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A Letter from the Rector
Dear All,
As we step into February, the echoes of Christmas and the New Year begin to fade, and our hearts turn toward the reflective season of Lent that lies ahead. This month serves as a bridge, allowing us to prepare our minds and spirits for the journey toward Easter, a time of renewal and resurrection.
The festivities of Christmas brought us joy, warmth, and a sense of community. We are grateful for the time spent together celebrating the birth of our Saviour. As we transition from this season of celebration, let us carry the spirit of love and hope into the coming months.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on 5th March, and marks a time for reflection, repentance, and spiritual growth. It is a 40-day journey leading up to Easter, where we prepare our hearts to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus. During this season, may I encourage you to consider how you might deepen your relationship with God, whether through prayer, fasting, or acts of service.
Join us on 5th March, 10am Lympne Church, and 7pm at Saltwood Church, for our Ash Wednesday services as we begin the Lenten season together. Both services will include the imposition of ashes, scripture readings, and a time of prayer.
Across the Benefice there will be study and reflection in each of our Home Groups throughout Lent. These gatherings will focus on theme of hope. If you are not a regular member of a Home Group and simply want to attend for Lent, you are very welcome to do so. See the weekly newsletter for times, dates, and locations.
As we prepare for Easter Sunday, I invite you to reflect on the significance of this season. We will be hosting special Easter services on Palm Sunday and throughout Holy Week filled with worship, celebration, and the joyous message of resurrection.
May this month be a time of preparation and anticipation as together we look forward to the celebration of Easter. Let us support one another in our journeys of faith and remain grounded in the love of Jesus.
Every Blessing,
Rev Barry
Diary St Peter & St Paul, Saltwood
Our regular pattern of worship includes a service every Sunday at 10am. Usually this is Holy Communion (to which all are welcome, whether or not you choose to receive communion) with a Family Service on the fourth Sunday of each month. Other services of Holy Communion, including ‘Book of Common Prayer’ services at Saltwood and Pedlinge, are shown on the website calendar, along with all services and events for the month.
Bubble Church, for families with Toddlers, is held in the Lads’ Club at 10am on the first Sunday of the month; Sunday Club, for children aged 3 – 10 is held at 10am in the Lads’ Club, on the third Sundays in term time.
Some dates to note for your diaries:-
Sunday 2nd – N.B. Benefice service of Holy Communion at Lympne (No service at Saltwood due to scheduled power cut)
Monday 3rd – 14.00 – Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club (and each following Monday)
Tuesday 4th – Our Rector’s Day Off – (and each following Tuesday)
Wednesday 5th – 10.00 – Saltwood Toddlers in the Lads’ Club (and each following Wednesday)
Thursday 6th – 18.00 – Bell Ringing Practice (and each following Thursday)
Thursday 6th – 19.00 – Choir Practice (and each following Thursday)
Friday 7th – 09.00 – Prayer Group in the Church (and each following Friday)
Saturday 8th – 18.15 – Quiz Evening in the Lads’ Club (pre-booking essential)
Wednesday 12th – 14.00 – Afternoon Prayer Group at 34 Harpswood Lane
Saturday 15th – 10.30 – Coffee Morning at Lympne church
Wednesday 19th – 14.00 – Saltwood Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Friday 21st – N.B. Last date for items for the March magazine
Sunday 23rd – N.B. the 10am service is Holy Communion (not Family Service)
Useful Contacts
Rector – Rev Barry Knott: Telephone: 01303 883243 email: rev.barry@icloud.com
Church website: www.saltwoodchurch.org
Community Support Hub: 01303 269602
Parish Pastoral Support: 0300 030 1330
Children & Families Ministry (including weddings and baptisms) – Christine Clover:
Telephone: 0300 030 1662 email: christineclover@lympneandsaltwoodchurches.uk
Lads’ Club Bookings: Jan Heard 01303 266945 email: jan.entendu@gmail com
Parish Magazine: Beth Lewsey 01303 264577 email: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org
Items for the March Magazine
If you have any items for the March edition of the magazine, please forward to Beth Lewsey, by the 21st February,
by email if possible, to: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org
or deliver to 20 Castle Avenue. (Tel 01303 264577).
Saltwood Church Pastoral Group
Caring for One Another
‘And let us look out for one another to provoke love and good works’ (Hebrews 10:24)
Our Pastoral Group meet monthly to seek ways of offering support to those who are going through difficult or challenging times. If you know someone you are concerned about, or if you have concerns yourself, please contact us. You will always find a friendly voice and a listening ear at the end of the line. Caring for others is at the heart of Christian life and you can help us by being our eyes and ears, letting us know of anyone who is in need.
Contacts: 01303 266454 01303 883243
Quotes
With Valentine’s Day in mind:
Salt is like love; it can heal, purify, preserve and enrich, but it’s useless if it’s not sprinkled around. The truth is that all of life is tasteless without love.
– UCB Word for Today
From the Parish Records
Our love and sympathy go to the family and friends of:
Ruth Palmer, whose funeral was on 30th January.
Evelyn Ann Felce RIP
Ann Felce from Grange Farm, who died on 22nd December, aged 96, was buried at the Farm on 11th January 2025.
Advance date for your Diaries
Friday 7th March at 2pm at Hythe Catholic Church: World Day of Prayer.
This year the international service has been prepared by the women of the Cook Islands.
All are very welcome to this world-wide wave of prayer
Quiz Night
ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED,
BOOKING ESSENTAIL. SO BOOK NOW!
SATURDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2025
DOORS OPEN 6:15PM, SALTWOOD LADS’ CLUB
£10 PER PERSON (payment in advance)
HOT MAIN MEAL AND DESSERT AT 6:45PM
DRINKS BAR FOR PURCHASE OF WINE/BEER/SOFTIES
PRIZE FOR WINNING QUIZ TEAM!
OTHER SHORT GAMES DURING EVENING
DRESS CODE – PLEASE WEAR LOTS OF RED AND PINK!
PRIZE FOR BEST INDIVIDUAL VALENTINE’S OUTFIT!
COME AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLE AND A TEAM WILL BE ASSIGNED
(LET ME KNOW IF VEGETARIAN OR ANY ALLERGIES)
AN EVENING OF FUN AND FELLOWSHIP IN RED & PINK!
CONTACT PETER KENT ON: PKENT.EMAIL@GMAIL.COM OR 01303-266140
A Prayer for February
Heavenly Father,
February is known for love, and Your love shines brightly in our lives.
As we journey through this month, help us embrace the love You offer and share it with others.
May Your light guide our actions.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen
(Prayerslife.com)
Intercessions for February
Today we pray for:
1 Those who live in Turnpike Hill, Britten Close and Spanton Crescent
2 The work of ‘Brighter Future International’
3 St Mary the Virgin Elham
4 Those who minister in our residential homes
5 Those who maintain our community
6 Those who live in Rectory Lane and Victoria Place
7 Sunday Club
8 The work of ‘Centrepoint’
9 Our local GPs
10 Rose, our Bishop
11 Those who live in Old London Road, Redbrooks Way, Summer Close and Sunny Bank
12 Those unable to attend church, thinking particularly of those known to you
13 The homeless, thinking particularly of those known to you
14 Brockhill Park Performing Arts College – staff and pupils
15 St Martin’s Cheriton, All Soul’s Cheriton and St Nicholas Newington
16 Those who live in Grange Road and School Road
17 Church Army
18 Those who seek Christ
19 Residential and nursing homes – their staff and residents
20 Sidesmen and welcomers
21 Those who live in Castle Avenue, Lookers Lane and Quarry Road
22 Those who represent us – in parish, district and county councils and in Parliament
23 Those who help lead our worship
24 Those parts of the world suffering from natural disasters and all those seeking to relieve the suffering these cause
25 St Leonard’s Hythe, St Michael’s Anglican and Methodist Centre and Holy Cross Palmarsh
26 Those who live in Brockhill Road and Seaton Avenue
27 The armed forces and their families
28 The Folkestone Rainbow Centre
29 Those coping with debt and unemployment, thinking particularly of those known to you
30 Our area Dean
31 Those who live in Blue House Lane, Sandy Lane and the A20, Saltwood
Thanks Received
Last month, Laurie reported on the charitable giving made by our church. Since then several of the recipient charities have written with their thanks:
From Pilgrims Hospice:
On behalf of everyone at Pilgrims Hospices, I would like to say a very big thank you for the donation of £1000 from the congregations. £1000 will enable Pilgrims Hospices to provide 40 hours of nursing care to patients and families across East Kent.
As always, we are only able to provide our services, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our family of supporters, which you are an important part of. Your kindness is ensuring Pilgrims remains here for our patients and their families, even throughout difficult times.
Once again, thank you for your support and we wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
Together we make a difference.
Kind Regards
Alison
Alison Wright
Community Fundraising Officer – Ashford
Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent
From Centrepoint
Thank you very much for your recent £1000 donation to Centrepoint on 1/2/2025!
The money you have raised will support vulnerable homeless young people, especially during the current cost-of-living crisis. In the last year, the numbers of those needing emergency food support has quadrupled, and, with bills rising, they are struggling to afford to live.
In these challenging times, donations like yours will help give a young person safety, stability and freedom from worrying about where their next meal will come from.
With incredible people like you by our side, Centrepoint can do even more to help homeless young people make a positive turning point in their lives. On their behalf and ours, thank you.
Please do get in touch if you’d like to discuss other ways you can support our life-changing work.
Best wishes,
Yi Zhou
From Brighter Future International
Thank you so much for your generous, kind and welcome gift of £750 received in the post in December.
Because of people like you, we are able to love and care for so many more people who desperately need food, shelter and medical attention.
Your gift was truly felt by all in our care this Christmas and we are so grateful.
Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed New Year.
Many of you will have heard Liz Pettersen speak about her recent visit to India; Liz adds her personal thanks here:
I know that this money has made a huge impact already, as I so clearly witnessed during my recent visit. During the family service on Sunday, I will be sharing photos and feedback on my trip to India. It was one of the most moving times that I have visited the charity. I really felt that a huge part of this was how very conscious I was of that fact that I was sharing your love and generosity with so many very needy and vulnerable people. I do hope that some of you will be able to be there.
A huge thank you from me, too for the very generous donation,
Liz
Saltwood Cinema Club
will be showing
The Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger
on Wednesday 19th February
at 2pm in the Lads’ Club
This sequel to Bank of Dave sees Dave Fishwick taking on a new and more dangerous adversary: The Payday Lenders. Starring Rory Kinnear as Dave
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
Help Needed!
Unfortunately, our group of church cleaners has shrunk over the past year and we are looking for replacements to keep our beautiful church cared for.
It is not an arduous task if two people work together: mainly vacuuming our lovely new carpet, dusting, cleaning toilets and kitchen plus emptying bins. We work on a Rota basis so it would mean only three or four times a year.
We have cover for the long school summer holiday.
If you are able to help, please contact Mary Hunter on 01303 268423.
WARDENS’ CORNER
From Carol Eastell: –
Lent Lunches
Ash Wednesday this year falls on Wednesday 5 March and we are looking at having four Lent Lunches again, starting on Saturday 22 March and for the next three Saturdays following. There will be lists at the back of the church at the end of February, asking for soup makers mainly. We are hoping the SALT Home Groups will be agreeable to taking a turn each week to run a lunch. But more of that in the March e-mag. Meanwhile, make a note of the dates to have Saturday lunch in the Lads; Club and support our Mission Charities.
Afternoon Prayer Group – NB Change of Date
The Pastoral Support Group are meeting on 5th February, so we have moved February prayer meeting to the 12th February at 2 pm. We love to see new pray-ers and you will be very welcome. As usual, we are meeting in the home of Penny Forsyth, 34 Harpswood Lane.
Monday Chats
It was lovely to see new faces at Chats after the Christmas break. A warm and friendly welcome awaits, as well as a cup of tea and delicious home- made cake. If you have an hour or two to join us (that is from 2pm to 4) we would love to see you.
(Carol and Geoff 07795100441)
From John Campbell: –
A Time for Prayer
Do you feel burdened, in need of guidance, or simply longing for peace? Are you inwardly distressed over health, family, and other matters? After our Sunday morning service, a small prayer team run by Stella Hawes is always available by the altar to pray with you. Whatever your need, they would love to support you in prayer. And you are assured of complete confidentiality; nothing you say will be mentioned to anybody else, ever.
James reminds us: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray… Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him… And the prayer of faith will save the sick.” (James 5:13–15).
Prayer is a gift from God, and we are called to support one another in love: “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).
Why not take that step after the service? The prayer team look forward to praying with you.
Lost Ring
Sometime before Christmas, a ring was found in one of the loos. If this belongs to you, or someone you know, please see one of the Churchwardens on Sunday morning
Supporting Our Parish Prayer Ministry
I must write this because understandably, Carol won’t.
We are deeply grateful for the commitment and care that Carol brings to overseeing prayer ministry across our parish. She is a blessing to so many, offering prayer, support, and encouragement whenever it is needed. However, as with all ministries, balance is essential for her health, family life, and ability to serve effectively.
To help keep this balance, Carol and Geoff have set aside Fridays as a day off. We kindly ask everyone to honour this decision and not to contact her on that day. If there is a real prayer emergency on a Friday, then please contact me.
Additionally, we encourage everyone to consider using email for prayer requests whenever possible (carol.eastell@icloud.com). Email allows requests to be clear, concise, and written down, which is immensely helpful for Carol and the prayer team. It ensures nothing is forgotten and allows the team to pray accurately and to manage their time more effectively. Carol will always respond so you will know it has been safely received.
If you do need to call, please be mindful of Carol’s time. While she is always happy to pray and support, lengthy phone calls can be very draining and prevent her from responding to others who may also need help. Keeping calls short, focused and to the point will help her continue serving with energy and joy.
In my first post above, I referred to Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Let’s extend this care to Carol by respecting her boundaries and ensuring she has the space to rest, recharge, and serve our church family effectively.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
From Rachel Cornish: –
The Offertory Prayer
Most church services include an offertory prayer – a prayer asking God to bless the gifts/tithes we give and wisdom to use them wisely for God.
An increasing number of people don’t carry much cash, or prefer to give their gift to God via their bank account or via credit card or online giving. Lympne church now has small orange cards at the door that you can collect and add to the collection plate/bag as a way of being included in this part of worship.
There are also yellow gift aid envelopes which can be
used by taxpayers to increase the value of any donation.
From the Parish Magazine –FEBRUARY 2005
Twenty years ago, and so many familiar names and activities:
President of Castle Green WI was Mrs Margaret Alcock, with Mrs Jean Lewis as Treasurer; the magazine reported on the January meeting, which took the form of an entertainment, with Mrs Audrey Wayte accompanying on the piano when required.
The Saltwood Village Society met on the 11th February, with a talk from the site manager at Dungeness Bird Reserve.
Saltwood Primary School was advertising a Children’s Fashion Show, starring the pupils themselves.
However, most poignant was the theme of the Rector’s letter, the 2005 Tsunami, quoting a lengthy reflection by retired Bishop Kenneth Fernando, concluding:
‘Perhaps this tsunami will make us give up quibbling, and yearn for justice with greater sincerity…Are conflict and division justifiable any longer when just one tsunami can finish the lives of us all in a matter of minutes? If the tsunami will teach us this lesson then many thousands would not have died in vain. It may be that God continues to reign.’
Please help us support Pilgrims Hospice
(It’s not too late!)
On 27th April 2025 my husband, Paul Beckett, is running in the LONDON MARATHON raising money for Pilgrims Hospice.
I feel sure we all know of someone who has needed the love and support of care staff either at, or from, Pilgrims Hospice.
At its heart, Pilgrims is dedicated to providing skilled and compassionate care, free of charge, to people living with an incurable illness in east Kent. Their vision is that people with a life-limiting illness are supported and empowered to live well in mind & body, making the most of the time they have. They care for over 2,500 patients a year, at their 3 inpatient units in Canterbury, Thanet & Ashford, their therapy centres, or in patients’ own homes. With 80% of their funding being voluntary contributions, your support cannot be overstated.
Giving is easy using the link below, either which opens Pauls Just Giving page at Pilgrims Hospice, or see me and I will have a sponsor form.
We really appreciate your support.
Hilary Leeves
Paul Beckett is fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent
2nd Feb: Candlemas,
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
What do you know about this festival?
In bygone centuries, Christians said their last farewells to the Christmas season on Candlemas, 2nd February. This is exactly 40 days after Christmas Day itself.
In New Testament times 40 days old was an important age for a baby boy: it was when they made their first ‘public appearance’. Mary, like all good Jewish mothers, went to the Temple with Jesus, her first male child – to ‘present Him to the Lord’. At the same time, she, as a new mother, was ‘purified’. Thus, we have the Festival of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
So, where does the Candlemas bit come in? Jesus is described in the New Testament as the Light of the World, and early Christians developed the tradition of lighting many candles in celebration of this day. The Church also fell into the custom of blessing the year’s supply of candles for the church on this day – hence the name, Candlemas.
The story of how Candlemas began can be found in Luke 2:22-40. Simeon’s great declaration of faith and recognition of who Jesus was is of course found in the Nunc Dimittis, which is embedded in the Office of Evening Prayer in the West. But in medieval times, the Nunc Dimittis was mostly used just on this day, during the distribution of candles before the Eucharist. Only gradually did it win a place in the daily prayer life of the Church.
A poem, by Nigel Beeton, based on the words of the Nunc Dimittis:
Nigel Beeton writes: “2nd February is Candlemas – when we commemorate the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Zechariah was the priest there, he had been told by God that he would meet the Messiah before his death, and his beautiful prayer in Luke 2:29-32 became known as ‘Nunc Dimittis.’ It is very familiar to those of us who use the Compline service”.
Nunc dimittis
A child within my arms now lays
Asleep, He’s in my care
The Son of God, the Spirit says
And now I speak this prayer:
O Lord, now let me go in peace
According to Your Word
My earthly life may gladly cease,
For I have seen You, Lord
Salvation You have now prepared
Before the face of men
Salvation with the world is shared
So all may live again
O Lord, now let me go in peace
According to Your Word
My earthly life may gladly cease,
For I have seen You, Lord
A light upon the Gentiles, He
And Israel’s glory, too
Now all Your saving love may see
And all may come to You.
O Lord, now let me go in peace
According to Your Word
My earthly life may gladly cease,
For I have seen You, Lord.
St Stephen’s Church Lympne
Services and Events in February
Sunday 2nd – 11,00 – Holy Communion (Benefice service)
Sunday 9th – 11.00 – Morning Worship
Saturday 15th – 10.30 – Coffee Morning
Sunday 16th – 11.00 – Holy Communion
Sunday 23rd – 11.00 – Holy Communion
And the start of March:
Wednesday 5th March – 10.00 Ash Wednesday service
Weekly Events in church:
Mondays 19:30-21:30 – Bell ringing Practice
Saturday mornings 10:30 – 12:30 – Eco group working churchyard (when dry)
Church events:
If you have photos of church events, please forward copies to Rachel – we are creating changing displays of the life of the church.
Home Groups
There are two house groups – Monday evening (contact Rachel & Peter) and Friday morning (contact Monica & Peter). Both meet every two weeks and read through the Bible together with lots of talk and discussion.
Groups for Families
Groups and services for children and families take place mostly in Saltwood at the Lad’s Club – but once a month there is Family service in Lympne church, and in term time a weekly Toddlers group in Lympne village hall on Thursdays.
If you are curious as to what goes on have a look on the new display boards in Lympne church with photos of many of these activities.
An Update on EcoChurch
We have submitted the application forms for the Gold Award so we wait to see if we have done enough for this.
Filling in the application form and supporting evidence was a reminder of how many different people have been involved in different aspects of this project and how much publicity this has generated for the church locally with lots of articles in the local parish newsletter, the local Facebook group, posters, emails and this magazine.
As part of this, Lympne church did extra activities such as a wildlife festival and a visit to Langdon Eco-garden. One of the most visible aspects of Eco Church has been the work on the churchyard with a long list of achievements:
- Cleared away a rubbish area full of plastic – removed over 20 bags of plastic waste from an old compost heap
- Built a new compost area by recycling old pallets
- Cut back and pruned overgrown bushes and plants in the flower border
- A lot of weeding and thinning out of plants in the flower border
- Creation of new flower bed where old compost / bin rubbish was
- Cut back of brambles to maintain the view
- Removed large amounts of ivy from trees and bushes – which were struggling from lack of light
- Cut back brambles and plants that were diverting paths over graves.
- Planted butterfly and bee friendly bushes
- Planted bulbs – some native species in the grass and lots of colourful flowers in the flower border
- Cleared branches and twigs from graves and paths and created hedgehog and wildlife friendly areas around the edges of the churchyard.
- Left sunflower seeds and other seedheads in the churchyard over winter for food
We have documented some of the flowers, bees and birds in the churchyard with the help of others in the community.
The churchyard is just one of five topics for the EcoAward; others in the Eco-Team have helped in other areas; some have ensured caring for creation is included in our intercessions, or in worship services. Others have looked at what we purchase – changing some of our supplies to more eco-friendly versions and how we recycle our own waste. Others have ensured articles on wildlife and caring for the environment are shared in the community.
We also did an environmental survey of church members which showed a huge variation in opinions on the importance we should place in our actions that have an impact on the environment.
Lympne Fellowship
In January we pitted our wits over a thoroughly enjoyable Bingo Quiz, cleverly organised by Jill Page. With a delicious ploughman’s lunch to assist the brain cells, we worked in groups to write answers to numbered questions on our individual bingo cards. We then had to tick off any correct answers until we had a line. As in normal bingo, all our cards were numbered randomly, so that, even though we had worked together, there were individual prize winners. Great fun and our thanks go to Jill and the Committee for the refreshments.
We look forward to welcoming Andrew Ashton to tell us about “Kill or Cure? – Old Remedies” at our February meeting.
Lympne Fellowship normally meets at 1.15pm in the Harry Margary Hall on the 2nd Thursday of the month, with a programme of interesting and informative talks and activities. For further information about our group, please contact Jill Page on 07846 819693.
Coffee Morning
SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025
10.30am – 12.30pm
A warm welcome awaits you in the friendly surroundings of our beautiful
Grade 1 Listed church
Join us for coffee, cakes & savoury bakes
Catch up with old friends and new
(Well-behaved dogs welcome)
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus
a donation to this month’s nominated charity:
GUIDE DOGS
HYTHE & DISTRICT GROUP
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
We again opened the year’s talks with ‘Our Memories of Lympne’ in the 50s/60s and welcomed Brian Butcher, who set the scene, as he was born in the village in this period. The village, like many others, was still recovering from rationing and other restrictions. It was not surprising that a few general stores started up in Stone Street, The Street and Belcaire Close, Lympne’s only estate at that time. Brian’s first job was carrying out certain tasks, doing deliveries, and filling up for customers a gallon of paraffin for heating. What would Health and Safety think about that? There was also a store in Newingreen with which the Belcaire Close store liaised regularly, whilst the Post Office was at the top of Stone Street.
Brian had started Lympne school earlier, around 1956, in the Victorian building, now a house, which was accessed from Castle Close or The Street. There were two teachers: one for infants and the headmaster for juniors. Girls and infants’ toilets were separate from the boys’ remote block across the playground. For Sports Day a section of the playing field was mown and marked out in Beacon Way. Brian left the school at 11 when the school had a roll call of 36. A number of people, particularly from those in general stores, were bellringers in the church, and Brian joined at 12 years old when the tower captain invited him – and has been bell ringing ever since, graduating to Tower Captain.
The largest employer was the airport, running regular trips to France. Eric Staines did repairs and sales of electric motors near the top of Stone Street from which it later became a hair styling salon. On the opposite side, Rowland Harman had a yard for his building business. He built The Pines for his own use and saw the opportunity, with restrictions lifted, to develop his building company, building in what are now Harman Avenue, and Rowlands Cottages.
‘The next meeting will be on18 February at 7.30 in the Harry Margary Hall at which the talk will be on the Westenhanger brick works. Non-members welcome’
Castle Green WI
Welcome to Castle Green WI
President Julie Andrews welcomed forty-two members to the January meeting. She said that our two newest members had agreed to take on the organising of refreshments. Dee and Molly were thanked for helping with refreshments this month and Gill R was thanked for the flowers. The record of the December meeting was approved and signed. Kay and Julie T’s husbands were thanked for putting up the tables and chairs each month.
Members were reminded by the treasurer that subs were due next month and are £51.00 for members and £25.10 for dual members Unfortunately due to charges now being levied by Lloyds Bank members paying by cheque will have to pay an extra 50 pence. NFWI is taking up the matter with Lloyds Bank.
The February meeting will be our Annual Meeting; Julie reminded members that she is standing down after three years and that without a President Castle Green WI will be closed.
We then voted on the resolutions to be put forward at the NFWI Annual Meeting in June. The clear “winner” was “to eliminate landfill of medication packaging.”
After coffee and a chance to catch up with friends we welcomed Wendy Sanders who led us in chair yoga. This was a good start to the new year. Gill R gave the vote of thanks.
The next meeting is on February 14th and as it is the Annual Meeting is only open to members. After the business part of the meeting, we will be having a Beetle Drive.
Margaret Alcock
Finishing with a Smile …
… A woman wasn’t feeling well and went to A&E. The nurse asked her: “Have you experienced a sudden loss of taste?”
“No,” admitted the woman sadly. “I’ve always dressed this way.”
… My young daughter needed new boots. When her friend arrived one morning in a lovely pair of new boots, I asked where she had got them. “At the store,” she answered.
“Which one?” I asked patiently.
She looked confused, and then down at her boots. “Both of them,” was her reply.
