Wartime nurse remembered during centenary memorial service at St Mary’s churchyard in Riverhead
CENTENARY MEMORIAL: A small crowd gathered in the grounds of St Mary’s Church in Riverhead on Tuesday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Bridget Aurea Teresa Lambarde who is buried in a war grave in the churchyard.
Aurea, as she was known, was born in 1889 in Ireland and was the elder daughter of Major William Gore Lambarde. He was the last owner of Bradbourne House and estate in Sevenoaks, which was sold in 1927. Lambarde Road in Sevenoaks is named after the family.
As a commandant at one of the town’s VAD hospitals, Aurea oversaw arrangements for the arrival of the first wounded men and Belgian refugees who began to arrive in Kent from October 1914. She died in the influenza epidemic that had begun in late 1918.
The short service to remember Aurea was organised by local historian Matt Ball (sevenoaksww1.org/) and among the crowd were Sevenoaks Mayor, Cllr Roderick Hogarth, and Riverhead Parish Councillor, Martin Denton. They are pictured here, by Aurea’s war grave, with Lay Preacher Daphne Harrison who led the prayers during the memorial.
For more details of Aurea Lambarde’s life CLICK HERE.
EVERY STEP COUNTS: This free gentle ‘health and well-being’ Riverhead weekly walking group is one of a number in the Sevenoaks area. Anyone who feels they could benefit – or knows someone who might – is welcome. Maybe you are recovering from an illness or hospital stay, trying to lose weight or would just enjoy some fresh air and good company. Led by qualified volunteers to support and encourage participants, the walks last about 30 minutes. Meet outside Tesco by the Costa window at 10am on Tuesdays. You can just turn up but you can also see more information at walkingforhealth.org.uk or just email Irene Collins at everystepcounts17@gmail.com. Afterwards there is always the opportunity to enjoy refreshments with your fellow walkers at Costa.
SPEEDWATCH: Riverhead’s Speedwatch Group, which is now well established and has run several sessions, would welcome some more volunteers. If you are interested in helping to keep traffic speeds down in our village contact Parish Councillor Shirley Stewart via clerk@riverheadparish council.org.uk or call Caroline our Parish Clerk on 01732 461278.
RIVERHEAD PARISH COUNCIL: Riverhead Parish Council’s next monthly meeting will be on Monday 18 March, at 7.30pm in the committee room at Riverhead Village Hall. Riverhead residents are always welcome to attend these meetings. If there is a local matter that you would like to raise at this meeting, do contact the council beforehand on 01732 461278 or at clerk@riverheadparishcouncil.org.uk or via the website below so they can give you an informed response at the meeting. The agenda is posted about a week beforehand on the village noticeboards and also on the council website at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk as are those for meetings of the planning committee. The Parish Clerk has an office (open Mondays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 12.30pm) at the Village Hall and phone messages and emails are picked up regularly at other times. More about Riverhead Parish Council and its responsibilities as the most local rung of local government at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
RIVERHEAD IN BLOOM: Is anyone, or maybe a group, interested in organising Riverhead in Bloom (as part of South and Southeast in Bloom) this year? Last time Riverhead entered the village won a silver but the competition does need to be a community effort rather than just the Parish Council running the entry. For more information contact the parish clerk on 01732 461278 or email clerk@riverheadparishcouncil.org.uk
TEMENOS CONCERT: Allegri’s much-loved ‘Miserere’ with its thrilling top Cs will feature in a concert by local Temenos Chamber Choir at St Mary’s Church, Riverhead, on Saturday, 30 March at 7.30pm. The concert will also include other works for Lent by MacMillan, Palestrina and Scarlatti. For tickets call 01732 452715 or visit Sevenoaks Bookshop in person. More at:
www.temenos-chamberchoir.org.uk
GALAXY EXPLORERS: Immerse yourself in the night sky and space and meet some night-time wildlife at the Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve at this spectacular event for all the family on Friday, 22 March, from 6pm-10pm. Go on a virtual tour of the night sky in the planetarium as you zoom along with the stars and planets. Get a chance to learn how comets are made in a fizzy and popping display. Also go star gazing with high powered telescopes, take part in bat walks and moth trapping, make your own alien slime as well as much more! For more information and to book your planetarium slot go to www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events
EARTH HOUR: Get yourself and your family ready for Earth Hour (8.30pm-9.30pm) on Saturday, 30 March) by making your own candles, building small windmills and producing seed bombs for wildlife at the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve earlier that day at 10.30am – noon or 1pm – 2.30pm. For more information and to book go to www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events. For more about Earth Hour, when millions of people all over the world in over 180 countries agree to turn off their lights for an hour at 8.30pm-9.30pm at their local time on 30 March. More info at: www.earthhour.org
The Riverhead village news is compiled by Maggie Miles. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the My Sevenoaks Community village column you can email it to her at: maggiejmiles@gmail.com
