Swanley Village News Issue No 11 ----- September 1993

Swanley Village News Issue No 71 – September 2008

The Quarterly News Sheet for the Swanley Village local groups

Swanley Village Resident’s Association

A Society which aims to encourage high standards in the architecture and planning of the Village, to eliminate neglect and to stimulate interest in and care for the character and historic value of the Village and surrounding countryside. President: Joan Lamb.

Committee: Anthony Hilder, Elaine Freundlich, Dennis Molyneux, Chris Banks, Daphne Davis, Geoff Davis, Graham Morgan, Carol Parker, Lawrence Parker, Jean Peirce, Barbara Ramsey, Pauline Stevenson and Steve Wells.

Over thirty villagers attended the AGM in June and several volunteered to join the committee. Anthony Hilder was voted our new chairman. We were joined by our new town councillor Tony Searles.

We still have ongoing issues with the widening of the M25 but the new committee has met to discuss new ways of dealing with this matter.

There are plans to inform all internet-based villagers of planning matters as they occur. Yet another reason to add your name to the list of email addresses used by Dennis Molyneux (dmolyneux@talktalk.net) to inform the village of Neighbourhood Watch issues.

An appeal was made for more volunteers to lock and unlock the Glebe gate. If you wish to join this group or if you would like more information before committing yourself please contact Barbara Ramsey (' 666668).

We are still seeking traffic calming measures and improvements to Highlands Hill. Please continue to note every accident in the Village so that we can achieve a 20mph limit. If you see any accident please let Dennis Molyneux (' 669523) have the details.

Swanley Village Trust (fund raising)
A huge thank you to all of you who came and supported our event in the marquee on the Village Green in July. The majority who attended commented that it was 'one of the best ever', and many are already asking if we are going to repeat the event in 2009. We shall keep you posted.
Unfortunately our profit was down compared to 2007, as we sold fewer tickets but its not just about making money it’s getting the people of our Village together for a great night out. So for those who couldn't make it please try and come next year, and to our other fundraising events - our next one is our very popular Quiz Night (at Five Wents Hall) planned for Saturday, 15th November. Tickets are £10 per person which includes a hot supper, wine and soft drinks. Tickets are limited and we have already sold quite a few.

Don't forget to support our FREE firework display - this year on Saturday, 1st November, again on the Village Green. Thanks again for your support.

We once again achieved a ‘Gold’ award for our Village Green only being pipped at the post as the overall winner of the Recreational Area section of the competition by Battle. In the Village section, unfortunately we only achieved a ‘ High Silver’ award – last year we won a ‘Silver Gilt’. This category was won by the village of Doddington. On a positive note the judges were impressed with the gardens of Tweed Lodge (Daphne and Geoff Davis) and Elizabethan Cottage (Donna Hoy). However, the judges commented that we lost points for the scruffy area around the Red Lion, and the lack of floral displays (hanging baskets and tubs/containers) in front gardens in some parts of the village. The judges also commented that they wanted to see more involvement from other people joining in with the upkeep of the areas around their properties, and next year they want to walk the whole length of the village looking primarily at front gardens. So could we please use these comments to our advantage and make a really big effort to improve things for next year.

We must thank Ian Beale & Sons for all their hard work with the upkeep of our Village Green – Ian was awarded a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for this and Bernard Stowers was also awarded a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for his continued conservation of water – for those of you who do not know, Bernard has
11 water butts in his garden! Thanks for your support this year and fingers crossed for 2009.

We had a fun evening at The Lamb on Thursday evening, 4^th September when members of the Gardening Society in conjunction with Swanley Village In Bloom, weighed in their potato crops and displayed their sunflowers. The heaviest crop of potatoes grown from one seed potato was won by
Marilyn Ward – 6lb 5¼oz. The largest sunflower head was won by Pam Beale. We look forward to repeating this next year with more people joining in. Thanks to Margaret at The Lamb for her hospitality.

If anyone has any ideas on how we can progress our entry into the South & South East in Bloom competition please contact any of the committee.
Chris Banks, Carol & Lawrence Parker, Pat Wells, Ian Beale, Bernard Stowers

SWANLEY VILLAGE GREEN
It has been brought to our attention that there is an area around the edge of the Green where some of the residents use the other side of their boundary fence as their own private rubbish/compost heap! We are sure the people in question know who they are, and we ask them to remove the offending rubbish to make our Village Green a more pleasant area for everyone.

Please remember to keep your dogs on a lead when exercising/walking your pet/s across the Green and to pick up any mess they may leave and take it home with you.

Lynn and John Lucas hosted the ‘Little Rose Show’ in June in their lovely garden. The weather held for the evening and there were a good number of entries. At the end of June, Daphne and Geoff Davis hosted an informal meeting in their beautiful garden. We would like to thank both couples for welcoming us to their homes.

Following our usual break in August, we will be meeting on Monday 8^th September at The Olympic, Beechenlea Lane when we will be welcoming a speaker from Ruxley Manor Garden Centre who will talk about garden ponds. In October we will meet at The Cottage for the Little Autumn Show and in November a speaker will visit us at The Olympic from Prickles Hedgehog Haven. Our Christmas Social in December will be held at St Paul’s School.

Due to a dwindling interest in trips over the last few years, the committee had decided to suspend trips in 2008. However there have been enquiries about the possibility of trips next year and the committee will be looking into this.

We lost a few members this year and gained a few but we are always looking for more new members. The annual fee is low and there is a discount given on most goods at East Horticulture for members. There is also a discount given at MacMillan Plants. There is no call on your time unless you wish to become actively involved.

Dear Friends, As I write this newsletter, I can hear the sounds of happy children playing on the Glebe during their lunchtime break and I am reminded of how fortunate the school is to be set in such beautiful surroundings. The new term is a few days old and already the calendar for the term ahead is filling up but before we move on too quickly, let me report on some of the highlights from the summer months.

One of the highlights of summer is our Summer Fair and this year we had a splendid fair with many stalls and activities, which provided a wonderful community event. Another event, which evokes a deep sense of community, is our annual Country Dance Festival. We were joined by a number of visiting schools and the evening was much appreciated by children and their families.

Sports Day just escaped the rain but was great fun. Water though, provided a successful medium for our school swimming team who competed with much success in our local schools’ swimming gala.

On a healthy note, we were delighted to be awarded the DSCF’s prestigious Healthy Schools Award. Staff are to be congratulated on all their hard work which was put in to obtain Healthy School status.

The summer term finished with yet more success. Our SATs results were the best ever achieved by the school, with 94% of our Year 6 pupils achieving Level 4 and above in English, Maths and Science. The last day of term was a lovely occasion, with FOSP organising a balloon race for all the children and our end of school year Leavers’ Service in St Paul’s Church. I should like to thank everyone for all their hard work in making the school year such a successful one. Desmond Watson Head Teacher

Neighbourhood Watch

Villagers receive email updates concerning possible crime trends in the village, if you would like to join them simply email dmolyneux@talktalk.net to be added to the list.

Having this network in place ensures that news travels fast, and can be used in future for other purposes should the need arise.

Police Say: We have received a number of voicemails, detailing crimes that have taken place, or in progress at the time of the call. Please do not ring our office number, if you need to report a crime, or if a crime is occurring, and you need a police response
please dial 9 9 9
To report a crime please call, the West Kent crime reporting number, 01732 771055.
Co-ordinators: Dennis Molyneux SYMBOL 40 \f "Wingdings" 669523

St Paul’s Church
Residents of Hextable & Swanley Village are invited to meet the new Vicar of St Paul’s, Swanley Village and St Peter’s Hextable, Rev’d Ray Sammé, and his wife, Carol, at an informal cheese and wine evening on Monday, 29^th September at 7.45 p.m. At St Peter’s Church, Hextable.

The newsletter is published on the web site. Also other things of interest are being added regularly.