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A Letter from the Rector
Dear All
As we step into February, let’s get excited about the Lenten season and our upcoming Easter celebrations! 🐣✨ Grab your frying pans and join us as we reflect on the deeper significance of this transformative time.
Lent is so much more than just giving something up; it’s a beautiful opportunity for reflection, growth, and spiritual renewal. Here’s why engaging in study and reflection during this season is vital:
- Dive into Scripture: Deepening our faith means immersing ourselves in the Word. Through engaging with scripture and church teachings, we come to understand the profound significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.
- Self-Reflection: Lent invites us to pause and examine our lives. It’s a chance to identify areas for growth and seek God’s guidance on our personal journeys.
- Unity in Community: At the heart of our Christian faith is unity. Studying together fosters a supportive environment where we can share insights and experiences, strengthening our bonds and faith.
- Spiritual Renewal: Embracing prayer, fasting, and study rejuvenates our spirits, drawing us closer to God and preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter.
Make this season count by participating in our upcoming Lenten study series, “Life-Giving Habits.” This series will offer a welcoming space for learning, discussion, and spiritual growth. You don’t need to be a member or commit to a single group after Lent. Feel free to join any group that fits your schedule each week! You’ll be warmly welcomed, no matter when or where you choose to gather.
Join us as we prepare our hearts and minds for the joyous celebration of Easter! Together, let’s embrace this season of reflection and renewal.
Stay tuned for further details about our exciting Easter events, which will be published soon in our Weekly Newsletter and this magazine.
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 extra dates to note in your diary:
Monday 2nd – 14.00 – Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club – and each following Monday
Tuesday 3rd – NB – Our Rector’s Day off – and each following Tuesday
Wednesday 4th – 10.00 – Toddler Group in the Lads’ Club – and each following Thursday except the18th
Wednesday 4th – 14.00 Afternoon Prayer Group at 34 Harpswood Lane
Thursday 5th – 18.00 – Bell Ringing Practice – and each following Thursday
Thursdays – 19.00 – Choir Practice – and each following Thursday
Fridays – N.B. – Carol Eastell’s day off
Fridays – 9.00 Prayer Group in the church
Wednesday 18th – Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Friday 20th – 19.00 Hymn singing at Lympne
Sunday 22nd – 16.00 Evening Praise at Lympne
Monday 23rd – Last date for entries for the March magazine
An Advance Date for your Diary:
Friday 6th March – 2pm at Hythe Methodist Church (St Michael’s Methodist-Anglican Church Centre) World Day of Prayer service.
All are welcome. More details in next month’s magazine, but please do note the date now!
Useful Contacts
Rector – Rev Barry Knott: Telephone: 01303 883243 email: rev.barry@icloud.com
Church website: www.lympneandsaltwoodchurches.org.uk
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 23rd February (A day earlier than usual, as February is a short month!)
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
A Prayer for the Month of February
Dear Lord,
As February is often associated with love, I pray for a deeper understanding of Your divine love in my life. May Your love be the foundation of all my relationships and may it guide me in my interactions with others.
I pray for my family, friends, and those who are dear to me. Strengthen our bonds, heal any wounds, and allow us to grow closer to one another. May our love for one another be a reflection of Your love for us.
Amen
(Courtesy of ChristiansTT )
Intercessions for February
Today we pray especially for:
1 Those who live in Turnpike Hill, Britten Close and Spanton Crescent
2 Rev Barry in his work as our area Dean
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 Those who live in Blue House Lane, Sandy Lane and the A20, Saltwood
9 Our local GPs
10 Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury
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 Those coping with debt and unemployment, thinking particularly of those known to you
18 Those who seek Christ
19 Residential and nursing homes – their staff and residents
20 Our teams of 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
Quote
Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them it has always been big stuff. – Wallace
From the Parish Records
We Welcome into the family of the Church:
Frederick Quested, who was baptised at Pedlinge Chapel on 11th January
Our love and sympathy go to the family and friends of:
Richard Baulch, whose funeral was held at St Martin’s on 9th January
David Sheath, whose funeral was on 16th January
Saltwood Cinema Club
will be showing
WONDER
On Wednesday 18th February
at 2pm in the Lads’ Club
Wonder is a 2017 American coming-of-age family comedy drama film, based on the 2012 novel by R. J. Palacio and stars, among others, Julia Roberts. The film follows a boy named August “Auggie” Pullman with Treacher Collins syndrome as he tries to fit in.
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
Introducing Dame Sarah Mullally
– the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
She was born in Woking in 1962, and is one of four children, with two sisters and one brother.
She attended Winston Churchill Comprehensive School and Woking Sixth Form College. She went on to South Bank Polytechnic and Heythrop College, University of London
She worked as a nurse in the National Health Service, which she has described as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God”.
In 1999, at the age of 37, she was appointed the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England in the Department of Health. She was the youngest person ever to be appointed to the post. Bishop Sarah was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing.
She was ordained in 2001 and served her curacy in St Saviour’s Battersea Fields, initially as a self-supporting minister, before leaving her government post in 2004, which she has described at the time as “the biggest decision I have ever made”.
In 2012 she was installed as Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral and three years later took the role as Suffragan Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter, the fourth woman to become a Bishop in the Church of England.
On 12th May 2018, Bishop Sarah was installed as the 133rd Bishop of London at St Paul’s Cathedral, the first woman to hold the role.
She has served on the Church’s National Safeguarding Steering Group and is also Lead Bishop for Health and Social Care issues.
Archbishop Sarah is married to Eamonn, an Irish-born IT and Enterprise Architect who enjoys beekeeping and volunteering as a London tourist guide.
The couple have two grown-up children, Liam and Grace.
Archbishop Sarah has continued her interest in the health service having been a non-executive director at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust then at Salisbury NHS Foundation Hospital.
She is Chair of Christian Aid.
She has spoken openly about her dyslexia, describing her difficulties with writing and reading.
In her spare time, she loves cooking, walking and pottery.
Bible Gem Number 2 –
A Remarkable Mathematical Pattern in the First Words of the Two Bible Testaments.
Hebrew and Greek began simply as written alphabets. Much later, those same letters were also used as numbers too, so that each letter carried a numerical value. This alphanumeric way of using the languages was well established by the time the New Testament was written. However, when the biblical writers wrote their words, they were not trying to hide mathematics or science in the text. They were writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What has been discovered comes from applying mathematics to the text long afterwards, not from anything the writers themselves could have known.
The opening verse of the Bible reads: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
What is remarkable is what happens when the Hebrew words of this verse are examined using one simple and consistent mathematical formula, which relates the number of letters and words in the verse to the numerical values of those letters. When this formula is applied to Genesis 1:1, the result corresponds to π (pi) — the constant that governs circles, spheres, and physical space — to all meaningful accuracy. Pi was known in the ancient world in rough form, but its true precision and its vast importance in science belong to much later centuries.
The opening of John’s Gospel deliberately echoes Genesis: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Now comes the clincher. The very same formula, applied without alteration to John 1:1 but in Greek rather than Hebrew, produces e — the exponential constant that governs growth, decay, waves, electricity, and much of modern science — again, to all practical accuracy. Unlike π, this constant was completely unknown in the ancient world and was only discovered in the seventeenth century.
Here lies the wonder of it all. One simple method, applied to two opening verses that speak of the beginning of everything, points to two numbers that sit at the heart of how the universe works — one shaping space itself, the other describing growth and change. The words came first. The use of letters as numbers came centuries later. The science came later still. Taken together, it is simply an awesome reminder that the Bible speaks from a depth far greater than its human writers could ever have known. And it can only do so because its Author is the Holy Spirit who knows the end from the beginning.
John Campbell
Could you help?- Do you live in Brockhill Road?
Hopefully you will agree that Saltwood is a friendly place, and on that basis, we try to provide a friendly welcome to folk who move here. We have a wonderful group of volunteers, each of whom has offered to keep an eye open when houses change hands in their road, and when the newcomers arrive to knock on the door and offer a parish magazine and a little leaflet which says ‘Welcome to Saltwood’ and provides a few bits of helpful information.
Currently we need someone to be that welcoming face for Brockhill Road. Could it be YOU? No special skills needed – just keeping an eye open for new people and a friendly smile to greet them.
If you’d like to know more, or think this is something you could do, please contact Beth Lewsey on 01303 264577 or by email: bethlewsey@hotmail.com It would be a pity to lose contact with people in a road so central to our parish.
We’re Proud to have another Marathon Runner!
Many of you will know, or at least recognise William, grandson of Ken and Anne Elcock, and who often attends our morning service.
On 12th April William will be running the Paris Marathon in aid of Dementia UK, and in memory of his other Grandma, Penny Keutenius, who passed away in November 2024.
William says; She is truly missed, and I’m proud to be running in her name.
If you feel able to support William by contributing to Dementia UK, he has set up a fund-raising page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/willi-keutenius-dementiauk
Or I’m sure donations can be given direct to William, or I am happy to pass them on to him. (Beth Lewsey)
Notes from the Choir
It seems an age ago now, but our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on 21st December was as usual very well attended, thank you to all who were able to come and join in and thanks also to Barry and Berkeley who spent many hours organising and preparing it, and also of course to the magnificent and totally indispensable refreshments team who plied as many people as possible with endless mulled wine and mince pies. These occasions are so very heartwarming, wonderful fellowship over shared appreciation of what we enjoy and what we have. We must never take it for granted, there have been times in our history when hymn singing was banned, organs and instruments removed and even some clergy, until 1819, could be admonished by church courts for allowing it.
In 1970 those of us of a certain age may remember Joni Mitchell, a Canadian folk singer/songwriter. She wrote a song called Big Yellow Taxi, and although the message related to the environment, there is one line which has resonated with me ever since: ‘Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot’
***********
At a time when more and more choir schools are closing, the charity Cathedral Music Trust has recently launched a campaign to give choral evensong and the English choral tradition world heritage status. This important step will give a huge boost to the singing in our churches and cathedrals, about which, conductor Harry Christophers has been quoted as saying, is the envy of the world. Research has shown that choral evensong is in fact growing in popularity, and it is not surprising, not only because it is a wonderfully calm and peaceful service, the singing sublime and the feeling at the end of being spiritually renewed, but also because in Britain we have the most beautiful churches and cathedrals, from Norman, to Gothic and Baroque, all built to glorify God, no expense spared and most taking decades to build, each generation of church builder determined to build bigger than before and with even taller spires. Surprisingly, Lincoln Cathedral was once the tallest building in the world!
With evensong growing in popularity, it is worth remembering that Easter is only 2 months away on 5th April. Do please check the dates of our services, we have the most beautiful moving hymns and anthems over Passiontide, not to be missed.
If you feel you would like to join our choir and be part of creating that beautiful music, please see us after the 10 o’clock service on any Sunday (but not family service) or come along to church any Thursday evening at 7pm. You can join in or watch, see if it is something you’d like to be part of, there’s no obligation, we’d love to see you.
Fran Dyer
All are welcome at this service, at which some of our own choir members will be singing
HELP STILL NEEDED with cleaning our lovely church
Any help at all would be very much appreciated, just an hour a couple of times a year would be wonderful. If you have a friend who would come with you even better! No need to be a church member – just someone who cares about our building. Could YOU help?
For more information, contact Mary Hunter: 01303 268423
From the Parish Magazine –FEBRUARY 2006
Some snippets of what was going on in the parish twenty years ago:-
A Lent course. Consisting of five sessions was to be held in the Rectory on Friday evenings, using material from the York Course, entitled ‘Where is God?’ (When we seek happiness? When we face suffering? When we make decisions? When we contemplate death? When we try to make sense of life?)
Beryl Bazin and Deryck were thanking folk for passing on their used stamps for charity fund-raising. (N.B. Remember – Melissa Russell will take your used stamps in 2026!)
Hythe Art Society met in Saltwood Church on 15th Feb for an Art Demonstration Evening with a video, entitled ’Inspired by Light’.
Saltwood Village Society held a talk by Richard Carroll in the Village Hall on the work of the Salvation Army Family Tracing Service.
Notice that a new Mobile Police Station (a white Mercedes van with police colours) manned by PC Foster would be on The Green on 14th March
LEST WE FORGET
IN HONOUR AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OFFERED BY THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF ARMED CONFLICT
SALTWOOD VILLAGE GREEN
SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2026 AT 11:45 A.M.
A CEREMONY OF DEDICATION, LED BY THE RECTOR OF SALTWOOD, THE REV. BARRY KNOTT, WILL BE HELD TO MARK THE RECENT INSTALLATION OF A ROYAL BRITISH LEGION MEMORIAL BENCH ON THE VILLAGE GREEN
ALL ARE MOST WELCOME TO ATTEND
WARDENS’ CORNER
From Carol Eastell: –
Lent Lunches
We will have three Lent Lunches starting on 14 March, then 21st and 28th. I am delighted to report that Lympne church are joining us and organizing one of the weeks this year.
We will have a list at the back of Saltwood Church for the soups for each lunch and for you to sign up which one you are able to do. If you have any large jars which we could use for leftover soup to sell, we would be glad if you bring them along nearer the time. That is all for the moment but please do make a note of the dates and come and support the lunches. The proceeds will go to the Missions and Charities which the Benefice support.
Afternoon Prayer Group
Our Afternoon Prayer Group meeting this month will be at 2 30pm on Wednesday 4 February. So please note the change of time for this month. We have lots to pray for and we would so love it if more of you would join us for this important hour. As always, we meet at the home of Penny Forsyth, 34 Harpswood Lane.
Monday Chats
Some of us from Monday Chats thought it would be good to take advantage of the Seniors Lunch at the Castle Hotel (Saltwood) on a Wednesday. We are looking at 11 February at 1 pm. We are making our own bookings and keeping it all informal. Hopefully gathering for coffee and a natter afterwards. We’ll see how it goes.
From John Campbell: –
Honouring Days Off
A gentle reminder to our church family about the importance of rest.
Reverend Barry’s day off is Tuesday, and Carol’s day off is Friday. We kindly ask everyone to honour these days and to avoid phoning or contacting them during that time. Both Barry and Carol are wonderfully generous and will sometimes respond even on their days off, but we should not encourage this. Proper rest is essential for those who serve us so faithfully.
If something genuinely urgent arises on either of those days, please bring it to me and I will ensure it is dealt with appropriately.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Ideas for Fellowship, Fun, and Fundraising
As many of you will know, church finances are a little tight at present. We have lost some significant sources of income through people moving away or, in some cases, moving on to glory. Alongside prayerful stewardship, we would love to explore ways of coming together as a church family to enjoy ourselves and raise some funds.
We are therefore inviting ideas for events, activities, or forms of entertainment that could help us do just that. All suggestions are very welcome. At this stage, please don’t be put off by questions of organisation or responsibility — those can come later. What matters first is gathering ideas.
That said, any event will ultimately need to be something we can realistically put on, and someone (or a small group) will need to take responsibility for making it happen. We will work through that together once ideas are on the table.
If you have a thought — big or small — please do bring it forward. Together, we can strengthen both our fellowship and the practical life of the church.
Thank you, as always, for your care and commitment.
From Rachel Cornish (Warden at Lympne):
Both Lights were activated…
When Everyone Else Seems to Understand
Imagine turning up to an event you’ve never attended before. You take a seat, look around, and try to follow what’s happening. An announcement comes from someone who appears to be in charge: “Following review, priority was established, and the score has been upheld.” You nod politely, but are confused.
A moment later, another announcement follows: “The referee ruled that the initial attack had concluded, and the subsequent action was therefore valid.” You consider asking the person next to you what that means, but they’re already applauding. Clearly, this is something everyone else understands.
The person at the front then gives some more information: “Although both lights were activated, right-of-way remained with the attacker, and the point was awarded accordingly.” At this point, you realise two things. First, whatever just happened was important. Second, you have absolutely no idea why, and cannot understand what is going on.
A few people reading this article will immediately understand what is being said, and the type of event this happened at. But most readers will be confused. Those familiar with the sport will have recognised this as a fencing match.
Most activities develop a language like this over time. It helps things run smoothly for those on the inside, but it can unintentionally create a barrier for newcomers. Next time you are in a church service, look at the language used.
Visitors don’t need everything simplified, but they do need enough explanation to feel included rather than bewildered. The moment someone feels they “should” understand but don’t, they stop asking questions and that’s usually when they stop coming back.
Prayers or Intercessions?
The privilege of leading the prayers in church
Most Sundays, at both Lympne and Saltwood churches, someone from the congregation leads us in prayer. On the rota at Lympne this role is described as “Prayers”, although what is meant, and what people lead, are the intercessions.
A prayer, in the broad sense, is any communication with God. It may be praise, thanksgiving, confession, lament, or asking. Intercessions are a particular kind of prayer. They are prayers addressed to God on behalf of others, and they focus on the needs of the Church, the world, our local community, and those who are in need.
The needs of the church, and the world are huge, so whoever is leading the prayers needs to be selective. Each person brings their own awareness, compassion, and interests, and over time this gives us a rich and varied pattern of prayer as a congregation.
Leading the intercessions is quite different from reading a passage from the Bible. When we read Scripture, we are speaking God’s word to the congregation. When we lead the intercessions, we are speaking to God, offering the prayers of the whole congregation together.
Because God already knows the situations we are praying about, intercessions do not need explanation or background. We do not need to persuade God, inform God, or teach one another through prayer. You do not need special words or expertise. Clear and simple words are often best. You are not praying instead of the congregation, but helping the congregation to pray together.
If you would like to be added to the rota for leading the intercessions, please speak to Rachel at Lympne or Bob at Saltwood. Guidance and support are always available, and new voices are very welcome.
St. Stephen’s Church, Lympne
Services and Events in January
Sunday 1st Feb 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 8th Feb 11am Family Service
Sunday 15th Feb 11am Holy Communion
Friday 20th Feb Hymn Singing practice, open to all
Saturday 21st Feb 10.30 Coffee Morning
Sunday 22nd Feb 11am Holy Communion
4pm Evening Paise with the band
Looking ahead:
Good Friday, 3rd April 3pm Passion Play
Sunday 26th April 6pm Taize Service
Sunday 31st May 6pm Songs of Praise
Regular Events:
Mondays 12:-30-1pm (every other week) – Prayer Meeting
Mondays 5pm (every other week) – Home Group – Speak to Valerie or Rachel
Mondays 19:30-21:30 – Bell ringing Practice (each week)
Friday mornings (every other week) – Home Group – Speak to Monica or Peter
Saturday mornings 10:30 – 12:30 Eco group working churchyard (when dry)
Lympne Fellowship
Lympne Fellowship
Our Bingo with a Difference quiz in January was, as always, great fun, with plenty of time after to socialise and catch up with “all the gossip”. As we move into February, we look forward to welcoming Judi Knight on Thursday 12th, who will be telling us about “Fashion and the Ration”. Perhaps we can pick up and try out some forgotten recipes from the 40s and 50s (well, I assume from the title that is the era we will be focussing on).
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.
ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH, LYMPNE – Coffee Morning
SATURDAY 21st February
10.30 am – 12.30pm
Join us for coffee, cakes & bakes
Bring the family, friends and neighbours
Catch up with old friends and new
(well-behaved dogs welcome)
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus
a donation to the month’s nominated charity
GUIDE DOGS
Folkestone and Hythe District
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
Memories of Lympne Church of England Primary School
We were delighted to welcome to this month’s meeting, two former teachers, Jennie Carter and Jill Page who shared their memories of Lympne School. They were complemented by photos, newspaper clippings and a commemorative book compiled by pupils in 1972 as part of the school’s centenary celebrations and kindly loaned by Melanie Nash, the current Headteacher. Simon Read spoke too and has shared photos on Facebook’s Lympne and West Hythe Group.
Beginnings: Lympne School was founded in 1872 and in common with most National Schools it fell under the auspices of the Church of England. The Vicar of St. Stephen’s church would have been involved administratively and maybe held classes too. The original Victorian building had separate toilets, and was for village children and those from surrounding areas. The church retains strong links with the school and highlights of the year are the Harvest Festival, Christingle and Christmas Carol singing. School children delighted residents with maypole dances at local fetes, (pic on FB) and sports days with traditional egg-and-spoon and sack races as well as more formal competitions. In those days a public footpath ran through the school grounds and at breaktimes children could slip out to play with sheep in adjacent fields. Public footpaths and playing with livestock would be prohibited now. As a church school, Lympne staff and pupils receive regular invitations to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
Development: In the 1980s Jennie created a library to inspire children to discover the joy of reading. By this time the school and three ‘demountables,’ as the temporary classrooms were known, did not meet Health and Safety standards. It was time for a new school. Jennie decided to campaign for one with help from parents, teachers and local MP, Michael Howard, (former Home Secretary, now Baron Howard of Lympne). After several years they had the go- ahead.
The Great Fire: Jill described the day the new school caught fire at the beginning of Autumn term 2006. This was traumatic, especially for new pupils. Regular fire drills, insisted upon by a previous, and well-loved Headteacher, the late Tim Hogg, played a major part in the successful evacuation, as did teacher John Leech’s quick thinking when he broke down a fence to create an exit. Mercifully no one was injured or killed. In the aftermath, Joyce Rhodes, Acting Head, rose to the occasion and with her staff worked tirelessly to keep the children safe, educated and occupied. Port Lympne wildlife park came to the rescue for the first week, providing children with a memorable and unusual learning experience, e.g. drawing pictures of meerkats! Subsequently, a large, rambling former convent school in Cheriton, with slippery steps and winding corridors was spruced up with parents’ help and adapted to be more suitable for young children. For two years pupils travelled daily, with staff taking turns to do ‘coach duty’. The new school opened in 2008 with improved fire safety, including more fire exits. There was safer storage for flammable materials like paper, project material, costumes for shows and a dedicated area for musical instruments. Lympne C of E Primary school remains a sough- after community school offering unusual activities like hatching eggs in incubators and visits from Port Lympne wildlife park who brought tiger cubs in to school! School uniforms have a tree logo, recalling earlier days when naughty children were punished by being sent to stand by it. Times have changed but the standard of education continues to be excellent.
Next meeting: 7.30 pm on 17th February 2026 at the Harry Margary Hall, Lympne – Vince Hill will give a talk on Folkestone Pleasure Gardens. If you would like to become a member of SHAL please email Rosemary Stutchbury at rosemary@stutchbury.myzen.co.uk.
Postscript: I asked my daughter Kathryn Bryer (now Crosthwaite) to check over my article as she went to the school, and she sent this little message in respect of the tree logo. Here is what she wrote which is quite amusing especially if you remember her:
“ I remember there were two great big trees and children (myself included) being sent to stand by one of them. On one occasion when I threw a tantrum during maypole training because my partner kept pushing into me, I stomped off and stood by the tree off my own bat! 🌳 I also remember playing tag from one tree to the other as they were home for pop one two three and other similar games. Happy memories. I really liked the old school a lot. ”
Castle Green WI
On a very cold wintery morning with snow, sleet and rain falling at times, President Christine
Farquhar welcomed 28 members and 2 guests to the first meeting of Castle Green WI in 2026.
After the usual safety notices, Julie Bell, Sue Cox and Carol Kenny were thanked for acting as our coffee hostesses. Members were reminded of the next meetings of all our subgroups; details of which can be seen on our website at https://castlegreenwi.org.uk/
We then voted on the Resolutions to be put forward at the NFWI Annual Meeting in June. The clear “winner” was “Action on Women’s homeless”. If chosen by all the NFWI this will naturally dovetail with our support this year for the Kent charity Rising Sun that helps women affected by domestic abuse. Christine told us that at our June meeting we will be learning more about this charity.
After giving the bank balance, Wendy Richley reminded us that subs would be collected at the February meeting, details of how and what to pay being given in the February newsletter.
After coffee and a chance to catch up with friends we welcomed Brian Russell who gave a very interesting account of taking photographs at all kinds of events in the UK and abroad. He told us he had an archive of some 2 million photos that he had taken over 30 to 40 years of work.
Tricia Heath gave the Vote of thanks.
Details of Next Meeting – Friday 13 February 10am at the Lads’ Club.
Please note that as this will be our Annual Meeting it will only be open to current members.
Also, that should we have bad weather and need to cancel a meeting at short notice, we will email members on the morning of the meeting and put a message on the website to let them know.
Julie Andrews
Finishing with a Smile …
(Editor: apologies for my lack of romance, using this ‘smile’ in the month of Valentine’s Day!!)
A man confided to his friend that he and his wife had had a serious argument the night before. “It finally ended,” he said, “when she came crawling to me on her hands and knees.”
“What did she say?” asked the friend, amazed.
The husband replied, “She said, ‘Come out from under that bed, you coward!’”
