Spring 2022
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
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Tasty local stories, published by Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> 2023 | FREE<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> Season Line-up<br />
Hemsted Park<br />
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Care Workers<br />
FULL TIME & PART TIME CARE WORKERS<br />
REQUIRED IN TENTERDEN, CRANBROOK, STAPLEHURST<br />
AND MOST OF THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES<br />
Could be your main income, or just a few hours to supplement your Furlough Pay<br />
(subject to your contract with employer)<br />
We have Mornings, Lunchtimes, Teatimes, Evenings and Weekend<br />
calls available. Also some Domestic Calls & Sleep-Ins to cover.<br />
NVQ Trained Worker<br />
Travel Time - Now paid at £8.91 per hour<br />
Mileage - 15p per mile<br />
Hourly Rate - £10.00 p.h Mon - Fri and £11.00 p.h at W/E<br />
Holiday Pay - 5.6 weeks paid seperately<br />
Non NVQ<br />
£8.91 per hour<br />
15p per mile<br />
£9.50 & £10.50<br />
Same<br />
Any experience is beneficial such as raising children, looking after elderly<br />
parents/grand children. But, FULL TRAINING will be provided to all applicants<br />
Why not contact us to discuss more about the<br />
work and what hours you are looking for?<br />
Call Natalie or Chloe 01580 762244<br />
These positions are exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders act
Published by Cranbrook and<br />
Sissinghurst Parish Council<br />
CO-EDITORS - Kim Fletcher and Carol Somers<br />
SUB EDITORS - Julian Flanders<br />
ADVERTISING SALES - David Hobden<br />
01892 677741 davidh@spacemarketing.co.uk<br />
ADMIN SUPPORT - Graham Holmes<br />
gpholmes@hotmail.co.uk<br />
PRODUCED BY - Tally Rix - Coffee Shop Media Ltd -<br />
01580 848555, tally@coffeeshopmedia.com<br />
PUBLISHED BY - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council, 01580 713112<br />
www.cranbrookandsissinghurstpc.co.uk<br />
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,<br />
the Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council,<br />
editor and authors cannot be held responsible<br />
for published errors. The views or opinions<br />
expressed do not necessarily reflect views of the Cranbrook<br />
and Sissinghurst Parish Council. Inclusion of any advertising<br />
material does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of<br />
any products or services or claims made.<br />
SOMETHING FOR THE CAKE?<br />
We love to hear from you. Please send all ideas for<br />
contributions to The Cake to<br />
clerk@cspc.org.uk by 21 April 2023<br />
What does the<br />
Parish Council do?<br />
The parish council is a bit like the conscience of the<br />
community. We have views on ‘how things are done<br />
around here’ and how we would like the future to evolve,<br />
and look after local issues.<br />
We do not directly control the levers of power but can<br />
influence the people who do. We have a Neighbourhood<br />
Development Plan (available on the parish website) but<br />
that stretches into 500 pages or so with lots of detail.<br />
The list below shows the main issues that we are<br />
confronted with, and if we do not have a considered view<br />
on them, we can be overruled by developers, TWBC, KCC or the government.<br />
We need positions on these issues so that when opportunities arise, we have<br />
ready-made arguments as to why our view should prevail. If you have strong views<br />
on these issues, stand as a parish councillor, as you can really make a difference to<br />
our community.<br />
HOUSING<br />
• A mix of housing<br />
• Priced for local<br />
people of all ages<br />
and mobility<br />
• Sustainable and<br />
energy efficient<br />
• Respecting the local<br />
architecture and<br />
heritage<br />
ACCESS & MOVEMENT<br />
• Parking - town<br />
centre<br />
• Level footpaths<br />
& cyclepaths - for<br />
access to the town<br />
centre, for leisure<br />
• A highway<br />
improvement plan<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
• Medical centre -<br />
gps and specialist<br />
clinics<br />
• Dentists<br />
• Education -<br />
pre-primary,<br />
primary, secondary,<br />
adult<br />
• Broadband<br />
• Community centre<br />
• Public toilets<br />
• Public transport<br />
BUSINESS & JOBS<br />
• Local employment<br />
space<br />
• Support for local<br />
employment -<br />
education, local<br />
builders and<br />
tradesmen, hi-tech<br />
business, farming<br />
and ancillary jobs,<br />
retail and hospitality,<br />
health and care<br />
• Apprenticeships<br />
• Volunteer<br />
opportunities<br />
COMMUNITY &<br />
CULTURE<br />
• Community centre<br />
- several activity<br />
spaces, music and<br />
dance, it/cooking<br />
Cllr. Kim Fletcher,<br />
chairman, Cranbrook<br />
& Sissinghurst Parish<br />
Council<br />
Neighbourhood Development Plan Issues<br />
exhibitions/<br />
meetings, theatre/<br />
cinema<br />
• Outdoor spill out<br />
area - receptions and<br />
parties, concerts<br />
• Sports facilities<br />
- clubs and<br />
clubhouses,<br />
changing rooms<br />
• Play equipment -<br />
for all ages<br />
• Strategy and<br />
resources and<br />
community spirit - to<br />
deal with anti-social<br />
behaviour and<br />
policing issues<br />
FRONT COVER<br />
The stunning new Centenary Hall at Hemsted<br />
Park – a collection of performing arts spaces at<br />
Benenden School.<br />
Designed by Guy Holloway Architects, the<br />
800-seater hall has established itself as one of<br />
the foremost concert halls in the South East<br />
offering state-of-the-art acoustics for a truly<br />
impressive performance experience.<br />
The season’s line-up includes Harry the<br />
Piano, Stringfever and the London Film Music<br />
Orchestra performing Hans Zimmer and John<br />
Williams. Events run between 25 March and 25<br />
June www.hemstedpark.com<br />
Inside<br />
this issue<br />
REGULARS<br />
5 Directory<br />
6 Letters<br />
8 Development News<br />
10 Local News<br />
12 Wellbeing<br />
14 Club News<br />
16 Event News<br />
20 Local Comment<br />
31 Kids’ Corner<br />
33 Let’s Cook<br />
34 Badger’s Plot<br />
39 Legal – divorce finances<br />
40 Parish Council Update<br />
– planning, precept and<br />
councillor recruitment<br />
FEATURES<br />
18 Play Equipment – a<br />
campaign to do better<br />
22 Banks –the history of<br />
banking in Cranbrook<br />
25 Billy Blacksmith –<br />
remembering a local<br />
legend<br />
26 Out & About – Angley<br />
Woods and the Crane<br />
Valley Nature Reserve<br />
29 The Old Police Station<br />
– history of policing in<br />
Cranbrook<br />
37 <strong>Spring</strong> reads – uplifting<br />
recommendations<br />
42 Cake Meets… Francesca<br />
Shaw, head, Cranbrook<br />
COE Primary School<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 3
KEEPING YOUR<br />
CHILD’S FEET<br />
HEALTHY<br />
Your child’s foot is formed of<br />
up to 45 bones and over 7,000<br />
nerve endings, so it’s no wonder<br />
that correctly fitted shoes are<br />
an important first step to the<br />
development of healthy little feet.<br />
Here at the Golden Boot, our team<br />
of expertly trained fitters are here<br />
to help. With an extensive range<br />
of shoes and brands, all carefully<br />
chosen by us, we’ll help you pick<br />
the perfect pair of shoes for each<br />
unique pair of feet.<br />
www.thegoldenboot.co.uk<br />
Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, Kent
directory<br />
A list of useful contacts in<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council<br />
The Old Fire Station, Stone Street,<br />
Cranbrook, KENT TN17 3HF<br />
Clerk – Mrs. C. Bezuidenhout<br />
Deputy Clerk - Mrs. L. Ham<br />
Deputy Clerk – Mrs. L. Thirkell<br />
01580 713112 / clerk@CSPC.org.uk<br />
BOROUGH & COUNTY<br />
COUNCILS<br />
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council<br />
01892 526121<br />
www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk<br />
Kent County Council<br />
03000 41 41 41 / www.kent.gov.uk<br />
USEFUL NUMBERS<br />
UTILITIES<br />
Electricity: 0800 727282 (24 hrs)<br />
Gas: 0800 111 999<br />
Water: South East Water (drinking<br />
water) 0800 0283399, Southern<br />
Water (waste water) 0800 820999 (24<br />
hrs), Emergency leak 0800 0283399,<br />
Floodline 0845 9881188 (24 hrs)<br />
CRIME<br />
Non-Emergency Police: 101<br />
Crime Stoppers: 0800 555111<br />
KCC Community Warden: Adam<br />
Osborn - 07813 695741<br />
Neighbourhood Watch Area<br />
Co-ordinator: 01622 604395<br />
In an emergency i.e. if life is in danger<br />
or a crime is in progress call 999. To<br />
request non urgent police assistance,<br />
to report crime or to make enquiry<br />
call 101. Non urgent correspondence<br />
and crime can be reported via the Live<br />
Chat icon at www.kent.police.uk<br />
ROOMS & HALLS TO HIRE<br />
St George’s Institute, Sissinghurst:<br />
Ursula O’Connor 01580 713938<br />
The Parish Room, Sissinghurst: Sue<br />
Crowe 01580 712567<br />
ts.crowe74@gmail.com<br />
The Vestry Hall, Council Chamber and<br />
Addison VC Room, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 713112 (10am-12pm weekdays).<br />
A full list of over 30 venues for hire in the<br />
parish is available from the parish office<br />
USEFUL CONTACTS<br />
CHURCHES<br />
Congregational Church,<br />
Cranbrook: 01580 388070<br />
St. Dunstan’s, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 715861<br />
St. Theodore’s RC, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 713364<br />
Strict Baptist Church, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 713212<br />
Trinity Church, Sissinghurst:<br />
01580 852275<br />
Vine Church, Cranbrook: 01580 712620<br />
SCHOOLS AND PRE SCHOOLS<br />
Belle Vue School, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 854641<br />
Colliers Green CE Primary:<br />
01580 211335<br />
Cranbrook CE Primary: 01580 713249<br />
Cranbrook Children’s Centre:<br />
03000 41 10 35<br />
Cranbrook School: 01580 711800<br />
Dulwich Preparatory School:<br />
01580 712179<br />
Rainbow Pre School, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 715570<br />
Sissinghurst CE Primary: 01580 713895<br />
Woodpeckers Pre School, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 720195<br />
DOCTORS<br />
Old School Surgery, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 712476<br />
Orchard End Surgery, Cranbrook:<br />
01580 713622<br />
The Crane Surgery, Cranbrook<br />
01580 712260<br />
DEFIBRILLATORS<br />
Cramp Club, Cranbrook<br />
Cranbrook Fire Station<br />
Cricket Club, Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council office<br />
Sissinghurst Castle Garden<br />
St. George’s Institute, Sissinghurst<br />
Tennis Club, Sissinghurst<br />
The George Hotel, Cranbrook<br />
The Milkhouse, Sissinghurst<br />
WHAT’S ON<br />
MARCH<br />
DIRECTORY<br />
9 March – Cranbrook School Ensembles Concert, 7:30pm, The Queens Hall<br />
Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
11 March – The Cranbrook Kids Cinema – Disney’s Moana, 10:30am, The<br />
Queens Hall Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
13 March – Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomical Society, Lecture<br />
Theatre – Cranbrook School, www.cadsas.org<br />
17 March – The Cranbrook Comedy Club, 8:00pm, The Queens Hall Theatre,<br />
www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
17 March – Michael Buble Tribute, 8pm, The White Horse, Cranbrook<br />
24 March – Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, 7:30pm, Vestry Hall, www.<br />
wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
24 March – Bingo, 7:30pm, The White Horse, Cranbrook.<br />
APRIL<br />
6-8 April – CODS Presents… Blackadder Goes Forth, 7:30pm, The Queens Hall<br />
Theatre, www.cranbrookods.org.uk<br />
7 April – Quiz Night, 7:30pm, The White Horse<br />
10 April – Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomical Society, 8:00pm,<br />
Lecture Theatre – Cranbrook School, www.cadsas.org<br />
15 April – The Sea Monkeys (Live Music), 8pm, The White Horse, Cranbrook<br />
22 April – The Cranbrook Kids Cinema – Dear Evan Hansen 12+, 7:00pm, The<br />
Queens Hall Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
28 April – Eliza Carthy Trio, 7:30pm, Vestry Hall, www.wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
28 April – Bingo, 7:30pm, The White Horse, Cranbrook<br />
29 April – Cranbrook Choral <strong>Spring</strong> Concert, St Dunstans Church<br />
MAY<br />
5 May – The London Ballet Company – Double Bill: Cinderella & 00 & His 7,<br />
7:30pm, The Queens Hall Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
6 May – Coronation, Events around Cranbrook<br />
8 May – Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomical Society, 8:00pm,<br />
Lecture Theatre – Cranbrook School, www.cadsas.org<br />
11 May – Cranbrook School Battle of the Bands, 7:30pm, The Queens Hall<br />
Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
13 May – The Outcast Band, 7:30pm, Vestry Hall, www.wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
20 May – Weald Games, Cranbrook Rugby Club<br />
25 May – Show of Hands, 7:30pm, Vestry Hall, www.wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
27 May – The Bohemians (Queen Tribute Band), 7:30pm, The Queens Hall<br />
Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
28 May – Cranbrook goes Nuts in May, Cranbrook High Street<br />
JUNE<br />
16 June – The Cranbrook Comedy Club, 8:00pm, The Queens Hall Theatre,<br />
www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
JULY<br />
1 July – The Gigspanner Big Band (led by Peter Knight, formerly of Steeleye<br />
Span), 7:30pm, The Queens Hall Theatre, www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk &<br />
www.wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
7 July – Cranbrook School Summer Play – 7:30pm, The Queens Hall Theatre,<br />
www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk<br />
22 July – Fairport Convention, 7:30pm, The Queens Hall Theatre,<br />
www.queenshalltheatre.co.uk / www.wmwcranbrook.co.uk<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 5
letters<br />
www.bussmurton.co.uk | T: 01580 712 215<br />
Refuse Further Green<br />
Field Development<br />
Accessed From Frythe<br />
Estate<br />
The Cake has received a number<br />
of letters concerning the planned<br />
residential development of “70+”<br />
houses on a green-field site behind the<br />
Frythe Estate, which does not include<br />
any extra access.<br />
Taylor Wimpey’s consultants,<br />
Turley, have recently published a<br />
favourable report, suggesting that the<br />
development would have no impact on<br />
traffic congestion, health and safety<br />
or the local environment. We feel that<br />
the letter below presents an excellent<br />
summary of local opinions on the<br />
report:<br />
1. The traffic on Frythe Way is<br />
already a cause for concern. In an<br />
emergency, fire engines might well<br />
have serious problems accessing the<br />
site.<br />
2. The report on traffic and parking was<br />
written in September 2020, as Covid<br />
locked down traffic movement. The<br />
survey is without merit.<br />
3. There is a serious general shortage<br />
of infrastructure. Questions about<br />
drainage need to be solved. It<br />
would be helpful if the proposal<br />
for the number of dwellings to be<br />
constructed were more accurately<br />
described than “circa 70”.<br />
4. Cranbrook has no non-selective<br />
secondary school. Will prospective<br />
residents be told this? Other<br />
available non-selective schools<br />
basically require parents to have<br />
private transport available.<br />
5. The site is an old orchard in an Area<br />
of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The<br />
trees in the orchard are currently<br />
subject to a Tree Preservation Order.<br />
The whole concept should be refused.<br />
Bring Back Rural District Councils!<br />
Parish councils are apolitical, and we<br />
try to do the best for our communities<br />
in the mainly rural areas, which make<br />
up (almost) half the electors in the<br />
borough.<br />
With the reduction of councillors<br />
from 48 to 39, and election by thirds,<br />
the Local Government Boundary<br />
Commission for England requires every<br />
ward has to have three<br />
members, so one is elected<br />
every year. This will mean<br />
wards of around 7,000, so the<br />
rural wards will become very<br />
large, encompassing several<br />
unconnected towns and<br />
villages.<br />
The idea that a local<br />
person who is doing good<br />
works in their parish is able<br />
to appeal across such a<br />
large areas is problematic,<br />
and this is the reason that<br />
five chairmen attended<br />
the council meeting, and a<br />
further three had statements<br />
read out to make the point<br />
that ‘all out’ elections would<br />
enable single member wards of around<br />
2,200 electors or two members wards of<br />
around 4,400. This would enable rural<br />
communities to elect a local person to<br />
TWBC, with the expectation that they<br />
would ensure the local voice is heard.<br />
Large geographic areas favour<br />
national political parties, especially as<br />
a vote every year leaves people asking<br />
‘what are we voting for this time?’ – ‘I<br />
might as well vote for a party as I do not<br />
know these individuals’.<br />
The borough council consulted on<br />
the issue and the result showed 64%<br />
of respondents supported ‘all out<br />
elections’. In our presentations we<br />
laid out these negative impacts on our<br />
Large<br />
geographic<br />
areas favour<br />
national<br />
political<br />
parties,<br />
especially as a<br />
vote every year<br />
leaves people<br />
asking ‘what<br />
are we voting<br />
for this time?’<br />
communities of continuing to vote<br />
in thirds, and that TWBC could save<br />
£200,000 by voting every four years.<br />
Our arguments were erroneously and<br />
savagely attacked by Cllr Rands and Cllr<br />
Pound as being a ‘Conservative plot’ to<br />
regain power; it was not - the motion<br />
was seconded by an Alliance councillor<br />
and widely supported by both Alliance<br />
and Labour councillors<br />
representing parished areas.<br />
Cllr Rands had made up his<br />
mind before hearing our<br />
arguments, according to his<br />
letter in the Times last week.<br />
The Lib Dem councillors<br />
barely joined the debate. Cllr<br />
Nancy Warne (Alliance) who<br />
holds the rural portfolio did<br />
show she understood our<br />
plight.<br />
When the vote was taken<br />
but all but two Lib Dem<br />
councillors voted against<br />
the proposal, without<br />
making a cogent argument<br />
for improving democracy in<br />
rural and parished areas, or<br />
why they did not wish to save £200,000<br />
in election costs. They are quick to state<br />
there is a black hole in the accounts.<br />
Several councillors suggested that<br />
consultations produce unrepresentative<br />
results – so why did they agree to it?<br />
Later that evening, cabinet portfolio<br />
holders all voted to maintain their<br />
allowances and reject the Independent<br />
Review Panel recommendations for<br />
Tunbridge Wells and other councils<br />
which had recommended reductions. It<br />
is also worth noting that the increased<br />
size of the Lib Dem led cabinet is costing<br />
us (the council tax payers) £33,000 a<br />
year. Bring back Rural District Councils!<br />
Cllr Kim Fletcher, chairman<br />
6 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
We have been providing expert and<br />
trusted legal advice to individuals and<br />
businesses for generations.<br />
Your Parish Council<br />
Needs You!<br />
Being a parish councillor is a purely voluntary<br />
role. We are elected every four years, with<br />
any vacancies that occur in the intervening<br />
years filled either by election or co-option. As<br />
councillors we attend a monthly meeting of<br />
the whole council, as well as meetings of any<br />
other committees we represent. This might<br />
include the Neighbourhood Development<br />
Plan Steering Committee, the Planning<br />
Committee and the Community Development<br />
Committee, the Properties & Burial Grounds<br />
and Environmental Management.<br />
Councillors also represent the parish council<br />
as delegates to various outside organisations,<br />
such as Citizens Advice, Cranbrook Tourism<br />
Group, Cranbrook Conservation Area Advisory<br />
Committee and the Katherine Elisabeth<br />
Wood Trust. In addition, the parish council<br />
often works on other temporary projects. Our<br />
primary concern at the moment is how the<br />
cost-of-living crisis is affecting residents and<br />
finding ways to help or facilitating this for<br />
other groups.<br />
In May 2023 there are whole council<br />
elections for Cranbrook and Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council. Please do think about joining<br />
us. No specific knowledge or experience is<br />
needed, just a willingness to help and take a<br />
full part in the council’s business. Please get<br />
in touch if you want to find out more – clerk@<br />
cranbrookandsissinghurstpc.co.uk<br />
Cllr Lee Hatcher<br />
Pre-primary Groups in the Area<br />
I thought readers with young children would find the following list of<br />
interest. Each of these groups are low cost and come as you please. I’m sure<br />
there are more but these are ones I’ve attended or heard good things about<br />
first hand.<br />
• Tots Plus, Fridays 9-11.30am, Church House, Cranbrook<br />
• Cheeky Monkeys, Mondays 9.30-11am, Horsmonden Village Hall<br />
• Biddenden Babies & Toddler Group, Tuesdays 9.30am-11am, Biddenden<br />
Old Village Hall<br />
• Sing & Story Class, Mondays 9.45am, Copt Hall, Hawkhurst<br />
• Cafe Toddlers , Fridays 9-11am, St Mary's Church, Goudhurst<br />
Claire Mills<br />
Education in<br />
Cranbrook<br />
The closure of High<br />
Weald Academy has<br />
put more pressure on<br />
Cranbrook School to<br />
grow – the reason they<br />
need to sell Jaegers<br />
for housing to fund<br />
new classrooms. Our<br />
secondary school pupils<br />
are now bussed to<br />
Mascalls or Homewood<br />
schools.<br />
Kent County Council<br />
are proposing to close<br />
the Children’s Centre<br />
(Sure Start) co-located at<br />
the primary school, with<br />
some services moving to<br />
the Library. The primary<br />
school is expected<br />
to grow, but there is<br />
currently no plan.<br />
Rainbow pre-primary<br />
is now closing in July<br />
unless they find new<br />
premises. Woodpeckers<br />
survives because the<br />
Long Field planning<br />
application was turned<br />
down on appeal.<br />
New housing is<br />
coming on stream,<br />
increasing the demand<br />
for school places for all<br />
ages.<br />
Are you happy with<br />
this erosion of local<br />
education? Should we<br />
be raising our voices or<br />
just let it wash over us?<br />
Write to our MP Helen<br />
Grant (helen.grant.mp@<br />
parliament.uk) and copy<br />
in the parish council,<br />
talk to parents, create a<br />
pressure group…<br />
St. Dunstan’s Church Choir<br />
There was an excellent article in a previous edition of Cake<br />
about the splendid choirs based in Cranbrook: The Choral<br />
Society, Tempo Choir and the Compass Choir. However there was<br />
no mention of the oldest choir: St Dunstan’s Church Choir.<br />
I just wanted to flag up that it still exists and would warmly<br />
welcome new members. Is there anyone out there with an hour<br />
or so on Sunday morning to help keep this wonderful tradition<br />
alive?<br />
John Williams<br />
Please send<br />
your letters to:<br />
clerk@cspc.org.uk or by post to The Cake,<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council, The Old<br />
Fire Station, Stone Street, Cranbrook, TN17 3HF.<br />
Please note, letters may be published<br />
in a shortened form at the discretion<br />
of the editor.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 7
DEVELOPMENT NEWS<br />
The Rebirth of St George’s<br />
Institute, Sissinghurst<br />
Fernham Homes has<br />
now secured planning<br />
permission for a new<br />
St George’s Institute<br />
building and the<br />
enabling housing development<br />
to the rear of the current hall.<br />
Full details are on the TWBC<br />
planning portal, Ref Nos:<br />
21/03914/FULL. There are also<br />
posters in the hall and in the<br />
village shop window.<br />
The hall management<br />
committee has up to six months<br />
to enter into a building contract.<br />
It is anticipated that the hall will<br />
close around April/May for 12 to<br />
14 months while the new hall is<br />
built. We will be assisting current<br />
hirers in finding temporary<br />
Employment Law that<br />
works for you.<br />
We provide cost effective advice tailored<br />
to your needs on matters including:<br />
+ Settlement Agreements<br />
+ Senior Employee Exits<br />
+ Employment Related Shareholdings<br />
+ Unfair Dismissal<br />
+ Discrimination, Harassment & Victimisation<br />
To find out how we can help, call us on<br />
01622 698000 or 01227 643250<br />
or email enquiries@wmlaw.uk<br />
whitehead-monckton.co.uk<br />
“There are meeting minutes showing that<br />
a new hall has been under consideration<br />
many times over the past 40+ years”<br />
alternative facilities during this<br />
period. We are also considering a<br />
farewell event in the hall prior to<br />
its demolition.<br />
I know that the old green hut<br />
is much loved by many and an<br />
historical/archive video will<br />
be made to document what<br />
is currently there. The new<br />
building will also reflect, in some<br />
way, the old hall.<br />
There are meeting minutes<br />
showing that a new hall has<br />
been under consideration many<br />
times over the past 40+ years.<br />
The trustees’ objective from the<br />
outset, over three years ago, has<br />
been to deliver a new fit-forpurpose<br />
community hall with no<br />
debt, which is both affordable to<br />
hire (approximately £10–£15/hr,<br />
currently £8/hr) and economic to<br />
operate.<br />
The new hall will have a small<br />
meeting room that could be<br />
run as a pop-up café or a shop.<br />
If anyone is interested in this<br />
please let me know.<br />
The St George’s Institute is<br />
in the process of changing from<br />
current Small Charity status<br />
to a Community Incorporated<br />
Organisation (CIO). This is the<br />
recommended structure for<br />
trusts operating village halls and<br />
community facilities.<br />
I would like to thank the<br />
hall management committee<br />
members, the parish council<br />
and Fernham Homes for their<br />
continued commitment,<br />
dedication and patience in<br />
achieving what will be a vastly<br />
improved community facility<br />
fit for the future. The hard work<br />
now commences! John Smith<br />
PIXELNUTTER<br />
8 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
DEVELOPMENT NEWS<br />
Neighbourhood<br />
Development Plan<br />
Update<br />
Following a very<br />
successful lockdown<br />
Regulation 14<br />
Consultation, the<br />
NDP Steering Group<br />
spent much of 2021 reviewing<br />
the hundreds of comments<br />
received and revising the plan,<br />
where appropriate, in advance of<br />
submission to Tunbridge Wells<br />
Borough Council. However, due<br />
to a series of setbacks, the plan,<br />
along with much supporting<br />
paperwork (nearly 500 pages),<br />
was not submitted to TWBC<br />
until July <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
After they had reviewed<br />
the documents, the plan went<br />
to a further, Regulation 16,<br />
Consultation, for an extended<br />
period of time. Having<br />
eventually completed this stage<br />
of the process, an examiner was<br />
appointed just before Christmas.<br />
We are now working with<br />
our consultant, the examiner<br />
and Tunbridge Wells Borough<br />
Council to try to get the plan<br />
past the examination stage,<br />
and on to the final step on<br />
our journey – the referendum.<br />
Unfortunately, I cannot yet put<br />
a date on this, but I’m hoping it<br />
won’t be much longer.<br />
Garry Pethurst<br />
Recently, a number of residents<br />
on the Frythe have expressed their<br />
concerns at the Taylor Wimpey<br />
submission to build about 70<br />
homes at the end of Frythe Way.<br />
See the Letters page in Cake. (Ed.)<br />
Building and Construction<br />
in the Parish<br />
• Berkeley has released its first houses at Turnden 1, starting at £630,000<br />
for three bedrooms. There will be a part purchase scheme for 1 and<br />
2 bedroom flats on the development. It is still very keen to build out<br />
Turnden 2, and is still waiting for the appeal findings. When they<br />
tarmacked the site, all their contractors parked on Hartley Road for a<br />
day, causing a lot of parishioners to complain about the danger to their<br />
children.<br />
• Hill Development are building on Brick Kiln Farm and hope to have 10<br />
houses for sale in the summer, with a further nine built by Christmas.<br />
• Sunningdale Homes has started moving earth at the old Cranbrook<br />
Engineering site, but so far there is no news on dates.<br />
• Fernham Homes hopes to start this spring on the new homes in<br />
Sissinghurst, with the St Georges Institute being demolished to enable<br />
access to the site.<br />
• Brookwood Homes is building 18 houses off Common Road /<br />
Frittenden Road in Sissinghurst. No news on dates.<br />
COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE<br />
The parish council has decided to demolish the old Tanyard dental<br />
surgery as it is an eyesore and seems to encourage vandalism. It was<br />
always the plan to demolish it. By the time this edition comes out, we<br />
hope to have the GP surgeries all on side and getting close to briefing<br />
architects.<br />
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The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 9
LOCAL NEWS<br />
CUP CAKES<br />
• COMMUNITY KINDNESS - Two ladies<br />
from Sissinghurst, who do not want to be<br />
named, have generously donated £260<br />
towards new play equipment. While ‘The<br />
Ukelele Busker’ kindly donated his takings<br />
to the Community Kitchen, making a huge<br />
difference. Thank you all.<br />
• REPLACEMENT SAFETY SURFACE<br />
UNDER SWINGS - The latest RoSPA report<br />
identified that replacement of the safety<br />
surfacing under the swings at the Jubilee<br />
and Ball Field needs to be considered. The<br />
clerks are in the process of obtaining quotes.<br />
• LICK OF PAINT<br />
Parishioner Paul Archibald<br />
kindly painted the old<br />
telephone box, now a<br />
community library, as he<br />
saw it looking worse for<br />
wear. Thank you Paul!<br />
News<br />
Young Farmers Christmas Tractor Run<br />
On 18 December, about 50 decoratively lit tractors toured the Kent countryside, driving down<br />
Cranbrook High Street in all their splendour. For those who witnessed it, it was unforgettable.<br />
The tractors had been lit very creatively and decorated like Christmas Trees.<br />
Thanks to the Young Farmers for bringing a lot of fun to the<br />
town. Their street collection raised £1,230 in the buckets,<br />
while the total for the event was almost £7,000. The Air<br />
Ambulance will get at least £5,000.<br />
• GRIT FOR COLD WEATHER -<br />
Every autumn the Parish Council normally<br />
receives delivery of a ton bag of salt from<br />
Kent County Council. Unfortunately, despite<br />
chasing, the delivery did not arrive until<br />
January this year, and it was a much-reduced<br />
amount.<br />
• NATWEST IS CLOSING ON 30 MAY - For<br />
elderly people or special needs they have<br />
a phone line 0800 051 4176. ATMs will<br />
remain at Lloyds and the Co-op. There are<br />
no current plans for the building. Nat West<br />
suggest using the ‘Post Office’ or ‘Pay Points’<br />
on a day to day basis. Use your debit card,<br />
or to pay in, the Post Office have envelopes<br />
for cheques. You need your sort code and<br />
account number.<br />
• NEW PRIEST FOR ST DUNSTAN’S<br />
Following an extensive survey, and<br />
asking the Cranbrook community and<br />
congregation what they hope for in the new<br />
vicar, the recruitment process is underway!<br />
They hope to welcome a new priest to St<br />
Dunstan’s and Cranbrook during the second<br />
half of 2023.<br />
• TIME TO GET WALKING AGAIN! - With<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> on its way, we start to think about<br />
getting out to walk in the beautiful English<br />
countryside again, but where to find new<br />
and interesting walks? Walking in Kent<br />
(www.walkinginengland.co.uk/kent) has<br />
loads of walks to download and print, free.<br />
It also has books of walks, details of all the<br />
walking groups in the county and much<br />
more. Whether you want to walk on your<br />
own or with a group, all the information is<br />
there in one place.<br />
Citizens Advice Outreach Service<br />
Citizens Advice in North and<br />
West Kent (CANWK) is now<br />
offering an outreach service<br />
based at Cranbrook Library<br />
every Wednesday. There will<br />
be a drop-in service between<br />
10am-12.30pm and prebooked<br />
appointments between<br />
2pm-4pm.<br />
Citizens Advice provides<br />
advice/support with debt,<br />
benefit, housing, employment,<br />
consumer, family/relationships<br />
and immigration issues. It is<br />
also able to offer specialist<br />
advice/support in the above<br />
Performing Arts Venue at Benenden School<br />
areas for clients suffering from<br />
mental health conditions,<br />
which can include where<br />
necessary, contacting third party<br />
organisations on the client’s<br />
behalf.<br />
You can also call the free<br />
advice line on 0808 278 7810.<br />
Hemsted Park – a collection of performing arts spaces at the worldrenowned<br />
Benenden School, just outside Cranbrook – has unveiled<br />
the initial shows from its debut season, with a promise of more<br />
announcements to follow.<br />
Completing the initial line-up of performers are improvisor<br />
extraordinaire Harry the Piano, light-hearted violin quartet Stringfever<br />
and the London Film Music Orchestra performing the music of Hans<br />
Zimmer and John Williams.<br />
These events run between 25 March and 25 June and the Box Office is now<br />
open at www.hemstedpark.com<br />
Based at the beautiful 250-acre Benenden School site, Hemsted Park’s performance spaces<br />
principally comprise the stunning new Centenary Hall, which has established one of the<br />
foremost concert halls in the South East of England. Designed by the multi award-winning<br />
Kent-based Guy Hollaway Architects, the 800-seater hall offers state-of-the-art acoustics and<br />
gives audiences a truly impressive performance experience.<br />
10 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
LOCAL NEWS<br />
Business in Cranbrook<br />
Business in Cranbrook was developed during the pandemic in 2020 when a group of<br />
local people met online as part of the Cranbrook Together initiative. As things got<br />
back to normal, some of us decided that we’d like to continue meeting.<br />
We meet on the first Friday of each month at Larkins Alehouse, from 10.30-<br />
11.30am. It’s an informal get together for business owners in the area looking<br />
to network, get advice or support one another. There’s no membership fee, and<br />
anyone who runs a local business of any size or shape is very welcome. Contact<br />
Jules Rastelli 07876 682322.<br />
Penny Farthing<br />
The Penny Farthing has now been returned after the repairs<br />
and refurbishment were completed. Many parishioners are<br />
disappointed it has not been painted black. The mordant<br />
applied will dull down further over time, however the<br />
Properties and Burial Committee will<br />
review the decision not to paint it<br />
at the annual site<br />
meeting in July.<br />
Chair of<br />
Cranbrook Rugby<br />
Club Honoured<br />
Michelle Forknall, our fantastic and<br />
much loved M'dam Chair, not only<br />
won most of the Awards at the Kent<br />
RFU Volunteer Awards. She was also<br />
put forward by the RFU to represent<br />
all Rugby Clubs at the Royal Christmas<br />
Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on<br />
15 December. Obviously we are very<br />
proud and privileged to call Michelle<br />
a Crane.<br />
Cranbrook's most amusing Christmas decoration had to be the ‘bone’<br />
outside Roosters pet food shop - made by Rob Longley.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 11
WELLBEING<br />
Wellbeing Fair<br />
The New Year, New You event was held in the Vestry Hall and it was<br />
very busy. Several of the organisations attending have put together<br />
a paragraph on what they do, and how to get in touch with them<br />
WINDMILL<br />
Cranbrook windmill needs<br />
seven or eight stewards on<br />
duty every time we open to the<br />
public. Replacement stewards<br />
are needed each year as some<br />
retire. The Wellbeing Fair gave a<br />
good opportunity to let visitors<br />
know about the windmill, what<br />
being a steward involves and<br />
the training we give for them to<br />
acquire the necessary knowledge,<br />
skills and confidence. We expect<br />
a number of the visitors who<br />
showed interest at the Fair to<br />
join us. If you weren’t able to<br />
be there it’s not too late, email<br />
volunteering@unionmill.org.uk<br />
HEALTHY<br />
LIFESTYLE HELP<br />
One You Kent can help boost<br />
your motivation or kick-start<br />
some lifestyle changes if you<br />
would like to lose weight, stop<br />
smoking, get more active or<br />
reduce your alcohol intake.<br />
We enjoyed attending the<br />
Wellbeing Fair in Cranbrook<br />
and spoke to residents about<br />
our free services including<br />
Wellbeing Walks, one to one<br />
lifestyle advice and group<br />
weight management. For more<br />
information on our services<br />
visit www.oneyoukent.org.uk or<br />
call 01892 554411.<br />
Toasty Tuesdays<br />
in the Vestry Hall!<br />
10.00 –11.45am<br />
Join us for coffee, tea and a chat at<br />
Cranbrook & District<br />
Age Concern Coffee Morning<br />
12.00 – 2.00pm<br />
Hot soup and a warm welcome at<br />
Wellbeing in the Weald’s Community Kitchen<br />
3.30 – 4.00pm<br />
Hot after-school meal for<br />
primary and pre-school children<br />
Wellbeing in the Weald’s Community Kitchen<br />
Children must be accompanied by an adult<br />
Contribute what you can.<br />
Supported by local businesses, charities,<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council and Kent County Council.<br />
GUIDING<br />
As part of Girlguiding ,Cranbrook<br />
has a thriving Rainbow unit (over<br />
20 girls aged 4-7) and a growing<br />
Brownie unit (around 30 girls<br />
aged 7-10) who meet on a Friday<br />
afternoon/evening. To sustain<br />
these units, we need adult<br />
volunteers who will help the<br />
Rainbows with their activities<br />
and/or encourage teamwork and<br />
promote independence with<br />
our Brownies, to enable the<br />
girls to develop, grow and gain<br />
confidence. We hope some on the<br />
people we met at the Wellbeing<br />
Fair (and any who are interested<br />
but couldn’t make it) will<br />
consider joining us to create an<br />
inclusive nurturing environment<br />
for girls and adults.<br />
Volunteering with us can be<br />
flexible and is rewarding with fun<br />
and friendship at the core! If you<br />
are interested in knowing more<br />
email karen.meikle@btinternet.<br />
com<br />
GARDENING WITH<br />
DISABILITIES<br />
Gardening with Disabilities<br />
Trust exists to get people<br />
gardening again, so that more<br />
people can enjoy the feel good<br />
feeling that gardening brings.<br />
We award micro-grants to<br />
purchase specialist equipment<br />
or make garden adaptations,<br />
so that gardening becomes<br />
possible despite disabilities.<br />
Although The Trust awards<br />
grants nationally, it is based in<br />
Cranbrook and we are searching<br />
for new committee members<br />
– no gardening expertise<br />
required, just an enjoyment of<br />
beautiful gardens, a sense of<br />
humour and enthusiasm. www.<br />
gardeningwithdisabilitiestrust.<br />
org.uk<br />
TEMPO SINGERS<br />
We are a mixed choir and sing a<br />
wide variety of songs in four-part<br />
harmony. We believe that singing<br />
in a group is a great restorative<br />
to wellbeing, whether one can<br />
sing well or not, and we aspire to<br />
bring joy and friendship to adults<br />
of any age. We sing on Saturday<br />
mornings from 9:30-11:00am in<br />
the Vestry Hall. More details at<br />
www.temposingers.org<br />
12 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
WELLBEING<br />
KENT HIGH WEALD<br />
PARTNERSHIP (KHWP)<br />
We are a countryside<br />
management partnership<br />
and run volunteer task days<br />
across the High Weald,<br />
including at Crane Valley<br />
Local Nature Reserve. This<br />
work includes a variety of<br />
tasks from litter picking and<br />
path clearance to the annual<br />
meadow cut, managing the<br />
site on behalf of Cranbrook<br />
and Sissinghurst Parish<br />
Council. Days run from 10am-<br />
3pm with tools and coffee<br />
break refreshments provided.<br />
Keep up to date with our work<br />
programme as well as other<br />
projects at www.khwp.org.uk.<br />
You can also contact Steph<br />
(partnership officer) at steph.<br />
dowling@kent.gov.uk if you<br />
have any further questions!<br />
INVOLVE KENT<br />
Involve Kent provides<br />
various services across Kent<br />
including social prescribing<br />
in the Weald. We took part<br />
in the wellbeing fair to<br />
share information about<br />
our services and meet<br />
members and partners of<br />
the local community. Social<br />
prescribing offers support<br />
around your non-medical<br />
needs and the service is<br />
open to all patients 18 or<br />
over who may benefit from<br />
a conversation about their<br />
wellbeing. Please contact<br />
your surgery for a referral<br />
to Involve social prescribing<br />
which is a free service funded<br />
by the NHS.<br />
CRANBROOK OPERA<br />
AND DRAMATIC<br />
SOCIETY (CODS)<br />
CODS is a long running<br />
community orientated drama<br />
company that is based in the<br />
Queen’s Hall Theatre (QHT)<br />
in Cranbrook School. Our next<br />
production will be an Easter<br />
treat as we are producing<br />
Blackadder Goes Forth, which<br />
is currently in rehearsal.<br />
After that we will start our<br />
audition process at the end<br />
of April/May for our autumn<br />
musical Made in Dagenham.<br />
All performances being in the<br />
QHT. To keep up to date with<br />
our shows and information<br />
about the Society follow the<br />
https://linktr.ee/cranbrook<br />
COACH OUTINGS<br />
ARRANGED BY<br />
THE CRANBROOK<br />
BUSINESS<br />
ASSOCIATION<br />
CBA Millennium Outings’<br />
first trip took place in May<br />
2000, so we’re now in our<br />
24th year. We offer days out,<br />
by coach, covering a wide<br />
range of interests (gardens,<br />
theatres, special events etc.)<br />
throughout the year, as well<br />
as two or three holidays or<br />
shorter breaks. We are well<br />
supported by members of the<br />
communities of Cranbrook<br />
and Sissinghurst, along<br />
with others who join us<br />
from villages all around. We<br />
maintain a database of some<br />
340 names and addresses<br />
all of whom are sent details<br />
of new trips as they are<br />
launched. For further details<br />
contact Carol Gower (01580<br />
712521) on weekday evenings<br />
between 7pm and 9pm please.<br />
THE CRANBROOK<br />
MUSEUM AND LOCAL<br />
HISTORY SOCIETY<br />
Visitors learnt about<br />
forthcoming talks,<br />
exhibitions, research<br />
facilities, publications, group<br />
visits and loans, as well as<br />
the wonderful Wheels of<br />
Time scheme for 5 to 11 year<br />
olds. They were also able to<br />
find out about some of the<br />
many ways that people can be<br />
involved as volunteers, from<br />
one-off sessions to longer<br />
and more regular support.<br />
See www.cranbrookmuseum.<br />
org for more information and<br />
contact details.<br />
The Community Kitchen<br />
Toasty Tuesdays in the Vestry Hall<br />
Age Concern and Wellbeing in the Weald have<br />
joined forces during the cold winter months to<br />
provide a warm welcome and hot food every<br />
Tuesday in the Vestry Hall to anyone living in<br />
Cranbrook and Sissinghurst.<br />
Since September, Cranbrook and District Age<br />
Concern’s Tuesday coffee mornings have been<br />
followed by a hot soup lunch, cooked and served<br />
by volunteers, and the whole community has been<br />
welcomed in. All ages are dropping by for a chat<br />
and a bowl of soup, including coffee morning<br />
guests who stay on, workers in their lunch hour<br />
and families with pre-school children.<br />
Buoyed up with the success of the lunch and<br />
the sense of community, Wellbeing in the Weald’s<br />
volunteers started providing a hot after-school<br />
tea for primary and preschool children at the<br />
beginning of January. Food is served straight<br />
after school from 3.30-4.00pm and the menu<br />
is announced the week before on the Toasty<br />
Tuesday Facebook page. One of the following<br />
dishes is on the menu each week – macaroni<br />
Cranbrook and<br />
District Age Concern<br />
KEEP FIT, COFFEE, CAKE AND<br />
HEARING AID SUPPORT!<br />
Church House, opposite the main<br />
entrance to St Dunstan’s Church, has<br />
started an ‘in chair’ keep fit class every<br />
Tuesday from 9.45–10.15am, finishing<br />
just in time join the coffee morning.<br />
The weekly coffee mornings, held<br />
in the Vestry Hall between 10.15 and<br />
11.45, continue to go from strength<br />
to strength. Numbers are growing<br />
as new people join in and enjoy the<br />
friendly atmosphere, coffee, tea and<br />
delicious cake.<br />
The coffee morning now offers<br />
hearing aid maintenance nearly every<br />
week and free hearing aid batteries for<br />
NHS hearing aids are always available.<br />
Events are now being planned,<br />
starting with a two course lunch at the<br />
Milk House in Sissinghurst at the end<br />
of February.<br />
Visit the www.<br />
cranbrookdistrictageconcern.org for<br />
more information.<br />
cheese, bangers and mash, pasta with tomato<br />
sauce and shepherd’s pie – all followed by fresh<br />
fruit. All children under 12 who live in Cranbrook<br />
and Sissinghurst are very welcome. There’s one<br />
proviso, children must be accompanied by an<br />
adult but there’ll be a cup of tea or coffee for the<br />
grown-ups provided!<br />
There is a very special atmosphere created<br />
when a community comes together to share food<br />
and chat. None of this would have been possible<br />
without the support of the local community and<br />
financial support from Kent County Council,<br />
TWBC and local donors. A great big thank you<br />
to our four soup makers, Wendy and Julie from<br />
Larkins, Paul and the ‘Men’s shedders’, the Milk<br />
House, Carolyn, and Emma for staying on after<br />
lunch and cooking the children’s meal. A big<br />
thanks too to local businesses for supplying food<br />
and ingredients including eggs from Fridays Ltd,<br />
bread from Cranbrook Bakers and cakes from<br />
Hartley Dyke Farm Shop.<br />
Please come and join us for coffee or a soup<br />
lunch and we’d love to welcome your pre-school<br />
or primary school kids for a hot meal straight after<br />
school on Tuesdays.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 13
CLUB NEWS<br />
It’s a Busy Life<br />
at Cranbrook<br />
Sports Club<br />
Since the start of the<br />
<strong>2022</strong>–23 season back in<br />
September, the weather<br />
really hasn’t really<br />
been on rugby’s side.<br />
Pitches have been too dry, too<br />
wet, snow covered or frosted.<br />
These conditions have resulted<br />
in endless postponements, which<br />
has been frustrating for everyone.<br />
Hopefully, with spring around<br />
the corner, we can all enjoy our<br />
training and matches for the rest<br />
of the season.<br />
MEN’S RUGBY<br />
The 1XV, who were promoted<br />
to the very competitive RFU<br />
Counties 1 Kent League this<br />
season, currently sit mid-table<br />
– a great place to be in their first<br />
season. They have had good wins<br />
over other local clubs with the<br />
final match of the season at home<br />
against Aylesford Bulls 1XV on 18<br />
March.<br />
The 2XV, the Nomads, were<br />
also promoted to the Invicta<br />
League where they too sit in midtable.<br />
They are also through to<br />
the semi-finals of the Kent Shield<br />
competition, having beaten<br />
Hastings & Bexhill and Aylesford<br />
Bulls IIs. They will be playing<br />
Ashford IIs to try to get to the<br />
final, which is on 30 April at our<br />
Tomlin Ground.<br />
The Colts section (17–18-yearolds)<br />
goes from strength to<br />
strength, with a committed core<br />
of players having really stepped<br />
up under the excellent coaching<br />
of Des Amanono, our Player<br />
Development Coach. Des will<br />
be working with our Director of<br />
Rugby, Chris Catt, to ensure those<br />
that have<br />
turned 18<br />
and want to<br />
play senior<br />
rugby are<br />
prepared<br />
and ready<br />
to take that<br />
next step in<br />
their rugby<br />
careers.<br />
The juniors<br />
(U12–U16)<br />
have also<br />
had a great start to the season,<br />
with good numbers across the<br />
age groups. Participation in the<br />
Kent Waterfall and Kent League<br />
competitions by all our juniors<br />
has yielded some fantastic<br />
results, with our U14s having<br />
won three from three and the<br />
U13s securing a win against<br />
local rivals Tonbridge Juddians.<br />
Tours have been arranged for the<br />
juniors to Bath, Bristol and West<br />
Sussex – always a highlight of the<br />
rugby season!<br />
WOMEN’S RUGBY<br />
The women’s section is thriving,<br />
with a recent influx of many<br />
ladies new to rugby, that have<br />
joined the squad to train, build<br />
confidence and fitness, and are<br />
now enjoying playing matches.<br />
No experience is necessary as<br />
training is suitable for all, and<br />
the fun and friendships that<br />
develop on the pitch continue in<br />
the clubhouse!<br />
Our young ladies (U12s–U18)<br />
is a flourishing section, where<br />
they ‘cluster’ with other local<br />
clubs to ensure they all have<br />
plenty of match time. Recently, a<br />
couple of our U12s played in the<br />
Kent Cup final, narrowly missing<br />
out on the win. We are so proud<br />
of how the girls embrace their<br />
rugby in this exciting time for<br />
female sport<br />
MINIS<br />
The mini section (U6–U11 boys<br />
and girls) is also thriving with<br />
great numbers each week! They<br />
have been enjoying festivals and<br />
joint training sessions with lots<br />
of new skills being learnt and<br />
lots of fun being had – seeing<br />
300+ mini and juniors out on<br />
the pitches each Sunday having<br />
fun with their teammates is just<br />
brilliant!<br />
CRICKET<br />
Net training is now underway<br />
for our cricketers! These weekly<br />
sessions, using both soft and<br />
hard balls, are great preparation<br />
for the season. Last year we<br />
successfully ran U9s and U11s<br />
age groups, we are ready to<br />
extend that offering to include<br />
U13s. However, we are looking for<br />
that special person who can take<br />
on the leadership of the Cricket<br />
Section to continue driving the<br />
club forward, so if you would like<br />
to know more, please do get in<br />
touch at: cranbrookcricketers@<br />
gmail.com<br />
LATEST NEWS!<br />
Plans for the new clubhouse were<br />
finally registered with the council<br />
in December <strong>2022</strong>. This exciting<br />
development will enable us to<br />
have a proper clubhouse and<br />
widen our offering of sports and<br />
community space.<br />
We are looking forward to<br />
welcoming the Men’s Shed hut<br />
and members into the Cranbrook<br />
Sports Club community at the<br />
Tomlin Ground!<br />
We are running the ‘Weald<br />
Games’ again on 20 May, open<br />
to the whole community to play<br />
lots of inventive rural games (e.g.<br />
tossing the hay bale) and get a<br />
flavour for the club.<br />
Michelle Forknall<br />
DIARY DATES<br />
• 30 April: Kent Senior Men’s<br />
Rugby Finals Day<br />
• 7 May: Kent U20s match<br />
• 20 May: Weald Rural Games<br />
www.wealdgames.co.uk<br />
14 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
EVENT NEWS<br />
THE WEALD RURAL<br />
GAMES 2023<br />
Bigger and better. Be a Super Hero!<br />
Cranbrook Goes Nuts in May!<br />
Sunday 28 May 2023, 10am-4pm<br />
Join us and celebrate anything and everything that grows, and<br />
what you can do with it – dead or alive!<br />
Once again the High Street will be closed to traffic but open<br />
to all kinds of garden-related jollity. The first 50 families to<br />
arrive get a free goodie bag filled with items kindly donated<br />
by local businesses. Along the length of the High Street there<br />
will be:<br />
• Street stalls: plant nurseries, herbs, wood carving and<br />
turning, artists, glassware, jewellery, a stickmaker, eco food<br />
wraps, and a children’s craft tent for the young and not so<br />
young<br />
• Local foods: delicious fruit ice-cream, honey, chutney, Liz<br />
Santer vegetarian bakes<br />
• Music and dance: Headcorn Ukulele and Weald of Kent<br />
Morris<br />
• Food & drink: sit on a hay bale and be tempted by our Food<br />
Court including Naked Espresso coffee bar, Pimms and<br />
beer bar, Brown Bread’s amazingly vast array of sweets and<br />
savouries, plus a hog roast and local pubs and cafés<br />
• Additionally: don’t miss Cranbrook Union Mill, a superb<br />
working windmill, and Cranbrook Museum providing fun<br />
for all ages.<br />
Join us – and the thousands who come each year!<br />
A sleepy Kent town is about to<br />
be awoken. The Weald’s finest<br />
superheroes will descend to accept<br />
the challenge, and save the Weald<br />
from boredom. Feats of incredible<br />
strength and cunning.<br />
Glasses full of life-preserving<br />
fluids. Abundant solid-fuel filling<br />
stations. Capes and wearing pants<br />
on the outside are optional. Just<br />
come along, be a hero for a day<br />
and rule the Weald!<br />
KO. 1.00pm Saturday 20 May. Entry by<br />
donation. Venue: Cranbrook Rugby Club, Tomlin ground, Angley Road,<br />
Cranbrook, Kent.<br />
Look out for programmes in your local shops. Visit www.wealdgames.<br />
co.uk for more details.<br />
We are looking for tug-o-war teams, runners for the panto derby and<br />
volunteers to man the stands. Be part of a fun day – contact chris66bb@<br />
gmail if interested.<br />
If you would like to join the team organising Cranbrook Goes<br />
Nuts in May please contact: Gwenneth Heyking – 07721<br />
672348 / music@gbzmgmt.co.uk<br />
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16 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
EVENT NEWS<br />
Easter at St<br />
Dunstan’s<br />
Church<br />
So, another Easter beckons.<br />
If, among the chaos of Easter<br />
preparations, you would like<br />
some time for reflection and an<br />
alternative perspective, come and<br />
join us at St Dunstan’s Church.<br />
Whether you are familiar with the<br />
Easter story or a complete novice<br />
or you have rejected some or all<br />
of this in the past, please do come<br />
along. Everyone is always very<br />
welcome.<br />
Services leading up to Easter<br />
and what to expect:<br />
• Palm Sunday, 2 April 10.00am:<br />
A family-friendly service where<br />
the story of Jesus’ triumphant<br />
entry to Jerusalem is told.<br />
The Sissinghurst Flower Show Society runs three<br />
shows annually, held at Sissinghurst Primary<br />
School, and also has an informal social event with<br />
a guest speaker and light refreshments at its AGM<br />
each year.<br />
The AGM for <strong>2022</strong> was held in November and,<br />
after the formal business of the AGM, the society<br />
was treated to a very entertaining talk by Dan<br />
Luscombe who is the curator and collections<br />
manager of Bedgebury Pinetum. Dan has been a<br />
horticulturist all his life and through his job has<br />
met a wide variety of people from Blondie to the<br />
late Queen. He has travelled to many countries<br />
around the world as part of his work. One special<br />
trip was to Vietnam to climb the limestone Karst<br />
mountains where the few remaining examples of<br />
the Vietnamese Golden Cypress trees still grow.<br />
The trees were not reproducing well so Dan planted<br />
Palm crosses will be given out<br />
(lasting about 60 minutes).<br />
• Compline, Monday, Tuesday<br />
& Wednesday, 3, 4 & 5 April<br />
7.00pm: A service for prayer<br />
and quiet reflection (usually<br />
lasting about 30 mins).<br />
• Maundy Thursday, 6 April<br />
7.00pm: A solemn service<br />
as we prepare for the events<br />
leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.<br />
The service includes the<br />
stripping of the church altar<br />
symbolising Jesus’ humiliation<br />
and stripping before his death<br />
(lasting about 60 mins)<br />
• Good Friday, 7 April: Three<br />
solemn events to choose<br />
from, each focusing on the<br />
crucifixion of Jesus: Walk of<br />
Witness 9.30–11.00am: a walk<br />
with prayers, starting at St<br />
Theodore’s Catholic Church<br />
on the High Street, stopping<br />
off at the Congregational<br />
Church before finishing in St<br />
Dunstan’s for a short service,<br />
plus hot cross buns and coffee.<br />
Meditation 2.00pm: a time<br />
for quiet prayer and reflection<br />
(lasting about 60 mins). Sacred<br />
Music 6.00pm: a programme<br />
of music to reflect on the<br />
crucifixion of Jesus, (lasting<br />
about 60 mins).<br />
• Easter Eve, Saturday 8 April<br />
7.00pm: a time for further<br />
reflection and prayer (lasting<br />
about 60 mins).<br />
• Easter Sunday, 9 April<br />
10.00am: A celebration<br />
service for everyone including<br />
families. This is where we<br />
celebrate Jesus’ resurrection<br />
and the hope He gives to all of<br />
us. And, of course, don’t forget<br />
the Easter eggs! (usually lasts<br />
about 60 mins).<br />
Sissinghurst Flower Show Society AGM <strong>2022</strong><br />
some seeds at Bedgebury and was rewarded by six<br />
successful germinations.<br />
Dan was an interesting and most entertaining<br />
speaker and those that attended were rewarded<br />
with an offer from Dan of a private guided tour of<br />
Bedgebury in 2023.<br />
Show dates for 2023 are 25 March, 17 June and<br />
16 September with the AGM on 13 November 2023.<br />
The shows include categories for flowers, fruit,<br />
vegetables, craftwork, photography, cookery and<br />
flower arranging. There are classes for children and<br />
the school also displays some amazing artwork and<br />
any one is welcome to attend.<br />
If you live in Sissinghurst village and you<br />
would like to join the society, or want further<br />
details, please email SFSS@Mail.com with your<br />
name, address and contact details or visit www.<br />
sissinghurstflowershow.org<br />
CORONATION<br />
EVENTS<br />
April 29 – Coronation<br />
anthems: Handel’s Zadok The<br />
Priest has been performed at<br />
every coronation since 1727<br />
and will doubtless be sung on<br />
6 May. Cranbrook Choral will be<br />
performing it in a Concert at St<br />
Dunstan’s on 29th April, a week<br />
before the Coronation. They<br />
will also sing Handel’s three<br />
other coronation anthems,<br />
the Saint Nicolas Mass by<br />
Haydn and the orchestra<br />
will be playing Mozart’s Eine<br />
Kleine Nachtmusik to provide<br />
a stirring start to a memorable<br />
week.<br />
6 May – Coronation on the<br />
Big Screen, St Dunstan’s<br />
Church. Join in the service at<br />
Westminster<br />
8 May (Bank Holiday) –<br />
Join Cranbrook in Bloom to<br />
celebrate the coronation of<br />
King Charles III and Queen<br />
Consort, by ‘Helping Out’ with<br />
us and Wellbeing in the Weald.<br />
Everyone, including families,<br />
are welcome to come and learn<br />
about us, and how everyone<br />
can make a difference to our<br />
town by their own small or<br />
large contribution. We will<br />
meet at the church steps at<br />
10am. We could be painting,<br />
planting, weeding, litter<br />
picking or anything else that<br />
needs to be done. Please visit<br />
www.cranbrookinbloom.co.uk<br />
for more information.<br />
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The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 17
FEATURE<br />
Fixing the<br />
Beth Pedersen on action to get the<br />
right play equipment<br />
I<br />
moved to Cranbrook with<br />
my young son in 2020<br />
and was delighted to find<br />
a playground close by. It<br />
wasn’t as well equipped as I<br />
had hoped but it was okay. When<br />
I saw the wooden climbing frame<br />
had been removed, I hoped we<br />
would get a fabulous replacement<br />
to suit a range of ages. I was<br />
disappointed when the metal<br />
frame was built. From this point<br />
onwards, the only thing my son<br />
wants to use at the playground is<br />
the swing.<br />
The local playground is a key<br />
destination not just for my son<br />
but for me – to get chatting to<br />
other parents, whether just that<br />
day or to build new friendships;<br />
our visits are now so fleeting, we<br />
barely see anyone there.<br />
I spotted a post in the local<br />
Facebook group about frustration<br />
at the new equipment and the<br />
responses were numerous and<br />
angry. But there didn’t seem to<br />
be any action, so I decided to<br />
do something about it! Back on<br />
the local Facebook page I posted<br />
asking if others wanted to team<br />
up to try to make a change.<br />
A number of local parents<br />
responded and a few of us met<br />
“I posted it on Facebook and we shared it<br />
with local schools and groups, with support<br />
from the parish clerk, distributing fliers and<br />
putting up posters in the playgrounds”<br />
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contact David Hobden<br />
davidh@spacemarketing.co.uk<br />
and decided on a few action<br />
points – the first to compile a<br />
survey – let’s ask the community<br />
what they actually want in their<br />
local playground!<br />
I posted it on Facebook and<br />
we shared it with local schools<br />
and groups, with support from<br />
the parish clerk, distributing<br />
fliers and putting up posters<br />
in the playgrounds. 40 people<br />
responded on the first day<br />
and we now have around 120<br />
respondents. The views are<br />
clear – the community is angry,<br />
but more than that they are<br />
really sad that they don’t have<br />
a place to take their children<br />
or grandchildren. There is an<br />
overwhelming desire for a<br />
slide and a climbing frame that<br />
younger children can use. They<br />
want picnic tables and 43%<br />
said they don’t just go for their<br />
children’s wellbeing but they go<br />
for their own too.<br />
We’d like to see what<br />
funding the parish council<br />
can contribute to help expand<br />
the playground and add<br />
equipment; if we can’t get<br />
enough funds we’ll potentially<br />
look at a crowdfunding option or<br />
fundraise.<br />
Let’s listen to the views of<br />
our community, let’s make the<br />
playground a hub for play and<br />
friendships – a place for local<br />
people to really come together<br />
and not just for a five minute<br />
push on the swing.<br />
If you can help please contact<br />
bethapedersen@yahoo.co.uk or the<br />
parish council – clerk@cspc.org.uk<br />
18 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
LOCAL COMMENT<br />
MP HELEN GRANT<br />
Rural Crime<br />
Roundtable<br />
Weald of Kent<br />
residents<br />
may recall<br />
a campaign<br />
I launched<br />
in Cranbrook in July 2021<br />
to address rural crime<br />
and antisocial behaviour,<br />
working alongside the police,<br />
local councillors and other<br />
stakeholders. Work continues in<br />
that mission and most recently<br />
our attentions have been focused<br />
on one particular group of<br />
people who are being seriously<br />
affected – our Wealden farmers.<br />
A special roundtable meeting<br />
was held at the end of January,<br />
instigated by Marden farmer and<br />
borough councillor Claudine<br />
Russell, and hosted by me and<br />
my neighbouring Kent MP<br />
Helen Whately. Together with<br />
40 people from the police,<br />
the council and local farmers<br />
all from the Weald of Kent,<br />
“When asked to leave, they were very<br />
aggressive, refused to go and threatened<br />
violent recriminations from the hands of their<br />
family if they were reported”<br />
we gathered to hear of their<br />
experiences and to work on how<br />
to tackle the issues.<br />
A typical incident was<br />
described by one farmer who<br />
confronted two men who were<br />
pheasant poaching on her land.<br />
One had a shotgun, the other<br />
a catapult loaded with a ball<br />
bearing, both accompanied by<br />
a menacing Staffordshire bull<br />
terrier. When asked to leave,<br />
they were very aggressive,<br />
refused to go and threatened<br />
violent recriminations from the<br />
hands of their family if they<br />
were reported.<br />
When she did call the police,<br />
the two of them paid no heed to<br />
possible consequences, knowing<br />
that it would take at least an<br />
hour for an officer to turn up – if<br />
at all. The consensus from all<br />
famers at the meeting was that<br />
the 101 number was useless for<br />
these circumstances and 999 is<br />
not much better.<br />
Other issues raised included<br />
the theft of farm equipment<br />
and regular fly tipping using<br />
vehicles known to have no<br />
insurance.<br />
By way of a response, Police<br />
and Crime Commissioner<br />
Matthew Scott said that 195<br />
more police officers were being<br />
recruited for Kent, all of them<br />
going onto ‘The Beat’, and that<br />
every ward will have a named<br />
police officer attached.<br />
The Rural Task Force will also<br />
be expanded, and 101 wait times<br />
will be reduced by increasing<br />
resources and investment in the<br />
call centres. The PCC further<br />
pledged to hold the police to<br />
account on any crimes that were<br />
not adequately followed up.<br />
These actions will benefit the<br />
whole local rural community,<br />
not just farmers.<br />
By way of some immediate<br />
remedial action, I have written<br />
to Edward Argar MP, Minister<br />
of State at the Ministry<br />
of Justice, to explore how<br />
existing legal deterrents can be<br />
reinforced, perhaps with heavier<br />
sentencing, and seeking the<br />
re-categorisation of catapults<br />
as offensive weapons, to allow<br />
police a right of confiscation<br />
among other things.<br />
If readers of Cake magazine<br />
witness or suffer such crimes<br />
and behaviour, please report<br />
it. If there’s no follow-up let<br />
me have your crime reference<br />
number and I will take it up with<br />
the PCC. For more guidance<br />
have a look at the back page of<br />
my leaflet, first published in July<br />
2021) here www.helengrant.<br />
org/news/cranbrook-antisocialbehaviour-leaflet<br />
20 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
LOCAL COMMENT<br />
PARISH WARDEN’S COLUMN<br />
The Green, Green<br />
Grass of Home<br />
I<br />
hope that by the time you<br />
are reading this article the<br />
weather will have warmed<br />
up. We are certainly<br />
having climatic change –<br />
from extreme cold to extreme<br />
heat and back – throughout<br />
the year. But what would we do<br />
without our wonderful British<br />
weather to talk and moan<br />
about?<br />
The onset of spring signals<br />
new beginnings for plant and<br />
animal life. Looking around, the<br />
daffodils are well advanced. I<br />
hope they don’t suffer too much<br />
“ It is difficult to get a balance, as different<br />
areas need to be maintained in different ways,<br />
considering the weather, wildlife and the needs<br />
of the users of each area”<br />
from a late frost.<br />
If we get wet and warm<br />
weather, the grass will grow fast.<br />
This will make mowing difficult,<br />
as it had to be stopped early<br />
because of the wet autumn.<br />
Once cutting begins, I shall be<br />
working closely with the parish<br />
council contractors, monitoring<br />
the mowing. It is difficult to<br />
get a balance, as different<br />
areas need to be maintained in<br />
different ways, considering the<br />
weather, wildlife and the needs<br />
of the users of each area.<br />
There are also those whose<br />
opinions may differ from the<br />
guidelines set out for the<br />
maintenance of the green stuff.<br />
Grounds may look untidy as<br />
mowing begins, especially if<br />
there is a lot of grass lying<br />
around. This is unfortunate.<br />
The cost of collecting grass as<br />
it is cut is far from economical.<br />
Cutting more often and getting<br />
the right height on the mowers<br />
can help if the weather agrees to<br />
cooperate.<br />
Between all of us we try and<br />
keep Cranbrook looking good.<br />
It takes a while to get the town<br />
looking at its best, so please<br />
bear with us. Ivor Hatcher<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 21
LOCAL HISTORY<br />
The Problem with Banks<br />
Ann Historian takes<br />
us for a swift tour of<br />
banking in Cranbrook<br />
We have just<br />
heard the news<br />
that NatWest<br />
bank in<br />
Cranbrook will<br />
be closing. This is sad because<br />
we all prefer the familiar faces of<br />
their staff to the faceless robotic<br />
telephone messaging and lack<br />
of assistance in an emergency.<br />
But banks and their problems<br />
are nothing new in Cranbrook!<br />
Let me take you for a short walk<br />
through the history of banking<br />
in our town, right from the<br />
beginning.<br />
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At the earliest stage possible, you will speak directly<br />
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The first bank opened in 1803 in the building<br />
on the corner of the High Street and Stone<br />
Street, now “Country Style”, formerly known<br />
as “Susan Dean”.<br />
The first bank opened in 1803<br />
in the building on the corner of<br />
the High Street and Stone Street,<br />
now “Country Style”, formerly<br />
known as “Susan Dean”. It was<br />
a branch of Rochester Bank,<br />
opened to service the growing<br />
wealth of hop farmers in the<br />
area. It didn’t last more than a<br />
year! The second bank in the<br />
town was the Cranbrook and<br />
Weald Bank, based in what is<br />
now Quilters Dry Cleaners (best<br />
dry cleaners in the world!). They<br />
spent a lot of money giving the<br />
outside the “Pantiles Look”. In<br />
those days, the average annual<br />
wage in England was £42 which,<br />
compared to the rest of Britain<br />
at £23/10s, wasn’t too bad. If you<br />
rented a four-bedroom house<br />
in the 1800s, the rent would be<br />
about £4/10s a month. If only!<br />
The Cranbrook Bank failed as<br />
well. Then was the turn of John<br />
Wilmshurst, of Osborne Lodge in<br />
Beggars Row (renamed Waterloo<br />
Road after Wellington’s great<br />
victory in 1815), and William<br />
Hague to set up a new bank in<br />
Cranbrook. Hague lived in the<br />
existing NatWest Bank building<br />
on the corner of Brewhouse<br />
Lane, and housed there the<br />
bank thrived for 10 years after<br />
the Napoleonic wars. They were<br />
taken over in 1847 by London<br />
and County Bank, their location<br />
at Brewhouse Lane became<br />
known as Bank Street. The bank<br />
merged with the Westminster<br />
Bank in 1867. Westminster<br />
Bank merged with the National<br />
Provincial Bank in 1970 to<br />
become National Westminster<br />
Bank; and now they’re off as well.<br />
22 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
STAPLEHURST COMMUNITY CHIROPRACTIC<br />
Larchmere House is set in the pretty<br />
Wealden village of Frittenden providing<br />
24-hour nursing Care. Our team of friendly,<br />
qualified Nurses and Care Staff are<br />
committed to providing the highest<br />
standards of nursing care for up to 30<br />
residents in a safe & caring environment.<br />
• Delicious home cooked food, all dietary<br />
needs catered for • Daily activities,<br />
entertainment & regular outings •<br />
Consistently ‘Good’ CQC Inspections.<br />
Please feel free to contact the home on the<br />
number below if you have any questions<br />
and take a look at our Face Book page for<br />
an insight of activities at Larchmere House<br />
BIDDENDEN ROAD, FRITTENDEN, KENT TN17 2EN<br />
Find us on Face Book • www.larchmere.co.uk<br />
Please contact Nikki (Manager) on<br />
01580 852335 OR<br />
admin@larchmere.co.uk<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 23
LETTINGS AND SALES PROPERTY EXPERTS<br />
Local specialists with a network of London & Regional Offices<br />
FOR YOUR FREE MARKET APPRAISAL CALL US TODAY<br />
Lettings 01580 720400 ∙ Sales 01580 720000<br />
cranbrook@jackson-stops.co.uk<br />
www.jackson-stops.co.uk<br />
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24 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
LOCAL HISTORY<br />
Remembering ‘Billy’<br />
the Blacksmith<br />
I<br />
remember Billy, his<br />
forge was next to my<br />
grandmother’s sweet<br />
shop on St David’s Bridge.<br />
William ‘Billy’ Rivers<br />
was born in Cranbrook on 18<br />
September 1896, the family<br />
were living in Rangers Row in<br />
Bank Street. In the early 1900s,<br />
the family moved to London.<br />
However, having left school at<br />
the age of 12, Billy returned to<br />
the area to begin his smithing life<br />
as an apprentice to his uncle, Mr<br />
J. Ealding, in Frittenden.<br />
Following the outbreak of<br />
the First World War, although<br />
underage, he volunteered. Having<br />
joined the Buffs (Royal East Kent<br />
Regiment), he transferred to the<br />
Liverpool Scottish Regiment<br />
where he served as a farrier,<br />
caring for the war horses in<br />
Belgium and France.<br />
After the war he returned to<br />
work for his uncle but now in<br />
Cranbrook where Mr Ealding had<br />
purchased the forge on St David’s<br />
Bridge from Mr Malpass.<br />
On 2 June1923, Billy married<br />
his childhood sweetheart Lillian<br />
Bull at St Barnabas’ church in<br />
Tunbridge Wells. They began<br />
married life at number 1 Borough<br />
Cottages, The Hill. Billy and<br />
Lillian had three daughters:<br />
Eileen, Doreen and Regina, who<br />
was affectionately known as<br />
Paddy.<br />
Though small and slightly<br />
built, Billy worked hard to<br />
provide for his family. Starting<br />
at 6am, he would light the fires<br />
ready for the horses to arrive at<br />
the forge for shoeing: a long and<br />
arduous task, requiring immense<br />
skill. Shoeing a horse took about<br />
an hour and a half. Children<br />
loved to watch Billy work, myself<br />
included. If there was a lull in the<br />
horses to shoe, steel was cut and<br />
tools were sharpened. He was<br />
often assisted by the many men<br />
were who out of work.<br />
Other blacksmith tasks<br />
included the replacing of the<br />
metal band on cart wheels. Billy<br />
also cast gate hinges and curtain<br />
rails. He provided the ironwork<br />
for the swings on the Ballfield<br />
and helped to craft light-fittings<br />
for St Dunstan’s church –<br />
appropriately because St Dunstan<br />
was a blacksmith. Unfortunately,<br />
these lights have since been<br />
removed to meet current health<br />
and safety requirements.<br />
During the 1939–45 war he<br />
volunteered as an ARP warden,<br />
watching for fires and bombs.<br />
Billy purchased the forge in<br />
the 1940s, but trade had begun<br />
to decline, as mechanisation<br />
replaced the trusty horse-drawn<br />
ways of previous generations.<br />
Failing health gradually took<br />
its toll. Billy decided to hang up<br />
his tools at Christmas 1962, but<br />
on 29 November, he was taken ill<br />
after shoeing what was to be his<br />
last horse. Billy suffered a fatal<br />
heart attack and died an hour<br />
later at his home, Linden Lea, in<br />
Benenden. He was laid to rest in<br />
Golford cemetery, his anvil and<br />
tools placed on his grave as a<br />
reminder of the service he gave<br />
to the community. Sadly, that<br />
monument was stolen and never<br />
recovered.<br />
The forge building still stands<br />
today, not as a smithy but as a<br />
poignant reminder of past skills<br />
and crafts.<br />
Researched and written by<br />
Rosemary Swan with kind<br />
permission from Billy’s<br />
granddaughter Caroline Rivers.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 25
OUT & ABOUT<br />
Angley<br />
Woods<br />
TO FLISHINGHURST<br />
SPRATSBOURNE<br />
A<br />
Walker has drawn this<br />
diagram showing the larger<br />
paths of Angley Woods to<br />
help anyone who is not<br />
familiar with its geography.<br />
As Angley is a working forest contractors<br />
fell different areas of mature timber so the<br />
paths can come and go. The main circular<br />
track (about 2 miles / 3.3Kms and shown<br />
in red) however is maintained to link these<br />
areas and provide extraction routes for<br />
the timber vehicles. This can provide an<br />
easy walk for the newcomer to the woods<br />
and provide a basis from which to explore<br />
the woods more widely. The public are<br />
welcome to use these privately owned<br />
woods for their recreation, obviously with<br />
due reference to the Country Code.<br />
TO<br />
GOUDHURST<br />
GLASSENBURY ROAD<br />
HIGH WEALD TRAIL<br />
ELECTRICITY<br />
SUB STATION<br />
HUGGINS HALL<br />
TURNDEN ROAD<br />
SCHOOL<br />
A229 ANGLEY ROAD<br />
NEW ROAD<br />
RUGBY<br />
CLUB<br />
Save our Swifts<br />
Surveys in Cranbrook have revealed a<br />
dwindling population of swifts. The UK<br />
has seen a 53 per cent decline since the<br />
1990s; joining sparrows and starlings<br />
on the “red-list” according to the British<br />
Trust for Ornithology.<br />
Edward Mayer of swift-conservation.<br />
org gave a talk at the Vestry Hall<br />
aimed at encouraging interest in these<br />
spectacular birds among local people.<br />
He explained the reasons for their<br />
decline: climate change, the demise in<br />
insect populations and the lack of nest<br />
sites. However, he said, “Despite swift<br />
numbers plummeting, they’re a bird we<br />
can help. We can adapt our houses and<br />
by welcoming swifts, educate people<br />
around us.”<br />
These iconic summer visitors make<br />
the 6,000-mile journey from Africa,<br />
where they over-winter, to reach our<br />
shores in early May. Here they nest and<br />
raise a family before flying south again<br />
in early August. It’s only when nesting<br />
that these incredible birds land, the<br />
remaining nine months are spent on the<br />
wing: eating, sleeping and breeding.<br />
Swifts are loyal to their traditional<br />
nest sites but modern homes are well<br />
insulated and older houses are being<br />
renovated with holes and gaps sealed,<br />
leaving these birds homeless. Cheryl<br />
Mason of High Weald Swifts said: “The<br />
good news is that swifts will adopt<br />
specially designed nest boxes and by<br />
providing them we can start to stabilise<br />
their numbers.”<br />
Celebrate swifts and create a home for<br />
them to come back to each year. Better<br />
still, why not buy a box as a present?<br />
Need advice? Email: highwealdswifts@<br />
gmail.com<br />
26 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
OUT & ABOUT<br />
Crane Valley Nature Reserve<br />
Crane Valley Local<br />
Nature Reserve<br />
is situated on the<br />
floodplain of the<br />
Crane Brook adjacent<br />
to the recreation ground below<br />
the Co-op. With a variety of wet<br />
meadow, woodland, scrub and<br />
stream habitats, this 1.5ha site is<br />
a compact but diverse haven for<br />
wildlife. It is also a great place for<br />
people to spend time enjoying<br />
their local greenspaces.<br />
The Kent High Weald<br />
Partnership (KHWP) manages<br />
Crane Valley Nature Reserve<br />
on behalf of Cranbrook and<br />
Sissinghurst Parish Council and<br />
is always on the hunt for<br />
local volunteers.<br />
Work tasks range<br />
from the annual<br />
late summer<br />
meadow cut to<br />
boardwalk<br />
repairs and litter<br />
picks. Volunteering<br />
is a great way to get<br />
outdoors learning about your<br />
local nature and greenspaces. It<br />
is also a relaxed and enjoyable<br />
way to stay active all year round<br />
meeting other like-minded<br />
people. Days run from 10am till<br />
3pm with all training and tools<br />
provided by KHWP staff as well<br />
as refreshments at a tea break!<br />
For more information about<br />
volunteering dates and how to<br />
get involved at Crane Valley<br />
email Steph at steph.dowling@<br />
kent.gov.uk<br />
Steph Dowling, KHWP<br />
partnership officer<br />
Benenden School<br />
Music Events<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> Concerts<br />
Gardening<br />
Lawn Care<br />
Landscaping<br />
Tree Surgery<br />
21<br />
APRIL<br />
1:45 - 2:25PM<br />
Organ Recital - Francesca Massey<br />
25<br />
APRIL<br />
Lunchtime Conert<br />
1:45 - 2:25PM<br />
Matilda Lloyd (Trumpet)<br />
and David Bednall (Organ)<br />
These concerts will take place in the<br />
Centenary Hall within Benenden School,<br />
and admission is free on the door.<br />
MORE<br />
INFORMATION<br />
01580 236685<br />
music@beneden.school<br />
Fully Qualified & Insured<br />
Office: 01580 713495<br />
Mobile: 07838 229482<br />
www.kentgardening.com<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 27
Caring for you at home<br />
Well established, family run business,<br />
providing care for people living in the Weald<br />
of Kent. Our tailored service allows you to live<br />
at home with independence and dignity.<br />
Call Karen Irving at our Tenterden office to<br />
arrange a no obligation visit.<br />
01580 762202<br />
www.carecompany.care<br />
SPONJEM UK Limited<br />
Capital Allowances Consultants<br />
Helping people in the area save money upon<br />
their commercial buildings such as offices,<br />
shops, restaurants, hotels and holiday let cottages<br />
For Information contact Paul Jempson on<br />
Tel: 0800 954 5081 Mob: 07957 822110<br />
Email: mail@sponjem.co.uk<br />
Formerly known as Hartley Dyke Farm Shop<br />
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables • Flowers • Plants<br />
•Shrubs • Hot & Cold Foods • Drinks<br />
• Groceries & Delicatessen<br />
Charity Farm, Swattenden Lane, Cranbrook, TN173PS<br />
Tel: 01580 712546<br />
www.cranbrookfarmshop.co.uk<br />
28 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
MUSEUM MATTERS<br />
Cranbrook’s<br />
RIGHT: Heritage plaque<br />
on <strong>Spring</strong> Cottage – the<br />
site of the town’s first<br />
police station<br />
Heritage Plaques<br />
The Old Police Station<br />
Continuing our<br />
exploration of the<br />
Cranbrook heritage<br />
plaques, this time we<br />
take you to the pretty<br />
cottage on The Hill, opposite the<br />
Strict Baptist Chapel car park,<br />
which was the town’s first police<br />
station.<br />
The lock up – now found in the museum garden.<br />
Prior to its construction,<br />
Cranbrook had a ‘lock up’, a<br />
sturdy shed with no comforts,<br />
where the drunk or disorderly<br />
might spend a night sobering<br />
up and reflecting on the<br />
consequences of their behaviour.<br />
It was located at St David’s<br />
Bridge near the entrance to the<br />
Police Station in Waterloo Road<br />
Tanyard car park but now stands<br />
in the museum garden.<br />
This was replaced by the new<br />
police station on The Hill in<br />
1850, which housed a police<br />
constable and had two prison<br />
cells. It had a short life however,<br />
as in 1863 a new and much larger<br />
police station was constructed<br />
in Waterloo Road on a site which<br />
is now occupied by the dining<br />
hall of Cranbrook School. The<br />
number of police constables<br />
increased dramatically along<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
For more information<br />
see Glimpses of<br />
Cranbrook (available in<br />
Pages Newsagents) or<br />
visit our website www.<br />
cranbrookmuseum.org/<br />
education for a short video in<br />
the series ‘Cranbook’s Local<br />
History for Children’ on Crime<br />
and Punishment, or visit the<br />
museum when it opens for the<br />
2023 season from 1 April.<br />
with the addition of five<br />
sergeants, a superintendent<br />
and a detective. The station<br />
served the town and surrounding<br />
villages for a hundred years.<br />
Inevitably modernisation<br />
lead to a new facility being<br />
built which remains today<br />
in Wheatfield Drive, with a<br />
reminder of its past existence<br />
being the old blue light which<br />
hung outside, now on display at<br />
the museum.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 29
Call Cranbrook<br />
01580 715 904<br />
Call Ashford<br />
01233 660 851<br />
MR NOAH’S<br />
NURSERY SCHOOL CIC<br />
https://mrnoahs.org<br />
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DAY<br />
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30 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
Kids' Corner<br />
Colour<br />
me in<br />
Start<br />
Puzzle<br />
time<br />
Finish<br />
Spot 10 differences<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 31
32 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023<br />
High Street, Cranbrook,<br />
Kent, TN173RB<br />
Telephone: 01580 715008<br />
reception@hammondoptical.co.uk<br />
hammondoptical.co.uk
HOME<br />
Let’s Cook<br />
Simnel Cake<br />
Simnel Cake is a delicious<br />
Easter classic with a rich layer<br />
of marzipan paste over a light<br />
fruitcake. You can buy the<br />
marzipan individually if you<br />
wish to simplify the ingredients<br />
and preparation time. The 11<br />
marzipan balls on the top of<br />
the cake represent the Apostles<br />
(minus Judas).<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
450gms/1lb marzipan<br />
175gms/6oz soft brown sugar<br />
175gms/6oz self-raising flour<br />
175gms/6oz butter at room<br />
temperature<br />
3 large eggs<br />
pinch of salt<br />
350 gms/12oz mixed fruit<br />
(currants, raisins and sultanas)<br />
Optional 1/2tsp ground mixed<br />
spice<br />
1 lemon grated peel no juice<br />
2tbsp apricot jam<br />
55gms/2oz chopped mixed peel<br />
1 egg for glaze<br />
METHOD<br />
1 Grease and line an 18cm/7inch<br />
cake tin. Pre heat oven to<br />
150C/130C fan/Gas 2. Cut out a<br />
circle of baking parchment to the<br />
circumference of your cake tin<br />
plus 1cm to use as a template for<br />
the marzipan circles below.<br />
2 Cream the butter and sugar<br />
together in a large bowl until pale<br />
and fluffy and then gradually beat<br />
in the eggs one at a time until<br />
thoroughly blended and then sift<br />
in the flour and salt a little at a<br />
time. Add the mixed spice at the<br />
same time (optional). Add all the<br />
remaining ingredients – mixed<br />
fruit, lemon zest and mixed peel<br />
and stir in.<br />
3 Spoon out half the mixture into<br />
a greased cake tin and cover with<br />
a circle of almond paste. Then add<br />
the rest of the mixture over the<br />
paste and smooth over leaving a<br />
little dip in the centre to allow for<br />
the mixture to rise. Bake for 1 3/4<br />
hours at 150C/300 F Gas 2<br />
4 Use a skewer in the middle of<br />
the cake to test – it will come out<br />
clean of mixture if it is cooked<br />
then take the cake out of the oven<br />
and place on a rack to cool.<br />
5 Brush the apricot jam across<br />
the top of the cake. Take the<br />
remaining almond paste and<br />
divide into two. Roll out one half<br />
of the marzipan to form a circle<br />
to cover the jam and use the<br />
remaining half to form 11 small<br />
balls of paste for decorating.<br />
6 With a sharp knife make a criss<br />
cross pattern across the top. Brush<br />
all the marzipan topping including<br />
the balls with beaten egg and<br />
then place the cake under a hot<br />
grill to turn the marzipan golden<br />
brown. Keep a watchful eye to<br />
prevent burning.<br />
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The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 33
BADGER’S PLOT<br />
this period, runner bean, French bean and<br />
cucumber. If weather conditions are mild<br />
enough, it is possible to plant celery, celeriac<br />
and courgette, outside. Delay, if there is any<br />
risk of frost.<br />
LATE SPRING<br />
<strong>Spring</strong> Musings<br />
Sowing Under Glass<br />
Either in the greenhouse or outside cold<br />
frame, it might be possible to sow, in trays,<br />
kale, purple sprouting broccoli, savoy cabbage,<br />
swede and lettuce.<br />
Planting Outside<br />
Continue planting out potatoes and if you<br />
have any beetroot or peas ready from earlier<br />
sowings under glass, they can be planted out,<br />
although peas will need to be protected from<br />
birds – fleece is ideal as it will also help to<br />
keep the ground warm.<br />
The unpredictable nature of our<br />
climate and weather patterns is<br />
best illustrated by the difficulties<br />
gardeners face during the<br />
springtime. Whilst<br />
the days are certainly getting<br />
longer there is the ever<br />
present threat of snow,<br />
frosts and heavy rain. It<br />
is even possible to see<br />
higher than average<br />
temperatures. As usual,<br />
the tasks for period have<br />
been split into three: early,<br />
mid and late spring. Subject<br />
to the weather, of course!<br />
EARLY SPRING<br />
This is the start of a really busy period for<br />
vegetable gardeners especially those who<br />
have spent the winter months planning their<br />
plot for the coming year.<br />
Sowing Under Glass<br />
If you have the greenhouse, get started with<br />
tomato, courgette, squash, chilli, pepper,<br />
aubergine, pea, broccoli, celery and beetroot.<br />
I prefer to grow my onions from seed<br />
rather than sets, so include them<br />
too.<br />
Sowing Outside<br />
The weather will determine<br />
if conditions are right for<br />
sowing parsnip, early carrot<br />
and radish as well as your<br />
onion and shallot sets. In<br />
addition, early potatoes can go<br />
in and It’s not too late to sow<br />
broad bean.<br />
MID SPRING<br />
With the availability of a greenhouse, start<br />
sowings of Brussels sprout, autumn cabbage<br />
and sweetcorn and, towards the end of<br />
TOP TIPS!<br />
If you like the idea of companion<br />
planting on your plot, now is the time to<br />
start sowing seeds in trays. Companion<br />
plants will help deter certain pests<br />
and encourage growth. Why not try<br />
nasturtiums (attract blackfly away from<br />
broad beans and runner beans), French<br />
marigold (strong smell deters carrot root<br />
fly) and poached egg plant ( attracts<br />
hoverflies and ladybirds that feed on<br />
aphids).<br />
Many vegetable gardeners now<br />
include a wild flower area to encourage<br />
pollinators, but have you thought<br />
about growing flowers that are edible<br />
? Here’s some suggestions: hollyhock<br />
and cornflower (flowers), nigella and<br />
flax (seeds), dill and fennel (leaves and<br />
flowers).<br />
34 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
BADGER’S PLOT<br />
on<br />
the<br />
Jobs plot<br />
COMPOST<br />
As promised in the last issue,<br />
we are going to look at what<br />
happens in the compost heap<br />
and how it might be managed.<br />
Having constructed a suitable<br />
sized container, garden weeds,<br />
trimmings and vegetable matter<br />
can now be loaded. Within<br />
a short space of time your<br />
heap will start the process of<br />
decomposition which, later on,<br />
will help provide a useful food<br />
for the soil and plants as well as<br />
for the microrganisms that will<br />
start to populate your heap. This<br />
process starts more quickly in<br />
the summer months when there<br />
is a higher proportion of green<br />
matter available. Gardeners tend<br />
to label it green or brown, with<br />
brown being dead or dry matter<br />
such as leaves. Keep adding to<br />
your heap and you might notice<br />
that it is starting to warm up.<br />
Don’t worry this is all part of the<br />
process.<br />
As to management, previous<br />
issues have explained the<br />
dangers of throwing weeds with<br />
seed heads on to your heap,<br />
and anything you know to be<br />
diseased can be added to the list<br />
of exclusions.<br />
Oxygen is a vital ingredient<br />
too and it needs to be able to<br />
circulate, which is why turning<br />
the heap every couple of months<br />
will ensure this happens. The big<br />
question is, when will it be ready?<br />
Good compost is dark brown and<br />
moist and if all goes well you<br />
should see this after about a year.<br />
We will return to this subject in a<br />
future issue.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 35
Whatever you<br />
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I am here to help you in<br />
any way that I can. If there<br />
is an issue of concern to<br />
you, where you believe<br />
I can assist, or if you<br />
would like to arrange a<br />
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email me at helen.grant.<br />
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telephone 020 7219 7107.<br />
helengrant.org<br />
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36 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
LITERATURE<br />
<strong>Spring</strong><br />
Reading<br />
Christine Newman provides some reading suggestions to<br />
lift your spirits and bring some sunshine into your life!<br />
All titles below are<br />
from Oxfam, at 99p<br />
each at the time<br />
of going to press.<br />
Check out Oxfam<br />
and Hospice in the Weald for<br />
new reading material each week<br />
and don’t forget the local library<br />
and community bookstall in the<br />
telephone box opposite Rammell<br />
Field too. Why not try out some<br />
new authors this spring?<br />
THE MUSIC<br />
SHOP BY<br />
RACHEL<br />
JOYCE<br />
It’s 1988.<br />
Frank owns<br />
a music<br />
shop. It is<br />
jam-packed<br />
with records<br />
of every speed, size and genre.<br />
Classical, jazz, punk – as long as<br />
it's vinyl he sells it. Day after day<br />
Frank finds his customers the<br />
music they need. Then into his<br />
life walks Ilse Brauchmann. Ilse<br />
asks Frank to teach her about<br />
music. His instinct is to turn and<br />
run. And yet he is drawn to this<br />
strangely still, mysterious woman<br />
with her pea-green coat and her<br />
eyes as black as vinyl.<br />
SONGBIRDS BY CHRISTY LEFTERI<br />
Inspired by true stories of love and loss,<br />
hope and refuge, this evocative story from<br />
the bestselling author of The Beekeeper of<br />
Aleppo, Christy Lefteri, is an illuminating<br />
tale of the power of the human spirit, and<br />
the enduring love of a mother for her child,<br />
that will stay with you long after you’ve<br />
finish reading it.<br />
THE KEEPER OF STORIES<br />
BY SALLY PAGE<br />
Janice can’t recall what started<br />
her collection. Maybe it was<br />
in a fragment of conversation<br />
overheard as she cleaned<br />
a sink? Before long (as she<br />
dusted a sitting room or<br />
defrosted a fridge) she noticed<br />
people were telling her their<br />
stories. Perhaps they always<br />
had done, but now it is<br />
different, now the stories are<br />
reaching out to her…<br />
LAST<br />
ORDERS BY<br />
GRAHAM<br />
SWIFT<br />
Four men<br />
once close to<br />
Jack Dodds,<br />
a London<br />
butcher,<br />
meet to carry out his peculiar last<br />
wish: to have his ashes scattered<br />
into the sea at Margate. A comic<br />
and heart-stopping, affectionate<br />
and wise, uplifting tale of true<br />
friendship.<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 37
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38 The Cake • Winter <strong>2022</strong>
LEGAL ADVICE<br />
Ask our Friendly<br />
Experts<br />
Does my Divorce give me a<br />
Financial Clean Break?<br />
It’s a commonly held<br />
misconception that the<br />
divorce resolves all issues<br />
between the parties.<br />
However, this is not the<br />
case. Please note that the new<br />
terminology of the Court which<br />
refers to the Final Order of<br />
Divorce (which used to be called<br />
the Decree Absolute) is not also<br />
a Final Order in relation to the<br />
finances.<br />
The divorce dissolves the<br />
marriage, relieving the parties<br />
of their obligation to live with<br />
one another and negating the<br />
duties of marriage; it enables the<br />
parties to remarry. However, it<br />
does not resolve the finances and<br />
unless there is a Final (Financial<br />
Remedy) Order of the Court –<br />
which Order will be by Consent<br />
if there is agreement – then the<br />
couples’ respective financial<br />
claims in the marriage remain<br />
live. This presents a risk to both<br />
parties as either can make a claim<br />
against the other for the full raft<br />
of financial relief in the future.<br />
The risk is claims can be made<br />
at any later stage for orders for<br />
income, property adjustment<br />
and lump sums, with regards<br />
pensions or inheritance. Whilst a<br />
long delay in making a claim will<br />
be considered as a circumstance<br />
by the Court when it looks at<br />
a claim, it will not negate that<br />
claim and may have limited<br />
impact on the outcome.<br />
Beware, also that if one<br />
party re-marries, the other<br />
party, presuming they remain<br />
unmarried, will still be able to<br />
bring financial claims relating to<br />
the marriage against their former<br />
spouse and these claims will<br />
trump those of the new spouse.<br />
This can be significant where<br />
property is involved particularly<br />
if the married couple reside there<br />
as it will be open to claims by the<br />
former spouse, or indeed where<br />
other property is owned and<br />
may be the source of income, a<br />
rental, for example, and both that<br />
property and income may become<br />
a source of claim. Income,<br />
savings, pensions and inheritance<br />
are all at risk.<br />
It is always advisable to sort<br />
out the money side of things<br />
when you divorce and if you did<br />
not do so at the time then to do<br />
so as swiftly after as possible.<br />
Do get a Final Financial Remedy<br />
Order (if by agreement referred to<br />
as a Consent Order).<br />
MARGARET SCULPHER<br />
Please do take up the opportunity to see our<br />
Margaret Sculpher (telephone: 01892 502 354,<br />
email: msculpher@bussmurton.co.uk) at our<br />
Cranbrook office for a free, no obligation half hour<br />
of advice to discuss these issues.<br />
Clermont House, High Street,<br />
Cranbrook, TN17 3DN<br />
01580 712 215 or info@<br />
bussmurton.co.uk<br />
www.bussmurton.co.uk<br />
GETTY IMAGES<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 39
Update<br />
What your Local Planning<br />
Committee does for You<br />
As a parish councillor, who<br />
sits on the Cranbrook and<br />
Sissinghurst Parish Council<br />
Planning and Preservation<br />
Management Committee, I was<br />
recently asked what is we actually do! So, I<br />
thought I would briefly explain the workings<br />
of this important local body.<br />
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC)<br />
planning department send us all the local<br />
parish planning applications. Our purpose<br />
is to discuss each application, and any<br />
associated matters it brings up concerning<br />
the parish, and take a considered view<br />
in relation to the passing or rejecting of<br />
applications from a local viewpoint. Our<br />
views are then sent over to the planning<br />
department.<br />
Members are encouraged to attend<br />
every meeting, which are held every two<br />
weeks, to ensure all views are taken into<br />
consideration. We have to discuss all the<br />
applications as soon as possible, as there<br />
are time restrictions for decision making.<br />
Councillors are required to declare any<br />
interest or lobbying to the parish clerk.<br />
We look at the following material<br />
planning considerations for each<br />
application, such as but not limited to:<br />
location, plans of the proposed works<br />
or change, the effect on the immediate<br />
location, scale and dominance, layout and<br />
density of buildings, appearance and design<br />
of development and materials proposed,<br />
highway and parking issues, drainage and<br />
flood risk, effect on listed buildings and<br />
conservation areas, effect on trees and<br />
wildlife/nature conservation, economic<br />
impact and sustainability, government<br />
policy, proposals in the Local Development<br />
“Personal circumstances<br />
are generally not a planning<br />
consideration”<br />
Plan and previous planning decisions<br />
(including appeal decisions).<br />
There are also some things we cannot<br />
take into consideration, such as and again<br />
not limited to: who the applicant is/the<br />
applicant’s background, loss of views, loss<br />
of property value, loss of trade or increased<br />
competition, strength or volume of local<br />
opposition, maintenance of property,<br />
boundary disputes, covenants or other<br />
The proposed Turnden development<br />
property rights and rights of way. Personal<br />
circumstances are generally not a planning<br />
consideration.<br />
As you can see, we have quite a lot<br />
to consider and check out with each<br />
application and, as you would expect, this<br />
involves quite a bit of discussion between<br />
the committee members in order to reach a<br />
fair decision.<br />
After all this hard work we have to<br />
realise that we, the parish, can only make<br />
comments and recommendations to TWBC,<br />
as it is TWBC who make the final decision<br />
(which may, of course, not be the one we<br />
recommended).<br />
Cllr Colin Gilbert<br />
40 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
No rise in Precept in 2023–24<br />
Precept n. (in England) an order for collection or payment of<br />
money under a rate – The Concise Oxford Dictionary<br />
We all know what the<br />
council tax is, it’s a tax<br />
on domestic property<br />
collected by the local<br />
authority (in our case,<br />
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council) to pay<br />
for local services such as schools, policing,<br />
rubbish collection, roads and street lighting<br />
etc. Some of the money collected is retained<br />
by TWBC, some goes to Kent County<br />
Council and some goes to the Kent Police<br />
and Crime Commissioner.<br />
Included within the amount collected<br />
is a figure provided to the parish council<br />
to bridge the gap between its estimated<br />
expenditure and income during the financial<br />
year beginning in April 2023, known as the<br />
precept. The parish council does not receive<br />
“The parish council is in the<br />
same difficult position as<br />
everybody else, with costs<br />
having risen significantly<br />
over the last year, a situation<br />
that is likely to continue, at<br />
least, over the year ahead”<br />
any direct funding from central government<br />
and so the precept is a hugely important<br />
part of its income.<br />
The parish council is in the same difficult<br />
position as everybody else, with costs<br />
having risen significantly over the last<br />
year, a situation that is likely to continue,<br />
at least, over the year ahead. Historically,<br />
the precept has risen by an average of 3.6<br />
per cent each year over the last 10 years,<br />
but with anticipated increased demands<br />
from all the other beneficiaries of the<br />
council tax, the parish council felt that it<br />
could not add to the burden of our already<br />
hard-pressed parishioners and has decided<br />
not to increase the precept at all this year.<br />
Like any financially prudent organisation<br />
we have put by some reserves in previous<br />
years, to help out on a ‘rainy day’ (and it’s<br />
now pouring hard!). This year we will use<br />
some of these reserves, and some other<br />
cost-cutting opportunities, to ensure that,<br />
in spite of the trend in rising prices, the<br />
precept will remain the same as last year.<br />
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<br />
This May, all 15 seats on the Cranbrook & Sissinghurst<br />
Parish Council will be up for election<br />
<br />
<br />
– Kent Association of Local Councils will be<br />
hosting an online evening awareness event on<br />
Tuesday 21 March, 7–8pm. This event includes two<br />
brief talks about the role of Local Councillor<br />
and the rewarding nature. Register at<br />
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/becoming-a-local-councillor-tickets-494996236067<br />
clerk@csps.org.uk<br />
<br />
<br />
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council-elections-england<br />
The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023 41
THE CAKE MEETS...<br />
Francesca<br />
Shaw<br />
The Cake meets Francesca Shaw, the new head teacher at Cranbrook Primary School<br />
Francesca was born in<br />
Marden and educated<br />
at Invicta Grammar in<br />
Maidstone and Christ<br />
Church University<br />
in Canterbury. Having spent<br />
some time in Madrid, she<br />
specialised in language teaching<br />
during her university studies.<br />
Francesca started teaching<br />
at Wateringbury Church of<br />
England Primary before joining<br />
Cranbrook Primary in 2017 as<br />
head of English and EYFS/Key<br />
Stage1.<br />
She took over the headship<br />
in January this year and is keen<br />
to maintain the current 'Good'<br />
OFSTED rating. The school<br />
celebrates the achievements of<br />
all pupils, encouraging children<br />
of all abilities and ensuring<br />
children learn to become<br />
individuals, ready to live<br />
independent lives.<br />
Francesca aims to ensure<br />
the wellbeing of children and<br />
staff is high on the agenda, as is<br />
helping parents to understand<br />
how their children are being<br />
taught. To this end, parents are<br />
invited to come to the school<br />
and be taught by their children<br />
how they learn (yes, you read<br />
that right!).<br />
The school is well supported<br />
by a small, dedicated parent<br />
teacher association (PTA)<br />
group who ensure there are<br />
regular events such as a<br />
Christmas Celebration, and<br />
they are now planning the<br />
Coronation Celebration. More<br />
helpers are always welcomed,<br />
and Francesca pointed out the<br />
importance of the school being<br />
in the community, with strong<br />
links to Cranbrook Grammar,<br />
the church and local resources.<br />
The school's Forest School is a<br />
very popular resource, and they<br />
are raising £30,000 to build a<br />
new ‘Sanctuary’ in the grounds.<br />
This will be space for students<br />
to receive counselling, teachers<br />
to spend time with small groups<br />
and 1:1 coaching in a new calm<br />
timber building. Thanks to the<br />
CO-OP 10% of the funding has<br />
already been raised, so dig deep<br />
to help them with the rest!<br />
Francesca and her staff are<br />
‘can-do’ people who are doing a<br />
great job in difficult economic<br />
times to keep children safe and<br />
motivated to learn.<br />
Away from work, Francesca<br />
enjoys discovering new cultures<br />
including trips to India, the USA<br />
and Jordan as well as extensive<br />
travel throughout Europe. She<br />
enjoys tennis and skiing and is a<br />
strong swimmer.<br />
The staff confided that she is<br />
a demon baker of brownies (the<br />
cakes!).<br />
“The school is well supported by a small, dedicated parent<br />
teacher association (PTA) group who ensure there are regular<br />
events such as a Christmas Celebration, and they are now<br />
planning the Coronation Celebration”<br />
42 The Cake • <strong>Spring</strong> 2023
Kent’s newest Performing Arts Venue<br />
first seAson’s ProgrAmme includes:<br />
London Film<br />
Music orchestra<br />
saturday 25 March<br />
Ronnie scott’s<br />
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saturday 22 april<br />
Comedy –<br />
Paul sinha<br />
saturday 29 april<br />
Harry the Piano<br />
Friday 26 May<br />
stringfever<br />
saturday 3 June<br />
BBC Big Band<br />
sunday 25 June<br />
Bookings now Being taken<br />
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www.bussmurton.co.uk<br />
CRANBROOK | TUNBRIDGE WELLS | EAST GRINSTEAD<br />
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