Petham& Waltham

Parish NewsDecember 2011

Notes from a small village, somewhere in Kent, in an AONB

Thanks to all who have contributed to the magazine this year. Please keep those articles coming. Let’s hope for a less turbulent year next year. It should be an interesting one with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and Euro 2012 all in the summer. We’ve just got to get through the next 3 months hibernation. Hopefully we will be able to get about. We would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas.

Mike

Editor, Mike Thompson, The Briers, Richdore Rd, Waltham, CT4 5SLtel: 01227 700397, email: editor@pawnews.org, website: pawnews.orgDistribution team leaders:Agnes Way (Petham): 700283, Claire Harland (Waltham): 700231ALL ARTICLES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 14th preferably by email in A5 format

Printed by HAYWARD DESIGN & PRINT, Littlebourne tel: 01227 721864www.hayward-design.co.uk

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas,But not January, February and March

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PETHAM WARDENS’ WORDS

Christmas is just around the corner and we do hope you will be able to join us for one or more of our services which are as follow:- Sunday, 18th December, 11 a.m. Crib Service and Story of the Nativity (Details in the Family Service Notice)Sunday, 25th December, 11 a.m. Christmas Lessons and CarolsSunday, 1st January, 11 a.m. Family CommunionSunday, 15th January, 11 a.m. Family Service and Christingle For other services in January please see the Church Notices. The choir are starting to rehearse for the Christmas Day service on Thursday, 8th December at 7.15 p.m. for one hour, in the church, followed by rehearsals on Thursday, 15th December and Thursday, 22nd December at the same time. Do come and join us, including any children who would like to sing - all music will be provided. Try to make it to at least two rehearsals. Don’t miss the Christmas Carol Concert which will take place in the church on Sunday, 11th December at 7.30 p.m. See the separate advertisement in the magazine. May we both take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Rosie Hannibal 700281 Jo Allen 700518

Family Services in Petham during December and January Our next Family Service in Petham is on Sunday, 18th December, at 11 a.m., in the church. During this service we will be re-telling the story of the Nativity, acted out by the children, who are invited to dress up as shepherds, kings or angels for the service. On Saturday, 10th December we are holding a short rehearsal, about half an hour, in the church at 10 a.m for anyone who would like to take part. If you cannot manage to come on this date, just come to the service. You are invited to bring a present to put beside the crib on this occasion, which will be taken to the Women’s Refuge in Canterbury. Presents can be for children, with a label stating the sex and age of the child or can be toiletries or cosmetics for the mothers, who often arrive at the Refuge with nothing. These gifts are always very much appreciated by the families. The Family Service on the 15th January will take place in the church at 11 a.m. and will be a Christingle Service. Do come and join us and stay for some Christmas refreshments after the services.

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CHURCH INFORMATIONSunday 4th December: 3.00pm Healing Service Waltham 11.00am Family Communion Petham Sunday 11th December: 8.00am Holy Communion Waltham 11.00am Holy Communion Petham Sunday 18th December: 11.00am Crib Service Petham 6.30pm Carol Service Waltham Sunday 25th December: Christmas 9.30am Holy Communion Waltham 11.00am 9 Lessons and Carols Petham Sunday 1st January: 11.00am Family Communion Petham Sunday 8th January: 8.00am Holy Communion Waltham 11.00am Holy Communion Petham Sunday 15th January: 9.30am Family Communion Waltham 11.00am Family and Christingle Petham Service Sunday 22nd January: 9.30am Morning Prayer Waltham 6.00pm Evensong Petham Sunday 29th January: 10.30am Joint Benefice Service Wye

JANUARY2nd Mrs L Jenkin 9th Mrs S Geen 16th Ms E Marriott 23rd Mrs J Pickup 30th Mrs J Allen

JANUARY

7th, 14th Mrs G Miller 21st, 28th Mrs J Binstead

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A few days ago I met a grandmother with ten grandchildrenwhom she had planned for in readiness for Christmas. So likeher most people are already planning their Christmasfestivities. There will be so much to accomplish and needyones not to overlook. Why all the fuss?Lest we should think we are in any way exceptional in

anticipating the needs and requirements of others dear to us, it would be helpfulto recall that in the last book of the Bible, Revelation chapter 13 verse 8, thewriter refers to “the lamb slain before the foundation of the world.”He musthave had in mind what John the Baptist exclaimed when he saw Jesus comingtowards him to be baptised: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin ofthe world”. St. John. chapter 1 verse29.Knowing therefore that mankind wouldneed a Saviour, God anticipated to meet our human dilemma before we evermaterialised on earth. Happily God was not content to leave us to our owndevices. He chose a people we know of as the Jewish race, by calling one manAbraham to receive the promise of a special inheritance. How excited webecome at such a thought! How thrilling to be chosen, selected for a specialopportunity! Down through the ages, generation after generation of Jewscontinued to respond to that well planned prospect, until a profound hopedeveloped that someone very special would come, their Messiah, to fulfil thatpromise. A great warrior was expected envisaged by Isaiah in the Old Testament,when he wrote: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.”and “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shallbe upon his shoulder and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, MightyGod, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah chapter 9 verses 2& 6. Could itbe that these amazing great titles could really apply to the babe born in acommon cattle shed, to a lowly country maiden? No wonder this child, whobecame a carpenter in a despised area called Galilee in the north of Israel wasthen later rejected by the rulers of the Jewish nation. How, they thought, couldhe ever be the Messiah to deliver the oppressed Jews from the Romanoccupier’s dominance ? But would God’s special plan ever be fulfilled?

Anyone who wishes to find the true meaning of Christmas shouldlisten to the message found in the lovely Carols we sing. In actual fact JesusChrist came to earth to deliver mankind from being dominated by selfishnessand sin. If we are willing to welcome Him by receiving gladly His gift of eternallife, He will both enrich us and make us an enrichment to others .So amidst allthe hustle and bustle of our preparations, let us celebrate His coming byplanning to invite Him, with a warm welcome into our daily lives. That will be anexcellent reason to rejoice over this Christmastide.Have a Happy Christmas. Pensive

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This will be my second or my third Christmas in Wye depending on how you look at it. Nikki, Arun, Tallulah and I moved into the vicarage on 17th December 2009 (it was snowing heavily!) but we jetted off to sunny Spain a few days later to stay with Nikki’s family because I wasn’t officially taking up my post until 14th January so had to keep a low profile. So it’s my third Christmas as a resident of Wye but only my second as vicar. How time flies…One of the most exciting things that’s happened in the last year from my perspective has been the launch – or should I say the relaunch? – of the Celebration service in Wye on the second Sunday evening of each month. Basically, this is a very informal service, with a guitar-based band rather than organ and choir, to which we invite visiting speakers. The two ‘biggest names’ we’ve had so far have been Eric Delve, vicar of St Luke’s Maidstone and Jane Williams from St Melitus theological college in London. Now I grant that these are hardly big names compared to, say, Robbie Williams or Barack Obama. Quite possibly you’ve never even heard of them (Eric and Jane, that is; I’m assuming both the others are familiar to you…) but Eric is certainly well known in church circles as is Jane – and her husband even more so. He’s the Archbishop of Canterbury and, thus, my boss.Anyway, this month’s speaker is, similarly, someone with a famous husband but a public ministry in her own right. Her name is Fiona Castle and her late husband was the legendary Roy, of Record Breakers fame who, very sadly, died of lung cancer in 1994. Roy was an ever-present figure in my childhood; he seemed to be on the telly all the time, not just in the afore-mentioned Record Breakers but also in classic British films such as Dr Who and the Daleks and Carry On Up the Khyber (some people might dispute the classic status of the latter but the British Film Institute declared it to be the 99th best British Film of all time and that’s good enough for me). And I have a connection to Fiona too.While I was at theological college, I did an interview with the Daily Telegraph which led to various other interviews (including with the local radio and TV stations when I arrived here) but by far and away the most exciting of these (for me) was when I was a guest on the late John Peel’s award-winning Home Truths show. Obviously, as a good Christian I don’t have idols (see the 2nd commandment) but if I did have, John Peel would have been one of them so it was a huge honour to be interviewed by him (although I didn’t actually meet him. I was in Bristol at the time and I went into the BBC studios there and we did it by phone). Anyway, a few weeks later, my friend John (who’s the vicar of Willesborough) called me up from Spring Harvest, a big Christian festival where Fiona Castle was speaking and told me that she had just mentioned me in her talk. For whatever reason she’d identified with and been touched by my story to the extent that she wanted to share it with other people. Obviously, I was very pleased to hear that and, having tracked her down, sent her an email and we’ve been in occasional correspondence ever since. I tried to get her to speak at my last church but obviously she’s a busy lady with lots of speaking engagements and it never worked but I’m delighted that she is now able to come to Wye and I hope to see lots of you there (6.30 pm on Sunday 11th December in the church).

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Then on 8th January 2012 (same time, same place) we have Adrian Plass, author of the best-selling Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass. Adrian was born in Tunbridge Wells and has spoken in our benefice before (at Boughton Aluph a few years ago). More recently he was involved in The Gathering at the cathedral and he’s well worth hearing whether you’re a churchgoer or not – perhaps especially if you’re not. I will always remember him saying that he’d been brought up to think of God as like a cross between a headmaster and a bank manager [I have good friends who do both those jobs but you get the idea!] but then one day he met a monk who told him that ‘God is nice and he likes you!’ Those seven words changed his life and, for me, they sum up the Christian faith. So, it would be great to see you at either of those services or one of our Christmas services or just on a regular Sunday and may the nice God who loves you bless you and your family this Christmastime and always.

Rev’d Ravi Holy

caritas chamber choir directed by

Benedict Preece

Christmas Carol Concert

by candlelight

All Saints’ Church Petham

Sunday 11th December 2011

at 7.30pm Tickets £ 7.50

to include a glass of mulled wine and mince pies

from: Jo Allen 01227 700518, Rosie Hannibal 01227 700281

or on the door

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Minutes of the Waltham Parish Council Meetingheld on 11th November 2011, Waltham Village Hall

Present: Parish Cllr Jeremy Wilton (Chairman), Parish Cllr Sue Browne,Parish Cllr Jenny Oram, Parish Cllr Alastair Bailey, Parish Cllr Ben GrilletCity Cllr Rosemary Doyle, City Cllr Robert Thomas, Miss Chenice Sparkes, Clerk to the Council. 5 members of the public were present

1. Chairman’s opening remarks and apologies for absenceCllr Wilton welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were no apologies for absence

2. Declarations of interestThere were no declarations of interest

3. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2011 The Minutes were signed as a true record of the meeting.

4. Information of matters arising (i) The Clerk reported she had received a map of the village boundary from Canterbury City Council since the last meeting. (ii) The Recreation Ground was suggested as the best place to locate a salt bag. The Clerk was asked to contact Kent Highways and organise the delivery of the salt bag.

5. Adjournment of the meeting(i) A resident spoke on behalf of his planning application to install a ground mounted solar PV array. A neighbouring resident spoke against the planning proposal on the grounds that it would not be aesthetically pleasing in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.(ii) A resident offered his gritting services for Church Lane and Richdore Road for a fee. The Parish Council thanked him for his offer and will discuss the proposal at the precept setting meeting.

6. Planning matters (i) CA/11/01704/FUL - A planning application for the installation of a ground mounted solar PV array was discussed, after taking into account residents’ views expressed at the meeting. It was decided that the Parish Council will take a neutral stance on the application however the Parish Council would bring the following points to the attention of the planning authority:-• that the solar PV array would be better located either in the applicant’s garden or on their building at the rear of their garden • whether the array should be permitted on agricultural land. • whether the array should be permitted in an AONB. The Parish Council proposed that the applicant and his neighbour have further discussions to consider how the impact on the neighbour could be mitigated possibly by reducing the height of the array by excavating into the ground.(ii) CA/11/01519/FUL - The application at Springfield Farm to change the use of land for the stationing of a residential mobile home for agricultural workers was

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considered by the Parish Council. The Parish Council had no objection provided the following conditions are written into the permission These are that:-- the permission is granted only on a temporary basis- the residential mobile home only houses temporary workers as the purpose stated in the application, and- there should be a suggested five year time limit after which the applicant can re-apply if there is an ongoing requirement.

7. Finance(i) The expenditure list previously circulated to Cllrs as Appendix 3 totalling £1358.98 was authorised(ii) The Clerk reported she had written a letter to Lloyds Banks concerning the Service Charges seen on the bank statements.(iii) At the last statement received, the Account balances at 9 September were: Deposit £1463.93Current £4763.41Reserves £3251.40WVA £2118.12(iv) The Parish Council decided to have a separate meeting to discuss the budget and precept requirement for 2012-2013 in greater detail before the end of November.

8. Reports from county and city councillors (i) The City Councillors reported that they had attended the Rural Area Members Panel meeting, which discussed the Concurrent Function applications received. It was decided that the recommendation to the Executive would be that the applications be fully funded. The Executive will make the final decision in February.

9. Update on committees(i) Waltham Sport and Recreation Ground CommitteeA representative of the Committee reported that the bonfire night on Sunday 30 October was a great success. They reported that the Committee received £119.60 in donations, spent £79.69 on expenses included sparklers for young people and made a profit of £39.91. Cllrs resolved that the Parish Council minute their thanks to the organisers of the event for making it such a great success and loved by the community.(ii) Village Hall CommitteeThe Committee is meeting on Wednesday 16 November 2011 to agree a constitution and elect 3 officers to occupy posts until the official AGM meeting.

10. CorrespondenceThe Clerk reported that Trans-Fire Protection Ltd had sent a certificate confirming that the Village Hall had passed the fire safety inspection.

11. Invite to the lord mayor’s ballThe City Councillors are already attending but none of the other Cllrs wished to attend.

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12. Alternative to ROSPAThe Clerk suggested an alternative provider for undertaking the annual safety inspection of the play equipment. The alternative provider is used by several other local parish councils. The Parish Council were glad to have a cheaper alternative and will consider the change of provider next year closer to when the inspection is due and allocate a lesser amount to next year’s budget accordingly.

13. KALC AGM meeting on 12 November 2011Cllrs considered the invite but none were able to attend.

14. Queen’s Diamond JubileeIt was reported that initial investigations had found that the Bell Tower would not be suitable for a beacon. Councillors felt that a bonfire based event would be more inclusive and hoped that this would be an event promoted by the newly reconstituted Sport and Recreation Committee.

15. EnvironmentA Cllr has heard of a scheme to plant six million trees for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and agreed to investigate further into the matter

16. Any other business(i) The Clerk was asked to make a date to carry out the home risk assessment as part of her Contract of Employment before the next meeting.(ii) A Cllr advised he had received an email from a resident requesting that the Parish Council do more about pot holes. The Cllr had replied explaining about the new Kent Highways website where residents can report pot holes directly to Kent Highways.(iii) A Cllr explained he had emailed John Howard concerning the existing Waltham Parish Council website. The Parish Council wish to revive the website and to post news and information from the Parish Council, Village Hall and Sports and Recreation Committees, together with other parish events. John Howard said he was willing to assist with the website.

The meeting closed at 10.03pm. The next monthly meeting will be held at Waltham Village Hall on Wednesday 14 December at 7:30pm. There will be a further meeting to cover the Precept before the end of November. The date and time to be announced.

SOCIAL AFTERNOONS in DECEMBER and JANUARY Weather permitting, the monthly Social Afternoons will be held in Waltham Village Hall on Thursday 1st December and Thursday 5th January 2012!

Always on the first Thursday of each month from 2.30 - 4.00pm , everyone most welcome.

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Charity Quiz Night!In aid of Raleigh International

Waltham Village Hall

Saturday 14th January 20127.00 for 7.30pm

Teams of 8

£7.50 per person to include Ploughman’s supper and softdrinks, please bring your own wine.

Please contact Alex Wilton 01227 700846

In February, I will be going out to rural communities in India to beinvolved in a number of different projects with Raleigh international.These could include: installing a water system into a village which hasnever had running water; working on a rain water harvesting systemor sanitation project; or a building project, such as the constructionof schools, libraries or medical centres. I will be digging elephantproof trenches and building solar powered electric fences around thevillages and cultivated lands to prevent elephants and humansclashing in an attempt to prevent loss of life on both sides. I will besleeping in the forest or close to the community under the stars injungle bashas. Taking part an adventure challenge phase in Kerala.Also I will partake in 14 days of arduous trekking at altitudes of up to2,500m and 2 days rafting downstream in our own constructedbamboo rafts. To reach my total of £2995 I am organising Currynights, coffee mornings and working for sponsorship.

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NOTES FROM THE PETHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGHeld 13th October 2011 in Petham Village Hall

In attendance were Cllrs. Palmer, Mrs Edwards, Mrs Spratt, Pickup, Obry, the clerk and three members of the public. Apologies were received from Cllrs. Nason and Williams

Matters arising: Highways: Having obtained permission from a local farmer to store rock salt in his barn, an order has been placed for two tonne.

Financial Matters:• It was agreed to continue support towards the maintenance of the Church grounds in the sum of £700.00.• Members noted the return from the VHMC of £128.06, part of the grant towards the Village Fun Day

During the next item the meeting was suspended to allow members of the public to speak.Church Car Park: Letters in support were received from the PCC and a resident who has right of way of way over the land. Of three requested quotations for the design and specification for the car park, one company declined to quote, a second quotation was very high and the third was in line with members’ previous estimate. The companies had also been asked to quote for the inspection and signing off the works, but any resolution to accept only covers the initial stages at this time. CCC have been asked to confirm in writing that they do not object to the current grant being spent on a superior scheme or that the money may be spent on design plans. It was suggested that an article on the proposals be placed in the Parish News. Once design specifications are received, the Council would not go ahead without prior consultation and publicity. It was proposed and seconded • That the Council accept the Jacobs quotation of £1800.00 plus VAT for the design and specifications for the Church car park.• Once the initial proposals are prepared they will be publicised for village observations.

Bus Waiting Area: The Chairman will draw up some designs in the next few weeks.

Picnic Tables: Once the contractor is free the tables and seat will be installed.

Planning MattersNotice of Proposed Work to Trees in a Conservation Area• The Old House, Garlinge Green: Reduce Ash tree crown on boundary between Old House and Garlinge Cottage by 30%. No objection EXEMPT WORK: Fell dangerous Ash tree on rear boundary.

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• Eidart, Vicarage Hill, Petham: Reduce canopy of Hornbeam at rear of garage by 20%. Fell Silver Birch on bank on left hand boundary and replace with smaller ornamental tree. No objection During the next item the meeting was adjourned to allow members of the public to speak• Marble Pond: It was agreed that the Chairman write to the owner of the property, the PROW Officer and Conservation Officer, explaining concerns about possible hedging and advising that drainage of Church Lane flows through a gulley to the Marble pond.• CA/11/01665/FUL Kenfield House, Kenfield Road Petham: Demolition of existing detached garage and erection of a two bay garage with log and garden store. No objection

Planning Decisions Granted by CCC New Barn Farm, Duckpit Road: Conversion of cow shed to residential.

Highway Matters: Letters have been written to the appropriate bodies regarding a parking problem in the village but there has been no response.

Playground: Agreed to accept quotation of £632.50 +VAT for replacement of three legs to the flat seat swings, but the clerk to enquire the price for the replacement of all four legs.

Affordable Local Housing: Agreed that the Council instruct the appropriate body to carry out a survey of the village to ascertain if there is a need.

Parish Plan: Footpath issues are progressing well. Cllr. Obry is to arrange a pilot scheme to assess the effectiveness of a fuel consortium. Some progress on Transport, Environment, Conservation and Good Neighbour Schemes.

Correspondence, publications and other matters of importance • A letter and map was received from KCC regarding the proposed diversion of public footpath CB432 (part) and removal of CB442 (part), Broadway Green Farm. Members supported the changes in principle, but suggested a minor adjustment to the line of the footpath. • A letter was received from the Boundary Commission for England on the initial proposals for the 2013 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in England. Details about the statutory 12 week consultation can be found on their website www.independent.gov.uk/boundarycommissionforengland

Confirmed the date of the next meeting as 10th November 2011The meeting closed at 9.30pm(The above do not constitute the complete minutes but are a sample of items considered to be of interest to members of the public)

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Heritage Trees Wanted

Every one hundred years or so there seems to be a national initiative to take note of ancient or special trees and record them for posterity. This year Kent is fortunate to have funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major new tree recording project to be undertaken by volunteers managed by the BTCV.

The BTCV is a national environmental charitable trust and it will use the funding to pilot a Heritage Tree project in Kent. The project has just started, it will run for five years and will involve hundreds of people of all ages from across the region in an education and activity programme focused on Kent’s rich stock of heritage trees. The project will celebrate and promote the value of heritage trees, which are defined as old trees, wide trees, rare trees and trees with historical and cultural significance. The aim is to survey and record over 10,000 heritage trees across the county. Local knowledge is crucial to find and record these notable trees and tell their story, so your help is needed.

Do you know of an unusual tree that should be celebrated as part of our local heritage? A tree can be notable for its physical characteristics, its age, size, height or because it is a fine specimen, a rare variety or oddity for its type or has grown into an unusual shape, perhaps as a result of ornamental topiary or storm damage. A tree may also be notable because of its literary or historical connections, perhaps through associations with a particular person or event. Trees are sometimes planted as a memorial to a local person or in commemoration of a birth, wedding or historical event.

Some trees are local landmarks and may have been planted as part of landscape improvements in the grounds of an estate, private garden or public park. Trees may also feature in local stories and folklore, they may be remembered as the site of gatherings such as fairs and fetes or social meetings and sporting events or mark the location where an incident or accident happened or even where a memorable crime occurred, or where executions took place or a battle was fought.

If you know a notable tree anywhere in Kent which you would like to be recorded then you can propose it through the project website http:// www.btcv.org/kentheritagetrees you can also view a map of those trees that have already been recorded and verified. Alternatively you can report a tree directly to your local volunteer contact for Petham and Waltham John Miller tel. 01227700152 email walthamhistory@live.co.uk.

A Volunteer Surveyor will then come out and measure and photograph the tree and note down its characteristics, its history and any notable story that is associated with it.

You can also visit the website to find out more about the project’s

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programme of activities, courses for volunteers who would like to become Heritage Tree Surveyors, habitat management courses and biodiversity courses, all of which will be open to volunteers and members of the public and Woodland Wonder community educational sessions aimed at schools and families. These sessions will provide an introduction to practical conservation and the natural world with fun activities like welly walks, natural art and music, tree decorating and mini-beast hunts.

To learn more about the Kent Heritage Tree project visit the website or contact Virginia Hodge at the BTCV in Ashford by tel. 01233666519 oremail v.hodge@btcv.org.uk

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There will be an Open House at the

Vicarage Hastingleigh for drink and mince pies

on the 17th December 2011

between 2-6pm. All are welcome.

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Happy Christmas from Santa Claws

Petham & Waltham Social Club Ron Masters amused members at the November meeting with tales of the Joys of Christmas. As a start he switched on his festive tie which played a short carol. He then showed us another ten or so similar ties which had been given to him over the years by various grandchildren. When he was headmaster at a primary school in Faversham Christmas always involved making the Christmas pudding and all the pupils were then allowed to stir the mixture. The cook, known as Auntie Glo, would supervise the event but it was somewhat of a surprise to Ron that no pupil, especially the boys, ever tried to taste the mixture. That is until two years later that he discovered that around the corner was another bowl of Christmas pudding mixture with a sign above it saying that it was for finger dip tasting by permission of Auntie!! Health and Safety has put a stop to that practise.Another important task was the Nativity play and it always seemed that Mary was played by a blue-eyed blonde. In the early years it was relatively easy to cast but later with ambitious parents pushing their offspring problems ensued. However it wasn’t only the parents who could cause a ruckus. One year an enterprising Joseph pushed Mary and the baby out of the way to announce that he could not see his Nan. Ron gave other instances of hiccups but these are not reported here to protect the innocent and obviate the need for a super injunction.Happy Christmas to everyone.

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List for Santa

Snowflakes softly falling Upon your window when they play Your blankets slung around you Into sleep you drift away

I bend to gently kiss you when I see you on the floor there’s a letter dearly written I wonder who it’s for

I quietly unfold it making sure you’re still asleep It’s a Christmas list for Santa one my heart will always keep

It started just as always with the toys seen on TV a new watch for your father and a winter coat for me

But as my eyes read on I could see that deep inside there were many things you wished for that your loving heart would hide

You asked if your friend Molly could have another Dad; It seems her father hits her and it makes you very sad

Then you asked dear Santa if the neighbour down the street could find a job that he might have some food, and clothes, and heat

You saw a family on the news whose house had blown away “Dear Santa send them one thing a place where they can stay”

“And Santa, those four cookies that I left you for a treat, could you take them to the children who have nothing else to eat?”

“Do you know that little bear I have the one I love so dear? I’m leaving it for you to take to Africa this year.”

“And as you fly your reindeer on this night of Jesus’ birth, Could you magic bring to everyone goodwill and peace on earth”

“There’s one last thing before you go, so grateful I would be, If you’d smile at Baby Jesus in the manger by our tree”

I pulled the letter close to me I felt it melt my heart Those timy hands had written what no other could impart.

“And a little child shall lead them” wasa whispered in my ear As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve while Santa Claus was there

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Celebrate Burn’s Night with a

Highland Fling

in aid of Odyssey on

Saturday 28th January7pm for 7.30pm dinnerin Petham Village Hall

Ticket: £35 3 course dinner (wine on table) and dancing to music by Abbey Capers(Scottish dancing - instruction will be given!)

Dress: Black tie or tartan

Odyssey is a charity founded in Kent by consultant oncologist Dr Howard Smedley, K&C. It provides outdoor courses for people either living with cancer or having had a recent experience of cancer who need a helping hand to get on with life again. Places are free and available to anyone over 18.

www.odyssey.org.ukFor further information and tickets please contactKatrina Meades on 01227 700 919

Petham Church Loo – thank you for your votes!

Many thanks to all those who took the time and trouble to vote for funding for “Petham Church Loo” in the recent NatWest Community Fund competition.

Unfortunately, there were problems with the website and some of you may not have been able to register your vote online – but thanks anyway for trying.

At the time of going to press we do not know for certain how many votes we got – probably around 130 – but we do know that would not have been enough to secure one of the three £6000 prizes for the Canterbury area. We think the winners had in the region of 450-500 votes, which would have been achievable for Petham – if only everyone in the village had voted and got their friends and family to vote too. Ah well! Maybe next time!

Meanwhile, you can still help us to raise the money for this important facility by logging onto http://easyfundraising.org.uk to do all your online shopping and choosing “All Saints Church Petham” as your cause. Thank you!

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During the war (Continued from November Magazine)

The Home Guard was another way that the government fooled the people, because we had managed to read German coded messages with the “Enigma” code machine, Churchill knew that the invasion had been cancelled by June 1941 but in order to prevent the enemy discovering that that we were listening to their secret messages we carried on arming the Home Guard as if they would be needed. It made no difference to the army requirements because all weapons’ that the Home Guard used were out of date American guns.

The Home guard was a useful unit that was available on call for any emergency with hundreds of reasonably able bodied men from all the villages ready in about one hour.

Every Village had an armed guard on duty every night which gave the local people some confidence. There were many lone mothers with children, the fathers were away in the services and woman on their own while their men were on duty at night that needed to know there was someone on watch.

The Home Guard was not disbanded until the end of the war and when the Doodle bugs arrived special mobile units were set up, I bought a second hand motorcycle and left Lower Hardres Platoon to join the mobile unit set up at the headquarters at Bridge as a dispatch rider, there was a pickup truck available to take those on guard to any emergency, such as a Doodle bug crash until the army could take over. There was a shortage of troops available at that time because they were on the French landings. All crashes were guarded to prevent parts being taken for souvenirs which could be something new and could help in the way to defend against it or on the secret list if it was one of ours.

As a young boy having the opportunity to have a motor cycle was exciting and there were about ten others from other villages, we met on Sunday mornings to ride around the villages to learn where each of the guard rooms were, petrol was supplied and the motorcycle was registered as a military vehicle and could only be used for that purpose.

As a need for a defence from invasion towards the end of the war was ridiculous, there were thousands of American troops and aircraft massing here for the landings in France

By the end of the Battle there had been changes in the aircraft, the Spitfire had the tips of the wings removed and the Germans were using a new Fokker Wolfe fighter, only the hurricane fighter remained the same, we never saw as many Hurricane fighters in the battle because they were no match with the German Messerschmitt and were mostly used on the bombers nearer London when they had lost their fighter escort, although at least two were shot down at Stelling Minnis.We never knew what changes to expect because anything new would be on the secret list.

19

We began to feel safer during the day because daylight air attacks were unusual, but one foggy day I had cycled into Canterbury and went to see my Father who was working on air raid shelters in the churchyard beside the Westgate towers.

They were there for the passengers in the bus station which was opposite at that time. There were twelve brick shelters with a passage through the centre and my father was working on the roof, I had just climbed up beside him, there had been no air raid warning, when bombs started to whistle down, my father shouted “Get in the shelter” and we scrambled off the roof. Most of the people in the street had fallen flat and I saw a bomb pass through Barretts’ garage roof, about fifty yards away and everywhere inside turned orange because it was a fire bomb. I eventually got into a shelter and I heard my father shouting “Which one are you in.”

We managed to get together through communicating holes in side and waited until it seemed safe to come out. When we came out a full kerb stone had been blown over the Westgate towers and laid in the street, we went through the towers and found the road covered in roof tiles and water and the ambulance people were bringing out the body of a man that had been killed by the high explosive bombs

that had fallen there. Some of the shops had been knocked down and a small brown van with “Nut Brown tobacco” written on its side had been blown up onto the roof of the houses. To be continued.

Laurence Marsh, Petham.

Hollow lane Update: A decision was made by Canterbury City and Kent County Council Members to ask myself and my colleagues to investigate an alternative proposal aiming to reduce the effects of traffic on lower Hollow Lane.We have been asked to investigate a proposal including:• No entry into lower Hollow Lane from the mini-roundabout at the junction withHomersham (however the street will not be closed nor will it be made one wayas vehicles will still be able to make a right turn movement from Hollowmedeinto Hollow lane)• A 7.5 Tonne weight limit (except for access) on Hollow Lane from its junctionwith Wincheap to its junction with Homersham• Some form of parking restriction on Homersham - either on one side or onalternating sides to create chicanes, bearing in mind the location of the speedcushions which are already in placeThis proposal will be investigated and a report will be produced for the nextCanterbury Joint Transportation Board which is due to sit on the 06/12/11. At thismeeting a decision will be made as to how to proceed.- Dan Sheppard, KCC Highways & Transportation,Tel: 08458 247800, Mobile: 07917639071http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport.aspx

email your views to: td.eastkent@kent.gov.uk

20

Six Bell Striking Competition 12 November 2011 The annual striking competition for the Canterbury District section of the Kent Association of Change Ringers was held at St Mary Church, Teynham on 12 November 2011. The bellringers of Petham and Waltham decided to enter a band of ringers and take part. The bellringers meet regularly on Tuesday evenings, alternating between Petham and Waltham churches. There are five or six local ringers, who are often joined by bellringers from outside the parish and visitors to the area. Practice for the competition began in earnest a few weeks ago. A set pattern is rung for the test, which changes the order of bells so that each of the first five bells is moved into the ‘leading position’ and out to the fifth position. The complete pattern is conducted by a member of the band and takes approximately ten minutes to ring. The competition took place at St Mary, Teynham, which has six bells, the heaviest of which weighs ten hundredweight. Seven teams entered and each team was judged for the evenness of the ringing. Two visiting judges from Buckinghamshire sat outside the church and awarded marks on a faults system. When the bells are rung too closely or too far apart, the team is given a fault for each error. After ringing, teams were rewarded with a delicious tea, provided by the ringers of Teynham and Lynstead and a short church service conducted by the Rev Richard Birch, a bellringer, and accompanied by organist Walter Lewis.Finally the results of the bellringing competition were announced.1st - St Dunstan’s, Canterbury - 16.5 faults, 2nd - St Stephen’s, Canterbury - 18 faults, 3rd - Thanington - 21 faults, 4th - Petham and Waltham - 21.5 faults5th - Newnham - 51 faults, 6th - St Alphege, Whitstable - 53 faults7th - Deal - 60.5 faults, All team members from Petham and Waltham felt quite pleased with the results and vowed to enter the striking competition again next year with a goal to improve on their final position with more practice! The team is very grateful for the support

given by conductor, Len Huckstepp.Team members of Petham and Walthamincluded:

Lynnette Gosling - treble bellSusan Cheetham - 2nd bellPaul Curtis - 3rd bell,John Miller - 4th bellM (yes, that’s his name!) - 5th bellBrian Law - tenor bell

21

WEATHER INDICATIONS

Rainfall for October 25.0 mm 1.00 insRunning Total for 2011 423.0 mm 17.00 ins

The almost dry weather for this region continues with about ½ ins rain during night of 3rd/4th November, at time of writing.

No doubt some readers watched the BBC 2 weather programme called ‘Will it Snow?’ at 9.00 pm on Sunday 6th November. It generally indicated that forecasting future weather was very difficult, if not impossible. Due to events like Sun spots, the Pacific El Nino, and the Jet Stream (20 miles up) changing direction for unknown reasons.

At the moment in the UK parts (mainly in the West) have plenty of water and others like Kent and the East are getting quite dry.

The underground water level is falling about 1 ins : 25 mm per day and we need a wet winter, which is what I think will occur.

‘He who lives longest will see most’ but in any case Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Rabbit eats snowman’s nose

Merry Christmas andHappy New Year to all our readers

22

Canterbury Choral Society’s 2011/12 season starts with Family Carols at Canterbury Cathedral on Friday 16th December 7.00 pm. The Choral Society are delighted that Pharon Independent Financial Advisers continue to sponsor the event. Concerts for the 2012 Season will be Handel Messiah on the 21st January and on the 24th March a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with Mozart Coronation Mass, Handel Coronation Anthems and Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks and on the 23rd June Rachmaninov Vespers (All Night Vigil).

The Choral Society Youth Choir will again join with the Choral Society for the traditional Family Carols. The Youth Choir are now regular performers with the choir at the major concerts. The Family Carols are now a great part of the Christmas Season and Richard Cooke ensureS that the younger members of audience as well as everyone else in the Cathedral, are able to enjoy singing many of the most popular carols. A Brass Ensemble will accompany the choir.

In January the Society will be performing Handel Messiah – probably the most popular Oratorio ever to be written. The Messiah has a wonderful sense of drama which gives the perfect progression from prophecy through suffering to fulfillment and ultimate triumph. Handel, a master of dramatic oratorio, visualised each scene as he was writing it. He said while composing the famous “Hellelujah” chorus that it was as if he saw God on his throne and all his angels round him. It is this quality which makes the Messiah Handel’s greatert materpiece. In this performance Richard Cooke has chosen a counter-tenor David Allsopp to sing the Alto parts, Julia Doyle will be the Sophrano, Benjamin Hulett, Tenor and Benjamin Bevan the Bass. Richard Cooke will be conducting the London Handel Orchestra.

Tickets for Family Carols, priced at £7.00 and £4.00 for children under 16, can be purchased from the Marlowe Theatre Box Office on 01227 787787 or on line at marlowetheatre.com. Tickets for all other concerts are discounts of up to 15% are available when booking for all three society concerts. Visit www.canterbury.co.ukfor information on the Choral Society.

CANTERBURY CHORAL SOCIETYFAMILY CAROLS

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL FRIDAY 16th DECEMBER 2011

HANDEL MESSIAH SATURDAY 21ST JANUARY 2012

23

NOTES FROM A SMALL GARDEN

In many ways gardening in the winter in decent weather (and there has been a lot of that recently) is far more enjoyable than gardening in the summer. There is less urgency about keeping things under control. Once a weed is pulled up it generally stays pulled up until the mild days of February. There is the satisfaction of tidying up, even for those of us who do leave quite a lot of perennials for the birds and as protection for the crowns of the plants. But for me I think the most satisfying part of winter gardening is that I get into every part of the garden and can see the structure (or where there is not any discernible structure). As the year progresses from March onwards parts of the garden fade into little more than the background for the changing seasonal displays. But in winter everything is exposed and the smallest leaves and potential new shoots of next season can be spotted. I have already noticed daffodils, crocuses and anemones poking through in pots, and the allium and coum cyclamen leaves are proudly emerging as the summer foliage of shading plants disappears. There is also nothing quite like the silhouette of trees, bare of leaves, against the low winter light, even if the braches and stems don’t have the added bonus of ‘winter colour’. No sooner do the glowing autumn leaves of the witch hazel fall than the flower buds swell for an early show. Haven’t the moles been active this year? Our ploy of using children’s plastic windmills to create noise and disturbance for them has been less successful than usual as there are just too many of them and they have managed to dislodge newly laid paving around the pond with their network of surface tunnels. But I am sure they will soon retreat back into the field where it is more peaceful than our garden. I have learnt quite a few things this past year both from other gardeners and from the garden itself. It was good to learn from experience that when circumstances conspire to make gardening difficult to fit in, if there is a good basic framework or plants, it doesn’t actually take too much effort to restore things to a semblance of a well-tended appearance. Cutting the grass has always been one of most obvious signs of care, but ten minutes each day with the secateurs and weeding fork can transform small corners into reasonably managed whole beds. At the worst time I made sure I only looked carefully at the easiest border, the shade garden outside the backdoor where any weed can be plucked whenever I go outside to the bins. So this year this plot has been enhanced by a hardy white shrub fuchsia, and some lovely ferns bought from a specialist nursery while we were on holiday in the West Country to ensure that the early spring display is followed right into winter.

Elizabeth Edwards

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CHURCHES / PARISHReaders P Mrs Sylvia Geen 01227 700 210 W Ms Gill Metcalf 01227 700 321Churchwardens P Rosie Hannibal 01227 700 281 P Jo Allen 01227 700 518 W Mrs D ten Hove 01227 700 460Church Flower Rota P Mrs Loxton Edwards 01227 700 376 W Mrs J Moor 01227 700 737Bell Ringers Captain P Mr Paul Curtis 01227 700 529 W Mr Brian Law 01227 700 857Friends of Kent Churches Rosie Hannibal 01227 700 281Chair of Benefice Council Terry Donovan 01233 811837

CLUBS & ORGANISATIONSBaby & Toddler Group Mrs Anne Wickham 01227 700 434Youth Club Mrs Pam Brady 01227 700 791Cubs Mrs Caroline Cope 01227 700 552Rainbows Mrs Michala Moys 01227 712 667Wednesday Club Mrs D Marsh 01277 700 269Pre-School Play Group Mrs J Pickup 01227 700 858 Adult Studies Co-ordinator Mrs Anne Wickham 01227 700 434Whist Drive Mrs O Cox 01227 700 484Kenfield Cricket Club Mr Gerrit ten Hove 01227 700 460P&W Social Club Mrs A Way, 700283, Mrs C Peach 01233 750 135Bingo Mr Peter Seabrook 01227 700 361Tuesday Tappers Maggie Lee 07788 455 985Rural Community Warden P&W Chris Chapman 07772 226 034Waltham Gardeners Society, Chairpers Mrs Susan Watson 01227 700 436 - Secretary Micky Mosley 01227 700898Singing for Fun Fay Dickeson 01227 700 818

PETHAM COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL ( headteacher@petham.kent.sch.uk )Head Teacher Mr Alec Murrell 01227 700 260Governors Mr Roy Pickup 01227 700 858Clerk to the Governors Mrs Jenny Oram 01227 700 267PTFA Mrs K Meades 01227 700 919

PARISH COUNCILS & VILLAGE HALLSPetham Chairman Mr Robert Palmer 01227 700 305Petham Clerk Mrs Susan Shaw 01233 740 996 email: susanshaw931@btinternet.com Petham Website www.pethamvillagehall.org -PVH Committee Chairman Maggie Lee maggie.lee194@btinternet.com 01227 379105Petham Village Hall Bookings Fay Dickeson, enquiries@pethamvillagehall.org 700 818Petham Village Hall Caretaker Nathan Foley 01227 656250 mobile: 07724540350 e-mail: nathanfoley@gmail.comKentish Gazette Correspondent P Fay Dickeson 01227 700 818Kentish Gazette Correspondent W Mike Thompson 01227 700 397Waltham Chairman Jeremy Wilton, j.wilton@waltham.org Waltham Clerk Chenice Sparkes 01227 700939/0797 2201687 email: c.sparkes@waltham.org -Waltham Website www.waltham.org -Waltham Village Hall Bookings Mr Tony Best 01227 700 433 hall.bookings@waltham.org

DIRECTORY

25

DIARYFor Waltham, Petham, & surrounding areas

1 Dec Waltham Social afternoon, WVH

11 Dec Carol Concert, 7.30pm Petham Church

17 Dec Open house, Vicarage Hastingleigh, 2pm

5 Jan Waltham Social afternoon, WVH

14 Jan Charity Quiz, 7.30pm WVH

28 Jan Highland Fling, 7pm PVH

PawNews website: pawnews.org for latest information

Drop-in...warm up...and chill out!

Every Tuesday afternoon during December and January (except 20th December & 3rd January)

we will be serving cuppas and home-made cake free of charge

from 1.30 - 3pm in Petham Village Hall All welcome!

You can also meet others, find out what’s going on in the village and pop into the library van (alternate weeks, 2.15-2.40pm) for books or DVDs

Petham Baby & Toddler Club

An informal drop-in for babies and toddlers

and their parents or carers every Tuesday afternoon

(except 20th December and 3rd January) in Petham Village Hall, 1.30 - 3pm

£2 per family All welcome (not just from Petham)

Have a lovely Christmas everyone!

26

THE HUNDREDWho are we: A well established local organisation with around a hundred members, which brings together the villagers of the old Petham Hundred.We meet in either Lower Hardres or Petham Village Hall and you will find a friendly informal atmosphere. What do we do: Offer a highly varied programme of Hundred Talks, Hundred Shows and Hundred Walks- five or six of each during the Autumn and Winter seasons. The support and interest shown by our members indicate that speakers and performers very often hit a standard that would match anything you will find anywhere in East Kent! How do we join: E-mail us today: earleyhouse@tiscali.co.uk Phone us 01227 700434. Subscription £4 a person for the year – JOIN THE HUNDRED NOW!!!

THE HUNDRED THE HUNDRED CHRISTMAS SHOW7.00pm on Wednesday, 14th December 2011 at Petham Village Hall. Pleasecome and join us for an enjoyable and entertaining evening of music, song and dance featuring local talent from The Hundred villages and beyond. Entrance is free – no tickets required. Free soft drinks for the children and mince pies and mulled wine available at the end of the Show.

THE HUNDRED WALKS11.00am on Sunday, 4th December 2011, meeting at The George, Molash. 11.00am on Monday, 26th December 2011 – Boxing Day Walk. Please join us for our traditional family walk on Boxing Day, which is a one-way walk to The Compasses, Sole Street – please make your own way home. This walk is flat, with no stiles and takes an easy hour – an ideal walk for families, friends, Christmas visitors and dogs. Meet outside The Dower House, Petham (at the top of Vicarage Hill) at 11.00am. 11.00am on Sunday, 8th January 2012, meeting at Nackington Church. Lunch at The Chequers, Stone Street.

NB: IMPORTANT CHANGE OF DATEPlease note that the presentation by The Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, will now be at 7.30pm on Friday, 24th February 2012 in Petham Village Hall. Admission by free tickets, which will be available in the New Year. For further details, please contact Richard Wickham on 01227 700434.

27

We are sad to announce the loss of David Sinclair of Kake St, Waltham. Our thoughts are with his wife Amber Sinclair and his family and friends.

As a rebellious 16-year-old David decided to leave school and took a job as an editorial messenger on the local morning newspaper, The Northern Echo, at a salary of £4

10s. a week, including a bonus for working at night.

At his interview for the job, it was made clear to David that editorial messengers did not go on to become journalists, yet within a year he had progressed to the dizzy heights of assistant sub-editor on the sports desk of the group’s evening paper, The Northern Despatch, and six months later was appointed a junior reporter on the weekly Darlington & Stockton Times. By the age of 19 David had become features editor of the Despatch but a year later he had left the group to become chief sub-editor of the top-selling Sunday Sun in Newcastle. He spent five exciting years there, becoming expert in every aspect of the newspaper business, and was then recruited by Rupert Murdoch to join the newly relaunched Sun in Fleet Street. It was the beginning of a national newspaper career that would span 30 years and see David in senior positions at The Sunday Times, The Times, the Sunday Telegraph and later the Sunday Express, where he became deputy editor, and The Mail on Sunday, where he spent four years as editor of Financial Mail on Sunday.

David has worked and travelled extensively in America and has written articles and books relating to American life and history. Over several years he was heavily involved in daily newspapers for United Nations conferences in Canada, Mexico and Brazil. He also lived in France for quite some time and has associations with the country going back more than 20 years.

It was while he was at The Times in the mid-1970s that David was asked by the publisher J.M. Dent to write his first book, a biography of Edgar Allan Poe, which won high praise from, among others, the writers Patricia Highsmith and Anthony Burgess. This was followed by biographies of the Queen Mother, Lord Snowdon, the Astor family and a joint biography of the kings George V and George VI. There was a change of direction in 1990, when David’s book Shades of Green was

28

The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund Registered Charity No: 283483

Tel: 01303 862622 Fax: 01303 863007 lord.whisky@btinternet.com www.lordwhisky.co.uk

Please come and join us at our Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 3rd December at 1.30pm

At Park House Animal Sanctuary, Stelling Minnis, Nr Canterbury CT4 6AN 1.30 with Benn Millberry playing bagpipes ~ 2pm short service with Rev John Coleman Crib scene with Lucy, our donkey. Please wear waterproof footwear and warm clothes

*Why not enjoy a Christmas Lunch at the Lord Whisky Tea Rooms beforehand?

3 courses for £17, followed by coffee/tea & a mince pie. Pre-booking essential. Or treat yourself to an Afternoon Christmas Tea, from 3pm. To book lunch or tea, call 01303 862349 or 01303 862622.

*Christmas Lunches also being served at the Lord Whisky Tea Rooms on

Sundays 4th, 11th & 18th December. Please phone 01303 862349 to book. *

We will also be serving Christmas Dinner at 7pm on Wednesday 14th December. 3 courses for £17 including coffee/tea & a Mince Pie.

Bring your own wine and make a donation for corkage. Pre-booking essential, phone 01303 862349 or 01303 862622

Dates for your 2012 diary

Fur, Feather & Exotic Exhibition Saturday 25th February, 10am - 4pm at Boughton-Under-Blean Village Hall

Boot & Spring Fayre ~ Saturday 5th May 2nd Annual Cyclo-Sportive ~ Bank Holiday Monday, 28th May

Dog & Owners Fun Day ~ Saturday 9th June Boot & Summer Fayre ~ Saturday 28th July

Boot & Autumn Fayre ~ Saturday 8th September Boot Fayre & Clearance Sale— Saturday 20th October

Halloween Supper at The Lord Whisky Tea Rooms - Saturday 27th October

All our Boot Fayres are held at Park House from 12 noon ~ 3.30pm Entertainment ~ Hot & Cold Refreshments ~ Arena Displays ~ Tombolas ~ Stalls

Look out for further details in this magazine. *

We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all our supporters and everyone who has attended our fund-raising events this year.

You have enabled us to help many animals and people in our community. Thank you also to everyone who gave lovely new homes to many of our animals.

*We wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and New Year and look

forward to seeing you at our events in 2012.

published. This caused a sensation as it dissected the decline of the British countryside and suggested vital elements of a cohesive rural policy. One of the effects of the book was to see David invited to join the Rural Economy Group of the House of Lords and he later became a commentator on rural and agricultural policy for the magazine Countryweek.

David returned to full-time journalism in 1992 but stormed back into books in 2000 with the best-selling The Pound: A Biography, colourfully telling the story of Britain’s historic currency as debate raged over the wisdom or otherwise of accepting the euro. This was followed by what David calls a ‘drama documentary’ about the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Hall of Mirrors, and in 2003 by Sir Gregor MacGregor and the Land That Never Was, the astonishing story of perhaps the most audacious fraud in history.

29

Christmas can be a stressful time for everyone and it’s worth remembering it can be traumatic for your pets too. All the frenzied activity, visits from friends and family and changes in routine can all take their toll on your animals. To help your pets get through Christmas without going Crackers there’s a few important things to remember.

Firstly, a lot of the foods we eat at Christmas are very rich and often give your pets stomach upsets if they have too many titbits. Even worse they can trigger a food intolerance reaction with itching and hair loss, and excess fatty food can also cause pancreatitis which is a very painful and serious condition. Certain foods are even poisonous to pets. Grapes and raisins are very poisonous and can cause kidney failure so it is important not to feed your pet any Christmas cake or pudding and to ensure these are safely stored away out of reach. Chocolate is also

poisonous as it contains theobromine which is toxic to pets, beware that dogs have been known to sniff out wrapped chocolates under the tree and a box of dark chocolates could be fatal. Other potential hazards include poinsettias, mistletoe, holly and ivy all of which are poisonous and can cause stomach upsets and mouth ulcers. Pine needles can get lodged in paws and cause infections. Baubles and children’s toys can be chewed and cause serious internal damage and pets often chew the extra electric cables around the tree, these seem particularly appealing for puppies, kittens and house rabbits.

Crackers, party poppers and fireworks are also very stressful for pets. Unfortunately, we saw a lot of traumatised animals around November 5th and there are likely to be more fireworks around New Year. If your pet is particularly stressed by fireworks they may benefit from a spray, collar or plug – in diffuser which releases synthetic pheromones to replicate natural signals of ‘well-being’ and can help reassure and comfort pets with firework fears. There are also other treatment options so if your pet found fireworks very traumatic this year please give us a call on 01227 832322as we can help make next time less scary. Hopefully this hasn’t dampened your Christmas spirit too much! We want you to be aware of potential dangers but don’t want to cause more stress and we wish everyone and their pets a very Happy Christmas.

30

Traditionally reared and prepared on our farm in

Waltham

A delicious centerpiece for a fabulous Christmas dinner

Sold as oven ready

For orders and enquiries contact

Ian or Sharminda Lockwood

By phone, e-mail or visit our website

01227 700062

hello@duckpitvalley.co.uk

www.duckpitvalley.co.uk

The Compasses Inn Sole St, Crundale

Phil & Angela Welcome you 7 days a week –

Lunches served from 12 – 3 daily, from £3.95 weekdays Sunday lunch from £9.95

Christmas Fayre menu available on line

Visit our website to view sample menu’s and catch up on our news www.compassesinn-crundale.co.uk

Quiz night 1st Sunday of the month

Join our Facebook page - Compasses Inn Crundale Call us on 01227 700300

31

Petal & Blossom

Gorgeous flowers for weddings, celebrations, sympathy, events and

gifts. Claire Williams Jo Tantum 07817 644619 07912 284771

petalandblossom@hotmail.co.uk www.petalandblossom.co.uk

Petal & Blossom ~ The Festive Season

Beautiful handmade spruce door wreaths made to order

Choose from a traditional or contemporary design to complement your festive style. Prices from £22.50 for 15” wreath or £27.50 for 18” wreath

Gorgeous table arrangements filled with seasonal greenery Including your choice of; candles, fresh flowers, spices and more.

Prices from £17.50

For all your floral requirements from fireplace garlands to vase arrangements, please call us for a chat. FREE LOCAL DELIVERY (within 3 miles of Petham village)

WINTER WREATH PARTIES

Why not invite a group of friends over, warm up the mulled wine and we’ll bring our box of tricks and show you how to make your own unique door wreath!

£25 per head (minimum of 4)

petalandblossom@hotmail.co.uk - Claire Williams 07817644619 - Jo Tantum 07912284771

32

www.jabeer.co.uk

email: jaminbeer@btinternet.com

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34

Hart Lee - Tree Surgery and Garden Serviceswebsite: www.hartleetreesurgery.com

All aspects of Tree Work, Hedge & Grass CuttingGarden Clearances . Logs Supplied. Tree Stumps RemovedNPTC Certicates * Licensed Waste Carriers * Fully Insured

Call Tony on: Tel/Fax: 01227 478604 :Mob: 07708 53768354 St Gregory’s Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1NU

PHILLIP S WITTS Cabinet Maker and Joiner

Est. 1980

Specialist in Bespoke Joinery

Handcrafted:-

• Kitchens

• Bedroom Furniture

• Studies

• Windows and Doors

• Commercial work also undertaken.

Visit the website for more detailed information and photographs

of recent projects.

www.phillipswitts.co.uk Tel:- 01233 740265/07702 119321 – Fax:- 01233 740818

Email:- phillip@phillipswitts.co.uk

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SIX MILEGARAGE LTD

& Accident Repair Centre

Telephone:01227 709 214 or 491

Stone StreetStelling MinnisNr. CanterburyKent CT4 6DN

CAR & COMMERCIAL REPAIRS

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David FarnfieldLocal High Quality Painter & Decorator

All interior & exterior work carried out includingdesigner wallpaper hanging.

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Tel: 07710 130275 / 01233 750450, www.davidfarnfield.com Email: enquiries@davidfarnfield.com

DAVID

07813 647305 01227 700847

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HOUSE REPAIRS

PAINTER & DECORATOR

36

LEN’S LANDROVERSFor LANDROVER Repa i rs and

Serv ic ing a t Reasonab le Pr icesTel : - 01227 733 730

www. lens landrovers .com

Andrew MangnallETM Executive CarsT: 01227 730929M: 07894 742892info@etmexecutivecars.co.ukwww.etmexecutivecars.co.uk

Our Success is our Reputation

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KENFIELD OASTBED AND BREAKFAST

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Tel: 01227 700495 / 07889368259suzi.rossbrowne@btinternet.comwww.bed-and-breakfast-canterbury.co.uk

37

Wood Burningand

Multi-Fuel Stoves

- Gas and Electric models -- Wood and pellet burning boilers -

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Phone Tony on 01227-700652Mob 07508244260

TONY’S, GARDEN CARE & DESIGNFOR ALL YOUR GARDEN NEEDS

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ESTABLISHED 1968Award winning Design and Build 2005

Phone Tony at Silver-birches.01227-700652 mob 07508244260

LAYHAM GARDEN CENTRE & NURSERYLower Road . Staple . Near Wingham, Canterbury

British

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Rose Breeders

Horticultural

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The Professional Plant People

Natural first choice for roses

in Kent – we stock over 200

different varieties of rose –

all grown on site.

The place to go if you want profes-

sional, expert advice on an extensive

range of trees, shrubs, bedding

plants and perennials.

Local stockist of a wide

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Open 7 days a week, 9am - 5pm.

Telephone: 01304 813 267 Website: www.layhamgardencentre.co.uk

38

HATCH AUTOS MOT CENTREAll Makes & Models- Petrol & Diesel

Class 4 All AutomatedWhile-You-Wait Service - MOT by Appointment

Competitive PricesFull Servicing & Repairs

Tel: 01227 730 184Unit 1 Groombridge Yard, Bigbury Rd Canterbury CT4 7NE

Proprietor C.J.Bennett www.hatchautos.co.uk

39

Hagerty Carpet Cleaner Hire£12/day. Ecover Washing &Cleaning Products

NATURALLY HOME REARED BEEF

Local beef from our home bred Hereford and Angus cross herd.

We hang our beef for a minimum of 21 days. This gives the

meat a full flavour and moist tenderness.

Our beef is available in a mixed box of approximately 18kg,

consisting of roasting joints, sirloin and rump steaks,

stewing steak, mince & burgers.

For any enquiries, prices and availability please call

Mark or Jo Izard on:-

01227 700202 or 07889 176 280

BEEF

M&M ServicesGeneral handy man

I do inside jobs as well asoutside work

Grass Cutting, Hedge CuttingAnd general garden work

Decorating Plumbing Flatpack furni-ture etc

If I can help just call Mark on

Mobile 07896158490or home 01227 700372

e mail markfay@btinternet.com

Private Tuition in Mathematics

from a recently retired Mathematics teacher with 20 years experience of teaching at secondary level. GCSE and A level tuition available.

Phone: 01227 700620Email: j.benge@btconnect.com

BED & BREAKFAST AT

STABLE LODGE BROADWAY

PETHAM 01227 700847

40

CLIVE SELBY Carpentry

&Property Refurbishment

20yrs ExperienceCity & Guilds qualified

Free EstimatesFully insured

No job too small

Tel: 01227 377800Mob: 07801 636213

Email: info@cliveselby.co.ukwww.cliveselby.co.uk

41

Canterbury Steiner SchoolGarlinge Green

Chartham, CanterburyKent, CT4 5RU

Tel: 01227 738 285Fax: 01227 731 158

canterburysteinerschool.co.ukemail: info@canterburysteiner.co.uk

Registered Charity No. 273147

KindergartenA time for childhood

Ages 3-6

Lower and Upper Schoolto GCSE Ages 6-17

OliverManning Press

B.A.HONS (HIST. OF ART) - DIP.CONS OF ANTIQUE FURNITUREDIP.EUROPEAN CENTRE OF CONSERVATION - VENICE

RESTORATION OFANTIQUE FURNITURE

CANTERBURY ~ 01227 731765MOBILE ~ 0780 8001844

42

SARAH DE ROUGEMONTUPHOLSTERY . LOOSE COVERS UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE &

RENOVATION

ALL COMMISSIONSCONSIDERED

Tel: 07973 377817

Kent’s leading Domestic Oven Cleaners- Non Caustic, Fresh solutions every clean- Ovens, Ranges & AGA’s- Hobs, Extractors, Microwaves & BBQ’s

Tel: 0800 328 9342 your for free quoteLocal Representative:

Geoff Cheshire

Call Dave Gurney or emailHome: 01795 520051 Mobile: 07817 191055

Email: dave_gurneyuk@yahoo.co.uk

TreeworldTree Surgery & Hedging

We offer a comprehensive service covering all aspects of tree and hedge work by our team of trained professionals

NPTC Qualified £5m Public Liability Insurance Free Quotations

LOGS & FIREWOODFor 1st Class Seasoned

BURNING WOODAsh or mixed logs (dry)

Cut to Order

Ring John AustenPetham (01227 700 570)

Tel/Fax:01233 632 424

email:aburchell@afbelectrical.co.uk

AFB ELECTRICAL LIMITEDLocal Electrical Contractor

All electrical work undertaken

Please contact:

Andy Burchell

43

YOGA CLASSES WALTHAM VILLAGE HALL

ON MONDAY EVENINGS Suitable for absolute beginners to experienced students;

men or women and a wide range of fitness levels. Yoga will help with flexibility, stretching, relaxation and stress. I ALSO OFFER A VARIETY OF MASSAGE TREATMENTS

to ease stiff joints, promote health and well being and for stress management. (Fully qualified – ITEC / LCIC / Diploma in Yoga Teaching / Life Coach) Phone or email for more information: Lynn 01227 700071 / 07913305175

lynn@saxby4.orangehome.co.uk

QUALITY GARDEN CAREAll types of garden maintenance undertaken, lawns, hedges, pruning and

general tidying up. From design to construction - Decking, PatiosFencing, Water Features, Garden Lighting

20 years experience - Reliable, Quality Service

Competitive Rates - Free EstimatesPhone Keith Duncan: 01233 643109 . Mobile: 07799 634063

BUILDING CONTRACTORS All aspects of building works

Listed buildings, Roofing in clay tile, Slate, Leadwork, Loft conversions, Renovations, Drainage and groundworks

Qualified craftsmen Sellindge 01303 813887

Est. 1984

P & V QUENBY* BOILER MAINTENANCE SERVICE *

OIL FIRED, BOILER SERVICE & REPAIRS25 years experience

Fully qualified and insured

For a prompt, efficient serviceCanterbury (01227) 760 428

44

Cedar Boiler ServicesOIL FIRED BOILER SERVICE, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

Dennis Clarkson

Tel.0788 092 6567

01227 830630

Tanya Scott BSc MSc DC MCC

Registered with the GCC & a Member of the BCA

Each visit is private, you will be offered

personal care and attention just for you.

Wheelchair & Disabled Access.

Late Night Opening.

No matter how old or young, you will

feel welcome and be offered the

treatment and advice your body needs.

Ample Free Parking.

16 Fox Way, Barham, KENT, CT4 6QJ.

A secluded picturesque venue near Bridge Special Events & Weddings, Concerts, Open Air Theatre,

Business Meetings & Corporate Away-days

Community Classes & TreatmentsBallroom, Body-Conditioning, Massage, Piano, Pilates, Singing, Squash,

Tennis, Yoga, Swimming summer 2011(all year spa Spring 2012)

Tel: 01227 831355 Charlton Park CT4 5JA www.charlton-park.org

45

THE CHEQUERS INNBAR & RESTAURANT

Sunday Carvery Lunch A la Carte Menu (Tues - Sat) Special Fresh Fish Menu (Thurs) 5 Real Ales available

The Chequers Inn, Stone Streeet, Petham

01227 700 734

01227 700730 / 07828 256817 www.pawsandtiaras.co.uk Personalised Pet Pampering

Have your pet groomed in your homeKent’s Premier Mobile Grooming Service

IS YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK SECURE?

If not, your computer and data are at risk, call us to secure your network today!

Virus Removal/Protection Data Recovery IT Consultancy Health Checks Installation Networks Set Up SupportRepairsServicesUpgrades01227 700730 07970455861 info@gingercatcomputersolutions.co.uk www.gingercatcomputersolutions.co.uk

46

Dr. Dawe’s

KENT TESTAll passed in January

with 10+ lessons

MATHS & SCIENCESto A’ Level and IB

TUITION SERVICES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

visit www.drdawe.co.uk or call 01227 700 165

CAMERAMANIA Quality Photographic Equipment Do you have any old film camera equipment gathering dust in your loft? If so why not turn it into cash! Phone Harvey on 01227 830184 or email cameramania@gmail.com.

47

Edward YoungElectrical & Security Installations

Registered ElectricianEstablished over 30 years

All types of work carried outFault finding & Repairs

Farm - Domestic - CommercialTelephone:01303 813 654

Littlebourne, Canterbury, Kent CT3 1XUT 01227 721864

E images@hayward-design.co.uk W www.hayward-design.co.uk

c r e a t i v i t y i nd e s i g n t y p e w e b p r i n t

Don’t be eclipsed by your competitors

48

Family Butchers

- LAURIE WAKEHAM -High Street, Bridge, Canterbury

tel: 01227 830 220

Prime Local English Meat . Home-Made SausagesFresh Poultry . Cooked Meats . Meat for Freezers

Thinking of Selling?

MATHS & ENGLISHTUITION

Experienced Tutor CRB Checked

Maths up to A Level, English to Year 8Kent Test & Common Entrance

Please call: (01227) 730 991Mrs Lawrence Jones, St Augustines, Chartham

49

MIKE ANDERSON

- Systems built to your specification -- Upgrades & Repairs -- On-site maintenance -

- New & Second User systems -supplied, installed & set-up

- Computer Training -

COMPUTER SERVICEFRIENDLY ADVICE

PERSONAL SERVICE

Tel: (01227) 779 244Mobile: (07831) 220 982

email: dm.computers@btinternet.com

WINDOW CLEANERRaymond E Epps

May Cottage, Church Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6SA

For a quote for your windows pleaseTelephone: 01303 814 151

Also undertaken: gutters, facias, painting, general cleaning & property maintenance

HAZELNUT TREE CARE 01227700538

‘We Care For Your Trees’ 07879601642

All Aspects of Tree Surgery Hedges Planting Fully Insured Free advice

and quotations Local Tree Surgeon with over 10 years experience Friendly

and reliable service NPTC NCH arb. Certified

To Advertise in this spacecontact: editor@pawnews.org

Professional, Reliable, Multi-Skill Handyman ServiceAll Jobs Considered Call for Your Free Estimate

Plumbing & HeatingKitchens & Bathroom Installation Flat Pack AssemblyGuttering (Cleaning & Replacement)Shelves & General DIY

Loft BoardingSmall Painting and Decorating JobsChanging Light BulbsPAT TestingNO JOB TOO SMALL!!!

01227 656 250www.chaucerpropertymaintenance.com

Boiler Service & RepairWallpaper StrippingFaulty ToiletLeaking TapsNew Boilers Installed

SWARLING MANORAt Swarling Manor we take great pride in our first class standard service and attention to detail, providing an elegant venue which has gained a reputation that has made us one of the most popularchoices for couples marrying in Kent. We have a very flexible venue with an option to suit every need, set in classic country

gardens and beautiful surroundingcountryside. Our lovingly restored 18th century barn or gazebo on the formal lawns make the perfect setting for any celebration.

Elizabeth Stanley, Wedding AdvisorSwarling Manor, Petham, Canterbury, Kent

Tel: 01227 700377 (weekday mornings)

www.swarlingmanor.comemail: info@swarlingmanor.com