Get your running shoes out and start preparing for the Weald fun run
WEALD ST GEORGE’S 10k & 2K FUN RUN. Sunday, 2 September, sees the start of the Weald St George’s 10K run at 10.30. Helpers will be setting up on The Green and putting up road signs around the route warning traffic about runners from 6.30am. The organisers expect people to arrive in the car park from 08.30am, moving on to register.
The BBQ will be firing up and the ‘pop up Church’ will be holding a service starting at 09.30am. At 10.15am there will be a warm-up session for the athletes prior to a 10.30 start of the 10K run. Ten minutes later the 2k Fun Run will start.
As in previous years, the organisers hope to raise £5,000 or more for charity. Many volunteers have already come forward but, if you would like to help contact Roger Hayes on 01732 463554.
REMEMBERING BERYL. Beryl Baker (pictured), a long-time member of the Women of Weald (WOW), died peacefully at the Kent and Sussex hospice on 11 June. Beryl, who had been battling leukaemia for quite some time, lost her husband died several years ago. So, her dog, Ollie, became her great companion and he was allowed to be with her at the Hospice. Her love of dogs was evident at the funeral where many of her ‘dog-walking’ friends were in the congregation.
Beryl was a talented artist and will be much missed by WOW’s art group. Sarah Williams and Anna Lambert, who knew her well, say that her love of nature was evident in the themes of animals or birds she often used in her pastel drawings.
At the funeral a poem by Ellen Brenneman called, ‘Her Journey’s Just Begun’ was read, the last stanza of which reads: And think of her as living/ In the hearts of those she touched…/ for nothing loved is ever lost/ and she was loved so much.
HONOURING THE FALLEN OF WW1. The Rev. Mandy Carr has been in contact regarding the campaign ‘There But Not There’, an initiative started in Penshurst church, now being rolled out across the country in time for the centenary of the armistice this November. It involves having perspex figures of the fallen sitting in the pews representing those whose names are read out every Remembrance Sunday. Details can be found at https://www.therebutnotthere.org.uk/ also in a blog on the Arts in Mission website she runs http://www.rochesteraim.com/there-but-not-there-an-art-installation-for-remembrance/
The project was mentioned in the parish magazine last year and, at the time, several people indicated their interest and support. This interest now needs to be firmed up and more sponsors need to come forward so that each Weald man can be included and honoured. Seventeen names are on the memorial for WWI:
Leonard Bashford, Bernard Paul Beanlands, Norman Walter Boakes, James Everest, George John Francis, Arthur Kingswood, Kenneth John Lawrence, Herbert Long, Albert Henry Martin, Alfred Martin, Arthur Martin, Arthur Eric Martin, Albert Miles, Arthur Simmons, Hubert Swift, Alfred George Wright and Herbert Horick Wynn.
Although not yet recorded on the memorial, Alfred George Miller, who died in 1921 from gas and wounds, will also be remembered.
Each perspex figure costs £42 and a name block is £10. Rev Mandy Carr wonders if anyone in the community would like to sponsor one of the figures as their own act of remembrance. If you are interested, please contact Mandy as soon as possible so that, if necessary, she will know if alternative funding needs to be sought. Please send an email to mandy@carrfamilyonline.co.uk or call her on 01732 463291.
WEALD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY members recently returned from a three-day away break visiting gardens. This is the 12th year that Doris Wheeler has organised the weekend and she served up yet another winning combination.
Grey’s Court in the Chiltern Hills and the Oxford Botanical Gardens were visited on day one, followed by Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury and Rodmarten Manor on the edge of the Cotswolds on day two. Day three included Stonor Park and Nuffield Place.
SCHOOL FETE. The children’s hat competition was a great success with almost 100 ‘base’ hats being sold before the fete. Lucas Howes and Scarlett Fletcher were chosen as winners of the Year 1 and Year 2 hat group.
One of the highlights of the Fete us always the ‘tug-of-war’ and Roberta Briant reported: “The pub men beat the school dads 2-0. Then the girls vs boys started which quickly turned into the girls and mums vs boys and dads! We were pulling and leaning back with all the strength we had when suddenly we were all on the floor with a thud! I thought they’d let go but Matt was astounded and surprised to tell us that we had snapped the rope! Unbelievable.”
Weald Community Primary School Headteacher, David Pyle was channelling his inner Jordan Pickford football persona with his stint in goal for ‘beat the goalie’.
Around £9,000 was made although this total will be pushed higher by some ‘match’ funding from generous companies. A great achievement.
SCHOOL SPORTS DAY: Fresh from his ‘Beat the goalie’ duties at the School Fete, Weald Community Primary School headteacher David Pyle dusted off his kit and presided over the school’s sport’s day. Parents were encouraged to attend and bring a picnic.
SWING YOUR PARTNERS. The cows at Westwood Farm in Weald were curious to know what was going on in the big barn close by. A huge effort had transformed the calving shed into an open space ready for the joy of a barn dance.
Sarah Chatten said: “The barn dance was a celebration and it was more of a summer social than fund raiser. However, the barn dance and the hugely successful PTA camping weekend at the beginning of June raised about £500 for the village school. I’d like to thank all who came to both events. The feedback has been great.”
