Lovely Charing - Kent

For the record

Since January 2009 this CharingKent website has been at the disposal of Charing village (and Charing Hill) local organisations, local businesses to have their activities published to attract attention, more visitors, etc.

For and by the village

After receiving a few questions - and even one accusation after refusing to publish a political viewpoint - I would like to take this opportunity to make a few things clear - for the record:

I am NOT being paid by the Parish Council to host, design or manage this website.

I - officially we = Wood You Like Ltd - decided in January 2009 to launch this website because, in our opinion, the village of Charing was missing an essential modern simple communication tool to list all local activities and the many businesses Charing is so fortunate to have.
Plus it was also one way of "giving something back" to the lovely village and all its residents for making us feel very welcome when we arrived here in May 2000 as total strangers. We truly love being part of this lively and lovely community (albeit it since Summer 2010 only with our business; unfortunately, due to various circumstances - one being the demolition of "our" home of 8 years - we had to move house and are now living in nearby Eastwell Park).

Every local (none-commercial) organisation knows their activities in Charing village/Charing Hill will be published when details are submitted to me (just shoot me an email or drop by with your info in our showroom). This website has an ever growing number of "subscribers" who receive an email the day a new article is published and at the moment the counter stands at 110 people, some living as far away as Canada.
When the Charing Business Association (CBA) was launched in Spring 2009, all members had the CBA logo inserted in front of their listing on the business directories and any CBA activities, plans are published also.
Any local organisation (for the village) can submit their details which are and will be published on the local organisation pages.

All for free and we wouldn't want it/have it any other way.

However, it is beyond the idea and scope of this website to publish:

• political viewpoints ('cos there's always a viewpoint A and a viewpoint B or even C, D etc)
• publications of political parties
• activities outside Charing village/Charing Hill

Independent, impartial

There are plans afoot to purchase an official Charing Parish Council website, which - and I must stress this - has absolutely nothing to do with this well known, well found on all search engines and in our opinion well loved Charing website, by and for the village community.

Therefore, no changes to the structure, welcomed input or listings will take place here if and when the official Parish Council website comes to being.
www.charingkent.co.uk (hosted, designed, managed and sponsored by Wood You Like Ltd) has the full intention to continue to be an independent and impartial modern village publication board.
(And it always gives me the greatest pleasure to hear from local organisations that the articles are contributing in their own little way to the success of any of the activities organised.)

So, please don't ask - or demand, as happened this week - for articles to be published which are definitely beyond the idea and scope of this site.

All other articles are as welcome as they ever were!

Kindest regards
Karin Hermans

A History of Charing

Charing and District Local history Society is publishing a new history of Charing; researched, written and produced by Society members. It tells the story of Charing from prehistoric times to 1900, and also has chapters on the history of the church, archbishop's palace and historic houses of the parish. It is written in a well-informed but easily readable style, and is well-illustrated with over 100 maps, drawings and photographs.

The book will be published in November 2011, and is therefore ideal for Christmas presents!

The retail price will be £ 12, but if you order copies before 31 October 2011 ( Download Order Form here) the pre-publication price is £10.
Those who order in advance will be given the option of picking up their orders in the village. If you wish copies to be posted please add £2.68 for 1-2 copies, for more copies please contact re postage costs.

Please make cheques payable to "Charing and District Local History", and send to Sarah Pearson, Old School House, High Street, Charing TN27 0LS (01233 - 712772: email books@charinghistory.co.uk

Village Barn Dance

From the desk of Charing Primary School PTFA:

Polish your cowboy boots…dust off your hat and come to the
VILLAGE BARN DANCE in the School Hall
on Saturday 1^st October at 7.30pm

Tickets £10, includes a hot supper. Please bring your own drinks
Prizes for the best dressed cowboy and girl (dressing up not compulsory!)
Tickets £10 from Mrs Long in the School Office Tel: 01233 712 277

Proceeds to Charing Primary School PTFA

Antiques & Collectables Fayre

Organised by and for Charing Christmas Lights.

Saturday 17 September 2011
Charing Church Barn
From 10am until 4pm
Refreshments available
Entrance £ 1.00

For further details, please contact
Anita: 01233 714068
Ann: 01233 713035

All proceeds to the Charing Christmas Lights Fund

Eat your way around the world - CBA network meeting

Calling all CBA members - and none members (in business)

PLEASE can all of you who have anything to do with food (selling it, making it, or just loving it) attend the Tree House at the Oak THIS WEDNESDAY AT 7pm (today).

We have some ideas for a Food Festival at the end of October, early November and the lead in time is getting shorter as we speak if we are to get the best publicity for the event.

The idea is based on "Eat Your Way Around the World." We can include all members who run themed restaurants, but also shops retailing food items and anyone connected with food from its nutritional and healthy values to the naughty but nice indulgence, and would welcome those of you who would do a demonstration event. A week of events to attract customers into the village is possible, we also have details of a Food Forager, who presents TV programmes on the topic, and might lead a walk on the North Downs.

If you are not yet a member, come anyway and pay £25 subscription on the night, as this event will benefit your business - the publicity is paid for out of our regular subscriptions.

Your ideas are welcome, so please make attending on Wednesday an absolute priority - the object is to get more trade into the village while offering something enjoyable for residents and visitors alike. BUT, we do need to decide who is doing what and when with some urgency.

Those of you who have businesses not obviously linked to this proposal - COME ANYWAY - it's a great opportunity to network and we would like to hear from you some ideas for discussion at future events - theft and better security for lone workers might be one for example!

Regards
Elizabeth
"44" High St