Wilmington Parish News

June / July 2023 £1.00 www.stmichaelswilmington.org.uk

Vicar: Revd Carl Chambers

The Vicarage, 1 Curates Walk, Wilmington, DA2 7PU Tel: 01322 634506 / 07368 223743 email: vicar.wilmington@gmail.com

For enquiries about weddings, baptism & thanksgiv ings please contact the Parish Office: 288235

Reader: Eric Hookins 662337

Reader: Penny Culliford 07812 752395

Pastoral Assistant: Chris Hookins 662337

Licensed Lay Ministers: Jean Hook 222417

Richard Kinderman 07828703322

Churchwardens: Marc Culliford 07446 111454

Tony Bullimore

Youth Minister Sharon Stirman 07521 712311

Treasurer: Julie Short 292764

Electoral Roll: PCC Secretary Sharon Duncan Christine Jefferys 221874

Organist & Choirmaster: Alan Hunt 527959

Church Flowers: Louise Richards 07771 863613

Parish Archivist: Keith Simons 224379

Vergers: Louise Richards

Honorary Vergers

Chrystal Simmons

Maureen & Tony Guard

All are welcome to join us at any church service. We try and ensure that those who have never been before are made to feel part of the family from the start.

Our services are every Sunday 8.30am (approx. 45 minutes) and 10.30am (approx. 60-75 minutes).

On the first Sunday of the month there is a 5pm Evensong before a youth group (Year 6-Year 13) at 6pm.

Please contact the Vicar if you’d like to know when Holy Communion is, or would like a home visit to receive Holy Communion.

Please contact the Vicar if you’d like to know when Holy Communion is, or would like a home visit to receive Holy Communion.

From the Editor

Welcome to the June/July edition. There is a real mixed bag of articles some updated ads and a rather lovely poem about and tribute to a grandma. This summer will see the reintroduction of the St Michael’s summer holiday club, just before the return to school, giving you parents, grandparents and carers a few hours respite over a couple of days. The Heritage Centre have an article about one of the often overlooked memorial/facilities that are dotted around Wilmington. There will be more articles in future editions helping to uncover the very interesting past, links to characters and events that have created the community we inhabit.

Steve Jefferys

Editorial team members: John Smeeth, Jean Hook, Shirley Wilson, Janice Hennessy, Sharon Stirman and Carl Chambers. We always welcome articles from readers. If you would like to submit an item for inclusion in a future edition, please send it to: StMichaelsWilmingtonmagazine@gmail.com We also welcome letters to the editor. Please note new, working email address.

We reserve the right to edit any material submitted by contributors and, occasionally, to save items for future editions. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editorial team, nor can we vouch for the competence of advertisers.

This newsletter is published every two months and payment can be made online via the church website/Facebook page.

High Hopes for Children.

Update on projects at Kisiizi Hospital Primary School in Uganda. High Hopes for Children continues to support Kisiizi Primary School and the education of pupils with special needs. We have six pupils that are sponsored through our charity that are still at the school. Others have moved onto secondary or vocational education.

We have recently sponsored vocational skills training over two days in April this year. Time was set aside for the pupils to concentrate on learning craft skills. Projects included, making beads, table mats and door mats.

Bead Making Beatrice and Ian

There are two new special needs pupils who the school have taken on and they are looking for sponsorship to support their school fees, Beatrice who has started in Primary 1 and Ian in Primary 2.

If you would like to know more please contact the Editor.

The second new initiative has been to send money for the school to set up a small IT unit so that pupils can learn the basics of computing. This money will fund three desktop computers, a printer and ink for the initial set up. The project is still in the early stage of procurement and we look forward to the unit being used by the pupils in the near future.

John Smeeth - High Hopes for Children

Local Societies And Groups

St Michael’s Under 5’s Playtime: Thursday 9.30

11am in St Michael’s Parish Centre. Contact Jean Hook, tel. 222417

Toddler Club: Wednesday 10am, Wilmington Community Church. Contact: Nicola Field, tel. 222604

St Michael’s Pre-School: Mon-Fri, 9.15am-12.15pm in the Church Hall. Contact: Chantelle Queensbarrows.

Wilmington Women’s Institute: 2nd Tues. 2pm in the Memorial Hall.

Contact: Sheila Kennard, 01322 279706

Joydens Wood Women’s Institute: 3rd Tues, 7.45pm in Joydens Wood Community Centre. Contact: Ms Isabella Smith, tel. 557025

Wilmington Society: 4 meetings a year in the Memorial Hall Contact: Pat Burt tel. 745451

Wilmington Active Retirement Association (Wilmara): 3rd Friday, 2pm in the Memorial Hall. Contact 226943 for further information.

Leyton Cross Active Retirement Association: 2nd Thurs at 2pm in Leyton Cross Social Club. Contact: Marilyn Wells, tel. 863996

Wilmington Axtane Probus: Last Thursday of the month at 12 noon at Swanley Bowls Club. Mr Phil Burt, tel. 745451

Brownies: Tues 6.15-7.45pm, St Michael’s Church Hall

Beavers: Weds 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hut, Whitehead Close

Cubs: Thurs 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hut, Whitehead Close

Scouts: Thurs 7.45-9.15pm, Scout Hut, Whitehead Close. Contact: Glenn

Killick at gs.1st Wilmington@gmail.com

Dartford Bridge Club: Tues at 7pm, Wilmington Community Church Hall, Contact: John Davies, tel.01474 83221

Rotary Club of the North Downs: Thurs at 7pm, Hartley Country Club.

Culvey Close, Hartley, DA3 8BS Contact: Bob Phillips, 07815807520 or John Smeeth. 07889 137951

If you belong to a group in Wilmington for the benefit of residents, please let the editor know and we will include it, space permitting. If information is incorrect or incomplete please let us know using the magazine email.