"Know Your Neighbours" in Seal
A blog for the "Know Your Neighbours" group. Connecting people in Seal, near Sevenoaks in Kent.
What is "Know Your Neighbours"?
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.
Monday, 30 May 2022
KYN update May 30
JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
DETAILS OF JUBILEE WEEKEND IN SEAL















































Looking for an Allotment?
We have a large vegetable garden – four beds of around 55sq metres each, been well tended over the years but we are now looking for someone who would like to take them on, on an allotment basis.
We live in Underriver. Tel Fidelity Weston on 01732 463372 for more information.
SEAL VILLAGE HALL
will hold their AGM (in Seal Village Hall) on Monday June 13th at 7.30pm.
SEAL LIBRARY NEWS.
May’s theme in the library reflects National Walking Month, with a selection of books relating to walks near and far.
Next month’s talk on Tuesday June 28th will feature local historian David Williams talking about Seal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Details of the next 6 months activities will be available from the end of May.
David has also curated a lovely display of art by local artists of the village as it was in the 1950’s and 2000’s and these will be on show together with his exhibition in the village hall which will be moving into the library after the Jubilee weekend.
Leading up to and for the Jubilee I will be displaying bunting decorated by the community in the library windows. The bunting template is available in the library and several community groups are taking part. If you would like to join in, please ask for a template .
During half term there will be Jubilee craft activities during opening hours including corgis, puppets, paper chains and culminating in a crown making session on Sat 4th June ready for the village picnic and fun day on Sunday 5th June.
Thank you to everyone who is using the library facilities and attending our events.
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.
SEAL SEQUENCE DANCING - Village Hall Tuesdays 8pm -10pm contact awatts@talktalknet
SEAL BEAVERS CUBS AND SCOUTS Please contact 9thgsl@sevenoaks.
Dance For Fun Classes - Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.
SEAL LIBRARY- Opening hours - Tuesdays 2pm - 5pm, Thursdays 10am - 1pm, Fridays 10am-3pm and Saturdays, 10am - 2pm.
Saturday, 26 March 2022
KYN newsletter: March 26
Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours update.
So - finally after this weekend, my car clock (along with many others I know of), will be correct again, due to the springing forward for our summer time. We are still enjoying beautiful spring weather and can look forward to Mothering Sunday this weekend. It feels like we really may be leaving winter behind doesn't it?? So, let's see what we have ahead of us in Seal.
DISTRICT WEEKEND SPRING CLEAN;-
I'm a little late to this party, but this weekend, sees the Sevenoaks District Care For Our Community Spring Clean. If you have any time over this weekend, and would like to take part in a general litter pick, we do have some grabbers and hi vis jackets if you could let me know asap though please.
Know Your Neighbours Get Together in Seal Village Hall on Saturday April 23rd Between 11am and Midday
Following our very successful get together last November, we are re-visiting this event, to give new neighbours, and old, the opportunity to find out more about our village organisations and societies. Please come along for a coffee and a chat, and meet those people that are currently running or participating in village school, church, groups , organisations, societies,and explore the possibilities of starting new ones to suit our neighbours in 2022.
REMEMBER TO BRING ALONG ANY SEEDS< PLANTS OR CUTTINGS YOU WISH TO SWAP! LET'S GIVE THIS PROJECT A CHANCE!
Looking for an Allotment?
We have a large vegetable garden – four beds of around 55sq metres each, been well tended over the years but we are now looking for someone who would like to take them on, on an allotment basis.
We live in Underriver. Tel Fidelity Weston on 01732 463372 for more information.
Parish Council News
Now, this week, some encouraging news from Seal Parish Council:-
"English Rural Housing Association is currently developing a small development of affordable homes at Foxbury Farm, Seal.
The homes are built to meet the needs of local people and we are now ready to begin the allocation process for the new homes.
To be eligible for the properties, applicants must have a local connection to Seal and also be registered for housing with Sevenoaks District Council.
The properties will be advertised through Kent Homechoice from Wednesday 30th March - Sunday 3rd April 2022."
Kerry’s Pets Meadow Challenge
Kerry has hidden some things in her window scene. Can you find them? Quiz sheets are available from Kerry and Deniz next door for 50p cash. All entries will be put into a prize draw for a £10 Kerry’s Pets Voucher. Proceeds to Folly Wildlife Trust.
EXHIBITION OF SEAL THROUGHOUT THE PAST 70 YEARS.
Throughout the whole jubilee celebration period, we are hoping to have a display of Seal through the past 70 years - probably in the Village Hall (to be confirmed) and the library .
HISTORY WALK
David Williams has also kindly offered to guide another of his ever popular historic walks or two! If you would like to take part in these walks, we are starting to take provisional bookings. These are always very popular, so please book early
Thursday June 2nd - History walks around Seal - please book by responding to this email. BOOKING ESSENTIAL! These walks take around 90 minutes and will cost £5 per head including a guide book.
MESSY CHURCH IN ST PETER AND ST PAUL CHURCH
Fun for children from 1 - 101.
Messy Church dates for the coming year are:
April 15 10 -11.30am (Good Friday) in churchMay 15 - (and all following dates ) 3-4.30pm in the church hall
June 19
July 17
No Messy Church in Aug
Sept 18
Oct 16
Nov 20
No Messy Church in Dec
GARDEN SAFARI
Saturday June 4th - pm Frances Fish is going to organise another Garden Safari around the gardens of homes in Seal village.(Proceeds ro Kent Air Ambulance). If you have a garden that could be safely shown to others (or know somebody else that does), please let us know. You don't have to have a huge space - in fact sometimes, the smaller gardens are more inspiring, as we realise our small space can accommodate big ideas. If you think you might be able, but feel unsure, just say, and we can put you in touch with others who have participated before. I'm sure they will reassure you.
IF YOU HAVE ANY UNWANTED CHRISTMAS GIFTS OR ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE< FRANCES IS LOOKING TO PUT SOME RAFFLE PRIZES TOGETHER FOR THIS AND OTHER EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE. Please let me know and we will arrange collection.
BIG LUNCH AND FAMILY FUN DAY - HELP NEEDED PLEASE TO ORGANISE, BOOK FOOD OUTLETS AND BOUNCY CASTLES ETC.
Sunday June 5th - The Big Lunch on Seal Recreation Ground, with food outlets being present but you can bring your own picnic if you prefer. We have a fish and chip van and an ice cream van booked at present. There will be games and fun for all ages - competitions, races and general fun activities for all.Annie Fish and Barbara Martin have already started planning our fun activities. If you have any ideas for games or contests, or would like to help with the planning, please get in touch and we will pass your details on.
We hope that many of you will participate in sprucing up our village beforehand, so look out for dates and times of community litter picks, etc. Also, we felt it would be great to encourage as many people as possible, to decorate/adorn the village appropriately. Here are some ideas:-
Planting your front gardens or outside areas in red white and blue - hanging baskets or borders, etc.
Display a 'Royal Scene' in your windows - rather along the line of Advent Windows, but with a royal theme
Display a royal scarecrow outside your home or in a public area where he/she or it, will be seen.
Decorate your home with red, white and blue bunting and flags
PLEASE DON'T BE SHY - GIVE US MORE IDEAS - WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW ONES! WE ALSO NEED PEOPLE TO COME ALONG AND HELP TO ORGANISE THE EVENTS - CO-ORDINATE BOOKING OF FOOD OUTLETS, SOURCE FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES ETC. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE JUST A LITTLE TIME TO SPARE.
I am aware that some people are already creating and planning for this. We will keep you updated weekly via these emails.
There will be lots of opportunities for you to get involved in the planning of these events, so please let us know if you are interested to help (before you get press-ganged)!
QUEEN OF PUDDINGS QUIZ
This event has been booked for Friday April 29th from 7.30pm in the Church Hall. This event will cost £5 per head and include a quiz with a 'loose' royal theme, and tasters of puddings between each round, In all, we hope to have around 20 different desserts for you to try, so eat before you come by all means, but do leave room for some sweet treats during the evening.
AS ALWAYS, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR HELP FOR THIS EVENT - PEOPLE WILLING TO MAKE A DESSERT, WASHERS UP AND CLEARERS PLEASE!
We look forward to welcoming you on the evening and putting your names forward in advance for help please!
Thank you to those who have already offered their help! Always room for many more!
TICKETS NOW FOR SALE FROM FRANCES 07749 240456 or MARION 07909905975.
SEAL HISTORY GUIDE BOOKS
Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes!
SEAL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
We are giving you plenty of time to organise yourselves for this - we will be looking for a small team of people to come forward, to organise the installing of the Christmas lights this year. It is not that arduous, and, of course, I will support whoever takes this on in whatever way you might need. If you would like to lead on this project, please give me a call on 01732 763727 or 07909905975, and we can have a chat. There is no problem with fund raising, as this is already in place (unless you have plans for a much more dramatic display). It will mainly involve getting the lights PAT tested for safety, organise teams to hang ( we already have insurance sorted), and to take back down and store safely for the following year.
REGULAR VILLAGE ACTIVITIES
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 10.30 and 12.30 = PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIMES. 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.
JESSIE'S YOGITRIBE
Seal Village Hall Saturday mornings plus much more - see www.yogitribe.com or call Jess 07976 522726
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 awatts@talktalknet
SEAL BEAVERS CUBS AND SCOUTS Please contact 9thgsl@sevenoaks.scouts.org.uk for current info during the pandemic.
Dance For Fun Classes - Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -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
Tea Set - Last Tuesday of the month - 2.15 - 3.45 - Tea, cakes, good company and an interesting speaker at each session.
There are also plans for a new martial arts group meeting in the Village Hall weekly and a new keep fit class meeting in the Church Hall. If you have any further details of either of these groups, it would be great to share please.
CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS - Maggie Fox - 01732 762840
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS - Gerry Froggat - 01959 522545
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. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about this group, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page. Emily Durling has kindly started work on the new 'Welcome Card', and we will be asking you to let us know where these need to be sent, as you become aware of a new neighbour moving in!
So - enjoy the sun while it lasts,and have a great week.
Marion (on behalf of Know Your Neighbours).
marionjgilchrist@gmail.com
Saturday, 5 March 2022
KYN update March 5
Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours update.
Clare is as usual providing a fabulous hour for any pre-schoolers and their carers on Fridays with
Baby Rhyme and Storytime. After last week’s fantastic Teddy Bears Forest theme, she is focusing on
Transport and things that go this Friday the 3rd. Other topics this half term include Colours, Shapes
and Numbers, Safari, Farm and Pirates. We have lots of books available to borrow to match the
themes.
On Saturday 5 th March Clare is back with a free Spring crafts session from 11am - 12:30pm. Everyone
is welcome, all children should be accompanied by an adult.
The library scarecrow Ms A Page-turner is also dressed ready for Springtime gardening, and she will
be looking for tips from Frances Fish in her propagation talk which will be the first of the returning
Teatime talks. I am thrilled they are making a welcome return on the last Tuesday of each month
from 2:15- 3:45pm.
Tuesday 22 March 2022 Welcome Back
Propagation of Plants by Frances Fish
There will a raffle and a chance to buy some plants
Tuesday 26th April
Scrapbooking by Jenny Fairman
Tuesday 24th May
Metal Detecting by Gill Peters
Tuesday 28th June
Seal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II by David Williams
This will be linked to the village and library Platinum Jubilee exhibition.
Details of the remaining talks for the rest of the year will be provided in due course. If anyone has any interests
which they would like to share, or ideas please contact Frances Fish via the library.
If you would like to come to any of the talks, there will be a sign-up sheet available in the library to help the
volunteers in preparing enough tea and cake!
ALL ARE WELCOME
Thanks to Frances to organising the first 6 months of topics. She has also arranged a group of
volunteers to help with the teas and I am looking forward to seeing this popular activity back in the
library. We would be grateful if people could sign up if they are coming to ensure the right amount
of catering is provided!
The Reading Group continues to grow and one of last month’s books A Woman made of Snow by
Elizabeth Gifford was a resounding hit with the group, for anyone looking for a book
recommendation.
Adult Author of the Month for March is Susan Hill
the author of numerous novels, collections of short stories, non-fiction, and children's fiction as well
as a respected reviewer, critic, broadcaster, and editor. Hill is best known for her mystery and thriller
novels and books related to fiction and literature genre.
Adult Book of the Week is The Time Between Us by Marina McCarron – The first novel by a Canadian
author. A dual-timeline Second World War romance novel that crosses decades and oceans.
The prize-winning children’s author and illustrator Shirley Hughes, possibly best known for her ‘Alfie’
books sadly, died earlier this week. We have several of her books available to borrow in the porch
display and even more to reserve free to children on-line.
I have also a couple of middle grade children’s book recommendations this month.
The Escape Room by Christopher Edge, Illustrator David Dean: An adventure story with a surprise
twist- an original thought-provoking book.
and
Loki by Louie Stowell written in a similar style in Tom Gates, a funny diary style book centred on the
naughty Norse god Loki sent to Earth as a boy as a punishment. This is the first in a series.
Last but definitely not least Derek is available by appointment on Thursday mornings each week
from 10:30 am to help with for all I.T. Queries.
Best wishes
Jillian
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.
SEAL SEQUENCE DANCING - Village Hall Tuesdays 8pm -10pm contact awatts@talktalknet
SEAL BEAVERS CUBS AND SCOUTS Please contact 9thgsl@sevenoaks.
Dance For Fun Classes - Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.
SEAL LIBRARY- Opening hours - Tuesdays 2pm - 5pm, Thursdays 10am - 1pm, Fridays 10am-3pm and Saturdays, 10am - 2pm.