Riverhead Remembrance Sunday memorial service moved to new venue to mark 100 years since end of WW1

ARMISTICE DAY / VINTAGE TEA PARTY: Riverhead residents are invited to gather outside St Mary’s Church in readiness for a short service and the Two Minutes Silence at 11am on Sunday 11 November. This year marks 100 years since the end of WW1. This venue has been chosen as there is more space there than outside the Village Hall where this annual event usually takes place and more people are expected to attend this very special occasion. Wreaths will then be laid at the War Memorial which is in the Village Hall grounds. Immediately afterwards, everyone is invited to a Vintage Tea Party in the Village Hall. This is being hosted jointly by St Mary’s Church and Riverhead Parish Council and will feature cakes which were favourites at the time of WW1.

There is still time to knit a few more poppies for Riverhead’s Remembrance display to mark 100 years since the end of WW1. You can obtain the very simple pattern from Batchelor’s Butchers in The Square or from Priti Patel in Londis in White Hart Parade. Graham Batchelor also has a display about this initiative in his shop window at Batchelors Butchers. Or you can find it on the Riverhead Parish Council website at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk. Click on ‘News’. You can take your completed poppies to the Parish Council Office at the Village Hall on Monday and Thursday mornings or drop them through the letterbox there or at The Old Farm, Chipstead Lane, which is just off The Square in the middle of the village.  If you would like them to be collected call Shirley Stewart (07710 553977) who can also supply wool.

VILLAGE TIDY-UP: Riverhead Parish Council is organising another Village Tidy Up on Saturday (20 October) from 9.30-11.30am and hopes that residents will again join councillors to do a bit of weeding and litter picking round the village. Help is also needed to replant some planters and clean out the fountain under The Heights. Meet in Alison’s Garden (next to the main Miller & Carter car park). Some tools can be provided but people are asked to bring their own gloves and any other useful implements such as hoes, brooms and litter pickers, if they have them. Refreshments will be provided.

POST OFFICE CLOSURE: Londis manager Priti Patel would like to reassure customers that although the Post Office counter has sadly now closed, her store remains very much open seven days a week.  It is still hoped that another venue can be found in Riverhead for a Post Office counter. In the meantime, in addition to the main Post Office in Sevenoaks, there are also Post Offices in Otford and in the One Stop shop at  44 Seal Road, close to Bat & Ball in Sevenoaks.

If you would like to comment on the closure of the village post office you can find details of how to contact the Post Office on the Riverhead Parish Council web-site at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk. The more people that contact the Post Office to encourage them to find a new location the more likely it is to happen! Riverhead Parish Council would also be interested to hear any suggestions or offers for a new location. You can contact them via the council website. Alternatively email: clerk@riverheadparishcouncil.org.uk or call on 01732 461278.

PRE-SCHOOL OPEN MORNING: St. Mary’s Pre-School in Riverhead Village Hall is holding an open morning on Friday (19 October) If you are looking for a pre-school for your 2, 3 or 4 year old and would like to see  St Mary’s ‘in action’, just call in between 9.30 and 11am, there’s no need to book. St. Mary’s Pre-School is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am – 3pm, term time only. The school has spaces available in all sessions, morning and afternoon. If you are unable to attend the open morning, you can contact the pre-school on 07502 428413, or email stmaryspreschool2@btinternet.com to book a convenient date to visit.

LIBRARY FUN: Riverhead Library in the centre of Riverhead at 31 London Rd will be holding a Fun Morning for children this Saturday (20 October) from 10.30am – 12.30 pm. There will be mask making and pebble painting, where children paint pebbles and leave them around the village for relatives and friends to find.

VISITING CHOIR: A choir from Estonia, which has visited Riverhead before, will be giving a free concert in St Mary’s Church on Sunday (21 October) at 2pm which everyone is welcome to attend. The choir is here for the weekend making a video as an audition piece for a massive choir festival held in Estonia every five years .

EVERY STEP COUNTS: The ‘Every Step Counts’ Riverhead walk, which is free for anyone to join every Tuesday morning (meet at 10am outside the Tesco store at Riverhead) is seeking more volunteers to help. If you feel you have an hour to spare and would like to assist on this gentle relaxing walk, contact Irene  at everystepcounts17@gmail.com. Meanwhile anyone who wants to join in this weekly walk will be made very welcome.

HALF TERM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: There is an opportunity for children to learn some forest skills, build animal shelters using natural materials, learn about some of our native species, and discover how to identify trees by looking at the leaves and bark on Friday 26 October, at the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (off Bradbourne Vale Rd TN13 3DH)

There will be two sessions starting at 10.30am and 1pm – the earlier one is aimed at younger children and the later one at older children and families (minimum age five years for this one). Wellies and warm/waterproof clothes are advised, depending on the weather. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult (max four children to one adult). These events are always very popular and booking is essential at www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events where you can also find more information.  No dogs allowed. Refreshments available.

FAMILY FIREWORKS: The 3^rd Sevenoaks Scouts will be holding their family-friendly Firework Display at the HQ off Bradbourne Vale Rd, just beyond the railway bridge on Saturday 3 November. Gates will be open from 6pm for burgers, hot dogs, mulled wine, hot chocolate and soft drinks. Glow sticks will also be on sale. The first rocket will be at 7pm.  The Scout Hut will be open for anyone who would prefer to watch from somewhere quieter. Tickets are on sale in advance from Batchelors’ Butchers in The Square (who also supply the burgers and sausages) and The Bullfinch pub.  Advance prices are £5 for a single ticket and £15 for a family (four people). Tickets are also available on the night at the gate priced at £7 for an individual and £20 for a family. Under 3s go free. All profits go to the Scout Group whose volunteer leaders provide year-round weekly activities for more than 200 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.  Parking is very limited so do walk there if you can.

CHRISTMAS CARD SALE: There will be a Traidcraft Christmas card and gift sale and coffee morning at St Mary’s Church Hall on Saturday, 3 November, from 10am-noon. Everyone welcome to enjoy the refreshments and help support this worthwhile cause.

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL: St Mary’s Church will once again be holding their wonderful Festival of Christmas Trees for all to visit on the weekend of 8 & 9 December. Societies, groups, residents’ associations, businesses, schools, nurseries, families are all invited to display a decorated tree and place promotional literature beneath it if they wish. It is quite a sight! There is no charge, but voluntary donations will be invited to be divided between the church and charities. For more information see christmas-tree-fest@stmaryriverhead.co.uk or email christmas-tree-fest@stmaryriverhead.co.uk.