Girls make friends across the world

Lasting friendships were forged across the world by girls at Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone, after they visited Russia. Harriet McConnell, Summer Heron and Zoe Poole, went to Vladivostok with staff member Karen Brewster for the two-week World School event in September. Invicta was the only UK school to take part, although 22 other countries send delegates. Earlier this month, Tim Weal, a teacher from St Paul’s School in Brisbane, Australia, visited Mrs Brewster and

calling Maureen on 01622 721238. WI: On Monday, July 6, the WI will have a games (mainly board games) evening. Now only five years away from its centenary, this branch meets on the first Monday of the month in the village hall, Heath Road at 7pm for 7.30pm. Speak with the president, Angela Prince (01622 728478) for details. Paper/card: The monthly collection of waste paper and cardboard by the local Scouts and Guides will take place on Saturday, July 3. Place any on your land close to the pavement preferably boxed, bundled or bagged and not left out overnight in case of rain. Coming soon: The Barming School Fair will take place on Saturday, July 11 from noon-4pm. Pencil it on your calendar. Road delays: Queen’s Road and Queen’s Avenue will be subjected to a one-way restriction from July 27 for up to 29 working days to enable gas main replacement works to be carried out by Southern Gas Networks. The areas concerned are Queen’s Road between A20 London Road and Queen’s Avenue and in Queen’s Avenue between A20 London Road and Queen’s Road. Also starting on July 27 the B2163 Heath Road, West Farleigh will be closed near The Good Intent pub until November 3 to allow South East Water to fit new water mains. The alternative route is via Charlton Lane, B2010 Lower Road/Smith’s Hill, Shingle Barn Road and Hilltop. her family. He is in Britain on tour with the St Paul’s cricket team. He was treated to a visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial site, near Folkestone, Hythe beach and Headcorn Aerodrome. He also experienced a barbecue English-style – in the rain. Then Emily Capanna, a pupil at Trafalgar Girls’ School in Montreal, Canada, visited the girls at Invicta. She is on holiday in the UK with her parents. Mrs Brewster said: “The girls were keen to catch up. It’s amazing how they carried on as if they had not had a break of six months since they last met!” School Singers 4pm and a raffle at 4.15pm. Coffee for charity: A coffee morning with a bring and buy sale and a Fairtrade stall will take place at the Methodist Church on Saturday, July 4 at 10.15am. The charity this month is Headway. All welcome. Choral concert: Bearsted Choral Society will present a concert entitled Transport of Delight, including music by Flanders and Swann, Gilbert and Sullivan and other summer songs at St Nicholas Church, Leeds, on Saturday, July 4 at 7.30pm. Featuring Chris Pace and Jon Williams. Music director Andrew Lowen. Tickets cost £10 each (students £5) and they can be obtained by phoning 01634 666730, email tickets@ bearstedchoral.org.uk or at the door. Bearsted and Thurnham WI: Behind the Scenes at Chelsea was the title of the talk given by Chris O’Donoghue, garden designer, at the May meeting. Beginning his working life as a potter, Chris made the momentous decision to transfer his design skills into garden design. Since then three of his gardens have been created at Chelsea and his work recognised by Silver Guilt status. This excellent speaker took members through his experiences from ‘receiving the brief’ to ‘being judged against it’. This included the necessary finance and sourcing re courses. A small garden budget was £15000 to £30000 and large ones hundreds of thousands of pounds. He explained his inspiration for designs and described the process from bare patch of ground to finished garden, working with time constraints and the logistics of moving large and awkward objects and features through London, then the planting for shape form and colour and huge attention to detail within the garden. Mr Donoghue gave members inspiration and an evening to remember. Members enjoyed a day in London, with a guided tour of the Olympic Park in the morning, lunch at the Westfield Centre and a visit down memory lane in the afternoon with a tour of the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. The next meeting is on Wednesday July 29, when Derrick Fulford will speak on The History of Smuggling. Madginford WI: At this WI’s June meeting, the beetle drive followed by a cream tea was enjoyed by all. There were reports from members who had been to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party; The centenary annual meeting at the Royal Albert Hall; Doddington Place and Hollingbourne Church. Final arrangements were made for the stall at Bearsted Fair, the trip to Lullingstone Castle and the district annual meeting. On July Thursday, 9, members will have a talk entitled Collective Legal Solutions. Parish meeting: The parish council will meet at Madginford Hall in Egremont Road on Tuesday, July 14 at 7.30pm. The public are invited to attend. Bible activity: Maidstone Christadelphians will be given a Bible talk, have a discussion or be shown a DVD with a Bible theme at Madginford Hall in Egremont Road on Sunday, July 5 at 4.30pm. All welcome. Coffee and chat: A coffee morning will take place in the room at Holy Cross Church on Friday July 10 from 10am-11.45am. The cost is £1. For details phone Debbie on 07444 539171 or Mark on 07470 407923. Day Out: Holy Cross Church will have an outing and picnic on Sunday, July 5 from noon with a short service at 3pm. Police information: A police van will be situated on Bearsted Green on Tuesday, July 7 from noon-1pm for the provision of general information, safety issues etc. Hats on: A garden party with cream teas will take place at Stone Lodge, 30 Spot Lane, by kind invitation of Maggie and Christopher Chainey, on Sunday, July 5 at 3pm. Everyone, is asked to wear a hat. No tickets but donations to the Friends of Otham Church would be much appreciated. Raffle available. Classic car show: A display of pre1980’s classic cars, in aid of Kent Air Ambulance, will take place on Bearsted Green on Sunday, July