A CONSULTATION is being held by Kent County Council regarding recycling centres and as part of this the one at Hawkinge is earmarked for possible closure in 2013. Locals feel that this will lead to fly tipping as the alternatives are Folkestone or Whitfield. However KCC say that all views will be taken into account and encourage people to submit feedback. Details can be found at www. kent.gov.uk/hwrcconsultation

GARDEN TALK - This year’s visits start with a lighthearted   wine tasting quiz featuring local fruit (no need to bring a bottle!) at 'Sunrise', Meggett Lane, South Alkham on Friday 17th February from 7.30p.m. All Welcome. It is hoped to have the programme for the year completed and ready to distribute that evening.  Further details: Janet or Gordon Adamson. BOOK CLUB - The club meeting for Wednesday 29th February will be hosted by Margaret Danstead at 2 Meadow Hill Cottages, Hogbrook Hill Lane  starting at 7.30.  The book for discussion is The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson. For more information contact Jane Aslett.

ALKHAM W.I. - Helen Scopes, the new President, chaired the meeting in January. Debbie Saunders, an Alkham member, gave a very amusing talk about comic events. The next meeting will be on 14th February 7.30pm; the talk will be highlighted with photos of 'The Everest Pioneer, Capt. John Nowel' talk by Sandra Nowel. New members welcome. (Sue Lees)

REFUSE COLLECTION – There has been a torrent of complaints about the new recycling and rubbish bins mainly due to their size and where to put them. The problem is particularly acute at Ewell Minnis where the large lorries can’t access and some collections have not been made. The District Councillor said there were 5 people taking calls at DDC with a queue of people waiting. It does look as though there was a lack of planning and an avoidable problem now has to be resolved.

PLANTING – After receiving a number of suggestions the easiest solution for planting the area at the bottom of Slip Lane is a ground cover plant and periwinkle has been suggested. Richard Tapsell is potting some vinca and if anybody else can do the same I’d be very pleased to receive them. (editor)

FENCING – In the fields at Ewell Minnis adjacent to Neck Wood somebody has been cutting the wire fences presumably to bypass the stiles. The land is farmed by Di Smith and there are bulls and rams in the fenced fields and if they get together mayhem will ensue. The police have been informed and hopefully arrests will follow.

OFF-ROADERS - There has been a lot of complaints about the use of off-road vehicles on and off Pimlico Way. The latter is a byway which runs from South Alkham across the top to Slip Lane. Club off-road Europe has permission to use the land adjacent to Pimlico Way on the south side at agreed organised events but over the last year there has been a huge increase in off-road vehicles using the Pimlico area. Every Sunday Pimlico Way is used but if the vehicles are taxed and insured they can legally use the byway but not the adjacent land without the landowner’s permission. At an event on the 27th December there were 36 such vehicles using the area and it was felt that damage was being caused to the byway and its edges and also to the land in general. Following representations at the Parish Council meeting they are going to pursue the matter as it does cause a lot of distress to adjacent homeowners and one avenue to be pursued will be whether in terms of planning the land used is fit for purpose.

JUMBLE SALE – On February 18th the W.I. are holding a jumble sale in the village hall starting at 11am.

KRYS LATHAM who lives in Slip Lane has written a book entitled ‘Journey to the Baobab Tree’. It is the true story of two children's epic journey from Eastern Poland to Siberia, their escape to Persia and finally to Africa during World War Two. Alinka's family lived in a small river town in Eastern Poland where her father was the chief of police. Witek's father was a forest keeper in the remote forest regions bordering Russia. When the war began in September 1939, the Soviets, allied for the first two years of the war with the Nazis, invaded Eastern Poland and deported over one and a half million Polish people to the far ends of Soviet Union. Alinka and Witek, both ten years old at the time, were among those taken. A million died in the deportations. Against all odds, Witek and Alinka survived and escaped. The stories of those war years are narrated in the book, and tell of resourcefulness, faith and humour even in the darkest times. A few chapters are on her web site www.kryslatham.co.uk and if you would like to buy a copy of the book costing £9.99 please contact the web site.

MAURICE SAYERS (1928-2012) – The service on the 16th January was to celebrate the life of Maurice and that is exactly what happened with over 300 people coming to St. Anthony’s church. The service began with a eulogy by his son John which was touching and amusing; he said his father was a good man but a little bit naughty. There were tales of his exploits throughout his life mainly featuring rugby which was one of his passions, plus the associated partying afterwards. He captained and played for Dover Rugby Club finally ending up as president from 1990 to 2009. At the end of the John’s eulogy there was spontaneous applause. A second eulogy was by John Ayling who went to school with Maurice. They were both evacuated to Ebbw Vale in WWII and unsurprisingly rugby featured again. John told many anecdotes about Maurice most of which were very funny and again finished with applause. The grandchildren then came to the lectern and each read part of a poem. Most people know about Maurice’s working life as a solicitor at Stillwell and Harby and a leading character in Alkham but the service said all there was to say about him; a man with many friends and one who enjoyed his life to the full. The reception was at the Dover Rugby Club where no doubt a few pints were drunk in his memory.

BETTY NEELY (1926-2011) was a Lancashire lass who moved to Kent with her husband and lived for 52 years at a farm about a mile from the centre of Alkham called Mount Ararat. The door was always open and you could be sure that you would get a friendly welcome. Earlier in life Betty trained as a florist under Constance Spry and she put these talents to good use for the church often supplying the flowers herself. She had five children who in turn gave her 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was very active in the village and at various stages was a church warden at St. Anthony’s, a Parish Councillor, W.I. secretary and a member of many committees. She was always at the fete, was a master at running a raffle and very persuasive on the phone when drumming up support for events. In 1998 she and three others collected money for the Millennium celebrations and as a result we have the badger sign on Vicarage Meadow and had a village party in the old Hogbrook barn. She was a generous and likeable person who will be greatly missed. 

VIC (JOHN) NEAVE - Vic came to Ewell Minnis with his wife Edith 16 years ago. A very likeable and much respected man being well known in Ewell Minnis and Alkham village. Originally from Sevenoaks, West Kent, Vic joined the RAF in 1955 aspiring to becoming a pilot, however, health issues took him on another path within the service, becoming an electronics specialist in Research & Development. He became so proficient in this field that later, in his professional life, he was hired by the theatrical & entertainments profession by such celebrities as Paul Daniels to design and build the special effects equipment used in his business of magician.  Vic saw much of the world whilst in the RAF and this passion for travel would stay with him throughout his life, even during his long illness he managed two world cruises with his ever devoted wife, Edith. Vic was such an interesting and intelligent man to converse with, that to pop in for a five minute chat on subjects as diverse as politics to engineering or Coy Carp, that five minutes invariably became one to two hours. Though always a busy man, he would always have time for friends and family a sincere and personable man, he had been a Freemason for many years at Deal; his popularity being demonstrated by a Freemason's guard of honour at his funeral comprising 125 Brothers. Sadly, following a long bravely suffered illness, Vic passed away during December 2011. He will be missed by all who knew him. A bright light has gone out in Ewell Minnis but his memory lives on. Our thoughts are with Edith at this sad time. (Geoffrey Lymer)