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Moorhouse Tile Works Planning Application- 2015
The Impact of Traffic and HGVs on Westerham
Planning Committee meeting on the 17th December 2015. View Agenda. Tandridge District Council Planning Officer, Surrey Highways & Kent Highways recommend Refusal.
Valid Planning issues outlined at the public meeting 13-10-15 meeting were:
- Traffic volumes much higher than projected by Roxhill
- Impact on Air Quality
- Impact on Listed Buildings & Heritage
- Jobs benefit to Westerham minimal
- AONB – impact on setting surrounding the site
- Read and comment on the Planning Application No 2015/1217
- Westerham Town Partnership Comment on Application
- Westerham Town Partnership document illustrating Impact of Traffic & HGVs on Westerham
- Westerham Town Council Comment Moorhouse Tile Works Planning application comments
- Westerham Residents Association Comments on application
- Westerham Society Comment on application
Westerham Action Group Supporters Letter December 2015
Westerham Public Meeting: 7pm, Tuesday 13th October 2015 at Churchill School to discuss Moorhouse Tile works planning application.
Town Meeting:
Minutes/Notes 13-10-15
Presentation
Key Information
There were an estimated 250+ in the room…standing room only. The meeting was jointly hosted by Westerham Town Council, Westerham Town Partnership, Westerham Society & Westerham Residents’ Association. Supported by Richard Parry KCC Councillor, and Kevin Maskell & Diana Esler, Sevenoaks District Councillors.
Attendees were informed of facts, and advised to comment on Planning Grounds only, by the 28th October 2015 (now 16th December), quoting Planning Application no 2015/1217.
Address comments to:
Charlotte Parker, Planning Team Manager at Tandridge
Email: cparker@tandridge.gov.uk
Post: Tandridge District Council, 8 Station Road East, Oxted RH8 0BT
Valid Planning issues outlined at the meeting were:
- Traffic volumes much higher than projected by Roxhill
- Impact on Air Quality
- Impact on Listed Buildings & Heritage
- Jobs benefit to Westerham minimal
- AONB – impact on setting surrounding the site
Read WTP report: The Impact of Traffic & HGVs on Westerham. This report describes and illustrates the various planning issues raised from extra traffic in Westerham.
Many helpful points were raised from the floor. All of these will be followed up but in the meantime we expect that many of Westerham’s residents will be commenting on the planning grounds explained to them. All four organisations will be submitting objections shortly.
Please keep in touch with developments through the Town Partnership’s Visit Westerham website, or the Town Council website or by LIKING Westerham Kent Facebook Page.
Hope this is informative, do feel free to contact Helen Ogden from the Town Council, or Jane Hunter from the Town Partnership, if you’d like more detail. More reading: Sevenoaks Chronicle Article 14-10-15.
Clubs and Societies
Westerham Society
Read the October 2015 Newsletter or view the Events Calendar.
Click here for the Westerham Society website.
The Westerham Society is a civic society open to people of all ages who share an interest in Westerham and the surrounding countryside. In addition to hosting a series of interesting talks, visits and social events, the society aims to protect the beauty and character of Westerham and the surrounding countryside. It takes action on relevant issues and represents its members on matters which might impact on the welfare or development of the town.
Dear Members
The February 26th talk at Westerham Hall is entitled “Abode of the Gods” by Kev Reynolds after his recent book of the same name on the Nepalese Himalayas and the impact of the major 2015 earthquakes. This replaces the original talk subject of “Westerham Brewery” by Robert Wicks which has been rescheduled for 2017.
I have also attached a brief schedule of 2016 events which can be accessed by the button which follows the poster of Kev Reynolds’ talk below. The pictures Kev will show in his talk are quite incredible, firstly stunning from the roof of the world aspect but also amazing with regard to human interaction such as bridge crossings and survival.
Our normal newsletter will be circulated in mid March providing more detail on some of the events as well as notification of the AGM on March 25th, 2016 in the Westerham Hall. Application forms for the St. George’s Day Breakfast on the 24th April and the guided tour of Penshurst Place house and gardens on the 12th July will be included in this newsletter. Arrangements for the “walk & talk” event at Chartwell in June will follow in due course.
We look forward to seeing you at our events and as always welcome any volunteers to help us steer the Society.
Mitch Young (Event Sec)
Further Information
1. The annual Westerham Hall Quiz on Saturday 27th February still has tickets available. Contact Rita on 01959 562682.
2. The Fleapit Cinema will screen the first film ever screened in Westerham, “When the Earth Trembled”, on 4th March this year, 102 years exactly from that momentous first release day. The recently restored film, will be introduced by Rob Byrne, president of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, who also undertook the work.
Virtual Museum
We’re trying to save Westerham’s past for future generations.
This town has an amazing amount and variety of history. We have lots of incredible material on Westerham’s past but sadly there is no chance of having an actual museum. Thanks to people lending us albums and all sorts of memorabilia, which we are copying and returning: the collection is growing all the time. This means that fascinating local family history is being saved for the future. We need to put all this fantastic information on to a virtual museum website. We are putting together a Heritage Lottery Fund application and, within this, giving evidence on local interest.
We’d be very grateful if you’d be kind enough to fill in the Survey, so that we can demonstrate demand, which can be found at here.
Have you got any memorabilia about Westerham?
As part of a virtual museum initiative, The Westerham Society is inviting anyone who has material of historic interest relating to the town to lend them to our local historian, Bill Curtis. Bill has a solid track-record in conservation and will ensure your personal mementos, photographs and letters are returned intact following high-resolution scanning and photography. He is also progressing an oral history project to digitally record the memories that older residents have of the town between the wars and up to the early 1960s.
Please, if you feel you can help with memorabilia and memories, do contact Bill direct on 01959 564428 or through www.pasttimespress.co.uk or lodge your interest with us at Visit Westerham.
Westerham Society Contacts:
Gordon Rodgers, Westerham Society Chairman’s details are c/o The Westerham Society, 2 Yew Tree Mews, Market Square Westerham TN16 1BF, 01959 564140 or email gordonrodgers@btinternet.com.
Jane Dodd is the Westerham Society secretary and her contact details are c/o The Westerham Society, 3 Saxon Hill, Westerham TN16 1HH, 07721 918002 or email janedodd2009@hotmail.co.uk.
For information on events you can contact Mitch Young c/o The Westerham Society, 1 Croft Hall, Off London Road, Westerham TN16 1BD, 01959 561073 or email mitch.young1@btinternet.com.
The membership secretary, Jacs Taylor-Smith, can be contacted at c/o The Westerham Society, The Old Barn, Dunsdale, Westerham TN16 1QL, 01959 561265 or email djtaylorsmith@aol.com.
Don’t forget the Society’s web site is at www.westerhamsociety.org.uk.
Get Involved
The Society is run by volunteers. Even if you do not want to stand on the committee, we need volunteers to help with running Society projects, help at lectures, run stalls at local events, maintain the Co-op garden and to represent the society at planning meetings. It does not matter if you can only lend a hand from time to time; your help is most welcome. If you are interested, please make contact.
Email reminder
If you use email, please provide the Society with your email address to enable a more efficient and cost effective means of communicating with you. The Society will email you the newsletter and other information relating to the Society. Your email address will not be divulged to any third party.
Promotional Material
If you would like some Westerham Society leaflets to distribute, please collect some at a lecture or from Taylor-Smith Antiques at the Grange.
Suggestions on talks and activities
We have received some excellent suggestions on potential events and talks and they have made their way into the Society’s programme with great success. We always welcome these, so please contact us with any thoughts.
Westerham Ramblers
Westerham Ramblers would like to wish all in Westerham and in the area a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Everyone is welcome to come and join us for one of our walks. We meet every 2 weeks on a Sunday for walks in the general area – start points are usually within 20 minutes drive of Westerham. Details of our programme can be found on our website – http://www.westerhamramblers.org.uk. There is no membership fee or joining process – just come along to one of our walks and make yourself known. Enquiries can also be sent to info@westerhamramblers.org.uk.
Well behaved dogs are welcome – unlike many rambling groups!
Westerham U3A
Season’s greetings from Westerham U3A
Best wishes to all our members for the festive season and for the New Year.
Click here for 2015 Calendar of Events.
Members have a choice of all sorts of subjects to study – among those recently added are Mahjong and Military History. Chairman Lyn Snowden says: “With Westerham U3A, you can find out more about science, brush up on French, Italian or Spanish, share your appreciation of great paintings and brilliant books, or just join a convivial group for Sunday lunch or rambling. Our U3A offers some amazing opportunities for people who are no longer in full time employment to keep active – mentally and physically!”
For more information about Open Meetings, study groups and becoming a Westerham U3A member, see www.westerhamU3A.org or email WesterhamU3A@hotmail.co.uk.
- Westerham U3A is an educational charity that promotes life-long learning for those retired/no longer in full-time employment (no lower age limit). There are no exams or educational requirements. Group leaders are unpaid volunteers.
- JPEGs of U3A groups, meetings and logo are available.
- Membership costs £20* pa (£35 for joint membership) plus e.g. tea and coffee/room hire charges. There is no charge for attendance at Open Meetings, to which non-members can come on up to three occasions.
Press contact: Louise Wood 07824 994690
Editor’s notes:
Westerham U3A is an educational charity that promotes life-long learning for those retired/no longer in full-time employment in Westerham and its surrounding area.
- Westerham U3A is an educational charity that promotes life-long learning for those retired/no longer in full-time employment in Westerham and its surrounding area.
- Membership costs £20. Group contacts are unpaid volunteers.
- Westerham is part of a network of around 800 local U3A groups in the UK, with a nationwide membership of 300,000+.
- More about the University of the Third Age movement at: www.U3A.org.uk (although limited to those no longer in full time paid employment, there is no lower age limit).
Westerham Fine Arts Society
Visit the website.
Talk by Eric Knowles (Antiques Road Show) Wednesday 3rd February. More info…
Single membership is £32 / couples £55. Guests £5 on the door – extremely good value for eleven meetings! We cordially invite new members to join us – please contact our membership Secretary Lynn Worrall on 01959 569895.
Westerham Art Group
The group continues to thrive with very well-attended meetings. Our topics this term have ranged through life drawing ; painting plants and sewing equipment; ‘Figments of the Imagination’; ‘Through the Archway’; an excellent landscape workshop with Lynda Clark and mini-workshops by our own members. The theme for our Christmas Tree Festival entry will be ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, and we look forward to depicting some ‘Christmas Birds’ and enjoying a lovely afternoon tea for the end of term. Happy Christmas to all!
For further information, telephone Avril Norton 01959 700648.
Westerham & Edenbridge Rotary Club
The newly formed Edenbridge and Westerham Rotary Club wish everyone a happy Christmas and are keen to hear from anyone interested in joining this new venture.Call Peter om 01732 866288.
The members of the Westerham and Edenbridge Rotary Clubs are delighted to announce they are joining forces to create a new club which will be called ‘The Rotary Club of Edenbridge and Westerham’. This will take effect from 1st July this year.
The coming together of these two long established and successful clubs makes a lot of sense: the two towns are only a few miles apart and have similar aims and ambitions for the local communities that they serve; they are both active internationally.
The best parts of both clubs are being brought together to create this new club of over 30 members. The highly successful annual Sir Winston Churchill Memorial dinner will continue as will the Edenbridge Fireworks, Westerham and Edenbridge Fairs, involvement with the Valence School, strawberry tea for the elderly in Edenbridge and our close link with the Rotary Club of Yvetot in Normandy.
Service to the community will continue to be a priority as will support for the suitable international causes including safe water in developing countries and funding Shelter Boxes for disaster areas including Nepal.
If anyone is interested in joining this vibrant new club or wishes to know more about Rotary please contact Paul Leslie on 01892 457085.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
The RNLI saves lives at sea. It has 236 lifeboat stations, and 200 beaches patrolled, around the coast. Last year it rescued nearly 9,000 people and saved 368 lives. This costs close to £400,000 a day. The Institution receives no Government funding, and all this money has to be raised. There is an RNLI branch in Westerham, which raises money in various ways. If anyone would like to become involved in this very worthwhile cause, please contact John Edwards on 01959 564063 or grosvenor.house@hotmail.com.
Chartwell Branch TCC (UK)
Click here for the latest newsletter.
To join please contact our Chairman, Nigel Guest: chartwelltccuk@virginmedia.com.
St Mary’s Heritage Trust
Preserving our past for today and tomorrow!
Biggin Hill and Westerham Lions Club
Biggin Hill & Westerham Lions Club Incorporating Charity Trust Fund No: 294654
Press Officer: Malcolm Lowing, 4 Foxearth Close, Biggin Hill, Kent, TN16 3HQ, 01959 576628 (home) 07790 279886 (mobile)
The Westerham Club
Christmas Pensioners Buffet
The Westerham Club stewards Jackie and Dave Glazebrook and the committee members would like to thank the following companies for their following contributions and hard work:
Tulsi Restaurant & Bar – for their curries and serving staff too
Rendezvous Brasserie – for their contributions to the cold buffet
Westerham Cars – for free taxis for some of the guests
Co-Op Stores for their contribution of bread to make sandwiches and finally
Phil Tucker and Dougie Sayers for their entertainment in the afternoon
The day was a real success with over 23 pensioners coming along to enjoy the fun. With the day scheduled from 12 to 4pm , many started arriving early to get the good seats! The committee members were in the club at 9.30am preparing food and getting tables ready with all of them giving their time for free.
Upon arrival each guest was given a free drink and when the hot food arrived from The Tulsi at 12.30 the queue for the curry was huge. All of the food was very well received and many of our guests took home food for others that could not make the day. Many people sat on mixed tables with friends and strangers alike and by the end of the afternoon many had bonded well – what with a mix of laughter and free drinks!
Phil Tucker and Dougie Sayers kept everyone entertained in the afternoon with stories from a bygone age and Tommy Cooper impressions.
The Westerham Club hope to run the event again next year. In fact many of the guests asked when they could come back again!
Bonneval Association
The Westerham Bonneval Association and its members are looking forward to welcoming our friends from Bonneval during the weekend of 7-10 April 2016. We are looking for local people to host during the weekend. In particular we have been asked if there are any teachers out there who would be able to host a French teacher for the weekend. There will be some planned activities during the weekend, but also some free time. Anyone interested in hosting or becoming a member if the association please contact Pamela Williamson on 01959 572904 or 07799 601480 for further information.
The Westerham-Bonneval Association was founded over 50 years ago to foster relationships between individuals and organisations in Westerham and its twin town, Bonneval. Exchange visits are made annually, the host country organising a programme of culture and friendship.
Membership of the association costs £5 per household per annum and all members are kept in touch via a regular newsletter. For more information contact Pamela Williamson tel 01959 572904 or 07799 601480.
Visiter le site internet de Bonneval
Westerham – Bonneval Town Twinning Visit 2015
The Westerham Bonneval Association members will be visiting Bonneval this year from 9-12 April. Visitors will be home hosted. The trip will be by coach and ferry and will include a visit to Chateau de Maintenon, free time to explore the local area and some planned time with hosts. We welcome anyone who would like to join us for the trip. The cost for the coach from Westerham to Bonneval return is £75.00 per person which has been subsidised by the WBA , and the cost to cover the activities in France is 100 euros per person. This is a good opportunity for anyone with an interest in France to make friends and enjoy the culture and ambiance of the area. Anyone interested in making the trip please contact the chairman Pamela Williamson 01959 572904 or 07799 601480.
Westerham Theatre Club
We are now well into our fourth year of existence and are pleased that we have offered performances in West End and provincial theatres that met with the approval of our members.
During this year members have had the opportunity to attend a total of fourteen shows. A further five are booked for the early part of next year.
You can read our reviews of each of the shows we have seen by going to our website and browsing on past events/reviews. Also available there are details of up-coming shows and membership forms.
As we approach the end of the year, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year of theatre-going.
Barry Reid, Chairman
Our annual subscription remains at £5 single and £8 for couples. For more information including reviews of all past shows and forms for joining, go to our website.
Check out our outings on the Westerham Theatre Club website!
For just £5 a year you can join in the fun, and benefit from group discounts. More information can be found at www.westerhamtheatreclub.weebly.com or by ringing Alicia on 01959 563763.
Are you interested in Theatre?
Want to gain more from your Theatre-going? Like to socialise and share ideas? Come and join us!
- see interesting plays and shows locally and in London
- meet like-minded people, discuss and review
- benefit from Group Rates, if available
- make friends, have fun!
Westerham Theatre Club members come from all over town, and like mixing with other theatre-goers. Enjoy the best local and London Theatre has to offer in the company of friendly residents and neighbours of Westerham.
We aim to organise regular outings at Group prices: to do this we have a cut-off payment date for bookings, but there are often returns available as the outing approaches, so do join the waiting list if you’ve missed a booking date! We also aim to offer coach travel from Westerham, when performances are in the evening. If you are not currently a member, do join us – we have a varied programme of shows and plays coming up, from musical treats to more challenging opportunities. And all in the company of friends.
Westerham Amateur Dramatics Society
Click here for WADS Website.
Churchill Schools Reunion
Churchill, Hosey & St Marys
Westerham Schools Reunion 2016
23rd of April Westerham Bowls Club
10.30am to 8pm
for more info call 01959 563986
Visit our Facebook page for links to the various groups that are advertising the Reunion.
Westerham Chess Club
Side Saddle Association – Area 8
Interested in riding a horse on a Side Saddle? Please do not hesitate to contact:
Angela Wells 01959 532191 or angelam.wells@virgin.net
Rowena Zelley on 07765148221
Visit the website here.
Fleapit Cinema
Click here for our website.
When the Earth Trembled
March 4th, 7:30pm, Westerham Hall
Since 2002 every Fleapit Film Club season has included a Silent Night – silent films with live accompaniment by the internationally renowned multi-instrumentalist Stephen Horne. This season, though, Silent Night is particularly special and of real local interest…
On March 4th 1914, The Swan Cinema on Hosey Hill in Westerham opened its doors for the first time and treated its audience to When the Earth Trembled, a 1913 American silent feature-film about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Around 100 years later Rob Byrne, President of The San Fransisco Silent Film Festival and a leading film restorer, embarked on a project to return the film to its former glory. Knowing of the Westerham connection, Rob contacted The Fleapit and we agreed to help fund the project. The coincidences did not end there – Rob then commissioned Stephen Horne to compose and record the score for the restored film.
And on March 4th 2016 all parties involved will be reunited for a Gala Screening at Westerham Hall – 102 years to the day Westerham first saw the film. Rob is flying in from San Fransisco to introduce it and Stephen will be joining us to play his score live.
Members of the public are invited to join us for this evening to remember. Doors (and the bar) open at 7:30pm. Tickets for non-Members of The Fleapit Cinema Club are £4. And, for the benefit of non-Members, we have a 24’ screen and high resolution digital projection.
Notes about When The Earth Trembled includng details about the film, those who made it and short bios of both Stephen and Rob.
Above is a photo of the plaque we received to Mark the Clubs contribution to the restoration project. This was presented to us at the world premier of the finished project on 28/3/15 at the Amsterdam EYE film institute.
Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB)
At our Parent & Toddler group, we support you and your child in developing:
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Communication and social skills
- Ease of movement and mobility
- Confidence and creativity
Our personalised approach includes support for the whole family. While your children enjoys structured and free play time and sensory room sessions, you (and other family members) can enjoy the chance to share experiences and form friendships with people who understand.
This is an open group where children aged 0-6, parents and other family members from all areas are welcome.
If you would like to attend our Kent Parent & Toddler group, please get in touch with Kerry Hawkins on 01732 592650 or email connections@rlsb.org.uk.
Westerham Independent Literature Group
The fee for the term is £67.00. For further information and to discover whether there are any places available for the coming term, please contact Margaret Robertson (Group Secretary) on 01959 564149 or via mrsmrobertson@aol.com.
Royal British Legion
Join now – Tony Reed, Secretary of Legion plus Membership Secretary – new members most welcome.
Membership:
Standard: £27.00
OAP: £22.50
The building has a wonderful snooker room, with active competition, lager at £3.30, bitter at £3, cash bingo on the last Saturday of each month, darts, quizes, with Saturday music evenings interspersed. Large room and garden available for hire by arrangement. Contact Tony Reed on 07799 502583.
Club opening hours are:
MONDAY 7-10.30pm
TUESDAY closed all day
WEDNESDAY 12-2pm 7-10.30pm
THURSDAY 7-10.30pm
FRIDAY 12-2pm 7-10.30pm
SATURDAY 7-11pm
SUNDAY 12-2pm 7-10.30pm
Westerham Horticultural Society and Westerham Beekeepers News
Visit website.
Dear Friends and Members,
Just to let you know that the annual Banish the Blues coffee morning is next Saturday 27th Feb in the John Fryth Room at St Marys Church 10am until 12pm. Tea, coffee, delicious cake and much anticipated copies of the new Show Schedule for 2016 will be hot of the press for collection! We very much look forward to seeing you there!
Dates for your diary include Summer Show 18th June, Autumn Show 17th September.
We will have our usual Plant Stall at the Rotary Fair on the Green on 14th May.
The WHS is supporting Churchill Primary School in having its beautiful willow playground structures maintained by John Waller. Anyone interested in helping with this or just learning more about practical willow maintenance please get in touch.
The WHS is involved in a Coolings Garden Centre initiative for local Horticultural Societies on 24th Sept – more details to follow.
The WHS AGM will be on Sat 15th October.
Don’t forget that members of the WHS get a discount on plants at Westerham Heights Garden Centre on presentation of your membership card.
Any queries or suggestions please get in touch.
Kind regards,
April, on behalf of the WHS Committee
Other News
Membership subscriptions are £7.00 for family membership and £4.50 for individuals. Membership is really important to the Society if we are to continue to be able to promote horticultural activities in the community and organise events especially the ever popular Summer and Autumn Shows.You can renew by email at westerhamhortsoc@yahoo.co.uk If you would like any further information please contact J Saunders at 563466 or email us at westerhamhortsoc@yahoo.co.uk
For more information:
Westerham Beekeepers’ Association
Westerham Horticultural Society
Local Vocals
Westerham Local Vocals has named Louise Orfila as its new Musical Director.
Louise is a professional singer-songwriter as well as a trained vocal and performance coach. Penny Fossett, of Westerham Local Vocals said “We couldn’t be more delighted to have found Louise to lead us – her experience in performing arts and music, as well as her teaching expertise, is exactly what we were looking for in a new musical director. We’re celebrating with a rousing chorus of glee, and bursting into song!”
Louise, who lives in Oxted, currently performs with her band ORFILA, a country trio including her brother, Matt, and sister, Abi – the family has been performing since they were toddlers. Louise is also a composer, has performed with well known stars, and with the Royal British Legion and Royal Marine Bands. She has a degree in Performing Arts and Vocal Studies, teaches singing locally and August 2015 saw the launch of Louise’s performing arts and music school, LCA Stage Academy, which runs in Oxted and Ashford.
“It’s a huge excitement to be joining the Westerham Local Vocals as their Musical Director” Louise said. “I had such a fantastic time with the group during the auditions and instantly felt a connection with the members. I’m so happy to be part of the team so soon, and we have lots of exciting new plans to continue lifting the group ‘Higher and Higher’ in the New Year!”
Louise aims to bring out the very best in the choir through a combination of encouragement and musical discipline, and she hopes the local community and charities will enjoy the results. To learn more about the choir, see their website, like the Facebook community page Westerham Local Vocals, or follow @WesterhamLV.
Fundraisers and Social Events
Hospice in the Weald
New to You Clothing Edit: 11am until 4pm on Saturday 9 April at Westerham Hall. All profits go to the Hospice in the Weald.
An opportunity for buyers to update their wardrobes from a gorgeous selection of previously owned but hardly worn clothing and accessories for women and girls. Hand-picked for style and quality. All seasons and all sizes. Designer and good quality high street brands, all in perfect condition and priced to sell! We will also be showcasing a small number of local associated businesses and serving refreshments! £2 entry (under 12s free). Cash only. Come early!!
Where does your money go: Hospice info…
Volunteers Wanted
The Hospice Needs You. Volunteers wanted to help run the Hospice in the Weald shop and raise valiable funds. A couple of hours a week helping to sort clothes and donations, and serve customers. Gain retail experience and get out and meet people: great for bored teenagersneeding work experience.
FULL TRAINING GIVEN. Call 01959 565141 and ask for Jo.
Cancer Research UK
‘Wishing everyone a very happy and peaceful New Year from the local committee for Cancer Research UK. We cover Westerham, Oxted, Crockham Hill and Brasted, and organise around 6 events each year, culminating in our annual Christmas Fair at The Grasshopper Inn. We raised a staggering £25,000 for the charity during 2015 and couldn’t have done this without the support of the local community. For more information on our events, or on how to get involved, contact Debbie Innes at debbieinnes@hotmail.com.
For any information or tickets to the events, please contact me on debbieinnes@hotmail.com or 01959 577236.
Ou Facebook page has information about all events and many photos as well.
NSPCC
Fashion Show 21st March 2016. Click on picture for details.
Westerham Hall
Westerham Hall Management Committee (1996), c/o 12 Quebec Avenue, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1BH
Friends of Westerham Hall
This is the inaugural event of The Friends of Westerham Hall, set up this year with the sole objective of supporting the Hall through fundraising. The Annual Hall Quiz remains the highlight, next year it is on Friday, 26th February. Also for 2016 will be the second Westerham Hall Burns Night Supper on Saturday, 23rd of January 2016. If you would like to join The Friends to help with future events, please contact Rita Wilson.
Age UK Westerham and Sevenoaks
Age UK will be discontinuing our monthly advice sessions on Wednesdays in the Town Council office. Instead we will be offering to do short talks or one-off sessions at places that older people already go such as the coffee morning at St Mary’s, Talktime at the library, the new dementia café in the Evangelical Church and some joint sessions with Citizens’ Advice at Westerham Hall. If you would be interested in this then please let me know.
We are grateful to the Town Council for use of their space and hope that the new weekly Citizens’ Advice sessions will give people in Westerham a more regular advice service.
Age UK Sevenoaks & Tonbridge are looking for volunteers; this includes some opportunities for volunteering within the Westerham area such as befriending (visiting people who are lonely). If interested, please contact us on 01732 454108 or office@ageuksevenoaksandtonbridge.org.uk.
Young People and Under 18’s
Valence School
Vintage Car Show & Hill Climb Demonstration, Sunday 15 May 10am til 4pm at Valence School. Save the Date!
OUTSTANDING Ofsted rating in their latest Care Standards Inspection. View report.
Churchill C E Primary School
Churchill C E Primary School (Rysted Lane, Westerham TN16 1EZ)
Westerham Sea Cadets Corps
Westerham Sea Cadets – the most improved unit in the country who at the Area Conference last week also won ‘The Bennett Cup’ for the best spread of boating qualifications and hours achieved boating and also the Duke of Edinburgh Shield for the unit who achieved the most qualifications in a year.
We meet on a Tuesday and Thursday between 6.45 and 9pm, age 10 – 18. It is £15.00 per month.
As always we are always looking for new cadets and adults to help.
If any one between the age of 10-18 would like to join us, we meet on a Tuesday and Thursday between 7-9pm, at The Drill Hall High Street, Westerham, phone: 01959 565006, or email: westerhamscc@hotmail.co.uk.
Check us out on www.ms-sc.org and follow the link to Westerham unit, or just turn up at the Drill Hall in the High Street on a Tuesday or Thursday evening from 6.45pm.
The Westerham Sea Cadet Corps is a registered Charity and part of a nationwide voluntary youth organisation for young adults aged 12 – 18. We also recruit Junior Cadets aged 10 – 12.
Cadets will learn valuable skills and have the opportunity to gain qualifications that future employers view in high regard, such as first aid, DofE and BTECTraining is based around a nautical theme, with cadets experiencing both indoor and outdoor lessons, in a variety of subjects.
During the summer, cadets get the chance to go boating, whereas in the winter, cadets tend to work more towards their chosen specialisations and proficiencies, such as cook steward, seamanship and shooting.
The unit is currently looking urgently for volunteers to assist the Unit Management Committee – a desperate need for a treasurer, secretary and others to assist in the fund raising activities the unit needs to continue working and providing valuable skills to their members and also services to the local community. If you have some spare time and would like to help out please contact the unit on 01959 565006 or email on westerhamscc@hotmail.co.uk.
The Unit is looking forward to hearing from you to help us continue in our valuable work!
Jan Dean
Air Cadets
As always we are always looking for new cadets and adults to help.
Westerham Scout Group
Wads Youth
The Youth Theatre Committee
Contact: Cecily Stiles (WADS Secretary) wadsyouthgroup@btinternet.com.
Following the success of Miss Terious, WADS Youth’s July show this year, the Society has been looking at how best we can move forward and capitalise on this success. Certainly, the enthusiasm of the cast and the positive and appreciative comments of many of the parents, confirmed that there is a genuine appetite for not just maintaining the group but extending its activities on a regular basis as an extra curricular activity tied into term times.
It quickly became apparent that this could not be achieved fully without outside funding. Fortunately, the Society has some friends experienced in Arts funding (including the Arts Council) who have advised we have a very good chance of securing the funds necessary to sustain an on-going young people’s drama group (for 10-18s) here in Westerham that could meet weekly during term time whilst maintaining a minimum cost to participants to keep it genuinely affordable to all.
We have been advised that two key things that all potential funding partners will look for is a) a demonstration of demand and b) testimonials. This e-mail, therefore, is not just to keep you informed of what we are trying to do, but to ask you for a few minutes of your time to help us make it happen. If you or your children are interested, please let me know – and, indeed, if there are friends who might be interested in joining please pass this to them. There is no obligation but we do need to know. Also, many of the older WADS Youth Members were unable to participate in Miss Terious because of exams – this e-mail is equally relevant to them. How we move forward will be heavily influenced by the age range of participants, including running separate sessions for younger and older members if the numbers justify it.
Finally, testimonials. If you or your children participated in Miss Terious, Little Red or in recent pantos, please e-mail me with what you thought of the experience – all comments will be treated anonymously.
Apollo Youth Choirs
Westerham Juniors Football Club
For Recruitment Flyer click on PDF (on right).
Goalkeepers – the goalkeeping school meets every Saturday from 10am -11:30am for training from our FA qualified goalkeeping coaches. The cost is £5 per month which entitles them to attend four 1 ½ hour training sessions. Most members play in goal for a school or club team but beginners of all ages are also welcome.
U5s – There are currently spaces in our fun introduction to football sessions. These sessions are aimed at children who are currently in reception classes at school. The sessions run on Saturday mornings from 10am – 11am. The cost is £5 per month which entitles them to attend four 1 hour sessions.
U17s – New players from school year 12 are required for our oldest youth team who currently play on Sunday mornings in the Tandridge League B division.
All enquire should be directed to Paul Carter:
Email: westerhamjuniorfc@btinternet.com
Telephone: 07770 801584
Beavers
The mixed group of boys and girls meet on a Wednesday evening and enjoy arts and crafts mixed in with some fun and games, all of which contributes to their badge scheme. Currently the colony has a temporary leadership team under the guidance of Helen Hutchinson- however, due to commitments she can only continue until the summer holidays.The colony has been running for a number of years now and has won its fair share of awards within the district. The umbrella group, 17th Sevenoaks boasts a fantastic headquarters, vans and state of the art training equipment. If anyone is interested in giving a couple of hours a week to help these youngsters please call 07836 694627 or email mckay.andrew@sky.com
Brownies and Rainbows
Are there any 7-10 year old girls in or around Westerham wanting some fun, adventures and to learn some life skills? Then come and try Westerham Brownies. We meet every Thursday evening 6pm-7.30 pm.
Contact Gillian Simpkins on 07712730389 or just turn up at Churchill School youth hall and see what its like.
We meet on Tuesdays 6:15 pm – 7:30pm at Churchill School.
Rainbows are ages 5 – 7 and Brownies are for ages 7 -10.
We have a range of activities with lots of badges to do from agility to watersports. The Brownies usually spend a week away in August at a farm near East Grinstead with lots of outdoor activities like archery, bungee trampolining and abseiling.
New members warmly welcomed!
Winnies Pre School
National Trust
Autumn and Winter Events
Chartwell – Download events
Quebec House – Download events
Emmetts – Download events
Emmetts Garden – Last year as part of the Christmas Elf trail at we ran a competition to design an elf that we would use in the Christmas elf trail for 2015. Violette Williams won the competition and we held a private viewing of the elf trail this year for Violette and her family. We unveiled the winning elf designed by Violette and presented her with a professionally printed copy. The family had a lovely time being the first to complete the trail, Violette’s mum commented “We had a lovely morning exploring the elf trail with the family, great start into the festive season…the first steps to Christmas”. Download the press release for Emmetts elf trail Dec 2015.
Churches
St Mary’s Church
Click here for website.
Revd Kevin Barnard: Vicar of Westerham, Church of St Mary the Virgin (Day off: Friday).
St Mary’s Churchyard
A big thank you to those volunteers who’ve been working steadily all summer to transform St Mary’s Churchyard: many areas which were overgrown jungle, have been tackled, and the result is the entire churchyard is now a tranquil, beautiful and respectful space. The organisers are appealing for daffodil bulbs for immediate planting – please leave your contribution in the church or in the Grasshopper on the Green.
Thanks to Phillip Hoath whose photo shows Chip Carpenter & Dick Hawkes, 2 of the 4 volunteer helpers who strim St Mary’s Churchyard. If anyone can give a couple of hours a week, preferably in the summer, they would be extremely grateful! Contact Dick Hawkes:
Tel: 07814 698309
Email: d.hawkes@outlook.com
St Mary’s Junior Church Choir
Meet each Friday at 6.10 – 6.50pm in the John Fryth at St Mary’s Church. If your child is aged 8 or above and you would him/her to join or want to know more please contact Mrs Jeannie Pearch, Junior Choir Leader:
Tel: 01959 564518
Email: Japearch@aol.com
or come along on a Friday evening with your child and see what goes on.
St John the Baptist Catholic Church
LENTEN TALKS
HOLY WEEK
Fr Aquilina, call 01959 563226.
Website: www.westerhamcatholic.com
Westerham Congregational Church
Westerham Congregational Church meets Sunday mornings for informal worship. See our website for more details, or phone Phil or Hazel Sutton on 01959 563148.
Christmas Services
Carols at Café Church at Costa, 5.15 Sunday 13th December.
Carols by Candlelight, 4p.m. Sunday 20th December.
Family Service, 10.30a.m. Christmas Day.
Community
Westerham Fire Station
Do you live or work within five minutes travelling time of Westerham Fire Station? Visit the KFRS website.
On-call firefighters respond to fire and emergency calls using the same fire engines and equipment as whole-time firefighters, the only difference is that they are not based at a fire station. They carry a pager and respond to emergency incidents using the local station as and when they happen. They receive an annual wage to reflect the time they commit plus additional payments for attending drill nights and incidents.
They are men and women who may have other jobs and are able to provide evening, daytime or weekend cover. When they are on call they may be at home, working for themselves or for a nearby company. The role offers flexible working hours and suits people with childcare commitments and other responsibilities.
You will need to be at least 18 years old, physically fit and able to commit to the on-call hours we need from you. In return we will give you continuous professional training so you can provide a vital service to the local community and help save lives.
There are benefits for employers who release staff to be on-call firefighters too, the employee will be professionally trained to deal with emergencies, and a firefighter on the staff could help save lives and property in the event of an emergency.
The Westerham Medical Practice
Kent Police
Simon Humphreys, Police Community Support Officer Crockham Hill & Westerham.
Westerham Library
Volunteer needed to run our Baby Bounce and Rhyme session.
Parent/Child Drop In run by Children’s Centre: Thursday 9.30 – 11.30am, includes Songs and Rhymes for Babies 9.30 – 10am
Storytime – Thursday (term time only): 2.15 – 2.45pm
Computer Buddy: Friday 9.30 – 10.30am
Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Citizens’ Advice Bureau reopening in Westerham: 13 January 2016 sees the reopening of a weekly CAB session in Westerham Hall. Advisors will be there between 9.30 and 12.30 every Wednesday and can offer advice on money issues, disability problems, employment issues and legal advice. Drop in or call 03000 422888 for an appointment.
Chartwell Apothecary
River Darent
“I work for the Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme led by the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Darent Valley is a beautiful part of the Kent countryside and the Kent Downs AONB has been allocated a grant of £2.1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve and celebrate this special landscape through a host of cultural, art, heritage, biodiversity, access and conservation projects. The scheme area stretches from Dartford marshes in the north then follows the course of the River Darent to its source at Westerham, passing through Horton Kirby, Farningham, Eynsford, Otford, Kemsing among other villages in the Darent Valley.
Running from five years starting in spring 2017, the scheme will undertake a host of projects to conserve, enhance and celebrate the landscape of the Darent Valley. It will do this by working in partnership with a broad range of local groups, conservation organisations, councils, parish and town councils and many others. The inspiration for the scheme which we hope to convey throughout the projects is local Victorian artist Samuel Palmer who lived and worked in Shoreham, who affectionately referred to the Darent Valley as his ‘earthly paradise’.
Creative and performing arts to celebrate the landscape is a large aspect of the scheme and we are most keen for local groups and organisations to be at the heart of this celebration. As a group with an obvious passion for music and singing and that is within the Darent Valley, I wanted to get in touch to see whether you may be interested in working with us. Details of what this celebration may entail are still being determined; whether it be one large scale event or lots of smaller events throughout the five years of the scheme (2017 – 2022). So at this stage, we’re just getting in touch with local creative and performing arts groups to see whether they would like to express an interest in getting involved with the scheme.
Should you wish to learn more about the scheme and our progress as the projects develop, you can find us on social media; please click on the links in my signature at the end of the email.
If you have any questions or would like any further information then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
Letter from Jenifer Smith (jennifer.smith@kentdowns.org.uk)
West Kent Neighbourhood Watch News
To find out more about the latest updates from the Neighbourhood Watch News please click here.
You can also check out the latest news from Westerham and Crockham Hill, West Kent Watch in the West Kent Watch.
Kings Arms Hotel
General Wolfe Public House
Grasshopper on the Green
Grasshopper Inn at Moorhouse
Hurst Green Shire Horses
Flawless Jewellery
Flawless Jewellery – Officially one of the hottest jewellers in the country
21 High Street, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1RA
Tel: 01959 569612
Email: info@flawless-jewellery.co.uk
Annie’s Attic
Workshops at Annies Attic Shop, 18 The Green, Westerham
Visit the website.
Lino cutting workshop: 28th April 2016 time 10.00am-1.00pm – Price £40 – Booking essential as places are limited.
Also venue at Oxted Leisure Centre.
Lino cutting print workshop: Saturday 19th March 10am-1pm.
Metal point engraving workshop: Sunday 22nd May 10am-1pm.
Prices: member £30, non-member £34.00
Tel: 01883 716717 (option 1)
Artist/Printmaker Sandra Mckears –Johnson B.A.(hons) P.G.C.E
Art, Drawings, Wood Engravings and Linocut Prints. Commissions of House Portraits.
Original prints, views of Westerham for sale at The White House Picture Framers shop, London Road.
New workshop calendar. Go to Workshops for more details on their website.
Tel: 01959 565854
The Design Gallery
Westerham Brewery
Dear Friends of the Brewery, Loyal Suppliers, Past Beer Club Members and General Hangers On (including family!).
We have for the first time in 12 years decided to enter the Taste of Kent Awards. We wondered whether you would lend us your support for Spirit of Kent as the Best Beer in Kent.
Spirit of Kent is important to us as it showcases the best of our Kentish hops and includes an experimental hop that is being grown exclusively for us at Scotney Castle by our friend Ian Strang. It would be fabulous publicity and a great opportunity to promote the Spirit of Kent hop that has produced its first commercial crop this year.
If you click on the link you will see that 3 Westerham beers have already been voted for by others – www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk.
The Royal Oak in Crockham Hill and The Wheatsheaf in Bough Beech are also in the running for Kent Dining Pub of the Year. If you know and love either of these great pubs please let us know by voting for them! – www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk.
Thank you for supporting us!
Robert
Westerham Valley Brewery
Work has begun on the new Westerham Valley site. The second picture is an artist’s impression
Westerham brewery faces delay as plans go to Whitehall. Read more…
Westerham Brewery is in the top 50 food and drink businesses – Sevenoaks Chronicle article.
Double Stout joins Gluten Free Line Up at Westerham Brewery
The 9th bottled beer from Westerham Brewery to be certified gluten free is now available: Double Stout 5.2% joins the extensive list of gluten free beers from our local brewery. A Gluten Free Taster Case is offered in which all 9 varietes can be sampled or select your favourites.
Order online at www.westerhambrewery.co.uk or call 01732 864427.
Westerham Brewery Co. Ltd
Grange Farm,
Pootings Road,
Crockham Hill,
Edenbridge,
Kent TN8 6SA
Squerryes Estate/Winery
Click here for Squerryes Website and full details.
Squerryes wine wins double gold at tasting awards. Read more…
Sport
Westerham Cycling Club
Read about the top 10 toughest cycling climbs in Kent (best hills) and Broleur’s best cycling cafe awards (best cake). Westerham is our go-to place for cycling and coffee/cake.
Go-Ride
Youth coaching sessions to be launched in the spring seePoster.
I’m really pleased to announce that Westerham Cycling Club’s recent application to become a British Cycling accredited Go-Ride club has been accepted.
In a nutshell, Go-Ride is British Cycling’s development programme for young people. Interestingly 60% of riders on the Great Britain Cycling Team started out at Go-Ride clubs so who knows one day Westerham could have its very own Bradley Wiggins. Please visit www.britishcycling.org.uk for more information.
We aim to launch the Go-Ride part of the club in the early spring and have been given permission to use the King George’s playing fields and the Pavilion as our base. We will also be meeting later this month with representatives from Churchill School in Westerham regarding a partnership, additional coaching facilities and of course a source of potential riders!
Nothing will change with regards to the adult side of the club however I would encourage any club members that would like to volunteer their help to step forward. There is a Go-Ride conference taking place in Dartford on Saturday the 14th March and any volunteers are invited to attend the conference and take part in a workshop run by British Cycling. You can book a place by visiting: www.britishcycling.org.uk. Michael and I will both be attending as the Club’s certificated coaches.
Finally, any parents that have children between the ages six to sixteen that are interested in cycling should consider putting their names down as early as possible as places will be limited. More information on what we will be offering and how to sign your child up will be provided shortly.
Any questions message or email me: mark@westerhamcyclingclub.co.uk.
Mark Brewer & Michael Craig
We are recently formed road cycling club, we welcome cyclists of all levels that like to ride regularly in a group. We currently meet every Sunday morning at 08.45am outside MoorEnergy Fitness Club. There are changing facilities and lockers available.
We arrange annual cycling trips to the Bologna region of Italy (and beyond in 2015!) as well as taking part in many sportives in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
WCC is a British Cycling affiliated club and with two Level-1 coaches on our current roster, we will be looking to establish local youth coaching activities in 2015.
Contact Mark Brewer mark@westerhamcyclingclub.co.uk or 07808 141114 for further details.
Membership is by subscription via the British Cycling website “Club Finder” or here.
See also www.westerhamcyclingclub.co.uk.
The club is now affiliated with British Cycling and two of our members have recently achieved Level 1 coaching status and are progressing on to Level 2. Club numbers currently sit at 20 but we have had a lot of interest and I believe the club will really take of in spring of next year. I have designed the club kit which is now in production so you will hopefully see cyclist in and around Westerham sporting the new jerseys soon.
Mark Brewer and Nigel Moore from Moore Energy Fitness club have been riding together for about four years. Mark has been cycling most of his life but got hooked by a charity event that he did for the Princes Trust called the “Coast to Coast” Challenge which was a ride from one side of Costa Rica to the other climbing the continental shelf which was about 5 days up hill and 1 day down. He has also completed an Iron Man man so can advise club members on the training required to complete a Triathlon. Club Members have done numerous events/challenges and we aim to do a lot more moving forward.
Over the last four years we have entered a team from the gym into the Princes Trust “Palace to Palace” cycle ride. The team has consisted of a wide range of individuals that age from mid twenties to mid seventies. Prior to the event we trained with the group and had some really lovely rides and even though there was a huge disparity in ability we have always finished as a team, albeit some quicker than others.
We already take a group to Italy once sometimes twice a year and next year we are hoping to take a group to France to sample some of the Tour De France routes.
£25 subscription fee for admin and insurance purposes. I am working on club kit that will advertise the club name and give the club members a true club feeling.
Weekly ride, every Sunday at MoorEnergy fitness club on Fullers Hill at 09:45am and tend to do rides of around 30 – 40km.
More information contact Mark Brewer at mark@westerhamcyclingclub.co.uk or on 07808 141114.
Westerham Bowls Club
Do you enjoy being outdoors?
Like spending time gardening or walking?
Why not add Bowls to your list?
Enjoy the social and health benefits!
For more information contact Club Secretary Anne Farley:
Tel: 01959 565106
Visit website.
Westerham Netball Club
If you’re interested in joining us please contact Maggie on 07765 106361.
Lionesses
Westerham Ladies Football
Call the Coach on 07956 782555 to register interest.