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.
This Blog will be archived from July 7 2024 following the retirement of Rev Anne Le Bas who has maintained it. Know Your Neighbours will continue however. Please email Marion if you would like to know more!

Wednesday, 28 September 2022

Animal Blessing Service

Do you have a furry, feathered, finned or scaly friend who you'd like to celebrate and give thanks for? Seal Church is holding its first Animal Blessing service this Sunday (Oct 2) at 3pm in the churchyard. You can bring a photo if your pet won't be happy around other animals. The service shouldn't last more than about 20-30 minutes.


KYN update Sept 23

 

Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours newsletter.


Firstly, we look forward to seeing all your fun scarecrows popping up around the village.

It is great to see the return of SEAL STEVE and I notice this year, he has a magnificent looking companion. There was such an outpouring of sadness, when he had to be taken down last year, I am certain he will be welcomed home with open arms.




MUSICAL SOIREE SEPT TOMORROW IN SEAL CHURCH


Tomorrow ( Saturday Sept 24th), there will be an Afternoon Musical Soiree in St Peter and St Paul's church, Seal, with Philip Le Bas and friends playing music for wind instruments. There will be a variety of music, from Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Debussy and others, including a world premiere of a new piece… Followed by refreshments. Free, with a collection for church funds. 



SCARECROW FESTIVAL -An annual event organised by Seal Church.

We would like to thank all of you who responded to our appeal for ideas about this year's Scarecrow Festival 

As a result of your comments, we have decided to go ahead in the following way:-

1;- This year there will be no charge to enter a scarecrow into the competition.

2:- Any entry should preferably be up by 24th September, but certainly by 29th, for entry to trail map.

3;- To have your scarecrow added to the trail map, please register with JILL MYERS 01732 762803 or 07977 099438

4:- Trail maps will be available from 1st October by contacting Jill above or myself on 07909 905975

5:- The scarecrows will be judged by 2 of our Over 60's members (Kemsing residents so unbiassed).

6:- The winners will be announced at Seal Church Harvest Lunch on Sunday October 9th (more details below).

Harvest Lunch At Seal Church

Takes place on Sunday 9th October at 12.30 in Seal Church Hall. This follows the morning Harvest Festival Service, so gives time to follow the scarecrow trail after church. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE SERVICE TO JOIN US FOR LUNCH.

The cost of the lunch will be £8 per adult 4 per child, and £20 per family ticket (2 adults and their children). Chilli con carne, (veggie/vegan option available),garlic bread and apple pie and cream will be served. The winner of the scarecrow festival will be announced at this event. This year, for catering purposes, tickets will need to be booked by Thursday October 6th please, or we will not be able to guarantee you a place at our groaning tables! Tickets to be booked with Jill on 07977 099438.


KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS MEET AND GREET OCT  22nd 

11.30am -1pm SEAL VILLAGE HALL

We have reached that time of year, when we are looking forward to the Christmas season, and celebrations we wish to see for our community. We have booked Seal Village Hall from 11.30am-1pm on Saturday October 22nd for a Meet and Greet event. You are all invited to drop in, meet your fellow Seal neighbours, have a cup of tea or coffee, and a chat. Learn about our local organisations, find out what we already have planned, and give us your ideas for how we might expand and improve on these plans. Many of our local organisations will be represented at this event, so you can chat to people about what they do.

As most of you are aware, we have hung icicle lighting along both sides of the centre of the High Street for the past few years. Obviously, the cost of running this lighting will be higher this year, so we need your views as to whether or not to hang these this year, and how to calculate the cost of running them to compensate those residents who are kind enough to plug these lights into their homes.

We also need ideas for our family Christmas party and offers of help with organising this please. Sadly, our appeals for help to organise the Christmas lights, has been received very little response, but we still have many very willing helpers to get the lights up, for which we are always very grateful.

Please come along and have your say. This is particularly helpful for those that have recently moved into the village, but also a great opportunity to meet up with people you may not have seen for a long time.




ANIMAL BLESSING SERVICE SUNDAY OCTOBER 2nd 3pm IN SEAL CHURCHYARD.

Please bring your furry, feathery, finned or scaly friends (if they will be happy among lots of people and other animals), Alternatively, you may wish to bring a photo. In this short, outdoor service, we will give thanks for all that animals bring to us, bless each animal, (or photo) and remember those no longer with us.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE ON A LEAD OR SUITABLE CARRIER.



OPEN MORNING AT FRIDAY GROUP NOVEMBER 25th.

Are you concerned about your energy bills this winter? Iḿ sure this is a huge concern for us all, so the Citizens Advice Bureau are going to visit Friday Group on Friday 25th November, and deliver a Big Energy Saving Project workshop to explore ways of keeping our costs as low as possible. 

This is then being followed by an origami workshop, delivered by our own Nicole from Nimiś in the High Street. This will give us the opportunity to make some origami Christmas decorations, so another money saving project and possibly a chance to learn a new skill!

Everybody is welcome to this open morning, and we look forward to meeting you at the Church Hall for coffee, tea, refreshments and learning. What more could we ask for? The session will start earlier on Friday 25th, so watch this space for more information. 



SEAL OVER 60's





SEAL TIDDLERS

Seal Tiddlers has now returned from the summer holiday. We are hoping for some new people as some of our little ones have started school and some to new preschools! We have some exciting activities arranged for this term including artwork to include butterflies, leaves, scarecrows, play dough and some cake and biscuit decorating.We are a friendly group who provide refreshments for the adults and a healthy snack for the children, artwork and singing.We meet every Monday during term time from 9.30 to 11.30am in the church hall for mothers, carers and grandparents with  children from 0 to rising 5 years olds. We look forward to seeing you all! There will be no Tiddlers on Monday October 24th as this is half term, or this coming Monday, as it is now a bank holiday to mark the Queen's funeral
Frances mob 07749240456 or francesfish1@gmail.com


NEWS FROM JILLIAN AT SEAL LIBRARY


I have been having a sort out in the library with help from my colleagues at Sevenoaks to clear some space for more stock and consequently there will be a selection of books for sale for 2 weeks from 23 September – 3 October. Adult and teen hardback books will be £2 , adult and teen paperback books £1. Children books 50p.

 

The library scarecrow, Miss A Pageturner, is looking forward to dressing up for the Scarecrow Festival and this year the library will be hosting a scarecrow picture competition for children with prizes!! After the fabulous bunting contributions for the Jubilee I know there are some amazing young artists in Seal and I look forward to seeing all the entries. There is a template in the library to colour in or design your own scarecrow. There will be several prizes including different age groups for under 5,5-8 and 9-11. The deadline for entries is Tuesday 27TH September and judging will take place during the Macmillan Coffee Morning which the library is hosting on Friday 30 September after Storytime from 11am -12:30pm. I would be grateful for cake contributions and volunteers to help set up and serve. Please pop into the library for more details and to let me know if you are able to provide a cake or help on the day or both!!

 

Thank you

Jillian 

LIBRARY SCARECROW COMPETITION

Pick up a template in the library and colour in a scarecrow or design your very own.

Judging will take place on FRIDAY SEPT 30th  11-12.30 pm AT THE MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING IN THE LIBRARY!









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.

Have a great week everybody - it looks to be another sun filled one! Enjoy the last week of the holidays!
Best wishes,

Marion (on behalf of Know Your Neighbours).



THERE WILL BE NO SEQUENCE DANCING IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON OCTOBER 4TH.

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REGULAR ACTIVITIES AND INFO (this section is repeated weekly, so please feel free to skip if you don't need it this week)
 
Talking Village
Monday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30pm in Deniz's Coffee Shop. Buy a tea or coffee and join us on the Talking Village table for a chat and to make new friends, or meet up with old ones.
Saturdays _ first Saturday of each month in Seal Library between 10.15am and 11.15am. Join us for a free coffee while browsing your library books.
There are always hosts to welcome you at each of these venues.

Friday Group
Meets Friday mornings in Seal Church Hall between 10.30 and 12.30. Coffee, chat and frequent group outings. By all means, bring your crafting along with you, but mostly, enjoy the company.

Messy Church In the Church Hall 3pm-4,30pm
Mainly for children, but all ages are welcome and all enjoy the Bible based fun and activities.

October 16th
November 20th

Seal Tiddlers
Seal Church Hall £2 per session for pre-schoolers and parents/carers - Monday mornings 9.30-11.30. Tea, drinks and snacks for children. Arts, activities and singing. Takes place term time only.

JESSIE'S YOGITRIBE
Seal Village Hall Saturday mornings plus much more;- see www.yogitribe.com or call Jess 07976 522726

Jujitsu
Seal Church Hall. Contact Adam hello@adamwattsbjj.co.uk

Seal Allotments
Contact Zoreen - zoreen gibbens@gmail.com

SEAL CHURCH CHOIRS

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


SEAL OVER 60s

2nd Saturday of each month 2.30-4pm.Seal Village Hall. £3 per head, for a delicious tea, interesting speakers and great company. Call Chris 01732 763585 or 07759 808814


.

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 SCOUTS, CUBS  AND BEAVERS.

Please contact 9thgslsevenoaks.scouts.org.uk for current information.


DANCE FOR FUN

- Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.


SEAL LIBRARY

Opening hours - Tuedays 2-5pm, Thursdays 10am - 1pm, Fridays 10am - 3pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Thursdays -Derek - the IT Guru/Buddy, is available for appointments on Thursday mornings from 10.15. If you would like some help with your computer skills, please book an appointment through the library.
Fridays 10.15 Rhyme Time followed by story time ta 10.45.
Book Club first Tuesday of each month 2.30-3.30
Tea Set - Fourth Tuesday of each month - 2.30-3.45 - An interesting speaker at each session, with tea, cakes and great company!


CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS - Maggie Fox - 01732 762840
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS - Gerry Froggat - 01959 522545