.

Several of the more difficult ones were

As the case began, the judge looked

even made to sign the electoral roll.

over the paperwork and observed: “I don’t know how I’m going to decide

The youths were then let out of the

this. It appears that we have a

church, and quickly departed. Now

nightclub owner who believes in the

full-fledged members of the Church

power of prayer, and an entire church

of England, they were only ever seen

congregation that doesn’t!”

again at Christmas and at Easter.

How to get rid of ... well, most people A few years ago a small village in the Cotswolds was plagued by a gang of youths. They came in on their motorbikes every weekend, and were everywhere, causing trouble.

A village meeting was held about how to get rid of them. The folk who used to go fox hunting were for luring them into a field and then chasing them off on horseback. The town’s solicitor was for beginning a legal action against them. The town’s policeman was for

59

Tanyards Farm

by Peter Bailey

(Planning application for 155 houses on farmland East of Lenham village?)

Tanyards Farm O’ Tanyards Farm!

Loss of your fields does Lenham harm.

Aspects from the North Down Cross, When once defiled; A total loss.

East of village, special land, Too sensitive to ‘out of hand’ Build houses for a ‘Local Plan’, Rejected by each Lenham man.

This planning application means Old Lenham’s left in smithereens!

Do WE now ‘give up the plot’ And hand ‘developers’ the lot?

Communities can stand so much!!

‘Localism’ views, as such, Can be ignored as planners push To meet the Country’s housing rush.

Fight this injustice as a team.

Demonstrate, petitions too, MP’s support, ‘objection’ stream, Rejecting this obnoxious brew!

60

Virgin Media

D

postcode.

o you have BT, SKY or Talk Talk for your broadband?

Select your address from the drop down menu and then, if you want to,

Do you have SKY TV or BT TV?

click on Register and fill in the online Have you thought about Virgin Media?

form.

Recently Virgin Media announced

The more people who register, the

that by 2019 they are planning to

more chance there is of Virgin Media

connect over 4 million homes and

including Lenham in their network

businesses. With the recent news of

expansion plans.

more properties being developed in the Lenham area it makes sense to

If you want to see what services Virgin

look at other providers for Broadband,

Media offer then go to:

Phone and TV. This could help the

http://www.virginmedia.com/shop/

current infrastructure (telegraph poles

bundles.html

and underground cabling) provided by BT by helping to reduce the amount

Hope this has been helpful and at the

of usage and could possibly speed up

very least given you food for thought

internet speeds.

Dave Clark So how can you find out if Virgin Media are planning to connect to Lenham?

Virgin Media do not publish a rollout schedule as such but you can register your interest on their website.

Simply go to https://www.virginmedia. com/cablemystreet and put in your

61

Prize Crossword

Across clues

Down clues

1. Feelings may be big news. (10) 6. Short moment could be dubious. (4) 9. Damn and blast these posers! (10) 10. Weapons returned to a room in the pub. (4) 12. Soldiers disease? Could be but often not. (12) 15. One in a high social position seen back in the outskirts of Crawley. How weird! (6) 16. Spanish girl tries on a change. (8) 18. Where an unbalanced squirrel might store food? I don’t think so. (8) 19. Say hello to the campers! (2,2,2) 21. 24 hours for a tree at the start of Lent. (3,9) 24. The reason Lyon keeps just. (4) 25. Exaggeration of tapestry work. (10) 26. A certain sounding author. (4) 27. Ron’s atomic explosion is vast. (10)

1. Put your foot in it. (4) 2. It is midday which way you look at it. (4) 3. Recorders do what switch board people do. (12) 4. Popular image I cherish initially. (6) 5. Agree then annoy. It is safe. (2,6) 7. Troubled RAF is under financial strain. Needs the help of this person. (4,6) 8. In addition chap goes head over heels through this one time country. (10) 11. It is a steamy process. (12) 13. Shoe covering corn to start with. Ours? Not right. It is shocking. (10) 14. By the sound of it America and allies did not succeed here in Germany. (10) 17. Big waves, but not of the farewell type. (8) 20. Greedy money lender certainly in the outskirts of Ulster. (6) 22. Word for part of the school year. (4) 23. Harmonise briefly. (4)

62

Last month’s winner!

Previous winner: Roger Evans of Lenham.

Please leave your completed crossword entry at Lenham Library on or before the 15th of the month.

and be listed on the site.

Visit www.lenhamfocus.co.uk.

Online Advertising The Lenham Focus has launched a new website. Advertisers can place adverts

Contact us for more details.

Volume 19 Edition 02 (February 2017) Circulation 2000

and not the publishers. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the magazine to ensure that they are correct and accurate at the time of printing and the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Copy Deadline:

5pm 7th of the preceding month. Please leave copy at 24 Maidstone Road, or contact us.

The publication of advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by the publishers. Authors of articles and advertisements in Focus take full responsibility to ensure they obtain any prior permission for us.

Focus is Distributed by Volunteers to: Lenham Village, Lenham Heath, Platts Heath, Sandway, West Street, Woodside Green and Warren Street.

For ‘Out of Town’ Readers Distribution:

The Focus can forward any complaint directly to an author of any article which a reader finds displeasing in order for them to respond directly. Every reader has the opportunity to a ‘right of reply’ to publish their view in the Focus as long as a name, committee group or organisation is named.

Lenham Community Centre, Chequers Fish Bar, Lenham Post Office, Len Valley Newsagents and Harrietsham Post Office.

Published by Lenham Focus

Lenham Focus is published by the Lenham Focus Team. Any opinions expressed are those of the contributors

63

London Marathon 2017 ‘Step Out For Sight Loss’ Please spare a few pounds to sponsor me for my first marathon, in aid of a worthwhile local charity.

All donations will be gratefully recieved.

KAB supports sight impaired people to live independent lives.

Small local organisations are the ones that now need our support more than ever. This is to assist all of the many and varied people in Kent who’s lives are made so much more challenging due to partial or total sight loss. KAB provides a huge range of help and support for people of all ages whose sight loss affects their daily lives.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Richie-Collett Text RCOL76 plus the amount (eg RCOL76£5) to 70070 Thank you - Richard Collett

kab.org.uk

Lenham Focus.indd 1

23/01/2017 21:45