New landlords invite Weald villagers to visit the refurbished Windmill pub this weekend

NEW LOOK PUB: Weald residents and other regulars who frequent The Windmill Pub can meet new landlords Andrew Roberts and Tracey Howes this weekend. There is a soft ‘opening on Friday evening (31 January) with the official unveiling of the refurbished interior on Saturday from Noon onwards.

After some doubts about the future of The Windmill villagers were relieved when North & South Leisure announced they were making the pub part of their portfolio.

GARDEN EXPERT: Horticulturalist Jim Buttress was the guest speaker at the recent meeting of the Weald Horticultural Society. He talked about his passion for plants and 65 years of gardening expertise.

When growing up, Jim much preferred seed catalogues to academic studies so, by mutual consent between his father and the heads of both of the schools he attended, he ‘dropped’ out of school. He began training at RHS Wisley which was to be the start of a career that spanned over half a century.

Starting at a local nursery, he moved to Croydon Parks, on to the Greater London Council, and ended up with the Royal Parks in London, where he was responsible for Hyde Park, St James Park, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace. He ended his career as the Superintendent of Greenwich Park.

Jim has won eight gold medals at RHS Chelsea and in recognition of his unrivalled contribution to horticulture in 2006 he was awarded the highest accolade possible in the gardening world, the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH).

He has appeared on TV in a documentary about the World Garden at Lullingstone and, recently, as a judge in ‘The Big Allotment Challenge’. Jim is a regular radio presenter and appears on BBC Radio Sussex/Surrey ‘Dig It’. A book about Jim and his career was written in 2016 called ‘Jim Buttress: The Peoples Gardener’.

FILM CLUB: St George’s Junior Film Club re-convened at St George’s Church on Thursday 30 January when there was a showing of the film, ‘Christopher Robin’.

It tells the story of when Winnie the Pooh enters the life of a now-grown-up Christopher Robin, to seek his help in finding his lost friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Julia Baber, the organiser of the junior film club since its inception, has stepped down. The baton has been passed to Katherine St John Cullen.

ART GROUP: The Sevenoaks Weald Art Group, affectionately known as SWAG, has been meeting on a Friday morning from 9.30am -noon since the beginning of the year. This particular ‘term’ ends on Friday 3 April. It is a warm, friendly, welcoming group giving each other encouragement, learning from each other along the way.

Maureen Carter, who formed SWAG said: “Some of us have a little more experience than others, but inspiration can come to any one whatever they have learnt or done before. even if none at all.

“I have a very precious book ‘Painting as a pastime’ by Winston Churchill. It’s a small secondhand book and no longer in print, but there are gems of understanding and reflection within it. One is as follows.”

‘Painting is a companion with whom one may hope to walk a great part of life’s journey. happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end of the day.’

If you would like more information about the group go along to the Weald Memorial Hall on a Friday morning or email Maureen for more into at: maureen.weald@gmail.com

VILLAGE WALKS: The monthly village walk that sets off from the Community Shop on the Green at 9.45am the first Saturday in the month resumed in January. With the conditions underfoot being so muddy, a decision was taken to walk along roads rather than across the fields and smaller tracks. The exception was walking down the Byway which was interesting to navigate.

The Weald Village news is compiled by Susan Gidman. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the village column you can call her on 01732 454222 or email: newwealdnews@outlook.com