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2 Could your business benefit from advertising here? Only £155 per year. Enquiries to Richard Hughes 01732 886260 Local Studio Space to Rent Room rental is available within our therapy centre, 49 Sq. M. Saturdays and Sundays Ideal for small group sessions or workshops • 2 Minutes walk from Borough Green Train Station • Free on-site Parking • Waiting room, shared toilet and kitchen available • Air conditioning and heating fitted Please contact us for more information: [email protected] Positive Health Therapy Centre, Unit 1, Bourne Enterprise Centre, Borough Green, Kent, TN15 8DG

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years as a physio and still passionate about making a difference in your life Specialist in working with the over 50s Quiz Nights at 8pm Weds 28th Dec. & 25th Jan THE BLUE ANCHOR 01732 Live Music 23rd Dec. Gina Foster Singer and Christmas Karaoke from 7.30pm NEW YEAR’S EVE Santa is Coming!! Saturday 17th Dec. 12-5pm £3.50 per child, to include a present Mulled wine, mince pies and sweet cones available Christmas Day and Boxing Day bookings still available. Please enquire or see Facebook page.

5 VILLAGE NEWS 950 copies ublished by St Mary’s Platt Church for the community and delivered free 10 times a year to all houses in St Mary’s Platt, Wrotham Heath, Comp, Crouch, Basted Mill and the Old Sawmill. Church Address: Long Mill Lane, Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8NE See also the church website: stmarysplattchurch.org.uk Reader, Pastoral Assistant and Anna Chaplain Jane Sankey, Orchard House, 71 Sevenoaks Rd, Borough Green, TN15 8AR email: [email protected] 01732 883212 Churchwardens Lucilla Mackay, 65 Crouch Lane, Borough Green, TN15 8LU email: [email protected] 01732 882045 Richard Morley, 19 The Cherry Orchard, Hadlow, TN11 0HU email: [email protected] 01732 850283 PCC Hon. Treasurer Alan Senior, Wismer, Long Mill Lane, St Mary’s Platt, TN15 8NA email: [email protected] 01732 886245 PCC Hon. Secretary Sue Butterfill, Lullingstone, Paddock Close, St Mary’s Platt, TN15 8NN email: [email protected] 01732 4780657 Village News magazine Editor Jane Sankey, Orchard House, 71 Sevenoaks Rd, Boro’ Green, TN15 8AR email: [email protected] 01732 883212 Deputy Editor Lucilla Mackay,65 Crouch Lane, Borough Green, TN15 8LU email: [email protected] 01732 882045 Advertising for Village News Richard Hughes, 38 Greenlands, St Mary’s Platt, TN15 8LL email: [email protected] 01732 886260 Clerk to Platt Parish Council Jackie Davies, Bluebell Place, Grange Rd, St Mary’s Platt, TN15 8LD email: [email protected] 01732 886822 Parish Council website www.hugofox.com/community/platt-parish-council-12617 Vicar – The Revd Dr Lorraine Turner The Vicarage, 24 Maidstone Rd, Borough Green, TN15 8BD Email: [email protected] 01732 882447

6 Cover designed by Don Braithwaite The colour pages are printed by Langford Printers, Chaucer Business Park, Kemsing For March: copy date: Wed. 8th Feb., Collating Fri. 24th Feb. Please Note: external advertising in this magazine does not imply an endorsement or promotion of the advertisement, nor its content, products or services. Errors & omissions, whilst regrettable, may occur. ADVERTISEMENT RATES FOR VILLAGE NEWS FROM JANUARY 2023 Enquiries to Richard Hughes (see contact details on p1). Please make all cheques out to St Mary’s Platt PCC. If out of local area, please send sae for copy of Village News if required If possible, please send adverts in Word, Publisher or Power Point. Rates given are per month / per calendar year (10 issues) Colour Black & White Premium position on inside cover ½ page Annual £305 N/a Premium position on inside cover ¼ page Annual £155 N/a ½ Page (12 x 8.5cm) from £33 / £264 £24 / £192 ¼ Page (6 x 8.5cm) from £17 / £136 £12 / £96 NOTICE BOARD (small ads) Up to 20 words £6.00 / £48 Copy and Collating dates for Village News The next issue is for the February edition Copy to the editor by Wednesday 11th January Collating: Friday 27th January There are hard copies and an online edition of this magazine available. Articles to be under 600 words except by arrangement with the editor. Please support our advertisers as they support us.

7 CONTENTS From the Vicar 5 Splat and miniSplat Nativity Presentation 6 Song and Soup 7 Mission Giving – charities the church supports at Christmas 9 Church Clock – Update 10 From the Editor 10 South East 4x4 brings Father Christmas to Platt 22 Joint Quiz Evening with Borograds 25 Platt School PTA Christmas Fayre 27 A Stable on the Way to Platt Woods 29 Rain, Rain, Go Away… 31 Borograds Panto ‘Sleeping Beauty’ 31 Village News Matters 33 FLAG DAYS The St George’s flag will be flown from the church tower for the whole of the Christmas Octave, that is to say, from Christmas Day until New Year’s Day. During this period the church tower will be floodlit for part of each night. Chris Jeffrey and David Palmer Abbreviations and locations: MH = Memorial Hall, CR = Memorial Hall Committee Room. The Hall is accessed off the A25 via Platinum Way, TN15 8FH or via the steps (just by the pedestrian lights). GR = Garden Room (adjoining the church) Stonehouse Field – signposted from Long Mill Lane. CHURCH REGISTERS Baptism 30th October Florence Sarah Sears, daughter of Amy of Crouch Lane We welcome you into the family of the church Service conducted by Revd Lorraine Turner, Vicar

8 GR Servicing Ltd Vehicle Servicing and Repairs Unit 16 Orchard Place Business Centre Seven Mile Lane 01732 882725 Speak to Richard or Grant D. P. S. Definitive Property Services The same quality PLUMBING Service Now to include Property Maintenance, Repairs & Vacation Services Free Surveys/Estimates Contact: Mark Jeffery Tel: 01732 882538 Mob: 07813 353493 Email: [email protected] (we have WhatsApp too)

9 LETTER FROM THE VICAR Hello, It’s lovely to be writing for our joint December/January edition as it does mean that Christmas is near. Often, when we think of Christmas, children’s enjoyment especially comes to mind, and this is where my mind immediately went. There is a good Christian tradition that no matter how old any of us is, we should keep in touch with our inner child. I am not absolutely sure which aspects of our inner child this might be but perhaps it includes children’s ability to look forward to Christmas with great single mindedness and to get excited, whereas our adult selves may be bogged down in all the work and the risk of disappointment when the next New Year seems much like the last. The services and events over the Advent and Christmas seasons offer lots of opportunities for people of all ages to come together and, I hope, an opportunity for those weighed down by the pressures of the season to be lifted a little by the joy and energy of children. At a time when the weaknesses of a ‘commercial’ Christmas are there for anyone to see, I hope the opportunity is offered for the value of Christmas as a time of community and for hope to shine through. Thinking of children at St Mary’s, we have at least three things to celebrate and something to look forward to. Our celebrations include the first birthday of Splat!, its expansion to include miniSplat! and our newest venture of reaching out to secondary school aged children with Soul Sessions. All three of these are wonderfully life giving for participants, leaders and the church as a whole. They are both a blessing received and a blessing to be shared as we continue to reach out. Now, for something to look forward to… our Family Service at 10.30 on 11th December will be a Splat! and miniSplat! café-style Nativity service. We might say that Christmas is coming early to Platt this year. Our Café Services have always been a good opportunity to invite neighbours, friends and family who might not be up for a formal service. I hope that a Nativity and the chance to sing Christmas carols will make this a very accessible service. To finish, there are some very serious questions about how these winter months will be for those worrying about energy bills and everything costing more. I do receive lists of grants (Continued on page 10)

10 SOUL SESSIONS A group for young people in Key Stage 2 to come together for Food, Fun and Worship. The next sessions are on Sundays 11th December and 8th January 17.30-19.00 In Platt Church’s comfy corner! that are available to help with these costs and I am also just about to receive some training in the wider help that is available. So, if you or someone you know is experiencing hardship, please do have a word and we can explore avenues of support together. Wishing you joy and peace this Christmas, God bless, Lorraine Revd Dr Lorraine Turner, 882447 (Continued from page 9) SPLAT We aim to make church engaging and relevant for our primary aged children. The next sessions will take place on Sundays 11th December and 15th January at 10.15 in the Garden Room. Please email Revd Lorraine to reserve your place(s) by the Wednesday before the session. MINI-SPLAT: this runs alongside SPLAT for pre -school age children. Please book your place(s) as above. 11th December Family Service with SPLAT AND MINI-SPLAT’S NATIVITY PRESENTATION All children attending the service with their families are welcome to come in fancy dress and join the stable scene, CHURCH FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

11 CHURCH NOTES In order to make a further move towards the government’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy, St Mary’s Platt PCC offers the guidance below. If you have any concerns or wish us to take further precautions, please call me for a chat on 01732 882447. We will review our arrangements in the light of your contributions and any changing circumstances. Before the Service • Please do not come into church if you are concerned you may have Covid. • Please maintain the general Covid guidelines, ‘Hands, face, space’. • Please consider lateral flow testing if you have any concerns of an increased risk of Covid. When You Arrive… • Please consider sanitizing (for more than 20s) on entry and exit. • Please make your own decision regarding mask wearing bearing in mind the sensitivities of those nearby. During Communion Services • Please share the peace without physical contact unless you are sure the person concerned would welcome it. • Please come to the altar rail when invited by a steward. Standing to receive a blessing or an intincted wafer is safer than using the rail to kneel but this is up to you. If you would like to receive in your seat, please tell a steward. After the Service • Chat and refreshments remain safer in the main church area but feel free to use the Garden Room, as you prefer. Revd Lorraine Turner, Vicar, 01732 882447 ‘SONG AND SOUP’ A short act of worship with two well-known hymns followed by soup and rolls and a dessert coffee or tea on the 1st Thursday of the month in the Garden Room, Platt Church 12.30 Thursday 1st December and 5th January Contact Jane Sankey 01732 883212 if you would like to come or to enquire further

12 NEWS FROM PLATT PARISH COUNCIL Planning Applications Received TM/22/02334/TPOC Land Opposite 1 And 3 Minters Orchard Platt Red Oak – Crown reduction to reduce height and spread by up to 3m (T1 Tree surgeons ref) of Group 2 of TPO. TM/22/02260/FL Sherwood Yard Maidstone Road Wrotham Heath Demolition of existing out buildings and erection of a detached single storey 4 bedroom dwelling. Jackie Davies, Clerk to Platt Parish Council, 886822 MEMORIAL HALL BOOKINGS The bookings diary can be viewed and bookings may be made online through the Hallmaster diary system at www.plattmemorialhall.org/scheduler/ The bookings secretary is Rachael Melling, 07490 957060 or [email protected] DECEMBER 2022 The year is drawing to a close, Christmas is just around the corner, the time when we can catch up with friends and family, relax, share a joke and memories. It is also a time when we can sit back and take stock of what has been achieved this year. Can we congratulate ourselves? Yes, of course we can. The garden has come through the heatwave, suffering months of bone-dry weather and it has come through it all and thrived. It has been very interesting to see the 'second summer' that occurred after that first downpour hit our gardens. It has been far more intense than an Indian summer with plants thinking it was spring again. I have an azalea in flower now. Also it was very interesting to see what plants seemed hardly affected by the drought; the trees and roses seemed especially unaffected by the adversity. Naturally those plants with shallow root systems suffered. But there were others that I had seen come through very dry patches in previous years and were not able to withstand the summer of 2022, I am thinking particularly of perennials such as Phlox. And now, as the year end creeps up on us, what can be in store for us in 2023 I wonder? Let’s hope for an easier year, weather-wise, and maybe we can look forward to enjoying lazing about on the grass on a warm summer’s day surrounded by beautiful flowers. Jane Jewitt

13 MISSION GIVING As the days become shorter and colder our thoughts inevitably turn to the plight of others who are less fortunate. We see some who do not have a roof over their heads and there are many more we don’t see whose lives are unstable and desperate for different reasons. There are many who have housing but who do not have enough food or warmth or even employment. Our mission giving in December reflects these very sad situations. Our collection at the Carol Service on 18th December is for Porchlight, a local charity which not only supports the vulnerable and homeless and those who have nowhere to go and no one to turn to, but carries this support on to help its clients through rehabilitation, finding accommodation and employment. https://www.porchlight.org.uk Every year we have a Christmas card ‘tree’ in the church. Anyone is invited to put a card on the tree for their local friends, whilst donating to the Bridge Trust. This charity also provides life-changing support to the homeless, having helped over 6,000 people with advice, accommodation, and support since 1991. https://www.thebridgetrust.org.uk On Christmas Eve our thoughts turn to children most of whom will be extremely excited – if not over excited – in safe, loving homes, but there are children whose hope and happiness are threatened by abuse, exploitation or neglect. The collections from the Christingle services support the work of the Children’s Society for children in distress and danger, missing children and young carers. https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk There are baskets in the church porch for donations of food for the Borough Green Food Bank. A number of local families benefit from these donations. For further information on what items are needed, please contact Ian Simpson on [email protected]. Every year we remember those in other countries who face injustice for their beliefs. Through Christian Solidarity Worldwide https:// www.csw.org.uk, as a church we send Christmas cards to a number of Christians in Africa and Middle East, South and East Asia and Latin America who are being persecuted or imprisoned for their religious beliefs. It seems that Prisoners of Conscience who receive cards are sometimes treated better as it is realised that they are not forgotten. Jane Sankey, 883212

14 FROM THE EDITOR In just two minutes of Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’, shortly before he died in November 2020, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks posed a very thought-provoking question. Always the voice of moral clarity, he wondered whether life would be different after the pandemic. He gave two pictures of life following recent globally turbulent times. After the First World War came the pandemic of Spanish Flu, and then in came the Roaring Twenties and nothing changed. For the rich it was a life of inequality and individualism, and for others the misery of the General Strike and the Great Depression. During the Second World War we had learnt to care for one another, and after it the Welfare State was born, the National Health Service and also free education for all. What now after the pandemic? It is obvious that much in our lives has changed. We are again in globally turbulent times, but even in our own communities there have been changes. Before the pandemic many churches, large and small, were offering their buildings for community use – from blood donation to debt counselling. Coffee mornings and concerts had become regular events, as had other group meetings. A circus troupe practises in one church, making use of its high ceilings. The pandemic and the lockdown disrupted the usual events and, in many places, there was reluctance to open up again. The running costs of many churches mean that they would be unable to afford to stay open without community activities. As social media grows, the notion of the concept of people gathering together because of location, has been challenged. Whilst online communities are drawn together, particularly through a shared interest, there are many communities which are still brought together in person – a living, breathing entity. These are particularly important in rural areas with little or no public transport. During the pandemic we realised how much our community meant to us, the kindnesses shown to one another and the joy of meeting people when out walking. Platt is a living, breathing community where people gather in different places – the Memorial Hall, the school, the pub and also the church. There are far more groups here than probably most people realise. On a Monday morning in the church there is the Monday choir, some of whom stay for coffee and who are joined by about 25 walkers and at least one dog, who have completed about 1¼ hours of the Health Walk. All through the week, day by day, there are comings and goings of people of (Continued on page 15)

15 all ages and interests and all are very welcome. With your last Village News you will have received a leaflet about ‘Places of Welcome’, and Café Platt has recently been formally accepted as such, meeting all the criteria. Such places will be slightly different, but they offer… • friendship and hospitality, • regular opening at the same time each week (although they may be closed for a few weeks a year to give the volunteers a rest); • free refreshments, although donations are welcomed; • local knowledge about the neighbourhood. www.placesofwelcome.org You are very welcome, so do please drop in. A particular welcome to our Ukrainian visitors and to everyone for whom this is their first Christmas in Platt. Although Christmas will be a happy and joyful time for many, for others it will be a sad time. Our thoughts go to those who are away from home or loved ones or spending the first Christmas without a loved one. Also in our thoughts and prayers are those who are troubled by hardship and all who are caring or concerned for unwell friends or relatives. Wherever you may be, we wish you happiness, joy and peace for Christmas and the New Year. Jane Sankey, Editor, 883212, [email protected] (Continued from page 14) CHURCH CLOCK – LATEST NEWS If you notice it is missing, no, it hasn’t been stolen or fallen off…. As most people will be aware, the clock's mechanism has been overhauled. It now keeps good time and strikes the hours correctly. Thanks to the generosity of very many of you we are in a position to refurbish the dial and hands, that is repainting the face and regilding the hands. The work is about to start with the face and hands being taken down for attention in the workshop of the clockmakers, In fact it would have been done by now had it not been for illness, but we still have some hope that it can all be completed by Christmas. Alan Senior

16 PRAYER DIARY A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’; sake. Amen. Intercession for Christmastide Holy Child of Bethlehem, whose parents found no room at the inn; we pray for all who are homeless. Holy Child of Bethlehem, born in a stable; we pray for all who are living in poverty. Holy Child of Bethlehem, rejected stranger, we pray for all who are lost, alone, all who cry for loved ones. Holy Child of Bethlehem, whom Herod sought to kill; we pray for all in danger, all who are persecuted. Holy Child of Bethlehem, a refugee in Egypt, we pray for all who are far from home. Holy Child of Bethlehem, knew the eternal was pleased to dwell; help us, we pray, to see the divine image in people everywhere. in your name we offer this prayer. David Blanchflower

17 Prayer for the New Year God of day and night, of frost and sunshine, of rest and growth, we praise you for the rhythms and patterns of life: for the gentle dying of each season and the coming of the next; for the wonder of new life, in all its forms and the quiet flowing of youth into age. Give us eyes and heart to perceive you in the unfolding of our years, and help us in this new-born year to make more space for you, the Giver of it all. A.A. During January we pray to God… …giving thanks for the opportunities the New Year offers. …for all involved in the development of children – for Platt school, the staff, governors, pupils and their parents. …for our familes, friends and community at the beginning of 2022. …for all who carry great worries and concerns or face hardship. …for the people of Ukraine, and all whose countries have been torn apart by conflict or natural disaster. …for all who suffer from sickness of body or mind, increasing frailty or loneliness. …for all carers and those who watch and worry, that they themselves should feel cared for and appreciated. …for his comfort and strength for those bereaved of loved ones. On our heads and our houses the blessing of God; on our coming and going, the peace of God; in our life and believing, the love of God, at our end and new beginning, the arms of God to welcome us and bring us home. John L. Bell

18 WROTHAM COMPUTER CARE Computer help at your Home or Office PCs and Apple Macs We are a local company providing an affordable service to local families, professionals, businesses and schools. For more details please contact us 01732 780176 or 07795 552440 [email protected] www.wrothamcomputercare.com House Rewires Dave Carroll ELECTRICAL SERVICES for a free quote call Dave on 07545 884959 or e-mail [email protected] Fuse Boards Renewed External Lighting Extra Power and Lighting Points Karl Burrluck Plumbing & Heating Engineer Friendly Reliable Service Free Estimates No call out charges Competitive Rates T: 07886 783170 / 01732 886984 Em: [email protected] 52 Western Road, Borough Green Nr. Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8AQ Clock & Watch repairs, restoration & servicing Collection & delivery available Based in Borough Green Call Paul on 01732 884363 or 07831 884789 or email: [email protected]

19 PLATT LADIES GROUP Following the fun at the quiz in November, the group will be meeting for a Christmas tea starting at 2.30pm on Tuesday 13th December in Platt Memorial Hall. Our January meeting is on Tuesday 10th 2023 when Dick Searle will give talk about packaging entitled ‘What’s all the Fuss?’ Following the advertising of the talk in October, about the organisation ‘Tools with a Mission’, I have received a further three phone calls with offers of tools. David, the speaker, is willing to collect these from your house/garage. I am happy to pass on his contact details. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. Pat Darby, 885934, Marion Cox and Ann Baker LIGHT UP THE TOWER There are many people who live in the village, some within sight of the church tower for whom it is a landmark of significance, often as a memorial to loved ones particularly when floodlit. Angela Davis asked for Andrew Hartnup to be remembered on 22nd November. ‘In loving memory of you on your Birthday. Forever in our hearts and thoughts, Sandra, Angela and Nigel.’ If you would like to take the opportunity to light up the church tower at some time to mark an anniversary, a celebration or in memory of a loved one, you could do so for £30 a night. This could also include a dedication in Village News. Please contact Lucilla Mackay, 882045 or Jane Sankey, 883212 PLATT WOODS VOLUNTEERS GROUP The group will meet on Saturdays 10th December and 15th January from 09.30 to about noon at the Platt Common entrance to the woods and work clearing paths to keep the woods as a wonderful local amenity. You will need to bring your own refreshments and tools, e.g. loppers, saws, secateurs and gloves. For further information contact David Palmer of the Woods Management Committee on 07554 798982.

20 2022 CHRISTMAS IN PLATT *There is further information in this magazine about the starred words. Christmas is anticipated by the four-week season of Advent. This year this began on November 27th with Advent Sunday, when an advent ring of candles, four red and a central white one, and decorative greenery are placed in church. It is also the beginning of a new church year. As the excitement builds in our everyday lives it is also celebrated in the church. Each week another red candle is lit until the central white one is lit at the Midnight in Bethlehem Mass* on Christmas Eve. From Advent Sunday there will be the opportunity to sign several Christmas cards which will be sent to Prisoners of Conscience*. There are many countries where people are imprisoned for their religious beliefs; they are often locked up for years. You are also invited to sign up for ‘Posada’ – to have the figures of Mary and Joseph and their donkey visit your home for a night on their way to Bethlehem this Advent. The figures also spend a day with each class at Platt School and then end their journey as they are brought to the church for Midnight at Bethlehem Mass*. On 4 th December the Traidcraft stall will be available after the morning service. Over a cup of tea or coffee, Christmas cards, presents and gift wrap can be bought. As in previous years, you are invited to pin a Christmas Card onto the Bridge Trust* Christmas Card Tree in the church with Christmas wishes to your friends in the village. You are then asked to make a donation to the Bridge Trust* for the saving you have made by sending just the one card. A list of those who sent Christmas greetings in this way will be printed in the February edition of Village News. On Thursday 8th the Beavers will decorate the Christmas tree inside the church. On Saturday 10th December the Platt School PTA Christmas Fayre* will be open from 12.00 onwards. At 17.00 you can join Carols in a Stable at The Barn, Potash Lane, beginning promptly, and finishing at 17.45. (Any queries contact Fiona and Ben Newton on 01732 882188) Warm clothing will be essential and a torch very useful particularly if you plan to walk down to the church to join the Wassail Carol Singing Evening there, and choosing your favourite carols to sing. This will be a relaxed café-style evening with refreshments, mince pies and mulled wine; donations are invited.

21 On Sunday December 11th there will be a Family Nativity Café-style Service at 10.30. This is always a popular form of service with the Splatt and miniSplatt groups presenting a nativity. Secondary school children meet for Soul Sessions* at 17.30 in church. On Friday 16th Platt School’s Carol Service will take place in the church at 09.30. Term 2 will end at 13.15. 18.30 to 20.30 South East 4 x 4 Response Team brings Father Christmas to Platt*. His route will be Pine View, Grange Road, Long Mill Lane, Maidstone Road, Greenlands, Minters Orchard. On Sunday 18th December there will be a Family Communion service at 10.30 and at 18.30 there will be a traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight* in the church. After this you are invited to stay for mulled wine and mince pies. The collection taken at this service will be for Porchlight*, a charity supporting the homeless. On Monday 19th at 19.00, Carol Singing takes place in the Blue Anchor until about 20.30. Do come and swell the singing. A collection will be taken for Parkinson’s UK . On Saturday 24th – Christmas Eve, there will be a Quiet Christingle Service at 14.00 with the main Christingle Service at 16.00 for children and all the family – with a collection in aid of the Children’s Society*. The Christingles will be lit with glow candles, a safer choice. 21.30 Midnight in Bethlehem Mass. This will be a traditional Midnight Mass service to celebrate Christ’s birth. 25th, On Christmas Day there will be an All Age Communion service at 10.00. If you will be away for Christmas and would like to find a church service nearby, visit www.achurchnearyou.com. NEIGHBOURHOOD PRAYERS During the month of December we will be remembering in our prayers those who live in Brickmakers Meadow, the Ferns and Maidstone Road and in January, those in Crouch and Crouch Lane For special prayer requests at any time, please contact Revd Lorraine Turner on 01732 882447 or [email protected] or complete a prayer request slip which can be found in the porch of the church and put in the box there, or on the board in the north side chapel. The church is usually open every day 10.00 –16.00

22 Saturday 26th November 2022 at Platt Memorial Hall, St Mary’s Platt 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm start £15 a ticket – Tables 6-8 Supper included Fully licensed bar – no alcohol to be brought onto site. For table/ticket enquiries: [email protected] 07881 698 037 or 01732 886053 All proceeds go to the Alexandra Sales Trust to help us continue to raise ‘smile’ money to brighten the lives of children and young people living with cancer. [email protected] Crofton, Platt Common, St Mary’s Platt, TN15 8JX Registered Charity No. 1161811 Coffee and Chat at Café Platt Wednesdays 10.00 – 12.00 in Platt Church Lots of delicious cakes available, good company & a weekly quiz! All welcome – bring a warm jacket, a friend and your dog! Cafe Platt’s last meeting of the year will be on Wednesday 14th December. We will be taking a three week break and will reopen on 11th January. The Holy Family Courtesy of Parish Pump A Sunday school teacher asked her class, “What was Jesus’ mother’s name?” One child answered, “Mary.” The teacher then asked, “Who knows what Jesus’ father’s name was?” Another child ventured: “Verge?” Confused, the teacher asked, “Where did you get that?” He replied hesitantly: “Well, you know they are always talking about Verge n’ Mary.

23 MEMORIAL HALL NEWS I am writing this report following a very successful event to celebrate 100 years of Platt War Memorial Hall. Lasting three days and finishing on Remembrance Sunday, it saw a steady flow of people starting on Friday, culminating in Sunday being extremely busy. We also had, on the Saturday evening, a well-attended and very interesting talk from the Crater Locators – an award winning archaeology team – who discovered the remains of a V2 rocket in Crouch in 2021. Over recent years Scott Wishart has made many short films which, for this occasion, he joined together and showed throughout the day in the small hall. Thus were resurrected so many memories of recent events around our village including, of course, Covid 19 and the building of the Hall and the School. With the hall doors opening on the Sunday morning following our wellattended Remembrance Day ceremony, at which local groups laid their wreaths in remembrance of those from our parish and beyond who gave their lives in two world wars, our hall event got off to an early start and got busier and busier as the day went on. Huge thanks and credit go to Scott Wishart, who has spent the last 18 months in dedicated and passionate research; compiling so many local news reports and histories of people and events from over the last 100 hundred years, incredibly well presented for all to see and preserved for future generations. In addition to this he is compiling and writing 10 books, one for each decade. The first book (1920s) is currently for sale and is available from Scott or a hall trustee at £20. Entry for the exhibition was free and the project was funded by Platt Memorial Hall with financial support from Platt Fundraisers and the Parish Council — for which we thank them. In addition, all donations and proceeds from the refreshments and the event will go to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust; these amounted to well over £300. Thank you to everyone who supported us and helped in the kitchen. From 1st January hire rates for both halls will increase, but only for commercial users. Other rates will be held until June, when we will hope to have a better idea of our increased energy costs. In late January there will be some disruption for a couple weeks as we are having both halls and store rooms re-decorated. Our hall is in its seventh year and showing signs of wear and tear. This activity will mainly affect day time use and not so much evenings. You will be notified if it affects you. Our next gardening dates are 17th December and 21st January – dependent on the weather. Please join us if you can for light gardening, a chat and refreshments, from 9.30am. David Vallance, Chair of Trustees, 883422

24 1 st Thursday 12.30 Song and Soup – GR* 4 th SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10.30 Holy Communion 16.30 Evensong (BCP) 5 th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 7 th Wednesday 09.30 Holy Communion – GR 10.00 Café Platt in church* 9 th Friday 09.30 Christmas Wreath Making – GR* 10th Saturday 12.00 Platt School PTA Christmas Fayre* 17.00 Sing Carols in a Stable* 18.00 Wassail Carols in church with mince pies and mulled wine* 11th THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Family Café-style Service with Splat’s Nativity* 17.30 Soul Sessions in church* 12th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 13th Tuesday 14.30 Platt Ladies Group – MH* 14th Wednesday 09.30 Holy Communion – GR 10.00 - 12.00 Last Café Platt until 11th January* 20.00 PCC meets in GR 15th Thursday 10.00 Platt Stitchers at Wismer, Long Mill Lane* 16th Friday 09.30 Platt School Christmas Service in church 13.15 Platt School – end of Term 2 18.30 - 20.00 South East 4 x 4 Response Team escorts Father Christmas to Platt beginning at Pine View*. 18th FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10.30 Holy Communion 18.30 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols followed by refreshments: mulled wine and mince pies 19th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 19.00 Village Carol Singing in ‘Blue Anchor’* 23rd Friday 09.30 Making Christingles – GR* 24 th Saturday – Christmas Eve 14.00 Quiet Christingle Service* 16.00 Main Christingle Service* 21.30 Midnight in Bethlehem Christmas Communion 25th CHRISTMAS DAY 10.00 Family Christmas Communion WHAT’S ON IN THE CHURCH & COMMUNITY IN DECEMBER...

25 1 st SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS 10.30 Holy Communion 2 nd Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 4 th Wednesday Platt School Term 3 begins 09.30 Holy Communion – Garden Room. 5 th Thursday 12.30 Song and Soup – GR* 8 th BAPTISM OF CHRIST – EPIPHANY 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Family Service 17.30 Soul Sessions in church* 9 th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 10th Tuesday 14.30 Platt Ladies Group – MH* 11th Wednesday 09.30 Holy Communion – GR 10.00 Café Platt reopens in church or GR* Copy Date for February edition of Village News* 20.00 PCC meets in GR 14th Saturday 09.30 Platt Woods Volunteers Day* 15th SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY 10.15 Splat and miniSplat – GR* 10.30 Holy Communion 16th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 18th Wednesday Week of Prayer for Christian Unity* 09.30 Holy Communion – GR 10.00 Café Platt in church or GR* 21st Saturday 09.30 Memorial Hall gardening* 19.00 Joint Quiz Night with Borograds – MH* 22nd THIRD SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY 08.00 Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30 Morning Worship 23rd Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* 24th Tuesday 19.15 Platt Society – MH* 25th Wednesday 09.30 Holy Communion – GR 10.00 Café Platt in church or GR* 26th Thursday 09.30 Platt School Service in church 27th Friday 08.30 Collate February Village News in church or GR* 29th FOURTH SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY – CANDLEMAS 10.30 Holy Communion 30th Monday 10.00 Health Walk begins from foot of church steps and ends with refreshments in church* ...AND IN JANUARY

26 All DIY work for reasonable rates Painting and Decorating, Kitchen Fitting, Decking, Fencing, Sheds and all Carpentry work, Flat pack assembly, Jet Washing. General property maintenance No job too small John Ballantyne Home: 01732 884387 Mobile: 07890 034846 Organic Free-range Eggs Open 10am to 4pm Home delivery available Long Meadow Farm, Crouch Lane Borough Green, Kent TN15 8QL 01732-887166 07941-126153

27 Christmas Wreath Workshops These full-day workshops will include lunch, Join us and create a luxurious festive wreath for your home. You will make your own moss base and then add seasonal foliage. finishing with natural decorations, such as dried fruit, cinnamon and pine cones. All materials will be supplied. Dates: Wednesday 30th November and Thursday 1st December, Monday 5th December. Time: 10 am - 2:30 pm Price: £55 This will include: Tea/coffee on arrival, lunch and a hot drink with a mince pie, whilst watching a seasonal demonstration, which will be raffled. Please contact: Deirdre on 01732 885001 or [email protected] Val on 07754 487290 or [email protected] Please book early, a deposit of £10 will secure a place Venue – Pavenham, Crouch TN15 8PZ BOROUGH GREEN LIBRARY, VILLAGE HALL CAR PARK The library is open for bookshelf browsing and borrowing books. Computer and Wi-Fi are available. Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00, Saturday 09.00-13.00. Ancestry: Monday 10.15 – 12.15. Need to book an appointment Scrabble: Tuesday 14.15 – 16.15 Coffee and Chat: Thursday 10.15 – 12.15, No need to book Baby Bounce and Rhyme time: Friday 10.15—10.45. No need to book. Friday 2 Book Club – (second) Friday of each month at 14.00. Hi Kent Hi Kent runs free hearing aid aftercare clinics in towns villages and communities throughout Kent. The next clinic at Borough Green Library is on Fridays 23rd December and 27th January from 14.00-15.30. For more help and advice please call the library on 03000 413131 or email [email protected]. Staff will be happy to help. Tina Grigg

28 South East 4x4 Response brings Father Christmas to Platt and Borough Green on Friday 16th December 6.30pm – 8pm The planned route for Father Christmas to visit has now been worked out with help from the Christmas elves, pixies, and Father Christmas himself…who said, ‘Hello lovely youngsters of Platt & Borough Green. I will try my best to meet as many of you that I can. Don’t forget, if I do miss you, I will always pay you a visit on Christmas Day, as usual.’ Father Christmas route: Starting in Platt – Pine View, Grange Road, Long Mill Lane, Maidstone Road, Greenlands, Minters Orchard. Borough Green: Crow Hill Road, then Crow Hill, Lingfield Road, Brock Way, Normanhurst Road, Quarry Hill Road, Harrison Road, McDermott Road, Abbott Road, Monkton Road, Lendon Road, Dryland Road, Crowhurst Road, Quarry Hill Road, Dark Hill Road, Hazelbourne Avenue, Nisbett Drive, Conyerd Road, Staleys Road, Rock Road, Sevenoaks Road, Western Road, Wrotham Road, Fairfield Road, The Avenue, The Crescent, Wye Road, Tolsey Mead, Annetts Hall. Thanks go to: South East 4x4 Response, Borough Green and Platt Parish Councils, J C Electrical Ltd & ASDA for sponsoring this event. For more information please contact: Sue Butterfill 07757 494621 [email protected] Note from the Darbys This year we have decided not to send Christmas cards to our friends in the parish. We will be donating to the Bridge Trust and also giving Christmas treats to the local food bank. We want to thank friends and neighbours for all your help and support to us over the past 12 months and to wish you a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2023. Graham and Pat

29 Saturday 21st January Tickets from The Secret Garden, BG High Street Jane 883212 or Lucilla 0788518855 (includes 2-course meal) More info on prices on St. Mary the Virgin Facebook page Tables of 8 preferably in advance or make up on the night Please bring your own drinks and glasses Proceeds shared between Platt Church and Borograds ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ANNUAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18th – 25th January As we join with other Christians around the world for the Week of Prayer we pray that our hearts will be open to see and hear the many ways in which racism continues to destroy lives, and to discern the steps we can take as individuals and communities to heal the hurts and build a better future for everyone. TRAIDCRAFT FOR PLATT CHURCH There will be a sale of Traidcraft Christmas cards and other items after church on Sunday, December 4th. The stall will also be running on 11th January selling fairly traded goods. Roma Churchill and Jo Senior

30 Online Admissions opened Friday 4 November 2022 National closing date for application forms Monday 16 January 2023 Final date for on-time applications and changes Friday 10 February 2023 Preference numbers sent to schools Tuesday 14 February 2023 Ranking lists sent to schools By Thursday 16 February 2023 Rankings lists due back from schools By Friday 3 March 2023 Offer lists sent to schools prior to offer day By Friday 31 March 2023 National Offer Day Monday 17 April 2023 Schools send welcome letters no earlier than Wednesday 19 April 2023 Parental deadline for Late apps, Waiting List requests and Acceptance/Refusals By Monday 1 May 2023 Reallocation ranking lists sent to schools Thursday 4 May 2023 Reallocation ranking lists and Acceptance/Refusal lists due back from schools Thursday 11 May 2023 Deadline for lodging of appeals Friday 12 May 2023 Kent Reallocation Day Wednesday 7 June 2023 PLATT SCHOOL NEWS DATES If your child is going to be 4 by 31st August 2023, he/she will be eligible for a primary school place in September 2023. Applications for places have opened on line at www.kent.gov.uk. Click on Education and children and follow the route through to the application form. The closing date for applications is Monday 16th January. See table below for other important dates in the application process. All in the month of December: Courtesy of Parish Pump It was 200 years ago, on 27th December 1822 that Louis Pasteur, French biologist, microbiologist, and chemist was born. One of the fathers of germ theory, he was best known for the pasteurisation process, which is named in his honour.

31 Wrotham Historical Society Affiliated to Kent History Federation The next meeting of the society will be on Friday 9th December at 8.00pm – Wrotham Village Hall CRIBS, CARDS AND CHRISTINGLES – a talk by Mark Lewis The origins of Christmas traditions and customs. **** Preceded by mulled wine and mince pies. **** Friday 13th January FINGERPRINTS AND MURDER – a talk by Jack Deans Jack Deans is a former Scotland Yard Police Officer relating some of his experiences in murder investigation. He may bring some exhibits. Visitors welcome www.wrothamhistorical.org.uk

32 GF Harris Garden Maintenance Small local company (based in Platt) offering a reliable, friendly and professional Garden Maintenance service including one off, weekly, fortnightly or ongoing visits. Services include: Lawn Mowing, Hedge Cutting, Planting, Pruning, Leaf Clearance and much more! Free Estimates – Fully Insured Contact Grant – 07532340210 Email: [email protected] A PALMER ELECTRICAL SER01732 886 939 07774 201 154 REWIRES, FUSEBOARDS, FULL REWIRES, PARTIAL BATHROOMS, DECORATING. ELECTRICS, PLUMBING, LIGHTING. TEST CERTIFICATES, SOCKETS, LOCAL AUTHORITY DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL RELIABLE FRIENDLY SERVICE

33 TONBRIDGE AND MALLING RAMBLERS Our friendly group is one of 13 Ramblers groups in Kent and part of the national Ramblers walking organisation. We explore the beautiful countryside of Tonbridge and Malling and surrounding areas. Walks usually start mid-morning. There’s a short break half-way through the walk (bring refreshments) and we usually finish near a pub. You don’t have to be a Ramblers member to try out a couple of walks with us, to help you decide if you’d like to join. If you are new to our walks, it’s a good idea to contact the walk leader beforehand to check that the walk will suit you. For full details of all our December and January walks and walk leader contacts, see www.tonbridgeandmallingramblers.org.uk Nicola Brown, Publicity Volunteer for T & M Ramblers, 07709 334 871 Date Walk Routes in December Miles Thursday 8th Leisurely circular walk from Shipbourne Common to Underriver. Includes 17 stiles! 5.6 Thursday 15th Leisurely circular walk from Wrotham to Trottiscliffe; mainly flat with some road walking. 6 Sunday 18th A circular walk in beautiful countryside around Plaxtol. Moderate difficulty 5 Wednesday 28th Leisurely circular walk from West Peckham along the Greensand Way and Oxon Hoath estate with fine views of Hadlow Tower. Return via farmland, orchards and the Wealdway. 6.7 A STABLE ON THE WAY TO PLATT WOODS There is a stable beside the path which skirts the west front and south side of the church (see colour picture on page 46), waiting for Christmas when some of the traditional figures will appear in it. Mary, Joseph, a donkey, a shepherd and sheep will be made of plywood in silhouette. Are there a few creative people who would like to dress one or more of these figures in the appropriate costumes? They will be about 3.5 feet (106cm) to 4 feet (121cm) tall. Do contact me if you would be interested in helping. The donkey and one sheep have already been ‘taken’. Jane Sankey, 01732 883212

34 PAINTER & DECORATOR: A Local Quality Service Qualified in Basic & Advanced Decoration In the Trade Over 35 Years Free Estimations Fully Insured References Available Call John Lidlow on 01732 885521 or 07702 625062 [email protected] PRE-PAID FUNERAL PLANS 24 hour service ST MARY’S PLATT, WROTHAM HEATH, COMP, CROUCH, BASTED MILL AND THE OLD SAWMILL 01732 780600 43 Western Road, Borough Green, TN15 8AL www.welhamjones.co.uk An Independent Family Owned Company WELHAM JONES Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons

years) in my garden is about 27 inches. Unless December is very wet, we should attain the average figure for the year once again. mm Lucilla Mackay inches mm inches January 25.0 0.98 June 21.0 0.83 February 68.0 2.68 July 34.0 1.34 March 31.0 1.22 August 47.0 1.85 April 12.5 0.49 Sept. 100.0 3.94 May 81.5 3.21 Oct. 80.0 3.15

36 Tel/Fax: 01622 737225 Mobile: 07816 149502 www.sr-interiors.com email: [email protected] • Quality decorating at a fair & competitive price • Dulux approved, over 30 years experience • Fully insured & references • Available Aaron Penna Victoria Penna Chartered Physiotherapists Now Providing Physiotherapy at home Have you recently been discharged from hospital and want to get back to your best? Long Covid? Slips, trips & falls? Call today for an appointment or email for further information 01732 823189 [email protected] www.pwphysio.com Specialists in all Classic and Sports Car Restoration and General Servicing Unit 12 Platt Industrial Estate, Maidstone Road, St Marys Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8JL Telephone: 01732 884 288 Email: [email protected] Est. 1973

37 FROM YOUR MP As we quickly approach the Christmas period I hope everybody has an enjoyable time and takes a well-earned rest. At the time of writing I am working hard both in Government and in Tonbridge and Malling to deliver for residents across Platt. Since I became an MP in 2015, I have campaigned tirelessly to deliver a better train service from Maidstone East, through West Malling and Borough Green to London Bridge and Charing Cross. I am delighted that we will finally achieve this before Christmas. The service will operate 6 days a week and will be more frequent than every hour in peak times. The journey time will also be under an hour, a significant improvement on what we have at the moment. The service will start on Monday 12 December. It will provide a frequent and fast service directly into the heart of London. This makes it easier for people visiting London as well as those travelling daily for work. It was much needed and I am proud that we have delivered this vital service. Since 2009, when the city services were taken away, we have been without this level of service. I am very pleased to have helped deliver this. I will continue to work to deliver service such as this for our community and I hope that everybody has an enjoyable Christmas, I know I certainly will be enjoying the time with my family. Tom Tugendhat, MBE, MP, [email protected] VILLAGE NEWS MATTERS The magazine is available online, but there are still many people who appreciate receiving their paper copy monthly. So, to all the many people, about 60 of you, including regular contributors, far too numerous to name – thank you – if you are part of the large team which so generously gives time to ensure that the magazine is delivered to every house, ten times a year. One plea – it would be very good to have some more original material. Could YOU write an article about something that interests you? It is very likely to interest other readers too. Editor

38 VILLAGE JOTTINGS Centenary Exhibition Huge thanks to Scott Wishart for the brilliant Centenary History Exhibition in the Memorial Hall 11th – 13th November. It must have taken hundreds of hours of work for Scott and his helpers. It was visited and marvelled at by hundreds of people. Did you take a selfie in front of the wall designed with over a decade’s Village News covers? Most of those were done by Don Braithwaite, to whom very many thanks. It is an original piece of artwork. The Platinum Jubilee Cookbook 2022 Did you manage to get to the Christmas Market on 26th November? Thank you to Jo Senior and Roma Churchill and everyone else who helped to make it such an enjoyable and successful event. Roma has been working hard in recent months to produce the ‘Platinum Jubilee Cookbook 2022 – Recipes from Platt Village’. Not only is it a very attractive book, but very poignant, marking the final weeks of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s reign. There are still some copies left. If you would like to buy one, they are £8 each. Do contact Roma on 01732 886792 or [email protected]. There may still be a few Jubilee water bottles for sale, price £3 each. Borough Green Food Bank – Donations may be left in the baskets in Platt Church porch or at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Borough Green at any time during the day. Both churches are usually open between 10.00 and 16.00. Ian Simpson has taken over from Nigel Ralph and he says, ‘Since May we have supported 24 families in Platt, Borough Green and Wrotham.’ For further information about what items are needed, please contact Ian Simpson on [email protected]. Newspapers for Viking Oak Kennels, Seven Mile Lane These may be left inside the south door of the church. If you are unable to do this, please ring Linda and Derek on 01732 884474 and they will arrange to collect the newspapers from your house. Alternatively, you can take them to the kennels yourself Please do not send colour supplements or newspapers with staples in them. The kennels also appreciate donations of old bedding and towels. They will also take paper that has been through a shredder.

39 FOR YOUNGER READERS

40 The Birkbeck Chiropody & Podiatry Practice Health Professions Council (HPC) Registered Podiatrists Woodlands,172 Maidstone Road, Borough Green, Sevenoaks TN15 8JD T│01732 883271 W│birkbeckpodiatry.com Open Monday to Saturday Daytime and Evening Appointments Easy Car Parking Telephone: 01732 883271 ST MARY’S PLATT AND DISTRICT SOCIETY We have had our AGM and welcomed Jane Adkins as a committee member to replace Ruth Parkin who relocated to Scotland. We also had an interesting talk about Reuthes, The Secret Garden of Sevenoaks, from their enthusiastic and enterprising owner, Claire Price. It’s an evolving garden which is being brought back from the brink so well worth a visit or two! Our forthcoming programme is as follows: 24/01/23 Jim Eldridge: “50 Years in the Writing Trade” 28/02/23 Carla Betts: “Winterdale Shaw Cheese” 28/03/23 Ken and Jan Martin: “Fun Quiz with Prizes!” May 2023 Outing to Wisley RHS gardens 07/07/23 Tea Party at the Memorial Hall 2.30 – 5pm. Christmas is coming and we wish you all the best for the season and the new year. To all our members and former members, no longer with us, we remember you at this time. Don’t forget to look out for the Christmas tree at the Memorial Hall as this was donated by Platt Society. Please join us. You’ll be very welcome. Linda Aldcroft Honorary Secretary, 885467 [email protected]

41 EASY FUNDRAISING Support Platt Church at no cost to yourself using Easy Fundraising! • Visit the website: www.easyfundraising.org.uk • Enter your chosen charity i.e. St Mary’s Platt PCC • Through the site, buy presents, food, items from Amazon, from other favourite on-line shops, e.g. M&S, John Lewis, Apple, travel companies: rail tickets, flights, and much, much more The companies then donate a percentage of the value of your purchase to the charity you have chosen. For more details contact Jane Sankey, 01732 883212. Here is a list of village diary dates already arranged for the months ahead. Do let me have any dates where events are already planned, to avoid clashes occurring – just dates, event and contact number, even if they are provisional. Please indicate whether the date is firm or not. I will update this diary monthly. * denotes information elsewhere in this magazine. Ed. 2023 January Saturday 21st 19.00 Joint Quiz Night with Borograds – MH February Saturday 4th 19.00 Platt Fundraisers’ Murder Mystery Dinner – MH* 16th-18th Borograds Pantomime – BG Village Hall March Saturday 11th Quorum Choir concert in church – tbc VILLAGE NEWS DIARY – FUTURE DATES, NO DETAILS MONDAY BADMINTON CLUB The club plays at Platt Memorial Hall on Monday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. If you are interested in joining or finding out more about the group, please contact Jane on [email protected] We have men as well as women so all are welcome.

42 PARISH NOTICE BOARD D. P. S. Definitive Plumbing Services is now Definitive Property Services Same High Quality Service (see ad. on page 4) Contact: Mark Jeffery Tel: 01732 882538 Mob: 07813 353493 Email: [email protected] PHONE SOCKETS New phone/Broadband Speed plates/Extensions Fault-finding repairs/Wire re-routing Call G Nugent Tel: 07845 705900 25 years BT/Insured/CRB PC Matters – For all your computer needs Computer running slowly? Got a virus? Need a wireless network? For all computer problems, Call 01732 848988 / 07904 910400 Slimming World Group on Wednesdays 9.30am and 7pm at Borough Green Village Hall. Phone Anita on 07725 484 361 Invicta Pianos All aspects of piano tuning, repairs, & restorations. Serving Kent since 1982 David Fry F.I.M.I.T., M.P.T.A.(TECH), I.A.P.B.T. 01732 763888 or 07796 293274 [email protected] www.invictapianos.com PARISH NOTICE BOARD D. P. S. Definitive Plumbing Services is now Definitive Property Services Same High Quality Service (see ad. on page 4) Contact: Mark Jeffery Tel: 01732 882538 Mob: 07813 353493 Email: [email protected] PHONE SOCKETS New phone/Broadband Speed plates/Extensions Fault-finding repairs/Wire re-routing Call G Nugent Tel: 07845 705900 25 years BT/Insured/CRB PC Matters – For all your computer needs Computer running slowly? Got a virus? Need a wireless network? For all computer problems, Call 01732 848988 / 07904 910400 Slimming World Group on Wednesdays 9.30am and 7pm at Borough Green Village Hall. Phone Anita on 07725 484 361 Invicta Pianos All aspects of piano tuning, repairs, & restorations. Serving Kent since 1982 David Fry F.I.M.I.T., M.P.T.A.(TECH), I.A.P.B.T. 01732 763888 or 07796 293274 [email protected] www.invictapianos.com HEALTH WALKS The Monday Health Walks continue as usual, leaving from St Mary's church steps at 10am on Mondays. Please check with your walk leader. Returning and new walkers are welcome. We walk for about 75 minutes through the woods and along local footpaths with occasional sections on roads. After the walk, refreshments will be served in the church. Revd Lorraine Turner PLATT STITCHERS Stitchers goes from strength to strength, with new ladies joining us. The next meeting will be at Wismer, Long Mill Lane on Thursday, December 15th, from 10am until noon. There will PARISH NOTICE BOARD D. P. S. Definitive Plumbing Services is now Definitive Property Services Same High Quality Service (see ad. on page 8) Contact: Mark Jeffery Tel: 01732 882538 Mob: 07813 353493 Email: [email protected] PHONE SOCKETS New phone/Broadband Speed plates/Extensions Fault-finding repairs/Wire re-routing Call G Nugent Tel: 07845 705900 25 years BT/Insured/CRB PC Matters – For all your computer needs Computer running slowly? Got a virus? Need a wireless network? For all computer problems, Call 01732 848988 / 07904 910400 Slimming World Group on Wednesdays 9.30am and 7pm at Borough Green Village Hall. Phone Anita on 07725 484 361 Invicta Pianos All aspects of piano tuning, repairs, & restorations. Serving Kent since 1982 David Fry F.I.M.I.T., M.P.T.A.(TECH), I.A.P.B.T. 01732 763888 or 07796 293274 [email protected] www.invictapianos.com

43 Monday Badminton Club 41 Neighbourhood Prayers 21 News from Platt Parish Council 12 Note from the Darbys 28 Platt Ladies Group 19 Platt School News Dates 30 Platt School Christmas Fayre 31 Platt Society 40 Platt Stitchers 42 Platt Woods Volunteers Group 19 Prayer Diary 16 Quiz Evening 29 Rain, Rain, Go Away... 35 SE 4x4 Father Christmas 28 Splatt and MiniSplatt Nativity 10 Traidcraft 29 T & Malling Ramblers 33 Village Jottings 38 Village News Matters 37 What’s on in Church and Community in December & January 24, 25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 29 Wrotham Historical Society 31 Index to Contents A Stable on the Way to Platt Woods 33, 46 Alexandra Sales Trust Christmas Wreath-making 32 Alexandra Sales Trust Quiz Night 22 Borograds Panto 35 Borough Green Library 27 Café Platt 22 Christmas in Platt 14 Christmas Wreath Workshop 27 Church Notes 11 Church Registers 7 Copy and Collating Dates 6 December 2022 12 Easy Fundraising 41 Flag Days 7 For Younger Readers 39 From the Editor 14 From the Vicar 9 From Your MP 37 Future Dates 37 Health Walks 42 Light up the Tower 21 Memorial Hall Bookings 12 Memorial Hall News 23 Mission Giving 13

44 Food & Catering Organic Free-range Eggs 26 Funeral/Memorial Directors Welham Jones, Funeral Directors 30 Garden and Other Services G F Harris Garden Services 32 Greenacres Garden Centre 47 J Lawrenson, Tree and Fencing 8 Gas Appliance Services Samsian 47 Health & Beauty/Therapy Birkbeck Chiropody & Podiatry 40 Borough Green Physiotherapy 4 PW Physiotherapy 36 Pos’ve Health Therapy 2 Plumbing/Central Heating DPS – Definitive Property Services 8 Karl Burrluck 18 Travel Agent L J Personal Travel 2 Index to Adverts rates on p6 Accommodation/Office Space Capital Space 3 Car Servicing G R Servicing 8 Fourways Engineering 37 Clocks Clock Kent 18 Computers P C Matters 8 Wrotham Computer Care 18 Decorating/ Handyman John Ballantyne 26 Painter and Decorator 30 SR Interiors 36 Entertainment & Leisure Blue Anchor 4 Great Comp 3 Electrician A Palmer 32 Dave Carroll 18 The Mysterious Ways of Mistletoe Courtesy of Parish Pump Mistletoe has long been used as part of our Christmas decorations. It is not your usual kind of plant. Instead, it is hemiparasitic, meaning that although its leaves enable it to feed itself through photosynthesis, its roots invade the host tree or shrub to extract water and other nutrients. Mistletoe loves living in apple, lime, hawthorn, poplar or oak trees. You may spot it high up, as a large globe, on the bare trees in winter. Mistletoe’s berries are almost translucent, fleshy and sticky. They form in the forks of mistletoe’s many branches. While they are toxic to humans, they are attractive to birds, who wipe the remaining seeds off their beaks onto the nearest branch, which of course helps the plant to spread. For some reason, Romans thought mistletoe represented Peace, Love and Understanding. Perhaps that is how it got into our Christmas celebrations? The earliest documentary evidence for kissing under mistletoe dates from the 16th century, but we don’t know who got kissed first!

45 NEXT SPLAT! for primary pupils and MiniSplat for preschool aged children Sunday 11th Dec. NATIVITY PRESENTATION Platt Church

46 A Stable in Waiting at Platt Church... Christingle at Platt Church on Christmas Eve. This year, as usual, there will be Christingle services at 2pm and 4pm on 24th December, Christmas Eve.

47 Borough Green Road, Ightham, Kent, TN15 9JA 01732 884726 Countdown to Christmas British Grown Christmas Trees 2ft-15ft • Pot grown trees • Holly wreaths and hand decorated wreaths • Decorations and Christmas gifts • Christmas foods, mince pies and hampers • Treat yourself to a coffee/ hot chocolate available in the farm shop • We stock frozen meals Open every day: 9am-5pm [email protected]

48