Life In Orpington March 2019

LIVE, LOVE, LIFE... LOCALLY

FREE

ISSUE 1 - MARCH 2019

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UN IDE IN & ARO U G N O 'S T A SENTIAL WH

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COMMUNITY NEWS NOW OPEN in Locksbottom & Hayes www.tharathai.co.uk see page 39

MOTHER'S DAY

SHOPPING

LIFE HACKS

WIN...

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A FAMILY TICKET FOR 4 TO VUE BROMLEY A FAMILY GAMES BUNDLE WORTH OVER £100

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A HUGE WELCOME to the very first issue of Life In Orpington! ...your local community magazine that has something to suit all tastes

Nicky Lauretta

CONTENTS Life In Orpington is brought to you by two fun-loving parents. We love our town and what it offers – and what better way of celebrating the town’s community than by launching a new magazine? You can read more about us on page 32.

We deliver to 7,000 households and businesses in and around Orpington every month. You’ll also be able to pick up copies in places like coffee shops, train stations, supermarkets, libraries etc… and the best news is, it’s free!

For those who don’t receive a copy through their letterbox, you’ll be able to read Life In Orpington online at www.LifeInMagazines.co.uk Our aim is to offer you a great read every month (one that you’ll look forward to receiving), supported by businesses and brands that are keen for you to see what they can offer.

But that’s not all - with social media and video now playing a huge role in our daily lives, we’re keeping our finger on the pulse when it comes to local news you can use. Follow us @lifeinmags across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We hope that you enjoy reading Life In Orpington and we'd welcome all your feedback – please complete the questionnaire on page 37 to let us know what you think - there’s a bottle of wine in it for one lucky winner!

Nicky and Lauretta Nicky Grant and Lauretta Wright, Editors PS Life In Orpington will be delivered to a separate area next month.

However, you can always read the digital version at lifeinmagazines.co.uk or pick up a copy at various locations in Orpington including cafés, libraries, train stations etc

March 2019

Community News

Getting to know Orpington....................... 4 Social media cheet sheet......................... 6 Lets get social PRIZE GIVEAWAY............ 7 Noticeboard.............................................. 8 Local attractions..................................... 10 Local heroes........................................... 12 Orpington in focus.................................. 13

What’s On This month ............................................. 15

Lets talk business Who said the high street is dead.............. 22 News...................................................... 23

Lifestyle Positive parenting................................... 24 Puzzle page - PRIZE GIVEAWAY........... 25 Awareness dates.................................... 26 Home and garden................................... 28 Travel...................................................... 30 Interview with the editors....................... 32 Crafting................................................... 33 Eco new.................................................. 34 Life Hacks............................................... 35 Shopping local....................................... 36 What did you think? PRIZE GIVEAWAY. 37 Useful contact........................................ 38

Published by: Life In Magazines

NEXT COPY DEADLINE: 12TH MARCH

COVER IMAGE: Thara Thai, Locksbottom

To advertise in Life In Orpington contact Nicky or Lauretta

GET TO KNOW US...

07403 603569 or 07403 550068 hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk lifeinmagazines.co.uk

What makes you smile?

Nicky: When a great tune comes on the car radio, Lauretta: Playing board games with the family. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

@lifeinmags March 2019 Life in... Orpington 3

1965 - Orpington High Street

Community News

GettingOrpington to know The OHO

The OHO collection

The Orpington History Organisation (OHO) was set up by likeminded local historians in 2006 to provide a local history resource for Orpington and environs. The subsequent success has been extraordinary, with nearly 4,000 enthusiasts following online.

Over the years, we've also been proud to have been able to provide exhibitions, as well as attend festivals and give talks to local interest groups.

This is core to the OHO. There are over 4,000 images in the collection which have been collected, categorised and most made available online for people to use.

Did you know?

In 1967 Orpington High Street had 6 greengrocers..

1906 - Orpington High Street The Pond

OHO - Orpington & district Now part of the London Borough of Bromley, Orpington was once the centre of a thriving urban district which included itself, a market town, St Mary Cray and several important parishes and villages; Chelsfield, Green St Green, Farnborough, St Pauls Cray, Downe, Crofton, Petts Wood, Locksbottom and Pratts Bottom. The former urban district constitutes the boundaries and interests of the OHO. 4 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Meetings & talks We give talks to all sorts of groups on local history topics.

Social media Twitter and Facebook with 4,000 followers!

1970c - Petts Wood General Post Card

Wanted!

We are always on the lookout for historical items from the district that we can catalogue and digitise. If you have any images etc please get in touch!

Next issue…

History in the ‘Cray Valley’ can be traced back to the Iron age. Hidden just below the surface is an enormous amount of local history. Some of it important to the growth of the district and some even on the world stage.

This regular article spot will bring this to life and hopefully entertain and educate along the way. Look out for us next time!

The Orpington History Organisation www.orpington-history.org Facebook @OrpHistOrg

Publications We have two books available: • Around Orpington Through Time • Orpington and Around.

Both are available directly from the OHO website or from all good book stockists.

OHO Website Page lifeinmagazines.co.uk

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 5

Social Media Cheat Sheet

Live and learn

A month’s worth of content ideas: 1. Favourite software/tool 2. Solve a problem 3. Fun fact 4. Favourite quote 5. National Awareness Month/Day 6. Thank your followers 7. Ask a question 8. Promote your newsletter/website 9. ‘Behind the scenes’ eg a book you’re reading 10. Share industry knowledge 11. Run a competition 12. Promote other social platforms 13. Tell a joke 14. ‘A Day In The Life’ post 15. 3 facts about yourself 16. Your business hero 17. Share your workspace 18. A promo/discount/offer 19. An informational listicle 20. A holiday post 21. Share a free resource 22. A business testimonial 23. Humorous picture or meme 24. Success stories/Feature a customer 25. Share positive news about your industry 26. Recommend another local business 27. Showcase your hobby/your downtime 28. Career throwback – your journey to now 29. Best piece of advice you’ve been given 30. The story behind the name of your business 31. Share new site content – a blog post or new service/product

The biggest mistake most businesses make on social media is to promote themselves 24/7.

As a general rule of thumb, you should be offering value in your posts 80% of the time and promoting yourself just 20% of the time.

Offering value (with tips, useful information and industry knowledge) will make you trustworthy and likeable to others. People buy from people they know, like and trust.

5 WAYS TO GROW YOUR FOLLOWERS RAPIDLY 1.

Engage, engage, engage – comment on people who’ve engaged with you, ask them questions, strike up conversations, make people realise there are real people behind the business.

2. Perform searches using hashtags to reach potential customers or people in the same or similar industries.

3.

Promote others – find 15-20 people you either admire, find useful or like and then like, comment and share their posts on a regular basis. Before long they’ll be doing the same for you. You could also look at forming a social media group for other small businesses to help promote one another.

4. Use influencers – find digital influencers who can showcase your product or service to their followers and get eyes on your profile and your business.

5. Use ‘calls to action’ and posts that ask thought-pro voking questions. Eg “Click ‘like’ if you wish you

could clone yourself - and what would your clones do?”

Site check

If you regularly update your website – either with news or via a blog - then make sure you share this on social media every time you update. Think of different ways you can promote the new content – as a quote, a picture or an extract post.

6 Life in... Orpington March 2019

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Prize donated by

Community News BROMLEY

have you tried the new cinema in st mark's square bromley? now open!

Let's get social...

Here’s a round-up of your best snaps, tweets and posts across social media...

Insta-good!

Let’s Face(book) It

twitter on...

Photo James Noble

@Andrew Spencer

@Jrnoble1979 A bit of mid century public art in the centre of Orpington High Street...

@SteveSangster So lucky to have the fabulous Priory Park on our doorstep. Escape suburbia for a bit and chill!

@kvalaydon Yippee! Look out for the blue sky in Orpington today!

@YourMoveONeil Thinking of moving to Orpington? Pop into our branch and one of our team can tell you all the best bits - or take a look at our area populo.info/fb7f1750

Tell us what your favourite thing abo

ut Orpington is for your chance to

WIN A FAMILY TICKET FOR 4 TO VUE BR OMLEY! Tell us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for a chance to win!

Remember to follow and tag us!

FAMILY TIC

KET

Let’s take a closer look some of the new films at VUE BROMLEY this month…

• Captain Marvel (tbc) • Alien (18) • Chaos Walking (tbc) • Dumbo (tbc) • Fisherman's Friends (tbc) • Gambit • Greyhound • Lords Of Chaos • Out of Blue lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Follow us and tag us at

@lifeinmags to get our attention and submit your answer!

General Manager Daniel Surridge at Vue Bromley says ...

"Since opening our doors in November it has been fantastic to welcome customers into our cinema. We have some amazing films due out in the coming months with Captain Marvel, Dumbo and Fighting with My Family amongst those I'm keen to see. My team and I can’t wait to continue welcoming customers in to experience the very best in big screen entertainment with us!"

www.myvue.com/cinema/bromley 6 Saint Mark's Square, Bromley, BR2 9UY March 2019 Life in... Orpington 7

Community News - NOTICEBOARD Local Orpington fundraiser Bob Luckhurst presents cheque to iCare.

Pic l-r: Sue (iCare), Ann and Bob (fun draisers), Rusty iCare founder.

Orpington residents, Bob and Ann , presented a cheque of £300 to Green Street Gree n based charity iCare, a stroke rehabilitatio n centre.

The money was raised over the cour se of a year at Orpington’s Big O Festival and the sale of books at Hope Church. Bob has spent most of his retired life raising money for local charities including Bromley Mencap and iCare.

#YouCanCare

Home Instead Senior Care is hosting a ‘Caregiver Recruitment Day’ on Saturday 2nd March from 10am-3pm at Polhill Business Centre in Halstead.

Call 01959 546228 for details.

Local Litter Picks

Tugmutton Common A friendly group of like minded residents who meet at 10am every second and fou rth Saturday of the mo nth at the Cricket Pavilion. Usually spend about an hour picking up litter and tidying up, then coffee etc in the pavilion. Em ail Tugmutton Friends at tugmuttonfrie nds@yahoo.co.uk for further information.

Warren Road - Satur day 16th March Meet on the green, Wa rren Road, opposite Clo onmore Avenue (top end) at 10am – any time that you give is app reciated. We finish the litter pick at around 11.15am with a coffee at Bread and Butter Café in Win dsor Drive. www.warrenroadgre enspace.weebly.com

Dates for your Diary

Davids Day 1st March - St ncake Day 5th March - Pa orld Book Day 7th March - W ternational 8th March - In Women's Day y St Patrick's Da 17th March Mothering 31st March e ge 35 for som pa e Se . ay nd Su y gift Da r's he ot M unique ideas.

Clocks spring 31st March forward

Orpington Photographic Society... ...has a permanent gallery of about 40 images at the Orpington Village Halls in the High Street. It also hosts an annual exhibition in conjunction with Orpington 1st.

Dementia -friendly Orpington Village Hall has made a number of updates to make the venue more dementia-friendly. Improvements have been numerous and range from designing and producing dementia-friendly signage (in accordance with guidance on the Alzheimer’s website) to offering a dedicated waiting area and replacing toilet seats with brightly coloured ones.

Looking ahead, plans in the pipeline include making exit routes more obvious with brightly coloured paint, replacing door handles, organizing a dementia awareness session for all employees of the hall and a dementia support café.

If you’d like a notice featured on the

Community Noticeboard email

hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Watch this space!

s

8 Life in... Orpington March 2019

cal new share lo

with the details

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Community News - NOTICEBOARD Adrenaline junkies!

part then you might like to take If you’re an adrenaline fan The p. nca Me y mle port Bro in an abseil challenge to sup by the KM Charity Team and sed ani org ng bei is ge challen in h March at Thomas Place will be held on Sunday 17t m of imu min a e rais uld aim to Maidstone. Participants sho ed rais ney mo l tota the of £75 in sponsorship, with 70% n’s ldre chi and 30% going to the going to Bromley Mencap m.

Tea the KM Charity road safety department at

To book a place see

Tinnitus Support Group If tinnitus is the bane of your life, there’s no need to suffer in silence. There’s a free monthly support group in Orpington which takes place at The Community Room, Orpington Fire Station in Avalon Road.

The next session is on 12th March from 2pm-4pm.

For details call 01622 691151

p17march

www.tinyurl.com/bmenca and enter the code KMNews19 for a £5 discount.

What’s New?

Life in Orpington…. …For parents

Adopt

not Shop

Beautiful 3-year-old Mau Mau e, is looking for a loving new hom her. She’s keep er long no ld cou as her owner family. any suit very affectionate and would

r rescue g Mau Mau or any of our othe If you are interested in adoptin 118, 273 58079 or on 01959 572319 cats, please contact Silvana g.uk. e.or escu catr use yho mne or email silvana@ro yhousecatrescue.org.uk Find out more at www.romne

Darrick Wood School is hosting a second hand uniform sale on 23rd March at 10am

…For commuters The government-sponsored Thameslink Programme is transforming north-south travel through London Bridge - including at Orpington Station. Find out more at www. thameslinkprogramme.co.uk

…For the retired On Wednesday 20th March, the U3A is hosting a walking session of approximately 4-5 miles For more information contact 01689 821176

…For the elderly The Saxon Centre is able to offer taster days for clients to see if the centre suits their needs.

Call: 01689 830055 or see www.saxondaycentre.org.uk

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 9

Community News - LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Biggin Hill Memorial Museum January saw the grand opening of the new Biggin Hill Memorial Museum. Life In Orpington’s editors, Nicky and Lauretta, went along with their daughters to see what it was all about…

The museum tells the story of Britain’s most famous fighter station through the personal experiences of those who served there, and the community that supported them.

There’s plenty to read about and explore in the museum including…

• • • • •

A telegraph key to send messages Taking part in a fighter pilot dexterity test Watching a short film Reading about local heroes Having a cuppa and cake in the Nightingale Café.

Milla Grant (age 11) “I liked reading about people from the local area who served in the war. There was one woman who used her bicycle to transport unexploded bombs and I thought that was really brave of her.”

Nadja Wright (age 11) “I enjoyed learning about Morse Code and how people communicated with each other. It was a fun experience and I understood the word that Milla sent me by using the guide.”

One to watch: Historian Aldon Ferguson is giving a lecture on 611 Squadron’s time at RAF Biggin Hill during the Second World War. The event is on from 7-9pm on 26th March at St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance.

Tickets cost £11.25 including a glass of wine.

Entrance costs £8.50 per adult (with gift aid) and £4.50 per child (under 5s go free), and includes a discovery tablet (with audio description and subtitles) to navigate your way around the museum and learn more about the Second World War. Large print and Braille guides are also available for the chapel and museum.

Orpington’s MP, Jo Johnson (right), was given a tour of the museum when it opened, accompanied by Director, Jemma Davey.

Orpington MP, Jo Johnson, said: “The museum not only remembers the brave young men who flew from Biggin Hill, but also the local community which played such an important part in supporting the airfield and crews who flew from here.”

10 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Facilities include a car park, buggy store, cycle parking, baby changing, café and outdoor terrace, picnic area, shop and Wi-Fi. The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm. Call 01959 422414, email hello@bhmm.org.uk or see https://bhmm.org.uk lifeinmagazines.co.uk

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Bromley’s Churchill Theatre WELCOMES FOUR MAIN SHOWS THIS MONTH The Picture of Dorian Gray (7th-9th March) The new production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray offers a fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In a society obsessed with youth and beauty, Dorian is given the chance to keep his looks forever - but at what cost?

The Mousetrap (12th-16th March)

The Lady Vanishes (25th-30th March) The Classic Thriller Theatre Company presents a quick-witted and devilishly fun thriller, based on the 1939 Hitchcock classic. When Socialite Iris’ unexpected travelling companion suddenly disappears, Iris is perplexed to find that all the other passengers deny ever having seen her.

This timeless thriller (from Dame Agatha Christie) returns by popular demand and now stars Gwyneth Strong (Only Fools and Horses) as Mrs Boyle.

Zog (22nd-24th March) Based on the book by Julia Donaldson, the stage adaptation brings the world of Zog to life with handcrafted puppets. Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know.

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 11

Community News

Local Heroes...

5 Minutes With...

Theresa Dourof

Theresa has lived in Orpington for more than 20 years.

She has two children (who have now flown the nest) and recently lost her Great Dane, Hank, to cancer. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, spending time with her family and shopping.

What does your community job involve – and how did you get started?

It’s a volunteer role and I spend most of the time supporting the carers in the centre in their daily routines and activities, plus I also drive the mini bus, which picks up the elderly to bring them to and from the centre.

I’ve been on three community courses, including First Aid, to offer the necessary support at the centre.

How many hours/days do you work a week?

Two days a week plus one afternoon a week.

Is the work you do on a paid basis?

All the work I do is volunteer work and I’ve spent the last seven years here – I absolutely love it. We're all going to get old - and what a better place to spend time at than here?

What motivated you to start working with the community?

As much as me volunteering helps the elderly at the centre, it has also been a huge help to me. I first started volunteering after losing my mum, just to keep busy and help take my mind off things. But over the years, getting to know the people at the centre – both the users and the carers – and hearing their stories has been really been therapeutic for me. From day one they’ve made me feel so welcome and I've met so many nice people; we've even had weekends away together as I've made some firm friends.

moving, a guy that gets their shopping for them, a lady that comes in with her dog for people to pet – we’re open to suggestions. We could always do with volunteers to help out, but even if it’s something small like supplying materials such as jigsaws, books, magazines or stationery, it makes such a difference.

What do you like most about your local community work?

I love the people I help. They are so funny and are guaranteed to make me smile. Plus I love joking with them too – just because they’re old doesn’t mean that they don’t appreciate a good joke. It’s important to have conversations with the people who use the centre, talking with them rather than at them. I wish I had got involved sooner as I didn't realise how much fun I'd have!

For more information about how to become involved at the Saxon Day Centre call 01689 830055 or see www.saxondaycentre.org.uk

What can other local residents do to help?

Pictured with Theresa is volunteer Joyce, who is 90 years old and helps look after the centre’s visitors! She also hosts the quiz and raffle.

12 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Do you know a

‘Local Hero?'

It’s always great to get volunteers giving their time to help us. We have a guy that comes in to play the piano, an exercise lady to get people

Nominate them by emailing: hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk with your details – and theirs!

NE!

E SOMEO

NOMINAT

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Focus

Orpington in

Planning applications

St Olaves Grammar School in Goddington Lane Ref: 18/04454/FULL1 Removal of existing tennis courts & sports pitch. Formation of artificial Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), surrounded by 2m high earth bunds, 4.5m high weld-mesh fencing and gates, 8x12m high dual spot light columns (total 16 spot lights) and associated hard surfacing for pedestrian footpaths, storage areas, storage cabinet and 13 parking spaces including two accessible spaces and a minibus parking/drop-off area

Community News POLICE UPDATES It’s a mini victory for Orpington Police….

after a year of working with local residence and Bromley council, Orpington’s Safer Neighbourhood Team has finally been given a CCTV camera installed. The camera covers the parade of shops on Eldred Drive.

Roadworks in March SGN (gasworks) is carrying out roadworks in the following roads in March with delays expected. Call 0800 912 1700 for details.

- Eton Road, Orpington: Works expected until 5th March - Haileybury Road, Orpington: Works expected until 8th April - Saltwood Close, Orpington: Works expected until 8th April - Oakdene Road, St Mary Cray: Works expected until through to May - Repton Road, Orpington: Works expected until 22nd July Thames Water is carrying out roadwords in the following roads in March with delays expected. Call 0800 316 9800 for details.

- Crofton Lane, Orpington: Works expected until 8th March

Transport news -

-

On Sunday 3rd March Planned engineering works means there’s no service between Orpington and London Victoria that day, while buses replace trains between Orpington and Sevenoaks.

On Saturday 9th March Buses replace trains between Lewisham and Orpington.

- On Sunday 10th March Buses replace trains between Orpington and Sevenoaks - On Sunday 24th March Buses replace trains between Beckenham Junction and

TWEETS Metropolitan Police @Metpoliceuk Your information could save a life, and you don't even have to speak to police. If you know about a crime that has been committed, or may be commited in the future, contact independent charity @ CrimestoppersUK They won't ask your name or record or trace your call #stopknifecrime Orpington Police @MPSOrpington There is a new App out now that allows you to record the noise if you are suffering from this issue.

Check it out now.

Orpington

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 13

Mobile Chiropodist

Helen Powell | MSSCh MBChA

•

•

HCPC registered

DO YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY EVENT YOU'D LIKE TO PROMOTE?

Complete footcare service direct to your door •

•

•

Over 20 years experience

Contact Nicky or Lauretta on 07403 603569 or 07403 550068 hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Covering Orpington and the surrounding areas

Appointments available to meet the individual needs of every client

NEXT COPY DEADLINE: 12TH MARCH

To book a consultation contact me on: Mobile: 07876

218889

or Email: helen.powell27@hotmail.com

www.lifeinmagazines.co.uk

@lifeinmags

ORPINGTON Unit 69, The Walnuts, Orpington, BR6 0TW

Plain Croissant for £1 only once you purchase a hot drink.

Cake of the week for £2 only once you purchase a hot drink.

@easycoffee.official 14 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Toasties of the week for £3 only

once you purchase a hot drink.

@easycoffeeuk lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Your essential what's on guide on events, activities, clubs and much more in and around Orpington.

There's something for everyone!

ARTS & CRAFTS

what's on - MARCH 2019 Pedham Place Farm

Sunday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March

Swanley, BR8 8PP Gates open at 6am for sellers & buyers.

Cost: £2 admission for buyers for car pack. Sellers details below.

Contact: smbbootsales.co.uk or 01795 426400 No need to book - cars/small vans £13, large vans £20, cars with trailer £2 extra.

Tripes Farm Boot Sale Sunday 31st March

Orpington Photographic Society Meetings Tuesday evenings

Meet at 7.30pm for an 8pm start The Small Hall, Christ Church, Charterhouse Road, BR6 9EP Cost: Free Contact: www.orpingtonphotographicsociety.co.uk A smallish society, currently between 20-30 members.

The programme consists of competitions between members in digital and printed formats; the best go on to challenge other clubs across south London and around Kent. We have visiting speakers and meetings that are aimed at developing members skills. New members are always welcome.

Crafty Crochet

Gates open at 7am for sellers & early birds & the boot sale quietens down around 1pm.

Chelsfield Lane, BR6 7RS Cost: Free for buyers (including parking) Contact: 01689 876602 Email: bootsales@tripesfarm.co.uk Prices for sellers are under review so check the website for the latest news: facebook.com/TripesFarmBootSales/

Hayes Farm Boot Sale

Sad news but Mr George Hoeltsch who ran Hayes Farm boot sales has passed away. Boot sales will commence from April. Please see our April issue for further information.

community & charity events

First Wednesday of the month

10.30am - 12.30pm Orpington Library Cost: Free Contact: www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Share your love of crochet with friends. All welcome, refreshments provided.

Natty Knitters

Last Tuesday of the month

10.30am - 12pm Orpington Library Cost: Free Contact: www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Share and develop your creative skills over a cuppa.

Tea and coffee provided.

car boot sales Hewitts Farm Boot Sale

Sunday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March

Gates open at 6am for sellers & buyers.

Court Road, BR6 9BX Cost: £1 admission for buyers. Sellers details below.

Contact: hewittsfarm.co.uk/boot-sale or 01959 534666 No need to book - cars/small vans £12, cars with trailer £15, lorries by arrangement. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Cultural Cooking Every Tuesday

9.15am - 11.15am Oasis Community Hub, St Mary Cray Primary Academy, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AR Cost: Free Contact: 07899 923052 Email: oasis@st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk www.st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk/oasis-hub Learn how to make a starter, main course and/or a dessert, all inspired by different cultural traditions. A free crèche is provided for adults with young children.

Advice & Information Drop-In Every Friday

9am - 12pm Oasis Community Hub, St Mary Cray Primary Academy, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AR Cost: Free Contact: T: 07899 923052 Email: oasis@st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk www.st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk/oasis-hub Drop-in anytime between 9am & 12pm and see if we can help with your problem/queries. We can help with CVs, benefits, housing, school issues and more.

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 15

what's on - MARCH 2019

Storysacks English Every Monday

education Orpington College Open Event Thursday 28th March

4:30pm - 7pm London South East Colleges, Orpington Campus, The Walnuts, BR6 0TE Cost: Free - Please register www.lsec.ac.uk/locations/orpington Come along to our open event at our Orpington campus and find out what London South East Colleges has to offer.

IT skills

Contact Orpington Library for more information Orpington Library Cost: £65 Contact: 01689 831551 www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Computers and Internet Older and Bolder Course

family & kids

9.15am - 11.15am Oasis Community Hub, St Mary Cray Primary Academy, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AR Cost: Free Contact: 07899 923052 Email: oasis@st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk www.st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk/oasis-hub Make puppets, props and games to go with the provided storybook for you to take home and enjoy with your child.

A free crèche is provided for adults with young children.

Ideal for parents with children in Reception & Year 1.

Tiny Tots

Every Wednesday

9.30am – 11am Oasis Community Hub, St Mary Cray Primary Academy, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AR Cost: Free Contact: 07899 923052 Email: oasis@st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk www.st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk/oasis-hub Join us for our free baby & toddler group. Each week there are a range of toys and activities to play with. A great chance to meet, socialise and make friends with other children and parents in the local community. Free snacks and refreshments are provided.

Baby Bounce & Rhyme

Every Thursday (term-time only)

Session 1: 10am - 10.30am Session 2: 11.am - 11.30am Orpington Library Cost: Free www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Free sessions for babies and toddlers from 0-18 months and their parents and carers. Come and join in with songs and rhymes old and new.

Bumps, Babies and Beyond

Every Monday (term-time only)

1pm - 2.30pm Orpington Methodist Church, 19 Sevenoaks Rd, BR6 9JH Cost: Free Contact: Email: orpington@nct.org.uk Suitable for children from birth up to school age. We offer refreshments and a drop-in free breastfeeding counsellor for anyone to talk to if needed.

Story Time

Mondays and Fridays (Term time only)

2pm - 2.30pm Orpington Library Cost: Free www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Storytimes are for children ages two to five years and their parents and carers. A fun way to introduce children to different books, stories and songs. Numbers are limited.

16 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Tiny Tots Active Every Thursday

9:30am – 11am Oasis Community Hub, St Mary Cray Primary Academy, High Street, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AR Cost: Free Contact: 07899 923052 Email: oasis@st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk www.st-marycray.bromley.sch.uk/oasis-hub Join us for our free baby & toddler group. Each week there are a range of ride-along cars, balls and soft-play designed to get your little one active and moving. Free snacks and refreshments are provided.

Chatterbooks

Thursdays (monthly)

4.30pm - 5.30pm Orpington Library Contact: 01689 831551 www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Chatterbooks are reading and activity groups that are open to all children aged eight-11. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Teen Parents Group

what's on - MARCH 2019

Every Friday

1pm - 3pm Blenheim Children and Family Centre, Blenheim Rd, BR6 9BH Cost: Free Contact: 01843 447177 Are you pregnant or a parent aged 19 or under? Come along to our fun, informal group & you could receive advice and support with money & budgeting, socialising & making friends and positive behaviour strategies with your child. There is also a free crèche, free lunch and the possibility of free driving lessons.

Lego Club

First and second Saturday of the month

10.30am - 11.30am Orpington Library Contact: 01689 831551 www.bromley.gov.uk/orpingtonlibrary Inventive building fun with Lego bricks - build something fantastic. For children aged eight-11.

British Dyslexia Association Roadshow Parent Pop up

Saturday 23rd March

1pm - 4.pm Bromley Central Library, High St, Bromley, BR1 1EX Cost: Free Please register: https://tinyurl.com/bdardyslexia This event is aimed at parents and carers of young people with dyslexia and those who have a general interest in finding out more about this learning difference.

FESTIVALS, fetes & fairs

World Book Day - Storytime Sunday 10th March

11.30am - 12pm Waterstones Orpington, Unit 16 Nugent Shopping Park, BR5 3RP Cost: Free Come along for a World Book Day storytime celebration!

They will be reading one of their favourite classic picture books 'Old Bear' by Jane Hissey followed by a bookmark making craft!

Explore Learning Writers’ Awards 11th March – 5th May

Explore Learning Orpington, 311 Orpington High St, BR1 0NN Cost: Free www.explorelearning.co.uk/writersawards Explore Learning invites you to create a 500-word story with the theme ‘A Chance to Change the World’. The competition is open to anyone aged four-14. Head online or pop into the Orpington centre to find out more.

NCT Nearly New Sale Saturday 16th March

Open at 10.45am for NCT members with a valid membership card and 11 for the general public.

Sales run until 12.30pm St John's United Reformed Church, Lynwood Grove, Kent BR6 0BG Cost: A donation of £1.50 per adult Contact: Email: nns.orpington@nct.org.uk Things for sale include anything to do with babies and young children so clothing (including maternity), toys and baby equipment. We are more like a pop up shop than people selling their own stuff from their own stalls.

Refreshments available with homemade cakes and usually a free from cake available too.

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Westerham Brocante Vintage & Craft Fair Friday 1st March

8am - 2pm The Grasshopper Inn, Westerham Road (A25) Westerham TN16 2EX Contact: 01959 563041 www.vanityfairs.co.uk Stalls selling everything antique and vintage including furniture, collectables, clothes or re-purposed items.

Personally selected stall holders that buy and sell genuinely antique, vintage and re-purposed items ensuring a unique market experience. New mass produced products are not allowed.

Beckenham Vintage & Retro Fair Sunday 10th March

10am - 4pm Beckenham Place Mansion, Beckenham Hill Rd BR3 1SY Cost: Free www.solastcenturyfair.co.uk 20+ top-quality vintage traders, in the atrium, drawing room, dining room and outside. You can expect to find mid-century decor, lighting, homeware and furnishings, vintage travel posters, prints, antique maps and etchings, brocante, fashion, accessories, jewellery.

Ruxley Manor Food Festival 23rd March

Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Maidstone Road Sidcup, DA14 5BQ Cost: Free Event Contact: 020 8300 0084 www.ruxley-manor.co.uk Special guest Ruby Bhogal. BBQ demos with certified Weber Chefs. Beer, wine, cider and gin tastings. Live music and family entertainment.

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 17

what's on - MARCH 2019 health & wellbeing Become A Dementia Friend Saturday 2nd March

2pm (one-hour session) Home Instead Senior Care, Polhill Business Centre, Halstead, TN14 7AA Cost: Free Contact: Jag Yogarajah – email: info.shoreham@homeinstead.co.uk A free interactive information session to learn how dementia affects a person and what you can do to make a difference.

Learn First Aid with Orpington St John

Tuesday 12th March From 7:45pm to 9pm TS Whirlwind (Orpington Sea Cadets Hall), Park Road, St Mary Cray, BR5 4AS Cost: Free Contact: Email John.Matthews1@sja.org.uk to let him know you will be attending.

Come and join us and learn first aid for free. March dates focus on sprains, strains, fractures & dislocations.

Chislehurst Farmers Market Sunday 17th March

10am and 2pm Hornbrook House Car Park, High Street, Chislehurst, BR7 5AB Cost: Free Contact: 07775 736116 www.myfarmersmarket.co.uk Produce includes seasonal fruit and vegetables, chocolates, cider and alcoholic drinks, bread, meat, cheese, preserves, sauces and much more.

Cheeki Monkeys Big Baby & Children's Market Saturday 17th March

10.30am - 12.30pm Petts Wood Memorial Hall, 200 Petts Wood Rd, BR5 1LA Cost: Adults £1.50 (including a goody bag for the first 50 shoppers). Children Free www.cheekimonkeys.co.uk Our Nearly New Baby Sales are community events for local families to make money while recycling unwanted items. Buy or sell quality, gently used babies' and children’s toys, clothes and equipment. Great events for savvy mums & dads!

music, dance & theatre gigs

mARKETS Farmers Market at Hall Place, Bexley Sunday 3rd March

10am and 2pm Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ - Courtyard area Cost: Free Contact: 07775 736116 www.myfarmersmarket.co.uk There is a variety of local produce available.

Bromley Mum2Mum Market Saturday 9th March

10am - 12pm Ravens Wood School, Oakley Rd, Bromley BR2 8HP Cost: £2 (Kids are free) Two-for-one entry with voucher available from website. www.mum2mummarket.co.uk Over 40 stalls with everything baby, maternity and children (0-six years) related at a fraction of the high street price to shop from.

Orpington Folk Club Every Thursday

8.15pm onwards The Change of Horses, Farnborough High Street, BR6 7BB Cost: Free or £7 if there is a guest singer Contact: Steve Jennings 01959 532 754 or Ted Handley 020 8325 6513 www.orpingtonfolkclub/org.uk Regular folk event either open mike/singers and musicians. With guest appearances on alternate weeks of upcoming and famous folk artistes (On these nights we ask for a contribution to pay the guests). All welcome.

THE NEXT COPY DEADLINE IS:

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18 Life in... Orpington March 2019

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Live Music - Ten Tonne Ska in Keston Saturday 30th March

9pm - 11.59pm The Fox Inn, 2 Heathfield Rd, Keston BR2 6BQ Relentless rocksteady wrecking' crew Ten Tonne Ska leave the mean streets of SE26 to spread boombastic vibes in the leafy lanes of Keston!

sports & outdoors Orpington Road Runners

Runs every night of the week

Conatct: Email: orpingtonroadrunners@gmail.com www.orpingtonroadrunners.org.uk A friendly running club formed in 1985, supporting the noble sport of running in and around our little pocket of Orpington, Kent.

Beginners2Runners

Tuesdays and Thursdays

7:30pm Westcombe Park Rugby Club, 376 Court Road, BR6 9BX Cost: First session is free then £5 per session www.beginners2runners.co.uk/orpington Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned runner, come join the fun on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We take complete non-runners, literally people who have not done

what's on - MARCH 2019 any exercise in years and within ten weeks turn you into a 5k runner.

You can come at any time but our next beginners' sessions start on: Tuesday 30th April at 7.30pm Thursday 2nd May at 7.30pm

Orpington FC Wildcats Girls Football Every Saturday

10am - 11am aged four-ten Goddington Park Cost: £3 per session Contact: Email: Orpingtonfc@gmail.com www.orpingtonfc.co.uk

Orpington FC Football Academy Boys Football Every Saturday

10am - 11am Children aged four-seven 11am - 12pm Children aged seven-ten Goddington Park Cost: £4 per session Conatct: Email: Orpingtonfc@gmail.com www.orpingtonfc.co.uk

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We’re looking to hear about your news, notices and local events!

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 19

A place I own

PLUS the support I need

Located in the affluent suburb of Chislehurst, south east of London, Shepheard’s House sits on one of the town’s main roads and is surrounded by beautiful green parklands.

Exclusively designed for the over 70s, our stunning new development of privately owned one and two bedroom retirement apartments allow you to enjoy the benefits of owning your own home, free from the worries of external maintenance or gardening and with like-minded retirees as your neighbours.

One of the key benefits of Retirement Living PLUS is the flexible care and support packages that are built around your needs. We can help with everything from domestic chores to tailored personal care.

Development features • The social lounge is the perfect place to entertain visitors, socialise with neighbours and make new friends • Landscaped gardens for you to enjoy, without having to lift a finger • Guest suite perfect for when friends and family come to visit^# • Lift to all floors • Bistro restaurant^ • Wellness and hairdressing suite^ • Car parking^# • Mobility scooter store and charging room#

^

At an extra charge. #Subject to availability LP-3585-OM

20 Life in... Orpington March 2019

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Typical interiors

Shepheard’s House, Manor Park Road, Chislehurst, Greater London, BR7 5FT 1 bedroom apartments from £527,950 2 bedroom apartments from £551,950 Bistro

To find out more, call 0800 882 1454 or visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk/shepheards-house

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 21

LET'S TALK BUSINESS

However, in order for high streets to survive, it is important that the council, in conjunction with the Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) actively supports its borough’s town centres and the local shopping parades.

This could be through some limited free parking and free parking promotions to coincide with retail campaigns like ‘Small Business Saturday’, and automatically giving Small Business Rate Relief.

Who said the

High Street

is dead?

by SARAH KING

Development Manager, The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Small businesses up and down the country are finding the increasing costs of doing business challenging. From the pressures of business rates and increasing rents, to high parking charges and loss of vital banking services, not to mention online competition and large shopping complexes such as Bluewater.

However, despite the changes, the high street plays an important role in being the heart of the local community.

What’s more, closures of some larger stores have presented new opportunities for high streets to be re-planned and regenerated for new businesses.

Orpington has experienced its fair share of retail closures including larger high street names - Poundworld and Claire’s Accessories. The high street has since seen new openings including charity shops, nail bars, cheque cashing, estate agents and hairdressers. The arrival of the Odeon and Premier Inn in the heart of the town has helped to attract a range of high quality restaurants and cafés, making Orpington an appealing place for people to live and work.

22 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Commercial agents and landlords need to be more supportive too by offering affordable rents, including some rent free periods for new businesses. ‘Keep Trade Local’ must continue to be encouraged and promoted as this supports local employment.

High street businesses should also consider taking full advantage of opportunities such as social media to connect with their audiences, update their websites, promote click & collect and strive to always provide a great customer experience.

Through its High Streets Hub, The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) campaigned for a review of penalties for small firms expanding into a second premises; reform of the current business rates appeals system and a review of access to cash and digital payment methods.

After months of campaigning, the Government unveiled a £1.5bn package of support for small high street firms in the Autumn Budget 2018. You can read more about what the Chancellor’s Budget means for the High Street here: http://tinyurl.com/y5fhx53k Orpington’s High Street businesses ask that the London Borough of Bromley actively considers applying to ‘The Future High Streets Fund’ which provides co-funding towards capital projects that bring transformative change and regeneration of town centres. Phase 1 calls for local authorities to submit Expressions of Interest by 22nd March 2019.

We would ask readers of Life in Orpington magazine to support their local high street by shopping locally and using local services. Thank you!

For further information about how the FSB can help small businesses visit their website www.fsb.org.uk

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A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR...

The Orpington Café and Record Shop donates £1 from every kids' main course dish sold to The Maypole Project.

LET'S TALK BUSINESS Sugar-free business?

The Enchanted Children’s Festival (which takes place on 1st June In Priory Gardens) is calling for sugar-free food traders to get in touch if they’d like a stall – see enchantedfest.com/traders

easyCoffee Orpington recently supported Orpington FC by providing them with football kits.

Sharing is caring Orpington Village Hall is offering to share its resources by providing downloadable copies of its dementia-friendly signage free of charge to help support other business and organisations. Email lucy@orpingtonvillagehall.org.uk if interested.

If you've got something business related to shout about email:

hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk with your details

Polished looks

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Spring has sprung

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and we’re showcasing a whole new range of clothing lines & accessories.

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340 Crofton Rd, Locksbottom BR6 8NN March 2019 Life in... Orpington 23

lifestyle

Positive Parenting

Whether you’ve got a tot, toddler or teen, here’s a round-up of things to try for families this month…

Stay Active 5 free or cheap active things to do with your kids in & around orpington -

-

-

-

-

Enjoy a stroll around Priory Gardens – maybe even feed the ducks Look for frog spawn and spot daffodils at High Elms Country park.

Ride the zip-line at Glentrammon or Poverest Parks!

Head to Tubbenden Skatepark for some free Skatelite fun.

Feed the animals at Christmas Tree Farm.

The NHS recommends that children aged five-18 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

London

for FREE

Did you know…?

Studies show that children do best when they have at least three loving and supportive adult influences in their lives.

WORD UP

Expand your kids’ vocabulary by teaching them (and yourself) new words every week. Here are 4 words to learn – one for each week this month!

W – Wikiup - an American Indian hut consisting of an oval frame covered with brushwood or grass. Also known as a wigwam.

O – Obganiate - to irritate someone by constantly repeating oneself.

R – Rhotacism - a medical term referering to the inability or difficulty in pronouncing the sound ‘r’.

D - Decare - 1,000 square metres.

Why not celebrate this month’s St Patrick’s Day with the kids?

There’s plenty to do in London on the weekend closest to St Patrick’s Day (17th March) and this year’s theme is #LondonIsOpen with the main celebrations taking place on Sunday 17th March.

You can watch Irish dancing schools in the annual London St Patrick's Day Parade.

The procession sets off at midday from Piccadilly and it makes its way down Piccadilly on a 1.5-mile (2.4km) route, passing some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including The Ritz, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and onto Whitehall.

Alternatively, head to Trafalgar Square from 12pm-6pm for the St Patrick's Day Festival. Families can watch performances by well-known Irish acts, rising stars and special guests. There’ll also be craft stalls and traditional and modern Irish food from the market. Last year there was also a family zone on Pall Mall East, hosting a selection of free child-friendly entertainment, workshops and activities. For details see https://bit.ly/2EEvKHY

24 Life in... Orpington March 2019

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lifestyle - PUZZLE PAGE

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Complete the crossword then solve the anagram from the letters found in the shaded squares to spell out a word connected to nature.

Down 1. This well known chef cites Xian as his favourite restaurant (4,6) 2. Famous musician who attended Ravenswood School (5,5) 4. Business that replaced Marks and Spencer when they moved to the Nugent Shopping Park in 2008 (10) 5. Nearest airport to Orpington (6,4) 7. Name of the cinema that closed in Orpington in 1982 (9) 9. Animal with which Orpington is associated (7) 10. Well known cartoon whose live action intro sequence was filmed off Lansdowne Avenue (3,8) 13. Number of screens at the Odeon cinema (5) 14. Orpington is part of this borough (7) 15. First name of the architect who designed Orpington War Memorial (7) 17. Name of Orpington's swimming club (5)

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March 2019 Life in... Orpington 25

lifestyle Are you

Sleep?

getting enough

March is National Bed Month The average adult needs between seven & nine hours of quality sleep a night, but too many of us are in sleep debt and have forgotten what is feels like to be truly rested.

8 reasons why sleep is so important: 1. Poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain; well rested dieters have been known to lose more fat than those who were sleep deprived.

2. Sleep loss affects how you think and can impair your attention and decision-making skills. A good night's sleep can improve your concentration and productivity.

3. Sleep has been shown to improve athletic performance.

4. Lack of sleep can lead to many health risks including heart disease, stroke and stress, as poor sleep can have a major effect on inflammation in your body.

5. Sleep restriction affects blood sugar and reduces insulin sensitivity which can result in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

6. Sleeping well can improve your overall well-being and help decrease anxiety. Poor sleep is strongly linked to mental health issues such as depression.

7. Sleep has been shown to improve your immune function. People who don't get enough sleep are said to be more likely to catch the common cold.

8. Sleep helps consolidate memories or makes them stronger.

How can I improve my sleep?

1. Stick to a regular sleep/wake cycle. Go to bed at

2.

the same time every day and try to get up at similar times.

Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and other chemicals that interfere with sleep.

3. Turn your bedroom into a restful environment.

A cool dark, quiet place can help promote a good night's sleep.

4. Invest in your bed. The quality of your bed can have a big

impact on the quality of your sleep so it's a worthwhile investment.

5. Open a window. A stuffy room can be uncomfortable and fresh air will help promote sleep.

6. Make a note. Write down any worries or stresses then set them aside until tomorrow.

7. Exercise. Regular physical activity can help promote better sleep.

8. Get outdoors more. Exposure to light during waking hours helps set your body clock.

26 Life in... Orpington March 2019

The National Sleep Foundation recommend the following: AGE

SLEEP RANGE (hours each day)

Newborns (0-3 months)

14-17 hours

Infants (4-11 months)

12-15 hours

Toddlers (1-2 years) 11-14 hours Preschoolers (3-5)

10-13 hours

School age children (6-13)

9-11 hours

Teenagers (14-17)

8-10 hours

Adults (18-64)

7-9 hours

Older adults (65+)

7-8 hours

Research shows that you should replace your mattress every five - ten years

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(Life In) March!

National Puppy Day

Be aware & prepare… this month’s notable dates include…

On 23rd March it’s time to acknowledge all the puppies out there – teach them new tricks, take them out for an extra walk & show them some love!

Daylight Saving Begins!

On Sunday 31st March the clocks ‘spring’ forward by an hour, meaning the days will start to get brighter! And our very own William Willett from Petts Wood was the man who had this bright idea! In 1905 he suggested that the UK shift its clocks forward by 80 minutes between April and October so that people could enjoy more sunlight. In 1907 he published ‘The Waste of Daylight’ and campaigned for the adoption of ‘summer time’. Sadly Willett died without seeing his idea come to fruition - British Summer Time was first established by the Summer Time Act 1916 – just one year after Willett’s death. We think it’s fab that Petts Wood acknowledges Willett’s idea to this day.

Have you driven down Willett Way? Or maybe had a pint in The Daylight Inn?

Red Nose Day

Time to raise money for Comic Relief on 15th March! lifeinmagazines.co.uk

St Patrick’s Day There’ll be celebrations galore (and a pint or two of Guinness enjoyed) on 17th March when St Patrick’s Day is celebrated.

See page 24 for family events in London.

Let's Laugh Day Get ready to chuckle because it’s Let’s Laugh Day on 19th March.

“If a child refuses to sleep during nap time, are they guilty of resisting a rest?” - @PsaCrofton

Waffle Day Get down to the supermarket to stock up on waffles for 25th March.

What’s your favourite topping?

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 27

lifestyle

Home & Garden Spring has sprung so it’s a great time to update your décor and do a little spring cleaning to get rid of the cobwebs (and those old Quality Street wrappers under your sofa!)

Here’s a round-up of jobs to do in your home and garden this month, plus top tips and useful info…

On the to-do list • Start to pack away winter clothes that you know you won’t be wearing again until autumn arrives. Heavy coats, blankets and duvets (along with things like winter boots, hats, scarves and gloves) can also be packed up into vacuum bags or boxes to be put in the loft, under beds or on top of wardrobes.

•

Do a deep clean – every week tackle a few household jobs that need a deeper clean like washing curtains, cleaning behind and under sofas and beds and general cleaning that is often overlooked – window sills, light switches, ovens and high shelves.

•

Inspect your property outside for any damage the winter weather may have caused.

Check things like drains and gutters (for blocked leaves, broken tiles on roofs and pipes).

28 Life in... Orpington March 2019

HOME HACK: WHITE VINEGAR Did you know that white vinegar has a number of uses?

Here are just a few…

1. Remove sticky labels – don’t you just hate labels that are hard to shift? By dabbing the area with vinegar first and leaving it to soak, it’ll make the job much easier.

2.

Mugs looking a bit stained? Make a paste with equal parts white vinegar and salt (or baking soda) and use it to scrub away tea and coffee stains, then rinse thoroughly with cold running water.

3.

Bathroom blitz. Get hold of a clean spray bottle and fill with ½ white vinegar and ½ water and use this to spray your tiles, wiping away the solution with a damp cloth.

You can also use this to clean grout with an old tooth brush – but leave it to soak in for five minutes first.

APP TO TAP Around Me

If you’re unfamiliar with Orpington or have just moved into the area, this free app is great for showing you where the local amenities are – from hospitals and petrol stations to supermarkets and banks. If you’ve got your location services turned on your smartphone (on an iPhone go to settings, privacy, location services), it will also find your location and offers directions on how to get to them and how long the journey takes. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

lifestyle

Four ways To... ...take your kitchen from drab to fab 1.

2.

3.

4.

Inject colour. Paint the walls, create a feature wall with stunning wallpaper or display colourful blooms Display artwork. Put the kids’ pictures in frames or add holiday memories to your walls or fridge.

Update the cupboards. There’s no need for a complete redesign – just changing the cupboard doors or handles can make all the difference.

Add accessories. Colour match with your theme or add contrasting hues with interesting objects.

GARDEN CHECKLIST •

Dig out the garden furniture from your shed to check it’s in good working order for when the sun comes out. Give it a wash with warm soapy water before rinsing or make use of your pressure washer to rid it of grime. Most garden furniture can also be spruced up with a new lick of paint.

•

Things to plant this month include: summerflowering bulbs, prune roses to encourage strong new growth, onion sets, early potatoes and shallots.

Make sure you add fresh compost to containers.

Focus on….Tulips

Tulips flower between March and May and come in a delightful range of varieties and colours. They prefer a sunny location and grow to a height of between 10-80cm. Tulips are a bulb flower that are quite short-lived but are a great option for adding beautiful colours to your green patch.

SELLING OR LETTING AROUND

ORPINGTON?

Call Philip O'Neil

01689 872926

Email: orpington@your-move.co.uk or pop in: 282 High Street, Orpington BR6 0ND Your Move O'Neil are pleased to support Life In Orpington magazine lifeinmagazines.co.uk

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 29

lifestyle

Brits’ top 20 British bucket list experiences*

Travel

Up, up & away...

Norwegian has become the first low-cost airline to introduce free Wi-Fi on long-haul flights. The ‘Basic’ option will allow customers to browse the web, stay-up-to-date on social media, send and receive emails and instant messages with friends, family and colleagues by using their personal mobile phones, tablets and laptops on board.

Travel trends: Grab & Go “Put your swimwear in your hand luggage instead of your suitcase - then there’s no need to unpack before hitting the pool!”

Liz - Go Travel

ONE TO WATCH Younger travellers are becoming more eco-conscious and are increasingly seeking sustainable experiences for their gap year travel or general holidays.

Hoteliers and travel providers are also acknowledging this trend by looking to reduce or even ban single-use plastics.

What is Dark Tourism?

Visiting places that are usually associated with tragedy and death. If you’re a millennial (or younger), you might recall when YouTube star, Logan Paul, made a public apology for posting a controversial video that showed the discovery of a dead body hanging from a tree in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest. Popular dark tourism hotspots include Chernobyl, Phnom Penh, Pompeii, Hiroshima, Ashgabat, and Auschwitz.

Did you know?

Tuesday is generally the cheapest day to fly, with Saturday being the most expensive.

30 Life in... Orpington March 2019

in are Clinic The Denc avel tr rs e ff o om Locksbott it is ns. V vaccinatio k clinic.co.u re a c n www.de

1. Visit Giant's Causeway 2. Go whale watching in the

Scottish Highlands 3. Visit Bath's Roman Baths 4. Walk along Hadrian's Wall 5. See in the summer solstice

at Stonehenge 6. Spend a day at Wimbledon 7. Enjoy a clotted cream tea in Cornwall 8. Stay in a thatched cottage in

the Cotswolds 9. Visit the Edinburgh Festival 10. Visit Buckingham Palace 11. Watch a show in London's

West End 12. See the White Cliffs of Dover 13. Eat fresh fish and chips in Whitby 14. Walk through Cheddar Gorge 15. Climb Mount Snowdon 16. Take a boat trip on Lake Windermere 17. Stargazing in Northumberland 18. See the crown jewels at the

Tower of London 19. Look for Nessie at Loch Ness 20. Search for fossils on the

Jurassic Coast *Survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Sykes Holiday Cottages

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lifeinmagazines.co.uk

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 31

lifestyle

Editors

Interview with the

Life In Orpington is published by Life In Magazines, a company developed by Orpington residents, Nicky Grant and Lauretta Wright. Here, they explain a bit more about their backgrounds plus their hopes, dreams and aspirations for Life In Orpington!

Tell us about yourself!

Nicky: I'm a indie girl (well 40-something woman) who loves music, festivals, camping and sci fi. I also enjoy crochet, netball and spending time with my family and friends.

Lauretta: I’m a 40-something vertically challenged mum of two who enjoys upcycling, cleaning (don’t ask!) and entertaining. I live with my husband, two kids and four rabbits in Orpington.

What’s your background?

Nicky: I've been a freelance Graphic Designer for the past 10 years, working on a variety of projects from exhibition stands, catalogues, brochures and business stationery but magazine design had always been my passion, being an editor also now is very exciting.

Lauretta: Career-wise it’s in journalism, but in August I quit my job to hire myself. With the launch of Life In Orpington, I get back to being an editor again, but this time I’m my own boss – a win-win!

Any special skills to shout about?

Nicky: I make a great cup of tea (milk in last!) and I'm an expert spider catcher.

Lauretta: Breakdancing and forgetting things.

What are your weaknesses?

Nicky: Chocolate, vinyl and anything orange.

Lauretta: Mugs, birdhouses, candles and glasses (the drinking kind).

Something most people don’t know about me is…

Lauretta: I’m half Turkish.

Nicky: I once dressed up as a sunflower for a photo shoot on The Strand.

When (and where) will your next holiday be?

Nicky: Camping in Devon Lauretta: Glamping in Maidstone I think – in one of those bell tents!

What do you want to achieve in 2019?

Nicky: Focusing more on the things I love... the work I enjoy doing and time spent with the people I like the most.

Lauretta: A more realistic work-life balance.

32 Life in... Orpington March 2019

Show us the last picture you took on your phone! (What’s it about?)

Nicky: My pet tortoise Bow (named because of the bow pattern on her shell) Lauretta: It was a morning pic of the apple bird feeder in my garden – loved the soft light so got a snap.

Why should local residents read Life In Orpington?

Nicky: Orpington is up and coming, Life In Orpington is a great reference to all the latest news and events to help people get the most out of where we live.

Lauretta: The varied articles will appeal to most tastes, plus of course to keep up with local news, what’s on and information.

How do you see the magazine developing?

Nicky: I hope the magazine will become a mainstay on coffee tables and it will be the first point of call that people will pick up when they need a local service.

Lauretta: Now that the debut issue is out, I’m hoping people will love its authenticity and look forward to reading the April edition, supporting local businesses and talk about it with their friends.

What do you love about Orpington?

Nicky: I love all the new cafés and restaurants, it's a great place to meet friends. Having a local cinema is fab too.

Lauretta: There’s a great community spirit and I love the way Orpington has reinvented itself in the last few years. It really has come into its own and I enjoy shopping there – I’m pretty much in the town every week.

We thought that this question needed to be put to public vote, so we asked you what you thought!

Read the responses on Let’s Get Social (page 7).

Every month a winner Do you have a receives a fab prize!

question for us?

ask us...

You can email us at nicky@lifeinmagazines.co.uk or lauretta@lifeinmagazines.co.uk lifeinmagazines.co.uk

lifestyle

Make, Do &

Upcycle!

With spring officially arriving this month, here’s a great (and inexpensive) crafting project to encourage green-fingered kids to grow their own veg!

Turn wooden spoons into vegetable garden markers!

Vegetables great for growing in March…

Beetroot, broad beans, sprouts, cabbages, carrots, leeks, parsnips, peas, spinach, spring onions and turnips.

Step 1:

Dig out some old wooden spoons or you can pick some up from Hobbycraft, Orpington for just £2.

Step 3:

Decide on what you’d like to grow and using a sharpie pen, write the name of the vegetable on the spoon.

Step 2:

Paint the spoons (and most of the handle) in different colours, propping each in a glass so that it dries without getting paint everywhere. A top tip is to use pale colours if you can. When dry, give them a second coat.

Step 5:

Give the spoons two coats of varnish to protect them from the elements.

A top tip is to use spray varnish, but make sure the room is well ventilated if using spray.

Step 4:

Using oil paint if possible, paint a picture of the vegetable on the spoon and leave until dry. If you haven’t got a steady hand, you can always print out pictures and glue them to the spoon instead. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 33

lifestyle

Eco News Zero waste shopping

Taking steps to conserve and reuse is one of the best things you can do to help save the environment. The more you BYO (Bring Your Own), the closer we get to zero waste shopping.

Plastic outlives all of us A plastic bottle can last for 450 years in the marine environment, during which time it slowly fragments into smaller pieces which will eventually end up microscopic but never truly go away.

It's estimated that the amount of plastic waste generated annually in the UK is to be nearly 5 million tonnes. According to research, only a third of plastic packaging used in consumer products is recycled each year, with almost two-thirds sent to landfill or incinerated.

REFUSE REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE ROT Even if you do recycle producing the product in the first place uses many resources - extracting the raw materials, manufacturing it, transporting it. This is why zero waste is so important.

34 Life in... Orpington March 2019

If we all make a conscious effort to consider each of these steps when buying and consuming household detergents and toliletries, the positive impact on the environment will be considerable and we will all benefit for generations to come.

LOCAL eco heroEs...

Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe helps supports zero waste by offering bring your own jar to fill with sweets.

Pick up your food waste bags and recycle your old batteries at Orpington library.

A few simple steps that can help towards zero waste • Bring your own bags when shopping.

• Refuse plastic straws.

• If you buy a lot of food/drinks on the go, take your own fork/cup with you.

• Take your old clothes to charity shops.

• Refill your water bottle.

Take your old ink cartridges and laser toners to Cut Price Cartridges to be recycled.

Call 01689 896646

Use farm shops Farm shops and local green grocers are great places to shop for reducing packaging and most of their food is sourced locally from surrounding farms.

If we can all say no to single use plastic we'll be on the right track to zero waste shopping.

Are you a Local Eco Hero?

Send us an email at:

hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk with the details

lifeinmagazines.co.uk

lifestyle

Keep It Simple:

Life hacks

you didn’t know you needed!

The tech

If your smartphone is in need of charging, but you have to leave the house shortly, either switch your phone off before charging or put it on airplane mode – doing either of these will double the speed at which your phone is charged!

At home

Use coloured nail polish to paint the tops of your house keys so that you can identify your main keys from others in the bunch easily.

March’s fab idea:

Mother’s Day

Make a coupon book!

On 31st March it’s Mother’s Day!

So give mum something she’s likely to treasure with a personalised handmade coupon book! Start writing each page with the following words: The bearer of this coupon book is entitled to receive……

And then complete the sentence with gifts or experiences you know mum would Keep it local… love. Ideas could be…

• A fresh bouquet of flowers Thara Thai - Locksbottom • Dinner cooked for her is offering a FREE glass of • An hour’s help around the home Prosecco for all mums on • A foot massage 31st March • A chauffeur for the day

QUOTE 'Life In Orpington magazine'

Did you know?

You’re 50% more likely to remember something if you say it out lo ud rather th an read it over and over ag ain. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Five ways to…. start a conversation Forget chatting about the weather or where you’re going on holiday, here are five alternative conversation starters…

1. If you’re in a social gathering, find out if you have mutual friends

– and how you met them. eg Do you know the host personally?

2. Talk about your neighbourhood and where you live.

eg Are you local to here? It was pretty straightforward coming from Orpington…

3. Ask if they’ve been watching a popular TV documentary

that everyone seems to be discussing or have seen a film at the cinema lately. eg Have you seen the new series of Planet Earth?

4. Find out what they do for a living - and ask open-ended questions about

their job. eg So what’s a typical day for you like?

5. Bond over musical tastes - find out what music they’re into and

if they’ve seen that person in concert.

People love recounting their experiences!

Remember your body language when chatting to people – make eye contact, avoid looking over their shoulder and watch your personal space. Keep the conversation fun and light-hearted - and throw in a couple of jokes if you can too! You should steer clear of topics that could cause upset...politics, the Royal Family etc.

March 2019 Life in... Orpington 35

lifestyle

How about a lovely trinket box for mum to keep her keepsakes in?

We found this one in

Shopping Local

St Christopher’s charity shop only £1

It’s Mother’s Day on 31st March, so here’s some inspiration on what to buy mum –

In and around Orpington Head to Mr Simms’ Olde Sweet Shoppe, Orpington to sweeten mum up with some sweets or chocolate.

100g from £1.19 Necklace £35 Bouquets from £25 Add some sparkle to mum's outfit with some gorgeous jewellery from Celeste

Treat mum to some beautiful flowers to suit every budget from A Time 4 Flowers,

Boutique, Locksbottom Spring collection in store now.

Orpington

See page 23

Daffodils from £1, planted arrangements from £10 and bouquets from £25

See page 27

Julian Charles, Orpington has got

Pack mum off on a mini London break with afternoon tea & two nights’ stay at a three star hotel (including breakfast) from £99 per person. The deal is available with Go Travel,

some lovely candles and fragrances in store. There’s an offer on two Yankee Candle refills and a plug...

Locksbottom

only £15.

from £99 per person See page 31

Treat her to a Rose Fizz Facial - 25 mins £30 or a Champagne Bar Facial - 55 mins £50 from

Give mum something to smile about... teeth whitening at DenCare,

Locksbottom

Indulgence In Beauty, Orpington

for just £275 (£90 off) See page 2

Facials from £30 36 Life in... Orpington March 2019

She’ll also receive a complimentary mask to use at home!

See page 19

lifeinmagazines.co.uk

lifestyle k Of The in h T u o Y id D t a Wh

First Issue?

Complete this quick questionnaire for your chance to win a bottle of wine from Laithwaites, Locksbottom. Your answers will be a huge help in determining what we include every month so you look forward to receiving your copy of Life In Orpington!

1. What do you think of the style of Life In Orpington?

(Taking into account the fonts, colours and design of

the magazine?)

Loved

Liked

Quite Liked

Loved

Liked

Quite Liked

Wouldn’t Miss It! Not Very Likely

Very Likely Didn’t Enjoy It

Disliked

2. What did you think of the editorial in Life In Orpington?

12. How likely are you to read Life In Orpington again?

Disliked

13. If you are a local business or sole trader, how likely are

you to advertise with us, given that our rates start from

£25 a month?

3. What was your favourite page to read? (and why) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 4. What was your least favourite page? (and why) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 5. What editorial would you like to see in Life In Orpington?

(feel free to make as many suggestions as you like!) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Very likely

Likely

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(If you’re interested, please write your email and we’ll send you a media pack) _____________________________________________________ Would you like us to add you to our monthly email newsletter? (If yes, please make sure you’ve written your email address above)

Yes

No

Any other comments/suggestions _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

6. Life In Orpington is an informative magazine that I will

look out for in future.

Do you give permission for us to publish your comments?

Strongly Agree

Agree

Partially Agree

Disagree

7. The proportion of advertising to editorial in Life in

Orpington is…

Perfect Could be more editorial Could be more advertising Too much advertising

8. I would use the businesses advertised in Life in Orpington.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Partially Agree

Disagree

9. I consider myself someone who supports local

businesses and believes in shopping locally.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Partially Agree

Disagree

Yes

No

aites!

Win a bottle of wine from Laithw If you'd like to enter the competition to win a bottle of Le Grand Chai red wine from Bordeaux, please leave your details below and email us your completed questionnaire to hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk: Name:_________________________________ Telephone:_____________________________ Email:__________________________________

10. If you saw exclusive offers and special deals from local

businesses, how likely are you to use them?

Very likely

Likely

Not Likely

Not At All

Don’t worry - all your answers will remain confidential unless you ticked 'yes' for permission to publish.

11. Without looking (no peeking!), how many advertisers

could you name in the magazine?

0-5

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6.-11

12-16

17 or more

fol

... low us

Get social with us!

@lifeinmags March 2019 Life in... Orpington 37

useful contacts Local numbers Bromley Council T: 020 8464 3333 www.bromley.gov.uk Citizen’s Advice Bureau -Bromley T: 0300 330 9039 Hospitals Orpington Hospital T: 01689 863000 Princess Royal University Hospital T: 01689 863000 www.pruh.kch.nhs.uk Late night pharmacies Tesco Pharmacy Orpington T: 0345 0269567

Next Month...

FREE

Cllr Pauline Tunnicliffe pauline.tunnicliffe@bromley.gov.uk T: 01689 857407

IL 2019 .

ISSUE 2 APR

... LOCALLY.

LIVE, LOVE, LIFE

Cllr Kim Botting Kim.botting@bromley.gov.uk T: 07947-714394

TRY OUR HT THURSDAY NIG SUPPER CLUB

National numbers

see page 12

Alcoholics anonymous T: 0800 917 7650 E: help@alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

S

TRAVEL NEW

EASTER TREASURE HUNT!

AUTY

HEALTH & BE

WIN...

Childline T: 0800 1111 Crime Stoppers T: 0800 555 111

Y VUE BROMLE KET FOR 4 TO A FAMILY TIC APY KIT AN AROMATHER

YOUR

HAT'S ON

IAL W ESSENT

GUIDE IN

PINGTON

OUND OR

AND AR

k

gazines.co.u www.lifeinma

Sainsburys Pallant Way T: 01689 857042

Debt Helpline T: 0808 808 4000

Coming up in the April Issue of Life

Leisure Centres Darrick Wood Pool T: 01689 857 021

Dementia (UK) T: 0845 257 9406

- Easter crafting & treasure hunt - Win an aromatherapy kit - What your front door colour says about you

The Walnuts Leisure Centre T: 01689 870 533 Libraries Orpington T: 01689 831551 www.bromley.gov.uk/OrpingtonLibrary E: orpington.library@GLL.ORG Petts Wood T: 01689 821607 www.bromley.gov.uk/PettsWoodLibrary E: pettswood.library@GLL.ORG Local MP Jo Johnson E: jo.johnson.mp@parliament.uk T: 01689 820347 www.jo-johnson.com Twitter: @jojohnsonmp Police Bromley Police Station T: 101 Recycling centres Waldo Road, Bromley, BR1 2QX Monday to Friday 7am-5:30pm Saturday 7:30am-4pm Sunday 8am-1pm Bank holidays 8am-4pm

Domestic Violence T: 0808 200 0247 (24-hours) Electricity In the event of a power cut contact UK Power Networks on 0800 31 63 105 www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk Gas Emergencies T: 0800 111 999 (free 24-hours) National Breastfeeding Helpline T: 0300 100 0212 NSPCC T: 0808 800 5000

Published by: Life In Magazines

NEXT COPY DEADLINE: 12TH MARCH Contact Nicky or Lauretta or

07403 603569 or 07403 550068 hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk lifeinmagazines.co.uk

@lifeinmags

RSPCA T: 0300 123 4999 Samaritans (UK) T: 116 123 National Rail Southeastern Rail: 0345-322 7021 NHS 111 Urgent medical help or advice (not lifethreatening) call 111 www.111.nhs.uk

Life In Orpington is distributed to 14,000 households and businesses over a two-month period, in and around Orpington.

Quitline (smoking) T: 0300 123 1044

Copyright: All text, images and design in Life In Orpington are subject to copyright.

Samaritans T: 116 123

Disclaimer: The information in this magazine is for information purposes only. Life In Magazines assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organisation has been provided by such individual, event organisers or organisation without verification by us. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editors of Life In Magazines.

Therefore, Life In Magazines carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the editors is strictly prohibited. © 2019 Life In Magazines. All rights reserved.

Social Services Thames Water Tel: 020 3036 1574 (Emergencies only) Water Supply, Drains & Sewers – 0800 316 9800 Safer Neighbourhood Team Leak Line - 0800 714 614 Twitter: @MPSOrpington E: SNMailbox.OrpingtonSNT@met.police.uk Textphone service for the deaf or hard of hearing - 0800 316 9898 Ward Councillors www.thameswater.co.uk Cllr William Huntington-Thresher william.huntington-thresher@bromley.gov.uk Victim Support T: 0333 250 9285 T: 07733-116799 38 Life in... Orpington March 2019

In Orpington…

lifeinmagazines.co.uk

FREE glass of Prosecco

RESTAURANT

for all mums on Mother’s Day

Delectable Thai Cuisine With Authentic Ingredients

We use only the best ingredients to offer your taste buds a flavoursome experience

THAI TAPAS

NOW AVAILABLE FOR LUNCH!

Come and try our new restaurant – now open in Locksbottom

Monday-Saturday 12pm-4pm, 6.30pm-11pm Sunday 1pm-9pm

www.tharathai.co.uk | 01689 857111 | lifeinmagazines.co.uk

@thara.thai March 2019 Life in... Orpington 39

Nurse Managed Home Care

At Compassion Homecare we provide the very best in home care We would all like to continue to enjoy independent living within the comfort of our own home. Our qualified staff can help you with those day to day tasks that you are finding harder to cope with.

We know how big a step having home care is so we offer a free home care assessment to help you decide what is best for you.

Daily Care, Live-in Care or Respite Care Our careers can help you with: • Personal care • Getting up and ready for bed • Bathing, washing and showering • Assistance with medication • Cleaning and housework • Cooking • Ironing and laundry • Shopping • Social outings

01689 825155

1st Floor, East Wing, Priory Buildings, Church Hill, Orpington, Kent BR6 0HH

www.compassionhomecare.co.uk 40 Life in... Orpington March 2019

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