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

Welcome to West Farleighs own

LIFELINE
Distributed freely in September 2017 Edition no 492
Editors: Stephen Norman, Helen Swan and Jacky Taylor
Website: www.thefarleighs.co.uk Email: editor@thefarleighs.co.uk
Upcoming Events:
See back page
Harvest Supper tickets now on sale

The Village Harvest Supper will be at 7pm for 7.30 pm on

Saturday 7th October 2017, at All Saints.

Pete & Co will be entertaining you with music from the In this Lifeline
50s 60s and 70s. A cornucopia of mouthwatering food
will be provided. A bar will be provided for your wine and soft drinks Pastoral newsletter..2
(donations welcome). There will be locally pressed cider courtesy of a local
grower. Keepers Nursery 3

Tickets cost 10 and are available from Sue on 01622 727852, Stephen on
01622 814617 or after 2pm Jacky on 01622 236421. View from the Garden 4

Harvest Festival Service will follow on Sunday 8th October at 11.00 am. Farleigh Feathers 5
We will let you have details of the charity we will be supporting in the next
issue of Lifeline. View from the Scoreboard 6

Welcome to Park Cottage Organisations and events 7 & 8

Richard and Clare Oirschot, have
recently moved into Park Cottage,
Charlton Lane. They have moved
from West Wickham, where they lived
for 25 years.
They have moved to West Farleigh to
be nearer their workplaces. Clare
works for the Big Cat Sanctuary at
Headcorn.
Dont forget to look at our website
for much more information about
our village www.thefarleighs.co.uk
Please contact the editors if you
would like an article in Lifeline or
on the Website Email
editor@thefarleighs.co.uk

Richard is a Chartered Accountant

and is doing consultancy work for a Medway Housing association, Croydon
STOP PRESS
NHS and some private companies.
CALLING ALL LITTER PICKERS!
He is also a Parish councillor in Camber where they have another property.
They like to visit South Africa on alternate years to visit the Game reserves. The next litter event takes
They are both interested in conservation and animals. place on Sunday 3rd
West Farleigh was ideal for them as it more or less equidistant from their three September, so if you fancy
grown up children. Their dog also has much more green space and freedom joining us for an hour of village
than he did before. There is talk of another dog to keep him company! beautification followed by
coffee and one of Brian's
They are keen to become part of the community and will join in when they famous bacon butties, we are
can. Clare is musical and enjoys Amateur dramatics. There is probably a assembling on The Green at 9
niche for her somewhere local! o'clock outside the Good
Richard like to play cricket, so he will be snapped up by the Sports Club, no Intent.
doubt!
Deadline for October issue of LIFELINE: 20th September, 2017

Page 1 of 8
Pastoral newsletter

September Services at All Saints

I was born in the mid-1950s and during career in IT saw the transition from
computers that filled basements to the desktop personal computer. I was involved
in making that happen in the company I worked for in the 1980s and loved it. I
embrace technology, believing it to simply be a tool which is neutral and the
good and bad of it coming from how it is used. Ive held on to that view, but it is
very shaky now. Further developments saw the introduction of the internet (I was
privileged to see an early version before it was made public) and the rapid
miniaturisation of electronics which have resulted in the smartphone and tablet. I
have welcomed all of this with enthusiasm. As somebody who likes being
informed, I also enjoyed the availability of news at the touch of a button, and signed up for social media
with relish, not being an avid poster but an avid feed reader. I also loved the immediacy of the medium,
knowing what world leaders were saying before it made the main stream media. These last six months, or
maybe longer, have caused me a great deal of angst, however. The stuff I read (making a conscious effort
to follow those with whom I disagree as well as agree for balance) has become more personal, more
pointed, more sarcastic, more nasty, more intolerant of others perspectives, more insulting, more .
dispiriting I suppose. It also made me feel powerless all these people to whom I am exposed will not be
influenced by me (and often just escalate the offensive remarks if challenged) and I turned to prayer. I was
reminded of this, from the Bible: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what
is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. and Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things And the
God of peace will be with you. (Ephesians 4:29 and Philippians 4:8-9)

So, the social media is off, at least for a season, whilst I follow that advice from St. Paul and seek to ponder
the pure and noble things of life.

Many blessings,

Peter

Note to editors: written at the time of the increasing tension in North Korea and the Charlottesville white
supremacists protests.

Sunday 3rd September 8.00 am Holy Communion

Sunday 10th September 11.00 am Morning Prayer (Modern)
Sunday 17th September 9.30 am Morning Prayer (Traditional)
Sunday 24th September 9.30 pm Holy Communion (modern)

Rev Peter Callway, Rector: 01622 747570 Call for Baptisms, Weddings & Funerals, not Fridays
Rev David Jones, Hon. Associate Rector 01622 741474. Not Fridays
Rev Eileen Doyle, Associate Rector 01622 204241. Not Mondays and Tuesdays
Becky Parnham, Children and Families Worker 07949 646885

Church available for hire

The Church is available to hire for meetings, classes, concerts etc. There is a kitchen with an urn, kettle,
crockery and cutlery plus tables and chairs. An outside toilet is attached to the church, no spiders! If you are
interested contact Val Grainger on 820305 or vgrainger38@btinternet.com

Page 2 of 8
Karim Habibi Keepers Nursery and the Farleigh Pippin

Keepers Nursery is a specialist fruit tree nursery in East Farleigh which has been
run by the Habibi family since the early 1990s.

The Nursery is famous for its vast collection of historic cultivars of orchard top
fruits, which we have made available for the public to purchase again in a
wide range of tree forms.

As you enter the nursery, off of Lower road, the collection is beautifully
presented to you as rows of neat cordon trained trees on either side of the track, the collection has over
1000 cultivars in total, of which we have over 600 types of apples. Every year the nursery creates around
9000 new trees on site, cloning the cultivars in the collection by bud grafting onto rootstocks in situ during
the summer. The trees are then trained over the following season/s until they are ready to be sold directly to
the public as one year old maiden trees or two year old trained trees.

Over the years the nursery has established itself as one of the countrys leading fruit tree specialists,
producing excellent quality trees on site for every possible garden situation. Our trees are all sold bare
rooted and can only be dug up and distributed in the dormancy period, winter, and because of the small
workforce we have we do not have a shop or sales operation on site open to passing trade and all orders
are taken through our website or on the phone in advance. The Nursery is open to the public once a year
on our annual Apple day, this year it will be held on Sunday 1st October, we do the event both to introduce
ourselves and our fruit to the public as well as to raise money for charity. On Apple day the public can visit
the nursery and walk through the cordon collection to observe and taste the apples, plums and pears off of
the trees as well as seek advice from myself or my father about all things fruit related. Our collection of trees
also contains cherries, quinces, medlars, peaches, apricots, nut trees and damsons, one of which being the
local Farleigh Damson (pictured). Recently we were contacted by someone in search of the lost Farleigh
Pippen (see below) apple cultivar, if anyone in the village knows any information about it or knows of an old
tree, we would like the chance to clone it to add it to the collection and re-establish the cultivar again.

Karim Habibi
Contact information. Phone 01622 326465. Email karimkeepers@gmail.com
Address. Keepers Nursery, Gallants Court, East Farleigh, ME15 0LE
Website www.fruittree.co.uk

The Farleigh Pippin following was received from Judy Tolman.

We (my husband and myself) have a fruit tree nursery where we preserve traditional (and sometimes very
rare) varieties of fruit which are no longer easily obtainable. We have found a number of interesting old
varieties in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, but of course there are many in other counties. Many of these
old trees are far better than modern ones, as they were suitable for the home-gardener, rather than
developed for the large commercial grower who sells to supermarkets.

One interesting old variety of apple which was last mentioned in 1884 in The Fruit Manual by Robert Hogg,
was Farleigh Pippin. This was a late-season eating apple, ripe in October, which dates from the end of the
18th century. No-one gives details of where it was first grown, except that it came from Farleigh in Kent. It
was described by several 19th century authors as medium sized, rather long, with five distinct ribs which
were particularly prominent around the eye. The eye was deeply set. The skin was green (or green-yellow) in
the shade, but brownish red in the sun, with darker markings. The flesh was green, crisp, juicy and sweet.
According to Hogg, it was richly flavoured, and as he had tasted thousands of apples his good opinion
counts. The tree is vigorous, with an upright habit, and gives abundant crops. Farleigh Pippin was also
sometimes used as a cider sweet. It is quite likely that someone in Farleigh has an old tree in their garden
without knowing its identity, so we thought that it might be worth telling you about this, as the apple season
is approaching. I suppose people already know about the Farleigh Damson, which is still fairly easily
available from specialist growers, including ourselves. Our website is www. Bernwodefruittrees.co.uk.

Page 3 of 8
View from the Garden by Jon Fenlon
So now the days are shortening its time to start to split and divide herbaceous
perennials that have finished for the year. Make sure the plants are replanted or
potted up as quickly as possible and watered to help them recover from the shock of
being split.

You can also check/start to cut off runners from plants such as strawberries as by now
they will have rooted well and should be able to survive on their own. There are other
methods of propagation which can be done this month such as hard wood cutting to
increase your plant numbers for next year, Check the
RHS website for advice on what plants can be propagated in this way.

Summer raspberries can be pruned back just leaving the new young growth
which will become next years fruiting canes.

If you have fruit trees in your garden try to remove damaged / mouldy fruit
when you see it as it can help spread disease to the rest of the crop. You can
also cut any long grass at the base of the tree to help
spot windfalls. If you are lucky enough to have a glass
house now is likely to be the best time to have a good
clean and tidy before any plants starts to go back in for
winter protection.

Keep an eye out for seed pods in the garden as these

are a great resource for growing more plants next year
and can be a great help if plants do die over a hard
winter.

A full colour version on-line www.thefarleighs.co.uk

Congratulations to

Newly-weds Ryan and Stacey (Mr & Mrs Parks), who were married at All
Saints Church on Saturday 19th August followed by a fair ground style
reception at Staceys at Holly Villas.

The Farleighs Choir were delighted to be invited to sing at the wedding

which was very well received. If you would like to join the choir contact
Helen on 01622 814445

Page 4 of 8
 Farleigh Feathers by Ray Morris

Ticking Robins
In September most robins will have finished their annual moult. Unlike human hair,
birds feathers are dead once they have emerged, and cannot grow to repair
damage from sunlight or abrasion from hard surfaces. So most adults replace every
feather on their body after breeding, and this years juveniles also moult their breast
feathers to acquire the full badge of adult plumage. But this is when trouble starts in
the robin community, as both males and females are territorial throughout the year.
So, resplendent in their new feathers, all robins will be making the ticking sound that
lets others know they are there, and the dominant birds will puff out their chests to intimidate those further
down the pecking order often dive-bombing them to drive them out of the territory.

Another bird acquiring a red face as part of its adult plumage is the goldfinch. When so much of our native
wildlife is in decline, this bird is a good news story. No longer a relatively scarce garden bird, its population
has more than doubled in the last twenty years and flocks, or charms to use their collective noun, can be
heard almost anywhere there are trees in towns, in the countryside or in gardens. The reasons for the
increase are likely to be a combination of warmer winters, more bird
friendly land management that leaves weedy strips along farm field
edges and, especially, garden bird feeders.

Once nyger seed (from a tropical thistle) was introduced to gardens it

attracted the goldfinches whose needle-pointed beaks are adapted
to extracting the tiny seeds from thistles and teasels. The birds then
discovered sunflower hearts, since when there has been no stopping
them. This year has been a good nesting season for them too,
enabling them to produce two or three broods. A nestling from a
garden nest was brought in alive - by a neighbours cat on August
18 , evidence that goldfinches and other species are benefiting from our changing climate. This is
th

supported by findings from the British Trust for Ornithologys Nest Record Scheme, which has data on nesting
dates and productivity dating back to 1937! With this secure scientific base, DEFRA recently extended the
ban on farmland hedge-cutting by a month, to the end of August, to avoid destruction of active nests.

Sadly, I have also seen two birds recently in my garden showing signs of the disease trichomonosis (a
parasite that infects their throat so they cant eat). So I will be stopping feeding for a couple of weeks to
allow the birds to disperse there is plenty of food available in the hedgerows at the moment and giving
the birdfeeders and bird baths a thorough clean and sterilisation as the disease is passed on through their
saliva and faeces.

An extended, illustrated version of this article can be seen on www.thefarleighs.co.uk

Page 5 of 8
 View from the Scoreboard by Terry Baines

CRICKET: Exciting times down on the cricket pitch this season. Our cricketers continued their
brilliant run of form last month, winning five from five although one was abandoned due to
rain. Our four victories come against top placed Cudham, Horsmonden, Outwood and
Penshurst. Our rain affected game was against Leigh. This gives the team with two league
games to go a great chance of promotion. Hopefully next month we can celebrate!

FOOTBALL: Last month our footballers have been busy training and playing friendlies in
readiness for the coming season which starts this weekend 26 th. Our 1st XI hopefully will continue to rise in the
Kent League while our 2nd XI embark on a new challenge starting for the first time playing in the Sevenoaks
League.

Club News: Our lucky ton-up winners for August were

119 Ann Sawtell - 30 -51 Graham Judge - 20 - 111 Bethany Pearce 10

West Farleigh Tour weekend from Ringstedt 28th 31st July

Another fantastic weekend was enjoyed with our friends from Ringstedt. We greeted them early Friday
morning from Stansted then immediately took them to a golfing range in Chigwell, Surrey. Looking at some
of the shots Im sure most were still asleep at this point. After a few beers we arrived in Farleigh and had a
welcoming BBQ courtesy of Matt and Katie. This took us to the evening when we enjoyed a karaoke and
social up at the hut until the wee small hours. We soon discovered some could sing better than others !

Saturday lunchtime came because mornings dont exist on tour! We all jumped on a bus and headed for
Upchurch where we enjoyed Kickgolf (Golf played by kicking a football). Im sure looking at some of the
standard of play, the beer was already knocking in! This was followed by a trip to see the culture of
Canterbury which may have involved checking the odd pub or two and another night of not a lot of beer.

Sunday came again no morning and we all arrived at 1 oclock to play the match, surprisingly both sides
had eleven of sorts. A good game ending in a fair 1-1 draw. This was followed by our always enjoyable trip
to Stephen Normans swimming pool and thankfully we didnt lose anyone I checked! Again we
wandered back to the hut where a hearty BBQ was waiting for us. This was not appreciated very much by
our tour virgins as afterwards they had to run through an obstacle course involving more beer and other
drink I never did find out what it was but they all survived.

Monday lunchtime found us at the Good Intent where we enjoyed our last few beers until the bus arrived to
take them back to the airport and yes they did all make it. Thanks to all who made it another great tour and
heres to another one when we travel to Ringstedt next year.

Yours in sport
Tel

(Sounds like they could have floated home, Tel. (The Eds) LOL

Ride and Stride -Saturday 9th September

Dont forget Ride and Stride will be held on Saturday 9th September. It is organized by The Friends of Kent
Churches to raise funds for the upkeep of Kents beautiful churches. You can cycle, walk or even run to visit
participating churches throughout Kent. Monies raised will be divided equally between Friends of Kent
Churches and the church or chapel of your choice. This year in particular All Saints Church, West Farleigh is
in need of repairs to the tower and we shall be applying for a grant from this fund. Sponsorship forms and
more information can be obtained from Sue ODonnell (Tel 01622 727852). Or you can volunteer to be a
steward offering refreshments to riders and walkers visiting the church. Sue would love to hear from you if
you can spare an hour or two to help.

Page 6 of 8
 EVERGREENS

On the 24th August the Evergreens had lunch at Kenward House in Yalding. We pre-
ordered our meals so that they were ready for us when we arrived. They had set aside a
magnificent room for us, with views over the river valley. Very posh! The food was good, the service was
good and everyone enjoyed their visit.

The August meeting was a quiz in the WI Hall. It was entertaining and the members were able to laugh at
themselves when they did not know the answers! There is no meeting on the fourth Tuesday of August, due
to lack of leaders and drivers (How dare they go on holiday at the same time!!)

The first September meeting will be on Wednesday 13th. We will be visiting the Yalding Gardens (formerly the
Organic Gardens) on one of the few days of the year they are open to the public. We are hoping for a
cream tea as well! The fourth Tuesday we will be going to Bewl water for a boat trip round the reservoir.
Followed by Fish and chips in the caf.

If you would like to join the Evergreens on any of these events, ring Helen 814445 or Terry 814561. Leave a
message we may be away!

Kenward Trust

Kenward Trust is a charity to help those addicted to drugs and alcohol. It is based in Kenward House, which
was a stately home in Yalding. The House and estate were originally owned by the Kenward family, it
subsequently became a Dr Barnados Home. (The children attended West Farleigh School). It was then
bought by Mr and Mrs Sinden to house the homeless. It was then realised that most of the homeless were
addicts. It takes in people for 3-6 months for rehabilitation, with houses around Kent and Sussex for longer
term care.
The residents do gardening, growing plants to sell. They renovate, recycle and make new items that are sold
at the house and in their shop in Tunbridge Wells. Their most recent fundraising project was the setting up of
a caf Sage and Time in Kenward House, which is open to the public. A visit is recommended.

Visit the website for opening times and more information. www.kenwardtrust.org.uk.

In our August meeting we had an artist, Alan College, to talk to us not only about how
he become an artist but to also show us how he produces a picture by drawing,
colouring and painting. I am not an artist but I was enthralled with the way he works. He
held everyone's attention, and after he had finished he had many questions from the
members. He bought his cards of various sizes that he had drawn and had printed
which went down well.

Future events: We have arranged an Harvest Festival in September with Chicory Tips as the entertainment -
tickets are still available. We have Art Classes, Craft classes, a MacMillan Coffee morning on the 28th
September 2017, please come along and join us. The coffee morning is open to all raising money for a good
charity. If you would like to come to one of our meetings then please come along to The Farleigh's WI Hall in
Forge Lane, East Farleigh on second Wednesday in the month at 7pm or ring me Pam Lindon 01622 726337
for more information. If anyone is interested in hiring the hall, please call 01622 920257 and speak to Karen
Malins.

Pam Lindon
Email: pamlindon@btinternet.com Tel: 07711590402

DO YOU MANAGE A BUSINESS IN FARLEIGHS? THIS IS FOR YOU!

We are going to launch a business directory distributed with Lifeline to promote local businesses. It will
come out quarterly. In addition, you will get a free listing on www.thefarleighs.co.uk with a link to your
business website. For further details, please contact Helen Kirk-Brown at helen.kirkbrown@icloud.com
.

Page 7 of 8
Events
Date and time Event and venue

Sunday 2rd September Litter pick

At 9am Meet on the Green outside the Good Intent

Sunday 17th September Wateringbury History Society

From 19.30 pm Rod Gear will be speaking about History from the Air. Visitors welcome. Meeting in
Wateringbury Village Hall. More information from Gill Smith
gillchartsutton@hotmail.com

Thursday 28th September Macmillan Coffee morning

From 11.30 am - to 1pm at the WI Hall, Forge lane, East Farleigh. Come and have a natter while supporting
this worthy charity.

Saturday 7th October All Saints Church Harvest Supper

7pm for 7.30 Come and join us for a cornucopia of mouth-watering food, musical entertainment
by Pete & Co. Tickets 10 each from

Sunday 8th October All Saints Church Harvest Festival

11.00 am Come and celebrate our annual harvest. Donations this year will be going to

Lhasapoo puppies for sale

Our little Maybelline and Poppy have had their pups. Poppy had five and
they are 8 days old black and white and one chocolate and white. There
are three boys and two girls.

Maybelline had six pups three boys and three girls two black, two cream,
one gold and one rare sable. They are two weeks old. Viewing starts mid-
September. All pups will leave with info pack, full vet health checks, first
vaccination, microchip, worming, parent and grandparent K. C. reg certificates and PRA eye tests and to be
viewed with mums. They are a hybrid of the Lhasa apso cross toy poodle and will grow between 7-9 inches
from base of neck and point of shoulder to the floor. They will either follow the poodles curly coat or Lhasas
wavey coat, be non-moulting to low grade loss so ideal for allergy sufferers. They have the poodles intellect
and Lhasa's loving cuddly side and loyalty and make super family pets who require low to medium exercise
either with walks or a run around the garden. They are equally at home on your lap getting all the attention.
Only serious loving and caring forever homes please apply. Cost per pup is 550 if interested photo updates
will be sent to you regularly and deposit required on viewing if youre happy to go ahead, please contact

Clare in West Farleigh Tel 07790 089734 email.rgilbert2009@hotmail.co.uk

Page 8 of 8