Lovely Charing - Kent

Baskets, Balls and Bouncing for Charing School

Charing School are celebrating a windfall in the shape of a grant from the Lottery distributor “Awards for All” of just over £5000.  The money is being used to buy safety equipment, outfits and goals for the school’s competition winning trampoline and football teams, as well as new balls and hoops for the basketball club. Members of the PTA worked hard with teaching staff to compile a successful bid for funds and were rewarded for their efforts this week when they were given enough money to buy all the items on their wish list.

“We are over the moon” said PTA Chair Sarah Littlewood-Tribe. “This money means the trampoline lessons and club can continue after new safety guidelines are brought in next year, and the football and basketball teams will have the proper equipment for them to go from strength to strength.”

The whole school will be celebrating their good fortune on Thursday, 16th July when children and staff will be able to see and try out all the new equipment. Press coverage would be welcome on the day at 1pm, when there will be an official presentation.

From Joanna Astbury PTA Press Officer

Charing CEP School PTA is a registered Charity, number 1096620, working hard to ensure all pupils at the school have the widest variety of opportunities possible.

Awards for All is a lottery grants scheme for local community projects, bringing lottery funding into local neighbourhoods. Grants range from £300 to £10,000. For more information about this scheme or to obtain an application pack call 0845 600 2040 or visit www.awardsforall.org.uk

The "Odd Man Out" competition results are in!

Charing's Primary School PTA sends a BIG thank you to all the Charing businesses for their support of the "Odd Man Out" competition held last week. It has been a great success, enjoyed by many children and their families.

We would like to repeat this leading up to the Church Fete next year, and hopefully we will build on this years success and even more families will take part! Also thank you to 'Wood You Like' for donating the book tokens which meant that the prizes were really good!

Winners of the competition:

1. The Young Family
2. Mya

Did you find all the "Odd Man Out" in the windows shops?

Charing Stores (bottom shop) - Pearl Ear-ring
Wady and Bretts (top shop) - Old tin of varnish
Floral Madam - Red ball of wool
Oliver's - Pencil sharpener
Saddlers Estate Agents - Smurf toy
Patrick Russell Estate Agents - Simpsons character (picture)
"44" - Packet of Cafe Noir biscuits
Post Office - Cassette tape
Richards Butchers and Bakers - Knitting needles
Smart Aupairs - bus
Nogbens the Butchers - Torch
The Wow Factory - Pink wig
Wood You Like - Wine glass
Tenburys - Giraffe
The Gallery - Heinz baked beans tin
Yvonne Harveys hairdressers - Tin of paint and brush

From Lisa Bellamy on behalf of the Charing Primary School PTA

Next meeting Charing Business Association

Next meeting of the Charing Business Association is set for:

Thursday 23 July 2009
Start: 7.30pm
Location: The Oak - function room Oliver's (High Street)

From August 2009 there will be regular committee meetings, general meetings for all members will be announced on this site as soon as dates/times/places are know.

Mini-Beast Detectives Day - July 26th

Charing Alderbed Wildlife and Landscape events 2009:

Mini-Beast Detectives Day - July 26th 10.00am - 12.00pm

A world of wildlife in miniature will be investigated in the meadow, woodland and streams of Charing Alderbed. View tghe charming and colourful world of insects and butterflies.

This day is suitable for all ages.

Meet in the car park off of Pet Lane (Grid refL TQ957 491)

From the Fete committee

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON IN CHARING

That's a saying that is catching on in and around this lovely historic village. Not a week goes by without an enjoyable event, and for those of you who remember with affection the quintessentially Kentish Summer fetes of your childhood, the Charing Church Fete and Flower Show on Saturday 20th June is definitely for you!

Clewards Meadow, with the fine backdrop of the church and the Archbishop's Palace is the venue, and TV celebrities Vic Reeves and Nancy Sorrell open the event at 12 noon.
Then it's fun an entertainment all afternoon with

• Ashford Sea Cadets;
• dancing by children from Charing Primary School,
• Yo Yo the Clown
• and Novelty Races for the young and not so young.

Add to this the chance to smash some crockery, try the delicious hog roast and listen to some great jazz from the Syncopaters Jazz Band; as well as all the other stalls from Cakes to White Elephant and more, there is just time to see the prizewinning roses, sweet peas and clematis in their dedicated show, before seeing if you have won a major prize in the Grand Draw!

Stay on and visit our lovely High Street (not a single empty shop!) and try a drink or something to eat in one of the pubs or restaurants. You will find much to charm you in Charing, it's easy to find right on the A20 with glorious countryside all around.

By Elizabeth Tweed ("44") on Behalf of the Fete Committee

Eat your way around the world in Charing!

All those of you who go on garden safaris and supper safaris already know that it doesn't mean you'll find a lion or a zebra round the corner, but an interesting and entertaining experience instead. We all look forward to a meal we haven't had to cook, so when you come to Charing to eat out, why not try a different part of the world each time, making it your very own safari?

In the High Street you can find a pub and a coffee shop serving mainly English dishes, close to a brasserie specialising in dishes with their roots in Morocco and South Africa.

Something a bit more oriental? Nearby on the A20 The Swan offers an authentic Thai restaurant as well as an American style steakhouse.

The Peony is just the place for Chinese and a short journey up Charing Hill will take you to two Indian restaurants.

Back in England again, that old favourite fish and chips is served up at the bottom of the High Street on a Friday evening.

Why not set off for Charing next time you are hungry and make a point of visiting a different "country" each time?

"there's always something going on in Charing"

By Elizabeth Tweed ("44") on Behalf of Charing Business Association.

Start of "The Odd Man Out" competion

Have you bought your competition form yet? Join in the fun of checking out all shop windows in and around Charing's High Street. You can still buy your competition form for just £1.00 at the School Office.

The competition starts Friday 12th June and runs till next week Friday (19th June) and is open for all under 16's.

Spot the 'Odd Man Out' in the shop/office windows and win the cash prize which will be handed to the winner during Charing's annual Church Fete and Flower Show Saturday 20 June on Clewards Meadow (adjacent of the church).

The Charing Parish Church Fete & Flower Show Program

Saturday 20 June 2009 - Clewards Meadow - from 12 o'clock

 We welcome you all most warmly to the 2009 Church Fete with its fun, stalls and activities.

The Fete represents something very important as it provides a means to build on the friendship and acquaintances we have with others in our community. The involvement of the Gardening Society and the Primary School makes this much more than just a church event.

A community only grows as the relationship between its members are enriched. Spending time together at events like the Fete enables our relationships to grow.

So, enjoy the hog roast, and the other things there are to eat and drink. Good luck with 'guess the weight of the cake' and other games an may you make new friends an renew old friendships.
(Rev Richard King, priest for Charing)

PROGRAM (as known to date) - make sure you get the complete guide (available at many shops in Charing)

12.00 : Fete opened by Vic Reeves and Nancy Sorrell

12.05 Prize Giving Primary School Collage Competition and 'The Odd Man Out" competition
12.30 Start of the Hog Roast

1.00 Ashford Sea Cadet Display
1.15 Dancing, Charing Primary School
1.30 Yo Yo the Clown
2.15 Ashford Sea Cadets
2.30 Dancing, Charing Primary School
2.45 Yo Yo the clown
3.15 Novelty races for Children and Adults
4.00 Gardening Society Sale of Flowers followed by announcements of competition winners:

Mini Golf - Weight of the Cake - Name Cuddly Toy, Bowling Game - Witches Cauldron Game - Wooden Tower Game - Clothes Peg Game - Barrow of Booze - Gin Bottle Stall - Patrick Russell - Darts

4.15 Dine out (tickets £1.00, see "Dine Out" stall at the Fete) and Grand Draw (1st Prize £ 250.00 - tickets £1.00 available from High Street shops)

The Fete Committee wish to express their appreciation and thanks for the generous support received from businesses, local traders, the Primary School, Gardening Society and individuals. At the time of going to print here are many who many not yet realise that they are going to volunteer or be involved in some way. As a Committee we will never be aware of every individual's involvement but rest assured that we are grateful for everyone's support.

We would encourage everyone to make use of the local traders and businesses whenever possible. Sourcing things local is likely to be an ever-increasing aspect of our daily lives as we start to look at our carbon footprint in response to the concerns about global warming.

Having sustainable village shops and businesses is a vital part of what makes this a vibrant and active village rather than simply being a "residential suburb of Ashford".

The Fete Committee

Odd Man Out Competiton (Charing School PTA)

Charing School PTA is holding an

Odd Man Out Competition

 Collect a form and visit all the businesses that are taking part and find in their window an item they don't sell - the odd-man-out. Add it to your form along with your name and address and return to the School by 3pm on the 19 June.

Open to all under 16's

Odd-man-out competition forms are available from the School office for £1.00 from 10th June (A % to go to the church fete).

Competition on between 12th and 19th June 2009.

Cash prize and winner announced at the Church Fete on Saturday 20th June.

Charing Parish Church Fete and Flower Show 2009

This annual event will be held on Saturday 20th June at Clewards Meadow (adjacent of the church), form 12 noon.

Hog Roast, Jazz Band, Morris Dancers, Ashford Sea Cadet Display, Beer & Wine tent, Tea & Cake marquee, many stalls, Bouncy Castle, Roundabout, Yo-Yo the Clown.

Or in other words: fun for all the family!

More news and further details of activities will follow shortly.