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Tel: info@gingercatcomputers.co.ull: and www.gingercatcomputers.co.u CONSULTATIONS 01227 700730 www.RefIec'l:IonByWaI:er.eom Emall: andrewlongrbwflnolanallmom CONIPUTEH SOLUTIONS Est 1988 Domestic Cleaning Services Tel: 01227 277033 www.supermaids.co.uk Email: info@supermaids.co.uk To advertise here email steve|thomas91@gmai|.com FS Property Maintenance & Handyman All aspect of interior & exterior, residential & commercial property maintenance undertaken. All jobs big or small. Friendly, reliable, reasonable 07980 364694 01227 722278 ELITE BLINDS l.'lf‘\l)l TO Ml »'\Sl_JRl www.e|ite—blinds.c0m 01227 720 881 Self-Caterinq Holiday Home Bridqe (Centre) Sleeps 7—(5 + 2 on sofabed), 3 Bedrooms Available all year round. Contact Tina: 07890 613185 or 0118 375 0393 T. PETTMAN CLOCKMAKER 0786 0498 963 Ed-IT CCNVIPLJTING 0 Computing & technology advice. support, tuition, repair I provide all aspects of IT support to individuals and businesses on a one—off or ongoing basis. Ed Ludlow, Ed-IT Computing t: 01227 472619 I m: 07494 404238 hello@ed—it.co.uk I www.ed—it.co.uk P J Sweeps Phillip Joiner Chimney Engineer Over 10 Years’ Experience Fireplaces Fitted CCTV Surveying Ii BEE: 3 Rotary Power Sweeping Stoves Installed & Serviced 01227 700 909 pjsweeps@h0tmail.c0.uk WWW.PJCHIMNEYSWEEPS.CO.UK NACS Registered Fully Insured Chimney Lining Pots & Cowls HOPS F k0WERS ..: BY ESSENTIALLY HOPS Hop garlands for decoration | Dried Flowers | Gifts www.essentia||yhops.co.uk Chalkpit Farm Rural Shopping, Bei‘T ‘ , .'._1v The CANTERBURY AUCTION Galleries FREE ANTIQUE VALUATION SERVICE Every Friday 10am to 1pm. Home visits by appointment. CANTERBURY 01227 763337 40 STATION ROAD WEST, CANTERBURY, KENT CT2 8AN www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com The Vicarage D ~ 23 High Street ' $17; Bridge ”§»,$_};§} ';,;? Tel: 01227 206272 W99 Gr°°° E-mail: este||a|ast@gmai|.com April 2023 Dear Friends The beginning of April brings with it the promise of a new season. As I write in mid- march we are once again in a cold snap and all the hopeful little Spring flowers were sadly wearing frosty little hats this morning but hopefully as April dawns we will see warmer weather and more tangible signs of Spring! In the Church too, we move from the season of Lent, during which we seek to be more reflective and contemplative, to the events of Holy Week and ultimately the wonderful celebration of Easter. We begin the final week of ourjourney with a pro- cession through Bridge with Banks our Donkey on Palm Sunday (2”d April) and then as the week unfolds we have services and events to mark the significant events that took place in Jerusalem prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection. In this we seek for ourselves a new connection with the deep spiritual truths of the Easter narrative. In Lent we have been thinking about connection in all sorts of ways, the ways in which our churches connect with the villages and the ways in which those of us who are Christians and worship in our churches support our local community groups and activities. You will see in the magazine details of many of the events and activities we get involved in. We know that we grow and flourish as human beings not only through individual attachments to those who care for us at home but also through forming emotional bonds with social groups. And so we endeavour to enhance the life and community of all our villages with the efforts we make. As a church we are striving to be a community where people of all ages can learn and grow together. Many of the volunteers who dedicate so much of their time and energy to looking after our churches have done so for many decades, having begun when their own children were small and they were themselves working in their full timejobs, and continuing on into their retirement. At the end of the month on Wednesday 26”‘ April we will be holding our Annual Parochial Church Meeting at Bridge and Patrixbourne School. This meeting is partly a legal exercise, a thing we have to do in order to present our report and accounts for 2022. But for us it is al- ways more than that. It is always an opportunity to celebrate all that we achieved together for our churches and communities, an opportunity to thank all the volunteers who give so much of their time in support of our churches and wider community, and an opportunity for new people to get involved, to join teams and committees as we look forward to all we will do together in the year to come. Like many other organisations it has been tempting since the pandemic to turn in on ourselves and look only to our own survival but we know “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others... not dominating, but helping and serving”* and so this we continue to strive to do, in each of the villages we serve. May this Easter be a time of celebration, hope, blessing and beauty for you all. 10 K‘; 7”-'.:g 4;, .n=3 Q6‘ THE CHURCH °’9e Gro\3‘Q OF ENGLAND THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING of the Bridge Group Parish Representing the Churches of St Peter's Bridge, St Mary's Patrixbourne, St Peter's Bekesbourne, St Mary's, Lower Hardres and St Mary's, Nackington Will take place from 7pm on Wednesday 26"‘ April 2023 at Bridge and Patrixbourne School Details of the business of these meetings can be found on notices displayed in the Parish Churches. The Annual meeting will be preceded by the Annual Meeting of Parishioners at which the Churchwardens for each Church are elected and appointed. Everyone is invited to join us to celebrate our achievements over the past 12 months and hear about our plans for the future. The evening will conclude with wine and nibbles. Yours in Christ [5/otta/_aW Rev. Estella Last, Vicar, The Bridge Group Parish ‘I1 Service details and readinqs for April 2"” Palm Isaiah 50.4-9a; 9.30am Procession with Donkey from April Sunday Psalm 118.1- Bridge School 2,19-29; 10am Parish Communion Philippians 2.5- St Peter’s Bridge 11; Matthew 21.1- 6pm Choral Evensong at Lower Hardres 11 & Matthew 26:14-end of 27 6"‘ Maundy Tenebrae Service April Thurs- 7.30pm St Peter’s Bridge day 7"‘ Good Messy Church at Bridge School 10.30-12 April Friday Good Friday Pilgrimage 1.30pm St Peter’s Bekesbourne Commissioning hymn & Pray- ers 2-3pm St Mary’s Patrixbourne Service of Readings and Music 3.30pm St Peter’s Bridge Fellowship Tea and Hot Cross Buns 9"‘ Easter Acts 10.34-43; 8am Communion St Mary’s Nackington April Sunday Colossians 3.1- 4; 10am Parish Communion Matthew 28.1- St Peter’s Bridge 10 10am Songs of Praise with Easter Egg Hunt at Bekesbourne 11am Tea and Cake followed Easter Cele- _ bration Service at Lower Hardres T65 2”” Sun- Acts 2.14a,22- 10am Easter Sung Holy Communion at St April day of 32; Psalm 16; Mary’s Patrixbourne Easter 1 Peter 1.3-9; John 20.19-31 4pm Family Service St Peter’s Bridge 23'“ 3"’ Sun- Acts 2.14a,36- 10am Communion at St Peter's Bridge April day of 41; Easter/ 1 Peter 1.17- St 23; Georges Luke 24.13-35 Day fit“ 4m Sun- Acts 2.42-47; 10am Benefice Communion at Lower day of 1 Peter 2.19- Hardres Apr“ Easter 25; John 10.1-10 6*“ May — CORONATION DAY W 5m Sun- 8am BCP Communion St Mary’s, Nackington May day of 10am Songs of Praise at St Peter’s Bekesbourne Easter 6pm Choral Evensong at St Peter’s Bridge 12 April 2023 Dates Mon 3"’ - 1pm—3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Thurs 6”‘ -11.30-1pm Growing Good Lent Group Fri 7‘“— 10am-11.30 Messy Church at Bridge School Mon 10"‘ - 1pm—3pm BREW, Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Weds 12”‘ -10 am Bekesbourne Village coffee morning, Bekesbourne Village Hall Fri 14"‘ — 10.15-11.30 Fish Scheme Coffee Morning Bridge Village Hall Mon 17”‘ - 1pm—3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Thurs 20"‘ 9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion 2pm Communion at Mansfield Court Fri 215‘ — 8.45am Coffee, Chat and Prayer at Bridge Church Mon 24"‘ — 1pm—3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground 2.30pm Caring and Sharing Thurs 27”‘ — 9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion Fri 28”‘ — 8.45am Coffee, Chat and Prayer at Bridge Church Sat 29"‘ — 10.15am Coronation Coffee Cake and Concert, Bridge Church Electoral role Revision The annual review of the Electoral Roll is taking place. If you are not already of the Roll and would like to be, please complete a form (available in each of our churches) and re- turn it to a churchwarden or to 54 Bridge Down, Bridge by April 10th. 13 The Friends of St Peter's Church, Bridge €0FH3E & CAKE CONClEIlT al BIIIIIGE CIIIIRCII Saturday 29th April 10:15 to 11:30am A CORONATION CONCERT A celebration in words & music ‘HERE'S A HEALTH uwro HIS MAJESTY’ .5 including some of his favourite items‘ A community choir & audience songs .5 (flagymmdzfawtcw dreaaropttonalz) 45 Suggested donation £5 and children free PrmmwWwwbfi Nailbourne Horticultural Society Following on from our Spring Show, the next event on the calendar is on Tuesday 2nd May at 7.30 pm in Bridge Village Hall when we are fortunate to have a return visit from Martin Newcombe who on this occasion will be giving an illustrated talk on the Elham Valley. Martin is a well known ecologist and environmentalist as well as a most entertaining speaker. 80, make a date in your diary and come along to what will be, we promise, an interesting talk. All are welcome (£2 entry for mem- bers and £4 for visitors). Coffee, Chat and Prayer Every Friday during term time from 8.45am-9.30am at Bridge Church An opportunity to join in with a group for prayer, coffee and a chat. For more information contact Revd Estella on este||a|ast@gmai|.com 1(- Il>'- If- If llondug 6'' H19 2-Spun «E the llocnulfion Ground E for Imlun-Beers Heal-eloolcing-Eorlmlmrbeersvtohelporganizsecmdnm the event- All help welcome- Please contact the Clerk Fifi emfifl § 01' 59 cutting 0-1:133 759195- Con-finnedso-far: l!Iahoneg’sofBridge-oH‘ering'Ee¢,gg[g_z_¢ndscones Premier-Bar'RUnners ' Emuciztvl-hes‘ “ runbgflgghig ' Bouncgtas-Ele 16 NOTICE OF ELECTION Canterbury Election of Parish Councillors for Bridge An election is to be held for nine parish councillors on Bridge Parish Council. Nomination papers may be obtained from the Clerk to the Parish Council or the Returning Officer at the address below. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at the address below on any week day after the date of this notice (excluding bank holidays) be- tween 10am and 4pm but no later than 4pm on Tuesday, 4th April 2023. If any election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday, 4th May 2023. This is the same day as Canterbury City Council elections. Applications for the following must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by the deadlines below: New applications to register to By midnight on Monday, 17th April vote: 2023 www.gov.uklregister-to-vote New applications to vote by post By 5pm on Tuesday, 18th April 2023 or to cancel or amend an exist- ing postal or proxy vote. Applications for Voter Authority By 5pm on Tuesday, 25th April 2023 Certificate www.gov.ukIapply-for-photo- New applications to vote by By 5pm on Tuesday, 25th April 2023 Applications to vote by emergen- By 5pm on Thursday, 4th May 2023 cy proxy Contact: electoral.sen/ices@canterbury.gov.uk or call 01227 862007 Tricia Marshall, Returning Officer/Electoral Registration Officer, Canterbury City Council, Military Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1YW. Dated Thursday 16 March 2023 17 Bridqe & District Historv Societv The next meeting will be on Thursday April 20 at 7.30pm in Bridge Village Hall. Peter Genower's talk is about the Black Prince who is often seen as a na- tional hero and military genius. But perhaps there was another side to the character of this prince who never became king. The talk poses the question "The Black Prince - hero or villain?" and will take a clear-eyed view of the man behind the legend. £4.00 to include refreshments. §ave the Date— Bekesbourne Church Workincl Partv We are planning a Volunteering Morning and Barbecue at Bekesbourne church on Monday 8”‘ May. It's 9.00 -12.00 Come along and join a group of volunteers who look after our beautiful church and churchyard. All ages and abilities are welcome. There are lots ofjobs to do, big and small. You may prefer to work inside the church cleaning or arranging flowers. You might want to be more energetic and tidying the churchyard and working to re-wild certain are- as. lt’s always more fun to do it together. Enjoy a hot dog or a burger afterwards — a reward for your efforts and a time to get together. Nicky 18 St John % Ambulance stfim §:“'3’|?aIr1“I:: Community Ambngance First Aid Event Saturday 29”‘ April 10:00 to 12:30 In Bekesbourne Village Hall All are very welcome to our Community First Aid Event presented by St John Ambulance Personnel. Donations appreciated. Come along and see demonstrations of how the recognize and respond to heart attacks and strokes, and other general First Aid education. Refreshments will be available. Bridqe with Patrixbourne Womens Institute At the AGM, Sheila Scrivener was voted in as President, with Avril Austin taking on the role of Vice-President. Avril was thanked for all her hard work during her years as President. Jill Burden continues as Secretary and Linda Soulsby as Treas- urer. All who served on the committee were re-elected, and two other members — Sara Lane and Eileen Ellis were welcomed onto the committee. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 18 April at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, when Margaret Welsh will be talking about, and demonstrating, Calligraphy. Please note that during the summer months, our meetings will continue in the evenings. Wl welcomes anyone interested in becoming a member, or coming along firstly as a guest for a ‘taster’. For more details, please contact the Secretary on 01227- 830606. Joan Hill March 2023 National Veqetable Societv — Kent District Association Chris Lane from Newington is the guest speaker at the Society's meeting on Wednesday 12th of April, 7.30 for 8.00 pm start in Bridge Village Hall. Chris holds the national collection of Wisteria at his property in Newington, near Sittingbourne, and will be giving an illustrated talk entitled "The Propagation and Growing of Wis- teria" There is no charge for entry and all are welcome. Refreshments, raffle and sales table. 19 Palm Sunday in the __ ,2 3 Bridge Group Parish °<%.-,;;gro°.g=‘§' Sunday 2nd April 9.30am Meet at Bridge School to process to Bridge Church (led by a real donkey!) loam Palm Sunday Service with Communion at Bridge Church. All Welcome Come to Bridge school to meet our lovely donkey and then walk with us to Church. If you would prefer not to join the walk simp- ly go to church as normal for the 10am service and we will see you there! L o:}":2'l°".l-:‘L‘,'.7-".i.'-¥‘.:l-- Q - . _/7/r;/zzIy/*//Ir’/I/ The Board of The Close (Bridge) Property Management Ltd wish to appoint a Managing Agent ‘The Close’ in Union Road, Bridge is a community of 26 dwellings, previously the Bridge Union Workhouse. Each property holds one share in the management company which is administered by a board of homeownerslshareholders. This is a pennanent. part-time role on a fee basis. Tasks will include: o Organisation of six Board meetings and three General meetings per annum Issue of agendas and preparation and circulation of minutes With Board assistance, preparation of proposed Annual Budget General bookkeeping Administration of management fees and payment of contractors using online banking o Preparation of draft end of year accounts and liaison with Company accountant - Response to enquiries by conveyancing companies during property purchases - Annual review of building insurance 0 Enforcement of Lease requirements as needed. Please apply by email to TheQloseBoard@outlook.co.uk or by post to The Board, 22 The Close, Union Road, Bridge CT45NJ Fish Scheme News Knitting is back. We have wool and patterns at the Coffee Pop-ins but would love some new supplies. If you have some you could part with do ring 01227 830298 and we can pick it up. Or, of course , bring it to our next Coffee Pop-I on Friday April 14th in Bridge village hall from 10 on. And, remember, there is also a book exchange. Fish Number for lifts 07935 966 080 21 . CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 14-20 May 2023 Have you heard of pigeon peas? This year’s Christian Aid Week focuses on the women who farm pigeon peas in Malawi — women like Jen, who is able to sell her peas through the co-operative supported by Christian Aid and so pay for her sons education. Pigeon peas are drought resistant and put nitrogen into the soil so avoiding the need for fertilisers. The co-operative ensures Jen gets a good price for her crops and is no longer swindled by unscrupulous buyers. You can buy pigeon peas in the UK in some supermarkets and on-line and there are plenty of recipes for making soups, dhal and other dishes. Why not try some yourself? This year we are not delivering envelopes house-to-house as in previous years. There will gift envelopes available in our churches, we will be having a raffle with three star prizes and we will also be setting up an e—envelope so that you can do- nate on-line. Messy Church and Bridge School will also be taking part in some fun activities and raising money. Look out for all the details and for more stories of Christian Aid’s work in Malawi in next month's On the Nail. Nailbourne Horticultural Societv - Sprincl Show A reminder that the Society 's Spring Show is happening in Bridge Village Hall on Saturday 1 April from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. So do pop in for a cuppa and feast your eyes on the display of beautiful spring flowers. There will also be a bring and buy stall and raffle to raise funds for the Society. For more information please contact Kathy Walder, Show Secretary, on tel: 830057/07791 656539; email: kath@askwalder.com 22 In your garden with Marie Gold Do no'ts)oreaa/ 1‘/Le camfaosfon the weeds William Slmakesloeolre I suspect there's a deeper meaning here. After all, one gardener's weed is another gardener's flower. It is probably more about the needing to look at what we're nour- ishing. However, my thoughts turned to my compost bin, gently simmering... 50 years ago, I started with 2 homemade wooden 3-sided structures, the idea be- ing that A could be turned over to B and when A was empty it was ready to start again. I moved to a smaller garden and acquired the dalek type plastic bins, (still available free from a variety of sources), and I was so pleased to find a slow worm curled up in one. Finally, with an even smaller garden, I have an expanded Poly- propylene black bin which heats up to a good temperature. It is totally enclosed and produces lovely rich black compost within months. Adapting and experimenting over the years with composting methodology, it is a mix of household green waste, garden material (no seedy weeds or diseased mate- rial), a small amount of grass cuttings for heat, chopped cardboard (carbon) and bark chips (aeration). Chopped nettle leaves are a useful addition ((vitamins, ami- no acids, and minerals). Then red worms (eisenia fetida) appear, and black and nutritious compost is produced for the garden in a few months taken from a hatch at the bottom. Liquid is drained off separately for adding to water as liquid food. In the cold of Winter, it is a slower process. A win for me and a win for the planet. The daleks work as well, just a slower process. A back door bin is for all the veggie and fruit peelings including banana skins (potassium), coffee grounds (nitrogen), crushed eggshells (calcium), tea bags/ leaves (vitamins) and dust and bits of fluff from the vacuum cleaner. I mulch my garden twice a year after which it immediately looks good, then the worms do all the work by secreting it into the soil. I may have mentioned this here before... April bees love Grape hyacinth, Wallflowers, Bluebells, Apple Blossom, Anemone Blanda 23 l3s1cn BY POPuLm< DEMHND. TITIEAMHKT‘/KDOM Pl.fiYEK§ PI