“Some sort of periodical is an essential life-line in a village such as ours”

LIFELINE
Distributed freely in December 2019 Edition 517
Editors: Stephen Norman, Helen Swan, Jacky Taylor

The Editors wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. We hope you enjoy this special
edition which celebrates achievements around the village during the year.

Christmas Carol Service is on 15th December 2019 at 6pm.

Come along and join this annual candlelit event with
traditional carols and the story of the Nativity,
followed by mince pies and refreshments
appropriate for a winter’s evening.

There will be a Benefice-wide celebration (new

this year) with music, readings and
refreshments at All Saints on 21st December
starting at 6.45pm, led by Lorna Faulkner and
Alison Callway…..ALL WELCOME!

And “midnight” mass will be 9.30pm at All Saints on

Christmas Eve, 24th December.

We will be issuing a 2020 calendar of events in January. Please let us

know any you would like included – deadline 18 December 2019

Follow us on Facebook or visit www.thefarleighs.co.uk for information about our activities and events.
PASTORAL LETTER
In last year’s December pastoral letter, I wrote about the tradition of carol singing,
and mentioned that the first Nativity Play was not performed by children in the
UK, but in a cave by monks in Italy. St. Francis of Assisi and his followers acted in
the first play in 1223 to remind the local population that Jesus was born for them,
as he was born into a poor family like theirs and not to a rich family.

St. Francis told the part of each character in the story himself using wooden
figures in the play. After a couple of years, the play had become so popular that
real people played the parts of the characters in the story.

I’m sure we all have fond memories of nativity plays we or our families have been
involved in. One person writes: “when I was seven, I was cast as an angel. As I was
going up onto the stage I tripped over my ‘robe’ –a bed sheet my mum cut some holes in – and cut my chin on some
scenery. My teacher had to stop the show for five minutes while they cleaned up the blood on the stage.” Another
tells us “One of the sheep wet himself during my daughter’s Nativity. The pool of wee was quite realistic for a
stable.” And another: ”My little brother was a bit of a tearaway at school and me and my mum turned up at his
Nativity to find he had been cast as ‘straw’. He was dressed in yellow and just had to lie there. My mum was
furious.” If you want to see a group of grown adults acting like lunatics, go to a Nativity play. One parent recalls “At
my children’s school, parents arrive an hour early to get seats in the front row and bring professional recording
equipment. You’d have thought some Hollywood actor had come in as a ringer, the amount of camera flashes that
go off. I’ve had a dad stand up in front of me and refuse to sit down so that he could record his little darling being
third sheep from the left or something. It got so bad it was discussed in the Governors meeting and they tried to put
a ban on ‘phones and cameras but it hasn’t made any difference.”

In some countries such as Italy and Malta, and many South American countries, the crib is the most important
Christmas decoration. The city of Naples, in Italy, has used cribs to decorate houses and Churches since the 1020s!
That's even before St. Francis of Assisi put on his play. Naples is also the home to the world's largest nativity crib
scene. It's in the 'Museo Nazionale di S. Martino' and has 162 people, 80 animals, angels, and about 450 other
smaller objects.

I hope that all your Advent and Christmas celebrations are successful and that you have a wonderful Christmas.
Details of events and services across the benefice can be found at www.unitedbenefice.church/christmas.

Many blessings,

Peter Callway
Rector.

CHURCH SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS IN DECEMBER

1/12/19 8.30 am Holy Communion
8/12/19 9.30 am Morning Service
15/12/19 6.00 pm Carol Service
21/12/19 6.45 pm The Promise and the Gift
24/12/19 9.30 am Holy Communion
THE PARISH COUNCIL
10 members of the public and one Borough Councillor attended the meeting. A parishioner reported an incident at night, where
another car stopped her and exhibited intimidating behaviour. It has been reported to police. It was emphasised that incidents
like this MUST be reported to police, so that they are aware of what is going on in our village. There was a query about the
village hall charity and it was agreed that the Trustees will be asked to put a statement in Lifeline.

There have been fewer crimes. A shed, in Charlton Lane, was broken into, but nothing was taken. A speed survey has been
carried out on the Lower Road. It will be forwarded to Kent Highways for assessment. It can be found on the Parish Council
website. Improvement of Internet services in parts of the village is ongoing. Please Email Clerk if you would like a faster
broadband speed.

It was agreed not to co-opt to replace the councillors who have resigned. It will continue for the next 2 with the current
councillors. Their term of office is up in May, and new members will be required then. Ground maintenance was discussed and
Farleigh in Bloom have expressed their ideas, as they have planted bulbs and seeds.

As a result of the call for sites, two areas in West Farleigh have been put forward. Foxpits 12 5 bed houses. Court Lodge 32 3 bed
house with garages and 8 3 b d terraced. DON’T PANIC. Many more areas producing many more houses than are require have
been put forward. These sites need to assessed for suitability.

JAMIE WARREN - 24/11/1982 - 29/09/19

Jamie sadly passed away on Sunday 29th Sept. 2019. Jamie moved to Charlton Lane with her
husband Ben in July 2018. She and Ben had only just married and were refurbishing their home
together. Tragically their time together was cut short when Jamie lost her battle with cancer.

As neighbours we are honoured to have known Jamie. She was like a ray of sunshine – and had
one of the biggest smiles ever. She was full of life, kind and always offering to lend a hand.

Jamie’s funeral took place on 14th October 2019 in her home county of Staffordshire. Our
thoughts are with Ben and both his and Jamie’s family at this very sad time.

Before her death, Jamie had left strict instructions. First, that Ben should continue working on
their home. Second, that if anyone wanted to pay their respects they should do so by helping St
Giles Hospice, rather than spending money on flowers that she wouldn’t get to enjoy. Ben has
set up a JustGiving page should anyone wish to donate –
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rememberjamie

DETECTORISTS
Good day Treasure Hunters,
Welcome to my monthly update.

News:
Thanks to an article this month in the Kent messenger the Farleigh Detectorist club have
attracted 6 more members, we now boast 12 gentlemen, 5 ladies and 4 junior members and the
Lifeline is a constant friend to us for new recruits. Long may it continue.

Find of the month:

Goes to one of our new members Tom Hayes who found this near perfect 1929 George V Half Crown. This was an awful lot of
money in the day! Well done Tom, great find. Cont’d….
Detecting service
I was approached this month by a gentleman whose wife had lost a gold bracelet in their garden some years ago. He asked if the
Farleigh Detectorists could help find this for her. Of course, we agreed. It got me thinking. So, if anyone has lost any valuable
items or keepsakes, we would be very willing to help track them down and we only ask, that if we do find the item that the
owner donate 5% of the value of the item to the Dandelion Trust.
Happy hunting folks Pete
Metal@thefarleighs.co.uk

JAN MORRIS – THE WHITE HOUSE

Jan was born in Penenden Heath, and spent her formative years show jumping at
Invicta Park where her mum leased a stableblock and where her love of animals
was nurtured. In 1962 she met Arthur who was doing National Service..

After Arthur came out of the army they married and in 1969 managed “The One
and Only” in Shepway for Charlie Cox, one of the biggest outside caterers in the
county. Sadly, the pub has long since closed and been turned into a block of flats.

In 1976 Jan and Arthur heard that The White House was up for lease and they
moved in. In 1983 the pub came up for sale so they put in an offer to buy. The bids
started at £7,000 and they ended up paying £11,000 for the pub plus 3 acres of ground, they later built on what is now the front
of the pub. With the pub they inherited Mrs Goring, who lived on the land in a caravan. Mrs Goring’s mother was Lady Goring
but her eccentric daughter preferred her hippy life and spent her time meditating in the woods, training dogs around the area
and making jewellery which she used to take to London to sell on her motorbike. Mrs Goring was the first woman to ride a
motorbike at Goodwood. To encourage Jan to embrace her lifestyle she would arrive at the pub, & show off her terrible varicose
veins. When she left, she would collect & boil nettles and drink the liquid. The next day she would turn up without a vein in
sight!

Having the caravan on site enabled Jan and Arthur to set up their Mobile Home park and later in 1992, following conversations
with Mr Matthews of the Kent Petanque Club set up their ‘courts’ which are known as terrains of which there are 3 and each
terrain has 3 piste. – this gave them two great additions to the pub and they built up a great base of customers. Arthur became
semi-pro at Petanque and they now boast 50 members and 4 teams which compete on a regular basis. Arthur continued with his
outside catering serving most of Kent ie Kent Cricket and the Kent County Show. Arthur passed away in 2008 but Jan says that
her amazing regulars rallied round. After the funeral they sat her in front of the fire and asked her what she wanted to do next.
Jan said that The White House was her home and she was going to stay, which she has done with their support and backing.

Over the years Jan has raised a massive £85,000 for charity from regular events and raffles. Helen Swan used to provide a list of
pensioners to who help was given £50 hampers. Jan summed up her time at The White House as “A way of life – it’s home”. On
20th December, Jan will once again be drawing her raffle at the Chrismas Jumper Christmas Carols, led by Revd David Jones from
7.30pm. On Boxing Day Kits Coty and Boughton Monchelsea Morris dancers will entertain from 12.00 noon
FARLEIGH FEATHERS - in the bleak midwinter?
As we approach Christmas and the shortest days of the year, snuggled down in front of warm fire, it is easy to think
that nature is hunkered down too. Hibernating species like hedgehogs, and all cold-blooded animals like frogs and
insects, are. But now the nights are long, birds have the challenge of finding enough food to lay down sufficient fat
to see them through until morning. Tiny birds like wrens, for example, can burn up half their bodyweight just staying
alive while they sleep. Meanwhile, flocks of loudly ‘chack-chacking’ fieldfares, winter visitors from Scandinavia
gorging on rotten orchard apples, remind us that many millions of birds just deal with the winter by migrating
somewhere warmer. Or, in the case of those that come here, to somewhere less cold!
Partridges in pear trees
notwithstanding, our
imaginations might just
wander to think about our
summer birds – blackcaps,
cuckoos and East Farleigh
church’s very own swift. If
not hibernating or
hunkering, where are they?
Actually, swifts can
hibernate after a fashion –
but that’s for another
Lifeline.
The blackcap, with its loud,
robin-like song, is an
interesting example of the
effect of our warming
climate. For eons, birds that
have spent summer in northern Europe have simply flown south to Spain and northern Africa to spend winter in
Mediterranean comfort. Now, some blackcaps that spend summer in Germany migrate instead to the UK, where our
winters are becoming milder. If they survive our winter (many have learnt to use our plentiful garden feeders) they
then have a shorter flight back to their breeding grounds than other blackcaps that made the journey to the
Mediterranean. This means they can nab the best territories and raise more young – which are then genetically
programmed to spend winter in a UK heated by a warming Atlantic Ocean. Evolution in action.
We know from satellite tracking that our cuckoos migrate down to sub-Saharan Africa, where they arrive in
November, often in exactly the same area they went to in previous winters. From Equatorial Guinea or Gabon they
move just south of the equator to spend Christmas in the tropical Congo Forest, before starting their long migration
north again around February. So just four months of their year are spent here, around The Farleighs – yet we think of
them as typically British birds: our birds, in fact. Recent studies, though, have shown the UK to be the most nature-
depleted country in Europe. I wonder how long it will take our continuing onslaught on the countryside in general,
and insects in particular, before cuckoos no longer grace our shores.
And what of the swift – just thirty-five grams of feathered life that graced our church twice this summer? Again,
modern technology has helped us discover that they too spend their winters aloft circling tropical Africa, and flying
in a wide arc over the adjacent Atlantic. We know now that it’s not just ‘our’ swifts either that do this; studies on
Chinese swifts fitted with tiny tracking devices in Beijing show them wintering in the same area as ours. Same
species, different populations from opposite sides of the world, happily sharing that most basic resource, food. Is
there a lesson here for us?
 EVERGREENS
The Evergreens enjoyed lunch of Bangers and Mash. There was a short discussion about security and not
agreeing to anything from a cold caller and not giving any information away face to face or on the telephone. If
unsure ask a relative or neighbour you trust for advice and help. The next meeting was afternoon tea.
Unfortunately, our speaker was unavailable so some of the members remembered things about their childhood, from eating
scraps out of the coal bucket to becoming an apprentice mariner. We will be having afternoon tea on Tuesday 10th December.
The choir from East Farleigh School will be coming along to sing for us. There will not be a meeting on the 24th December, can’t
think why not! Unfortunately, our books are close to new members at the moment. If you would like to go on the waiting list,
ring Terry 814561 or Helen 814445.

Although the weather was cold many members turned up to the November meeting. We had a very interesting
speaker Janie Ramsey, who spoke about the Duchess of Windsor, her jewels and wardrobe. It was obvious
that she was very knowledgeable with her talk and the photos of the jewels was amazing. It was both
entertaining and enjoyable. On the 30th November we are running a stall at East Farleigh School from 1pm to
4pm please come along and see what we have for sale. Next month is our Christmas Party and we have a
packed programme for everyone. Please visit our Facebook page The Farleighs WI to see what future events we have going
on. If you wish to join us please come along the second Wednesday in the month at 7pm.

SPORTS REPORT
Football Not a great run of results for out 1st XI last month involving 3 defeats and only 1 victory. We started with a 2-1 away
defeat versus Cuxton, next a 3-2 loss against Deal. This was followed by a postponed fixture versus Bearstead. Rusthall came
next and another bad result losing 3-0. Finally, an amazing game in the cup against 5-1 to TUFC Seniors, next two good victories
beating Southborough 4-2 and another 4-2 scoreline againsNett Gren Court. Our fixtures against Nomads and Swanley were
postponed due to bad weather.
Meanwhile our VETS team have played three, starting with a 2-0 defeat against Riverside, this was followed by a 4-0 victory over
Inter Viagra, finally a 3-0 loss versus Old Tamps.
Cricket Not much happening at the moment but if you or a new player would like to join please get in touch.
Club News: Last months lucky winners were No 77 Mick Back (£30), No 69 Ian Prideaux (£20), No 97 Don Shilling (£10)

May I wish my READERS a very happy and peaceful Christmast – Yours in sport Tel (815267)

TEL’S CHRISTMAS TREES – available in aid of the West Farleigh Sports Club. Prices are the same as last year approx. 5ft £30; 6ft
£34; 7ft 42. Delivered to your door (also taken away after Christmas if required. Trees are available in December – please
support your local club – Tel 077661 355518

HUNTON CHURCH CHRISTMAS FAIR

Saturday 14th December from 15.30 to 18.00 at St Mary's Church Hunton is holding its annual fair in and around the
church. Take the children to Santa's Grotto. £5 per child to include a gift. This is plenty of parking at the Village Hall
opposite

Dandelion Time Christmas Craft Fair

Crafts and fun for all the family on Sunday 8th December from 11.00 to 15.00 at Elmscroft, Charlton Lane, West
Farleigh

You may have spotted the team out and about planting a massive 50 kgs of bulbs for the spring – mainly
daffodils along grass verges - but in the Teston Lane Triangle there are snowdrops, tulips and British
bluebells as well – something to look forward to in 2020! We are still looking for somewhere to plant fruit
trees – if anyone can think of a place where they could be enjoyed by all our villagers please let us know
at bloom@thefarleighs.co.uk Finally, someone clearly liked our lovely wooden sign at the bottom of
Charlton Lane which disappeared a couple of months ago – but re-appeared at the Detling Antiques Fair
last weekend as a garden table!!!
 CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH THE YEAR
SARAH HUNTER
Sarah, from Charlton Lane and a student of architecture has climbed to the base camp of
Everest, which is no mean feat. The going is hard and there is less oxygen in the air making
breathing hard.
Sarah also had to raise £3,000 pounds for the Charity. She achieved this with several
fundraising events in the village. Not daunted, she is hoping to have another adventure next
summer, if she can afford it!!

STEPHEN NORMAN

One of our editors is a Grand Tour cycling fan. He

wondered why the Colombians won so often (for
example, Egan Bernal, youthful winner of this year’s
Tour de France). He went to Colombia to find out and
unearthed a treasure trove of old photos and riders.
The result is The Big Climb, an illustrated history of
Colombian cycling, with 170 odd photographs, plus
many maps, graphs & stories.
SAM WILSON

Since winning a bronze in the World Championships, Sam has been busy coaching. He has
had time, however, to be selected for the GB squad in two types of Kayaks. He and his
girlfriend are moving to Nottingham in the New Year, where he can be close to the
whitewater course there and therefore train every day. He is aiming to do well at the 2020
World Championship, to be held in Nottingham, in two classes.

His love of canoeing started here on the Medway, with Scouts. He has been supported by
Kent Canoes at Wrotham and of course his proud parents. Go to the website for more
details and photos. thefarleighs.co.uk

OLLIE MARTIN

After our successful Badminton, Edd and I moved up a level, which entails harder
dressage tests and bigger, wider and more technical show jumping and cross
country. Edd has taken the step up totally in his stride finishing in many events in
the top five. We also competed in our first international 2* competitions and
finished in the top third in both. I have also qualified another horse MIH Gladiator
by winning the Badminton regional qualifier to go back to Badminton next year in
the grassroots championships. I also have a 3 year old horse MIH TopGun who is
half brother to Eddie and showing great promise and hoping he is one for the
future.
ED BOYD - MEN OF TREES
What a successful first year for Ed. Thanks to his efforts, we became the
overall winner in the “Trees in the Village” category. Ed had worked out
where the great trees stand as he showed the judge round the village. Many
trees are on public land and many more on private land. Ed is also a
member of the website team and our photographer. For more information
and photos go to www.thefarleighs.co.uk/trees.html

WEST FARLEIGH IN BLOOM

Success for West Farleigh in Bloom! At the recent South East in Bloom Awards we won two
silvers!!

One for the “Village in Bloom” – improving on our bronze last year, and one for the
churchyard in our first year of entering – which is an amazing achievement for Martyn
and his team who look after the churchyard.