“Shirley is famous! SIGBI Head Office were contacted by a post-graduate student from India called Nupur Gill, who wanted to meet Shirley Brigham of SI Sevenoaks to see her knitted teddies and talk about their distribution.  Nupur is studying in London and she travelled down to Sevenoaks with a friend to meet Shirley and the teddies.  Nupur was very interested to know where the teddies had been sent and Shirley advised to local schools and hospitals and to local police forces as trauma bears and also to Ukraine for the children there.  In fact, UNESCO are collecting a further 60 teddies to be sent out to Ukraine shortly!  Shirley, who had her 90th birthday earlier this year, has knitted over 780 teddies; she has had some arthritis in her hands but plans to take up her knitting needles again very soon!  She is hopeful that

SI Sevenoaks delivered some quality pots and pans to the Women’s Refuge in Sevenoaks on 21st October.  We also dropped in some sheets and a lovely bedspread – all very much appreciated!  Thanks to members and friends who continue to think of the families in these situations.

SI Sevenoaks hosted their usual coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support on Tuesday 23rd September and were happy to welcome 40 members, friends and guests to Sandie Higgs’ home in Riverhead. It was great to have Peggy Duffin and Alison Driscoll with husband Rene from SI Bromley supporting!  It was a pleasant day weatherwise, and we raised a total of £347.00 for Macmillan – a big thank you to all the helpers, especially Shirley Brigham, Mary Hogarth and Merilyn Canet who served the coffee!  Our picture shows  Merilyn in her Macmillan apron, President Margaret Crabtree, Shirley and guests. Sandie Higgs SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks President Margaret Crabtree handing over a cheque for £1,000 to Irene Collins of Guide Dogs, pictured here with trainee guide dog Rhubarb who behaved impeccably throughout the meeting. Kathy Jordan SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks were invited by new member Kerry Locke to attend Tommy’s Tea Party celebrating 106 years at the Royal British Legion Industries village in Aylesford, Kent on Wednesday 3rd September.  The cakes were fantastic and Homepride supported the event with their star Fred posing for pictures!  Margaret Nicholson and Pat Downing are shown in our picture.  Our second picture shows Anne Bond, Sandie Higgs, Kathy Jordan, Margaret Nicholson and Pat Downing.  Kerry Locke was busy on duty and Penny Robbins who had attended a Tommy Tea event the previous year and introduced Kerry to SI Sevenoaks club was working hard at the event too.  We met some of the residents and joined in with some war time songs and were given bags of flour and Homepride tea towels.  We each made nice donations to the event. Sandie Higgs SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks gardening team have been working very hard at Sevenoaks Vine Gardens and Sevenoaks Station, maintaining a sensory bed of fragrant plants and a herb garden (with our logo on it!) at the Sevenoaks Vine and a beautiful bed of blue and yellow flowers at Sevenoaks Station where travellers can relax on a bench and watch the bumble bees and butterflies! Sevenoaks had qualified as one of just 4 towns shortlisted for the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition and on Tuesday 12th August members met with the judges to discuss the plants and their care.  Many other local groups have joined in the project, including schools, and The Vine was resplendent with knitted bees, caterpillars and butterflies as well as painted ladybird pebbles!  Mary Hogarth, our project lead, had organised sessions throughout the year and the areas tended looked fantastic for the judging day!

On Wednesday 13th August nine intrepid walkers set off from Shoreham Vineyard for a gentle walk over the hills above Shoreham and around this pretty village, finishing up at The Mount Restaurant at the Vineyard. Valerie Caton planned and led the walk for us and we really enjoyed the views from the hills and the delicious lunch afterwards!  Pictured are members Penny Robbins, Sandie Higgs, Valerie Caton, Lyn Snowden, Jenny Webb, Vicky Tibbits and Kathy Jordan.  Margaret Crabtree and Wendy Metcalf also came on the walk but missed the hilly part! SI Sevenoaks Members

SI Sevenoaks were invited to attend a preview of Sevenoaks Library Museum’s exhibition of Treen on Wednesday 6th August.  We enjoyed wine and nibbles, and a chance to see the items in the exhibition – Treen means ‘of wood’.  The best item was a scarred but highly polished dark oak door which had come from the old police station!  We had a chance to chat with Sevenoaks Town Councillors and with a young local artist, Adam Jaaback, who also played in a band with our member Tracey.  Our picture shows members Tracey Kemp, Julie Walder, Carole Morrisson and Sandie Higgs with artist Adam Jaaback behind us, and Sevenoaks Museum Curator Liz Botterill on the right.  The exhibition will run until 5th September. Sandie Higgs SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks President Margaret Crabtree attended a meeting hosted by Sevenoaks Town Council’s Town Clerk Linda Larter, who is a member of SI Sevenoaks.  Linda was welcoming members of SI Tunbridge Wells together with their President Jill Ruddock, and a presentation was made about the impending re-organisation of local government in Kent and the workings of a Town Council.  We are privileged to be kept up to date with these changes! Sandie Higgs Joint Programme Action Officer SI Sevenoaks

Following the successful sale of clothes at their Swap for Spring in April. SI Sevenoaks have been distributing the items which remained.  Our picture shows member Sandie Higgs delivering 2 large bags of items to the Manager of the Hospice in the Weald shop in Sevenoaks High Street.  The items were very gratefully received!