the big smoke - The Kingston News

THE KINGSTON NEWS
June 2013
www.kingstonnews.org
email: [email protected]
Issue 312
THE BIG SMOKE
(and, no, I’m not talking about my home town of London)
What a shame that on the first
really warm and sunny Bank
Holiday Monday
(6th
May)
to the strong winds around that
day.
Anybody looking for a bit of
somebody thought it would be a
light relief from their weekly
good idea to light an enormous
working life before going back to
bonfire at around 4pm on ground
work the next day - and hoping
located on the southern side of
to sit outside to enjoy the
Kingston to the west of The Ridge.
pleasant weather until sunset
Whatever was being burnt
with, maybe, a drink and a
must have been extremely damp
barbeque - would have been
(or completely sodden) as the
extremely disappointed.
bonfire never ‘fired-up’ at all…
If they were also unfortunate
instead it smouldered,
enough to have to get the 6.51
uncontrolled, for several hours,
train the next morning, they were
pouring massive amounts of
reminded of yesterday’s 4pm
choking smoke into Kingston’s
event when they opened their
atmosphere, especially to all the
front door and smelt the heavy,
unfortunate households west and
pungent, smoky atmosphere that
southwest of the bonfire site due
greeted them.
Editor
PLEASE NOTE: It is the Editor’s intention to trial publishing The Kingston News 12
months a year, so there will be copies printed in July, August and January, which
has not been the case previously. Make sure your submissions come in to support
TKN as without you our much-loved communication medium will not go to press.
THE
DEADLINE
FOR THE
JULY
ISSUE IS
FRIDAY,
14TH
JUNE
KINGSTON
PARISH
HALL
The Parish Hall is looking for
two new committee members.
The first role is that of
Secretary which entails taking
the minutes of the meetings and
submitting various pieces to the
Kingston News.
The second role is that of
Maintenance, which has been
held by Don Norman for more
years
than
anyone
can
remember. This role would suit
someone who can be around
during the day and who is
handy with a screwdriver.
Major jobs would be sent for
tender and agreed by the
committee, but there will be ongoing maintenance; ensuring
there are paper towels, the
soap dispensers are full and
there are sufficient cleaning
products etc.
Regular meetings would be
required with both the gardener
and the cleaner as well as any
contractors who are working on
the Hall. Don, with very many
years of experience, is happy to
continue to advise on any
aspect of this role.
If you would like more
information on either of the
above please contact
Elaine Pumphrey (486969),
Don Norman (476744) or
Keith Hicks (471676)
J
KINGSTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE: May Meeting Report by Janice Barber
Wine, juice and nibbles began
the Resolution Meeting on 2nd
May, which was held in the
Primary School Hall and was very
well attended.
Our Link
Delegate, Anne Dobson from Firle
WI, was welcomed. She will give
our voting results at the AGM to
be held in June in Cardiff. The
Institute accepted the NFWI
Annual Review and Accounts as
well as three booklets containing
the
governing
documents.
However, the Constitution and
Rules for WIs were not accepted
as it was agreed that some items
relating to finance were not
clearly explained.
Our Link
Delegate will also give our voting
on whether or not to adopt the
2013 Resolution as a new WI
Campaign. The Resolution states
“The NFWI notes with concern the
continuing decline of our high
streets and the damaging effect
this has on local communities.
We call on every member of the
WI to support their local shops
and make the high street their
destination of choice for goods
and services.
We call on
decision
makers
to
work
collectively, at all levels, to help
bring an end to the decline of our
high streets and to ensure that
high streets flourish and provide a
focal
point
for
local
communities”. After a discussion
led by Vicki Scott and Pat
Dennien, the Institute voted 7 in
favour, 16 against and 9
abstentions to adopt the above
as a new WI Campaign.
However, there was a unanimous
decision
that
the
Institute
considered the Resolution was
not well worded and gave many
opportunities for misinterpretation
or confusion. Our Link Delegate
will take this vote to the AGM.
The President reported the
dates for the Group Activities.
She congratulated the two teams
from Kingston WI who had
entered the “Let’s Get Quizzical”
local heat of the competition,
one of which almost made the
Final.
The evening concluded with
the
choir
singing
the
Northumbrian folk song “Blow the
Wind Southerly” and from Annie
Get Your Gun “I got the sun in the
morning”,
both
being
well
received.
The June meeting is an open
meeting with a talk entitled
“Glyndebourne throughout the
Year” by Vivienne Macey who
volunteers there as a gardener.
The competition is a Miniature
Flower Arrangement.
Hog Roast
Saturday, 8th June 2013
The Tennis Club is organising a Hog Roast
Commencing at 6.00 pm on St Pancras Green
Tickets are £5 each
Terry Stanley 477460, 1 Cordons
John Greenslate 474052, Taurus, The Avenue
Colin Finn 473580, 22 Lockitt Way
Please bring your own cutlery, drink and seating.
Paper plates, salads, and bread will be provided.
J
WILDLIFE IN KINGSTON
Is This Really Spring?
It’s 13 May as I write this. We were away (in southern Spain) during the first few days of the month and so
apart from the Bank Holiday weekend have yet to experience any warm weather in this country this year.
Butterflies have been very few and far between. Even on the few occasions when the sun has shone, the
cold wind - which seems to have been blowing more or less non-stop for months – has been a real deterrent
as butterflies hate wind as much as they need warmth.
Birds are more resilient of course but, so far, it’s been a dismal spring for migrants locally, for me personally at
least. There have been a few swallows here and there and ten swifts over The Avenue on 8 May but I’ve yet
to see a single house martin. Have I missed any? Let me know, please. I haven’t seen or heard a cuckoo
either but I am delighted to report that one was calling in the third week of April in the vicinity of the garden
centre.
One lone willow warbler has been calling rather plaintively from the scrub above the “scar” path on Kingston
Hill for a couple of weeks but I haven’t heard another anywhere else. There’s also been just one common
whitethroat singing from the hedge along Juggs Way – though one did turn up in our garden – on 25 April –
and another (or the same one) in Lionel and Sylvia Ward’s garden on 1 May.
One bird that, in welcome contrast, has been more evident than usual this year is the lesser whitethroat.
Anyone who’s walked over the Downs during the last couple of weeks will have heard up to three individuals
singing at various points along the way, whether knowingly or otherwise! One has been calling in almost the
same place as the willow warbler; another in the scrub to the east (left, as you ascend) almost at the summit
of the hill beyond the wood at the top of The Street and a third in the hedge near that same woodland.
Common whitethroats habitually sing from a fairly prominent perch or in a dancing display flight. Their
cousins, though, are far more skulking and you need a little patience even to get a glimpse of one. However,
once you are familiar with the song you don’t need to see the bird to identify it with confidence.
The word “song” in this context is a little misleading. The lesser whitethroat’s best efforts in that direction can
more accurately be described as a rattle: a succession of around eight to ten rapid notes (it’s hard to
separate and count them precisely) at the same pitch and the same volume, with no flourish either at the
beginning or the end, not sweet like a yellowhammer (which anyway has the famous prolonged final
“cheeese”) but flat, dull and repetitive. The best that can be said of it is that it is memorable and impossible
really to confuse with anything else. It also carries some distance.
In the area of Spain where we stayed in early May, almost the commonest bird in some spots - especially
thick scrub in sheltered river valleys - was the nightingale. On a picnic one day, comfortable in T-shirts and
shorts, we could hear four birds singing nearby. The day was still and sunny and the temperature was in the
high twenties. Back home ten days later we went to Abbot’s Wood, wearing winter jumpers and coats. I even
had gloves! The car thermometer was showing just 9 degrees when we arrived. And yet, within a few
minutes’ walk from the car park, and surrounded by bluebells, there was that same superb song ringing out
all around us. Thank goodness for the adaptability of the nightingale!
As a postscript to my mention last month of the record (in the late Roger Taylor’s History of Kingston near
Lewes) of a hoopoe on St Pancras Green in 1977, I’ve been told that a hoopoe certainly appeared in 1974. It
seems beyond belief that a bird this rare would turn up in a small village on two occasions within a few years
– lightning is more likely to strike the same place twice – so have to conclude that the 1974 date is the correct
one.
Steve Berry, 487743, [email protected]
J
NAN’S TALE OF THE KINGSTON ROOKERY
Well, hallo my dears.
I can hear my village rooks calling, cawing,
gabbing to one another; storytelling.
My crisped ears can hear them so very well.
Pulling twigs to make new nests, repairing the old.
Have you ever eaten rook pie?
Now, I know pies are a bit of a contentious issue as
far as my reputation is concerned, and I have told
my tale as much as I can, in relation to this infantile
subject.
My dried and withered heart floats in a mire of
pain still, and always shall do.
But protesting too much can be seen as a sign of
guilt, can it not; especially if you are a prisoner.
So who is most likely to be freed, the verbose or
the silent?
I am quite good at speaking silently, as it were.
Anyway, not all prisons have bars of iron, and
some prisoners carry their own key, but never use it
to free themselves...
Pardon my aged, tired mind, I seem to have
wandered somewhat off the point.
Rooks. Rooks, cawing; an ugly language. Do we
humans sound any better?
Gabber gabber, I want.
Gabber gabber, spite and spit.
Gabber gabber, lowly peasant.
Gabber gabber, gristle and sick.
Gabber, gabber, gabber, gabber...
But the rooks when they caw, recall their history of
ancestral pain; born of lust, obsession, hypocrisy
and violence.
Now do not mock me, but this is what they do.
Or at least that is what the Kingston rooks do, for
their lineage is long, yet acutely interrupted and
corrupted.
Now let me tell you the how and the why.
One day, a day trapped in my cobwebbed
memory, a travelling preacher and wife clopped
their way with heavy horse and cart into The
Street.
They were an ugly pair, both with extraordinarily
long noses, dark, greasy hair that was pulled back
into pony hair, and tied.
They were dark of eye and, to my gaze, looked a
little too closely related.
They trundled down The Street and stopped by an
apple orchard. Beyond the orchard stood a tall
row of ash trees and it was in these trees that the
rookery had grown.
Having sought permission to set up camp for a
couple of days, this ugly couple tried to ingratiate
themselves with the villagers.
As the sun started to lower, the labourers back
from the day’s toil were invited to listen to the
preacher’s sermon.
John, as he was called, placed a large leatherbound book on his makeshift pulpit.
It was an unusual book, strapped round with
strong metal bands, with a hinged clasp with
which to lock it.
The weather was fine, and with a few small trinkets
of favour passed out by Molly the preacher’s wife,
the villagers settled down for an evening’s
entertainment.
Beer, bread and cheese appeared and the
sermon began.
John fiddled with the lock and clasp of the book
and ceremoniously opened it.
John was good at his craft, and put on a fine and
gutsy performance.
With his nose as a sail to the wind, he was caught
up and swept along by his own rhetoric.
Now, as he was halfway through his sermon, the
Midwife walked slowly past with her dog Frey.
She turned and looked at John with eyes that
could somehow see beyond, and her small smile
momentarily hardened, then resurrected. John
faltered in mid-flow, coughed once and
continued, rubbing his throat.
The villagers tugged forelocks as she passed,
finding themselves trapped between two worlds.
The Midwife continued, gently stroking Frey’s wide
head as they passed by.
By the end of his sermon, many of the villagers
were in fine mood, and having imbibed well and
eaten well, were appreciative of his efforts.
Molly duly moved amongst them with a collecting
hat, and John’s efforts were in a small way
recompensed.
As he tidied his effects away, John felt pleased
with his efforts, but disquieted with the darkness
that had momentarily befallen him when the lady
with the dog had walked past. He had felt as if his
soul had briefly rotted and returned.
He felt fascinatingly violated.
Later, the Midwife sat hunched on her stone floor,
the fire sputtering, looking deep into Frey’s eyes.
The jittering flames cast stark relief over and into
the fragments of bones and jars filling her cottage.
"You must sleep.” She said at last.
Time went rolling by. John and Molly moved from
village to town, spreading his good words.
When he felt that the souls of Kingston needed
further salvation, and when Molly was in need of a
new hat, back came John to Kingston.
And each time he came, he encountered the
Midwife.
His questions turned towards her, and the
noncommital, surly responses from the villagers
disturbed him.
The general retort to his enquiries was, in essence.
"Mind to your own business."
J
Her calm and subtle ways, he sensed, hid
something far beyond a usual being. Her beauty
cut through his thoughts in the blackness of the
night.
The dog Frey, demanding her caressing hands.
When he closed his eyes, there she was, and there
she was again.
Molly started to become jealous, guessing
correctly that John was besotted.
She started squawking, bitching and harping
about the Midwife, trying her best to discredit her
in John’s eyes and others.
In his head the saying "The better the witch; the
better the midwife" rolled over and over. A chant
that excited and scared him in equal measure.
That she was an able midwife and healer was not
in doubt, nor the high regard in which the villagers
held her.
Regard, respect and fear.
She walked through all levels of society with equal
ease, autonomy and power.
As John, Molly and their horse and cart rolled
around the countryside, John’s thoughts twisted
and writhed with the Midwife’s naked body.
She had bewitched him, and he wanted her. His
mind stuck like a cart in the runnels of a muddy
lane.
Then one day there they were, back in Kingston, in
the orchard with the rooks in full voice.
The evening was oppressively warm and humid.
The noise from the rookery was exacerbated by
the sticky stillness.
John laid his leather-bound book out, fiddled with
the lock and slowly opened it.
Sweat dripped from his brow, down his long nose
and onto the pages.
Molly hung around moodily, an anger spat
through her like lightning.
The heat, those
damned noisy, ugly birds, and the Midwife.
Sodding John, sodding birds, sodding dog,
sodding Midwife.
The witch.
And then there she was, walking slowly up The
Street with Frey, and the same quiet smile on her
enigmatic face.
John’s sermon had just begun when he too saw
the Midwife.
His throat constricted, his eyes rolled, the heat
became unbearable, and darkness took him.
John tiptoed out of his faint. He was lying on a
feather-stuffed mattress, in a room lit with candles.
The walls were lined with shelf upon shelf of
grotesqueries.
The candlelight accentuated John’s features,
spraying his shadow onto the wall like a great
beaked bird.
A soft movement near him made John start. It
was Frey. He sat at the end of his mistress’s bed,
panting gently.
A cool hand touched his clammy forehead.
"You had a seizure, I have tended to you, how do
you feel?” A quiet, creamy voice close by. The
Midwife.
"I feel, alright. Where am I?" mumbled John.
"My home."
Frey turned from the two, and headed out of the
open back door to take his usual nightly wander.
"And where is my wife?” John felt awkward
asking.
"When you collapsed, she blamed me, she
accused me of being a witch. Called for me to
be burned. Poor thing was quite beside herself.
We calmed her, and I gave her something to
sleep."
John’s focus and strength were returning, and so
was his lasciviousness.
The Midwife walked into the garden to draw some
more water from the well. As she lifted the bucket,
John stood in her doorway, beak silhouetted by
the candlelight inside.
Lust, obsession and
weakness. A three-fold form of folly.
John lunged forward, and grabbed the object of
his misplaced desire. As he struggled with the
Midwife and his own primitive urges, he was not
going to win. The Midwife was too sage, too well
protected.
As John’s advances were rebuked, his rage
increased and as his punches fell, the Midwife
whispered a single word.
"Frey."
And he came.
Frey launched himself silently at the sweating
swine. He bit deeply into John’s arm and held,
looking into him.
John, in a shrivelled, wild state looked back and
saw something far more than a simple beast within
Frey.
And reflected in Frey’s golden eyes, John
glimpsed his own animalistic form.
Tied around Frey’s neck, John noticed a small
charm in the shape of a distorted hand.
"Leave."
The Midwife’s voice, as soft and controlled as
usual, as if shooing a spider out of the pantry.
Frey slowly released his grip and blood pulsed from
John’s forearm. John stumbled into the darkness,
his white buttocks like a couple of blown up pigs’
bladders.
The Midwife put a hand on Frey’s frowning brow,
and slowly his anger ebbed away.
John fumbled his way back to the familiar cart,
and the snoring, dribbling Molly.
J
He needed all his eloquent powers of persuasion
and righteous indignation now.
The Midwife’s rejection bit as deeply as Frey’s
fangs, and far beyond. And now, John wanted
vengeance.
Shaking Molly out of her drug-induced slumber,
John began his finest and most emotive sermon.
Molly heard that which her jealousy demanded,
and was glad of it.
John accused The Midwife of witchery, of trying to
steal his very soul.
His bitter brain settled on the object of Frey. He
accused the Midwife of having unearthly relations
with the dog, her familiar.
They were both, he claimed, in league with the
devil.
And he insisted that the Midwife had put him
under her spell, for her own explicit purposes.
Molly was truly overjoyed!
John’s obsession was twisted into hate, and it was
truly a hate that could be used against the object
of his obsession.
Molly tended to John’s wounded arm, and
wounded pride.
The dog and the witch, an unholy couple. John
and Molly, an inhuman couple, a true union of
venom.
The very first light of dawn tainted the blackness,
as Molly watched the ghostly grey form of Frey
wandering towards the rookery trees.
His habitual early morning walk took him to familiar
places and interesting smells. A light, fine drizzle
tickled the air, and the restless rooks above began
their debating.
Frey was by nature a bold creature, but on this
day, he felt ill at ease. The rooks called raucously,
even at such an early hour, and the rain subdued
his senses.
Still, he was not to be put off his perusing, and so
he wandered this way and that, arriving at the
rookery trees for his obligatory jakes.
Molly stepped quietly out from behind a tree. In
her hand she carried a wooden cudgel.
Frey was startled by her unexpected appearance,
and started to turn back.
John, brandishing a rough iron poker, hit him full on
the back with a swift and deadly blow.
His long, pointed nose swinging down like a knife
blade.
Frey fell twisting, fangs bared, saliva flying, trying to
bite his attacker. But John and Molly laid another
and another and another cruel blow, until Frey lay
motionless.
"The witch’s beast is dead.” John cawed. "Now
let’s deal with the beasted witch."
A blood lust had crept up and engorged John
and Molly, it had eaten them both quite whole.
"Frey."
The voice behind them as soft and creamy as
always. They turned, bloodied weapons in hands.
The Midwife was standing, as motionless as a
gravestone, with eyes of lead.
The rooks overhead began to caw louder and
louder. The drizzle turned to rain.
In the gloom, the rooks took to the air, circling
around and around, calling, cawing.
A powerful wind began to blow, pulling at John
and Molly’s pony hair, whipping at their clothes.
Overhead, the cawing rooks flew faster and faster,
caught in the spiralling storm that surrounded the
two.
The swirling tornado span and spat, sucking the
juices from Molly and John, battering and
smashing their bones, crushing and mashing and
rearranging.
The blackest of shadows raced into the great
mixing pot and flung themselves around the pair,
shrouds tightening, squeezing.
The rooks up above cawed and cawed, pulling
feathers frantically from their bodies in clumps.
The feathers flew higgledy-piggledy in great black
clouds.
Then, down flashed one black feather, then
another and another.
Piercing the deformed bodies below one after the
other, again and again.
Each time a feather bit deep into the writhing
forms that were John and Molly, another scream
of torment, pain and despair.
The rooks cawed, the tornado whirled and the
screams began to change.
John and Molly’s cries of agony and the call of the
rooks were becoming indistinguishable.
The great wind suddenly ceased.
Frey’s body was gone. The Midwife also.
As she walked past John and Molly’s cart, she
stopped for a moment to retrieve the great
leather-bound book, and then continued
homeward.
In her solitary house the Midwife opened John’s
book, to discover without surprise, that the pages
were completely blank.
The rooks flew back to their nests and settled
noisily.
They were waiting to welcome new
members to their clamour.
Far below, on the bloodied ground, sat two large
and very ugly rooks.
Both had particularly large beaks.
And both were very, very sore.
Caw Caw Caw
Tap tap. Tap
J
Hello Kingstonians,
Lambing is now all over for this year, and they are all now out of the barn and on the farm. The
Kiwi sheep shearers are due to arrive at the time of writing; they come every year to help Tom
out with his flock. Although the wool is no longer such a valuable commodity, we still shear now
the weather is warmer. It helps keep the sheep cool and reduces the amount of insects that like to make a
home in the fleece! The lambs keep their coats, as they would not cope so well if the temperature drops, so
it’s just the mums that get a haircut!
Why not treat Dad to a fun day on the farm this Father’s Day, Sunday 16 th June. Weather permitting, our
Australian chef Ashley will be barbequing on the terrace in true Aussie style, cooking up fantastic ‘Juicy Lucy’
burgers. Think prime 100% British beef burgers layered with a melting cheese middle, what more could Dad
want? And, don’t forget, Dads go FREE into the farm park when accompanied by another full paying
person. There will, as always, be so much to see and do on the farm! Tractor and Trailer rides have started for
the season (weather permitting), miniature pig racing is now well underway and proving extremely popular,
and our regular meet the animals sessions will also be running, as well as fantastic indoor and outdoor play!
In our last column we told you all about our eggs in the incubator and we can now confirm the
birth of four beautiful babies! Two ducklings and our first ever goslings! Follow us on twitter
(@springbarnfarm) for pictures of the chicks in all their full fluffy glory and updates on their progress
on the farm. Names are currently to be confirmed, we are thinking along the lines of famous
duos… you can imagine the possibilities!
The new hen house has arrived; Mike and Tom now have the task of putting it together, and filling it with
lovely fresh straw to provide soft bedding ready for our new ladies! Once they are all settled we can expect
fabulous farm fresh eggs, which will of course be for sale in our farm shop.
It’s not coming up for a while, but we thought it was worth mentioning the Bike 4 Hospice ride which will be
taking place on Sunday 18th August, in case there are any budding cyclists in Kingston! Be one of the 500
taking part in the challenge; choose from two sponsored rides along the beautiful South Downs: 25 miles
(Steyning to Goodwood Racecourse - Route 2) or 42 miles departing from Spring Barn Farm (Lewes to
Goodwood Racecourse - Route 1). Or even just come along and cheer them on, all for a fantastic cause,
raising money for four Sussex hospices. Visit http://www.bike4hospices.co.uk/ for more details.
See you soon,
ANOTHER MOUTHWATERING RECIPE FROM SBF:
Courgette, basil & not-just-for-pasta cheese tart
Ingredients
250g/9oz bought or homemade short crust pastry
2 tbsp olive oil
10-12 baby courgettes, halved lengthways
½ lemon, juice only
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 eggs
300ml/½ pint whipping cream
50g/2oz not just for pasta cheese, grated
handful of basil leaves, torn-into-pieces, plus extra
whole leaves
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
parmesan shavings (shave strips of parmesan from a
block with a vegetable peeler)
olive oil, to serve
23cm/9in plain or fluted flan ring, 2.5cm/1in deep
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Roll out the pastry thinly to fit the tin, leaving
1cm/½in of excess pastry hanging over the edge. This
allows for shrinking during cooking, and ultimately gives
a neater finished result. Place in the fridge for at least
Louise, Mike, Tom and the SBF team
30 minutes.
3. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper and fill with
baking beans or rice. Place in the oven for 20 minutes,
then remove the greaseproof paper and beans. Return to
the oven for a further 5 minutes until the middle of the
pastry case is lightly golden. Remove from the oven and
leave to cool slightly. With a sharp knife, trim away any
excess pastry from the rim, leaving a smooth, even case.
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
5. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the baby
courgettes for 3-4 minutes, then add the lemon juice and
garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds until the lemon juice
has evaporated and arrange in the tart case.
6. In a large bowl or jug, beat together the eggs and
cream. Add the parmesan and torn basil leaves and
season generously with salt and pepper, then pour over
the courgettes in the tart case.
7. Place in the oven and cook for 25 minutes until the
egg mixture is just set. Once it's cooked, leave to cool
for about 15 minutes before serving. It will taste much
better warm rather than piping hot, but remember the
flavour will be lost completely if you refrigerate it.
8. Just before serving, scatter with the whole basil
leaves and parmesan shavings and drizzle a little olive oil
over the top.
J
BIRD FEEDING TIP
from the Editor
As a result of the very cold spring, there is
very little natural food around at the
moment. So, if you find you have many
very large birds eating all the food from
your bird feeders before the little ones
get a look in, surround the feeders with a
circular tube of chicken wire (it doesn’t
have to be new) with mesh of a
diameter that will allow small birds
access. Make the tube quite a bit wider
in circumference than the feeder itself;
attach a loop at the top of the chicken
wire, and then only the smaller birds will
gain entry to the nutritious inner circle!
KEEP FIT WITH LEGS, BUMS & TUMS
TUESDAYS FROM 4TH JUNE
(First class on 4th June free to try it out)
6-7PM
£5 PER CLASS
KINGSTON PARISH HALL
This is a fun, mixed ability class for men & women
that will include cardio work, toning & stretching.
KINGSTON COMMUNITY PAVILION:
Computer Courses
By the time this article is published, our first
Computer Course will have been completed.
However, I am pleased to say that, because there
has been so much interest shown from running
and advertising the previous course, it has been
possible to make arrangements with Sussex
Downs College for two further weekly computer
classes.
The two classes will be held in the Pavilion
commencing on Friday afternoon, 14th June and
will run every week for 6 weeks. The first class
will be held from 1.00 - 2.30pm and the second
class from 2.45-4.00pm.
Once again, there will be no charge.
If you are interested, or would like more
information, please ring Rosemarie Jeffery as
soon as possible on 01273 474932.
Group Outdoor Workout Class
on the Village Green, Kingston
(behind The Juggs)
Saturdays 9.00-10.00am
All levels welcome! Bring a mat or towel.
Contact: Catherine Merrick 07901 826742
[email protected]
Also available for personal training sessions.
Mats will be available to borrow but,
if you have your own mat, please bring it along!
For more information, contact Claire Lyons on
07773 194040
[email protected]
www.clairelyons.zumba.com
Find us on Facebook – Claire Lyons Zumba
Follow me on Twitter - @LyonsZumba
J
KINGSTON PARISH COUNCIL
www.kingston-lewes-pc.gov.uk
1. Included in this month’s Kingston News is the Kingston Parish Council report for the Annual Parish
Meeting that was held on April 26th, 2013. Also included is a brief note on what was discussed at
the meeting.
In its biggest attendance to date, over forty members of the public were at the Annual Parish
Meeting on Friday 26 April 2013.
Hosted for the village by Kingston Parish Council, the audience enjoyed a number of
presentations, which highlighted how groups in the village are working together for the benefit
of the residents.
The KPC report to the Annual Parish Meeting (shown on the next page) was presented by
Martin Lee, followed by updates from:  Beverley Wakeford-Brown of the Pavilion Committee,
 Diana Arlett of the Action Plan Steering Group,
 Ella Graham-Scott, the new local PCSO, who introduced herself to the meeting,
 Jenny Devane, from ESCC, who talked about the latest developments for introducing
community broadband in the county.
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KPC report to the Annual Parish Meeting: April 2013
Introduction
 Nearly two years in and the Council begins to feel comfortable with its legal duties but what
is its role?
 For a while, we seemed blighted as to clerks. Particular thanks go to Andrea Barrett, who
sadly had to leave for family reasons in the autumn and a warm welcome to Jeanne
Peterson – please stay!
Key achievements this year (in no particular order)
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Pavilion – the Council has satisfied itself on VAT, is transferring operation to the committee
(more in the meeting) and confirmed opportunities for a differentiated charging structure.
Thanks to every Pavilion Committee member for your support.
Steering Group – we have worked closely with the Steering Group throughout the year and
will continue to do so. Their work is invaluable to KPC and to the village and is greatly
appreciated. More in the meeting.
Supported: Cycle track Kingston to Lewes – opening soon; Fast broadband for Kingston;
Coronation Jubilee Celebrations based at the Pavilion. Thanks to all involved and more
news in the meeting.
Localism Act – KPC met the Planners from South Downs National Park and Lewes District
Council. Agreed no immediate actions are needed but continue to monitor. A list of
Community Assets will be registered with LDC as soon as they can be lodged.
Adopted the General Power of Competence, which allows the Council to act more freely
for the benefit of the village. In essence, as long as not prevented by law, the Council can
do anything a “natural person” can do.
Sustained Freedom of Information requests have made considerable demands on the
clerk’s time with “more learning than we ever thought possible”. A complaint was lodged
at the Information Commissioner’s Office, although it appears that our improved systems of
disclosure are considered appropriate and will continue to offer as transparent a process as
possible to inform the village.
…continued overleaf
J
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Planning issues have been pursued actively even where the Council’s wishes on behalf of
the village are not heeded. Clearly, entirely subjective to applicants and our aim is to be
professional, consistent and informed.
The precept: whilst sadly increased, spending has remained within budget for each of the
first two years. The aim for good value for money continues.
The grant from BIG Lottery Funds allowed opening of additional play equipment on the
lower green, together with maintenance work to existing facilities.
The verges between the school and Snednore are recovering from the parking assaults and
whilst not perfect are a great improvement.
Looking ahead to the next year
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The Council is keen to develop its working with the Steering Group and the Pavilion
Committee. The Annual Parish Meeting will include information from both organisations and
a facilitated discussion seeking village views on how you wish the Council and steering
group, in particular, to proceed.
Footpaths and bridleways continue to be a challenge. KPC has had some success in
identifying and mapping these but defining responsibilities is proving difficult as the
economic belt tightens.
Trees – a policy for trees and verges in the village is being worked on and it is hoped can be
published this year. Ideas abound and the challenge is to realise changes whilst
maintaining what is already there but within sustainable budgets.
Working with our neighbours in POLO (Parishes of the Lower Ouse), Lewes District Council,
the South Downs National Park Authority and East Sussex County Council.
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2. Kingston Parish Council continues to meet every two months in the Pavilion. The dates of all
Kingston Parish Council meetings for 2013/14 are now available from our clerk, Jeanne Peterson
or can be accessed directly on our website www.kingston-lewes-pc.gov.uk.
3. We are pleased to announce that we have now formally transferred the running of the Pavilion
to the Pavilion Committee.
4. The annual accounting for the Kingston Parish Council has now been completed. Anyone who
is interested is welcome to contact Jeanne Peterson, our clerk, to arrange a time to inspect the
accounts. Details of these arrangements can also be found on the village notice boards and
the KPC website.
Please have a look at our website for details of our next meeting.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
FAMILY DAY
Saturday, 13th July 2013
St Pancras Green
Including Downland Race, Mini Football
Tournament, Stoolball, Children’s Races,
Treasure Hunt.
Beer tent and light refreshments in the
afternoon followed by DIY BBQ.
Full details in July’s issue of Kingston News.
Contact: [email protected]
if you want to help.
J
SCHOOL REPORT: Ahoy There! (or ‘why are pirates pirates? Because they arrrrrrrrr’)
One of the areas that we’ve put a lot of time into as a school is devising interesting topic areas
for the children to learn through. A good example is the topic currently being studied by
Chestnut Class, a class of Y3 and Y4 children (that’s between 7 and 9 years of age).
The Pirates topic allows them to look at the history of pirates, along with the geography of
where they operated. There are lots of fantastic opportunities for art and design technology and,
of course, for exploring language. One of the tasks that the class had recently was to write letters
of application for the post of cabin boy. Here are a few of the letters that were sent and I hope
you’ll agree that both the language skills and piratical ambitions are impressive for children of this
age.
Avast Captain of the Red Revenge
Dear Pirates of the Red Revenge
I am writing this letter in reply to the letter
you gave me and to say that I would be a
wonderful cabin boy.
The reasons I think I would be a perfect
buccaneer are that I love adventure and
I’ve always wished for a life on the sea. I
have done loads of sewing and cooking
and cleaning with my mum. I have done
plenty of fighting and shooting and using
cutlasses with my dad and brother. I am also
great at gymnastics.
I would require lots of booty. I hope to
hear from you soon.
I am writing to the Red Revenge to ask
to be a cabin boy on your big ship.
The reasons I think I would be perfect
for this job are I could find treasure, scrub
the decks and help cook dinner. As well
as this, I am also good at shooting crows.
I have already done some cooking and
cleaning in my house. I have also done
some shooting.
Please reply to me at Iford and Kingston
School.
Yours sincerely
Florence Dennis
Yours sincerely
Chloe Hambrook
Dearest Pirates of The Red Revenge
Dear Captain Blackbeard
I am writing to reply to the letter you sent
last month. I would love to be your cabin
boy.
Firstly, I would be perfect for the job
because I have an acceptable
performance at climbing. I also love
adventure. Furthermore, I have always
wanted to be a pirate. I discovered this just
after I realised I don’t get sea-sick. This is my
big chance.
My father is Captain Skully-Bones of The
Green Pennant. He has taught me to be
very handy with a sword for over five years. I
would like a reply but I would not be
offended if you do not have time.
Yours sincerely
Charlie Branton
I am writing this letter because I want to
join as a cabin boy. I think it would be
great to be on a ship, finding booty.
I have practised shooting and lighting
matches and making loud noises. If you
regularly sink then, when you have me,
when you start sinking I could repair your
boat extremely quickly.
I killed all my friends, and my mum and
dad. Don’t worry, I shocked the life out of
them, not by knife or gun. The way I
shocked the life out of them was by lying
on my back and spreading ketchup all
over me.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely
Julia Stone
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If you want a box advertisement similar to
the ones on this page, the cost is just £5 per
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
month. Please email your editor,
Katie King-Pettitt, at the following address:
[email protected].
If you want to know what developments are
planned for the Kingston area it is important to
check the following two websites as not all
planning applications are being listed in the local
newspaper these days, as used to be the case in
the past:
www.lewes.gov.uk/planning/778.asp
and
www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning
J
Birds, bugs and butterflies are coming to Pre-School this term...we hope! The children have
had great fun planting flower seeds which we’re sure will attract some lovely bugs and
butterflies to the Parish Hall garden. They have also made rustic bird feeders from pine
cones, squeezing lard mixed with seed into the crevices and hanging them from the tree.
This topic has spread into all other areas of play and we’ve had fun making spiders with pipe cleaner legs,
birds with colourful feathers, butterfly printing, using play dough or clay and a variety of natural accessories
(twigs, leaves, feathers, stones) to model, flower pressing (which we’ll use to decorate windows). Also, best of
all, we’ve caught real woodlice, spiders and ants and explored them through our magnifying glasses.
We are also now getting ready to say goodbye to our 12 children who will be heading off to school. This is a
busy time for us as we liaise with several schools in order to make this time of transition a happy one for both
the children and their parents. It is lovely to see that they have developed so many skills during their time with
us and we always miss them so much come September.
If anyone would like more information about the Pre-School or would like to visit please contact me on 01273
486060 or [email protected].
Claire Wood
Pre-school Supervisor
Kingston Parish Action Plan Questionnaire:
It is now six years since the Kingston Parish Action Plan was drawn up following a series of consultations and
questionnaires. An update was brought out in 2011 informing you of progress made.
At the request of the Parish Council we will be seeking your views regarding the way forward for our parish
community. You will shortly receive a questionnaire where you will be able to express your ideas and
suggestions. We will look forward to receiving your comments.
AT YOUR PARISH CHURCH in June
Join us for worship…
Sunday 2nd June
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Service
Sunday 9th June
9.45am Parish Communion
Sunday 16th June
9.45am Parish Communion
Sunday 23rd June
9.45am Parish Communion
Sunday 30th June
UNITED SERVICE at SOUTHEASE CHURCH
11.am Parish Communion
…also happening
Sunday 2nd June 7.00pm Benefice Dinner
at the Abergavenny Arms, followed by a talk by
a Rabbi on Jewish Beliefs. Tickets £10 include a
meal and one drink available from The Rev’d
Marcus Brown (Tel 473939).
Thinking Allowed
The Discussion Group will meet three times in
June: on Tuesdays 4th, 11th and 18th. Each
meeting will be at our house, Greenhaven,
Kingston Road, and will start at 7.45pm. We will
be looking at the “I am" sayings of Jesus in
John's Gospel.
It would be helpful to know in advance who
is coming because of parking, but if you find
you are free at the last moment please come
anyway! Hugh and Martine Bailey (Tel 478213)
Churchyard Clear-up can you help?
Saturday 15th June from 9.30am to 12noon
…coming soon
Sunday 7th July 9.45am Family Service with
Church Parade (Brownies) followed by rounders,
followed by a shared lunch at the Pavilion.
The Rev’d Geoff Daw
01273 473665
The Rectory, 14 Lockitt Way, Kingston, BN7 3LG