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.

Friday 12 November 2021

KYN update Nov 12

 Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours update. 

We would like to thank all those who came along last Saturday - both representatives of organisations, and local residents alike! You all certainly made the morning worthwhile, and it was great to welcome so many new neighbours to our village! Our aim is to repeat this now, every 3 months, to keep on top of new people moving in to Seal.


The survey regarding Christmas lighting, showed, without a doubt, the priority would be to light our village tree with new lights for 2021. 

We were hoping to get more icicle lights up the higher end of the High Street this year, but cost due to supply issues, appear to be affecting this idea negatively, so we may have to wait another year, or expand very slowly. 

Several ideas came out of the meeting for different new groups in the village. One - and this has come up before - is the idea of having a group for people who enjoy art - painting, drawing or any other media - not as a learning group necessarily, but as a motivational group. Many people like to dabble, but need others to motivate them to ǵet the paints out´. If you feel this is you, please contact us on this email address, and we will see if this is something that can be facilitated in the new year.


We have been invited by the Allotments Society, to hold occasional coffee mornings (when the weather is good), on the social area of the allotment site. This is a generous and thoughtful offer, which we will pick up on in 2022.


Another idea, which has been raised before, is a walking group - possibly health walks to get started,so that they are open to many.


Other one off ideas include, music evenings in one of the halls, barn dances, sports fun days on the rec, and small fetes on the rec.


Finally, which we will be pursuing in the new year, is to hold occasional talks relating to first aid, and defibrillator training. 


TOMORROW!! SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13th.

SEAL LIBRARY 10.15-12.15 - DAVID WILLIAMS WILL BE IN THE LIBRARY TO EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF SEAL, DAVID WILL HAVE THE ARCHIVES OPEN AND THERE WILL BE A NEW HISTORY DISPLAY TO SEE.! PLEASE COME WITH YOUR QUESTIONING BRAIN ON!


ADVENT WINDOWS.

Last year, saw our first and very successful Advent Window Trail which was organised by Barbara Martin. This year, we hope to have another 23 households, to decorate a window in their house throughout December. Between 1st and 23rd December, each day, a newly added decorated window will be added to the trail, ending with the Christmas Nativity Stable in Seal Church. So, by Christmas Eve, there are 24 beauiful windows and scenes to admire. This is a lovely activity for all, to follow the trial and admire the scenes.

If you would like to contribute to this fun project by decorating a window in your home, please contact Barbara on 10732 762255 or 07775 861562, or email 

barbara.s.martin@btconnect.com


LAVENDER FIELDS CARE HOME

will be holding a Christmas Fair on Saturday 27th November from 2-4 pm.. THIS WILL BE AN OUTDOOR EVENT DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. If you have a gazebo you could lend to Lavender Fields for this event, they would be extremely grateful. They will take great care of it and can arrange collection and dropping back if necessary.

In the good old days (Pre-Covid), we had a thriving group of volunteers at Lavender Fiealds, who would befriend, play board games, help with activities, etc. Like most activities and organisations, this group needs a little re-boot.If there is anybody who could spend some time to assist on 27th, with setting up, holding a stall, clearing away, etc, please contact Diane of the Activities Team, on 01732 755630.

THERE IS ALSO SOME AVAILABILITY FOR PRIVATE STALL HOLDERS TO SELL THEIR WARES AND MAKE A DONATION TO L.F. Again, please contact Diane.


SEAL VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Will hold their AGM on Wednesday 17th November at 7.30 in the Village Hall.. They will be looking to elect a new Chairman at this event, so if you, or somebody you know, might be interested in this role, do give it some thought. Please speak to Alan Davies for more details of the role. sealvillagehallmail.com


THE GOOD LIFE COMES TO SEAL

If you have any windfall apples you don't need, please think of the animals at Seal School Community Farm. 

See the link https://www.sealcommunityschoolfarm.co.uk/ 


ACTIVITIES AT FRIDAY GROUP

Friday Group held a coffee morning this morning, in aid of Hospice in the Weald. It was a great, friendly event, and raised just over £292.

Many thanks to those of you who supported this event. It was great to see so many of you there.                                                                                                                                           


VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED PLEASE. 

DRIVERS NEEDED!

Our Seal Over 60’s Group meets every second Saturday of each month from 2.30-4pm. Some of those attending this group, are dependent on volunteer drivers to transport them to and from the Village Hall. If you are a driver, snd could spare a couple of hours 2 or 3 times a year, to help with this, please contact Barbara Martin on 07775861562 or email her on barbara.s.martin@btconnect.com


HELPERS FOR SAT NOVEMBER 27th FOR PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Please respond to me via this email, if you would be able to spend an hour or two on the morning of 27th, to maybe bring a ladder and assist with putting up our lights. We will also be looking for volunteers to take them down for storage on Sat January 8th. This sounds like a chore, but is actually great fun, and you'll meet lots of great people too. We use bacon sandwiches, or similar, as a bribe!




🎄🎄TIME TO THINK OF CHRISTMAS!🎄🎄


SEAL CHURCH WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS - UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO SUPPLY ISSUES, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED FOR THIS YEAR.


CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

There will be a Christmas Bazaar in Seal Village Hall on Sunday November 21st from 10.30am-3pm. The stalls taking part, look quite amazing, and will certainly give us the opportunity to find a wide range of unique Christmas gifts. Seal Church will be running a tombola and refreshments. We would like to thank Annie Fish for organising this event.



VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TREE

This will be erected at the junction of Church Street and the  High Street on the morning of November 26th, so it will be in situ for the lights going up the following day. There will be the opportunity to collect some stars, for you to take and write a message on for those you will miss this Christmas. There will be more details of where to collect these and how we might come together to reflect at some point.


FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY VILLAGE HALL 3-4.30pm SATURDAY DECEMBER 4th.

We have booked Rob Pound again, a great local entertainer, for the children (and the not so young), who was so popular in 2019. Please bring a plate of food to share, and we will provide drinks. We will round up with carol singing around the village Christmas tree, as always. PLEASE NOTE - WE MAY HAVE TO USE A BOOKING SYSTEM THIS YEAR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! An Eventbrite link will be set up nearer the time.


BUT BEFORE THE PARTY…….HELP NEEDED WITH LIGHTING THE VILLAGE PLEASE!  AS ABOVE 🤔🤔🤔


GENERAL REMINDERS:-


TALKING VILLAGE

Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 in Deniz's on the High Street. Buy a cup of tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table, for a chat and to make new friends, or catch up with old ones!


Saturdays - First Saturday of each month in Seal Library from 10am-11am. Join us for a coffee whilst out browsing for your library books.

At both these venues, there will always be two hosts to welcome you, and we look forward to meeting with you and getting to know each other better.


FRIDAY GROUP

Meets each Friday morning in the Church Hall between 10am and midday. Coffee, chat, by all means, bring your crafting with you but mostly, enjoy the company.


SEAL TIDDLERS 

 In Seal Church Hall £2 per session pre schoolers and parents/Carers Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 tea drinks snacks for children art activities singing.



SLIMMING WORLD

Seal Village Hall Monday evenings at 7pm. Call Lorraine on 0774086058


SEAL CHURCH CHOIRS


Adult and junior choirs looking for new members - practice Wednesday evenings -sealpandp@gmail.com




Seal Over 60s every 2nd Saturday of each month following, from 2.30-4pm at Seal Village Hall.£3 per head for a lovely tea.




SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Thursday evenings Seal Village Hall contact Alan Davies jandadavies@hotmail.co.uk


 SEAL SEQUENCE DANCING - Village Hall Tuesdays 8pm -10pm contact awattsẗalktalk.net


SEAL BEAVERS CUBS AND SCOUTS Please contact 9thgsl@sevenoaks.scouts.org.uk for current info during the pandemic.




Dance For Fun Classes - Village Hall - 10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.




SEAL LIBRARY- Opening  hours - Tuesdays 2pm - 5pm, Thursdays 10am - 1pm, Fridays 10am-3pm and Saturdays, 10am - 2pm.


Derek - the IT Guru/Buddy, is available for appointments on Thursday mornings from 10.15am. If anybody would like any help, please book an appointment in the library.

From Friday October 8th, Rhyme Time at 10.15, followed by Story Time at 10.45, will make a very welcome return, with Clare. 

Book Club First Tuesday of each month 2.30-3.30

UNUSED LAPTOPS WANTED PLEAS for use of Seal School learners - please contact me and I will collect and deliver to Derek,  for cleansing and prep for use. (Thank you as always Derek).

CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS - Maggie Fox - 01732 762840

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS - Gerry Froggat - 01959 522545


KENT POLICE 6pm-8pm - November 11th - Alexander Suite St Maryś Swanley - an open meeting to inform people how Kent Police practice SAFEGUARDING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. Attend and share your views - to attend contact csu.sevenoaksent.police.uk

This is apparently one event in a series. If I hear of any , more local events, I will let you know.

SEVENOAKS DISTRICT INDEPENDENT ADVISORY GROUP - Sevenoaks District Council have advised they are looking for volunteers to join this panel. If you are interested, please contact me for the full letter.


If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact us at this email address, and we will do our best to spread the word.

We are hoping to get some welcome cards printed to welcome people into the village as they move in to their new homes. This may take a while, but as always - 

If you have new neighbours, or are aware of new people moving into the village, please mention KYN and ask if they would like to be added to the circulation list.


Meanwhile, have a great week.

Best Wishes,


Marion (On behalf of Seal Know Your Neighbours).

marionjgilchrist@gmail.com

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