Search is on to find a new venue for Riverhead Post Office after current counter closes down
POST OFFICE CLOSURE: The Riverhead Post Office counter in the Londis Store in White Hart Parade closed on 2 October. Londis manager Priti Patel says that sadly it was not proving economic for Londis to run this important community service.
However, Riverhead Parish Council has received notification from the Post Office suggesting that the closure is only temporary until an alternative location for the counter is found. But there are clearly challenges to finding an alternative venue, and the Post Office is asking for anyone interested to visit www.runapostoffice.co.uk to get more information.
Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon has contacted the Post Office stressing the importance of finding a new venue for the Riverhead Post Office counter and residents are also being encouraged to express their concerns at www.postofficeviews.co.uk
Meanwhile, are there any Riverhead businesses out there interested in hosting the Riverhead post office counter? It doesn’t take much space, will increase your footfall and would provide a great community service. If you think you can help, contact Riverhead Parish Council at clerk@riverheadparishcouncil.org.uk or phone 01732 461278.
PARKLAND WORKING PARTY: The next Riverhead Parkland Working Party will be held on Wednesday 10 October from 9.30am to 11.30am when the small volunteer group of Riverhead Parish Councillors and local residents would welcome you to join them.
Villagers know they are lucky to have this large and lovely open parkland area in the centre of Riverhead and the new fence, bridge and grassy stream bank have made it even more attractive, but your help is needed to keep it looking good.
Tools and refreshments are provided but do come appropriately clad, including sturdy footwear and gardening gloves. Meet at the entrance to the Parkland off St Mary’s Drive at 9.30am. More information on the Parish Council web-site at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk or phone 01732 461278.
Or why not take a walk through the Parkland on Wednesday morning to see what goes on?
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS: The next meeting of Riverhead Parish Council will be on Monday 15 October at 7.30pm in the Committee Room at the Village Hall. All Riverhead residents are welcome to attend these monthly meetings. For more information and to see the agenda go to www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk.
VILLAGE TIDY-UP: The Parish Council is organising another Village Tidy Up on Saturday 20 October from 9.30-11.30am and hopes that residents will again join them to do a bit of weeding and litter picking. 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 car park) wearing gloves and if possible, please bring any useful gardening implements, although some tools will be provided, along with refreshments.
BARBARA STRUDWICK: Longstanding member of St Mary’s Church (Riverhead and Dunton Green) Barbara Strudwick passed away peacefully at Kippington Nursing Home in September in her late 90s.
Barbara served as a Churchwarden at Dunton Green for many years and was very involved in producing the parish magazine ‘The Web’ which used to be delivered to all households in the parish. She was also a wonderful violinist and played with the Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years.
Her funeral is to be held at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday, 23 October 2018 at 2.30pm and afterwards in the Church Hall.
STEP EVERY TUESDAY: ‘Every Step Counts’, Riverhead’s new well-being walking group has been very successfully launched with over 30 people walking together and sharing refreshments afterwards. ‘Every Step Counts’ Riverhead will now hold a weekly walking group every Tuesday morning, meeting outside Riverhead Tesco by their Costa window at 10am. The aim is to hold the walks 51 weeks of the year.
Every Step Counts has been set up to provide the local community with a wellbeing short walk which caters for people recovering from illness or an operation, who are trying to or have lost weight or perhaps just need some company. Everyone is welcome, just turn up. There is no charge and everyone will be supported.
Every walk ends with a communal hot drink if you wish to continue your chat and enjoy the company of your fellow walkers. For more information, or if you know of someone who you think might benefit from this initiative, email Irene Collins at everystepcounts17@gmail.com
KNIT A POPPY: There is still time to knit some poppies for Riverhead’s Remembrance display to mark 100 years since the end of WW1. You can now 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. 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 & 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.
CHIPSTEAD WI: The next meeting of Chipstead WI, which always welcomes Riverhead residents, will be on Tuesday 9 October starting at 8pm. The speaker will be Martyn Harrison who will be telling the tale of ‘35 Years of British Musicals, from Les Mis to The Lion King’. The venue, as always, is Chevening Parish Hall, Homedean Rd, Chipstead (TN13 2RU). For more information about Chipstead WI call Janet Sharp on 01732 452715 or email barjansharp@tiscali.co.uk
RIVERHEAD CARNIVAL: The sun shone and hundreds of local residents and their families turned out last month to enjoy all the fun of the fair on Chipstead Common at the Riverhead Carnival, which was once again run by 3rd Sevenoaks (Riverhead and Dunton Green) Scout Group.
This is the Scout Group’s biggest annual fundraiser and they deserve a big thanks for organising this fun community event. Thanks also to everyone who attended or ran a stall, DJ Nigel for providing the music and announcements, and Sevenoaks Animal Feeds for organising the Dog Show.
The Scouts and their leaders did a sterling job manning the burger/hot dog stall, the beer tent and the coconut shy. Burgers and sausages were provided by local Batchelors Butchers and beer and drinks by the Bullfinch Pub and sponsored by Frank the Barber.
Scout Leader Andrew Holland efficiently marshalled the very competitive Egg Throwing Competition in the arena all afternoon with patience and good humour. However the long-running Riverhead Carnival could be under threat unless new volunteers start to step up to help next year. Anyone looking to get their child into Scouting can definitely give their application a boost by volunteering for one of the fundraising roles. Go to www.sevenoaksscouts.org.uk and click on 3rd Sevenoaks for more information about our local Scout Group whose 30 volunteer leaders provide weekly activities year round and summer camps for over 200 girls and boys in the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.
