Tips for teaching your kids financial skills
Teaching your children about money could increase their chances of a financially secure future. Yet explaining financial concepts in a simple and engaging manner isn’t always easy.
Here are some tips on how to bring money matters to life, no matter how old your child is.
1. Budgeting
Involve your children in your finances by going through your bank statements, explaining your spending and how you manage your account. Ask for their help in establishing where costs could be cut. Make it fun by getting them to design their own bank statement or account, and then chat about how they would use this.
2. Set a savings goal
Encourage your children to start saving towards something they want – such as a new game or toy. Ask them to calculate how much they will need to save each week or month, and for how long, to meet the cost. This could help to build a valuable savings habit that will potentially build their future wealth.
3. Lead by example
You could demonstrate the value of regular saving and investing by opening an account on their behalf.
For example, you can save up to a maximum of £9,000 into a Junior ISA in the 2024/25 tax year to benefit from taxefficient interest and growth. You can demonstrate that the sooner you start, the bigger the potential pot your child will have when they reach age 18.
A Junior Investment ISA could help you explain the basics of investing, such as the relationship between risk and reward. Once they reach age 18, it will automatically convert to an adult Investment ISA.
4. Give jobs a reward
Boost your child’s pocket money if they do chores around the home, such as tidying, ironing or cleaning the kitchen. This will provide money that can be put towards their savings goal.
The harder they work, the greater the rewards – and the sense of achievement.
5. Pay bonuses – and consider deductions
If tasks are completed without prompting, pay a small bonus. Conversely, if tasks aren’t completed successfully, consider a deduction. Consider a monthly statement to show their earnings, and how these have accumulated.
6. Free online resources
There are plenty of free online resources. For example, if your children are a little older, the Open University offers a course on managing money for young adults, which can be done at home.
This can be used for the Duke of Edinburgh Award skills development.
There are also lots of games and apps that can help you teach your children about money, including apps that take the hassle out of paying and tracking pocket money.
We live and work local to you. We would be delighted to help you and your family achieve financial clarity and stability.
Louise Shaw Investment Manager Divisional Director E: louise.shaw@brewin.co.uk
Evelyn Iriajen Financial Adviser Assistant Director E: evelyn.iriajen@brewin.co.uk
RBC Brewin Dolphin, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NU T: 01892 739580 W: brewin.co.uk/royal-tunbridge-wells
This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.
local happenings
Charity bake sale
done to eight-year-old
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The bake sale was all Iona’s idea, and she enlisted the help of her cousins to organise it. They raised over £200 for Hospice in the Weald and Cancer Research UK and had a terrific turnout. The picture shows them with all the goodies they made themselves with some help from their Grandmas!
Freddie’s star role
A young Langton Green resident has been filming a new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies in Malaysia this Autumn. Freddie will play the part of Percival in the drama series. His parents, Daren Lee and Carrie Lee Grey, told us, “Freddie's predisposition for acting has always been present. He used to insist on having his mother draw a lightening scar on his forehead to get into character as Harry Potter! Soon after recording his Harry Potter playtime and days out for family memories, his videos took on a life of their own with his You Tube channel Little Adventures in Potterland. Freddie's everpresent passion for performing led him into attending dance with Associates Dance School who have been amazing with him.” Earlier this year Freddie signed with the prestigious agent Sylvia Young. His journey into professional acting led him through a four stage audition process and nationwide competition to being o ered the role of Percival in Lord of the Flies. “Freddie has been loving his experience of filming in Malaysia and, as a family, we are so proud of his achievement and how he is developing as a person,” his parents tell us. Clearly Freddie will be a name to watch – it will be exciting to see him when the drama reaches our screens.
Langton Life online at
Langton
Cover photo: Langton Green Football Club, page 4.
Well
Iona Vincent,
her cousins Annabel Milton aged twelve and Eva Milton aged nine, who held
bake sale outside Iona’s house in Langton Green at the beginning of September. The cousins
live in Langton Green.
local happenings
Starling success – girls’ football in Langton Green Meet Langton the Lion at Subbuteo Club
It is great to hear from coach Dave Ling about the success of the girls’ football teams he coaches at Langton Green Football Club. “I run a team of U8 girls that was set up last year. I trained them when they were U5s and then picked it up again last year. We have gone from an initial team of six to over fourteen regular players, and interest is continuing to grow.”
The girls played for the first time o cially in the Langton Fiesta over the summer. “We’ve broken new ground in girl’s football with our U7s Starlings and have successfully developed the squad over the last 10 months,” says Dave, who is clearly very proud of their progress. “The girls have consistently shown dedication and commitment, playing in all weathers, and putting 100% e ort into every training session and match they play. Highlights last season included wins against Chipstead and Otford, where the Starlings were victorious over four competitive matches. Competing in the Langton Green Fiesta, they played with positive team spirit and showed that they are a footballing force to be reckoned with; football is not just for boys!”
As the season began, he told me there is space for more girls to join as the squad continues to grow. “This weekend, one of our U8 teams, the Starlings, kicked o their season with a commanding win over visitors Kings Hill FC. The girls played well as a team, supporting one another, and showed real tenacity when winning the ball back and striking on goal. An outstanding demonstration of what dedication and hard work can achieve; all their e ort in training last season is paying o !”
We have a great squad of players, and they are a pleasure to work with and it’s a privilege to see how they are all developing as players.
If anyone is interested in joining our U8s squad (Yr3), please contact me: Dave Ling 07540 663 910 david.lgfc@outlook.com
They think it’s all over ... the World Cup has been and gone, but there’s still a lot happening this Autumn to celebrate Langton as the birthplace of Subbuteo.
The Langton Green Subbuteo Club will be a brand-new, inclusive club for everyone aged 10 and over, to enjoy playing Subbuteo. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, you will be welcome. A collaboration between Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, local schools and Kent Invicta Table Football Club, plans for the Langton Green Subbuteo Club are described by Alan Lee, Chairman of the English Subbuteo Association as “the biggest youth development programme in England in recent years, ensuring the continuation of the Subbuteo legacy in Kent”.
Langton the Lion, the star of the World Cup features on the new club’s logo. The club will launch with a taster session at The Amelia on Saturday 23 November from 10am to 12pm and meet regularly from then on.
During Autumn weekends you can enjoy a flickabout on Subbuteo pitches in the Activity Space on the first floor of The Amelia Scott – and the main exhibition will be open for visitors until 5 January 2025.
The exhibition includes the voices of Subbuteo factory workers, families of outworkers and mad-keen players. These were collected over the past year or so by The Amelia’s oral history project, for which I volunteer. Talking to factory workers, outworkers and fanatical players was huge fun and very positive – nobody has a bad memory of Subbuteo!
The Amelia is dedicated to building the most comprehensive collection in the country around Subbuteo. Local social history is an important part of that. If you’d like to share your Subbuteo experiences, please come to The Amelia between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 23 November so that we can record your memories for future generations. If you have any photos, objects or written stories connected with Subbuteo, we would love to see you then as well.
For more details of these events and activities, contact info@theamelia.co.uk.
Here at Langton Life, we always say this is your village, and your magazine. We try really hard to reflect the community, and are always happy to hear from our readers. Do you have an idea, feedback, news, something to share? Let us know. Get in touch with me at editor@langtonlife.com
Jayne Sharratt Editor
Dearest Readers
I think it is about time I updated you on what has been happening with the Village Society as it enters its penultimate season of 2024.
Last season saw the return of Fete On The Green, we loved that you all came and spent your money as it has enabled us to support others in the village including but not limited to:
o Thrive Langton - enabling them to provide workshops and events at the Community Hub and supporting the fabulously fruitful community garden.
o All Saints Church - enabling community groups and activities to take place in the church grounds and in Grace Space.
o Langton Green Primary School – contributing towards their fundraising events.
o Langton knitting and crochet group – contributing towards materials for their fabulous displays and installations.
o Langton Ladybirds – contributing towards the cost of the amazing speakers who attend their monthly meetings.
o Langton Green Brownies – contributing towards outings and activities.
o Little Saints – contributing towards equipment and activities at Langton Green’s parent and child group.
o Bursaries - contributing towards young people’s educational experiences and initiatives.
o Langton Life – supporting with advertising in our fabulous village magazine.
o Village beautification – contributing towards hanging baskets, spring bulbs and planters and litter picks.
Last but not least readers we continue to support the Community Hub. Operating since January this year following the formation of a Community Interest Company, and continuing to be a success running alongside the Pavilion Café. At the Hub you will find, monthly community lunches for our baby boomers, classes for young people with disabilities, art classes for all ages, music and singing classes for parents and their young children, swap and share bookshelf and foodbank available for all, first aid classes and specialist workshops, end of term events and the forthcoming Christmas Fayre. This author could go on as there are so many activities taking place in this great space due to the continued support of the Village Society.
If you have read this and would like to know more about the Village Society please do get in contact, we would love to hear from you:
Yours Truly
local happenings
Three bronze medals in Fencing for Eilidh
This summer Langton Green resident Eilidh Paterson won three bronze medals at the Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in New Zealand. I recently met up with the fifteenyear-old and her mum Valerie, who was also a fencer.
“It’s quite a unique sport,” Eilidh tells me, when I ask about what she likes about it. “It’s unpredictable. You can go into a competition last and redeem yourself. It’s hard to predict who is going to come first, especially at the level I’m at. It’s a one-on-one sport and so you have to be very adaptive to your opponent, and I like that variation. There are also team aspects, you spend a lot of time encouraging and supporting your friends.”
Eilidh, who represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Championships, started fencing when she was nine, when she and her family moved from Scotland to Tunbridge Wells. Six years later, fencing has become a big part of Eilidh’s life – when we meet, she has just returned from a training camp in Hungary and had four more trips planned before Christmas. “I’m lucky enough to get to go there and be with friends I’ve made. The coaching style is di erent in every country – for example there’s a French style, an Italian style. We were coached by the current world champion’s coach, so it was a great opportunity for me to learn and improve.”
What was it like being in New Zealand for the Commonwealth Championships, I ask? “I was there for three weeks,” she tells me. “It took a week to get used to the time di erence, and then there were two weeks of actual fencing. It was fascinating to learn about nutrition, training at local schools, having to adapt to doing a lot of fencing, coming o to rest and refuel, then going back on. Overall, it was a really nice experience.” It was exciting too. “I went on with a nine-point deficit, made up nine points and then with everyone screaming for me I got the last point in. I’d never been on a podium like that before, with it being live streamed to local channels and flags from each country and the winner’s national anthem being played. It made all the work feel validated, and like I was properly representing a country, so I felt really proud of myself in that moment.” Her mum is clearly very proud as well. “She had some big moments. I know how much work she puts into it,” Valerie says.
Eilidh fences at Royal Tunbridge Wells Fencing Club. I wonder what she would say to anyone who wanted to give the sport a try. “It’s a really nice sport, good for keeping fit and friendship.” she says. “The skills that come with it are so valuable in life – resilience, keeping going, picking yourself up, keeping your head in the game. There’s a nice social side to fencing too. Try a beginner class at a local fencing club – there’s no age or body type for fencing, people can progress incredibly whether they start as an adult or a small child, it’s very inclusive in that way.”
Eilidh balances her sport alongside schoolwork, as she enters her GCSE year at TWGGS. What are her hopes for the future, I ask? “Fencing isn’t a career path, there isn’t the funding in the sport for that,” she admits. “But my dream is to be the best in Britain – at one point I was second in my age group. I’d dream of going to the Olympics. At the moment I’m trying to qualify for the GB under 17 squad for the European Championships in February 2025.”
The future looks bright for Eilidh, and we wish her all the best and look forward to seeing her progress.
Jayne Sharratt
Does Langton Green need a Talk Club?
Talk Club is a charity set up by Ben Akers, director of the film ‘Steve’ a documentary about the death by suicide of his childhood friend, and it aims to help men talk about their mental health, and ‘get mentally fit, mentally strong.’ Langton Green resident James Marples is keen to set up a Talk Club in Langton Green, and we asked him to tell us more.
“I volunteer with Thrive Langton, and we first showed the film ‘Steve’ in May this year. It's a sensitive subject, so we weren’t sure if there would be an appetite to view it,” James tells me. The team at Thrive wanted to do it because the topic of mental health is important. “Men can kick the subject under the carpet and try to be stoical. We were therefore thrilled that ten people (seven men, three women) came to watch the film. Their response was overwhelmingly positive - the subject was beautifully and thoughtfully handled with lots of positive take-outs, including creative and nonjudgemental ways to approach people you worry might be struggling.”
Following requests, the Thrive team showed the film again in September to a further seven people, again with a positive response. “They said it was a heart-warming look at emotional health and they were grateful to be given the chance to talk about challenging issues. Most felt that, as a community, we can be much better at supporting our most vulnerable neighbours through their di cult times.” James says. “The film has shown us there is an audience for this content, but we want these initiatives to reach a wider audience. We plan to show Ben’s follow up film
“Our Kids, our lives,” at a later date.” James wants to do more. “I have trained as a Facilitator, or ‘Captain’, with a view to creating our own Talk Club here in the Langton Green community. The first meeting will be on 12th November in Langton Pavilion Community Hub.. It will probably run as a monthly session (on a weekday evening) in the Langton Green Pavilion Community Hub.” So what happens at Talk Club? “Mental health is just like physical health, but for your brain,” says the Talk Club leaflet. “That’s why we say it is like a gym session, where you can become mentally stronger from just talking about your worries. It’s all based around asking ‘how are you? Out of 10?’ It’s regular blokes talking about their stresses and worries. But it’s also taking time to think about what we are grateful for and sharing how we are going to look after ourselves. It’s a positive safe space to be open and be listened to.”
If you are interested, you can contact James at james.marples1@ btinternet.com
Village hall AGM
The Trustees of the Langton Green Village Hall announce the AGM for the charity for 2023-24 will be held on Thursday 14 November at 7.30pm.
Interested local residents are welcome to attend but please email secretary@langtongreenvillagehall.org.uk just to advise us that you plan to attend the event. Further information can then be provided to you. Refreshments will be served.
It takes a village
It takes a village to raise a child, so the saying goes. We are fortunate to live in a village – but sometimes the early parenting year are ones when we move house, or feel isolated, so it can be good to be reminded that there is a community out there. Whether you need support or would just like a cup of tea and a chat, here are some ideas.
Little Saints’ Parent and Toddler Group, Tuesday mornings during term time 9-11am, All Saints’ Church hall. Run by Jess Owens, this is a friendly inclusive group for parents and carers of pre-schoolers and babies, with toys, cake and cups of tea. Drop in, no need to book. Contact Jess at jess.am@hotmail.co.uk
Playtime at St Paul’s Parent and Toddler Group, Wednesday mornings 9-11am, St Paul’s Church Centre Hall (next to the Pharmacy). Join us for a play, cup of tea and chat, with storytime and songs at the end. All parents and carers of babies and toddlers welcome. Contact Liz at 07840 837968 or Jayne on 07532 339434 for more information.
Baby Umbrella is a charity that helps with breast feeding and early parenting support. They run a session from 9.30am on a Monday morning at Christ Church on Tunbridge Wells High Street where parents can either book in for specialist support or drop in to meet other parents and babies. Find out more about what the charity o ers at www.babyumbrella.org.uk
Home-Start supports families with trained volunteers, who visit each week to provide help and support – whether that is to a new family with a first baby, or family of multiples who just need an extra pair of hands; a parent who is struggling with anxiety or postnatal depression; families with children with complex needs; families with di cult housing or financial issues; bereaved families or those facing health issues themselves, or with their children. We may not be able to solve every problem or issue, but sometimes just knowing that once a week a friendly face is visiting, is enough to provide comfort, build confidence and alleviate anxiety.
We receive referrals from midwives, community nurses, health visitors, early help workers, teachers and preschools – or from families themselves who feel that they require a bit of extra support.
Finally, if you are further on in your parenting journey and would like to give something back, Home-Start South West Kent are always looking for new volunteers, who must have had parenting experience, to join our seventy strong team. If you would like to know more about how you can volunteer with us, please visit the Home-Start South West Kent website at www.home-startswk.org.uk or contact Sarah Jarvis, our scheme manager at sarah.jarvis@home-startswk.org.uk for further information.
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A postcard for Ann Collins
When local resident Ann Collins looked through a copy of our sister magazine Rusthall Life a few months ago, she had a surprise when she looked at the old postcards of Rusthall Common. There were two boys in the picture of The Old Kitchen or Sweeps’ Caves, in Happy Valley – one of them was Ann’s brother Roger, and the other her cousin Frank. We went to visit her to talk about her memories of the time when the photograph was taken.
“I grew up in Rusthall,” Ann tells me. “My brother Roger and I, and my three cousins, were more or less all raised by our grandparents in St Paul’s Street in Rusthall, because our parents were busy in the war, and my mother died when I was quite young. My grandfather was a member of Rusthall Club, that’s where I learnt to dance. We were all very close as cousins, we ran loose as children and had the run of the Commons. It was beautiful – a nice childhood, until my father remarried, and we went to live in Norfolk.” Ann remembers the Kindertransport refugee children who used to live at The Beacon, and sat next to one of them, Helen Wolf. It was a pleasure to talk to Ann about her memories of the Commons and local areas.
If music be the food of love, sing on!
Langton Green’s talented singer Abby Page provided an evening of Purcell at All Saints' Church on the evening of the 10th of September, covering some of Purcell's most famous songs and arias including 'Music for A While' and 'Dido's Lament'. It was a wonderful thirty minute concert accompanied by Patrick Glencross on piano. Abby said, “It’s the second concert I’ve done in aid of Thrive Langton, and I’m glad Peppie Cornelius was able to come along representing Thrive. It was an enjoyable evening.” Abby hopes to perform a concert each month at the church from January 2025 to provide regular music concerts for the village. She is also hoping to arrange a small Christmas concert in early December so keep your eyes peeled for news on this.
A look back at old Langton Green
Have you ever wondered what Langton Green was like in years gone by? These old postcards give us a glimpse, for the rest we will have to use our imaginations.
Langton Road
New Town Langton Langton Green
The Village Green, Langton Green
Langton Green General Stores
Speldhurst Road
The New Inn Langton Green
Holmewood House School
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3G Sports pitch application
In January of this year, Langton Green Community Sports Association submitted a planning application for a 3G all-weather sports pitch to be installed in the village between the former Ashurst Place Nursing Home and the recreation ground football. Access would be from the bottom of the Langton Green Village Hall car park, across the field on new paths.
This application was supported by many of the Sports Association supporters, local and otherwise, who welcomed the proposal to enable football to be played all year round and save parents and children from driving to training at 3G pitches around the town, with funding for the new facilities coming from the Football Association. Many other residents objected on the grounds of the potential for an increase in tra c with related issues; light and noise pollution impacting on wildlife habitats and residential properties; drainage concerns; removal of mature trees and the potential environmental and health issues relating to the rubber crumb widely used on 3G sports pitches.
Speldhurst Parish Council objected to the proposal at their Full Council meeting held in March, and this decision was followed by a planning meeting held by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Planning Committee in September, where the application was refused by a majority of 9 to 2. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council refused the application for the following six reasons;
1. The proposal amounts to inappropriate development which would fail to preserve the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt and conflicts with the purposes of including land within it. There are not considered to be very special circumstances; which clearly outweigh the harm. It is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, Core Policy 2 of the Tunbridge Wells Core Strategy 2010 as well as saved Policy MGB1 of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan 2006 and emerging policy STR9 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
2. The development would be harmful to the character and appearance of the High Weald National Landscape and have more than a minimal impact on the landscape character of the locality. The proposal is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, saved Policies LBD1, EN1 and EN25 of
the Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan 2006, Core Policies 4 and 14 of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Core Strategy 2010, the aims and objectives of the Borough Landscape Character Area Assessment 2017 and emerging policies STR8, EN1, EN8, EN12, EN18 and EN19 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
3. The application fails to demonstrate that the proposal would avoid harm to species (both within the development site and adjacent Local Wildlife Site). There is also insu cient evidence to demonstrate that the proposal results in a net gain in biodiversity or can avoid a net loss. The proposal is thus contrary to Paragraph 180 the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, Core Policy 4 of the Tunbridge Wells Core Strategy 2010 and emerging policies OSSR2, EN1, EN8, EN9 and EN10 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
4. The application fails to demonstrate that the proposal would avoid harm to protected species (both within the development site and adjacent Local Wildlife Site). There is also insu cient evidence to demonstrate that the proposal results in a net gain in biodiversity or can avoid a net loss. The proposal is thus contrary to Paragraph 180 the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, Core Policy 4 of the Tunbridge Wells Core Strategy 2010 and emerging policies OSSR2, EN1, EN8, EN9 and EN10 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
5. The proposal would lead to loss of trees which are protected by a provisional Tree Preservation Order. There is not considered to be su cient need for, or resulting benefits from the proposal that clearly outweigh the potential loss of the trees and their associated amenity value. The proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, saved policies LBD1 and EN13 of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan 2006 and emerging policy EN12 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
6. There is insu cient evidence to demonstrate that the development can incorporate a sustainable drainage system, or that such a system can meet minimum operational standards. The proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, saved policy EN16 of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan 2006 and emerging policy EN26 of the Submission Local Plan (2021).
You can read the plans, comments, committee report pack and decision notice in full on the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website under application 24/00235/FULL
local happenings
Crochet circle
The Crochet and chat group who meet at All Saints’ Church Hall continues to thrive and produce wonderful blankets, as well as banners and poppy installations for Remembrance Day.
Irene Smith tells us, “We know in these economic times some people in Langton Green are struggling with their bills and as they say, "can't heat and eat" in the cold winter months. Our crochet group are happy to make some blankets if anyone would like one. We made twenty-five for Ashurst Lodge last year and fifteen for Rusthall Lodge. You can get in touch with me privately - Irene Smith 07771758734 If anyone has any double knit wool of any colour we would be very grateful. It can be left in the church or I can collect it.”
The photographs show how wonderful these blankets are! Pictured are Nancy Ringrose, Sue Humphries, Irene Smith and Grace Howorth. “As you can see we have lots of fun,” says Saskia Howorth, who sent the photograph.
local council NEWS from Speldhurst Parish Council
3G ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCH AT
LANGTON GREEN
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) Planning Committee refused this planning application by a majority of 9 to 2 at their meeting on the evening of 11th September in Tunbridge Wells Town Hall. Before the meeting, the Parish Council agreed they would respect the Planning Authority's decision and agreed with the Trustees of Langton Green Community Sports Association (LGCSA) to collaborate to manage the Pavilion and recreation ground in a way that maximises benefit for everyone. You can watch a recording of the meeting here: https://tunbridgewells.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
LEN STRIKES AGAIN
Our Groundsman, Len, has once again been out and about in the parish tidying up, cleaning signs, bins and bollards, repairing fences, and cutting back vegetation to make sure the new school year starts with everyone able to walk to school and enjoy the local facilities safely. He has also been busy sprucing up the pavilion at Langton Green Recreation Ground ready for the football season, and the re-opening of Langton Green Community Hub and Pavilion Café after their summer break. We know the community hub are looking forward to welcoming friends old and new to get involved in their inviting list of events for the whole community to enjoy. Do get in touch with them by emailing communityhub@ langtonpavilion.com to find out how you can be involved.
And whilst visiting Langton Green Recreation Ground, don’t forget that you can now charge your electric car – we have 2 EV charging bays ready and waiting for you. Why not pop into the café at the Pavilion whilst your car is on charge and enjoy a delicious co ee and cake or lunch whilst you meet friends or just relax and enjoy the facilities?
SIGN UP FOR NEWS ALERTS ON OUR WEBSITE
The sta and councillors at Speldhurst Parish Council work hard to try and make the parish an enjoyable place in which to live and work. We often post notices such as local road closures and updates on things we think you might be interested in on our website and Facebook page. Do sign up to our news alerts to make sure you’re kept up to date by visiting https://www.speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk/
(we take care not to bombard residents with unnecessary information!).
Additionally, you can sign up for alerts from One Network who publicise any road closures in your immediate area https://one.network/uk
SpeldhurstParishCouncil
clerk@speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk
www.speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A DOG POO FAIRY!
It’s an old saying but it’s unfortunately still very true. We’ve had an increase in reports of dog mess in public places. Please keep an eye on your four-legged friends and clear up after them wherever you go. Thank you.
PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY – COULD IT BE YOU?
And finally, are you interested in getting involved in your local community? Do you want to have your say on how we tackle local environmental issues, the increase in air tra c, problems with our local roads, speeding in the parish and planning applications to name but a few things the parish council gets involved in and you could too? We currently have a vacancy for a parish councillor whose role would be to volunteer a few hours a week to help action local change in areas they are particularly interested in.
If you would like a chat to discuss what the role would involve with absolutely no commitment, please get in contact in the first place with our Clerk, Katie Neve (contact details at the end of the article).
PUBLIC MEETINGS – EVERYONE WELCOME
Full Council: 7.30 pm, Monday 7th October, Ashurst Village Hall
Full Council: 7.30 pm, Monday 4th November, Langton Green Village Hall
THE COUNCIL OFFICE AND HOW TO CONTACT US
If you’d like to contact the parish council, call the Clerk, Katie Neve on 01892 862927/07760 769513 or email clerk@speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk
For helpful information about Speldhurst Parish Council, and to sign up for news alerts, visit www.speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook as ‘Speldhurst Parish Council’.
Speldhurst parish covers the villages of Ashurst, Langton Green, Old Groombridge and Speldhurst. The Councillors representing these villages are:
Paul Curry (Chair); Katrina Lyle (Vice-Chair); Hugh Cleaver; Caroline Davies; Jade Dickens; Richard Ellery; Rebecca Leach; Ian Muress; Simon Norton; Alan Rowe; Domenico Tarricone; John Turner
local happenings
Autumn sunshine
Thank you to Langton Life reader Adriana Capadose, who sent us this beautiful photograph of the sunshine filtering through the trees in Hurst Woods.
Rusthall Repair Cafe
The next Rusthall Repair Cafe will be on Saturday 12th October from 11pm1pm (although if there are customers there they will keep going until 2pm). They serve tea, co ee and cake, and their volunteer experts can help the circular economy by breathing new life back into broken things. If you have something you would like fixed, do come along to Sunnyside Hall on Rusthall Road in Rusthall.
Nicci fundraises for Cancer Research
Langton Green resident Nicci Levy has been fundraising for the charity Cancer Research this Autumn through a ‘sponsored plank’. Nicci told me in September, “I am halfway through a month of daily two minute planks to raise money for Cancer Research. I know I am no Spencer Matthews, but I have increased my planking time since I started, the longest plank being 6.11 minutes! So if that impresses you at all please do go to my page and donate, any donations have a hugely encouraging impact and add to my determination to increase my plank capacity as well as to raise money for life-saving research.”
Nicci’s Just Giving page can be found at https://fundraise. cancerresearchuk.org/page/niccis-giving-page-36
Local resident pleased with repairs to his family heirloom clock
Subbuteo World Cup
The Subbuteo World Cup took place in Tunbridge Wells between Friday 20th September and Sunday 22nd September. The event celebrated the birth place of Subbuteo, which was of course, Langton Green.
At the time of going to press, the first day of action had just kicked o in Royal Victoria Place, with fifteen countries competing. There was an air of excitement and camaraderie, and everyone was happy to have their photograph taken for Langton Life.
John Christopher representing England and Matt Rowley representing Wales
William Magnier and Renato Pinheiro from Cork, representing Ireland
local church
News from All Saints’ Church
Well, the weather has definitely showed us that the seasons have changed. I had hoped that by the time you read this we would have been one step closer to having a new incumbent for our four churches. Our first run of adverts in the Church Times and the online system has unfortunately not proved useful so we begin again with another advertisement run in October in the hope that this time the right priest will read the ad and be enthused to apply for the position.
The Vicarage has now been placed with Savills Estate Agency so that in the near future it can be rented out for 12 months. This is very positive as it means that we as a church are no longer responsible for it. We have a garden maintenance company coming to clear and tidy the Vicarage garden on the 2nd November. I met with Dan to confirm the work at the end of August and while it has taken considerable time due to the busy schedule of the company, I am delighted that it will soon be undertaken. When we do get a new incumbent, they will live in the Speldhurst Rectory, rather than the Langton Green Vicarage.
The church is always busy, and autumn time is no exception. There are a lot of important community festivals happening soon too. Harvest festival on Sunday 13th October, a great time to support our local Nourish larder with tinned goods and long-life foods amongst other things. Then we have Remembrance Sunday, which is so important in our war-torn world, a chance to reflect on how incredibly fortunate we are to live our lives in this country, the way we do, due to the sacrifice of so many, never to be forgotten. In September we took part in the annual Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride event. Chris and Matthew Gathern (both on the PCC for church) managed to visit 16 churches in and around Tunbridge Wells on their
walk. I am very pleased that even though we are a small church and village in comparison to many we still managed to meet and greet, o ering refreshments to our visitors on the day, sadly there are many churches who cannot do so due to lack of volunteers.
As we start to plan for our Christmas services, it is a reminder of how the wheel of life turns and the seasons change. Advent is a time of hoping and waiting for the Christ Child and this year we are also hoping and waiting on a new incumbent, but we can do so knowing that our church is continuing to o er services and events as we always have done, with positivity, faith and love.
Sally-Anne Gathern Church Warden
Property Watch
Langton Road
Langton Green General Stores
Speldhurst Road
Langton Road, Langton Green. £2,000,000. Five bedrooms and three bathrooms, part of the former home of Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, and substantially re-modelled in 1925.
Dornden Drive, Langton Green. £1,650,000. Substantial six bedroom family home with a three storey vaulted hallway.
Langton Road, Langton Green. £1,675,000. This four-bedroom detached house is converted from the former school house, and lies next to All Saints’ Church.
Dornden Farmhouse, Langton Green. £1,450,000. Dating from 1820, this four bedroom home has an idyllic countryside setting.
Langton Green Village Hall
You
langtongreenvillagehall@outlook.com
471147
HENRY PAUL FUNERALS
Allotment Society
Simon Heller 077112 24053
Brownies
Sally-Ann Gathern 822261
Church (admin)
Sally-Ann Gathern 822261
Emma Stevens 861213
Church Hall Bookings
Jacqui Avery jacqui.avery@btinternet.com
Friends of All Saints' Church
Jenny Greenaway 01342 850727
Hospice Link / Langton Ladybirds
Daphne Streeter 863753
Langton Green Cricket Club
James Marples 07966 131471 langtongreencc@gmail.com www.langtongreen.play-cricket.com/home
Langton Green Allotments
Chris Pullen 07931 311925
Langton Green Car Club
Ed Langridge 862006
edlangridge@yahoo.co.uk
Langton Life Editor
Jayne Sharratt 07532 339434
Langton Life Distribution
John Preston 07964 897049
Little Saints Parent and Toddler Group, All Saints’ Church Hall
Cordelia.nevill@gmail.com
Mothers’ Union
Penny Woodford 862562
Netball
Laura Kerr-Sheppard 07718 333813
Nursery School
Nikki Lanchester 01892 862943
Parish Clerk
Katie Neve 862927
clerk@speldhurstparishcouncil.gov.uk PCSO
www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/ Rainbows
Sunday School
Sally-Ann Gathern 822261
Village Hall Bookings
Adrian Moss www.langtongreenvillagehall.org.uk LGV committee
langtonfete@gmail.com
local happenings
Community lunch
On a sunny day in mid-September, Langton Green residents came together to eat a delicious home cooked two course lunch with wine at the Pavilion Hub. The Community lunches are regularly organised by Emma Howden and Mark Gamble with a team of volunteers. September’s lunch was cannelloni, salad and garlic bread, followed by lemon meringue pavlova and tea or co ee. Many of those who come are from groups like the Langton Ladybirds, but everyone is welcome to join in. It was clear from the conversations on the tables that the lunch was much appreciated, not just because it was delicious, but because it’s an opportunity to meet and be sociable. In the kitchen, they were busy serving, clearing away and washing up, as well as planning the menu for the next few months. The next community lunch will be on Monday 21st October and anyone who would like to come can get more information from Emma at langtonpavilioncafe@ gmail.com
Langton Ladybirds Autumn schedule
It was lovely to meet some members of the Langton Ladies group recently at the Community Lunch. They told me how their group was thriving, with lots of members and enjoyable meetings. They formed when the Langton Ladies and Women’s Institute joined forces, to make something new that worked for them, and they tell me that their speakers are always fascinating! Meetings are in the Langton Green Village Hall. Coming up, they have screenwriter Sam Vincent talking about his life as a writer and tv producer on 10th October, Janie Ramsey with a talk called ‘Another job lot!’ on 14th November, and a Christmas event on 12th December. If you would like to find out more, contact Daphne Streeter on daphne.streeter@ hotmail.co.uk or telephone 01892 863753
Junior’s
bike update and
QR code
Young Langton Green resident Junior was excited to be featured in the last issue of Langton Life, in an article that detailed his mum’s fundraising e orts to get him a new bike that would enable him to go cycling with his sister. Junior’s mum, Nette, said, “If we can raise the money needed for the bike, it would make such a di erence to him. I’m so thankful to the Langton Life readers who got in touch with me and donated some funds towards the bike. Some people said that it would be helpful to have a QR code, so here is one!” The bike will be specially adapted to Junior’s disabilities – it costs £10,000 and the family have raised just over £2000 so far.
