Noticeboard

BRINGING BUSINESSES TOGETHER!

Retired? Working part time? Want to find new interests and friends? With nearly 1,000 members, Orpington U3A offers nearly 100 interest groups and is recommencing meetings in person on the 3rd Monday of every month at 2.30pm in Crofton Hall. Why not come along, have a tea or coffee and hear about the wide range of interests on offer? For details see www.u3aorpington.org.uk or call William on 01689-819698.

We were delighted to hear that Brightwater Memorial Park recently met with young local entrepreneur, Arthur, from Bee A Real Hero (see https://beearealhero.godaddysites.com). Brightwater was looking for unique, meaningful gifts for its visitors and Life In Orpington suggested that they chat with Arthur as he offers handmade soaps, as well as plants and honey. It seems that Brightwater is commissioning Arthur to produce soaps and candles using the lavender from their entrance garden so that visitors feel like they can take a piece of Brightwater home with them. What a lovely, feelgood story about two local businesses working together and helping each other. That’s what community is all about! ORPINGTON FRIENDSHIP CLUB CLOSES Orpington Friendship Club reports that it is regretfully closing. After canvassing all members - and without any replacements coming forward, all members of the committee are standing down. Any funds held will be distributed by the committee in accordance with the constitution. Thank you for your support over the years - John Duffin, Chairman.

Calling all budding film makers!

Orpington Video & Film Makers is hosting a Zoom session to attract new members to the club. Club treasurer, David Laker, said: “During Covid-19 restrictions we made a number of our films available for public viewing and these were well received, with over 4,000 views and many complimentary messages left in response. With lockdown encouraging many people to take up new hobbies, we hope our films inspired some of you to give film making a go, be it with a mobile phone, tablet, DSLR or camcorder. If this sounds like you, and you have a lot of footage but are not sure what to do with it next, OVFM is here to help!” The Zoom session will be held on Friday 15th October at 8pm and will explain and illustrate what the club is all about, show some films, and answer any questions about film making. Both beginners and more experienced film makers are welcome to join the session. For more information visit

www.ovfm.org.uk/public-zoom 23 October 2021 All Saints’ Church, Bark Hart Rd, BR6 0QD To reserve tickets: £15 adult; £7 children, call 01689 872317 Ticket prices include a light supper There will be drinks available for a small donation.

Join the Tintagel Women’s Club

Tintagel Women’s Club is calling out for new members to join. The non-religious group meets every Monday afternoon in The Unity Church in Orpington’s Rye Crescent during school term time between 2pm-4pm. It offers a programme of speakers and illustrated talks on a variety of subjects, quizzes and local updates. For more information call Mary Cody-Cowdery on 01689 874697.

Lottery funded

Living On, an Orpingtonbased charity that helps support bereaved families, has announced it has been awarded £100,000 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will help provide an additional Family Support Worker for three years and run bereavement support groups for families and children. See www.livingon.org.uk

Become a Friend!

Would you like to get out and about in your local community? Do you enjoy chatting with others? How about having a great reason to increase your steps? Now you can do all 3 by becoming a ‘Friend’ of Life In Orpington magazine and volunteer as a local distributor.

A NEW LOCAL HERO

IS NAMED

Nip CONFIDENCE WOBBLES

in the bud

BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS

FREE

ISSUE 32 OCTOBER 2021

How to be really Happy

Nail that STRESS-FREE

dinner party 'Ask The Expert’

is back!

INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY ONE PAGE AT A TIME

If you are able to deliver a minimum of 100 magazines in your local area each month, please write to us at hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

AN ILLUSTRATED TALK 'Seals, Seascapes & Coastal Wildlife’, an illustrated talk by Russell Miles about the coast of southern England where he lives, takes place on Friday 15th October. It will be held in the Garden Room of St Augustine's Church, Southborough Lane, Bromley BR2 8AT by the Friends of Jubilee Country Park. Doors will be open at 1.30 for a prompt start at 2pm. All welcome. Entry is free but a donation of £3 towards the work of the Friends would be welcome. For details call 07840-542261. CHEW ON THIS Major chewing gum producers, brought together by government, have signed up to a new £10 million partnership to remove gum litter from our high streets, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow has recently announced. The scheme, including Mars Wrigley, GlaxoSmithKline and Perfetti Van Melle and managed by independent charity Keep Britain Tidy, will see gum firms invest up to £10 million over the next five years to help reduce gum litter. Chewing gum litter is a blight on our towns and cities and wastes millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money every year; the annual clean-up cost is estimated at £7 million and previous pilot schemes have reduced gum littering by up to 64%. Around 87% of England’s streets are stained with gum, according to research by Keep Britain Tidy. share local news

Feature on the Community Noticeboard! for just £30. We aim to list charity and non-profit notices for free (space dependent), or we offer a 20% discount for a guaranteed listing. Email hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk with the details.

World Thoughts

People, places, cultures and races Floods, storms, heat from the sun, We try to adapt to each and everyone. Different sounds, different voices We have the opportunity to make our own choices. Whether you want to reach for the sky Or dive to the bottom of the sea where wonders lie, Make the most of this wonderful life Forget about the up and down, anger and strife. Follow your heart, free your mind Break every chain, see the beauty you will find. Ride, run, swim or walk, Find a friend in someone who is happy to talk. Share a smile Don't be scared to take a big leap, The world is a big adventure, make memories that last forever to cherish and keep. Look around you, wherever you are Remember you have a place here to shine as bright as the star you are.

Asia Greenaway

In celebration of National Poetry Day (on 7th October), here are some lovely poems sent in by a selection of readers…

Please Don’t Take My Mask Away

Please don’t take my mask away I like to wear it every day. It hides up all my wrinkles, And my odd-shaped nose, And if I spread it far enough My scraggy neck won’t show. I sorted out some high-heeled shoes, My skirt’s a little shorter. I passed a neighbour in the shop She thought I was my daughter. I had a glance from a nice young man In fact, some more just lately, So please don’t ask me to remove my mask As they will know I’m eighty.

Maureen Hiller

The Days Of The Virus

The silence came later only for those who cared to listen. First, havoc and disarray governed. Time took a different rhythm for those locked inside. But outside the window the world kept on going without us. The wind blew, the sun shone in the morning, the moon rose at night and seemed not to care. Time became dense and fluid at once. The days went by drop by drop and each drop echoed in the empty cavities of our existence. Shadows rammed us down to our darkest alleys. At first, people screamed, then laughed, then cried, then stopped altogether and finally stood still. We all watched and listen to those in charge. We then saw we were the ones in charge. So, we knew it! We held hands even though there were no hands to be held.

Claudia Colella

Liberty’s is a local independent boutique,

located next to Lloyds Bank just off Orpington High Street.

We stock:

Italian fashion including silks in many colours & styles A range of clothing to suit sizes from 6-8 up to 22-24 A wide range of clothing, bags, jewellery and gifts Other products from small local businesses on the shelves, which make this boutique unique!