February. Church and Community News

Transcription

1 February 2017 HILDENBOROUGH PARISH MAGAZINE Distributed free to over 2000 households Church and Community News

2 February Services Sunday 5 February Sunday 12 February Sunday 19 February Sunday 26 February WHO S WHO IN THE CHURCH CLERGY: Vicar: Revd. Tim Saiet Tel: or Mobile: Associate vicar: Revd. Simon Braid ( ) Revd. Andrew Wooding Jones ( ) Revd. Elizabeth Toy ( ) CHILDREN S CO-ORDINATOR READER: CHURCH WEBSITE: Markus Hockley ( ) Sue Trowbridge ( ) WARDENS: Peter Thomas ( ), Chris Mileham ( ) ARCHIVIST: Terry Barton ( ) PCC SECRETARY: Amanda Willmont ( ) (NB Parish Council tel. is on p 47) TREASURER: David Wood ( ) KEYS Magazine Editor: David Haugh ( ) Deputy Editors: Claire Rawlinson ( ) keysmag@hotmail.com Caroline Candler ( ) Distribution: Stewart Tapsell ( ) Advertising: Pieter Kooiman ( ) CHURCH CENTRE Cynthia Fawcus ( ) BOOKINGS: cafawcus@hotmail.com PARISH ADMINISTRATOR: Sal Hamlyn, Church Office, St John's Church Centre, Foxbush, TN11 9HT, ( ) stjohnshboro@btinternet.com (Term time - Mon , Tues 10-1, Thurs 10-1) (School Holidays - Mon 10-12, Tues 9-11, Thurs 10-12) YOUTH WORK: See organisations list inside cover at back and page a.m. Kidz Service a.m. Holy Communion ST JOHN S CHURCH 6.30 p.m. Contemporary Service 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion BCP a.m. Morning Worship 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion a.m. All Age Service 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion BCP a.m. Morning Worship Keys is printed by St. Mary s Church, Leigh tel: Contact us for printing of leaflets, booklets, etc. 2 ORGANISATIONS Community Groups AFTERNOON WI Mrs Betty Mackay ( ) EVENING WI Mrs Christine Gray ( ) GARDENERS SOCIETY Secretary. David Haugh ( ) GUIDES (Hildenborough)...Louise Neale ( ) SCOUT GROUP 8thtonbridgescouts@gmail.com BEAVERS (Ages 6-8 Thursdays p.m.) Andy Hay ( ) HILDENBOROUGH CONSERVATION GROUP Mrs Lynne Flower ( ) HILDENBOROUGH HISTORY SOCIETY...Judith McQuillan ( ) HILDENBOROUGH YOUTH CLUB...Temporarily suspended HOSPICE IN THE WEALD Thelma Fairs ( ) PARISH COUNCIL HILDENBOROUGH C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL... ( ) FOR THE STOCKS GREEN PRE-SCHOOL DETAILS SEE AD ON PAGE 42 MUSICAL BUMPS Margaret Lewin ( ) VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Mrs Anne Davies ( ) VILLAGE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION David Vanns ( ) KENT POLICE (Non-emergency calls) 101 PCSO TONI MATTHEW PCSO KIM HOCKEY Church Groups TUESDAY MORNING TEA AND COFFEE CORNER Church Centre ( ) HOUSE GROUPS.. Tim Saiet ( ) HILDENBOROUGH MEN S GROUP Keith Dyer ( ) PRAYER CHAIN Cynthia Fawcus ( ) SUNBEAMS (Mums and Babies)...Sue Gorham ( ) WEDNESDAY FOCUS SPARKLERS: 3-7 (Y2 at school) Amy Bean ( ) TRAILBLAZERS: (7-11 year) Emma Challis ( ) PATHFINDERS: (11-14 years) Charlie Sinclair ( ) NEW GENERATION (14 plus)...mark Packer ( ) or Margaret Wooding-Jones ( ) CRECHE: (0-3 years) Anita Parkes ( ) Hildenborough Sports BADMINTON: Kathryn Stewart ( ) HILDENBOROUGH INDOOR (SHORT MAT) BOWLS CLUB David Chambers ( ) HILDENBOROUGH CRICKET CLUB Barry Webb ( ) HILDENBOROUGH FRIENDLY BADMINTON CLUB...Ivan Kirkpatrick ( ) HILDENBOROUGH SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB (SUNDAYS) Pat King ( ) ROSEBANK BADMINTON CLUB Nick Aldridge ( ) STOOLBALL CLUB Bill Richardson ( ) TENNIS CLUB (membership) Jo Garrett ( ) HILDENBOROUGH SPORTS ASSOCIATION (Running Races) Mark Taylor ( ) KENT & SUSSEX SPORTS MOTOR CYCLE CLUB Paul Lane ( ) THE OAKS BRIDGE CLUB...Marilyn Starkey ( ) KEYS ADVERTISING Please note that the PCC cannot be held responsible for the quality of the services on offer. For any serious complaint, contact our advertising co-ordinator, Pieter Kooiman. The Keys Magazine needs your input; please contact: David Haugh (Editor), ( ) or keysmag@hotmail.com Deputy Editors - Caroline Candler ( ) and Claire Rawlinson ( ) The deadline for an entry is the 13 th of the previous month for typed or legibly handwritten entries and the 15 th for contributions. For all ADVERTISING contact Pieter Kooiman on

3 REMEMBER EVERY TUESDAY TO COME TO at St. John s Church Centre 9 11 a.m. Fresh seasonal food from dedicated local producers. Enjoy shopping in a relaxed friendly atmosphere; meet friends for coffee; and share our special events. Contact: Janet Richardson Hilden Park Chartered Accountants Support and solutions for your accounting and business needs - working with you throughout the year, not just at year end! Xero certified advisors Hilden Park Accountants - Making Your Life info@hildenparkaccountants.co.uk Hildenborough 46 Dear Friends, 100 years ago this month Russia was in a state of turmoil. What came to be known as the February Revolution resulted in the abdication of the Tsar and the establishing of a new government. But the turmoil continued and a second revolution in October brought Lenin and the Bolsheviks to power and the first communist regime in history. As they say, the rest is history. Far from inaugurating utopia, communism gave birth to a terrifying regime. It is estimated that nearly 30 million Russians perished from civil war and under Stalin. Communism is avowedly atheist and many religious minorities were persecuted in Communist Russia and elsewhere, such as China, Cambodia and parts of Eastern Europe. But nowadays it is religion that gets a bad name, particularly in the Middle East. Although Christians are often on the receiving end of violence, the history of Christianity is not always a good one; the Crusades being a prime example. Although he lived in an era of religious violence, Jesus was its most vocal opponent and its most high profile victim. For example, the first time he spoke in a synagogue in Nazareth, the congregation tried to kill him (Luke 4:14-30). Jesus often upset people because he diagnosed the heart of the human problem. He told some of the leading religious thinkers of the first century that they were hypocrites who honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. (Mark 7:6) Like many after them, they used religious language to hide their evil thoughts. When Jesus disciples suggested he zap some Samaritans who had rejected him, by calling down fire from heaven, Jesus rebuked them (Luke 9:51-56). When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane, he forbade his followers to resist his crucifiers and he prayed for the soldiers who nailed him to the cross. The apostle Peter records: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats Yet today Jesus is the most famous man in history. More songs have been sung about him, more books have been inspired by him and more movies have been made about him than anyone else, ever. Jesus has shown us what happens when we surrender our agenda to God and stop telling him what to do. He doesn t just answer the question about religious violence, He personifies the answer. So if you are troubled by the violence in the world, isn t it time to discover genuine religion as taught by Jesus. That s the message for 2017 our violent world desperately needs to hear. God bless 3 Simon

4 MONTHLY DIARY OF SOME OF THE Church Centre "OPEN TO EVERYBODY SUNBEAMS "It is as easy as ABC to come along with your pre-school child. A for Adults, B for Babies and C for Children." Every Monday 2-4 p.m. during term time. Contact: Tina Lewis WEDNESDAY FOCUS "Meeting women in the love of God for friendship, fellowship and fun. Every second Wednesday in the month at The Church Centre Temporarily suspended TEA & COFFEE CORNER "Meeting friends and making new ones" Weekly - Tuesdays a.m. Contact: Church Centre HILDENBOROUGH FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays a.m at Church Centre@St John s. Contact: Janet Richardson MEN S GROUP "Wine, cheese, fellowship, discourse and discovery all at our monthly meeting. All Hildenborough men welcome." There will be no meeting in February. Contact: George Gorham PLUS: once a term, at 8 a.m. on a Sat, a Men s Breakfast with a guest speaker. WHO LET THE DADS OUT? For Dads and young children. Hildenborough Church Centre Second Saturday of the month 10am HILDENBOROUGH YOUTH CLUB Temporarily suspended pending recruitment of a new leader 4 H.O.P.S Hildenborough Old People s Society Baptisms: Not currently active From the Registers 27th Nov. Florence Williams Samuel Williams 11th Dec. Thomas Collier Harry Collier Frank Stothard Marriages: n/r Deaths: 1st Oct. Paul King 24th Oct. Joyce Plowman 8th Nov. Liam Livermore 29th Nov. Michael Trowbridge 25 Dec. Joan Osborne 144 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough, TN11 9HJ, UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Why not pop in and see our newly refurbished bar and conservatory? Families welcome. Kitchen now open for hot and cold snacks. Check our Facebook page for live entertainment details or call: Vince , Kim , Rocky LOCAL INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENT Selling and renting all types of property in Hildenborough and surrounding villages. With 35 years experience Simon Homes has been running West Kent Estates for over 2 years to provide a bespoke service to meet the needs of each individual client. Let Simon guide you through the house moving process. Please call simon@wkestates.co.uk or visit our website at Tonbridge Road Hildenborough TN11 9HW Receive a 10% discount if you mention this KEYS advert. 45

5 Your Local Family Pub Everyone welcome including Children and Dogs. Serving Seasonal Food and Local Ales Opening Times: Wednesday to Friday 12-11pm, Saturday 12-3pm and 6-11pm, Sunday 12-9pm, food served until 7pm For weddings and events our barn is available any day of the week. Follow us on Facebook and plough at Leigh for up to date information and photos or phone Hazel & Mick on AT THE WHITE ROCK INN UNDERRIVER ( FREE HOUSE ) A traditional, family run Pub & Restaurant, just 2 miles outside of Hildenborough towards Sevenoaks. We have a large & varied selection of local real ales, and our Chefs offer a wide selection of food ranging from home cooked traditional pub food to our popular A La Carte Restaurant. Booking is advised. Also, why not try our new Poundstretcher Menu, available Monday to Thursday am/pm and Friday a.m. in bar areas. The pub games of Petanque and Bat & Trap can be played in our large garden. Christenings, Weddings, Birthdays & any other social functions are regularly catered for. Frank, Maria and Staff look forward to welcoming you at The White Rock Inn. Tel: St Valentine s Day There are two confusing things about this day of romance and anonymous love-cards strewn with lace, cupids and ribbon: firstly, there seem to have been two different Valentines in the 4th century - one a priest martyred on the Flaminian Way, under the emperor Claudius, the other a bishop of Terni martyred at Rome. And neither seems to have had any clear connection with lovers or courting couples. So why has Valentine become the patron saint of romantic love? By Chaucer s time the link was assumed to be because on these saints day -14 February - the birds are supposed to pair. Or perhaps the custom of seeking a partner on St Valentine s Day is a surviving scrap of the old Roman Lupercalia festival, which took place in the middle of February. One of the Roman gods honoured during this Festival was Pan, the god of nature. Another was Juno, the goddess of women and marriage. During the Lupercalia it was a popular custom for young men to draw the name of a young unmarried woman from a name-box. The two would then be partners or sweethearts during the time of the celebrations. Even modern Valentine decorations bear an ancient symbol of love - Roman cupids with their bows and love-arrows. There are no churches in England dedicated to Valentine, but since 1835 his relics have been claimed by the Carmelite church in Dublin. Valentine s Day reminds us of the importance of expressing our love to those close to us. But how can we go beyond simply flowers and a card? Jesus says: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34). How can we express love in our everyday relationships like Jesus? Listening We need to listen to others, just as Jesus did. He asked questions of people and waited for them to process their answer. How well do we listen to others? When with somebody, do we find ourselves already thinking of what we want to say before they ve finished speaking. Listening takes time; you can t rush it! Indian Bar & Restaurant Alongside Hildenborough Station Reservations & Take-away: TheCinnamonSquare.com 44 Touching Jesus reached out to touch the untouchables in his world, including lepers, the sick and children. One survey has suggested that we all need at least 8-10 meaningful touches a day to maintain emotional health! A warm handshake, touch on the arm or hug can be of real value. Of course, it should be appropriate touch helpful for the other person not just for ourselves. Speaking Jesus conversation was always full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Do we speak words of grace, by offering comfort, giving encouragement or expressing care and concern? However, we should also be ready to speak words of truth, in asking for forgiveness, seeking reconciliation or addressing conflict. Where is the challenge for us in expressing love this Valentine s Day? 5

6 Afternoon: Next meeting is on Feb 1st at 2.30 p.m. in the Church Family Room Evening: We started 2017 with a relaxed evening of Beetle Drive and quiz. Perhaps relaxed is not quite the word, judging from the furious rattling of dice and shouts of got a body, got a leg and this dice is loaded! The intellectual part of the evening followed with a quiz on types of sweets, taxing members mem- ories of liquorice allsorts and dolly mixtures amongst others. At our next meeting on 14th February one of our members will be talking to us about Hardwick. Visitors are always welcome in the Family Room of the Church Hall at 7.30pm. Non Sunday-service Church events in February/early March February Wed Fri Mon Sat Mon 1st 3rd 6th 11th 20th Bereavement Group am at Hilden Manor Over 60s Youth Group am Family Room PCC meeting 8pm Who let the dads out am Mission Committee meeting 1st 3rd 4th (Ash Wednesday) Bereavement Group am Hilden Manor Over 60s Youth Group am Family Room Ladies Breakfast March Wed Fri Sat Kent Wildlife Trust Monday 20th February, 8.00 p.m. Wonderful Swifts a talk by Edward Mayer PAVILION FLOWERS Tonbridge (opposite Sainsbury s) cut flowers, plants, sundries we can also take special orders for any occasion St. John s Church Centre, Hildenborough GRAND JUMBLE SALE SATURDAY 18th MARCH 2p.m. ST. JOHN S CHURCH CENTRE Admission 50p in aid of TONBRIDGE CHILDREN S WORKSHOP Further info / Donations of Jumble gratefully received on the day. Do what we can to help... Telephone Rob on J R L Computing Solutions For all your computing needs For Private Homes and Businesses No Fix, No Fee No Callout Charge Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm Tonbridge Based Several women in the church prayer group were visiting an elderly friend who was ill. After a while, they rose to leave and told her; "We'll do what we can to help. We promise to keep you in our prayers." "Thank you, she said. But, really, I can do my own praying. The thing I can t do is the dishes in the sink in the kitchen

7 HUGE RANGE OF DISCOUNTED NEW TOYS AND GARDEN PLAY EQUIPMENT QUALITY USED TOYS AND BIKES BOUGHT AND SOLD IMMEDIATE CASH FOR YOUR TOYS OPENING TIMES Tuesday 9am-4pm and 7.30pm-8.30pm Thursday 9am-4pm Saturday 9am-4pm Meopham Bank Farm Leigh Road Hildenborough Kent TN11 9AQ Children s small group & individual lessons Term time lessons; weekdays & weekends Baby & Toddler Parent & Child lessons Pre-School lessons 3yrs + (no parents in water) Half term, Easter & Summer holiday courses at Fosse Bank School Mountains Hildenborough 42 Swimming lessons Alison Marks Swim School Telephone: info@alisonmarksswimschool.co.uk Mummy and me drop in ballet classes for toddlers aged 18 months & over in Hildenborough Village Hall. Come & join us! See our website for class times & prices: or call Memories of Michael Trowbridge My first memory of a conversation with Michael was about his expectation of a forthcoming hospital visit. His concern was the size of the consultant s hands, not what might be found during the examination. Even in the indignity of a hospital examination, Michael could find humour. Mike, as I was to discover, always had a practical answer to a problem, often added with a twist of humour. He was off for one of his many MRI scans, and one felt that if the machine had the audacity to break down while Mike was on the table, then he would get up, strip the thing down, put it right and get back on the table. Not so far-fetched for someone who had the engineering skill to build a TV from scratch so that his family could watch the Queen s Coronation. Michael was a Grammar School Boy, the first step to Graduate Engineer aged 19 and Chartered Engineer aged 25. Mike was a founder member of the group of mature men who meet at The happy grumpy old men s table at the Farmers Market on Tuesdays. Over the years we learnt that he had an extensive knowledge of the construction industry from supervising the building of major roads and power stations. With his wide experience as Engineer, Counsellor, Prison Visitor, Lecturer and Consultant, he made valuable contributions to any conversation, often to de bunk urban myths. To Mike most of us were mere youngsters. In my conversations I found that Michael could be relied on to find a down to earth answer to a problem. He took the same unfussy approach to religion as he did to all other aspects of everyday life. When listening to his family giving us the story of Michael s life you could see the solid foundation of his northern upbringing. He had worked in tough environments with tough men and tough projects. Machines were not a mystery to Michael and his body had to fit that same format. If a bit went wrong it needed to be fixed. He liked to know what the surgeons were up to, although there were some who might have wished for less details of how the machinery was to be fixed. It was this practical approach to life and his strong basic faith in the Lord that kept him going, even when others might wonder how. He came back to his faith after a period of absence during which his first wife and then his son had died. This faith helped Michael to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - the wonder of waves lapping on the sea shore, the delight of grandchildren, a good meal and a glass of wine. My lasting memory is of the twinkle in his eye as he made a comment that might provoke a debate. He had no fear of dying, only the inconvenience of the journey to meet his Lord. 7

8 Here we are at the start of another year for our Farmers Market, bringing our usual great selection of fresh local food for you to enjoy each week, and special events to make your market extra special. We hope you have noticed our new Banners and Boards in a cheery yellow around the area, bringing your Farmers Market even more to the fore. We start the year with all the wrong vibes. First of all Sir John, who brings us that great selection of plants, managed to fall and break not only a leg, but an arm as well at the beginning of December. Happily he is now mending well, and, knowing him, guess he will be back very soon. Then Annie Hawkins, one of our Team managed to slip over and break her hip on Christmas Eve (too much revelry?) and, poor thing, was in hospital for Christmas. She came home the following week and has made great progress. Last, but not least, Wendy, the stallholder who brings us pies, game, etc. managed to fall at the beginning of January and she, too, has had a spell in hospital and a quiet January. We wish them all well and hope that this run of bad luck is over. Now is the time to indulge in warming soul foods and my calendar tells me that we should make the most of cauliflower, leeks, and good old cabbage. So why not try cauliflower cheese with fried onions, creamed leeks with sausage and mash or wonderful cabbage thinly sliced, steamed with plenty of butter and black pepper as good as a bowl of strawberries for me. Not for you? Well, let s try something new each month starting with Jerusalem artichokes. Never tried? These little knobbly wonders, cooked and mashed or made into the most delicious soup, are indeed a well-kept secret (though their wind-inducing properties mean that you need to eat them when you don t have visitors!) but the taste is just divine. You will no doubt have seen the photograph recently of many of the winners of the 50 Tonbridge Loyalty Card winners since the scheme started. We are pleased to say that this included two of the three winners from Hildenborough already so remember to always ask for your stamps when buying at the Market. Don t forget also, that they had already previously won 10 in our own draw, making 60 apiece! Representatives of Tonbridge Lions Club, which does such a lot for our community, will be at the Market on Tuesday 7 th February to promote the Message in a Bottle Scheme which helps to keep us safe in times of emergency. Please take the time to have a look, talk to the Lions and at least learn what it is all about. 8 41

9 D. Sands Services Plumbing and Heating Free estimates and design Discounted rates for Hildenborough residents Mob: Tel: Reg. No For your diary, we will be holding a surprise cooking demonstration on 14 th February. (A surprise to us as well as you!) The 28 th February, Shrove Tuesday, will see us once again holding our Annual Pancake Races. We welcome teams from schools in the village to take part in the obstacle run, and we hope that mums and little ones, together with customers, stallholders and helpers, will all help to make this a really fun morning. The reward of a bespoke medal from the Mayor, Cllr Mark Rhodes and his wife, Julie, and free pancake certainly can t be resisted! We would plead with everyone who reads this to make sure you come and buy your Hi Viz waistcoat for travelling in our lanes, walking (especially where there is no pavement), cycling or riding. Ditch your inhibitions and make them trendy and be seen for your own safety and peace of mind for drivers. These are sold at the Market at a no profit price of only 2.50 a very sound investment. Hildenborough Farmers Market is held EVERY Tuesday at St. John s Church Centre. The 402 bus stops outside. Info. Janet Richardson BRET PLUMBING LTD. Terry E R Bedding All domestic plumbing undertaken Advice/estimates given without obligation Tel: Mob: thebeddings@sky.com IAN HOLLOBON HEATING & PLUMBING All Domestic Plumbing Full Heating Design & Installation Landlord certificates & safety inspections Unvented Cylinders and Accumulators Tel: hollobon@virginmedia.com TRAVIS PLUMBING Plumbing & Bathroom Design & Build Flooring and General Maintenance 40 M Yeoman Plumbing Above All Bathrooms Bathroom Installations Emergencies Repairs info@aboveallbathrooms.co.uk No job too small WRC Accredited Call Simon on: or mobile: Farmers Market Recipe for February A warming recipe which can be used with a selection of vegetables of your choice, but leek and mushroom with cheese is always good. For a hungry family, this would be equally good with a pie crust over the top but omitting the breadcrumbs. 6 large leeks, washed and sliced Large pinch cayenne pepper 150g Chestnut mushrooms 25g parsley - chopped 100g Fresh white breadcrumbs 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme A little olive oil. You will also need about 350g cheese sauce which can either be bought or homemade (if home-made you will need 15g butter; 15g plain flour; 300g milk and 50g cheese; salt and pepper). Preheat the oven to 200C, gas mark 6. Cook the leeks in a large pan of boiling water or in the microwave until just tender, then drain thoroughly. Arrange in a shallow ovenproof dish and spoon over the cheese sauce to cover them. Meanwhile, heat the oil and fry the mushrooms for several minutes over a mediumhigh heat until lightly browned. Add the breadcrumbs and cayenne and cook for 2-3 minutes until starting to crisp. Stir in the herbs then scatter the mixture over the cheese sauce. Bake for minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden and crisp then all you need is some mash potato to serve. No God - No Peace. Know God - Know Peace. 9 A Waitrose recipe from the past.

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11 HALES CONSTRUCTION LTD Local reliable building company Extensions, refurbishments, new builds, garage conversions, kitchens, bathrooms, fascias/soffits & gutters, roofing & glazing FREE ESTIMATES Tel Dan Hales Local Chimney Sweep * Traditional Brush & HEPA Vacuum * Smoke Testing & Insurance Certificate Included * Fully Insured * ICS Registered * Installation Advice Given FREE LOCAL CALL OUT COMPETITIVE PRICES Alistair Colenutt Repairs to Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers, Dishwashers, Electric Cookers, Fridges and Freezers Evening and Weekend Calls Welcome Mobile Landline Call: E. Coleman on alistairjc@hotmail.com S. L. HAZELL Ltd. DOMESTIC - INDUSTRIAL - COMMERCIAL Mark Hazell ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR - Part P Registered 11 Foxbush, Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9HT Tel: Mobile: markthespark@slhazell.com WELD DONE Mr Shaun Simmons For all your electrical requirements large or small: Consult your local established experts without obligation Your satisfaction is our business Welding, Metalwork and General Handyman Gates, Railings and Repairs Neil Davies Mount Pleasant Road Weald, Sevenoaks TN14 6QB Mob: Tel:

12 GREEN MATTERS Who would be a gardener? In 2016 my runner beans provided more food for the slugs than for us. I was not alone - many others had the same problem. I had not realised how far up the stems the slugs would eat. Yet the potatoes did well and we had enough fresh new potatoes and salad potatoes for us to enjoy all summer. The broad beans that were planted the previous November grew well towards the end of the year and looked to survive the winter under their netting to keep off the pigeons. No such luck - the slugs felt safe enough to nibble away at the plants, and by the spring they were in a sorry state. I decided to give them another chance, and they rewarded me with a burst of growth and lots of flowers which the bees enjoyed. I m happy for the bees but not so happy about the slugs - you can t have everything. With the bees having done their job, there were lots of young tender beans early in the year. We managed to eat two or three pickings of small young broad beans. They are good to eat whole when they are young. Then the weather changed and the slugs returned to eat the beans from the pods. There looked to be healthy plants but the pods were empty - eaten away underneath. A mixed blessing with the broad beans, but I have already prepared the soil and will try again. Last year I tried a bean that I had not grown before - Italian Borlotti Bean. In case the slugs were going to eat these, we picked them young before they could get a taste. That worked very well. That s the thing about the garden - you do not know what is going to grow. One year there is a splendid display of blossom on the apple tree but a chill wind comes and there is no fruit. The next year all goes well and you have so many apples that you cannot give them away. It would be nice if things levelled themselves out a bit, but life is not like that. What will happen next year? We do not know, so we plant a mixture of seeds in different parts of the garden and hope that some will come up and survive the weather, the slugs, the pigeons and the assistance of the grandchildren. I am writing this in December and as I dig, I think about my garden in the summer. I hope that by exposing the soil for the robin to feed, he will eat the snail eggs. The blackbird has been shouting at me to get out of his way so that he can help himself to the worms, and I hope he will also take his share of the pests. Feeding the birds does help clean the soil. Some things will grow and this is something to look forward to. Not knowing what will grow does make it interesting. It s probably no coincidence that the Bible starts in a garden. It s a good reminder of how unpredictable life can be. One year a plant will do well and the next it will fail. You do your best with it but it does not respond. You never know which, so you try all the options and see which bears fruit. In life, not everything that you start works out as expected - anything can go wrong. It is the unexpected that keeps life interesting and I will try some new different seeds this year as well as my usual tried and tested selection. George Gorham 12 GORDON PATERSON PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Celebrating 40 years in business Glass replacement inc. broken/misted DG units Maintenance of PVC windows, doors, locks, handles. General property maintenance, painting & decorating. Kitchen refurbishments, DIY SOS inc. flat pack assy. Contact Gordon Paterson for quotations on: or gordonpaterson21@gmail.com D.R.WARD BUILDERS Your local builder Est. since 1965 Roof work - Guttering - Chimneys Brickwork - Pointing - Extensions Plastering - Carpentry - Painting Tel: drwardbuilders@hotmail.co.uk Radiator Cabinets Made to measure from Woodtec. Please ring for prices and information. Telephone/Fax: connolly142@btinternet.com Unit 9 Gaza Trading Estate, Hildenborough, Kent TN11 8PL Gaza Timber Gaza Trading Estate, Hildenborough Timber, Sheet Materials, Doors, Ironmongery, Decking, Fencing, Paint Mixer, Power Tools, Tools, Trade and DIY Welcome. Prompt delivery can be arranged Phone or Fax GLASS EXCHANGE Double Glazing Repairs Having problems with condensation between your double glazed units? We replace just the glass - not the frames We specialize in all types of repairs Door Locks, Door Handles, Letter Boxes Window Hinges, Cat Flaps, Window Keys, Double Glazing, Patio Rollers Free Quotations Tel: London Road, West Malling, ME19 5AE 37 EUGENIA S DECORATING SERVICES THE LADY DECORATOR Tel: eugenia.roberts@gmail.com

13 Hildenborough Decorators Interior & exterior decorating Michael Common Painter decorator Riding Park Hildenborough C & K Services Painting and Decorating For new builds and extensions we can also offer a full paint spraying service that gives an excellent finish on ceilings and walls or just a mist coat application General Household Maintenance For a Free Estimate call Colin Harris on or P.W.STURMER ROOFING TILING SLATING MOSS CLEARING FASCIAS SOFFITS GUTTERING STABLES GARAGE ROOFS AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL ROOFING Phone PAUL on: or mobile: Your local Roofer Specialists in flat roofing works,upvc fascias,gutters, tiling works,chimney flashings / Repointing. High Performance Elastomeric felt & DRYSEAL fibreglass system with up to 20 years guarantee (01732) clive@aquaguard.co.uk 36 BUILD AND LANDSCAPE Driveways/Patios Block and Stone Full Landscape and Design Fencing - Panel and Close Board Complete Property Maintenance Free Estimates & Free Advice Tel: For a more professional finish In business in Hildenborough since 1880 aquaguard McDonnell Plastering & Decorating Ltd Skimming over artex All interior and exterior decorating General property maintenance Re-skims Coving New Ceilings Contact us for a free estimate on: or patmcdonnell@blueyonder.co.uk Hildenborough Gardeners Society The January talk in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support was well attended and enjoyed by those who were there. Our next event is the ever-popular Spring Social evening, on Feb 13th, where good conversation mixes with a bit of brain searching to find the answers to the quiz questions. The March talk on Monday 13th is by David Spencer on daffodils, which will form the heart of our Spring Show on Saturday 25th March. If you are not a member, why not join and enjoy the benefits. You can buy your gardening requirements at the garden store in Riding Lane at very competitive prices and get useful knowledge from experienced gardeners. Now that Tonbridge has no DIY garden chain stores, this will save you time as well as money. Membership costs only 5 per year and gives access to talks, shows, outings and of course, the store. You can join at the store on Saturday mornings from the 28th January onwards, or else give me a call on You will be warmly welcomed into the largest society in the village. From your local MP Enough is enough. That s the feeling I get as I write this column again, on Southern Rail s service, or the lack of it. For months we have been held to account by a group of Union bosses, intent on using 600,000 Southern commuters to bring down the democratically elected Government. They are playing politics with our lives and livelihoods. At the time of writing we have still yet to find a solution. We all know the impact. It means our crucial connections are lost, and many people we know are forced to spend time away from work, losing income, and children are unable to get to school. This is all taking place because of a dispute where no jobs will be lost and no employee will lose money. Indeed, the independent rail regulator has confirmed that Driver Only Operations are safe so it s not about safety either. That s why I ve written directly to the unions to tell them about the impact it is having on us. The Government have thrown a number of possible options at them, but each time union bosses will not accept. You can see the letter on my website The impact on us here in Hildenborough is noticeable, as passengers travel from the west to use our Southeastern service to get to and from work. I appreciate the impact it has on everyone reliant on our trains. I ve had to drive here or to Tonbridge, countless times when going to the Houses of Parliament, because of the strikes stopping my commute on the Uckfield line. But let s remember who is at fault here. Yes, Network Rail let us down and Southern s service can be diabolical, but at least it s a train. The union bosses are denying us the right to travel. This has got to stop and I m determined to ensure it does. 13 David Haugh (Secretary) Tom Tugendhat

14 RWE TREE SURGERY All Aspects of Tree Care WE ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO BE ECONOMICAL, YET LARGE ENOUGH TO UNDERTAKE ALL TREE WORK Local Transport Plan for Kent Consultation The Local Transport Plan for Kent (LTP4) consultation document is the culmination of collaborative working between KCC and each of the 12 Districts and Medway Unitary Authority. It sets out strategic ambitions for the county, as well as the local schemes which are vital for supporting economic growth. The Kent and Medway Growth and Infrastructure Framework (GIF) provide the evidence base for LTP4. It has identified (as far as possible) the scale of growth expected in Kent to 2031 and therefore what infrastructure investment is required to support it and help grow the Kent economy. The overall ambition for Kent is to deliver safe and effective transport, ensuring that all Kent s communities and businesses benefit, the environment is enhanced and economic growth is supported. There are subsequently five outcomes and policies to achieve this ambition. They are: Economic growth and minimised congestion, Affordable and accessible door-to-door journeys, Safer travel, Enhanced environment and Better health and wellbeing. There are nine strategic priorities in addition to the priorities for each specific district. These are; Enabling Growth in the Thames Gateway, New Lower Thames Crossing, Port Expansion, A Solution to Operation Stack, Bifurcation of Port Traffic, Provision for Overnight Lorry Parking, Ashford International Stations Signalling (Ashford Spurs), Journey Time Improvements and Thanet Parkway Railway Station, Rail and Bus Improvements. TMBC supports these strategic priorities and welcomes the benefits they will bring to Tonbridge & Malling and to the wider area. However, there are concerns regarding the new Lower Thames Crossing without the inclusion of the C Variant (improvements to the A229 and M2 junction 3) or other alternatives to provide a suitable link between the M2 and M20. These concerns are shared by KCC and have been expressed to Highways England as part of the consultation on the preferred route for the LTC that took place earlier this year by both TMBC and KCC. Fly-Tipping Fly tipping is a very serious offence that can have far reaching consequences. In addition to the obvious visual blight on an area, it can be a hazard to road users, children and others in the community. It can make people feel less safe in the area and encourage further deposits and other anti-social activity. So this is a reminder that if you leave small scale material e.g. builders rubble, ripped out kitchens/ bathrooms and furniture anywhere on Highway land (footways, verges and the road) it can, and will be considered as Fly-Tipping, with the possibility of a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued. TMBC are to implement the maximum of 400 as the penalty with no reduction for early payment. Therefore please ensure you store any material for collection on Private Land. Reductions & Removals however large or small Hedge Cutting & Stump Grinding Fencing and Digger Work For Free Quotes call enquiries@rwers.co.uk ABBEY GARDEN DESIGN & BUILD Passionate about gardens for any and every aspect of your garden, please give us a call Garden design & hard landscaping Plant supply & planting Landscape & garden maintenance or HEVER LANDSCAPES LTD. Year-round garden management, regular maintenance or a one-off garden tidy/clearance. Complete landscaping projects, such as paths, patios, retaining walls, all types of fencing, turfing/seeding, hedge cutting and hedge laying. please phone Karl on or Children s Holiday Activities Programme Despite significant changes, including the transition to external providers, the holiday activity programme in 2016 remained popular. Attendance levels were encouraging for the first year of the new arrangements and hopefully the partners can build on that success this year. No complaints over the new arrangements have been received, and a number of compliments were made regarding the professional approach adapted by the providers. Please contact TMBC for 14 Adam s Gardens Let your garden be mine too Experienced Qualified Arborists All Tree & Hedge Works Undertaken Emergency Call Out 5 Million Public Liability Insurance info@hazelwoodtrees.co.uk Professional Gardener Studied at Hadlow (Distinction in Horticulture) General Maintenance Plant advice/supply One off tidy-ups Expert Pruning Tel: or Fully Insured 35

15 Tonbridge Joinery - Windows Doors Bifold Doors Mouldings Supplied and fitted tonbridgejoinery.co.uk Tree Fellas Tree Surgery Reshaping Pollarding Stump Removal Hedge Cutting Fully qualified and insured Free estimates and advice 34 P J Richardson s Carpenter / General Property Maintenance T RICHARDSON TREE SERVICES ALL ASPECTS OF TREE CARE UNDERTAKEN Removals Hedge cutting Reductions Stump grinding Mobile: Home: TomRichardson246@gmail.com T RICHARDSON TREE SERVICES Instagram: t_richardson_tree_services Call us now for a free no-obligation quote details of activities for children during Mayor s Report Finishing off last year, I attended Hillview School s prize giving held at St Stephens Church. Entertainment was provided by the students. In the evening I was present at the Kent Police Divisional Commander s Certificate of Merit Ceremony, held at Aylesford Priory which recognised worthy actions of members of the Police and support staff. The carol concert held by Tonbridge Philharmonic at Tonbridge School was excellent. Julie and I attended a Thank You lunch for helpers at Age UK in Bradford Street, and we both attended the Borough Councillors Chris Smith Knowsley Way, Hildenborough christopher.smith@tmbc.gov.uk Mark Rhodes Hawden Close, Hildenborough mark.rhodes@tmbc.gov.uk Tonbridge Grammar School s Carol Concert, again held at Tonbridge School; some fine singing including the Motet Choir. Julie and I helped at the Age UK Christmas lunch in the Day Centre at Lockside. The first event of this year was the Annual Blessing of the Seas ceremony held at Margate. Kent Mayors paraded to the beach from the Greek Orthodox Church behind a band, with members of the church following; we assembled on the beach, the seas were blessed and a youth retrieved a cross from the sea pool a number of times. 15 Cllr Mark Rhodes From your County Councillor A new five-year strategy is set to be launched, bringing together agencies across Kent to tackle drug and alcohol abuse. It is estimated that nearly 264,000 Kent people are drinking at increasing and high risk levels. It is believed that of the 53,000 alcoholdependent individuals in the county who require treatment services, only around half (50%) were in treatment services in 2014/15. Although there has been a long-term decline in the use of drugs, and use is now at its lowest figure for ten years, those aged 16 to 24 years are more likely to use drugs compared with any other age group. The decline in the use of drugs has not been seen in older adults, who have maintained their drug use into older age, and this group has the highest level of drug-related mortality. Treatment services in Kent currently perform well overall and often exceed national performance benchmarks. Future planned work includes partnerships with schools to provide good quality drug and alcohol education, particularly around New Psychoactive substances (NPSs). Protecting children and young people from alcohol harm was one of the key pledges from the last alcohol strategy, and figures show that hospital admissions for children and young people have declined across Kent, and for the first time are better than the South East regional rate (and similar to the national one). Kent Police have led work that targeted and specified operations to address identified issues in licensed premises, supporting Trading Standards with test purchasing operations and supporting other licensing initiatives. Local housing authorities will support vulnerable people in housing with strategies to address housing need and homelessness. With best wishes, Valerie Dagger TMBC County Councillor Valerie Dagger valerie.dagger@kent.gov.uk Contact the Parish Council via: clerk@hildenboroughpc.kent parishes.gov.uk or

16 Discover and Celebrate Art This year, Hospice in the Weald will be hosting its very first art exhibition: Art for Arts Sake. The two-day event will feature up to 300 paintings from around 100 local artists and will give guests the opportunity to chat with exhibitors and purchase any piece of work on display, whilst helping to raise funds for Hospice in the Weald. The exhibition is being held at the Hospice on the 4 th and 5 th of March between 10.30am and 4.00pm and entry for adults is only 3 and children can come along for free. On both Saturday and Sunday we will be offering you the chance to exercise your artistry skills learning from professionals in our workshop. Saturday will be Family Day the perfect family day out which will include a children s workshop. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to express themselves and have a go at creating their very own masterpiece! For more information please visit the Hospice in the Weald Website: or contact Ben Greenstreet at ben.greenstreet@hospiceintheweald.org.uk or on Have you downloaded the St. John s app for your phone or tablet? Just search for St Johns Hildenborough to find it. You will have easy access to everything concerning the church - services, groups, messages, events, information, etc. You will even find the latest issue of Keys! Make the most of modern technology and try it out. Hildenborough Road Races - Monday 1st May proved to be another highly successful year for the road races and we are hoping this year will see even more runners for our three road races (2.5, 5 and 10 miles). All these races start at 2.30pm from Hildenborough recreation ground. Entry is via the website ( and the number of entries is restricted to 300 across all races - so don t delay that entry if you want to take part! We will again be holding the children's races within the recreation ground, and are hoping to better last year s entries again. Finally there will again be the Family Fun Day alongside the races, comprising stalls, entertainment and refreshments, so even if you are not a runner there will still be something to do while you cheer everyone on. Details, regularly updated, will also appear on the website. For any race enquiries or if you are interested in having a stall please hildenroadrace@gmail.com. All proceeds from this fantastic day go towards supporting the various village schools and clubs so please put it in your diary now. 16 Live-In Home Care We are an independent, family run agency with many years experience. We provide clients with one to one live-in care in their own home. Tunbridge Wells The Pharmacy 50 years Service to Hildenborough Village NHS + Private prescriptions dispensed Home deliveries by arrangement Open Mon-Fri , Sat Smoking cessation support available from trained assistants. Equine and other veterinary products supplied. Thompsons Pharmacy, 1a Riding Lane. Tel: gstsira@btinternet.com 33 Foot Care Alice Neale (nee Hannan) BSc (Hons) MChS Health & Care Professions Council registered Chiropodist / Podiatrist Tel: Local resident A caring and gentle approach to your feet

17 High Hilden Residential Home for the Elderly Established 1946 Tel: * Outstanding value, 24 hour personal care * Fine Edwardian house in beautiful grounds * 38 single bedrooms, some en suite * Warm, friendly atmosphere * Freshly prepared, nutritious meals * Extensive activities programme * Pre-bookable respite care available High Hilden Close, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3DB Registered Charity Number: Residential Home for the Elderly Established 1965 Nine en suite bedrooms Spacious Living Areas Cooked Lunch & Evening Meals Peaceful Garden Security & Privacy Care & Companionship Non-profit making The Abbeyfield Tonbridge Society Limited Bentall House, 7 Dry Hill Park Crescent Tonbridge TN10 3BJ Tel: Hildenborough History Society In 2017 we have in our village only a few retail shops remaining. If we go back 70 years there were so many more. For instance, where Cooper the hairdresser is now situated, there used to be Rex Tea Stores, which relocated from Church Road. Where Kelly is now enhancing the village with her great coffee shop, we had Ben s Fags and Mags, which prior to that was the newsagents and confectioners Midgely s. We also had Palmer s, and before that even, Balcombe s general store on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Church Road. Then there was Laurie Crouch the butcher, The Bow Window was a sweet shop, Leyton House a greengrocers. We also boasted a fish and chip shop, a haberdashery cum wool shop and others in the centre of the village. A pottery shop was situated near the Flying Dutchman. Lower down in the village in the craft cast part of Brookmead, we had a cake and cake decorating shop and Bill Cuss s bike shop. Even further down across Hilden Park Road from the BP garage there was the dairy shop, and just another hundred yards further along Tonbridge Road was Hilden Post Office and general stores. I know we now have much more choice from supermarkets, etc. but I do miss the atmosphere and service once provided by these local shops. The Historical Society is undertaking to fully document all the shops that have existed and those that still exist in the village from just post Second World War up to now. If you have any recollections of the shops mentioned above or indeed have knowledge of any shops I may have missed, I would love to hear from you with your reminiscences and photos, (which I will return to you). You can contact me, Joy Dolling, by at johodoll@btinternet.com or write to me at 1 Derby Close TN11 9JU. One item for your diary is the Society s AGM, which will take place on 21st h April 2017 in the Margery Finzi Room of the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. - members and visitors alike will be welcome. The AGM will be followed by a talk, details of which will appear in subsequent issues of Keys. 32 We Purchase Single Items and Complete House Contents Collectables, Antiques & Bric-a-Brac Bought & Sold Environment Agency Licensed Waste carriers Tel: Mob: Barden Road, Tonbridge Jane Austen well worth her weight in coins and bank-notes! The much-loved novelist Jane Austen is about to make history. 200 years after her death, she will appear simultaneously on a British coin and a British bank note. That means that only the Queen, who as head of state must be depicted on British currency, will be more prevalent. The Royal Mint has chosen Jane Austen as the new image for its commemorative 2 coin. About five million will be released into mass circulation sometime this Spring. At about the same time, the Bank of England will release its new, plastic, unrippable 10 note, with Jane Austen replacing Charles Darwin. Historians cannot recall the last time a figure other than the reigning monarch appeared on both coins and notes at the same time. The release of both coins and notes will be in step with the 200 th anniversary of Jane Austen s death, in the summer of 1817, at the age of just

18 Mesopotamia 1915 to 1917 This month we remember the death 100 years ago of 29 year old Thomas Card, a Private with the 1st/5th Battalion (Weald of Kent) The Buffs, The East Kent Regiment. His death is recorded as being the 15 th February We do not know how he died, but it cannot have been pleasant. The events leading to his death had begun back in 1914 and had their own momentum. Then, as now, it was oil from the Middle East - a vital import. Oil from the Basra oilfields was needed by the navy, but this was within the territory of the Ottoman Empire. When war broke out, it was decided to send a small force to protect the oilfield. This force from the Indian Army landed in November 1914 to protect Basra and the surrounding oil fields. From this small force developed a long history of problems that are still with us today. Thomas Card was a Private with the 1 st /5 th Battalion (Weald of Kent) The Buffs, the East Kent Regiment that was part of General Townsend s Army, with most of his troops from the Indian Army. Having defeated an Ottoman Army at Basra with very little resistance, the decision was taken by the Foreign Secretary back in London in April 1915, that the army should advance and capture Baghdad. With no extra troops and very little supplies, General Townsend showed considerable skill in overcoming obstacles, and his small army made steady progress pushing the Ottoman Troops ahead of him. On 22 nd November, when they were just 25 miles from Baghdad, the Ottoman Troops rallied. General Townsend decided to retreat to a position that was easier to defend. Then things went wrong. On the last part of march back from Baghdad, they became surrounded by a superior force and cut off from any line of retreat at Kut, a town on the River Tigris. The conditions can t have been easy. They were marching through hostile territory, not only against opposition, but against difficult terrain and weather. The enemy had all the advantages; they knew the area and they Timeline New Naval ships need fuel oil not coal Navy bombards Forts on Persian Gulf. Small Indian Force landed to protect oil fields British occupy Basra Ottoman Troops attack Basra garrison. They are defeated and retreat Siege of Kut began. British troops sent to relieve Townsend s Army Guy Talbot Baker killed British receive supply by air drops General Townsend surrenders his army. Nov. 16 Mrs. Card told Thomas was a POW Thomas Card recorded as dead 18 were used to the environment. They might not have been well organised but they were fighting for their homeland and they were now under the command of a German General who was a professional solder. From the 7 th December 1915 the British Army was under siege, and despite attempts to resupply the troops from the river and even from the air, General Townsend was forced to OSTEOPATH Ian Clutton BSc (Hons) Ost. At Integrated Health Ian uses manipulation, cranial and soft tissue techniques (massage). Not just backs... Arthritic Pain Sciatic Pain Sinus Problems Headache Acute Injury Nerve Compression Jaw Dysfunction Sports injuries Elbow / Knee Pain Achilles Pain Frozen Shoulder Constipati on Whiplash Tinnitus Disc Damage Rehabilitation Antenatal Babies London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1AP Charlotte Sullivan Sports and Remedial Massage Therapy Qualified with a level 5 BTech diploma Phone: Charlotte_massage@mail.com W ealden surveys & conservation David Vanns - director BSc, Dip Bldg Cons (RICS), P.G.Dip E: surveys@wealdensc.co.uk 4 Fairfield Way, Hildenborough, TN11 9ET 31 ~ Sarah Jayne ~ Professional Hair Stylist For an appointment please ring: or Snippits Unisex hair salon Tonbridge Road Hildenborough TN11 9HP WINDOW CLEANER fergus.brady@water-work-windows.co.uk sales@water-work-windows.co.uk info@water-work-windows.co.uk

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20 Cromer Beachcomber Guest House We offer twin, double and family en-suite rooms for your stay in this lively, unspoilt seaside town. Look forward to a wonderful break in a peaceful guest house that is just a minutes' walk from the beach and near the town centre. Owner: Jill Boyle Phone: The Night Sky in Hildenborough February 2017 As I mentioned last month, there are bright planets to see in the morning and evening skies, although Jupiter, which initially can only be seen in the early hours, will soon become an evening object. The giant planet rises around midnight at the start of the month and remains visible through until 7.00am when it will be in the south west. As the month passes, Jupiter rises progressively earlier, until by the end of February it becomes visible low down in the east around 10.00pm. Earlier in the evening sky Venus outshines everything bar the Moon, and coincidentally on the first of the month, the two appear to be near neighbours around 6.00pm in the south west. On that night a crescent Moon lies a little to the east (left) and slightly north of, the brilliant Venus. If you look carefully, you will see a fainter object that lies between these two, but is slightly closer to Venus; this is the red planet Mars. Venus is one of the inner planets, the other being Mercury, both of which exhibit phases that look very much like those we see on the Moon, though our view of them is slightly different. In the case of the Moon, we see its phase change as it circles us, gradually revealing varying amounts of its illuminated face. Its size is always the same, apart from slight changes due to the eccentricity of its orbit. With the inner planets, we are looking in and watching the process from outside, as the planets move around the Sun. Of course, as with the Moon, half of the planet is always illuminated, it s just that we can only see a portion of it. What is different though, is that the apparent size of the two planets changes as their phase changes, because sometimes they are on the same side of the Sun as us and sometimes on the other side. This is particularly noticeable with Venus, whose apparent size can vary enormously. You can see from the diagram, which is drawn looking down on the solar system from above, that when one of the inner planets lies between us and the Sun it is at inferior conjunction and much closer to us. At this time it is invisible, because not only is it lost in the solar glare, but it has its illuminated face, of course, turned towards the Sun. When it is on the opposite side of the Sun (at superior conjunction) it is very much further away from us although once again it is invisible in the Sun s glare. On February 11th there will be a penumbral eclipse of the Moon beginning at 10.34pm. This is where the Moon passes through the outer part of the shadow that the Earth always casts out into space. The change in brightness of the Moon is so subtle that it is easy to miss that an eclipse is under way at all. Sadly, it is not as spectacular as a regular lunar eclipse where the Earth passes into the central (umbral) shadow. However, if it is clear, it is worth looking to see if you can spot any change in the full Moon. Brian Mills FRAS 20 info@cromer-beachcomber.co.uk Local Country Cottage For two people Central heating Off Street Parking Wi-Fi available No Smoking or Pets Holiday or short term rental Telephone Lucinda Lewis Sarah s Paintbox Beautiful Hand Sewn Curtains and Blinds Competitively Priced Locally Based BA (HONS) TEXTILES TAILOR MADE CURTAINS & BLINDS Contact SHARON on or Mobile Shop at 1 Riding Lane, Hildenborough sarahspaintbox@btconnect.com 29

21 SPECIALIST IN COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC FLOORINGS, WINDOW BLINDS & CARPET CLEANING SERVICE Hildenborough Butchers MARKET GARDENS, RIDING LANE, TN11 9LH, OPENING TIMES. TUES WED - FRI SAT Or meet us at Hildenborough farmers market. Specialising in home grown and locally produced meat FRESH CUT MEAT ALL WEEK. Wasp Treatment Taking the sting out of summer andy.wasp Wasp & Wasp nest treatment Fast, Efficient & Reliable Mobile: andy.wasp@yahoo.com 28 Tonbridge area Postcodes TN9, 10, 11 Woodies is a passionate and creative catering company offering quality catering at competitive prices. Excellent service and customer satisfaction is our main goal. Our team are on hand to help you plan your event whether you need chefs, waitresses or the food just delivered we can provide to your requirements. For more information please visit our website, or contact Victoria on or by at woodiescatering@hotmail.com LIVERY HILDENBOROUGH SMALL FRIENDLY YARD CLOSE TO TOLL RIDES OWNER RUN / ON SITE FLOODLIT MENAGE SECURITY DETAILS Dreaming of Gerontius A choral workshop led by Matthew Willis 11 February pm-5pm Tonbridge School Recital Room Learn more about how to perform Elgar s choral classic The Dream of Gerontius With a short performance at the end to friends and family. Tickets 25 including hire of the score, tea and cake Application forms available to download at or workshop@tonphil.org.uk. For further information visit the Tonbridge Philharmonic website at: ORCHESTRAL CONCERT 18 February pm St Peter & St Paul Parish Church, Tonbridge Conductor Matthew Willis Debussy: Nocturnes Arutunian: Trumpet Concerto Soloist Matilda Lloyd winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year (brass section) Chausson: Symphony in B flat Tickets: 15 Adults, 14 Senior citizens over 60, 7 students Tickets from box office Tickets are also available to purchase from local businesses: Brittens Music, Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells Country Garden Florist, 191 High Street, Tonbridge Wolfit Pet Shop, 10 High Street, Tonbridge Six ethics of life Before you pray believe Before you speak listen Before you spend earn Before you write think Before you quit try Before you die - live 21

22 The opportunity to subscribe to the Parish Council s forthcoming publication TALES FROM A KENT VILLAGE - HILDENBOROUGH as seen through the Parish Council s Archives closes on Monday 13th February If you would like to subscribe in advance of publication but do not have a subscription form, please apply to the Parish Council c/o 60 Knowsley Way Hildenborough TN11 9LQ or c/o 6 Riding Lane Hildenborough TN11 9HX Give the following details: Name, address including post code, telephone no. (in case of query); If you wish to be listed amongst the subscribers, please give details of the name(s) to appear on the list; Please indicate if you are a member of the Hildenborough History Society as 1 for each copy bought by members pre-publication will be donated to the Society; Number of 10 please add 1.50 p. and p. per order from addresses outside the village. Payment by cash or cheque payable to HILDENBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL T A X I Carriage Private THE BRILLIANT CAR Hire CLEANING CO. LTD. PRIVATELY OWNED Punctual Pre-booked Service Keith Walters Estate and Six-Seater Vehicles Airport and Seaport Transfers Hospital Travel Waiting Service Enjoy learning to drive with Dee Long Distance Trips For friendly, patient and reliable instruction Contact: carriageph@gmail.com Beginner, refresher, Pass Plus, motorway tuition, night driving and intensive courses Call Denise Stewart on or Clay Shooting New for 2017 at Ightham Mote Looking ahead to our new exciting season in 2017, Ightham Mote will have a new exhibition in the house and plenty of events and activities to entertain our visitors. Lessons for Beginners & Experienced Shots Pre-Stag/Hen parties - Corporate events Mobile facilities. Located at Eridge Green (3m Tunbridge Wells) Join us this year! Vouchers for The Perfect Present Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people, so come and join us at Ightham Mote! There are a wide variety of roles, from Room Guiding in the house, sharing the property s history with our visitors, to leading outdoor tours of our historic gardens, helping in the shop or welcoming our visitors at reception. Also Monthly Open Competition Shoot Fletching (3m Uckfield). Call for details: Call , extension 130, or iain.sanders@nationaltrust.org.uk for details of our open sessions in February when you can come and find out more. New exhibition Queen of Ightham: An American Interlude - Queen Palmer, John Singer Sargent and their Circle 4 March 23 December 11am 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) A beautiful Singer Sargent portrait, on loan from the Fine Arts Centre in Colorado Springs goes on display at the Mote this year, returning close to the spot in which it was painted over a century ago meadowheadshooting@hotmail.com WATERCOLOURS Want a 2nd income you can bank on? Earn an increasing ongoing commission with a Major British Plc, which could be life changing. Part time, flexible hours. Free training and support. Help people to save money. call Heather / Painting Classes with Professional Artist Please contact Hazel Kelly Tel: Mobile:

23 Tel: MOT Test Alba Transport Services, Mechanical Repairs, Air Conditioning Services Rear of Texaco Petrol Station, London Road, Hildenborough 26 C R S Travel Services Airports / Theatre / Weddings Any Occasion Social or Business 4 & 8 Seaters Tel: crs.travel@btinternet.com Tonbridge All types of bodywork catered for:- Full spraybake facilities - Full resprays Accident damage repairs Paintless dent removal Custom airbrush art Courtesy car available r/o Texaco Petrol Station, London Road Hildenborough TN11 9ND T: M: fletch@hildenboroughbodyworx.com From the Editor Have you changed your energy supplier lately? Have you noticed that energy costs are rising quite rapidly this year? If you are on a standard tariff from one of the big suppliers, you do need to look at choosing either a better tariff from your existing supplier, or selecting an alternative energy provider. You will need to know how much you spent on energy in the last year, or the actual amount you used. There are masses of options available to you, many of which will have unfamiliar names. However, amongst the cheapest options are companies such as the Co-operative, Npower and Utility Warehouse (plus others). There are on-line switching web sites who will arrange to have your provider changed with a minimum of involvement from yourself. Savings of several hundred pounds per year are quite achievable with no risk to yourself. Give it a try you have nothing to lose. Companies rely on customers not changing their tariffs to make the enormous profits that they do. Did you get your flu jab this winter? Don t forget next time that you can get it done at our local chemists in Riding Lane this could save time and effort in getting an appointment at the medical surgery, and free up some time for them too. Probably the biggest issue that affects many people in our village is car parking. Anyone who has driven down Riding Lane during the day will have had to negotiate numerous cars parked on the road, as the two free council car parks are already full. The improved utilisation of the village hall is partly responsible, as is the influx of parents delivering and removing young children to and from the school. There is no easy answer to this problem, which can only get worse if nothing is done. TMBC have been undertaking a review of car parking, but it is not known if anything concrete will transpire. The Parish Council does not have the reserves to fund a larger car parking area without raising the precept for a special one-off task. Any bright ideas? Don t forget that you can look at all recent issues of Keys on the St. John s web site as noted on the front page. Emergency telephone numbers Hildenborough Parish Council Environment Agency Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Kent County Council South East Water (leaks) Southern Water (drains) UK Power Networks (electricity power cuts) or just 105 Southern Gas Networks (gas)