Marks & Spencer - now the bad news

24 hours? Only if you like being served through a letterbox

One week on and reality is setting in. Regular readers (and there are quite a few of you) of Village News will have read our complimentary pieces last week about M & S Simply Food that has opened up in the B P petrol station in Perry Street.

We've been working late at the office recently and this evening managed to run out of coffee. Never mind, a quick trip to M & S ("open 24 hours") will sort us out. We could also do with some cereal and chocolate. We sent our youngest member; his twenty minute trip took well over forty. When he returned he had a story to tell.

"As I approached the door, one of the attendants pulled down the shutter and said, 'We're closed.'
'I thought you were open 24 hours?'
'No, we're closed.'
'I only want a jar of coffee.'
'You can ask at the counter,' the counter being that thing like you get in the bank when you are speaking to a cashier, only you're outside.
I queued up behind a couple of ladies, the first of whom wanted to buy twenty Silk Cut. I only know this because the attendant couldn't turn his microphone off so the conversation was booming around the forecourt. When it finally came to my turn I asked for the coffee.
'No, not a cup of coffee, a jar.' Off the attendant went once more to fetch it. He returned.
'Which one?'
'I don't care, just not decaf.'
He went off again and returned with the coffee. I then had a similar experience with the cereal and then the chocolate. It appeared that the other two attendants that were there when I arrived had gone home. This guy was left on his own going backwards and forwards sorting out my three items. ('This one?' 'No.' This one?' 'No.' and so on.) I gave up with the chocolate when he asked me what size I wanted. ('I don't know - I just want to look at it, touch it, see what the price is, and decide.')
As I was paying I asked him what time the shop closed.
'10pm'
'And it opens?'
'5am.'
'So you're not open 24 hours?'
'Yes. We can get you what you need.'
I paid and turned to leave. This is a busy petrol station even at 10pm and my episode with the attendant had resulted in a queue building up of seven people! Next time you want me to buy cereal for breakfast, just get up early. Anyway, I shrugged my shoulders at the queue and apologised. However, they all knew what had been going on as my conversation had been bouncing around the forecourt like a voice from outer space.
'You think you're sorry, mate,' said one of the guys in the queue, 'my wife's given me a complete shopping list.'"

So, unless you want to engage the services of a not-very-personal shopper, and hack off all the petrol buyers at the same time, don't go to Simply Food between 10pm and 5am. In the meantime, roll on M & S in Chislehurst Library - though that'll probably be "closed Wednesdays."

© www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk

Chislehurst to get another school

Bullers Wood School for Bigger Boys?

Here at Village News we are so pleased to have only daughters! With two single sex girl's state secondary schools but no boys' in Chislehurst, parents with sons who wish to have a single-sex education have to "compromise" or go further afield.

This is set to change, however.

Bullers Wood School for Girls is shortly to be making an application to set up a new free school - Bullers Wood School for Boys. It is intended that it will be a thriving comprehensive providing an academic education for boys within the Village News area. If the application is successful, Bullers Wood School for Boys will be a 11 to 16 year olds' four-form entry with a shared sixth form with the girls. (The sixth form already admits boys).

It is intended that the school will open in September 2016. This means that any boys who are in year 4 during academic year 2013/14 will be eligible. Anyone interested in registering an interest in securing a place for their child should head to http://www.bullerswood.bromley.sch.uk/?page_id=7308 to complete the survey.

There will be an Information Evening on Thursday, 10th July at 7.30pm at Bullers Wood School, St Nicolas Lane, Chislehurst, BR7 5LJ. There will be no on-site parking.
 
Bullers Wood School for Girls is one of twenty-four groups of teachers, parents and charities to have so far successfully applied for a place on a national Development Programme designed to provide tailored support for groups that want to set up new free schools.

So where's the school going to be? Village News has learnt that it will be sited on part of the large "underused" playing fields at Bullers Wood.
 
Nick Cross, Headteacher, said,

"As part of the application process, we will be consulting with all stakeholders, with our existing parents and carers foremost in our minds. The staff and Governors at Bullers Wood School for Girls are fully committed to ensuring that standards remain as high as ever. There will be significant benefits to our existing students at the Bullers Wood School through collaboration with an outstanding boys' school."

Except, maybe, that we'll be getting fatter kids?

© www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk

Marks & Spencer arrives in Chislehurst - and not a library in sight. Part II

No, it's not going to be Lidl for the Library, at least not yet.

Village News has been in contact with Marks and Spencer about the slow / no progress on the plans to redevelop Chislehurst Library which include an M & S Simply Food. A spokesman told us,

"M & S is very much intending to have a Simply Food in Chislehurst Library and they are at present going through the planning logistics. They hope to have more news in the autumn."

By which time Percy Pig will be very well established in his latest home in Perry Street.
www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk

Marks & Spencer arrives in Chislehurst - and not a library in sight.

Closed since March, the BP petrol station on Perry Street was not due to open until 16thJuly, but such has been the clamour for Percy Pig that it has reopened one month early - TODAY - and with it Chislehurst's first Marks & Spencer.

Whilst we wait with baited breath to find out what happens to Chislehurst Library, M & S has been quietly planning its own revolution and we now have "M&S Simply Food at BP" with The Cook Menu and Simply Fuller Longer ranges alongside sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks, everyday essentials and a range of decent wines.

Our 'old' cashiers have returned (with a few new ones) and if you're quick you may get a free hessian shopping bag alongside 10% and 25% discount vouchers for weeks one (this week), two and four. Week three's going to be interesting. Spend £5 and you'll get a free packet of Percy Pigs. The relevant dates for Percy are 2nd - 8th July. Let's see if we can eat M&S out of Percy Pigs! Mind you, given the number of girls from Beaverwood School in there this afternoon, we'd better be quick.

So is it Lidl for the Library now?

What's good: Well - it's M & S; Percy Pig; 3 pizzas for £10; toilets; Wild Bean cafe remains; open 24 hours.
What's not so good: The car wash has disappeared (still, the toilets are more useful).


© www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk

Chislehurst’s underground war story will be told

The story of ammunition workers who toiled in a subterranean maze of north west Kent tunnels during the First World War will be told, thanks to a grant of £9,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Chislehurst Caves, a 22 mile long series of tunnels carved beneath the chalk downs were pressed into service to store ammunition from Woolwich Arsenal during the 1914-18 war. A new bus route transported workers to the site and a narrow gauge railway was laid to access the deepest part of the caves. The men themselves were exposed to many hazards, apart from the danger of explosions they suffered burns and jaundice caused by the chemicals in the munitions

Although the caves have been open to the public for many years the main emphasis is on the use of the caves during the Second World War as a mass air raid shelter. Using the HLF grant volunteers from the Chislehurst Society will research the First World War history gaining access to files held at the National Archives. They will use their discoveries to create a documentary, some of which will be filmed in First World War sections of the caves that are currently not on the existing visitor itinerary.

Special sections of these unseen tunnels will also highlight a unique series of carvings that munition workers made in the soft chalk to honour the memory of nurse Edith Cavell, who was captured and shot by the Germans in 1915.

Local schools and heritage groups have already expressed interest in learning more about this period in the history of the caves and the project will include a series of special subterranean events including talks and guided tours.

The Chislehurst Society’s Heritage Rep. Joanna Friel said: "Many local residents know of the Caves but have not visited for many years. We are honoured to be able to showcase the role of Chislehurst Caves as part of our commemoration of the First World War and look forward to a fascinating documentary.” 

Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “This project will raise awareness of the role played by the Caves during the First World War and give people a rare opportunity to view the artistic achievements of the workers who toiled underground.” 

Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, said: “Projects like this play an important role in our collective memory of the past, and I feel it is incredibly fitting that these local feats of human courage and endeavour be recognised in such a way in this centenary year. It is fantastic that the documentary will open up new areas to those that are currently on display, and I very much look forward to seeing the final results soon.”

Using money raised through the National Lottery, HLF aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, HLF invests in every part of our diverse heritage. It has supported over 36,000 projects with more than £6bn across the UK. HLF has already supported £52m of First World War related projects from across the United Kingdom and will continue to support as many applications as it can afford that want to commemorate the centenary.

  

www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on twitter @heritagelottery #understandingWW1

www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk

 

Petts Wood Operatic Society presents Stephen Schwartz’s GODSPELL!

Petts Wood Operatic Society presents Stephen Schwartz’s GODSPELL!

17th, 18th and 19th June at Babington House School, Chislehurst at 7:30pm and 21^st June at The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks at 4pm and 8pm.

For Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th and Thurs 19th June at Babington House get your tickets by calling the Petts Wood Box Office on 07870 88 77 83 or send a cheque and an S.A.E. to:

46 Westbrooke Crescent, Welling, Kent DA16 1PU

Email: pwosdigital@gmail.com

There is no seat numbering system at Babington House so your ticket will entitle you to sit in any available seat in the auditorium. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance.