A magazine for the villages along the Design “Creativity is Web intelligence having fun” Albert Einstein Print micklecreative com Tie Canterbury Roofing Specialist e Slate roofs Family run business www.rooferincanterbury.co.uk : None ore Contact Gary or Trevor for a free quote. e Repair work Syvilla e Fibreglass flat roofs Canterbury Road e All building work carried out Chilham, Canterbury Tel: 01227 731845 Mobile: 07796 165289 To advertise here contact stevelthomas91@gmail.com Bridge Haven avant© care & support C a re H fe) m e ‘Everyone Matters’ Conyngham Lane, Bridge, Canterbury CT4 5JX At Bridge Haven 24-hour care and support is provided for people living with dementia, where our team of qualified and attentive staff focus on the individual needs of the residents. Visit our website to see how we can help you: www.avantecare.org.uk or call us on 01227 831607 Beurne Veterinary Practice Convenient parking Committed to quality care | Purpose designed modern practice Relaxed atmosphere 24 hour emergency service Consultations by appointment Modern purpose designed facility Chalkpit Farm, Adisham Road, Bekesbourne, Nr. Canterbury Kent CT4 5EU (Opposite Essentially ops) e-mail : info@bournevets.co.uk Web : www.bournevets.co.uk 01227 832322 JW& LJ BRASIER Ltp Unit 11 Partridge Drive, Bridge CANTERBURY CT4 5BF (01227) 831928 Servicing & MOT’s Classes 4,5 lights & 7 Welding Full Diesel & Petrol Diagnostic Cars collected and returned locally iS R.B.W dl KENT’S WATER FEATURE ry SPECIALISTS AND °°) POND BUILDING EXPERT. ‘s: Garden / Pond Design, Building and Refurbishments Pond Cleaning / Maintenance / Maintenance Contracts Child Safe Pond Covers Filtration Specialists Patios - Decking - Fencing - Brickwork - Arbours Tel: 07563212858 FREE ESTIMATES and CONSULTATIONS www.RefiectionByWater.com Email: andrewlongrbw@hotmail.com MOLE CATCHER KEITH No Mole - No Fee Your local Mole catcher, based in Ash , covering all local towns and villages. Offering mole control for your lawns, gardens & paddocks. Public liability insurance. Call/Text East Kent Mole Catcher 07876 686543 Email—molecatcherkeith@hotmail.com We come to you... Ginger Cac COMPUTER SOLUTIONS PC & Laptop Repairs. Data Recovery Networking & Maintenance. Repairs & New Systems . Upgrades. Virus Removal/Protection. info@gingercatcomputers.co.uk www.gingercatcomputers.co.uk 01227 700730 Est 1988 Domestic Cleaning Services Tel: 01227 277033 www.supermaids.co.uk Email: info@supermaids.co.uk Grounds Maintenance by Bourne to Garden T 01227 832610 E info@bournetogarden.com 8 Grounds & Garden Maintenance 8 Sports Pitch Maintenance Self-Catering Holiday Home Bridge (Centre) Sleeps 7—(5 + 2 on sofabed), 3 Bedrooms Available all year round. Contact Tina: 07890 613 185 or 0118 375 0393 8 Tree Surgery 8 Landscaping 8 Weed Control Fully qualified and insured \ \\ GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | \S Y ASSOCIATION F 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 Ede IT COMPUTING Computing & technology advice, support, tuition, repair | 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 | m: 07494 404238 hello@ed-it.co.uk | www.ed-it.co.uk 2002 ELITE BLINDS MADE TO MEASURE www.elite-blinds.com 01227 720 881 P J Sweeps Phillip Joiner Chimney Engineer Over 10 Years’ Experience Fireplaces Fitted CCTV Surveying t= [SnapLok} Rotary Power Sweeping Stoves Installed & Serviced 01227 700 909 pjsweeps@hotmail.co.uk WWW.PJCHIMNEYSWEEPS.CO.UK NACS Registered Fully Insured Chimney Lining Pots & Cowls HOPS’ FLOWERS gf BY ESSENTIALLY HOPS ~ Hop garlands for decoration | Dried Flowers | Gifts www.essentiallyhops.co.uk Chalkpit Farm Rural Shopping, Bekesbourne, Nr Canterbury, CT4 5EU shop@essentiallyhops.co.uk | Tel: 01227 830 666 To advertise here contact stevelthomas91@gmail.com Cutting and styling hair hair limited in a relaxed and friendly environment with easy free parking outside the door BED HEAD PAUL MITCHELL TIGI tel: 01227 830565 4 western ave, bridge, canterbury, kent, ct4 5ls. y skylarkescapes A PLACE TO SPREAD YOUR WINGS Self-Catering Holiday Cottages * Looking to invest in a holiday property or converting an outbuilding? * Need support with marketing or bookings for your holiday let? * Need somewhere for family to stay for Christmas or a Celebration? We are a local independent agency looking for properties to add to our portfolio. www.skylarkescapes.co.uk Please contact Angela Jackson-Grillet if you would like to talk about letting your property or booking a cottage. hello@skylarkescapes.co.uk * 07710 813 469 Paw Patrols DOG WALKING, HOME BOARDING AND DAY CARE Hannah Terry Nearly 20 Years’ Experience Fully Insured and Licenced Reference’s Available on Request 07855 832045 East Kent Works Traditional And Modern Building Maintenance / Repair / Restoration Sash Windows Brickwork Steelwork Ete, Etc, Etc Sensible rates and attention to detail assured. Call Rob on 07525 330877 or email: eastkentworks@yahoo.com BLACKWELL BUILDING SERVICES BRICKWORK, PLASTERING, CONCRETING, DRAINAGE TILED & FLAT ROOFING, NEW DRIVES, PAVING PLUMBING, PAINTING, DOUBLE GLAZING Tel: 01227 860480 T. PETTMAN CLOCKMAKER 0786 0498 963 DMB PLASTERING All aspects undertaken. Interior. Exterior. Walls. Ceilings. Floors. e 25+ years Experience ao Construction Skills Certified | Also Coving / Drywall / Painting / Repointing / General Repairs K.P Decorating e Internal Decorating e External Decorating e Plastering e Acess all areas Finest quality assured. Free Estimates Reliable Service. Fully Insured. Call or Text Dave on 07818 2 | 907209 Call: 07956455720 Email: dmbplasteringuk@gmail.com www.kpdecorate.com CARPENTRY To advertise here MAINTENANCE SERVICES contact I pride myself on offering a professional service, from hanging a door, fixing furniture, glazing or locks - also take on large jobs. Call or message on 07944 406665 Satisfaction Guaranteed ! stevelthomas91@gmail.com We specialise in bespoke, traditionally crafted oak framed outbuildings, extensions & conservatories. We also offer all general carpentry services. Contact Mark or Helen for your FREE quote. 07977 304 968 sneyoak honeyoakcarpentry@gmail.com C arp ent ry www.honeyoakcarpentry.co.uk The Vicarage Pan § 23 High Street i ~ Bridge t= Tel: 01227 206272 Ge Grov? E-mail: estellalast@gmail.com February 2024 Dear Friends And just like that....... as the saying goes, we are already one twelfth of the year into 2024! | don’t really make New Year’s resolutions but one of the things | have tried to encourage myself to do in the long days of January (which let’s face it can be a bit bleak!) is to look out for and note the moments of joy in the everyday. There was so much joy at Christmas as we filled churches, pubs and village halls throughout our Benefice with carols, mince pies and people all in honour of the birth of the one who came to lift us out of darkness and to show us the light and my aim in January has been to find ways to keep this going as long as possible with an inten- tional noting of joyful moments each day. | wonder if you joined us at all over Christmas whether in church or somewhere out in the community, and | wonder if, when you did, you felt some joy, perhaps in the sing- ing, in the seasonal refreshments or just in being together with others? In church we seek, through our worship together, prayer, listening to scripture, singing hymns and sharing coffee and chat, to continue to renew each week the joy that comes from en- gaging in these simple things. Things which keep us connected to the God who out of love for us sent his Son to gather us into relationship with him. This year Lent comes upon us quickly and Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. The time of Lent has a reputation for being sombre and self-denying but at its root is the aim of drawing closer to the God who loves us. The 40-day period modelled on Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness which is Jesus’ immediate response to the moment of his baptism when he hears the voice of God which calls him ‘beloved’. And so | wonder if you know what it means to feel truly beloved...... Because in our world today, to love or to feel love is so often seen as transactional — we go about right from when we are very young seeking the approval of parents, care givers, friends, teachers, co-workers etc. In a world that seems to say, you are only lovable if...... you achieve this, behave like that, look like this or look like that.....in a world that is quick to ‘cancel’ us when we go astray or make mistakes, as we are bound to do since none of us is perfect. And so much of our hurt, our trauma and our pain comes through those relationships where we don’t feel the love....or where it seems the love has run out. Or where per- haps we are simply looking in the wrong places for healing or validation. Chrisian spirituality tells us that from the moment we were merely a thought in the mind of God, each of us were marked “beloved” as the very core of our identity. It’s not simp- ly something about us, it’s our identity. There’s nothing we’ve done to earn it. There’s nothing we've done or that’s been done to us that can take it away. Beloved is who we are.....and we don’t need cards and flowers to know this. Beloved is where we begin. It is who we are, it is who we are called to be in the world. So this Lent, may we slow down to hear the voices of God swirling around us whispering, you dear one, you are my beloved and may you find the strength and courage to bring the truth of your belovedness fully to the world. Yours in Christ LskoLovor Rev. Estella Last, Incumbent, The Bridge Group Parish February 2024 Dates Thurs 1§' 9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion Fri 2"’ — 8.45am Coffee, Chat and Prayer at Bridge Church Sat 3% 10am Macmillan Coffee Morning Bridge Village Hall Mon 5" - 1pm-3pm BREW, Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Thurs 8" 9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion Fri 9" — 8.45am Coffee, Chat and Prayer at Bridge Church 10.15-11.30 Fish Scheme Coffee Morning Bridge Village Hall Sat 10™ — 4pm Messy Church at Bridge School Mon 12" - 1pm-3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground 2.30pm Caring and Sharing Weds 14" -10 am village coffee morning, Bekesbourne Village Hall Mon 19" - 1pm-3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Thurs 22 — 9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion 2pm-3pm Communion at Mansfield Court Fri 23rd —8.45am Coffee, Chat and Prayer at Bridge Church Mon 26"- - 1pm-3pm BREW Bekesbourne Recreation Ground 2.30pm Caring and Sharing Thurs 29" —9-11am Little Lambs Toddler Group, Bridge Pavilion Service details and readings for February 2024 4" Febru- | Candle- Malachi 3:1-5 8am BCP Communion St Mary’s, ary mas Psalm 24 Nackington Hebrews 2:14- end 10am Songs of Praise St Peter’s Luke 2: 22-40 Bekesbourne 6pm Choral Evensong (Come and sing) Saturday Messy Church at Bridge School 10" Feb- ruary 11" Feb- | Sunday 2 Kings 2.1-12; | 10 am Communion at St Peter’s ruary before 2 Corinthians Bridge Lent 4.3-6; Mark 9.2-9 Wednes- Ash Isaiah 58:1-12 10am Communion Service at St day 14"" Wednes-_ | Psalm 51:1-18 | Peter’s Bridge February day 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6: 1- 6, 16-21 18" Feb- | 1 Sunday | Genesis 9.8- 10am Traditional Sung Holy Com- ruary of Lent 17; munion at St Mary’s Patrixbourne 1 Peter 3.18- 22; 4pm All Age Family Service at St Mark 1.9-15 Peter’s Bridge 25” Feb-_ | 1 Sunday | Genesis 17.1-_ | 10am Parish Communion ruary of Lent 7,15-16; St Mary’s Lower Hardres Romans 4.13- 25; Mark 8.31-38 3 March | 2" Sun- Exodus 20. 1- 8am BCP Communion St Mary’s, day of 17; Nackington Lent Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 10am Songs of Praise St Peter’s 1.18-25; John Bekesbourne (tbc) 2.13-22 6pm Choral Evensong (Come and Sing from 4pm) 10 Bridge & District History Society Thursday February 15th 2024 at 7.30pm “The Powers Behind the Thrones — Women of the First Millennium.” Imogen Corrigan’s talk will show that though we may think women only came into their own in the 20" Century, our Anglo — Saxon sisters had a surprising freedom in the law. They could own land, make wills, sue and be sued. In this talk we discover the influential women of the first thousand years AD. No membership fee £4.00 at the door to include refreshments Bridge with Patrixbourne Womens Institute Looking back, our Christmas Party was a very enjoyable event, even though it now seems a long way off! Unfortunately, our January speaker cancelled at the last minute. How- ever, as there were a number of matters on the agenda to be dis- cussed, it was decided not to try and find a replacement speaker. Also, Philip Wicker was already scheduled to come and explain the im- portance of the Parish Plan. In February, a member from KCC Safer Road Users Team, will give a ‘Mature Drivers Presentation’. This should prove beneficial to all road users, and we hope will attract a full audience. The meeting will take place, as usual, in the Village Hall at 2pm. WI 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 Jan.2024 FISH SCHEME NEWS The monthly Coffee Pop-in at Bridge village hall will be on Friday February 9th from 10 to 11.15. If you would like a lift do ring 07935 966 080 and we can arrange it. We are delighted to welcome so many gentlemen in recent months. Do join them if you can. 11 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it Fred Kaan ata The service this year will be at Canterbury Baptist Church, St George’s Place (by the bus stop for Waitrose) on Friday 1°! March 2024 at 11am. The Christian women of Palestine prepared this service before the war in Gaza started last October and it highlights the challenges faced by Palestinian women and how they are working and praying for a deeper understanding between all who share the Holy Land. This could not be a more important time for all of us to share in their hopes and prayers. This annual event was once known as the Women’s World Day of Prayer, but it is now a day for everyone and all are warmly invited to the service, followed by lunch kindly provided by the members of the Baptist church. For more information go to www.wdp.org.uk The Leaque of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital Nailbourne Group We have pleasure in inviting you to a talk on English cheeses and wine to be held in Bridge Village Hall on Tuesday 5 March. 12 NAILBOURNE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Our next meeting, will be on Tuesday 13th February, 7.30 pm at Bridge Village Hall. William and Louise Friend will be pre- senting an illustrated talk, "Mediterranean Plants for the East Kent Coast". Considering many of us have a problem dry border or a patch in our gardens during the summer months at least, this talk should be of interest and provide useful advice on suitable plants and planting. We hope that you will be able to join us. There will be a small en- try fee to include light refreshments. Bridge Art Group New members are invited to join this small (maximum 10) ‘self help’ Art group. We meet 10am -12noon on Mondays at the Bridge village recreation ground pavilion. Current mem- bers are ‘hobby artists’ of varying ability undertaking their own work and offering each other support, advice and occasionally expertise. We have no teacher though members are encouraged to introduce ideas, themes or items of inter- est that may stimulate others in their work. We only charge enough to cover the hire of the venue, currently £3 each per week (or £2 if paying in advance). Our regular members find that the two hours a week helps to maintain their ‘creative momentum’ and several of us enter work in the an- nual ‘Art in Bridge’ Exhibition. To find out more or to discuss whether you feel you might benefit from the group please contact: Steve Varley by email (with the subject line Bridge Art Group) sa.varley@btinternet.com OR Mob: 07507086523. 13 nmr. sactaneiammnmnannmmmmmnnte Fee He We We ee Nes Te ee ee Kee Se Per Fe See See oS, , COFFEE MORNING | Ke) Bekesbourne * ES Village Hall ‘ The second Wednesday Zz of every month. 10 - 11.30am g £2.50 per person ; bor Coffee, cakes, savouries. oi Meet friends new and old. Te > p) ALL WELCOME as ‘4 The REFILL van will be in the & carpark from 10 - llam. Gi oe ok 2k 2k ok ' L a) yf It's time for a Macmillan Coffee Morning and you're invited . Let's do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. Place: Bridge Village Hall Date: 3rd Feb 2024 Time: 10-11:45am Contact: Fiona Hollands fionahollands@hotmail.com Simply scan this QR code with your phone to donate to your host's Coffee Morning. It's easy, quick and secure. Thank you. MACIAILLAN CANCER SUPPORT Macmilan Cancer SGPOrl, reganeres Charty m England and Wales (360017) ic ottund (SCC PPT) and the ule of Man (B04) Ams opersting m Norther weland MAC TNS! Posters 15 Littlebourne Royal British Legion We had an enjoyable January meeting with 13 members and one guest present, when we held a quiz. We are slowly gaining a few new members but are very keen to have more people joining us, You do not have to be an ex-service person just someone who is interested in supporting the Legion and the Poppy Appeal, We are currently seeking a new Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Branch. If anyone feels they might be able to take this on please call 01227 472023 and find out more. We also have a notice board on the wall outside the Hall. Our Branch Officers for this year are Chairman - Kevin Costello, Vice Chairman - Barbara Hunt, Secretary - Anne Hill, Treasurer - Peter Beer. Our next Branch monthly meeting will be held at the Recreation Club, Littlebourne (behind Littlebourne War Memorial Hall) at 89m on Tuesday,13th February 2024 > LATE NEWS ! Our next Coffee & Cake Concert will be on Satur- day 17 February when Bill Lloyd Hughes will present a selection of his favourite things inspired by Maria’s song from The Sound of Music. Bill is a retired GP, a resident in Bridge and a member of Bridge Church Choir. iroup Parish Baby \ Dy \ ele Nailbourne Scout Group news We hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. Our sections have recently started back after Christmas, having had a busy month in the lead-up! We had a Christmas service at the church in Bridge for all sections, including our affiliated Ex- plorers section, and we also delivered the annual Scout Christmas Post to houses in Bridge — many thanks to all the villagers who supported us with this fundraising activ- ity. Our new Beaver team is now in full swing and arranging some fantastic sessions; a highlight was celebrating St Andrew’s Day by making tartan and having a go at some traditional dancing! Cubs started working on their Personal Safety Badge, learning how to be safe at a railways station and why railway lines are dangerous. They also looked at the Fireworks Safety Code and role-played how to behave around bonfires and fireworks. Scouts are gearing up for the new term, having selected patrol lead- ers; they are boosting their “Youth Shaped’ Scouting activities to ensure that Scouts help in deciding what they do in sessions, developing great teamwork and leadership skills along the way. Explorers are particularly focused on being youth-led. After lots of navigation work and geocaching last term, plus a Christmas hike, they’ve started planning this term and are hoping to include lots of adventurous activities. First off will be climbing at F51 in Folkestone! Our next major event will be our AGM on Wednesday 28 February from 6pm at Bar- ham Village Hall. This will be an open meeting, where children will also be showcas- ing what the different sections get up to. Everyone is welcome (not just parents and committee members), especially if you’d like to find out more about Nailbourne Scout Group. As always, we welcome new people to our groups and we are always looking for vol- unteers, both behind the scenes and helping in sessions. Please contact us for more details. Nailbourne Scout Group welcomes both boys AND girls and meets during term time as follows: Beavers (6-8 years) — Wednesdays, 5.30-6.30pm, Barham Village Hall Cubs (8-10 years) — Wednesdays, 6.45-8.00pm, Barham Village Hall Scouts (10-14 years) — Fridays, 6.30-8.00pm, Barham Village Hall Explorers (14-18 years) - Wednesdays, 7.30—9.00pm, Bridge Village Hall Please note that the venue is subject to frequent change, particularly in the summer, when we meet outside as often as possible! For more information on joining Beavers, Cubs or Scouts or volunteering, please email Nick Gore at skipnailbourne@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Nailbourne-Scout-Group-public-108853207216429). For information on Explorers, please contact Phil Last at explorersnail- bourne@gmail.com 17 Charlton Park Snowdrop Wood Open In aid of St. Mary’s Church Bishopsbourne Sunday 18th February 1O0ani-2pm Coffee/tea & biscuits in the Drawing Room Suggested donation £3 per adult Well behaved dogs on leads welcome Happy ‘Ewe Year at Chalkpit Farm It’s been a busy start to the new year down at Chalkpit Farm, with lots going on to prepare for the spring. We've also been preparing at the farm shop too with new wedding flower collections, January sales and a variety of new hop plants in stock; ready and perfect for planting before the spring. We also have some stunning flower arrangements and bouquets in store and online, including some new collections designed specifical- ly for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day which arrives early this year on Sunday 10" March. With that in mind, feel free to pop down to the farm to see what we have in store or pop online to order your hops or something special for the one you love! Visit www.essentiallyhops.co.uk or give us a call on 01227 830666 Thank you! “Thank you to Mark Esdale and his band of helpers for again organizing the display of lighted Christmas along the High Street with such efficiency and care. Bridge looked really lovely, and | hope the tradition will continue in the future.” - Anne Purnell 18 = In your garden with Marie Gold s We Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee Muhammad Ali, 1964 Head Gardener and Author, Ben Dark, has modified this to ‘Walk like a Butterfly, Smell like a Bee’. And moreover he has used it to good effect in his book on front gardens in one particular South London street. His hy- pothesis is to flit around as a pollinator might, and allthough we will never be able to read the signals, as the insects can, we may find on a sunny day that familiar roads take on a new dimension. We can get inspiration from other people’s front gardens and the basis of my own front garden was set in place in the ‘90s with the TV programme, ‘Front Gardens’. Gay Search was the presenter and she was at the time well known for her work with the late, great Geoff Hamilton, a pioneer of organic gardening. Her mantra was that a front garden should give you joy when you return to it, no matter what month of the year, and as a bonus to give pleasure to passers by. Easy access for the postman (and the delivery people in our current times) is a must, yet it should be a haven for insects and butterflies and be of interest for as much of the year as possible. In these long dark evenings, that only this time of the year can provide, | suggest you look at your own front patch, or if without one, then consider the window boxes and hanging baskets that could be utilised. Read books, especially Ben Dark’s, who invites you to have a careful look at the unfurling of a snowdrop - along with other well known delights in the 19% front gardens he passes in “The Grove”. None of my own ideas are unique, but garnered from what | have seen and often copied. Gay Search was in Elham a few years back and | met and thanked her for the inspiration she had given me all those years ago. From the bookshelf, Bookseller, the Library, Charity Shop or 2™ hand book seller: The Grove: A Nature Odyssey in 1972 gardens, Ben Dark 2023 Front Gardens, Gay Search 1993 19 38 Barham Bowls Club Our Annual Jumble Sale Event is back Saturday 23 March 2024 — 10.00 to 12.30 pm at the Village Hall - Admission 50p. Any donations would be very welcome [but no books or electrical goods, and please — no rubbish]. Items may be brought to the Village Hall between 7.00 & 9.00 pm on Mondays or between 2.00 & 4.00 pm on Wednesday afternoons during the Bowls Club’s indoor short mat bowls sessions. Thankyou for your anticipated support. [Telephone contact: 01227 761688/grapaf142@gmail.com] 20 CW LYONS & SON LTD FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MONUMENTAL MASONS 70 Military Road, Canterbury 24 Hour Service Tel: 01227 463508 Family Owned. Est 1911 Members of SAIF, NAFD & NAMM Prepaid Funeral Plans Available NEED A VAN? THEN I'M YOUR MAN For all light removals, furniture, and domestiq items including house clearances. Safely transporting antique furniture a speciality. * Avoid expensive pick-ups and drop-offs *Remove, dispose or recycle all household itemg including electrical appliances *Based in Barham *Reasonable and fair rates *Free estimates and quotations CALL CHRISTIAN ON: 01227 831639 07771 728080 Email: christianmanandvan.gmail.com Fiona Castle 07971 970118 debdendecorationanddesi debdendecorationanddesign To advertise here contact stevelthomas91@gmail.com W.J.B. Plumbing Services All aspects of plumbing carried out by fully qualified tradesman. Tel: 07783137448 or 01227 860480 21 National award winning service and marketing across sales, lettings and property management. 2071; HiGHRY RATED 2021: EXCELLENT “= LETTINGS = 01227 780227 Charles Bainbridge charlesbainbridge.com 125: The CANTERBURY i “vs AUCTION Galleries 4% Stalls &b Gifts 2 Refreshments Raffle rs tier SUN ant Est Fast Se arr oS SS Me Proceeds to St Peter's Church Bekesbourne Oz 14 Friends of St Peter’s Church, Bridge COFFEE & CAKE & CONCERT Saturday 9th December 10:15 to 11:30am A warm invitation to this Annual Concert & to celebrate our 7th birthday We Se = CAROL . 2 CONCERT al Featuring a wide selection of carols ad cad & seasonal readings ~ some sacred. * ~ some secular &® some happy & some sad % 4 Supported by our Community Choir »* Suggested donation £5, children free All Proceeds to ~ Embrace the Middle Zast & our Heating Fund 15 Friends of St Peter’s Church, Bridge COFFEE & CAKE & CONCERT Saturday 20th January 10:15 to 11:30am A warm invitation to this performance by Tom Khdzia violin & Mary Hill, fiano | Tom & Mary present music by Edvard Grieg & Franz Schubert Suggested donation £5, children free Proceeds to Porchlight & our Heating Fund a [esamieNe 2G oup Parish Baby a Nailbourne Scout Group news As always, it’s been a busy month, before the Christmas preparations begin! Beavers have been learning about fossils and Harvest traditions and have been undertaking some very cool science experiments, including dissecting owl pellets (with thorough handwashing, of course!). Cubs have turned each other into mummies (using toilet roll and imagination!), made spooky pine cone spiders and role-played bats looking for moths, after learning about echolocation. Scouts have been working on their skills challenge badge and their navigation skills, as well as getting ready for a ‘round the world’ Christmas party to explore different cultures and traditions. They also honed their sewing skills, making poppies for our Remembrance wreaths. Explorers have made willow wreaths, played lots of games, worked on their survival skills and helped to plan their own sessions for this term, including an exciting new outdoor meeting location. Recent events include the Explorers’ first camp — this was an expedition camp in Es- sex, where Explorers had a great time chopping wood, building fires, cooking their dinner and night hiking, despite the weather not being as kind as it could be! On Hal- loween, Explorers went door to door in Barham, collecting donations for the food bank. And on Remembrance Sunday, young people from all sections took part ina short parade through Bridge, before joining in the Remembrance service. As we move towards Christmas, all sections will be taking part in plenty of fun Christ- massy activities, including our annual whole-group Christmas service at Bridge Church. We will also be delivering Scout Post in Bridge on 17 December — look out for our post box in Bridge Stores! As always, we welcome new people to our groups and we are always looking for vol- unteers, both behind the scenes and helping in sessions. Please contact us for more details. Nailbourne Scout Group welcomes both boys AND girls and meets during term time as follows: (Beavers (6-8 years) — Wednesdays, 5.30—6.30pm, Barham Village Hall) Cubs (8-10 years) - Wednesdays, 6.45—8.00pm, Barham Village Hall Scouts (10-14 years) — Fridays, 6.30—-8.00pm, Denton Village Hall Explorers (14-18 years) — Wednesdays, 7.30—9.00pm, Bridge Village Hall Please note that the venue is subject to frequent change, particularly in the summer, when wemeet outside as often as possible! For more information on joining Beavers, Cubs or Scouts or volunteering, please email NickGore at skipnailbourne@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Nailbourne-Scout-Group-public-108853207216429). For infor- mation on Explorers, please contact Phil Last at explorersnailbourne@gmail.com 17 Nailbourne Horticultural Society We warmly invite members and non-members to our Christmas Social meeting on Tuesday 5th December at the usual time of 7.30 pm at Bridge Village Hall. There will be a presentation entitled, ‘Kent under Attack from Asian Hornets!’ by Lisa Jenkins, Seasonal Bee Inspector, on a subject that has been causing serious concern and one which has been covered by the media recently. It should be of interest and im- portance and something we all need to be made aware of. On a lighter note though, not forgetting it is our Christmas Social, we will be serving glass of festive drink and nibbles included in the entry fee of £5, plus a ticket to the Christmas raffle. In addition there will be jars of honey for sale from a local beekeeper. We hope you will come and support this last event of the year as well as help celebrate a very successful one for our Society. Nailbourne Horticultural Society - Annual General Meeting & Talk on Suc- cessional Planting We start year 2024 with our AGM in Bridge Village Hall on Tuesday 23 January at 7.30 pm. Subscriptions for the year are due then, at £8 for single and £15 for joint/ family membership. If you are interested in gardening and related matters, now is a good time to join when you can enjoy a full and varied programme of interesting talks as well as an afternoon outing, not forgetting our Spring and Summer shows, the schedules for which will be available. New and old members as well as those who wish to join our friendly committee will be warmly welcomed. So, please encourage your friends to come along and help the oldest Society in the Village to continue to thrive! Following the brief AGM we will welcome our guest speaker, Kevin Tooher, aka Sir Plantalot, who will give a talk ‘Successional Planting’. Kevin has been a lec- turer in horticulture at Hadlow College and at Brogdale. He currently runs his own horticultural courses. We very much look forward to seeing you. Refreshments will be available. Fg Gna Cr Rae be ah of St Peter's Bridge aaa 18 > In your garden with Marie Gold = In the Bleak Midwinter Christina Rossetti Christina Georgina Rossetti was an English writer of romantic, devotional and chil- dren's poems. She was the youngest child in an extraordinarily gifted family with 3 siblings, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as he was generally known, one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The text of this Christmas poem, first published in 1872, has been set to music many times. Made famous by both Gustav Holst and Harold Darke in the early 20th cen- tury. In the poems, her vision of an earth which stands ‘ashamed and dumb’ because it is ‘exposed and valued at man’s worth’ seems to predict human destruction of the natural world that followed in the wake of the industrial development. Little could she realise how this destruction was going to continue and escalate in our own times. What does midwinter conjure up for a gardener? For my part it is mainly centred indoors with seasonal plants: cyclamen, poinsettia, and early, forced, paperwhite narcissus bulbs. The green leafy plants that have had a good summer need special care ina cold porch or conservatory. Succulents can take the cold and seem to sur- vive in both the house and under protection in the greenhouse. The outdoor plants must now look after themselves, as all precautions have been taken, apart from un- expected winds, snow and heavy rain which may cause problems. Bird feeders and the bird bath will need to be regularly topped up — but the hedgehog house is still awaiting an occupant as | write this... Bee identification has suddenly become very easy as there should only be 2 bee spe- cies flying at this time of year: buff-tailed bumblebees and the very occasional hon- eybee — find a log or two and place them out of the way so there is a small habitat available. And the finale of my year of the bee, a book: ‘What a Bee Knows’ by En- tomologist, Stephen Buchmann. Happy Christmas everyone. December and January bees, not hibernating, will appreciate: Mahonia and Ivy flowers, Helleborus Foetidus, Winter heathers, aconites, and snow- drops 19 Bridge with Patrixbourne Womens Institute The changed time for our meetings to afternoons has proved popular, as members prefer daylight to dark evenings. In October we had a most interesting meeting, when ‘Adventures in Stained Glass and Decorative Art’ was the subject of a talk giv- en by Julia Till. This was followed by a talk in November on ‘Christmas Cards’ and was a popular subject at this time of year. Our usual Christmas Party is on Friday, 15th December at 2pm, in the Village Hall, when it is hoped that many members will be able to come and enjoy a social time, with in-house entertainment some seasonal food and drink. In January our speaker, Joyce Coomber-Sewell will be talking on ‘This is Me’ — so it will be interesting to hear what she has to say! WI welcomes anyone interested in becoming a member, or coming along firstly as a guest for a ‘taster’. For more de- tails, please contact the Secretary on 01227-830606. Joan Hill Nov. 2023 It's time for a Macmillan Coffee Morning and you're invited ._ Let's do whatever it takes = aaa ne to support people living with cancer. Place Bridge Village Hall Date: 3rd Feb 2024 Time: 10 -11:45am Contact: Fiona Hollands fionahollands@hotmail.com (AACPAILLAN CANCER SUPPORT 20 C W LYONS & SON LTD FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MONUMENTAL MASONS 70 Military Road, Canterbury 24 Hour Service Tel: 01227 463508 Family Owned. Est 1911 Members of SAIF, NAFD & NAMM Prepaid Funeral Plans Available NEED A VAN? THEN I'M YOUR MAN For all light removals, furniture, and domestiq items including house clearances. Safely transporting antique furniture a speciality. * Avoid expensive pick-ups and drop-offs *Remove, dispose or recycle all household itemg including electrical appliances *Based in Barham *Reasonable and fair rates *Free estimates and quotations CALL CHRISTIAN ON: 01227 831639 07771 728080 debdendecorationanddesign Email: christianmanandvan.gmail.com ° coratio Painting, decorating and inter Fiona Castle 07971 970118 debdendecorationanddesi % 4) ws Residential & Commercial Cle: aning Services WS DESIGNED WITH YOU & THE EARTH IN MIND. a ‘ee ECO @ 07747 629819 Eco-Clean.Kent@outlook.com CLEAN KT = www.Eco-Clean.org | o£ ECO Clean Kent ® & W.J.B. Plumbing Services All aspects of plumbing carried out by fully qualified tradesman. Tel: 07783137448 or 01227 860480 21 National award winning service and marketing across sales, lettings and property management. 2071; HiGHRY RATED 2021: EXCELLENT “= LETTINGS = 01227 780227 Charles Bainbridge charlesbainbridge.com 125: The CANTERBURY i “vs AUCTION Galleries 4%