The Cake - Spring 2022
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
NEWS News Goodbye and thank you Mr Smith After devoting more than 20 years to local government – much of it representing Sissinghurst – John Smith has chaired his last parish council committee meeting. Mr Smith, 57, who was elected for a second time to Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council in 2015, had to vacate his seat in February after moving from the village where he was well known for supporting many organisations. He told The Cake it had been his home for 28 years and he really enjoyed his time representing parishioners at both levels. He cited his year as mayor in 2012 as the highlight of his time in local government, particularly entertaining Prince Edward and his wife to lunch at the Brew House in Tunbridge Wells to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee. Mr Smith, the managing director of Weald Granary, the largest arable co-op in the south east, paid tribute to his wife Rebecca, adding: “I couldn’t have done what I did without her support.” The couple, who had lived in the village for 28 years, are well known for supporting numerous local events including the village fete and his setting up of the Sissinghurst boys’ football club in 2000. Rebecca is renowned for her charity “K9 Angels”, which finds homes for unwanted dogs from Romania, and also for judging John Smith, cookery teacher Rosemary Shrager and wife Rebecca the dog shows at the fete and the Cranbrook on the Green event. Mr Smith, who was born in Cardiff, the son of a coal miner, described himself as a “boots on the ground man”, preferring to “get my hands dirty helping the village litter pick or organising a fete”. Although having moved from Sissinghurst, Mr Smith will continue to head the committee which is supporting plans for a new village hall. TF Could you be a Parish Councillor? With the resignation of two councillors, two seats have become available. If an election has not been requested, vacancies can be filled by co-opting new people. Any person is legally qualified to hold such office and who is willing to serve provided they are a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and are neither the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order or have, within five years before the day of the co-option, been convicted in the UK of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine. Provided the person also satisfies at least one of the following: • Registered as a local government elector for the parish • During the whole of the preceding 12 months occupied as owner or tenant, any land or premises in the parish • Principal or only place of work during the preceding 12 months has been in the parish • Have during the whole of the preceding 12 months resided in the parish or within 4.8km of it • Must also be 18 years or older on the day they take office. Please contact the parish office by 31 March to register an interest. Tel: 01580 713112. Men’s Shed Opens in Cranbrook An inaugural meeting of the Wealden Men’s Shed has been held at its new home at Cranbrook School. Thanks to headteacher Will Chuter, members will be able to meet in a building on the campus in Waterloo Road. Wellbeing in the Weald administrator Liz McLaren, who initiated the group, welcomed about 25 potential “shedders” which, at present, are “men only”. The organisation was founded in Australia in the 1980s and there are now more than 500 sheds in the UK. It was set up to help men’s health and wellbeing and to counteract isolation and loneliness. Mrs McLaren said she had been amazed at the overwhelming number of men who had shown interest in joining. For further information email Liz at hello@wellbgingintheweald.co.uk or call 07921 809161. 12 The Cake • Spring 2022
Plant a Tree for the Jubilee – with Cranbrook in Bloom We want to encourage the planting of trees in and around Cranbrook to support The Queen`s Green Canopy which has been launched to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. A variety of 15 different trees are for sale from Cranbrook in Bloom, and will be available at events throughout the year. They are potted up and can be planted out later in the year. The trees you plant can be recorded online at www.queensgreencanopy.org and will provide a legacy in honour of the Queen, appreciated by future generations for years to come. If you do not have room in your garden, please contact Cranbrook in Bloom who will help you source a place in or near the town. cranbrookinbloom@outlook.com Pictured Right from L to R: Susan Hooper, Viv Lowe and Jill Hooper. How about a nice cup of tea? The Saturday morning drop in café at St Dunstan's Church has re-opened. Do drop in! From L to R: Cllr Colin Gilbert, hon. mayor Linda Page and parish council chairman Cllr Kim Fletcher. “Iron Horse” blessed in St Dunstan’s “We plough the fields and scatter….” was the hymn aptly sung in St Dunstan’s Church when a 74-year old piece of farm machinery was blessed in January. A few years ago, the vicar the Rev Ann Pollington, revived the age-old tradition of celebrating Plough Sunday by ensuring a plough was centre stage for the blessing which dates back centuries. Worshippers were invited to bring tools such as garden forks and secateurs to be blessed by her to ensure a good harvest. Roger Fermor, whose family farms near Maidstone, had previously managed to get larger ploughs into the Cathedral of the Weald. However, this year life was a little easier when he brought along the British Anzani Iron Horse which caused a lot of interest at the service the following day. TF CUP CAKES NEWS • CHAPEL FOR SALE The joint owner of the Providence Chapel, in Cranbrook, parish councillor Matt Hartley, has told fellow members he is putting the dilapidated building up for sale. The idea is a test to see if a potential buyer is willing to take on the listed building without alterations compromising its heritage. In the past, there were several stumbling blocks to changes, including the removal of the pews. • NO TO GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT Controversial plans by Cedardrive Ltd to develop Hawkhurst Golf Club, including demolishing the clubhouse and squash courts to build houses, a care home, a possible community hall/doctors’ surgery and a new relief road, have been quashed following a Department of the Environment hearing. • DEVELOPMENT DECISION SOON A Department of the Environment inspector has overseen an appeal by developers Dandara Homes which was refused permission to build 42 homes on land off Mill Lane, Sissinghurst. Among the strong objections was Kent Highways’ concern at the narrowness of the road. The hearing started on 1 February and a decision is expected shortly. • NEW SISSINGHURST FLOWER SHOW TROPHIES To mark the death of well-respected Sissinghurst villager and former parish councillor, Denis Hemsted, his family have presented three new youth trophies – one for each of the three annual shows – to those who enter the new under 16s photography class. The shows are on 26 March, 18 June, and 10 September. • THANK YOU RONI The Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Age Concern coffee mornings will begin again on Tuesday 8 March from 10.15-11.45am at the Vestry Hall, Cranbrook. Everyone is welcome. A Big Thank You to Roni Summers for her many years of support for the charity will be held at the hall on Tuesday 29 March from 10.15-11.45am. Organisers are urging people to attend to show their appreciation for her many years of hard work. The Cake • Spring 2022 13
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NEWS<br />
News<br />
Goodbye and thank you Mr Smith<br />
After devoting more than 20<br />
years to local government<br />
– much of it representing<br />
Sissinghurst – John Smith has<br />
chaired his last parish council<br />
committee meeting.<br />
Mr Smith, 57, who was<br />
elected for a second time to<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council in 2015,<br />
had to vacate his seat in<br />
February after moving from<br />
the village where he was well<br />
known for supporting many<br />
organisations.<br />
He told <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> it had<br />
been his home for 28 years<br />
and he really enjoyed his time<br />
representing parishioners<br />
at both levels. He cited his<br />
year as mayor in 2012 as the<br />
highlight of his time in local<br />
government, particularly<br />
entertaining Prince Edward<br />
and his wife to lunch at the<br />
Brew House in Tunbridge<br />
Wells to celebrate the Queen’s<br />
diamond jubilee.<br />
Mr Smith, the managing<br />
director of Weald Granary,<br />
the largest arable co-op in<br />
the south east, paid tribute to<br />
his wife Rebecca, adding: “I<br />
couldn’t have done what I did<br />
without her support.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> couple, who had<br />
lived in the village for 28<br />
years, are well known for<br />
supporting numerous local<br />
events including the village<br />
fete and his setting up of the<br />
Sissinghurst boys’ football<br />
club in 2000. Rebecca is<br />
renowned for her charity “K9<br />
Angels”, which finds homes<br />
for unwanted dogs from<br />
Romania, and also for judging<br />
John Smith, cookery teacher Rosemary<br />
Shrager and wife Rebecca<br />
the dog shows at the fete and<br />
the Cranbrook on the Green<br />
event.<br />
Mr Smith, who was born<br />
in Cardiff, the son of a coal<br />
miner, described himself as a<br />
“boots on the ground man”,<br />
preferring to “get my hands<br />
dirty helping the village litter<br />
pick or organising a fete”.<br />
Although having moved<br />
from Sissinghurst, Mr<br />
Smith will continue to head<br />
the committee which is<br />
supporting plans for a new<br />
village hall. TF<br />
Could you<br />
be a Parish<br />
Councillor?<br />
With the resignation of two councillors,<br />
two seats have become available. If an<br />
election has not been requested, vacancies<br />
can be filled by co-opting new people.<br />
Any person is legally qualified to hold<br />
such office and who is willing to serve<br />
provided they are a British citizen, or<br />
a citizen of the Commonwealth or the<br />
European Union, and are neither the<br />
subject of a bankruptcy restriction order<br />
or interim order or have, within five years<br />
before the day of the co-option, been<br />
convicted in the UK of any offence and<br />
have had a prison sentence (whether<br />
suspended or not) for a period of over<br />
three months without the option of a fine.<br />
Provided the person also satisfies at least<br />
one of the following:<br />
• Registered as a local government elector<br />
for the parish<br />
• During the whole of the preceding 12<br />
months occupied as owner or tenant,<br />
any land or premises in the parish<br />
• Principal or only place of work during<br />
the preceding 12 months has been in the<br />
parish<br />
• Have during the whole of the preceding<br />
12 months resided in the parish or<br />
within 4.8km of it<br />
• Must also be 18 years or older on the day<br />
they take office.<br />
Please contact the parish office by 31<br />
March to register an interest.<br />
Tel: 01580 713112.<br />
Men’s Shed Opens in Cranbrook<br />
An inaugural meeting of the Wealden Men’s Shed has been held at its new home at Cranbrook<br />
School.<br />
Thanks to headteacher Will Chuter, members will be able to meet in a building on the<br />
campus in Waterloo Road. Wellbeing in the Weald administrator Liz McLaren, who initiated<br />
the group, welcomed about 25 potential “shedders” which, at present, are “men only”. <strong>The</strong><br />
organisation was founded in Australia in the 1980s and there are now more than 500 sheds in<br />
the UK.<br />
It was set up to help men’s health and wellbeing and to counteract isolation and loneliness.<br />
Mrs McLaren said she had been amazed at the overwhelming number of men who had shown<br />
interest in joining.<br />
For further information email Liz at hello@wellbgingintheweald.co.uk or call 07921 809161.<br />
12 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2022</strong>