March Parish News
This month’s issue of the magazine was not printed or distributed because of COVID-19, but can be downloaded by clicking on the link:
Citizenship Award 2020
Winner of Citizenship Award 2020
This year’s Citizenship Award was presented to Kathy Embleton-Smith.
A university lecturer, her research for over 30 years focused largely on livelihoods and rural development in parts of East Africa and India. It was a short step to apply this technique locally and away from work she is closely involved with St Mary’s Church, Brabourne.
A quote from her nomination: “She is a tower of strength and reliability ….. and is always so kind and thoughtful….. She has the energy and enthusiasm to encourage others and is a real example of someone who values and encourages community life.
Kathy was delighted to receive the award and expressed her thanks as follows:
Thank you to everyone who put my name forward for this year’s Annual Citizenship Award. I was truly astonished to receive an email from Sue Wood informing me that I had been chosen. I simply couldn’t believe it as to my knowledge, I’m not a particularly special citizen (and this is not said with any false modesty). I do enjoy supporting Brabourne Church, not least because it is a lovely building and has been a place of worship since before the 12th century. In my view it would be a tragic loss to let that tradition slip through our collective fingers. Apart from working to keep Brabourne Church up and running, I do very little.
At the Parish Council meeting when the award was presented, Mike was kind enough to comment on the book that Christine Gurr and I wrote – together with an enormous amount of community help. You may remember it – Archives & Anecdotes (2013). I can say with all honesty that collecting the information for the book from about 170 local people was one of the highlights of my life. In few other circumstances could I ever have been so nosey about people’s lives – and be allowed to get away with it. It was such privilege and such fun meeting so many people – all with very different stories to tell. Were it not for so much willing public participation I would never have had the opportunity to understand, in depth, the ties of community which have developed over generations and which have underpinned life in our villages. My receiving this award is thus a consequence of the generosity of spirit of so many others, and they are the one’s who must share in it.
Again, thank you very much for the Award with which I am delighted, not least because it is given in memory of Chris Goodall who remains a model of citizenship to us all.
COVID-19
As from today, Ashford BC will be setting up a new Support Team to assist vulnerable people within our borough, or those that are calling for any help required. As from today, if you receive any request for help or want help directly, please email the details to help@ashford.gov.uk
This will ensure that all calls are co-ordinated and dealt with appropriately and nobody falls through the net. We have a team of volunteers who will be taking on their own cases.
Renew 18 a well-being cafe
Welcome to RENEW 18 A WELL-BEING CAFÉ
At Brabourne Baptist Church
A quiet shared space where it’s ok not to be ok.
Every Monday from 3pm to 5pm the church becomes a community space for a variety of hobbies and activities. These are run by the community for the community. Anyone is welcome to share a hobby or skill and anyone is welcome to join a workshop or activity. They are all free. Or you can come and relax and chat, or enjoy the peace in our quiet area.
The activities are based around the ‘5 ways to well-being’ which promote good mental and emotional health.
To connect, give, be active, keep learning and take notice will hopefully contribute towards a preventative approach to mental ill health.
A place where you are known by your name, not a label. All are welcome.
For more information contact:
Julie Muir on 01303 813502
Renew 18 is part of the nationwide Renew Well-being www.renewwellbeing.org.uk
Citizenship Award
We in Brabourne are very lucky in having so many people in the parish who put themselves out for others, and to mark this the Citizenship Award is made annually, in memory of Councillor Goodall. The Award pays tribute to Councillor Goodall, who did a great deal for the community and marks the affection and respect with which he is regarded.
The Citizenship Award is for someone who has worked for the community and for the people. If you know of someone who has helped others, put themselves out, ‘gone the extra mile’, then please put them forward. Send nominations (in confidence) to the Brabourne Parish Clerk, Sue Wood (contact details below) or to any member of Brabourne Parish Council, by 17th January 2020, saying why you think your nominee deserves the Award.
The winner will be chosen by Brabourne Parish Council at its January meeting, and the Award will be presented at the Brabourne Parish Council meeting in March.
Please send your nomination to:
Mrs S Wood, 14 Sandyhurst Lane, Ashford TN25 4NS
01233 623902
email:
susanwood@uwclub.net
or from the Home Page of the community website.
Hospital Field – KCC Panel meeting
At last an update! The Regulations Committee of Kent County Council will be carrying out a site meeting of Hospital Field on 3rd December at 10.00 to view the site the subject of our Village Green application.
We particularly need to show our presence on Hospital Field at the time of the meeting. Dog walkers are particularly welcome and anyone else who wishes to walk, dance or sing(!) can turn up.
The site visit is open to the public and isn’t handled with great formality. The Chairman usually asks the Members and officers to introduce themselves and invites other people to do the same. He then asks the Officer to briefly explain what is being looked at.
The Officer (Melanie McNeir) usually prefaces her remarks by saying that the actual debate on the issues will take place at the Panel meeting which will be held in Maidstone at 14.00 the same day. She will then briefly outline the application, pointing out the features that the formal discussion is likely to focus on. She usually stresses that the decision will depend on whether all the various legal tests have been met, rather than on subjective factors such as whether the land looks like a village green or whether it would be desirable for it to be one.
The Chairman then asks people if they have anything that they wish Members to be aware of – particularly anything that they wish them to see. We have asked Clare Bell, our local KCC councillor, to speak at the Maidstone hearing on our behalf. We do not think it is necessary for our legal adviser to attend as she has already made representations in writing.
Please spread the word, let your neighbours and friends know and turn up on the day come rain or shine. This is our last chance to get the field listed as a Village Green on
3rd DECEMBER 2019 at 10.00
Thank you!
Brabourne Parish Council
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, and uses gift-filled shoe boxes to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world.
A small shoe box can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children’s lives all over the world through the power of a simple gift.
Plain shoe boxes wrapped in Christmas paper may be used, or flat pack boxes with leaflets, detailing acceptable gifts, can be obtained from Brabourne Baptist Church, Plain Road or from Steven J Moore’s from the beginning of October.
Steve Moore has also again kindly agreed to be the Drop off Point: Steven J Moore Lettings and Estate Agents, Lees Road, Brabourne Lees, TN25 6QB (01303 812515). Opening hours: 9-5 Monday to Friday, 9-4 on Saturdays (closed on Sundays).
Schools and organisations are encouraged to obtain boxes and leaflets for their own pupils/members from Steve Moore’s or the Baptist Church and be responsible for their return to the shop please.
If any of you are unable to collect them, please let me know how many you would like for your school/organisation and I will deliver them to you
There will be no collections around the villages.
Please kindly return your filled boxes to Steve Moore between 11th and 18th November
Any further information? Please phone Val Thorpe 01303 813152 or email val_geoff@btopenworld.com
Messy Church
July’s Messy Church was a lively afternoon of fun and games at the Scout Hut. We had our story and our usual crafts and Lego, however we spent a lot of time outside in the sunshine playing games and various other activities. Who would have guessed that a colourful parachute could cause such fun and laughter from children and adults alike! Our Treasure Hunt ended with prizes of bags of gold (chocolate) coins which echoed our story of the parable of Talents and the servants who multiplied the golden talents for their master. A game of football only stopped when the hot dogs arrived!
There will be no Messy Church in August and sadly, because of circumstances beyond our control, there will be no Messy Church in September. Messy Church will return on Saturday 5th October at 3pm. For further information please ring Kathleen MacPhee on 01303 812536.