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A Letter from the Rector
Dear All
As we enter the month of November, we are reminded of the significance of remembrance and gratitude. This month, we prepare to honour those who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms, particularly on Remembrance Sunday, 9th November. As we reflect on their bravery, let us also take a moment to appreciate the little things that people do for us every day.
Join us as we gather to remember and honour the fallen heroes of our armed forces at 10am at Saltwood Church, and 10:50am at both Saltwood Green and Lympne War Memorial. We will have special services featuring readings, hymns, and reflections. We encourage everyone to wear a poppy as a symbol of remembrance. We will observe a moment of silence at 11:00am.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the small acts of kindness that surround us. This month, let’s focus on gratitude for the everyday gestures that enrich our lives:
Think about our neighbours. A simple smile or a word of thanks can brighten someone’s day. Consider taking a moment to express your appreciation for those around you.
Give a thought to all the volunteers in our community. Many of our church activities rely on the dedication of volunteers. Whether it’s setting up for services, organising events, or simply lending a listening ear, let’s acknowledge their hard work and commitment.
Consider acts of kindness. Small acts, like holding the door open, sharing a cup of tea, or offering a compliment, can create a ripple effect of positivity in our community. Let’s challenge ourselves to perform at least one act of kindness each week.
As we move towards Advent, we will begin our preparations for the upcoming season with our Advent Evensong at Saltwood, on Sunday 30th November at 4pm. See our weekly newsletter or the list of dates in this monthly newsletter for the dates of all our festive services and events.
This month let’s take time to reflect on the sacrifices made by many and the small blessings that enrich our daily lives. As we remember, let us also commit to expressing gratitude to those who serve us, whether in our church community or beyond.
Thank you for being a vital part of our church and community. We look forward to seeing you this November as we honour the past and embrace the present with grateful hearts.
Blessings,
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 for your diaries:-
Sunday 2nd – 3pm – All Souls Service of Commemoration for the Departed
Monday 3rd – 2pm – Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club (and each following Monday)
Tuesday4th – N.B. Our Rector’s day off (and each following Tuesday)
Wednesday 5th – 10am – Toddler Group in the Lads’ Club (and each following Wednesday)
Wednesday 5th – 2pm – Afternoon Prayer Group at 34 Harpswood Lane
Thursday 6th – 6pm to 7pm – bell Ringing Practice (and each following Thursday)
Thursday 6th – 7pm – Choir Practice (and each following Thursday)
Friday 7th – N.B. Carol Eastell’s day off (and each following Friday)
Friday 7th – 9am – Prayer Group in the Church (and each following Friday)
Sunday 9th – Act of Remembrance on the Green following the 10am service
Saturday 15th – 10.30am – Creative Arts Day at Lympne
Saturday 15th – 3.45pm – messy Church at the Lads’ Club
Wednesday 26th – 2pm – Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Sunday 30th – 4pm – Advent Evensong (and Christingle Service at Lympne)
More Dates for your Diary: Christmas Events
November
Sunday 30th – 4pm – Advent Evensong
December
Saturday 13th – 2pm – Merry Movie and Mince Pie Melee at the Lads’ Club
Sunday 14th – 4pm – Lessons and carols at Pedlinge
Friday 19th – 7pm – Benefice Christmas party at the Lads’ Club
Sunday 21st – 3pm – Lessons and carols at Saltwood
Sunday 21st – 6pm – Carols at the Castle – Lympne
Wednesday 24th – 3pm – Traditional Crib Service at Saltwood (and at the same time, a contemporary Crib Service at Lympne)
Wednesday 24th – 7pm – Blue Christmas at Lympne church
Wednesday 24th – 11.30pm – Midnight mass at Saltwood church
Thursday 25th – Christmas Day Hooba family Communion at Saltwood church
January
Sunday 11th – 4pm – Bonfire and bangers at Saltwood church
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 December Magazine
If you have any items for the December edition of the magazine, please forward to Beth Lewsey, by the 24th November
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
From the Parish Records
We welcome into the family of the Church:
Hannah Lucket, who was baptised on 12th October
PRAYER MINISTRY on Sundays at Saltwood
Every Sunday, at the end of the morning service at Saltwood, there is an opportunity for anyone to receive prayer, with two members of our Prayer Ministry Team. If you are concerned for someone in your family, a friend or a worrying situation, we would be honoured to pray with you. You will not be asked any invasive questions, and your request is always treated in complete confidence. We trust you will find these prayers bring you the Lord’s blessings – as many people have already experienced. We look forward to welcoming you in prayer.
A Prayer for the month of November
Heavenly Father,
Here we are in November – the month of short, dark days. A dreary, difficult month, unless you have a birthday! Lord, it seems as if the world is permanently in November at the moment. So much is so difficult for so many people, through no fault of their own. And it seems to go on and on.
Lord, would You bring your healing light into the world’s darkness. Bring transformation, compassion and a softening into the hearts of those with responsibility for the conflict and the suffering, that they might work for peace for all people. We know that nothing is impossible for you, Lord, so we pray in faith – and in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
(By Daphne Kitching)
Intercessions for November
Today we pray especially for:-
1 Those who live in Turnpike Hill, Britten Close and Spanton Crescent
2 Those who mourn the death of a loved one
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 Hythe Community Sponsorship
9 Our local GPs
10 Bishop Sarah, as she awaits her installation as the next 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 The 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 Those who live in Blue House Lane, Sandy Lane & the A20, Saltwood
Quote:
When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.
– Corrie ten Boom
Notes from the Choir
Hello everyone, I hope those of you with children at school have enjoyed a relaxing and well deserved half-term break, or did you find it stressful?
Well, here’s the answer! Come and join us to relax and unwind on Thursday evenings 7pm-8pm. If you don’t want to sing you can just come and listen; bring the children too if it’s not too late for them. You’d be most welcome. There are so many benefits from singing with a choir, far too many to list here, but first and foremost, it makes you happy; also builds confidence; good for physical and mental health; and my favourite – you get to sing fabulous hymns, and anthems (last Sunday 19th Oct we sang Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus); not forgetting carols at Christmas with descants! Just the best way ever, not only to relax and unwind, it’s also energising at the same time. So give it some thought, Again, those of you with teenagers will need no reminding that the mock GCSE weeks are here and you will need all the stress-busting help you can get!
We are rehearsing now for our All Souls Service on 2nd November in the afternoon, where we remember our departed loved ones. Do come along and join in with our peaceful hour of hymns, anthems and prayers. Rehearsals continue throughout November for our Advent Evensong Service on 30th, again in the afternoon, and looking ahead to the Christmas season there will be the Carol Service on 21st December with the Crib Service on Christmas Eve.
As a choir, we welcome feedback and would really like to know your thoughts, ideas, suggestions etc, so please come along to our practices and see what we do, you will be most welcome.
Fran Dyer
Saltwood Cinema Club
will be showing
BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
On Wednesday 26th November
at 2pm in the Lads’ Club
Charles, an eccentric lottery winner, lives a solitary life on a remote island and harbours a dream of reuniting his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer. To his surprise, the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation and travel to Wallis Island for a private show at his home.
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
Friends of Saltwood Churchyard
Autumn Newsletter 2025
Dear Friend,
This year the Churchyard looked wonderful in Spring with the snowdrops, daffodils, primroses and cyclamen in full bloom, neat and tidy all through the summer and autumn, with many compliments received.
This reflects all the hard work put in by Des, Rita and all the team who have looked after the Churchyard throughout the year.
Our churchyard gang turn up regularly each Wednesday morning to look after the churchyard, have a chat, socialise and enjoy coffee and cake. We have also been joined during the Spring and Summer months by students from Brockhill School as part of our community engagement with the school.
New volunteers are always welcome. Below is listed all the work that the Garden Gang have achieved in 2024/2025 . It is truly amazing what volunteers can achieve!
I have retired as Treasurer for The Friends and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support. My successor is John Hall
With best wishes, Laurie Maxfield,
Saltwood Garden Gang Annual Report 2025
Achieved by the volunteers 2024/2025
Removal of dead box hedges in the West, North and around all three flood lights at the front of the church.
New hedging has been planted around the floodlights. The area around the Remembrance garden has been levelled and the grass has grown. Primroses have been planted to come out in the Spring.
The fencing in the upper car park has been made good and a boundary bank created; this has stopped people walking directly from the footpath into the car park.
Drainage pipe dug underneath the compost area to prevent excess rain water collecting in the lower car park.
Church kitchen roof cleared of moss/lichen.
Water tank – rotten wood removed and replaced.
Since April 2025
Wood chippings put on exposed mud areas of older graves to suppress weeds. This task has been mainly completed by a team of volunteer students and their teacher from Brockhill Park School.
The large shed has been painted green.
Two large trees came down in high winds and had to be cut up, one narrowly missed the large shed.
Slabs beneath a bench in the lower North have been levelled and reinstated to accommodate a new bench.
Some iron posts underneath the notice board at the entrance to the church path have been replaced.Mowing/ hedge cutting. Yew hedge, that borders the famer’s field, cut twice a year. Servicing and maintenance of equipment done by Des.
Gutter maintenance.
Digging plots for interments.
Levelling graves where weather conditions have caused them to sink. It is important to note that the maintenance of graves/headstones is the responsibility of the families.
Weekly maintenance of the approach to the church done by Rita.
Proposed by garden gang & Church estate management
One large cherry tree in the West felled. One lime tree in the lower North reduced.
Following frost damage to the brick work to the wall both sides of the lych-gate on the South/West had to be repointed and repaired by a professional. The remainder of the wall on the South side has been cleared of ivy/brambles etc. and further pointing has been completed by a member of the garden gang.
Metal work underneath the notice board, at the main entrance to the path leading to the lych-gate has been replaced.
Purchase of a new shed to replace the concrete shed at the bottom of the church yard. Hard standing and erection of shed – completed by garden gang.
Purchase of hedging to replace the hedging around the flood lights at the front of the church.
Planned activity for 2026
The iron work around the church, boot scrapers next to the porch, car park gates etc., will need repainting.
Slabs beneath a bench in the near West will need to be levelled and reinstated to accommodate a new bench.
General maintenance to continue.
Donations welcome!
These can be made by bank transfer to ‘PCC of Saltwood’; account number 61710202; sort code 52-41-42
Or by cheque payable to ‘The Friends of Saltwood Churchyard’ and sent to John Hall, Treasurer, 116 North Road Hythe, CT21 5DY
From the Parish Magazine – November 2005
Thanks were given to all who had helped at the annual Autumn Fair, ending with this ‘Recipe for a Good Autumn Fair’
- Wear your nearly new apron
- Take nine varied stalls
- Sprinkle with interesting objects
- Shake in bric-a-brac and a raffle
- Blend with a friendly supportive feeling
- Add plenty of jams, cakes and chutneys
- Mix with numerous fresh green plants
- Colour with books, toys and handicrafts
- Flavour with lots of rashers of bacon
- Pour in large amounts of tea and coffee
- Strengthen with a perfectly cohesive team
- Serve quickly to a large number of visitors
THE GARDENERS HYMN
Before the delights of harvest are forgotten, Roger Martin shares:
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all
But what we never mention,
Though gardeners know it’s true
Is when He made the goodies,
He made the baddies too!
Refrain: All things spray – and swattable,
disasters great and small
All things paraquatable,
the Lord God made them all
The greenfly on the roses,
The maggots on our peas
Manure that fills our noses,
He also gave us these
Refrain: All things spray – and swattable
The fungus on the goose-gogs,
The club root on the greens
The slugs that eat the lettuce,
and chew our aubergines
Refrain All things spray – and swattable
The drought that kills the fuchsias,
The frost that nips the buds
The rain that drowns the seedlings,
The blight that hits the spuds
Refrain: All things spray – and swattable
The midges and mosquitoes,
The nettles and the weeds
The pigeons in the green stuff,
the sparrows on the seeds
Refrain All things spray – and swattable
The fly that gets the carrots,
The wasp that eats the plums
How black the gardener’s outlook,
though green may be his thumbs!
Refrain All things spray – and swattable
But still we gardeners labour,
Midst vegetables and flowers
And pray what hits our neighbours,
will somehow bypass ours!
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all
Wardens’ Corner
From Carol Eastell: –
We would like to have a small table in the church which would fit in the corner beside the light sofa. This would be to put the prayer tree on and space for a cup of coffee – that sort of thing. So with that in mind and before we launch out to buy one, we thought it would be worth checking to see if any of you had got one going spare
Monday Chats
We are hoping to have a Christmas Lunch at the Castle pub in Saltwood, so have provisionally booked for Monday 15 December. The landlady was very enthusiastic. They have a new chef, so lunches at The Castle will hopefully be just the job for us all, especially Seniors when I think on Wednesdays, we get a special price! Perhaps it is worth being old after all! The Christmas lunch being offered to us is £18.99 so if you are interested , let me know (07795100441).
They are not quite open for lunches yet as they are awaiting the arrival of a new oven. Anyway, let Carol know if any of you are interested. (07795100441).
The 15th will be our last meeting before Christmas but we will be getting together again on Monday 5 January.
Prayer
Afternoon Prayer is at Penny’s home, 34 Harpswood Lane, as usual on Wednesday 5 November at 2 pm. It would be so nice if you could join us in prayer and fellowship.
I know some of you have said the 24 hour prayer was put out at short notice, but it was necessary for several reasons and it was wonderful that so many of us could come together in prayer. Hopefully next time we will be able to have more time and be better organised. I think my view of the prayer day was that even if we were praying away from the church we were praying together as a church family bonded in prayer. It seemed to me that we were honouring Father God and also each other in our church family. Together we can make a difference. Just a thought.
From John Campbell: –
First, about coffee after the service.
We’re blessed with plenty of space between the Lady Chapel and the font, yet somehow, we end up crowding round the coffee table like bees round a honeypot. The first few people collect their cups, turn to greet a friend, and before you know it there’s a cheerful but rather immovable wall of conversation — and those still queuing have to weave their way through with full cups and anxious expressions! Could I gently ask that, once you’ve collected your coffee, you move away from the serving table and fill the space beyond it? It would make life easier for everyone, and we’d have the pleasure of using more of that open area for our after-service chats.
Second, a word about prayer.
Each Sunday two members of our after-service prayer team sit quietly in the sanctuary by the altar. They’re there for anyone who would like prayer — whether for themselves or someone else. Some make good use of this, but many who could benefit never come forward. Perhaps it’s embarrassment, perhaps a sense of self-sufficiency, or a feeling that their concern is too small or too personal. Yet this is a God-given gift: a moment of quiet ministry, one to another, in absolute confidence. Nothing is ever shared outside the prayer itself, and the team are truly unshockable, and never will they judge you.
There have been some wonderful answers to prayer — blessings that have surprised and delighted us, reminders of just how faithful God is when we take our concerns to Him. He wants to be involved in the smallest details of our lives as well as in the great crises. Nothing is too trivial for God, and nothing is too great that He cannot help. So please do come. You won’t be sorry.
From Rachel Cornish and Chris Laker (Wardens at Lympne):
Churchyard update.
Lympne has a new multistorey hotel! A variety of accommodation styles ranging from penthouse suites furnished with drilled wood, to ground floor step-free access rooms with plenty of warm bedding.
And following the success of the event in the summer, A Christmas themed Creative Art day is planned in the middle of November:
Blue Christmas Service
As plans for Christmas services are announced a few people are asking about the Blue Christmas Service.
It is simply a service designed for people who are “feeling blue” and find continual mention of the “joy of Christmas” difficult. It is sometimes also known as “Longest Night Service”.
Intended to offer honesty and compassion instead of cheery jingles. Reflecting that Christ’s light comes into darkness and offers hope.
Helpful for many people – people worried about the future, people who are grieving, people supporting someone who is struggling or those wanting an alternative to ‘Christmas joy’.
St. Stephen’s Church, Lympne
Services and Events in October
Sunday 2nd Nov 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 9th Nov 10:50am Family Service
Starts next to the War Memorial
Sunday 16th Nov 11am Morning Worship
Sunday 23rd Nov 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 30th Nov 10am Benefice Communion at Saltwood
4pm Christingle Service at Lympne
4pm Advent Evensong at Saltwood
Looking Ahead:
Saturday 15th November – Christmas Creative Arts Day
Sunday 14th December – 11am – Family Nativity Service
Sunday 21st December 6pm – Carols at the Castle
Christmas Eve 24th – 3pm Crib Service (in Lympne church as well as at Saltwood)
Christmas Eve 24th – 7pm Blue Christmas Service at Lympne
Midnight service this year will just be at Saltwood.
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)
N.B. – The monthly evening ‘Hope’ meetings will be paused for a few months (with darker evenings), and we will reconsider options for April 2026.
Lympne Fellowship
Last month we enjoyed a lively and enthusiastic session of book recommendations and discussion of our reading habits and preferences. Some recommendations included:
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – a huge and absorbing tale of the building of a cathedral
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon – a comfort-blanket read with characters you get to know and love
The Surgeon of Crowthorne by Simon Winchester – a non-fiction book about the origins of the dictionary
Salt on your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie – tales of women and the sea
The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable – a fictional historical delight
That’s just a handful. Also popular were works by Anne Youngson, Neil Oliver, Anton Du Beke and Susan Sallis, along with crime novels by Rob Rinder, Richard Coles, Ann Cleves and Richard Osman.
Our next meeting, on Thursday 11th November, will be our Christmas Craft session led by Rosemarie Hoad.
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 the group, please contact Jill Page on 07846 819693.
ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH, LYMPNE – Coffee Morning
SATURDAY 22nd November
10.30 am – 12.30pm
Join us for coffee, cake & savoury bakes
Take a break from those preparations/walk
(Well-behaved dogs welcome)
Catch up with old friends and new
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus a donation to this month’s nominated charity:
Guide Dogs
Folkestone & Hythe District
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
Guy Topham gave an excellent presentation about SHAL over the years with Peter Murphy providing a seamless display of photos and a video to accompany Guy’s talk. Guy reminded us that Lympne is steeped in history and archaeology to explore. Here are some highlights:
2014-2016 – Stutfall Fort – The archaeologist Malcolm Davies acknowledged with thanks SHAL’s and Kent Archaeological Society’s (KAS’s) assistance in carrying out resistivity and magnetometry surveys and other field work. Stutfall Fort covered around 9 acres and was built with blocks from earlier buildings, including an altar stone and due to its existence Malcolm hoped to find a temple, however nothing significant was found. The fort, often known today as Stutfall Castle, was built c. 275 AD and was one of the Saxon shore forts. Malcolm Davies’ report on his excavations of Stutfall Fort can be obtained from the KAS’s website.
Two significant characters sometimes associated with Romans in Lympne are Carausius and Alectus.
2017 – Shepway Cross was cleaned and restored by SHAL. Erected at the top of Lympne Hill in 1923 on the site of the ancient Court of Shepway (or Shipway) it was unveiled by the Archbishop of Canterbury. A video of the ceremony is obtainable from British Pathé News.
2018 – Magnetometry and resistivity done on fields near Shepway Cross were overseen by the archaeologist Richard Taylor and these showed interesting areas for investigation.
2022 – Informed by results of the 2018 research, 3 trenches were dug and the excavations overseen by Richard. To everyone’s delight a Roman roadside settlement was found.
Trench 1 revealed a wall, 2 floor tiles, a post hole, Roman pottery sherds and coins. Lead and slag was found too indicating the possible presence of a small industrial unit. Trench 2 contained part of a 3 vessel cremation burial including a Samian ware dish c.AD145-185, also hobnails from a pair of Roman boots or shoes. Trench 3 produced around 60 coins mainly from the early 4th century AD, box flue tile fragments and animal bones. A Stone Age axe head was found too during a field walk near Oathill cottages indicating how long humans may have inhabited this area, possibly due to the nearby supply of water from springs along the escarpment.
2023/2024 Excavations on the edge of the escarpment revealed the lower part of a dressed stone wall, 1.9 metres wide. Due to its size and position overlooking Romney Marsh and the Channel it is likely to be part of a defensive structure. An interior wall was found, and further investigations will take place. Previous research done by Janet Powell (on St Stephen’s, Lympne burial records) revealed a document dated c.1760 showing that labourers quarrying on the escarpment found what looked like a defensive structure, but no one investigated until SHAL’s dig. The excavations produced building materials, pottery, glass, bones, metal and coins. Analysis of these and around 600 coins, discovered by our 3 detectorists, is in progress.
Treasure! Our most exciting find – a 1st century AD Roman foot lamp – was found by Neil Green. It is the only one of its kind from excavations done in the UK. After analysis by the British Museum and signing off by a Coroner, the foot lamp was officially declared treasure! We hope it will be displayed in the British Museum. A professional report is in progress. Thanks to the Owens and the Hurleys for allowing digs on their land. The Future includes more investigations of the defensive structure, searching for a road from Stutfall to Canterbury, and more research on how Carausius and Alectus are associated with Lympne.
Next meeting – 7.30 pm on 18th November 2025 at the Harry Margary Hall, Lympne – “Talk on the Royal Military Canal by Michael Steed.” If you would like to become a member of SHAL please email Rosemary Stutchbury at rosemary@stutchbury.myzen.co.uk.
Folkestone Choral Society
Castle Green WI
President Christine Farquhar welcomed thirty-five members and one visitor to the October meeting. Kay was thanked for the flowers and coffee hostesses Caroline, Nicky and Julie were also thanked. The record of the last meeting was approved and signed.
Christine drew our attention to the various flyers and other information about Federation events etc. The committee are busy organising the programme for 26/27 and would welcome any suggestions for future speakers.
Sub-Groups. The subgroups all met in October except the Gardening Group (November 18th) and the Patchwork Group (November 4th) Please see our website for details.
Christmas Lunch at Sotirios November 26th. The balance (BT or cheques only) to Wendy Richards and menu choices to Julia Clark by November 14th meeting.
After coffee, biscuits and chatting, we welcomed Richard Andrews whose talk was entitled Everyday IT for Castle Green WI. Back in 2020 when we were all in lockdown Richard got Castle Green WI up and running on Zoom before most other WIs. We held our monthly meetings and even had a cookery competition! Richard took us through all the things that we come across in our daily use of IT in a clear manner and later answered questions. This was an informative and interesting talk. Christine F gave the vote of thanks. The tables were then quickly re-arranged for members to enjoy a lunch of leek and potato soup (with added nutmeg) and rolls. Our thanks goes to those who organised and served the lunch.
The next meeting will be on November 14th when we will “having a go “at the following crafts. Bookmarks, Tea light jar decoration, Form -A-Line cards, A Snowman, Paper Angels or a Father Christmas. Please see our website for details
Margaret Alcock
Finishing with a Smile …
There are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good Lord, it’s morning!”
