What is "Know Your Neighbours"?

"Know Your Neighbours" is a grass-roots community group in Seal, near Sevenoaks in Kent. The group is made up of anyone in the village who wants to get involved - individuals, clubs and societies, businesses, church and schools, parish council,and many others.
We organise local events through the year - fetes, street parties, Christmas events etc. - and we hold social gatherings, just so that people can get to "know their neighbours". There's no "committee" - anyone who turns up for meetings is welcome to help in any way they are able.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE, OR BE ADDED TO THE EMAIL LIST, contact Marion Gilchrist , who coordinates the group, or Anne Le Bas, who maintains this blog.

Saturday 4 January 2020

January update from Know Your Neighbours

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas, whatever it may have held for you. I am happy to report that our Family Christmas celebration on December 7th, went down very well, and we received many lovely comments from all sorts of people who attended. Many were old Seal friends, but it was also really good to welcome some who were fairly new to the village, or families from Seal School, who had not been to Seal events before. It was a great turnout, with fantastic entertainment from Rob Pound, who we are hoping will entertain a different Seal audience later in 2020. Watch this space for more information.
We do have a pair of small red wellies and a blue water bottle, which were left after the event. So, if you know a poor bootless, bottle-less child, who attended the party, please get in touch, and we will return them to you.
We have also received lots of great feedback regarding the lights in the High Street. As you know, we had a very generous donation from Seal Parish Council of £500 this year, which was put toward the cost of the lights and the party, so that was a considerable help, along with our own fund-raising events and a little of the revenue from our Know Your Neighbours 100 Club. If you know of anybody who might have some good photographs of the High Street in lights, please ask them to contact me if they are happy to share them.

In all, we spent approximately £1,300 this year for lighting, insurance and Christmas activities, but if you want a proper breakdown, please come along to our AGM on March 5th at 8pm. We  are hoping to use the Village Hall for this meeting, but are waiting for confirmation, but more information will be available by next month's update.

Sadly, the lights do have to come down though! We were originally intending to do this tomorrow, but so many people were still in Christmas mode, that we have now arranged to take them down on Saturday 11th January. We do have some offers of help, but as always, we are eager to encourage more of you out of your cosy homes on a cold winter's morning, to assist with the taking down, untangling, coiling up (possibly drying out) and storing safely for next year. There will, of course, be the added incentive of coffee and a bacon sandwich to warm you up.We will meet outside the Village Hall at 9am, so please come along - bring a ladder if you have one, and join the fun and frolics to start the 2020 community bonding of our great village!

We held our first 100 Club draw of 2020 this morning at Friday Group, and here are the results:-

This month we were playing with 57 numbers giving a prize fund of £142.50 and £142,50 to the Seal Village Fund.
1st prize £95 -No  52 Hilary Coffey  
2nd prize £47.50 -  no 44 Jean Puffette

If you wish to participate in our 100 Club, please email me, and I will send you the joining instructions.

You will have noticed that Birch's closed their doors before Christmas, and we are already missing Ashley and her team of happy staff, who made our Talking Village so welcome on Monday afternoons. Until we have more information about the re-opening, we won't be in a position to hold or normal Monday afternoon Talking Village sessions, but please join us in the library on Saturday mornings 10am-11am, Thursdays at Tiddlers, Seal Church Hall 10am - midday or Fridays at Friday Group, Seal Church Hall 10am - midday. There will always be a little band of people ready for a coffee, tea and a chat with you!

EVENTS WE ARE AWARE OF SO FAR FOR 2020.

Saturday 11th Jan 9am - meet outside Seal Village Hall to take down and store Seal Village Christmas lights. ALL WELCOME

Saturday January 25th - Seal Church Hall 7.30pm - A Scottish themed Beetle Drive in aid of St Peter and St Paul Church Seal- 
Wear something tartan for a nod to Robbie Burns. Bring your own drinks,glass and snacks Tickets 4pound adults, 3pound children from Jill 01732 762803

 Thursday March 5th -Know Your Neighbours and Seal Village Fund AGM at (hopefully) Seal Village Hall at 8pm.

Friday March 27th - Seal Village Hall - Quiz in aid of Seal Garden Safari 2020 set up costs - more info Frances Fish - 07749 240456

Sunday June 14th - Seal Garden Safari 2020. If you would like to open your garden, or know of somebody who should (🤔), please contact Frances as above.

PLANNING AHEAD!!
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21st and 28th - Seal Christmas lights up! 9am
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5th - Family Christmas Celebration and lights on - Seal Village Hall -2.30-5pm

Please remember to e mail me regarding any events your organisation is putting on over the year. We are always here as Know Your Neighbours, to help promote your activities!
Meanwhile, get your new year off to a cracking start!
Best Wishes,
Marion (on behalf of Seal Know Your Neighbours).