CROCKHAM HILL NEWSLETTER

MY LIFE AS A LEMON-LOVER!
When I was a child, I loved cloudy lemonade but I didn’t like lemon curd.
When I was a child, I loved sherbet lemons but I didn’t like lemon Spangles.
When I was a child, I liked lemon sole, with a big segment of lemon but I didn’t like the bones or the pips!
When I became a man, I liked lemon curd even less but came to love tart au citron.
When I became a man, I came to love a twist of lemon zest in my dry martini and a lemon slice in my G&T.
When I became a man, I no longer loved sherbet lemons or any Spangles but
when I became a man, I came to love lemon shortbread biscuits.
When I became a man, I came to love lemon syllabub.
When I became a man, I had learned to love watching how the lemon blossom swells into fruit.
When I became a man, I learned to love Limoncello, which is truly bitter-sweet!
When I became a man, I came to love lemon verbena and the smell of lemon in cologne.
When I became a man, I began to understand my taste for the bitter/sweet in life, which is not quite the same as sweet and sour.
So now I was able to enjoy ‘Bitter Lemons’ by Lawrence Durrell, even so, I still think that the best lemons come not from Cyprus but Amalfi/Ravello and Sicily.

And now, I no longer expect my religious life to be only ‘love is the sweetest thing,’ but recognize the ‘bitter’ in biblical stories is also able to reveal truth.  Before the prodigal son became a man, he had to taste the bitter pig’s swill and be as a servant before he came to his senses and returned to fall not into slavery, but into the sweetness of his father’s loving and forgiving arms.

And now as I come to review my changing ,and indeed developing, religious tastes and experiences, I look and see what they were when I was a child, and what they are now that I am a man – whether or not I’ve put away childish things (but not child-like curiosity), and matured into a deeper understanding of the revelation of God’s purposes. 

It’s taking a life-time!  What about you?

Your friend and priest,
Fr Bob

CHURCH SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY 2012

FLOWER ROTA
FEB 5     Mrs Lancaster & Mrs Triplow                                       FEB 12/19             Mrs Proctor & Mrs Stafford

CLEANING ROTA
FEB  4                    Mrs G Hunter & Mrs Cash                             FEB 11                   Mrs Hodges & Mr Woodward
FEB 18                   Mr & Mrs Whitlock                                           FEB 25                   Mrs Reynolds & Miss Dilley

VILLAGE MARKET
Please note, there will be no Village Market in February.  The next one is in March.

EDEN VALLEY MUSEUM
Following its annual winter closure, the Museum re-opens this month with two new exhibitions: a photographic compilation showing images of Penshurst (from Wednesday 1st until Saturday 25th) – and Vivat Regina, the dawn of our Elizabethan Age – this exhibition runs until August 26th.    

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
Our January meeting, with Terry King’s Tax, Music and Song, was a surprisingly successful mixture of folk songs and tunes played on a psaltery, two sorts of concertina and a drum, interspersed with tax information!  Did you know that Income Tax was introduced as a temporary measure by William Pitt the Younger just over two hundred years ago?
    Some members will be playing darts in The Royal Oak this month, others will be quilting.  Our next meeting is on Wednesday 1st at 2.30pm, when Sandra Johnson will be talking about the art of wood carving.
    As if 2012 isn’t going to be busy enough already, we are planning two events later in the year for the whole village – so please put the dates in your diary now.  Firstly, to mark the Centenary of Octavia Hill’s death in Crockham Hill in 1912, Peter Clayton OBE, Chairman of the Octavia Hill Society, will be giving a talk on Wednesday July 11th at 2.30pm to members of the WIs of the area, and then again at 8pm, to which everyone in the village is invited.  Secondly, to round off our 90th birthday, on September 15th we will be organising a PRODUCE SHOW – so start growing your best fruit and veg and flowers! More details to follow, but there will be classes for everyone to enter, including children.  If any local business or well-wisher would like to sponsor a particular class, please get in touch with me on 866218, or cash_jocsrc@hotmail.co.uk                                         Susan Cash

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Our meetings this month will be on Wednesday 8th at 10.30am at Guildables, when Linda Brown of Edenbridge will be telling us about St Winifred and Holywell.  Then on the 22nd Mandy Maple will be regaling us with the origins and traditions of Shrove Tuesday.  This meeting will be at 41 Highfield Road.  Do come and join us.
    The Women’s World Day of Prayer this year is on Friday March 2nd at the Catholic Church in Edenbridge.  More details next month.                                                                   Susan Cash  866218

FIRST TUESDAY GROUP
To celebrate the opening of our wonderful new Harris Room at the Village Hall, this month during the half-term break, we will be having a coffee/play morning for all ladies and children of the village from 9.45am on Tuesday 14th.  Hopefully we can not only fill ourselves in on the Christmas/New Year gossip(!) but more importantly, get all the Crockham Hill kids together for some fun.  Any toys, biscuits or cakes will be welcome.  Please let me know if you can come, so I have an idea for teas and coffees.  Looking forward to catching up with you all.        Georgie Hacker 07932 632 840  or  866449

THE PRAYER GROUP will meet at 2pm at Guildables on Wednesday 15th.  If you would like to come and need transport, please let me know.  We are a small group who would be delighted to welcome more people for a short time of prayer, for the needs of our world and our local community.  If you can spare 30-40 minutes of your time, do come and join us.                     Trish 866219

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
‘As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind – every part of the rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.’                                                                   John Glenn (American astronaut)

THE HOT POT SUPPER
Come along and celebrate Mardi Gras the Crockham Hill way, with food and entertainment to match the best Rio has to offer … well, almost!  Book your place now for this popular annual event which takes place in the Village Hall from 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st.  Can you supply a hot pot or a pudding?  Can you help on the night?  If so, please sign the sheet at the back of the church, or contact me by text on 07971 541 988; call 01883 722604 – or email: luckfamily@hotmail.co.uk 
                                                                                                                                              Catherine Luck

OXTED & LIMPSFIELD MUSIC SOCIETY
The season continues this month on Saturday 25th with a recital by Thomas Carroll (cello) and Anthony Hewitt on piano.  This recital will mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Delius who is buried in the churchyard at St Peter’s Limpsfield.  The duo will play sonatas by Delius, Beethoven and Franck.  As usual this will be held in the theatre of Hazelwood School, Limpsfield, and tickets will be available at the door at £14, or in advance from Mrs Pat Cruddas (01883 714630). 

ON THE RUN FOR THE LATA FOUNDATION
Villagers Will and Louise Martindale will be running the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon on Sunday 26th to raise money for the LATA Foundation – the charity that supports projects throughout Latin America.  If you would like to make a donation, there is a pot at the bar at The Royal Oak, or go to  www.justgiving.com/Martindale4LATA  For more information on the great work of the LATA Foundation, please see their website: www.latafoundation.org   

CAPRIOL IN CONCERT
Graham Dinnage will shortly be directing Capriol Choir in two concerts; one in St Peter’s Church, Hever on Sunday 26th at 7.30pm, the other in the Village Hall – with supper – on Saturday March 24th.  More details about the latter concert in next month’s Newsletter, but if you’d like to come to the Hever concert, the King Henry VIII pub (opposite the church) is offering a pre-concert menu.  Details from Vivienne Cox on 866372 or the choir’s website: www.capriol.org

IN SUPPORT OF EDENRIDGE HOSPITAL
Each Waitrose food store gives tokens which customers can use to support any one of three different local charities during the month.  The more tokens which each charity receives, the more money Waitrose pays to them.  In February Waitrose at Biggin Hill is including Edenbridge Hospital League of Friends as one of its charities.  Please support our local hospital by shopping at Waitrose during this month!                                                                                                                                  Michael Court

CROCKHAM HILL ON THE WEB
If you have any news, events, sports results or comments for the Crockham Hill website (www.crockhamhillevents.co.uk), please contact Mark Hancox at info@crockhamhillevents.co.uk   To advertise or find out about local businesses, charities or societies, go to the Crockham Hill Directory website:  www.crockhamhilldirectory.co.uk

OVER 70s LUNCH
The next lunch will be at 12.30 on Thursday March 1st at Guildables.  We shall look forward to seeing you all, and any new people.  Please let me know if you would like to come.           Trish 866219

CHIPS AGM & PARTY
As is now the custom, the brief and informal CHIPS annual general meeting will be followedthis year by a longer and (even) more lively party.  Come and join us in the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Friday March 16th.  Members and prospective members welcome – we will also be announcing details of our next pantomime.                                                                                                Morna Whitlock 866235

THE STEWARDSHIP APPEAL
May I thank all those who supported this appeal for being so generous,  and also for responding so promptly.  In October the church accounts indicated a deficit of over £13,000 for 2011, but with some savings made, particularly on heating costs, and with donations made before the year end, we should be able to cover this figure – subject to our Gift Aid claim being met in full.  Increases in regular donation income, from existing and a number of new donors, together with some fundraising events, should cover our costs for 2012.  The full accounts for 2011 will be presented at the Parish AGM on March 21st.                                                               Tom Brown (Hon. Treasurer)

FLOWER ARRANGING CLASSES
The church here in Crockham Hill is planning a Flower Festival to be held from  Saturday June 2nd until Tuesday June 5th.  In connection with this I shall be holding Flower Arranging classes at my house, Little Grange, Oakdale Lane, from 10am until noon on Friday mornings during March.  The cost will be £5 per session; please contact me if you’d like to take part.                      Lynda Brown  866326

THE CHURCHYARD WORKING PARTY
On a dull but dry and warm Saturday morning in late November, the merry band of the working party, boosted by a one-man contingent from Chartwell, gathered in the churchyard.  The ‘big tree’ had shed all its leaves, much to the delight of all, but although they were taken to the corner for burning, due to the wet conditions, sadly the fire could not be reliably started.  Once conditions improve they will be burnt – but a huge thank you to all who attended.  Perhaps a spring clean is to follow?                                                                                                                               Gervaise Burbidge

HOLY TRINITY QUESTIONNAIRE
With this Newsletter you will find a questionnaire asking all who are interested in the future of our church in the village to give their views by completing and returning the form this month please, for consideration by the PCC.

MOVEMBER SUCCESS
Thanks to the generosity of the village, and everyone they know, ‘The Gentlemen of Crockham Hill’ raised £3905 for the Movember appeal.  The team: Sean K, Stuart W, Graham, Gervaise, David, Claudio, Lee, Mark, Barry, Mike, Grant, Alex and I would like to thank everyone for their support of our ‘tache growing prowess.  Thanks too, to Fiona and Leslie for hosting our Movember bash at the Oak; a special thank you to Dave Edden who very kindly made the frames for award certificates; and to Jane and Janice who helped organise the party and awards ceremony.  Crockham Hill actually had two teams participating, raising a grand total of £5908 – this will help the work of the Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research.  Worldwide the sum of £71,828,948 has been raised in this awareness campaign.  So thank you again for your support during Movember, and we hope many more will join The Gentlemen of Crockham Hill in the next event later this year.                        Simon

REMEMBERING JEAN FRY
Jean Fry, who died suddenly on Christmas Eve, had lived in the village with husband Reg since 1975. A busy, industrious woman with a talent for sewing, baking and all homemaking skills, she was born in 1933 near Lingfield, the third of five children.  Educated at Oxted Grammar School, she was a founder member of Lingfield Ladies Hockey Club, and served a five-year apprenticeship as a tayloress with Johnson’s in East Grinstead.  It was work she much enjoyed, and which she excelled at throughout her life.  After marrying Reg in 1958, they lived in various locations in Surrey, Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex, before moving to Skeynes Park in Edenbridge.  It was whilst in Edenbridge that Jean ran a greengrocer’s shop in Hartfield, but gave that up when Reg left gardening, became a postman and the family moved to Crockham Hill.
    Basically a shy woman, Jean kept a low profile in the village, but was at her most comfortable when she had a role to fulfill – joining the WI at a time when they served afternoon teas on a summer Sunday to raise money for their hall, and before the roads were clogged twice a day by mums ferrying their children to and from school, she was Crockham Hill’s ‘Lollypop Lady’ meeting children off the bus from Edenbridge and seeing them safely across the road.  More recently she worked at Oxted Linen – a job to which she was well suited, for she could meet people face to face, discuss their needs and help with advice when required. Jean had a very good brain, but the society in which she was raised somewhat hampered development of her potential.  Instead, she honed her talents to the benefit of those around her; she was creative and meticulous (there were no short-cuts with Jean); and everything she produced was beautifully made.  A proud mother and grandmother, she will be remembered with love.                                                                                                            KR